A/N: First and foremost I'd like to apologize to everyone who has read this story. I feel like a terrible human being for not updating in over a year. When I began this story I thought I knew exactly where it was going, but as time passed I felt as though I had outgrown HSM. However, I recently saw Charlie St. Cloud and fell back in love with Zac Efron (ha) and I really want to finish this for all those who have supported me all this time.
I apologize in advance for the general lack of Troy in this chapter :[
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 17: The Perfect Storm part 3
Previously on Teenage World:
"It wasn't all a dream, was it?" [Sharpay]
"I wish it was." [Ryan]
"Where where you, I thought you'd come home after practice?" [Sam]
"I got in a fight…" [Hayden]
"A fight? Hayden! What were you thinking?" [Sam]
"Right now we need to be a family and stick together." [Vance Evans]
"You should have thought about that while you were cheating on mom! But now it's too late, because she's DEAD!" [Ryan]
"Dad? Wh-what are you doing here?" [Sharpay]
"I've come for the both of you." [Vance Evans]
To be continued . . .
Friday, January 11th 2008
11:27 PM
Evans' Estate
"I never thought we'd come back here," Sharpay said sadly as they walked through the familiar entrance of their old home. Ryan didn't say a word the entire time they were moving their things and remained silent as they returned to the place they once called home. Sharpay gave a sympathetic look to her brother. It was only a matter of time until they had to face their new step-mother, and their new "sister," Gabriella. There was no way this was going to end well.
"Ryan, Sharpay…" It looked like that time was right about now. Descending down the stairs was their father, the woman that ruined their parent's marriage, and none other than Gaby herself. "I know it's late," began Vance, "but I would like to formally introduce you to my wife Maria, and your new sister, Gabriella."
No one said a word. Sharpay did her best to keep her composure, and Ryan just went blank. Sharpay stole a glance at Gabriella and found her to be looking straight back at her. After their less than pleasant conversation earlier, she knew their reunion wouldn't be happy, but she wasn't expecting this. Gabriella's eyes were narrowed with hatred and disgust, all aimed at her. They held each other's gaze for what seemed like an eternity, but Sharpay couldn't stand it anymore and looked away.
Maria was the first to speak. "I know it that what your father and I did was wrong, and that because of that it isn't going to be easy to accept my daughter and me into your family. But believe me when I say that I never wished any harm upon your mother, and that I am very sorry that things ended the way they did."
Sharpay winced at the mention of her mother, and instinctively reached for Ryan's hand. She could feel the tension radiate off his skin and onto her own.
"I know that I will never be able to take the place of your mother, and believe me when I say that that is not my intention. I love your father, and I hope you can give me a chance to love you as well."
Sharpay gripped Ryan's hand a little tighter and tried to breathe evenly. This is way too much for just one day! Mom, I need you so much right now. She looked over at Ryan again and found him to be looking away, his teeth gritted in anger.
Dismissing to Maria's words, Sharpay looked at her father with an icy stare, "It's really late and we need to rest. My mother's service is tomorrow night, so if you'll so kindly excuse us..," she said before pulling Ryan up the stairs and into his old room.
Once the twins had disappeared from sight, Gabriella turned to face the couple. "I'm going to bed," was the only thing she said before turning abruptly and returning to her room.
After all the children had left, Maria turned to Vance and said in a low voice, "I think we should wait before giving them the news…"
Friday, January 11th 2008
11:45 PM
Evans' Estate-Ryan's room
Sharpay stood beside Ryan who was sitting on his bed with his face between his hands. She approached him cautiously and placed a tentative hand upon his shoulder. "Ryan…," she began quietly.
Ryan opened his mouth and said something for the first time in hours. "Not now Sharpay. Please, I really just want to be alone."
Sharpay quickly removed her hand and looked away felling hurt. "Oh…okay, see you in the morning then…" she said and then walked away, closing the door behind her.
She stood outside Ryan's door for a few minutes, feeling her heart break as she listened to his moans of anger, frustration, but most of all…agony. What can I do to make this better? Sharpay fought back her own tears and made her way to her own room, leaving her brother in privacy. As she walked through the familiar halls, she couldn't help but realize how everything felt so different…When she stood in front of her door, she hesitated for a moment, but finally opened it and stepped inside. Sharpay held her breath for a moment, and then let it out along with the tears she had been suppressing all night.
Sharpay leaned against the door, her sudden weight closing it shut, and slowly crumbled to the ground. She sat against the door for a long time, crying and looking through the window and into the heavens. Are you still watching over me mom?
Saturday, January 12th 2008
7:05 AM
Evans' Estate-Sharpay's Room
Sharpay woke to the sound of rain. Rain was a rare occurrence in Albuquerque—some would call it a blessing, but to Sharpay it did nothing more than to remind her of the tempest raging inside her heart. Wordlessly she sat up and looked through the glass of her balcony doors. Susana must have come to open the curtains…
Pulling the covers from her body, Sharpay rose from her bed and walked to her balcony. Trails of raindrops streaked along the panes of the French doors, one drop following the next. Sharpay quietly observed the world outside, before grasping either end of the curtains and slamming them shut. Without a second thought Sharpay turned her back on the balcony and walked toward her bathroom with a heavy heart.
The dull light passing through the curtains bathed the room in an eerie half-darkness, while the rain raged on outside.
Saturday, January 12th 2008
7:05 AM
Evans' Estate-Ryan's room
Ryan stood before his full-length mirror dressed in a fine suit of black. He raised a tie to his neck and mechanically went through the motions of adjusting it. His face was expressionless, and his stance was rigid. He looked every bit the Evans' mogul his father wished him to be. Contemplating his visage for the last time, Ryan turned away from the mirror and walked out of his bedroom.
Saturday, January 12th 2008
7:05 AM
Evans' Estate-Gabriella's room
Gabriella sat before her vanity dressed all in black. She bore no expression upon her face, and mechanically raised a brush to her ebony hair. Never breaking sight with the mirror, Gabriella pulled the brush through her silken strands, letting time pass her by in silence.
Saturday, January 12th 2008
8:16 AM
Evans' Estate-Dining Room
Vance Evans sat at the head of the table with his wife, Maria, at his right. Sharpay sat at her father's left, with Ryan sitting beside her. Gabriella sat opposite Ryan, avoiding making any eye contact with him whatsoever. The five of them ate in silence, each of them wrapped up in their own thoughts.
Finally, after a long time had passed, Maria broke the silence. Reaching across the table, she gently took Sharpay's hand into her own. "You look beautiful Sharpay. Your mother would be so proud."
Nearly exploding from rage, Sharpay yanked her hand out of Maria's grasp and stood from her seat. "Don't touch me! Don't you ever touch me again! You worthless, scheming whore!"
SLAP!
Sharpay held her hand upon her cheek, glaring at her father in disbelief.
"You will never speak to her that way again Sharpay!" said Vance, standing with his hand still raised, prepared to strike again. The entire table sat in a shocked silence until Ryan, livid, stood from his seat and faced his father. "DON'T YOU EVER TOUCH SHARPAY AGAIN!"
"Stay out of this Ryan! Your sister needs to learn some respect!" He made a move towards Sharpay, but Ryan intervened, shielding her from their father. In response to his son's audacity, Vance grabbed Ryan roughly by the shoulders. Just as he was about to throw him aside, a hand reached around and stopped him. Fueled by his anger, Vance released his hold on Ryan and thrust his shoulder backward, knocking into the person behind him and sending them to the ground with a crashing thud.
"Mom!" Gabriella gasped and rushed to her mother's side. Vance, horrified, realized what he had done and dropped to his knees beside Maria, who lay on the ground unconscious. "SUSANA! SUSANA!" he called frantically.
Susana appeared as quickly as she could, and gasped in horror at the sight of her new mistress on the ground. "Mr. Evans! What hap-"
"There's no time for that! What are you waiting for? Call an ambulance!"
Following Vance's orders, Susana rushed to the kitchen pushing past several other maids and cooks and finally reached the phone. Frantically she dialed the emergency number and was immediately connected to a dispatcher.
911: 911, what is your emergency?
S: My mistress is lying on the floor unconscious! I think she hit her head and she's not waking up! We need help immediately!
911: Where is your location?
S: The Evans' Estate in the upper Sandia Heights!
911: Evans'? As in…Vance Evans?
S: Oh for the love of—! Yes! Yes! Vance Evans! Now send us an ambulance!
911: Of course! Help is on its way!
Susanna hung up the phone and ran back to the dining room, followed by a dozen or so other servants who had learned of the catastrophe. Maria still lay unconscious, while Vance and Gabriella kneeled by her side. Ryan held Sharpay in his arms, while she looked on at the scene with an icy indifference.
"The ambulance is on its way, Mr. Evans!"
Vance tore his eyes away from Maria to acknowledge Susana in the doorway. "Thank you."
Susana nodded and proceeded to shoo the rest of the servants out of the room in order to offer the family some privacy.
A few minutes later, the sirens of the ambulance were heard and soon after that the paramedics came rushing into the dining room. Quickly and with great caution they put a neck brace around Maria's neck and pulled her onto the stretcher.
"We can take one person with us in the ambulance," said one of the paramedics.
"I'll go," said Vance. "She's my wife."
"Very well. Alright let's get her strapped and in the ambulance!" said the paramedic to his comrades.
While the paramedics pushed Maria away, Vance turned to face the three teenagers. "Ryan, bring your sisters and meet us at the hospital," he said before disappearing behind the paramedics.
Ryan grit his teeth at the word sisters. Sisters. As in, plural—as in Sharpay AND Gabriella. So that's how you see it? He thought to himself. The three of us siblings… Ryan sighed and turned his attention to his "sisters."
"Let's go," he said and headed toward the main entrance. Sharpay and Gabriella mutely trailed behind him as they made their way toward the pink convertible mustang conveniently parked in their roundabout driveway. Ryan took the driver's seat, while Sharpay slid into the passenger seat, leaving Gabriella to climb into the back. No one said a word throughout the entire drive.
Saturday, January 12th 2008
11:30AM
Albuquerque Hospital
The last hour had passed dreadfully slow. Vance, Gabriella, Ryan and Sharpay sat in the waiting room in silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts. The silence was finally broken by the arrival of the doctor with news of Maria's health. Vance immediately stood and extended his hand to the doctor, who shook it politely. The three teens also stood, but kept their distance from the conversation.
"Vance Evans. How is my wife doing?" Vance asked calmly, while releasing the doctor's hand.
"Well, the fall that Ms. Montez-Evans took was severe enough that it caused some head trauma. But other than a mild concussion, everything is fine. We expect a full recovery," the doctor said with a friendly smile on his face.
Gabriella heaved a sigh of relief at the doctor's words.
"What about the baby?" Vance asked the doctor nervously.
"WHAT?" the three teens screamed in unison.
Realizing his slip-up, Vance turned to the three of them and said, "Ryan, Sharpay, Gabriella, congratulations, you guys are going to have another sibling."
To be continued…
A/N: Well…what do you think? Still okay even after so long? Reviews are greatly appreciated—even if it's just to tell me what a horrible person I am for not updating in so long DX