I thank all the people that reviewed and were patient enough with me. I hope this ending will be to your liking. It takes place a year after Troy was abused by Fred, and there are many flashbacks to explain what happened to Fred, to Troy, and to everyone afterwards.
Who knows? I might even do a sequel. Tell me what you think:)
R&R!
Chapter 12 Live another day
Troy sighed feeling the rain fall. He raised his head, looking towards the sky. In the past year since Fred's appearance and…the things that had happened….so much had changed.
It scared him, knowing life went by in a second.
But things were back to normal, or as normal as could be expected.
Oh and the rain felt so warm against his skin, it was such a relief to be out here, because life had happened.
And as much as he wished his uncle Fred had never….done what he did. He knew there was no use dwelling on the past.
What mattered now was living life to its fullest. If there was one thing his horrifying experience had taught him was to live life as if it were your last day, because you never know when it would be your last day. It was best to keep living, to live another day.He remembered clearly what happened after they caught Fred...
----Flashback-------
"Troy you don't have to do this."
He sighed realizing the truth, that he did. He really did need to do this. For himself. For his family, for Gaby.
He walked straight ahead, holding his head high up.
Anyone who saw him right now would never guess that inside he was shaking with fear. He would never be whole again, not by himself, but the people that loved him, by just loving him they made him whole.
He paused just outside the courtroom door. The door seemed way too big. He breathed in heavily, trying to fill his lungs with oxygen. Everything seemed to be spinning. He looked back; he saw his parents, and Gaby. He knew he could turn back, but he was no coward. If he turned back down, then everything would be have been for nothing. Fred would be let out, to keep hurting others and maybe
Troy Bolton would not turn back, Troy Bolton was going to face Fred Bolton.
---End of Flashback-----
"Hey Troy mind if I join you?" asked Gaby smiling from the porch.
He called to her with his hand. A smile lingering on his lips, and his eyes sparkling at the sight of her, he grabbed her lightly by the hand and twirled her around in the rain.
Gaby let out a laugh of pure happiness.
She couldn't believe it had been a year already since she had first learned about what had happened to Troy, since he confessed it to her. Now it seemed as it had happened a million years ago.
There were times when Troy became very quiet as in thinking, but she knew he was remembering. It caused her enormous pain when he saw him like that. Even now after a year, it still happened.
She trusted Troy with her life, just as she knew he trusted her with his life.
But he had rarely talked about what had happened.
From what he had told her, he was conscious for only a part of it.
She knew he had nightmares about it, even now. Not very often but still...
She let out a loud surprised yell, as Troy picked her up from the ground, and carried her back into the porch. He put her down gently, and still holding her kissed her.
Troy loved the feeling of Gaby's lips against his.
How he remembered the way she had stood by him days before the court date.
He had been so nervous, so frightened.
-------Flashback----
"I don't know if I can do this Gaby!" cried out Troy. He flung himself onto his bed, ashamed of his behaviour.
In a couple of days, he would be testifying against Fred in court. They had finally caught him as he was attempting to leave the country.
Gaby sat down beside him. She gently placed her hand on Troy's cheek.
"You can do this Troy, I know you can. You are so brave, so noble, and yet you don't realize it. But you know you don't have to, but Fred…he can't be let out," she whispered hoping to help Troy overcome his fear.
Troy nodded. I know, I know.
He held her hand, squeezing it tightly. He breathed in, loving the smell of her, and all she represented.
--Flashback---------
"I can't believe we're going to Paris!" whispered Gaby very close to Troy. They were now both sitting in the porch. Gaby was curled up against Troy. Troy held her lovingly, his arms around her shivering figure.
"Me neither."
A few weeks ago, Ms. Darbus had announced that Troy, Gaby, Ryan, Kelsi and Sharpay had won tickets to Paris. They would be performing in Paris amongst other schools from around the world!! And the entire summer!
"It really is incredible," he added. He didn't just mean the trip, but everything. His parents understood his passion for singing, and his dad understood that he loved basketball and singing….equally. And he was also grateful to have her.
How he remembered the musical….Twinkle Towne!
Even though it had been recently after Fred's attack, and Troy had been in such terrible pain, he still went. He did it, thanks to the help of all his friends and family.
----Flashback------
"Troy the musical it's not as important as you getting better. I'd think it best if you do not attend," explained his dad a day before the musical.
Troy stared at his father numb.
The musical?
It's tomorrow?
I have to, I know I can!
"But I can dad, I can. It's….important to me, please dad let me," he whispered in reply minutes after his dad had first spoken.
"Are you sure you can handle it?"
He nodded. Yes I know I can.
"We thank everyone for coming, and please enjoy the musical! We present Twinkle Towne!" introduced a loud and happy Ms. Darbus. She stepped behind the curtain, as the cast stepped through.
Let the show began!!
That night was spectacular!
Troy danced, and sang with all his heart.
Arnold(Troy) and Minnie(Gaby) were definitely the spotlight of the show and they definitely did an awesome job.
Everyone clapped loud, louder, and it kept getting louder. The musical, it seemed was a great success!
Troy had felt at complete ease, his friends knew what had been going on with Troy or at least partly. They gave him full support, and love.
----------Flashback-------
Graduation was approaching….it seemed unbelievable that it had been 2 years since he met Gaby.
And College…
They were both even going to the same college! And to Stanford, at that!
Troy had received a scholarship; many colleges had been impressed by him. But in the end, he and Gaby decided to go to the same College.
--------Flashback---------
"I can't bear the thought of being away from you," whispered Troy.
He encircled his hands around her waist as they walked around the park. It was a sunny day; the sun was shining high and clear like a beacon.
"I know, I can't' either. I really love you, Troy. Whatever decision we make now, we must be sure of it."
So lately been wonderin'
Who will be there to take my place
When I'm gone you'll need love
To light the shadows on your face
If a great wave should fall
It would fall upon us all
And between the sand and stone
Could you make it on your own?
If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go
And maybe I'll find out
The way to make it back someday
To watch you, to guide you
Through the darkest of your days
If a great wave should fall
It would fall upon as all
Well I hope there's someone out there
Who can bring me back to you
Runaway with my heart
Runaway with my hope
Runaway with my love
I know now, just quite how
My life and love might still go on
In your heart, and your mind
I'll stay with you for all of time
If I could turn back time
I'll go wherever you will go
If I could make you mine
I'll go wherever you will go
"I'm going wherever you will go," whispered Troy kissing Gaby slowly and lovingly.
"Me too," she whispered back between kisses.
------Flashback--------
"Let's go inside," suggested Troy.
Gaby nodded.
"You're both all wet!" exclaimed Mrs. Bolton surprised.
She smiled at them, as she finished setting the table for dinner.
"Gaby it'll be bad for your health if you stay in those wet clothes, I think I still have some clothes from when I was younger, come on," she beckoned Gaby then turning to Troy, "and you young man, go to your room and change."
Troy nodded running up the stairs.
"Where's dad?" he asked stopping suddenly at the top of the stairs.
"Oh you know Jack, he went out, he heard there was a special at the sports store."
Troy nodded.
Searching through his clothes, Troy remembered quite clearly the day after the court date, after Fred had been found guilty and sentenced to 17 years of jail.
----Flashback------------
"We call Troy Bolton to the stand!" The voice echoed hauntingly throughout the courtroom. It sent chills down Troy's back. Troy stood, trying to evade Fred's menacing gaze. He walked slowly, comtemplating.
"Tell us about what Mr. Fred Bolton did to you?"
Troy cleared his throat. He lifted his gaze up, and met Fred's. He held it, not willing to back down. "He..he abused me," he said quietly, yet loud enough to be heard.
"What exactly did he do?" they demanded more. Troy felt irritated. Why did they have to ask so many questions? What were the tests had been done for?
"When I was eleven, he used to beat me, and ...touch me in places. Then a week ago, he ambushed me in a dark alley. He hit me, I pleaded...I begged..for him to stop," Troy explained weakly. His knees suddenly felt as if they were made of jelly. He was grateful to be sitting. "Then he..he took of his pants, I tried to stop, but I couldn't...I couldn't. I remember part of it, but then when I tried to get him of, he hit me again, and I fell unconscious. When I woke up, he was gone. I was naked, and bleeding, my clothes blood stained. I went home after a while, then my dad found me.."
For the most part, it was all a blur. The only thing that mattered was that moment, when Fred had been found guilty.
He had been so violent, shouting insults at Troy, and his family. But that didn't matter.
He couldn't remember feeling happy, but only relief.
----------Flashback------------
"It's all over," Troy shouted into the darkness of the night. Wasn't he supposed to be feeling terribly joyful or something? Probably the latter.
No one ever said it would heal him in some way that the pain would leave him forever, but he had thought that would be the case.
Troy wanted to snap at himself. How could he be so selfish…with himself?
He should be giving himself a break. It was over……over…over….over.
Fred wouldn't be bothering him anymore.
"Troy, honey comes inside, please. It's getting dark outside," called out his mother worriedly.
"Yeah mom, I'll be right there," replied Troy. He turned one last time to stare at the sky, then with a smile on his face, and an overwhelming relief he walked back inside.
---------------Flashback-------------
"Troy can I come in?" Gaby asked.
It had been quite a while since Troy came up to his room to change. He hadn't returned, so Gaby decided to go see what was the matter.
Hearing Gaby speak, Troy snapped out of his trance. He had changed without realizing, but he was still by the closet thinking.
He cleared his throat, and opened the door.
"Yeah sure."
Gaby sat down in the bed.
"Is something the matter?"
Troy shook his head.
"No," he whispered," nothing's the matter. It's just that….I think I'm finally free."
Gaby nodded smiling, understanding what Troy meant. Before Troy had always been held back by his past, but he had come to realize who was in charge of his life. He was. No matter what happened, he would be the one making the decisions in his life. He decided, for the majority. Life after all would be life.
And their life was sealed with a kiss.
Gaby and Troy
Troy and Gaby
Could love be anymore wonderful?
Could love be anymore healing?
"I love you."
With one last kiss, they made their way back downstairs for family dinner, and towards the future. A very bright future. A future written not in stone, but by them. To be lived by them.
To live another day.