Chapter 13: Fall at Your Feet
(Author's Notes: Sorry for the delay I've just been busy with work and all. I hope you guys are still enjoying the story and keep the reviews coming. This particular chapter was inspired by an episode I watched from The O.C and this scene I saw I thought was really dramatic. Hope you guys enjoy the chapter and on with the story!)
Albuquerque, New Mexico…
After two weeks of being away from home, Troy and Gabriella returned from spending spring break in New York. It was back to school for them to finish up the remainder of their school year with their friends in toll. The remainder of the gang's trip in New York seemed memorable after Gabriella came to terms of what she discovered about her birth father and although what she learned was kept mostly between her and Troy she managed to show her friends a good time in Manhattan. Shortly after being picked up by their parents at the airport, Troy and Gabriella parted ways as Troy headed home with his parents.
"Diane, are you home?" Jack Bolton called out, "Troy's back from New York!"
"So how was it like in Manhattan?" Mrs. Bolton smiled greeting her son, "Did you have a good time in New York?"
"It…was an interesting trip," Troy replied, "I got to learn a few things about my girlfriend's past, found out her biological dad died of AIDS last year, spent two weeks in the Upper Eastside of Manhattan, got dragged into helping Gabi track down the truth about her parents, overall…it was a memorable trip."
"Wow…seems like you guys had an adventure out there," Mr. Bolton said, "How's Gabriella holding up with everything?"
"It was hard for her at first accepting the truth, but she'll be alright I know Gabi will be okay because she's strong. I promised I would always be there for her no matter what happens I'll be there to protect her from anything and be brave. I care about her you guys I really do and she is one of a kind."
"You must care a great deal about Gabriella always looking out for her," Mrs. Bolton said, "It does remind you of how Peter was when you guys were little. He was always looking out for you as if you were his little brother and…"
"You know what…I'm going upstairs to unpack and maybe rest," Troy suddenly spoke up as he took his luggage upstairs, "I'm…a bit tired from the trip. I'll show you my pictures later."
"Diane…maybe it wasn't the time to up that subject talks about that night," Mr. Bolton sighed, "It's been six years since then and he never talks about him now these days. We go through this every year since with Troy and he has to open up sooner or later about it."
"Troy idolized Peter when he was small and he was the reason why he started playing basketball but till this day, even my sister Kristen can't even get Troy to open up about it and six years ago Jack he sometimes wishes for things to go back to the way they were before all of it happened."
Meanwhile, upstairs in Troy's bedroom, Troy was beginning to unpack as he was putting all his dirty clothes in the laundry and uploading some of his pictures he took in New York. He looked at all his pictures in his room with him and Gabriella and then spotted a picture of himself when he was eleven years old with his cousin Peter who was about seventeen years old at the time. He studied it for a minute as he looked at his calendar and just set the picture down.
"It's been six years and if I could take it back…then that night wouldn't have ever happened Peter," Troy thought to himself, "Why am I still haunted by what happened that night there? I…was there too when it happened and I saw it all."
As he continued to unpack, he found an old notebook with songs in it as he realized that he had Maria's songbook that Gabriella let him look at while they were on the plane. With that, he headed out the door and headed to Gabriella's house. Troy decided to bike since it was only a few blocks down and it would be good for a workout as he continued biking until he nearly collided with a kid with dirty blonde hair and hazel green eyes around his age on a BMX bike.
"Hey watch it!" the kid replied, "Can't you see I was in the middle of jumping that ramp there gosh! You know nothing much hasn't changed all these years, and even realizing who were you you're still the same little boy I knew all those years ago."
"Excuse do I know you?" Troy suddenly asked, "Have we ever met before?"
"You know going to West High for the last three years and not realizing that I knew East High's MVP player I was surprise myself that I was in the same orphanage as you when we were five years old," the boy replied as Troy was surprised as who he saw, "What…I still remembered that time you pushed me because I was making fun of your little friend you called Gabi."
"Nick?" Troy replied surprised, "As in…St. Luke's Nick I once knew who made my best friend cry and tell me I wouldn't get adopted." It took a few minutes for Troy to stare at one of his many acquaintances from St. Luke's until he smiled and shook hands.
"Wow Nick this is a surprise it's…actually good to see you."
"Actually my name is Nicholas Dyer I was adopted by this family from Baltimore and I lived with them for the last twelve years," Nick added, "We moved here about seven years ago when my mom took a teaching job at West High and been living here since."
"Well that's great to hear," Troy said as he was continuing to bike, "Anyways…I'm heading off to my girlfriend Gabriella's house."
"Did you say...Gabriella?" Nick asked, "As in Gabriella Montez? The girl that lives in that big house down near Mayer Court? Hey let me bike with you and we can catch up."
"I assume that's no problem I suppose," Troy replied as the two biked.
"So Troy what happened with you after I left?"
"Same thing as you…well I was adopted by my uncle Jack Bolton, but I call him dad because he's been my father for most of my life and lived here in Albuquerque for most of my life with them…then I met up with Gabriella after being separated for twelve years from her. Actually seeing her again made me remember everything about St. Luke's and made me realize that I'm in love with her that she was the one thing missing in my life. What about you?"
"That sounds like something from out of a movie," Nick smiled, "You must be one lucky guy to have a girl like that. This is the same Gabriella from St. Luke's I assume. Well with me I too have a lucky girl also I've been dating for four years. Her name is Sharon Jackson and she is one girl that I am truly in love with besides being head of student council at West High. I never been in love with anyone like her and she makes me feel warm inside." By the time they reached Gabriella's house, she was surprised to find Troy with Nick in toll with her.
"Hey Wildcat we haven't been back for a day and you're on my doorstep again," Gabriella smiled as they kissed, "But on the other hand after spending two weeks together I couldn't bare to be away from you for another minute. So what brings the infamous Troy Bolton and friend by? How does it go?"
"I came to return something that is rightfully yours beloved," Troy smiled handing Maria's songbook, "I forgot I had with me and I know you want to show this stuff to Kelsi to spice up the spring talent show. And if you're wondering about the plus one I brought along this guy over here was once our foe at St. Luke's and who would have thought he end up here in Albuquerque."
"Oh my gosh…Nick!" Gabriella replied as they shook hands, "This is the same Nick that stole my ball in the courtyard when I was five years old and made me cry. Wow…it would be hard to believe but I'm actually happy to run into you again."
"Same to you Gabriella wow the old St. Luke's acquaintances reunited after years apart," Nick said, "I see you're living the high life. Let me guess…mom is sort of a high power business woman and your father has connections to high society and you must be some sort of academic prodigy."
"Though sometimes a pain back then…it seems that I must be transparent and you probably guessed that was my life summed up for the last twelve years," Gabriella said, "Hey…do you guys want to come in?"
"Hey…I don't want to intrude on the both of you," Nick said.
"Nonsense let bygones be bygones besides it's all in the past and we were all friends at one point back then," Gabriella said as they all went in, "We have twelve years worth of catching up to do."
East High…
A few days later it was time to head back to school after the end of spring break holiday. The gang was focusing on finishing up the school year while the entire school began to prep up for the school talent show. During free period, Kelsi was in the music room with Gabriella, Sharpay, and Ryan as Kelsi was composing a new song using one of Maria's song from the songbook Gabriella brought with Sharpay and Ryan deciding what they were going to sing.
"Maria and Bernardo had some pretty good stuff here too bad not most of them never got turned into songs," Kelsi replied as they viewed the book, "They must have been talented writers."
"Yeah some of Bernardo's recordings during his open mic days at Berkley weren't too bad but at least he had talent," Gabriella sighed, "It was sad that the world would never know what these guys had."
"Then maybe…it's about time they knew," Kelsi smiled as she started playing the piano, "I don't know but there's something about this tune I like all I need is a song to go with it."
"Do you have any suggestions Kelsi?"
"As all great composers before our time once said, the music will come to you it just takes time that's all," Kelsi replied, "I think that's how the saying goes."
"Hum…this one seems nice," Gabriella said as she showed the words to Sharpay and Ryan.
"Once in a lifetime means there's no second chance," Sharpay read, "So I believe that you and me should grab it while we can. Hey…the rest of this isn't bad material, but the song has no title to it which makes it mysterious."
"Kelsi here take a look," Ryan said passing the book, "Maybe…you can make a song out of this for Troy and Gabriella to sing."
"What…you got to be joking me?" Gabriella replied shock, "I can't sing in front of the entire school especially not one of Maria's songs! I mean…I'm not cut out like the all of you in this whole showbiz thing, especially Troy!"
"Where is Troy by the way?" Sharpay asked.
"Oh he's in the gym watching the basketball game against West High," Ryan replied, "If anyone has noticed he's was seen hanging out with Nick Dyer, the captain of West High's basketball team before the game. What's the deal with that it's like they know each other?"
"We actually know Nick because he too was from St. Luke's, but he got adopted before us and ended up in Baltimore before transferring to Albuquerque seven years ago. I didn't know he was here until Troy ran into him on his way to my house a couple days back. He's not the jerk he used to be when we were kids from what I remember, however seeing him again it shows how much people can change and in all honesty it was nice for us to see Nick again."
"Comes to show you life full of surprises sometimes," Kelsi replied, "So Gabriella…I'll make a little proposition with you. If I can come up with melody for one of Maria's songs and a composition for it to be played for your approval, you and Troy have to promise you'll sing together the song. Do we have a deal?"
"I say that is a deal…if Gabriella agrees to it," they heard Troy as he came into the music room with Nick, "Hey I couldn't help but ease drop on your little ploy and drop my two cents in it."
"Since when are you such an ease dropper huh Wildcat? Besides…as for your proposal Kelsi since Troy has decided to drop his two cents in, I would be happy to sing too."
"Oh I forgot my manners here guys this is Nick," Troy said as he introduced Nick, "This is Kelsi Neilson, Ryan and Sharpay Evans, and you've already met Gabriella."
"Nice to finally meet the captain of West High's basketball team," they all replied.
"So the captain of the East High Wildcats actually sings?" Nick asked.
"I'm a man of many hidden talents," Troy said, "So you guys coming to watch the game this afternoon on the field?"
"Yeah we wouldn't miss…besides it's a tradition every year for charity as part of collaboration between East High and West High to play the basketball game," Sharpay said.
"I didn't know," Gabriella said, "What's it for?" Everyone didn't notice the look on Troy's face because his friends knew what the soccer game was about today.
"Hey Troy…listen I got to head back to the field before Coach Barr finds out I'm missing," Nick said as he headed out, "I'll see you on the court Bolton. Hey why you and your girl come on Saturday for a little get together with some of my friends. I'll give you guys the address to Gabriella it would be a pleasure if you come."
"Do you guys think I can borrow Gabriella for a little while?" Troy asked the others as they nodded their heads and Gabriella and Troy headed out into the hallways.
Troy took Gabriella to the trophy case where he showed her a plaque with his cousin Peter's picture that had been decorated with red ribbons and said "in loving memory of Peter Mraz" on the bottom of the plaque. They were spotted by Chad and Taylor in the hallway at the trophy case as the four friends stared at Peter's picture.
"I guess being captain and MVP of the Wildcats runs in the family huh?" Chad asked.
"You could say that," Troy said as he turned to Gabriella, "Six years ago my cousin Peter died or more like it…he committed suicide during the time when the state of New Mexico decided to deal with issue of teenage suicide in the state for national awareness. That same year another teen died the same day Peter did from West High before the night of the soccer championship match between both schools. I was close with him and he was on the verge of graduating from East High planning to attend ATL on full sports scholarship until that happened. The result of Peter's suicide ended with the championship match being cancelled and instead both schools started this campaign to raise awareness to prevent teenage suicide. Peter's death was ruled as accidental to not rouse any suspicion that he purposely decided to take his own life and every year it's hard trying to cope with it."
"I…didn't know I'm really sorry Troy," Gabriella said, "Did you guys know Peter?"
"We knew, but not as well that Troy did," Taylor replied, "But like Troy he was like East High Golden Boy, MVP of the year and the reason Troy ended up playing basketball."
"He must have meant a lot to you then. If it was one of those painful memories in your life you didn't want to remember, what made you want to share that with me Troy?"
"Because I don't want no secrets between us Gabi…and besides I needed to share it with someone who would understand. He taught me everything I needed to know about basketball when I was a kid. He always used to make time to help improve my game because he used to tell me I had more potential than him in the game. You know what it's like to lose someone close to you that had a major impact on you."
"It must have taken a lot of courage for you to tell me something that personal that occur in your life," Gabriella said, "I…didn't know what happened while we were apart all those years and both of us experienced a couple of high and low points in our lives. I guess…we're both even then."
"Not exactly…but at least we can understand each other more clearly," Troy smiled, "Peter maybe gone but at least I still have people I care about here with me…especially my favorite girl."
"And East High's star player is going to be late for the game in the gym," Chad and Taylor replied as the four of them headed for the gym, "So are you two lovebirds done daydreaming?"
Saturday Night: Buffer's Park…
A few days later after the charity basketball game, Troy and Gabriella decided to accept Nick's invitation to his get together out at Buffer's Park. The two of them tried to get some of the gang to come with them, but none of them were available and made other plans instead for the weekend. While they were driving Troy and Gabriella were talking about the idea of performing for one of the upcoming shows at East High together which both were pleased with the idea with. They were both late for the party and after spending half an hour finding parking, they found their way to Nick's party.
"What's up Troy?" Nick greeted them, "Hey it's great you brought your leading lady here tonight."
"Nice little bonfire you got going here at Buffer's Park," Gabriella joked, "So is this everyone's excuse to get wasted on Saturday's without any adult supervision?"
"Oh that's being stereotypical Gabi," Troy smiled, "A lot can happen here at Buffer's Park."
"Maybe we'll have another infamous front page stunt that will make papers first thing Monday morning," Nick's girlfriend Sharon said coming from behind, "So…you must be East High's MVP Troy Bolton and this must be Gabriella Montez."
"I'm sorry I forgot a proper intro here," Nick said, "Troy and Gabriella this is the famous girl of West High's Student Council, Sharon Jackson."
"Nice to meet you Sharon," the two of them replied, "Nick must be a lucky guy to have you."
"He is…truly Nick is a really loving, caring…and trusting guy," Sharon replied nervously, "Listen Nick I'm going to get something to drink…I'll let you go entertain your friends."
"Hey you alright?" Nick asked his girlfriend, "You been distant all night with me."
"I'm fine Nick just trust me!"
"You been like this for the last couple of months it seems like you're not telling me something or do I have to guess for myself Sharon?"
"Nick…please I just need to be alone for a minute," Sharon replied taking off. After she left, Nick took Gabriella and Troy to join the rest of his friends by the bonfire set up on the beach.
"Is she okay?" Troy asked, "Sharon seemed nervous about something."
"Actually something has been off for months about her and usually she's been bailing out on our dates for the last couple of weeks," Nick replied as the three of them sat by the bonfire.
"Hey…is this your phone?" Gabriella asked as she picked up a cellphone, "You dropped it."
"Sorry it's not mine, probably it's Sharon's," Nick said as he checked the cell, "She must have dropped it and…" Nick's face changed to utter shock as he checked his girlfriend's cell, "This has got to be some sick joke…no freaking way!"
"Hey dude is everything alright?" Troy asked.
"Huh…yeah don't worry it's nothing to worry about," Nick replied in shocked, "I…just need to go handle a bit of a situation here, you two just enjoy the party." Nick got up a few moments later and the next minute they saw him grab a bottle of tequila as he took off away from the party.
"That…can't be good," Gabriella said with worry, "He just grabbed a full bottle of tequila and just headed off somewhere. Will he be okay?"
"I'm not sure Gabi…I just pray he doesn't do anything stupid because whatever he found on Sharon's phone, something tells me it may push him over the edge."
Three hours later…
Nearly three hours passed and Nick hasn't returned to the party which began to worry Troy and Gabriella, and they killed time getting to know all of Nick's friends from West High. It soon became noticeable by Nick's friends that he hasn't returned which made everyone wonder where he went off to.
"Hey…has anyone seen Nick?" Nick's friend Frankie asked, "We got to clear out soon before cops bust us with the beer and liquor."
"Dude I haven't seen that guy within the last three hours," Troy replied, "He just took off after he found his girlfriend's cellphone on the floor and grabbed a bottle of tequila."
"Oh fuck no this can't be happening!" Frankie replied, "which way he go?'
"We don't know the last thing we remembered was him grabbing the cellphone and the bottle of tequila off that direction," Gabriella mentioned pointing where Nick took off to.
"Hey Frankie have you seen Nick?" Sharon asked, "I've been trying to find him for over three hours."
"How about you tell me where my best friend went with your cellphone…and explain to me where the fuck you have been for three hours?" Frankie yelled, "Because I think he just found out about your dirty little secret Sharon!"
"What are you talking about?" Sharon asked.
"Because the last time I saw my best friend during the entire night was he was getting his ass wasted, drinking a bottle of tequila and showing me all the texts messages you were receiving from Adam Jenner, the captain of the football team saying he's in love with you and saying that he can't live without you! How long has it been going on? It wouldn't be a surprise that he was here tonight and you two went off on a little rendezvous!"
While Troy and Gabriella were witnessing Sharon and Frankie arguing they looked at a far distance a shadowy figure climbing up the trail near the beach cliff. They started running off catching Sharon and Frankie's attention.
"Hey where are you two going?" they both asked.
"I know it's not my business and I don't know you guys but I think we know where Nick might be heading and if we don't hurry he's going to do something really stupid!" Troy panicked as they all started running.
"Troy what's going on?" Gabriella asked her boyfriend, "What's wrong?"
"I don't have time to explain Gabi but what matters is that we get to that cliff because I'm not letting this happen again!"
"Hey I see Nick I need to get up there!" Frankie replied as they arrived at the foot of cliff with Nick standing at the top, "Someone keeps him talking while I get up there! Nick! Nick!"
"I'm coming with you," Troy said as the guys ran up the trail while the girls try to talk to Nick from the foot of the cliff, "I've been through this situation before."
"Nicholas!" Sharon yelled, "Nicholas!"
"Oh look who decided to show up!" Nick yelled obviously drunk, "Why isn't the so called golden princess herself! My slut of a girlfriend Sharon!"
"Nick listen to me I'm so sorry please come down!" Sharon begged.
"Nick it's too dangerous up there please you'll get hurt!" Gabriella yelled.
"At least someone who I haven't been in over 11 years cares about my safety unlike someone who I loved for four years!" Nick yelled drunk, "I'm not mad at you Gabriella at least your guy doesn't pimp himself out unlike a certain girl who does. Hey Sharon why don't we play a game called tell the fucking truth! What was it like with Adam huh? Was he good in bed? How was it like sneaking around with him all those months while you made me feel like a complete idiot not knowing what you've been up to all these months?"
"Nick please I didn't mean to hurt you!" Sharon replied, "I can explain everything just come down please!"
"Right so you can try to fix things between us that's believable until I read those little text messages with you declaring your undying love to that scumbag…it wasn't a surprise that I saw you guys making out in the parking lot this evening. It must be so much fun getting your rocks on with that scumbag huh Sharon!"
"Baby c'mon please get down and we'll be able to talk about this!" Sharon begged.
"Nick please come down I'm begging you!" Gabriella replied, "You're my friend please!"
"I just want everyone out there to know just what the real Sharon Jackson is like because she's not all as innocent as she is!" Nick replied throwing the cellphone off the cliff as he turned to find Frankie and Troy standing there at the top, "Well…this is a surprise seeing you guys up here. Let me guess did that slut down below send you up here?"
"Hey bro listen to me I know what Sharon did was wrong and I understand you're mad, upset and drunk but we got to get you down from here," Frankie said, "We'll talk about this later."
"Right so I can get down here, forgive that lying bitch for screwing around with the captain of the football team and make her think that this was all one big mistake?"
"Nick you got to get back from the edge," Troy replied as he was trying to get close, "I know you're hurting but you're not thinking straight and you on the verge on getting yourself hurt if you don't back away from the edge."
"Troy what the hell are you doing?" Frankie asked, "It's too dangerous."
"Sharon put you up to this to try to save me and make it look like that our relationship can be fixed but that's not going to happen because I know…I know…she had me fooled. If you save than it will make her try to love me more! Hey Sharon was this your plan all along to prove you loved me by trying to save me at the last minute?"
"Listen you got to careful alright please Nick," Troy said as Nick took another sip from the bottle and his foot slipping on some rocks, "Listen to reason Nick you don't wanna do this!"
"You know what I truly believe that you guys are the lucky ones Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez because life for you turned out great. At least your girl loves her and you'll do anything to save her. If my girl was up here she'll try to stop me from falling because I might fall and then at last second she'll grab me. Sharon would send some lackeys like my best friend and a guy I haven't seen in eleven years to save me!"
"Nick just get back from the edge!" Troy yelled.
"Or I might fall because and then Sharon would take credit for saving the…"
At that moment it seemed like Troy suddenly felt everything go in slow motion and the last thing he saw was the terrified look on Nick's face as he lunged forward with his arm stretched out as him and Frankie witness Nick's feet slipping on crumbling rocks. Everything suddenly went silent except for the sounds of Gabriella and Sharon screaming and crying from the bottom of the cliff as they both looked away, Nick falling out of sight and a large sound of the tequila bottle smash and the sound of a large thump on the beach. Troy, with Frankie at the top of the cliff looked down completely stunned and terrified of what they just witness as everything just fell completely quiet during the night.
"Oh my god…everything comes full circles again," was the last thought that ran through Troy's mind.
