Chapter 13

Gabriella wiped her eyes as she walked into her Algebra class. She had more important things to worry about, like her work.

She walked over to her friend, Taylor McKessie. She sat down next to her.

"Hey," Taylor said, reading a book.

"Hi."

"So, anything new? I mean, we haven't really talked a lot since you've been hanging out with Sharpay."

"Taylor, I'm sorry. A lot has been going on."

"Well, of course, I wouldn't know about them."

"Taylor, just take my word for it."

Taylor shook her head and rolled her eyes.

Gabriella took out a notebook. She started to write down random words.

"Alright, class," their teacher said, coming in.

Gabriella put her notebook away. She took out her calculator.

"Today we will be learning about the square roots of numbers. Now, who can…."

"Excuse me?"

The teacher turned towards the door. It was Chad Danforth.

"Yes, Chad, what do you want?"

"I need Gabriella Montez."

Gabriella stood up. She followed Chad out of the room. "What do you need me for?"

"Don't ask me. I was just told to come get you."

She followed him into the gym. He opened the door to the boys' locker room.

"I am not going in there."

"You have no choice."

Gabriella reluctantly followed Chad into the room. He led her to the Coach's room. Troy was in there already.

"Thanks, Danforth," Coach Bolton said.

Gabriella took a seat next to Troy. "What's going on?"

"What's going on is you've been making my star player, also known as my son, miss practice for some Science Club."

"It's his own choice, Mr. Bolton," Gabriella said, trying to defend himself.

"Well, you've been no help," Mr. Bolton said.

Gabriella looked at Troy. He looked back at her.

"Dad, what would you rather have me do? Go to Science Club, or go make a girl pregnant."

"What?!"

"Troy, I am not pregnant. I told you."

"Gabriella, I don't know what I can believe anymore."

"You made her pregnant?!"

"No, Dad, I didn't. I'm responsible."

"You're pregnant, though?"

"No, Mr. Bolton, I am not. I thought I was, but I'm not."

Troy shook his head. "Dad, just get to the point of why you brought us here."

"Well, for one thing, I am going to give her a detention."

"What? I didn't do anything! Why do I deserve a detention?"

"You're helping Troy miss practice!"

"Dad, it's my fault…."

"Troy, nonsense. Although, you are really close to being kicked off the team."

Troy sighed.

"I think this isn't necessary," Gabriella said, standing up.

"Sit down!"

Gabriella sat down, crossing her arms. "Now, Gabriella, you will serve a day of detention. I also expect you to apologize to my son."

"For what?" Gabriella was not happy.

"For getting him very close to being kicked off the team."

Gabriella sighed. "I'm sorry, Troy. I'm sorry that we ever met!"

With that, she bolted out of the room.

"Thanks a lot, Dad."

"Troy, I thought you and her weren't talking to each other."

"That doesn't mean I don't care about her. So, we're going through a rough patch. That happens."

"Well, either way, she's still getting a detention."

"Then I'm going to be there with her."

"What?"

"If she has to go to detention, I'm going, too."

"Why? I mean, what good will it do?"

"Dad, I made a mistake. Now, Gabriella's mad at me."

"Maybe it's for the best."

Troy glared at his father.

"Hey, man," Chad said, coming into the office. "I don't know what you did to set her off, but she was so mad coming out of here! Man, she pushed me down! That ain't cool!"

Troy stared at him. "How hard did she push you down?"

"Well, it was more of a shove, but it still hurt…. On the inside."

Troy rolled his eyes.

"You boys had better get back to class," Coach Bolton said, putting his feet up on his desk. "Troy, I expect to see you at practice today."

"Yeah, I'll be there. Since I'm obviously not invited to Science Club anymore."

Troy and Chad walked out of the gym.

"Dude, you really need to start showing up for practice."

"I just said I'm coming today!"

"I know, but still. You're letting the team down."

"Yeah, I seem to be letting a lot of people down. Especially Gabriella."

"If you still like her, why are you going out with Sharpay?"

"Gabriella took Ryan, and I wasn't thinking. I just grabbed Sharpay to make Gabriella jealous, I suppose."

"Nice going."

"Chad, you could be supportive."

"Dude, I can't really be on your side on this one….."

"Man, I thought she was pregnant! What was I supposed to do? Just say it was okay?"

"You probably should have stood by her."

"Since when are you all sensitive and thinking about others' feelings?"

"I can do what I want. It's a free country. I mean, isn't it? New Mexico is apart of the United States, right?"

"Yeah."

"The United States is a free country, I think. Or isn't it?"

"Dude, are you that stupid?"

"I sleep in History, okay. But either way, you need to apologize to Gabriella. Some way."

"I don't know how."

"Neither do I. Se ya."

Chad left Troy. Just as he was about to go back to class, Troy noticed Emmy walking down the hall.

"Hey, what are you doing?" he asked her.

"Uh, going to the bathroom. Why?"

"Why are you going to the bathroom?"

"Why are you standing around like an idiot?"

"Emmy, don't call me an idiot."

"Sometimes you have to face the truth, buddy."

"Emmy. Do not tell me you are cutting class to go smoke."

"I DON'T HAVE ANY CIGARETTES! AMY TOOK THEM AWAY FROM ME!"

"Well, that's good."

"No, it's not. I can hardly get through one class, that's how much I need it!"

"It's good that you're learning to go without all of that stuff."

Emmy sighed. "You're a frickin moron."

"Emmy….."

Emmy shoved him. "Now, I need to use the bathroom."

A voice on the intercom came over the hallways. "Emmy Bolton, could you please come to the principal's office? Emmy Bolton."

Emmy stomped her foot. "Guess I'm not going to the bathroom."

****

"So, you're saying that my parents left the house? Like, there's nothing there?"

"Neighbors have said that after you left, a moving truck came. They packed quickly, and the house in abandoned."

Emmy kicked the principal's desk. "What a bunch of idiots."

"One of your neighbors said that they went up to talk to them. The reason they left is because….. Of you."

"Wow, what a frickin stupid excuse."

"They said they were ashamed of you and couldn't live with you anymore. They just gave up."

Emmy snorted. "There's a shock."

"Emmy, you must take this seriously…."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because! If my own parents gave up on me, just because I changed, I don't think that I should give them the mercy of taking them seriously."

The principal nodded. "I understand."

"No, you don't. Nobody does."

"Emmy, I want to help…."

"That's what everybody says. They all say they want to help me. But what help can I get? My own parents can't even help me."

"Emmy…."

"Just shut up, okay?"

"Well, Emmy, I called your therapist…"

"WHAT?!"

"Troy gave me her number, and after I found out about this, I thought that maybe you should miss class to talk to her, and….."

"Hey, Emmy!" said a squeal from behind. Emmy turned around to see Amy.

"Oh, God." Emmy was not happy to see Amy.

"Hey, I heard about your parents. Do you want to come with me and discuss it over the art of puppetry?" She took out a dog hand puppet and a horse hand puppet.

Emmy turned to the principal. "I just got ditched by my parents, and now I'm going to go play with frickin hand puppets!"