Chapter 24
"And you're telling me this because….?"
Troy and his father were standing outside of the school.
"Troy, I need a job. I need to get this one back."
"Dad, you deserved to lose it."
"You be quiet, young man."
"Well, either way, I'm not getting you your job back."
"Do not make me do something to you that will make you feel…. Hurt."
"Oh. I am so scared."
"Enough with your sarcasm."
"I have to get to class, Dad. Sorry."
Troy left his father.
As he waked into the school, he noticed Yena, Emmy's old friend. Her two sidekicks were next to her. They didn't notice him.
"What a freak," Yena said. "I can't believe we were ever friends with that loser."
"I know what you mean," one of the sidekicks said. "Emmy is so stupid."
"Well, too bad she couldn't get us to Troy Bolton," the other one said.
"Yeah. But, either way, she is such a slut."
The two sidekicks nodded.
Yena flipped her hair. "Emmy the slut."
"Hey!" Troy walked towards them.
"Oh my God, it's Troy Bolton!" Yena screamed.
"Were you just calling my cousin a slut?"
"Uh, well, um, well….."
"She is not a slut. She's going through a lot in her life. So, take it back."
"Troy, we can't help that your cousin is a slut."
"She is not a slut!"
"Have you taken a look at her lately?" "NO! BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT?! SHE RAN AWAY! I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS! SO JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Yena's face fell. "Oh. I didn't--"
"Just go."
Yena and the two sidekicks left Troy standing in the deserted hallways.
****
Gabriella turned up the volume of the radio. She needed some music. It was going to be a long ride.
Sandy had let her borrow her car, since Gabriella didn't have hers with her. Sandy's car was a convertible, so it was nice to feel the breeze.
Gabriella bobbed her head to the music as she drove. The cool breeze was sensational.
Her cell began to ring. She picked it up. It was a number she didn't recognize.
"Hello?"
"Gabriella?"
"Yes. Who's this?"
"It's Emmy."
"Oh, Emmy! How are you?"
"Okay, I guess."
"Where are you? Troy said you ran away."
"I'm at some clinic."
"Oh. Well, why'd you call?"
"I really regret what I've done with my life."
Gabriella didn't know what to say to this.
"I've turned into a freak. An ugly freak."
"You're not ugly."
"Yes, I am, Gabriella. If you could only see me."
"Emmy, you are beautiful. Inside and out. You've just made some bad decisions."
Emmy was silent.
"So, how has Troy been?"
"I don't know. I've been stuck in this clinic all day. Besides, shouldn't you know?"
"Well, actually, I'm heading back from my trip to Wisconsin."
"You went to Wisconsin?"
"Yeah, but I'm coming back."
"Oh. That's good, I guess."
"Well, Emmy, I'd better go."
"Okay. I'll see you later."
"Bye."
Gabriella set her phone down. She had to smile. At least Emmy was getting help.
****
"Sharpay?"
Sharpay turned around to find Troy. "Oh. Hi."
"Do you still have that 'T' necklace?"
Sharpay turned back to her locker and took it out.
"Thanks."
"Who's it for?"
"Velma."
Sharpay glared at him. "You're seriously giving up on Gabriella?" "She gave up on me."
"Troy, all of her old friends are in Wisconsin."
"So? All of her other friends are here!"
Sharpay shook her head. "Have you even gotten to know Velma?"
"Uh, yeah."
"How old is she?"
Troy thought about it. He shrugged.
"See? For all you know, she could be a freshman."
"She is not."
Sharpay slammed her locker door shut. "I was wrong for trying to get you away from Gabriella. But now you're wrong for going through with it."
She left him and walked down the hall.
She bumped into Ryan.
"Hey, sis."
"Hi, Ryan."
"So, did you talk to Troy?"
She nodded. "He won't listen to me."
Ryan shook his head. "It's such a shame."
Sharpay nodded as she took out her vibrating cell. "Oh, God. It's Gabriella."
"Well, answer it."
Sharpay moved over to the side and answered. "Hey, Gabs."
"Hi, Sharpay."
"So, I heard you're in Wisconsin."
"Well, I was."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm coming back."
"WHAT?!"
"Yeah. I mean, I know that you like him also, but I'm in love with Troy. I can't help it. I hope you don't mind."
Sharpay shook her head. "I don't mind. I'm over him."
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Well, I'll see you later. I should be there in a couple of days. Bye."
Sharpay shut her phone and put it back in her bag.
"So?"
"She's coming home."
"Seriously?"
Sharpay nodded. "Yeah."
****
"I'm sorry, Mom. I know, I should've told you."
Right after she talked to Sharpay, Gabriella called her mother. She had gotten a scolding.
"I've been worried. I've been having police going out and looking for you. Besides, you should be in the hospital."
"I know, and I'm sorry."
Her mother was silent.
"But, I'm coming home, so don't worry anymore."
"Be careful."
"I will."
Gabriella listened as her mother hung up the phone. After this, she also hung her phone up.
Gabriella could already feel Troy's presence. He was there with her, even though he was far away.
Gabriella would make it all up to him. She would have to find a way. But, she knew he would never do anything to hurt her. Not on purpose.
She smiled to herself. Troy was a great guy. He'd wait for her. Even though he didn't know she was coming back, he wouldn't go out with another girl.
She stopped at a stoplight. She sat back in her chair and waited for the light to turn green.
As she waited, a truck pulled up next to her. Some scummy-looking guy was driving it.
She looked forward. She didn't want to look at him, although he looked familiar….
The light turned green. As she drove, she thought about the guy. Where had she seen him before?
James Portbalk! That's who he was! He was some famous star who had a reputation. And it wasn't a good one.
She would have been freaking out if he wasn't so scummy. She knew Troy would never sink down to James's level.
****
Emmy sat in a corner of the room. She wrapped her arms around her legs as she rocked back and forth. The room was cold. It was dark. It was lonely.
A doctor hadn't come and seen her since she was put in the room. She was really hungry.
She walked over. She tried to open the door, but it was locked.
She began banging on it. She screamed.
After a while, a woman came and opened the door.
"Have you guys forgotten about me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Nobody's come to give me any food. I've been in there for hours."
"That's the point. You have to learn your lesson the hard way."
"By starving myself?" "Well, no, not exactly…. We'll bring you some food… sometime."
"But I'm hungry!"
"Too bad! You've ruined your life, why should you continue it?" "What are you saying?"
The woman looked at her. "Eating is a privilege. If it means for you to starve to learn your lesson, then that's what'll happen. Now get back in the room."