Happy new year everyone! And here's a treat for you, I'm finally updating this fic! Sorry it's taken me so long, hopefully I'll have more time over the next few weeks to really get on with this. Thanks to everyone still reading, I know I kept you waiting ages and I'm sorry.

I hope you all like this chapter and review it again!

Okay -

A Family Affair

Chapter 7

Troy was sat on the floor in the middle of the room that had become his cell, staring at the locked door in front of him. For the hundreth time, he glanced down at his wrist, only to remember yet again that he had lost his watch. He couldn't remember where or how and it didn't seem to matter much anymore. Not knowing the time was just another way he was cut off from the life he'd known.

The life he would soon have to forget about.

He closed his eyes and brought his hands up to his face, trying to control the tremors that ripped through his body. He was scared, so scared. Not just of Eddie and Mickey but also of losing his mom and dad, of never seeing Gabriella or any of his friends again, even the thought of never playing basketball with Chad again terrified him. This was his life and he wanted it back. Everything he held dear was being taken away from him and all he could do was sit there and wait for it to happen.

He hated himself for being so weak. Why couldn't he fight back? Escape? People thought he was brave; the basketball team looked up to him- he was their leader. It was about time he acted like it.

Suddenly, the sound of the door being unlocked brought Troy out of his thoughts. He got carefully to his feet and prepared himself for whatever would happen next. He really didn't want to have to put up with Mickey and his wandering hands right at that moment. He felt real relief when the door swung open and Eddie walked through.

"Hello Troy, how are you?" Eddie asked brightly.

Troy managed a small smile and then backed further away as Mickey walked in behind Eddie. The larger man smirked at Troy and closed the door behind him. Seeing Troy's nervous reaction, Eddie moved closer, holding his hands up defensively.

"It's okay, Troy. No need to be scared. Mickey won't touch you."

Eddie turned his attention to the other man, his voice raising an octave as he addressed him. "Put the food on the table and leave at once, please Mickey."

Mickey snorted. "I get no fun!"

Eddie glared and Mickey laughed. "Fine, whatever. The brat ain't that important to me you see, Eddie."

He walked to the table and put the tray down. As he moved closer to Troy, the boy moved behind the table, as far away from Mickey as he could possibly get. Mickey gave the Wildcat a cheeky wink that made the boy's blood run cold. He chuckled, enjoying Troy's discomfort. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the sound of his own cell phone ringing.

He held up a hand. "Excuse me," Mickey said, giving Troy a mock bow. He answered the call and spoke in a low voice so Troy could not hear. He then crossed the room to Eddie and whispered in his ear.

Eddie grasped his hands together. "Excellent! We're all sorted then. Make the arrangements, Mickey."

"Sure thing," Mickey replied and began to leave the room, his phone still clasped to his ear. Just before he left the room, he cancelled the call, slipped the phone into his left hand jeans pocket and grinned cruelly at Troy. He then took his leave. Troy stared after him. The beginnings of a plan were beginning to form in his mind. The thought of what he would have to do to make the plan work made him feel sick to his stomach but he was starting to doubt how many options still remained open to him.

Eddie was smiling kindly at him. The man seemed completely unaware of Troy's obvious concern. Either that, or he was choosing to ignore it.

"Not long now, Son," Eddie said. "We'll be off soon!"

He followed Mickey out of the room. Troy watched the door close and heard that familiar sound of the key turning in the lock, his heart heavy.

We'll be off soon.

The four words echoed round in his head. He had no choice now, he had only one decision he could make if he wanted to be free.

His time had run out. Mickey was his only route out of this Hell.

XX

Ryan was leaning against a wall, his eyes trained on the building in front of him. Ever since his conversation with Chad and Gabriella earlier that day, he had felt uneasy. Something was definitely wrong. Where was Troy? And why was Gabriella acting so strangely? She had never let Sharpay get to her like this. Ryan had known of only one occasion when Gabriella had risen to the bait and that was when the dark haired girl believed she was losing Troy. Was that what was scaring her now too? Ryan shivered and he wasn't sure why. Something was not right and Ryan wanted to know what was going on.

Since the previous summer, the young Evans had felt separated from his sister and her bitchiness. In fact, he had even begun to consider himself a Wildcat. It pained him to think something nasty had befallen Troy, the other boy had never been anything but kind to him. If something was wrong with Bolton, Ryan wanted to help and that was all there was too it! Whether Gabriella and Chad felt that they needed his assistance or not, well, they had it.

At last, Ryan saw Gabriella and Chad making their way out of the gym and turned to head in his direction. Steeling himself, he rushed towards them.

"Hey guys, wait up!"

They paused, clearly surprised to see Ryan. Gabriella instantly stuck a friendly smile on her lips, whilst Chad looked impatiently over his shoulder.

"Ryan, we're a bit busy, dude. Can't it wait?"

Ryan frowned. "I just wanted you guys to know that I'm here, if you could do with some help."

"Thank you, but we're fine," Gabriella replied. She didn't look Ryan in the eye. He nodded to her.

"Okay then. So, where's Troy?"

Gabriella bulked at the question. Chad put his arm round her protectively and glared at the other boy.

"None of your business, Evans." His eyes turned cruel. "You know what? I bet Sharpay is looking for you right now. You'd better run, like a good boy."

"Chad," Gabriella scolded as Ryan turned bright red.

Chad grimaced. He went to maneuver himself and Gabriella around Ryan but the stubborn drama student held his ground.

"I thought thinks were okay between us now." Ryan said quietly, obviously hurt by Chad's attitude. "I thought we were friends. Everything that happened between us all on vacation..."

"Look Ryan, I'm sorry but things are kinda complicated right now." Gabriella told him. "Chad and I have to go, we don't have the time to talk. Really, I am sorry. Please understand."

Gabriella and Chad turned their backs on Ryan and began to walk away. Ryan shook his head in annoyance before giving chase.

"GUYS!"

"I'm gonna bash this kid's..." Chad whispered. Gabriella sighed.

She turned around again, still trying to keep things friendly. "Please Ryan, just listen to me. I don't need this crap from you right now and nor does Chad."

"Yeah, you're worried about Troy 'cos he's missing. I get that and I want to help. Come on, let me help you!" He beseeched them. "And you know where we should start?" He continued hurriedly. "Where did Troy go missing?

Gabriella looked down. "My street," she said softly.

Ryan paused. "Okay. Right then. We need to search it and see if we find anything that could help us find Troy. What do you say, you wanna go?"

Chad and Gabriella gave each other unsure glances.

"Now?" Gabriella started nervously. "We can't just leave school..."

"Why not?" Ryan cut her off.

Chad turned Gabriella round to look at him, her eyes once again red. "Hate to say it but he's right, Girl. We need to do something. We're going insane here, sitting on our asses."

Gabriella hesitated. "And what if we get caught?"

Chad shrugged, "we get caught." He turned and offered his hand to Ryan. "I'm sorry Evans, didn't mean to take it out on you. It's been tough, you know?"

Ryan nodded and gladly shook Chad's outstretched hand. "No problem." The two boys then looked towards Gabriella as one, waiting for her decision.

There was only one she could make. She needed to do something. Troy, wherever he was, needed her.

"Okay," she muttered. "Let's go, guys."

And together, the three wildcats ran towards the exit. One way or another, they would help Troy. If they didn't, who would?

TBC