A/N: Whitney here! Mm, yeah. So how's everyone's Christmas break going? Mine's been pretty swell. I've been just hanging with friends and watching Gossip Girl. Aha. I'm obsessed now. Plus, I'm going to marry Chace Crawford someday. Didn't you know? After I marry Zac Efron of course. : P All right I'm done being stupid. Back to the Tramp Next Door. Remember to leave inspiring reviews! Love, Whitney.
"Drop everything, start it all over. Remember more then you'd like to forget."
-TAKING BACK SUNDAY
Troy's Mind-
"She's such a little hottie though, Troy. How can you not notice that?" Chad had approached me early that morning, ranting on and on about Gabriella Montez.
Honestly, I already heard enough about her from Zeke.
I was so upset with her about everything she said the night before; I couldn't bring myself to even listen to Chad. I just tuned him out as I yanked my books out of my locker and walked with him to first hour.
"I just don't know how to ask her though, man. Do you have any suggestions?" He asked, interrupting my thoughts by stopping, and just looking at me, inquisitively.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes, "Man, I don't know. Just ask her, I guess." I guess he could notice the soreness in my tone.
"Dude, what's with you man?" He inquired, raising an eyebrow. "Usually you're more supportive."
"Just . . . you know, the usual - my dad and basketball." I was so sick and tired of using that as my excuse for everything. I mean, neither of them even mattered that much anymore.
Chad scoffed, "Oh come on, Bolton. I heard a rumor, something about Gabriella telling off your dad last night. Is that what's eating you, man?" He seemed only amused by this. "Because you and I both know that most people are scared out of their pants of your dad, including you. That's pretty ballsy of her to face up to him like that. I think that just makes her even more awesome." Now he was ranting again.
"Yeah, whatever." I murmured, secretly hoping the conversation would end.
At the moment, I just disliked the girl, a lot. I mean, she basically was dwelling into my personal life, acting like she knew everything about me last night. She didn't even know me, at all. She had no right to say anything that she said. But at the same time, the fact that everything she said was true . . . that killed me even more. And I wasn't one to weaken at the sake of someone's words.
It's stupid, yeah. I wasn't easy to break, but you start throwing reality at me, I start realizing how hopeless I really am, and how much I really do hate my life. And how my whole future is laid out for me, and I can't be who I want to be. But at the same time, it's like, who do I even want to be?
Obviously not Jack Bolton's perfect son.
Chad headed off for his Math class, waving at me as we departed. He never really got aggravated with me. Actually, take that back, the guy never really got aggravated with anyone. He was so easygoing, so optimistic all the time. You'd have to go out of your way to annoy the guy. He was just friendly, down to earth, and kind-hearted. He didn't deserve Gabriella to slut her way into his life and break his heart.
Alright, that was rather harsh. But seriously, what made her go to the extremes of trifling with Chad? He was a good guy, he had a good heart. He didn't need to have some ignorant girl ruin his life.
"Yo, T, wait up, dawg." I inwardly dreaded hearing Zeke's obnoxious cat-calling from behind me. He approached me, all of his books in hand, eager to walk to first hour. I really didn't need to listen to his rambling about Gabriella either.
"Look, Zeke. . . today's really not the day, alright?" I warned him, beginning to walk with him.
"Shit, it's never your day, man. What's up your ass? Cockroaches?" He joked, elbowing me.
"Dude, that's not even funny anymore. It never was."
"Whatever man, it used to make you laugh, before you became Ebenezer Scrooge. Seriously, what gives, bro?"
I rolled my eyes, "Nice comparison, man. I'm just not into the drama today, alright? I don't care."
"No, that's because you're involved. Shit, I heard Baby G bitched out your daddy. That's pretty sweet. 'Bout time someone yanked that wrench outta his tight ass." I couldn't help but cringe at the mention of Gabriella—I just couldn't stand hearing about her.
"Man, just stop. I don't even wanna talk about that." I groaned.
"Dawg, tell me everything. I wanna hear what she did to break your heart, man. 'Because that woman is fucking fire, and she'll turn you into ashes like a plastic surgeon did to Michael Jackson's black nose."
"You're messed up. And I don't wanna talk about her." I was getting more aggravated with him.
"What, you don't like my little color-confused singer?" He chuckled. "Shit, dawg, don't lie, you especially like the song Beat it 'cause in your spare time—"
"Zeke, I think I know where you're getting, and can we just please not talk about anything that involves girls, sex, or masturbation for like… a day?" I stopped walking and looked at him, dead-serious.
He stopped too, folding his arms. "Well, hot damn, Troy, what's the deal? Seriously, you gotta at least tell me man, I'm like your brother, from another mother. Couldn't be from the same mother, 'cause yo' mamma is so damn fiiiine."
"Dude, that's disgusting." I furrowed my eyebrows at him.
"Ugh, okay, Mr. Aiken, shit. You're more like Ellen DeGeneres actually with that hair."
"Dude, do you have a problem with gay people? Seriously, Ellen's funny. And you talk about Clay so much; I'm starting to think you're having a bromance." I gave him a quaint frown.
"Yeah, 'because I just love the way his eye sorta twitches when he sings." Zeke responded, sarcastically.
My eyes widened, "Dude you just admitted that you watch him sing."
"Aw hell no, I just liked to watch Paula get up there and judge everyone, looking fly as hell."
"Paula is pretty good-looking." I confessed.
"Dude, yeah, I would fuck her so nice she wouldn't know what the fuck hit her. She would think that she went to Pluto and back, dawg."
I rolled my eyes. "Man, what is up with you and sex?"
"Maybe if you actually got some from Gabriella Montez you'd know why I'm so fucking into it, dawg. You need to get your head in the game, man. It's time." Zeke told me.
"You sound like my dad. And I have more important things to do besides mess with that lying, ignorant, deceiving whore..." I breathed, angrily, letting my frustration get the best of me.
"Whoa." Zeke looked shocked to my sudden burst of resentment. But his eyes were more captivated on something from behind me.
I ignored his baroque expression, "No, but dude, seriously, don't talk about her anymore. She's just going to hurt you, and Chad, Ryan, whoever else . . . she tried to talk to me man, and I don't even like her. She's not even attractive if you really look at her. Just forget about her, she's selfish and a spoiled brat—her parents can't even stand her, how can you expect someone else to?" I looked away. "I sure can't."
Zeke was trying to desperately cut me off, "Dude, Troy . . . man . . . look behind you." He looked so petrified and freaked out. I was almost scared to turn around.
I slowly turned around, suddenly face-to-face with a really pissed off Gabriella Montez. Not only did she look pissed off, her eyes were upheld with tears. I then realized that she was right behind me the entire time I said everything about her. Penitence washed over me like crazy as she just stared at me, looking more hurt and confused then infuriated. "Gabriella. . . I-"I began, about to apologize out of mere guilt.
"Thanks, Troy. And you got pissed at me judging you . . . well; at least what I said was the truth." She scoffed, turning back around, beginning to walk away.
Zeke watched her then his eyes flickered back to me, "Well . . . fuck, that's my cue man. I'm gonna go console her. That was rough, but shit, it happens. I hope you figure things out bro."
It was strange that he seemed to vanish faster then I could even blink, running after her like she meant the world to him—proposing to console her, somehow. I watched him go after her, dramatically, like he was in some movie scene or something. Why was he so obsessed with her, so infatuated by the girl? I felt stupid.
I just shoved a hand in my pocket and headed towards my first hour, the remorse following me with every step. I was extremely upset with her, but everything I said was just harsh. I literally labeled her; I even said she was hideous, practically. I mean, she wasn't. . . Why did it even matter though? Yeah, she overheard me. Why did it matter? I wasn't even sure. I didn't like her, nor did I care about her feelings. She didn't even have feelings. She was busy toying with my friend's. So why did it matter? It didn't. I needed to just stop regretting it, to stop having a heart, to stop worrying. . .
But when I got into Art class and she wasn't there, I didn't understand it.
"Dude, why the hell isn't Baby G here man?" Zeke looked to me for answers, as if I was the one who knew everything.
I knew that I said a few things, but she wouldn't have taken them that much to heart. I wasn't that important.
"I don't know, man? Maybe she had a doctor appointment?" I suggested, heedlessly, as I began to work on my art project which was due Friday.
Zeke just gaped at me, incredulously, like I was an idiot. "That's . . . a load of shenanigans, and you know that, man. She was crying after you yelled at her."
I furrowed my eyebrows. Yeah, right. "She wasn't, man. She was mad, that's all. She wouldn't show up to class because of me. She has other guys to turn to, right?" I snorted.
"Like who? The guy who does yoga? Shit, dawg, you know you beat out fucking Danforth and that little pussy bitch, Ryan. You're Troy Bolton, remember? Girls are fucking obsessed with you. You act like she wouldn't like you. That's the stupidest shit I've ever heard."
I don't know why he was getting so dramatic, but I cringed. "No, it's not. Look, why don't you go have sex with someone? I'm not into talking about this - because it doesn't matter." I snarled at him.
That shut him up; he went back to working on his project.
However, it wasn't long before Sharpay Evans came storming into class, looking fierce, but also really cross. I looked up casually, while I could hear Zeke wheezing from behind me, probably picturing her naked or something. I winced as she approached our table, glaring. "Troy Bolton." She always sounded so stern when she said my name, so this wasn't anything new.
"Good morning to you too, Sharpay." I muttered.
"So, what is your problem, exactly? The last time I talked to Gabriella, she mentioned she overheard you talking or something. She looked really mad, Troy. And now she's not in class. That's just pure irony, you know?" She was looking at me, as if searching for answers. Her brown eyes were so intense—they were rigid, like rocks.
"Are you kidding me? I said a few things, yeah, but you know what? Gabriella is into yoga boy and Chad, and she doesn't care about anyone except for herself. Even you know that she doesn't care, so why are you even accusing me? I was just saying like it is." I sounded so heartless, so cold and emotionless, it was abnormal.
"Look, I'm not even that good of friends with her enough to slap you or something, but that's kind of low, Troy. I mean she hasn't done anything with Chad or Ryan. Girls have the right to be free too. We don't call you arrogant or a pretty boy, so you shouldn't say things like that to Gabriella." I was surprised at how defensive Sharpay was.
"Sharpay." My tone softened, as did my eyes. "I didn't realize she was there . . . seriously. I had no idea."
Her expression didn't weaken. She still looked angry. "Yeah, well tell her that, not me. She's new, she doesn't deserve problems." Her hair flickered to her back, attractively, as she walked away from our table, bombastically.
My eyes wandered back to Zeke, who was practically drooling. "Wow." He gasped. "I knew she was a bitch, but hot damn, she is a huge bitch." He grinned, wider.
"Dude you are sick." I muttered. I looked down for a second, and then looked back up.
My eyes caught onto someone who was walking into the Art room, her hair messy and long, her eyes dark and inscrutable. Zeke's eyes caught onto her, also.
She didn't meet our eyes, as she walked passed our table, ignoring both our existences. I felt horrible at that second, like a knife just got jabbed into my heart. I wasn't used to those feelings, either. I just felt nauseous, like I could have thrown up.
Curiously, my eyes moved over to their table. Gabriella's head was down low, and Sharpay was muttering things to her. God, I felt so bad. And I had no idea why.
I blanked. Studying was never a way of distracting a guy. I just couldn't think any more. My mind was done. It was overdone, too much. I had a migraine. I closed my eyes for a second, looking out the window, frustrated, stressed out. I was so sick and tired of trying so hard to impress everyone, to impress my family, to live up to their expectations.
I let out a loud sigh as I noticed the Montez's lights were all on, vibrantly. I seen shadows pass their blinds, well one. I could tell it was Gabriella by the length of her curly, extraordinarily beautiful hair. I still felt bad about today. She didn't deserve that, did she? I mean, even if she was a whore, there was a reason to it . . . wasn't there? Maybe there was more to her, maybe I was being too judgmental. I watched her figure. She stripped off a shirt and put on another. I could see the outline of her figure, her perfect, symmetrical hips, and her inviting legs. God I needed to apologize.
I grabbed my basketball from the side of my bedroom, and headed outside, careless to how dark it was outside. I heard my mom call after me as I sprinted out the backdoor, heading towards the hoop. I just needed to let off some steam that was all. I needed to stop thinking.
My aim always seemed erroneous. I always missed. I had no idea why I couldn't aim well. I groaned to no one in particular and just threw the ball into the garage. I took a seat on the porch steps, just watching the sky. It looked breathtaking—it was filled with so many stars, in a countless number. My eyes darted from the sky back to the Montez's house. Gabriella. She was looking out the window; her eyes were facing the sky too. I rubbed my temple, frustrated to my sudden worry about her.
"What are you doing out here, so late?" My dad's voice interrupted my thoughts, as he appeared from the back door, his eyes on me, confused.
He grabbed the basketball I threw into the garage, and went up for a shoot, making a perfect aim. I watched, enviously.
"Just . . . thinking." I confessed, not sure how to respond.
"You didn't even say hello to me or your mother today when you came home." He noted, a bit implicated for once, as he made another hoop.
"Yeah. . . I've just been studying a lot, I guess."
"I wanted to talk with you about the other night with the Montez's." He began, his eyes now falling to me, as he put down the ball. He took a seat next to me.
I sighed, looking up to the sky, "Yeah, I know, Dad, she's crazy."
"Troy, she's right." The weirdest thing in the world had just happened—my own father was now disregarding himself. He never admitted he was wrong before. And here he was, claiming that he was in the wrong and Gabriella was right. What was going on with my world?
"Wait, what?" I asked, thinking I heard wrong, as I fixated my eyes on my usual stubborn father.
"There are a few things she said that were, well, definitely inappropriate, but, the gist of it is… Troy, this is your life." He sounded solemn. His eyes met mine. "We aren't trying to mold you into something spectacular. We're just trying to protect you. We're making sure that you won't wake up in twenty years and find yourself. . . well, sitting in a bar, without any money in your pockets. We want you to be happy."
"Dad, you freak out if I get a C on a paper that I always retake anyways. You don't have to remind me. I know what I want my future to be like." I replied. "I feel like I'm on the edge all the time, trying to be perfect for you and Mom. That's kind of hard."
"It is . . . but son, it's what my father always did." He looked away, distractedly. "It worked. I mean, look at us, we live in a house, we have food to eat, we actually have a lot more then most people. All of that extra studying, all of that lecturing . . . it was worth it, because, I like where I am now. I have a wife, a kid, and a house . . . a great job." He chuckled.
It was funny because I actually understood him, for once.
"Yeah I get that. . ."
"But don't ever feel like we're trying to make you someone you're not. You are Troy Bolton; you're not just some other guy. You're you."
"Dad, that's what it is!" I frowned at him, exasperated. "What if I just want to be the other guy? What if I don't want people to depend on me so much? I mean, I wanna feel normal, I don't wanna feel like everybody is expecting me to be the greatest. I'm not that."
"But think of it this way, Troy. You're going to always have people there for you, you'll always have someone to turn to, and you'll never be lonely. When Gabriella goes to bed at night, the only person she can turn to is herself, because she's pushed everybody else out of her life already, including her parents." He patted my shoulder, "It's late, you should come in soon . . . but just remember, Troy, it's not always greener on the other side. You make us proud by just having our name. Goodnight son."
I watched him walk into the house.
He was right about everything, but at the same time, it seemed to bother me, what he said about Gabriella. She deserved it, right? She deserved what I said too, didn't she? I had no idea why I was obsessing over it - because I made her cry? I couldn't have . . . could I of? God, I was too nice of a guy to make a girl cry.
So, I decided I would talk to her tomorrow, and make everything alright, despite how many guys she was flirting with or how many of my friends she was messing with.
But God, I never thought that this would lead to everything I didn't want.
END OF CHAPTER
Sorry it's shorter then most. But it's just the good guy in Troy. He feels bad now. And yes he did make her cry. Why? Because she doesn't like people calling her a whore. She has feelings, you know. Well, it's way too early for me to continue writing. SO leave me a few reviews and I'll give you an extra long chapter next chapter!