Chapter 9
After school that day, Troy dropped Sharpay off at her house for her to get ready and then drove on home, dreading what would be waiting for him. Just as he thought, as soon as he walked in the door, he spotted his mom sitting on the couch watching TV. He tried to sneak by without her noticing him, but it didn't work too well, "How was school, Troy?"
"School was fine, Mom. How was your day?" He said while silently inching towards the staircase leading to his bedroom.
"Fine, as well." Troy started to run up the stairs when he stopped dead in his tracks. "Troy Alexander Bolton! Get back down here!" Uh-oh, she had used his full name. This cannot be good.
"Yes, Mom?" he said once he had walked back down to the living room.
"Did you think I had forgotten about our talk we're supposed to be having?" Troy shrugged and she continued. "When I saw that ring on Sharpay's hand this morning, I swear my heart stopped! Troy, I don't think you understand what a big commitment this is!"
"Yes, I do! I didn't just give her the ring for the heck of it! I gave it to her because I love her!" he shocked himself as he said those words. He had never shouted at his mother before. Lisa was just as taken aback as he was.
"Do not raise your voice at-" just then, the doorbell rang. Troy walked over and flung it open, but when he saw Sharpay standing there his smile softened and he calmed down a bit. Instead of bringing her inside though, he stepped outside and shut the door behind him.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Sharpay smiled but was taken aback when a pair of lips crashed into her own. When Troy pulled back, she smiled and asked: "What was that for?"
"I just want you to know that I will always love you and I will always be there for you." He kissed her once again and then looked into her eyes.
"I know all of that Troy, and right back at you. What brought on this?" she sat down on the front porch swing and patted the spot beside her.
"My mom doesn't think that I realize how big of a commitment this is… the ring, I mean. It's just like I told you this morning, she thinks I rushed into it too fast." He squeezed her hand he had a firm grip on.
"And?" she looked at Troy with a wondering look.
"And what? Do you think that I'm doubting it now?" he let go of her hand and turned to face her.
"I don't know, Troy. Maybe we did rush into it too fast." She sighed and looked down at her now folded hands.
"No, Pay. Don't even think that! If I could go back and do it all again, I would do it exactly the way it is." He took Sharpay's right hand with the ring on it. "Every time I see this ring, it makes me think of the fantasy I have."
"And what would that be, Troy?" Sharpay leaned back on his chest and listened to his soft voice as he stroked her hair. All the time, what they didn't know was that Lisa was listening.
"You and Me, having the wedding of your dreams, going to college together, you being a famous actress, me being a famous basketball player, having kids, if you want, and living happily ever after." Sharpay sat up and looked into Troy's deep blue eyes and knew that this was not a laughing matter. This is really what he wanted, and nothing could change that.
"Troy… That's beautiful." She placed her hand on the back of his neck and pulled him in for a passionate kiss. When parted, she spoke: "Troy, I love you so much, and through rich or poor, I will always be there."
Just then, after hearing their whole conversation, Lisa walked outside to see the two going in to kiss on the porch. When Sharpay say Lisa out of the corner of her eye, she blushed and pulled back from Troy who had a confused look on his face. His mother cleared his throat and Troy turned around to see her standing there. He stood up and walked up to her. "Mom, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at-"
"Troy, stop. You shouldn't be the one apologizing. I'm sorry that I questioned you when you clearly knew what you were doing. I love you… both." She smiled and looked at Sharpay who stood up with a smile on her face, stood next to Troy and intertwined her fingers with his. Lisa smiled. "Now, what were ya'll thinking about for dinner?"
Troy spoke up first: "I'm actually not very hungry… I had a big lunch." Sharpay laughed.
"Yes, you did! I thought the cafeteria was going to run out of food! But seriously, Troy, by the time we eat dinner you'll be starving. Oh! I have an idea! Do you guys like five star dining?" Sharpay raised her eyebrows.
"Of course, why?" Troy looked at her confused.
"Two of my Dad's best friends were Nick Parks and Sam Carter. They own "Nick and Sam's"."
"Oh! That's really cool! That sounds great to me!" Lisa said with a brightened expression.
"Okay. Let me just call them and tell them we're coming." Sharpay took out her phone. "Hey Nick, it's Sharpay!… Yes, I'm doing fine… My boyfriend, his parents, and I were thinking about coming in tonight… Any space for us?… Nick, you are such a sweetie!… Is Peach working the bar tonight?… Great!… Alright, I'll see you at seven!… Toodles…"
She hung up the phone and looked back to Lisa and Troy. "I'm going to go back home so I can change." She looked at Troy. "Pick me up at six thirty?"
"Of course. I'll be there!!" he yelled after her as she walked towards her car. He quickly ran to the passenger window and knocked. She rolled it down. "And Pay, don't forget what we talked to Ms. Darbus about today."
"Later, Troy." She leaned over and kissed him quickly. "I love you!"
"Love you too!" Sharpay drove off and left Troy standing in his driveway smiling. He turned around to see that his Mom had already disappeared into the house. "I am the luckiest guy in the world!" He went inside and got ready.
At exactly six thirty, Troy rang the doorbell at Sharpay's house. Troy was stunned when his girlfriend opened the door. She was wearing a tight black halter dress with pink sling-backs, a pink belt and pink jewelry. Her hair was wavy and her make-up looked natural. "Pay, have I ever told you how beautiful you are." He smiled at her and kissed her on the cheek.
"Maybe just a few times." She smiled and giggled a bit.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Just let me get my purse." As she walked off Troy couldn't help but notice that her dress accentuated her 'special' features. After Sharpay had gotten her purse, they left for the restaurant. On the ride there, Troy turned on Sharpay's 'Wicked' CD, but was surprised when Shar turned it back to the radio. He looked at her with a smile on his face. "Let's not think about the auditions tonight."
"Works for me." He smiled and turned it up a little. He reached over and took her hand, causing Shar to blush.
When they arrived at the restaurant, the valet took Troy's jeep and Troy took Sharpay's arm. They walked into the entrance and saw that Jack and Lisa were already there. "Hey guys. I'm going to go tell them we're here." They nodded and she walked over to the front desk. "Excuse me. Party of four for Evans." When the young male behind the desk turned around, Sharpay sighed. "Hi Anthony." Anthony stood up.
"Hey baby!" he hugged her but his hands somehow found her ass instead of her back. Sharpay jumped and pushed Anthony away. Luckily, Troy saw this and walked over.
"Is there a problem here, Pay?" he put his arm around her waist and stood close to her.
"No, Anthony was just about to go get Nick for me." She looked at Anthony with a 'do it now!' look on her face. He left and immediately brought Nick and Sam back with him. Troy let go because he realized it was safe. Nick and Sam were obviously not into girls. Sharpay hugged them both and stood back. "Guys, this is Troy Bolton. Troy, this is Nick and Sam."
"Nice to meet you both." Troy shook their hands and then took Sharpay's back. Nick spoke up.
"Girl, where did you find him? Wherever it is, just tell me where to go!" They all laughed and then Sam, the less-gay one, spoke up:
"Shar, you look amazing tonight! And so do you Troy… Let me just get some menus and then I'll show you to your table." He picked up four menus and then led all four to a round booth in the middle of the restaurant. "Here you go. Carrie will be right with you."
"Thank you Sam!!" she yelled after him. "Does anyone want anything from the bar? I'm going to say hello to the bartender.' Troy was about to say 'beer', but stopped when he realized his parents were there, but they noticed.
"Go ahead, Troy. It's fine for tonight. I'll also take a beer, please." Jack spoke up.
"And I'll take a glass of the house red wine."
"Okay, I'll be back!" Troy watched Sharpay walk over to the bar and hug a man with blonde hair. He guessed it was 'Peach'." She ordered the drinks and then she and Peach carried them over. "Here you go everybody!" When Sharpay sat the drinks down, she introduced Peach to everyone and he promised he would stop back by later.
After everyone had ordered, they sat talking amongst themselves. Lisa, who was sitting across from Sharpay, started an important conversation. "Sharpay, I know you probably don't want to talk about this right now, but have you decided what you're going to do about living arrangements?" When Troy heard this he was immediately sucked into the conversation.
"Mom, can't we talk about this later?" he asked with pleading eyes. Lisa was about to respond but Sharpay beat her to the punch.
"No, Troy. We need to talk about this." She scooted closer to him and took his hand in hers. "It's okay." Troy looked at her and kissed her forehead.
"If it's okay with you." Troy looked up at his mom and motioned for her to continue.
"Sharpay, have you thought anymore about where you're going to be living?"
"Not really. I've pretty much been avoiding the subject until this morning." Lisa gave her a questioning look so she continued: "Ms. Darbus pulled Troy and I into a classroom and told me that she wants me to come and live with her. I don't know if I can do that though. I've been around her all of my life and I think I need some freedom. Maybe I'll just live on my own."
"Sharpay, I know that we legally cannot control you in any way, but we cannot allow you to live on your own. You're seventeen; you're not even a legal adult yet." She stopped and looked at her husband sitting next to her, who nodded. "Now, we haven't talked to Troy about this yet, but Jack and I decided that, if you wanted to, you could move in with us. You could either live in the house, or if you wanted more privacy, we could give you the pool house."
Both Troy and Sharpay looked across the table in shock, not thinking that this conversation just happened. Troy uttered the first words: "Mom, Dad, are ya'll serious?"
"Yes, Troy, we are." Sharpay was just sitting there, not saying anything. "Sharpay, what do you think?"
"Oh my god. Lisa, Jack, ya'll are the best ever. I can't believe that this is actually happening! Of course I would love to live with ya'll." Sharpay stood up and hugged both of them. When she sat down, she was still speechless. "I'll be right back." She got up and walked to the bathroom. About five minutes later she came back and sat down.
"Are you okay, Pay? You don't look so good." Troy put his arm around her and she leaned back on his chest.
"Troy, I have never been happier in my life." She sat back up and looked around. "The other day I remembered that next Friday is your birthday. I know that you've always wanted to go to Hawaii." Troy raised his eyebrows. "I was thinking that, if your parents were okay with it, that I would take you." She turned to Lisa and Jack. "And I was also thinking that ya'll could come if you wanted."
Lisa and Jack looked at each other and then back at Sharpay. "Hawaii here we come!"
"Really? That's great! And we can get three rooms and-" Sharpay was cut off by Jack.
"Sharpay, we don't need three rooms. Two will be enough. Ya'll are old enough to make your own decisions." He smiled at them and Sharpay blushed when she realized what he was implying.
"OH, Troy and I don't…we aren't…-" she stuttered to find the right words without sounding too sexual, but was cut off by Lisa laughing.
"Sharpay, we know. And even if you were, we don't want to know." Sharpay blushed even harder and looked around awkwardly. "So, when do we leave?"
"Well, Monday is the auditions and Callbacks will be Thursday, so I figured we'd leave Thursday evening. Do you think that you could take off Friday, coach?"
"I'm sure I can work something out."
"Awesome! I am so excited!" The whole time Troy had been just sitting there taking it all in.
"Pay, you don't have to do this."
"I know, Troy. But I want to. It's your eighteenth birthday. It should be special." She smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you."
They all ate and then they were just sitting together about to leave. Sharpay quietly got up from the table and went up to the front desk to find Nick and Sam arguing. "Um, guys? I need to pay." She went to give them her credit card, but they wouldn't take it.
"Shar, you know you never pay here. You're part of the family. And, now, so is Troy's family." Nick said sweetly as he hugged her.
"Thank you, you guys." She went to walk off but stopped. "Oh, and by the way, I'm moving in with them." She winked at them and then walked off back to the table. "Are ya'll ready to go?"
"Yeah, but what about the check?" Jack asked.
"Don't worry about it. It's all taken care of." Sharpay smiled and took Troy's hand.
Once they were out in the car, they drove back to Sharpay's house so that she could pack a bag and get her car. Even though the night had turned out perfect, there were still a lot of issues to be covered. But those would have to be taken care of later. After a long night's sleep. In bed. With Troy. ;-)