Hey! Since it's Christmas today (well in my country), I decided to update. (:*
So have a nice Christmas alltogether, I don't know when I'll update next. - This year or next year.
So, please comment as well. 15-20 reviews to the next please!

So, MERRY CHRISTMAS once again and if I don't update. A HAPPY NEW YEAR as well.

LY Mitchi

Disclaimer: I don't owe HSM.

"Make sure he comes along tomorrow," I said, and watched them nod in reply.

"We won't let him out of our sight."

"Does he have practice tomorrow?"

Chad shook his head. "No, it starts next week since the new coach isn't here yet." I nodded and dismissed them from the kitchen up to Troy's room.

Lucille

11:30 P.M., Her Bedroom

Nick and Troy were both asleep in their bedrooms, and I was about to do them same when my eyes fell on the letter I'd brought upstairs earlier. I sighed as I took all the sheets out of the envelope – there were about eight of the actual protocol, and another two and a half pages with either a little note or interpretation of Mr. Doer, according to what Troy said during their session together.

I opened the first sheet of the protocol and began reading it, trying to stay awake. Soon, I came to the fifth page… until then, I tried not to think of what Troy had told Mr. Doer, and what exactly he was thinking. It wasn't his fault and never would be.

The Protocol

"Why did you start cutting yourself, Troy?"

"I don't know… well, I do know. But… I just needed to escape. And it was there, and it just happened to fulfill what I was looking for t o get me free. To take the thoughts away from my mind, making me care less, making me forget."

"Forget what?"


"Everything. The pain, the past, the present, the future…"

"But the people that love you, Troy – what about them? They're very worried about you."


"I don't really think so…"

"I already told you that they're worried. I know it, and you know it's true too."


"I – I didn't think about it back then. I just wanted to free myself. Get rid of it…"

"Get rid of what?"


"The feeling. The feeling of being unloved, unwanted, of being worthless… of being treated like a rat. The feeling that I'm never good enough. That no one really wants me… she gives me to him, and the other just hates me for it."

"Your mom had no other choice."


"I know…I think. But I always faked everything – my attitude, my life, my happiness. Just everything. And now I'm still here, waiting for him to come."

"No one will come here."


"I know. But he'll always get what he wants. I know it. I know it."

Lucille

After I finished the protocol, I swallowed hardly. I didn't know that so many thoughts were going on in Troy's head. He seemed distant, but I thought it was because he was thinking about how it'd go on, and not about the past and his father… about me giving him to his father.

Had it really been the wrong decision to let him stay with Jack? I couldn't have done anything – the court told Jack and I that we had to split them up, and unfortunately, Jack insisted that Troy stay with him for "basketball's sake." It sounded stupid at the time, but who could've known what the future held back then?

I sighed and put the protocol away. I'd keep it for a while, and maybe I'd show my ex – husband the damage he'd inflicted on his own child. I took the three sheets with the note from Mr. Doer and began reading them. However, before I could comprehend anything, I fell asleep with them lying on my lap.

Nick

The Next Day

I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock. Surprisingly, I'd slept through the entire night, meaning that Troy didn't have any nightmares. I stood up and got ready for the long day of school ahead for the both of us.

Lucille

I stood in the kitchen preparing breakfast for the boys. I turned around as I heard footsteps from behind me – it was Nick walking into the kitchen. I smiled at him slightly and said, "Good morning."

He mumbled something and sat at the counter. I placed his breakfast plate in front of him, with a glass of orange juice next to it. "Thank you,"

I grinned. "Why are you already awake?" Normally, Nick slept through breakfast.

"I got a full night of sleep."

I raised my eyebrows. "Meaning?"

"Troy didn't have a nightmare."

I nodded, satisfied – it meant improvement. I heard more footsteps in the kitchen, and noticed that Troy had sat next to his brother. "Morning, Troy," I smiled at him slightly. The corners of his mouth almost rose a bit, but didn't manage to. I got him a plate of breakfast and watched him as he pushed his food from one side of his plate to the other. I saw the look in his eyes, and my mind travelled back to the note from Mr. Doer, which I reread earlier this morning.

Apart from his physical damage, there are some things concerning his behavior that aren't quite normal. He seems very paranoid about his father coming to get him – make sure he realizes that Jack can't come anywhere near him. He's going to jail, and if the social workers soon find a place for his twin daughters to stay, then his wife will follow him there.

Help Troy realize how his actions affect the people around him, and how they've already taken effect. Help him realize that you, Nick, and his friends fully trust and forgive him. Make sure he knows how much you love him.

He's scared of what's coming ahead (See Protocol), and I would highly recommend that you help your son in becoming trusting of other people. It would be best if he realized that no one will ever treat him the way his father has again. Troy's in a very critical state: vulnerable, self – conscious, scared, and slightly paranoid. However, I can assure you that he will never cut himself again. Send him back to school, since rest assured, no one except for his teachers and the principal know what has happened. Hopefully, his fellow students won't make any nasty comments or try to invade his past…

I sighed after reading the letter and sat next to Troy. "Hunny, what's wrong?"

He let his fork fall onto the plate and sighed. "I, I don't know what to do and how to handle this," he admitted. When he spoke, I knew his words were genuine and coming from the very bottom of his heart. I brushed his hair back as I heard the doorbell. I stood up, placed a quick kiss on my son's forehead, and opened the door to find Gabriella and Chad waiting outside for Troy and Nick to walk to school with them.

Gabriella

After saying goodbye to Mrs. Bolton, the four of us made our way to school. Nick and Chad chatted while walking in front of Troy and I. Although Troy was wearing a jacket, he still pulled on his sleeve every so often, to make sure his bandage wasn't showing. He also turned around, making sure no one was following us – especially one person in particular. We got to East High and quickly grabbed our things from our lockers, saying our goodbyes to Nick since he was in different classes from Troy, Chad and I. Troy still turned at every noise coming from behind him. Many of the students came over to welcome him; most of these kids laughed with the football team a few days ago, however, they hadn't shown up yet.

Our first class was homeroom. I knew that Ms. Darbus was informed about Troy's current situation, and that she wouldn't tell or even make the slightest hint of it. Troy obviously knew that his teachers knew, otherwise, they wouldn't have been so nice to him when he wasn't paying attention. If it was a normal day at school, he'd have at least seven detentions.

Finally, it was lunchtime, and the three of us made our way to the cafeteria. I made a mental note to make sure Troy would eat enough food, even if his mom wasn't there to force him. We sat down when the football team, with their captain, Andrew Norton, at the very front came up to us, grinning together. I shifted a bit in my seat and took Troy's hand in mine, lightly hanging onto him.

"See who's finally here again! Decided to enlighten our situation by your presence again, Troy?" Andrew spat.

Troy tried his best to keep his temper under control. I felt his hand tighten its grip on mine. "You know, it doesn't look good for colleges if you were out for what, four weeks just because you bumped and fainted in one game?" Andrew laughed loudly, along with the rest of his teammates. Soon, the rest of the students were staring at us.

"All the big colleges don't want some weak baby who won't show up at school for weeks after a slight bump. They need a REAL man!" He continued harassing Troy as I felt the anger boiling up inside of him. However, he still managed to keep his temper down. "What about your dad?" Andrew asked, as the football team laughed along.

I felt Troy stiffen at the mention of his dad – his eyes widened and his face turned to stone. "Drop it," he said in a dangerously low voice. His eyes were directly on Andrew, threatening him.

"Well, it seems like your dad's ashamed of having a baby for a son. Maybe he should try to get a MAN!" I began rubbing my thumb over Troy's clenched hand, attempting to calm him down. "A few hits and kicks don't damage someone – they make you strong, not a weak baby that you are! Your dad should think about it – pushing you a bit further won't be that bad for your image!"

I knew Andrew didn't know about Troy's current situation, he had no idea. However, it was still horrible to say such things to Troy, who'd been through more than Andrew ever would be. I felt Troy stiffen even more, his eyes turning to a dark shade of blue. Still, it didn't stop Andrew's ridicule.

"You think I should tell your dad to get his belt and lock you in your room for a few days? No food and a belt treatment will toughen you up for sure!"

Before I could react, Troy stood up, his eyes flashing angrily as he stared at Andrew. "Don't you dare," he said calmly and lowly, despite the fact that Andrew just stood there smiling.

"You know it's true, Bolton. Someone should really toughen you up!" Troy tried his best not to break down. His breathing increased and became shallow. "You're no man, Bolton! Four weeks for a little bump!?" Andrew began pulling his sleeves up his forearms, getting ready for a fight. "Prove it! Come and fight me, Bolton! Or are you really that weak baby everyone knows you are?"

Students began talking about what was happening, and mostly arguing about Troy's absence – four weeks for a slight bump. If only they knew that there was so much more behind it… the bandage under his sleeve on his left forearm was one way to prove it, as well as his scars and bruises, which were wearing off.

"Come on, Bolton! Show us that you did something within four weeks and that you didn't just lie around! Show us that you're not weak!"

My eyes widened when I saw Troy pulling his right sleeve up, his left one quickly following. I bit my lower lip as the cafeteria became quiet, everyone staring at the bandage and the two red marks on his right forearm, from where the infusion pins were placed during his hospital stay. However, Andrew didn't seem to care, and instead raised his fist and punched Troy in the jaw with great force.

Everyone gasped when Troy closed his eyes and brought his bandaged arm up to his jaw. He opened his eyes, glaring at Andrew. I knew what this glare meant. "You don't know what hurt is. You don't know what a forceful punch is."

Nobody moved as the cafeteria watched Troy glare at Andrew, who was stupidly grinning at him. "Surprised, Bolton? Maybe your dad should try it so you can finally become a man!"

I quickly left my seat and took Troy's arm, slightly pulling him away from everyone. His bandage was already revealed and that meant there'd be questions… many questions.

"Oh, that could be another reason – you're with that little geek! Couldn't you find another chick? Surely you can do better. Was it because you felt sorry for her?" Andrew started laughing, and soon the rest of the football team joined him. Troy trembled as I started pulling him away from the football team. Luckily, he made no attempt to stay behind. Chad got up as well and the three of us made our way out of the cafeteria, ignoring Andrew's comments.

As soon as we left the cafeteria, the three of us leaned against a wall. Troy slowly slid down and buried his head in his hands. I sat down next to him and took his chin with my index finger and thumb, making him look at me. Immediately, I saw the small cut on his jaw line where Andrew hit him.

"Does it hurt?" I asked, while I looked at Chad who was studying Troy's face as well.

"I've had ones which were worse," he whispered, leaning back against the wall and closing his eyes.

At the Same Time in the Cafeteria

Everyone was quiet, trying to comprehend what just happened and what they witnessed.

Troy Bolton getting hit, wearing a bandage on his forearm, with two red marks on his other one, and loads of bruises, running away from the situation. In a situation like this, Troy wouldn't fight back, but it wasn't normal for him to run away.

Soon, the whispering got louder as the students became engaged in their own conversations.

The football team made fun of Troy for running away, not caring about his arms.

The Science Club discussed the possible diseases Troy could be suffering from, according to what they saw.

The Skaters mused about Troy's eyes showing fury when Andrew mentioned his dad.

The Musical Group wanted to know what happened to Troy, so that they could incorporate it into their next musical.

The Basketball Team thought about what could be wrong with their captain.

And away from all those people, Sharpay, Taylor, Kelsie, Zeke, Jason, Ryan and Chad glanced around, knowing exactly why Troy acted the way he had…

So that's it for today, maybe even this year. So please review and have a nice Christmas and nice holidays as well.
LY Mitchi