Okay here is the next chapter. Hope you guys enjoy. I'm determined to finish this story. Please leave plenty of reviews and critiques.
What a Vacation
Taylor stood in the middle of the foyer of school looking up at herself in poster form. It was the end of the day, the hallways were empty and she had to hurry home and begin packing. Taylor continued to stare at the poster as she thought of what was about to happen in her future…her current coping mechanism. There she was standing in front of Troy, both in their Wildcats uniforms holding a basketball on their hips on a life size poster. The two current sports stars of East High, looking fierce and ready for the upcoming playoffs after Christmas break. "Christmas break….yeah right" thought Taylor to herself. She was being forced by her not yet adoptive parents to go and stay with her dad and his new family, over the holiday break. Needless to say she wasn't looking forward to anything the short sabbatical had to offer. The only redeeming thing about it was that Troy was going to be there, and even that was going to be sketchy. Since finding out the both of them were going to have the worse Christmas to add to an already disgusting year, their relationship has been frosty to say the least.
"Kinda overwhelming huh" said a familiar voice.
Taylor turned to look over at Sharpay, who was looking up at the poster of the couple no one knew about yet, "Yeah I guess you can say that" sighed Taylor as she turned to leave.
"You know McKessie if you ever want to vent to someone who has nothing to gain from your life than I'm your gal" said Sharpay grabbing Taylor's wrist slightly.
"Is that your 'Sharpay' way of offering help…thanks but no thanks" said Taylor quietly as she turned and walked in the opposite direction.
"After the way you treated me at the beginning of the year, you should take it as a compliment that I'm even speaking to you Taylor…you didn't even apologize for being an A-class jerk" said Sharpay a little annoyed as she walked in front of Taylor and blocked her view.
"Evans I really don't feel like this right now…what do you want from me?" said Taylor clearly exasperated.
"I'm just offering you another shoulder to cry on" said Sharpay easing up a little.
"I told you already, I don't need another shoulder to cry on…especially yours" said Taylor.
"So who else do you have to go to…a school mandated psychiatrist, your ex-boyfriend Chad, oh I know your mom…no wait can't do that, how about your dad, eh no Troy's mom is sleeping with your dad…uh I know Coach Bolton, nope you probably remind him of your dad….I know your current boyfriend Troy" said Sharpay smartly.
Taylor felt the heat rise up to her neck and before she knew it she slapped Sharpay across her left cheek. Before Sharpay had a chance to realize what was going on and respond Taylor grabbed her hand and began to apply the pressure, "How do you know about all that stuff! How do you know about me and Troy?" she said angrily. Sharpay ripped her hand from Taylor and shoved her away; backing up she glared at Taylor with such coldness, Taylor only realized then how she got the name 'Ice Princess'.
"You know McKessie, you and Troy don't run this school and the world doesn't revolve around you two" she said with menace while massaging her cheek. "Other people do use this school and the gym" she continued, "If you wanted your precious and quite frankly sick relationship with Troy to be a secret than you shouldn't be in the gym making out in the morning!" shouted Sharpay as she turned to walk away. Taylor instantly felt like dung and ran over to apologize.
"Sharpay I'm really sorry" she said facing the ivory beauty. Without a second thought Sharpay reeled back and slapped Taylor across her face, "Don't you ever put your hands on me like that again McKessie, I might be small but I can still throw down" she said angrily.
Taylor grabbed her face and looked at Sharpay, she knew she deserved that but it still didn't quiet that spirit in her that wanted to punch Sharpay back, "Like I said Sharpay, I'm sorry I was wrong I never should have slapped you" Taylor said through clenched teeth, "but I get really angry when people who shouldn't know my personal business have extended knowledge of it" said Taylor still demanding an answer from Sharpay without really asking her.
Sharpay rolled her eyes in disgust, "You've obviously forgotten who I am McKessie…better yet who my family is."
"What's that suppose to mean?" questioned Taylor angrily.
"Your father was and still is very connected through business. Your dad knows my dad, so imagined how surprised we were when your father shows up with Troy's pregnant mother at our annual family business dinner this past fall. It only took me a second to put together why you two were at each other's throats at the beginning of the year, but then I got to thinking, you two had calmed down a lot considering all that you've both been through, and I know a school psychiatrist isn't responsible for that phenomena…so guess my surprise and non-surprise when I walk into the gym at six in the morning to practice running laps that the evil Coach Bolton is forcing me to do and find Troy Bolton and the schools new basketball star making out full force in the middle of the court" said Sharpay arching one of her eyebrows, "Now I don't know what happened between you and your mom, but since I see the Danforth's dropping you off each day and you around Chad more than I can only guess you're not home with mommy dearest".
Taylor took in a deep breath before she responded, "Okay Evans…so you know my crazy home life, what's your deal?" said Taylor quietly.
"I actually felt sorry for you Taylor and I wanted you to know that you had another person to talk to besides those people you call your family, someone who's been through what you're going through" said Sharpay.
"How could you possibly know what I'm going through or how I'm feeling?" said Taylor a little irritable.
"You're not the first person in the world McKessie to have mommy and daddy issues, or have their parents going through a divorce. Like I said I know what you're going through, maybe not to your extent but I've been there. And I was just offering you a way out…or someone else to talk to, that was before I got physically assaulted" said Sharpay.
"I can't apologize enough" started Taylor before she saw Sharpay's hand in her face. "Save it McKessie. Try to enjoy that vacation of yours but know that the offer still stands…for the life of me I don't know why care…but I do" said Sharpay as she strutted off in the other direction. Taylor watched as she walked down the hall and shook her head. If this was any indication on how this holiday was going to go she knew she was screwed for sure.
Taylor looked up at the bigger than life size poster of her and Troy one more time before turning to leave for home, "At least I have Troy as my saving grace" she thought, "even if we aren't seeing eye to eye right now".
Troy was sitting on the couch watching SportsCenter bored out of his mind. He was packed and waiting for a ride over to the Danforths. His father thought if it was better if Mrs. Danforth dropped him and Taylor off instead of himself or Mr. Danforth.
"Troy…you all packed up and ready to go" said Coach Bolton grabbing his keys and coat.
"Yeah I'm packed up but I'm not ready to go there dad, I don't feel comfortable about this" said Troy looking at his father.
"Look Troy, I know I'm asking you to do a lot…and I know you've been through more stuff than most kids your age, but I can't change this. This was part of the agreement with the divorce. Your mom wants to see you on one major holiday a year and she gets to choose which one. She picked Christmas...I don't think it's fair but it's nothing I can do about it. Besides Taylor is gonna be there so it's not like you will be alone okay. Buck up champ, you can get through this" said Coach Bolton slapping Troy on the shoulder.
Troy just nodded his head but he didn't believe a word his father said. "You should go say goodbye to Rosa and Gabriella, they're in the family room" said Coach Bolton.
Troy went into the family room and gave Rosa a tight squeeze; she really has made the Bolton house feel like a home the last couple of weeks. He went over to Gabriella and pulled her into a hug also, "Look Wildcat, everything's gonna be alright. Can't wait till you get back" she said returning his hug and giving him a small peck on the cheek. "Yeah me either" said Troy, even though that was partially true. Gabriella had gotten touchier as time went on, Troy was starting to notice. He knew she was just reaching out because of the devastation she suffered but he didn't like it one bit, and it wasn't like he could tell her to stop because that meant confessing that he and Taylor were an item. The one thing this horrid trip was offering was a chance for him to spend more time with Taylor, even if they weren't getting along to well right now.
Coach Bolton was already buckled in when Troy got into the truck. Troy got in and slammed the door a little more aggressively than he intended. Coach Bolton looked over and shook his head but remained silent and took off. He didn't want to get into it with his son on one of the last times he was gonna see him for a couple weeks.
"You know Troy, I don't want to spend these moments all tensed up like this" said Coach Bolton.
"Well, what do you want from me dad…I have to do something I really don't want to" said Troy irritably.
"How many times are you gonna say that Troy…c'mon man. Deal with it already!" replied Jack. "All this whining isn't gonna change a damn thing" said Jack just as irritable.
"Sorry dad, I didn't mean to make you upset" said Troy quietly as he cowered in his seat from being slightly ashamed. He didn't realize how much he was acting like a big baby.
"Try to find some joy in the next two weeks…you are going to be with your girlfriend through all this" said Jack knowingly. Troy couldn't help but to smirk and sigh in contentment. That was the shinning light in all of this.
"Now I know you and Taylor are very fond of one another" started Jack, "but Troy I swear if you come back from this trip and she announces that she's gonna make me a grandfather I'm gonna hurt you something bad" he said seriously.
"Dad!" said Troy, "Taylor and I have never...I mean she's still…look dad nothing like that is gonna happen" stammered out Troy.
"It better not Troy. I know you and Gabriella were quite physical" said Jack as his face turned slightly pink, "and honestly you see where that has gotten you. If you love Taylor the way you say than you will take your time with her…especially considering the crazy circumstances the both of you are in".
Jack looked over at his son whose face had turned bright red and he chuckled, "Troy I'm not trying to embarrass you, I just want you to be careful and try to enjoy your time with Taylor. Try to be nice to your mom…and Kevin" he said as he clenched the steering wheel so you could see the white in his knuckles.
"Okay dad" said Troy quietly. Truth of the matter, he was embarrassed. Once he and Taylor explained their love for one another, after his dad grounded him for almost three weeks for coming home after hours, he lifted the punishment and told the both of them to be careful if they wanted to keep their relationship a secret and more importantly be careful not to hurt one another since both their hearts were already slightly broken when they started their relationship. He knew his dad was just looking out for his best interest but it's still slightly embarrassing to talk to your parents about sex whether you're having it or not.
The Bolton men reached the Danforths house in no time. Troy noticed Taylor was packing up the trunk of the Danforths truck as his father pulled into the driveway. Troy hurried out to help Taylor with her luggage as Coach Bolton got out and got Troy's luggage out of his car. "Hey Tay" said Troy quietly.
Taylor responded with a simple 'hey' as she allowed Troy to take over the packing duties. "Things are still a little frosty" thought Troy to himself, "but that will all change once she sees what I got her for Christmas".
"Hey Jack" the two teens heard Mr. Danforth say as he came down the porch steps. "Looks like the kids are all ready to go".
"Well they're packed…I don't know about being ready to leave" joked Jack, handing off the luggage to Troy as he went to meet Mr. Danforth.
"Yeah I hear you man" responded Mr. Danforth. The two gentlemen continued to talk as Mrs. Danforth made her way out of the house, "Honey dinner's all ready so make sure the rugrats come down and eat" she said fastening up her jacket,…"Oh hi Jack" she smiled sweetly.
"Hey Debra, how goes it" asked Coach Bolton.
"It goes" she sighed slightly, "Alright hun; I see the two reluctant ones are already in the truck. I'll call you when I'm on my way back" she said hugging her husband.
"Alright babe, be safe please. And try to talk Taylor into a better attitude" he said releasing his wife.
"Troy also" said Coach Bolton.
"Troy! Taylor! Get out that car and come hug your parents" yelled Mr. Danforth at the truck.
Taylor and Troy both climbed out of the vehicle and went to say goodbye to their parents. Coach Bolton grabbed Troy into a huge hug and tried to convince him again to enjoy himself and have a positive attitude but for some reason he knew Troy didn't hear him.
"Come here girl" said Mr. Danforth grabbing her into a giant bear hug. Taylor couldn't help but smile even though she really didn't want to, "Positivity will get your dad to sign those adoption papers quicker" he said quietly in her ear. "Have fun and I love you…okay". Taylor shook her head in understanding and looked up at her new dad, "Thanks for everything and I love you too" she said just as quietly.
"Alright we have to get going before it get's to dark" said Mrs. Danforth.
"Okay guys see you in two weeks, get some practicing done during the break" said Jack going into coaching mold.
The trio made their way to the car. Mrs. Danforth noticed that the two teens opted to sit in the back seats. Taylor immediately put her headphones on and looked out her passenger window as Troy did the same, although he grabbed Taylor's hand and held onto it, which didn't go unnoticed by Mrs. Danforth.
"We'll be there in about an hour guys…if traffic is on our side" she said not sure if they heard her at all.
Mrs. Danforth backed out of the driveway and onto the street. She gave Jack and her husband one last wave as she drove off. Jack and Coach Bolton watched until the truck couldn't be seen anymore, before saying their own goodbyes.
"Before you go Jack, what are you, Rosa, and Gabriella doing for the holidays?" asked Mr. Danforth.
Mrs. Danforth reached Kevin and Lucille's house before the kids really had time to relax. She drove into a nice housing complex, with the big family styles homes everywhere. These were bigger than the homes back in Albuquerque. "Kevin really has outdone himself this time" thought Mrs. Danforth to herself. She drove halfway down the block until she reached the house that Lucille had described to her a day earlier on the phone. Making a left she announced to the car that they had finally reached their destination.
Looking in the rearview mirror she could tell the kids were hardly excited or impressed with anything. "C'mon guys! I know it sucks but we have to make the best of a messed up situation. So stop sulking and get it together, cause I'm sick of the both of you looking as if you just lost somebody close to you!" she half shouted, "Now get out of the car and let's move it!" she said to the two shocked teens.
Mrs. Danforth climbed out of the vehicle and slammed the door. Troy and Taylor had no choice but to get out and follow her to the front door, where she rang the doorbell immediately. The three visitors heard some rustling behind the door and eventually the locks being undone.
The door swung open and revealed a smiling Kevin. Taylor immediately started to tense up and her breathing was becoming slightly haggard. Troy, despite his best efforts started to glare at Kevin. Mrs. Danforth felt the tension mounting so she tried to break it by giving her cheeriest greeting, "Hey Kevin…we made it" she smiled sweetly.
"Hey Debra" Kevin responded with the huge smile still spread across his face, "Come on in guys" he said holding the door wider so the trio could walk in, "Lucille they're here!" he shouted out. Troy's stomach cringed slightly at the sound of his mother's name.
The two teens looked around the interior of the house. It was fully decorated in Christmas garb but it wasn't overly done. The Christmas tree was the center of attention in the beautifully adorned living room. Everything seemed to be brand new in the house but it still had the feeling of family attached to it somehow. Troy could see his mothers touch throughout the entire space, he had an odd sense of feeling at home but than he looked over at Kevin and was reminded instantly that this place would never be his home.
"I'm so happy you guys are here and so is Lucille, she's been cooking all day" said Kevin rambling, Taylor could tell he was really nervous. It didn't matter to her, all she wanted was him to sign the adoption papers so she could move on and finally have some peace in her life.
Lucille walked in…more like waddled in breaking Taylor out of her thoughts and everyone else. Troy could see his mom's stomach had grown incredibly big and even though he knew his little brother or sister was in there he couldn't help but feel a tinge of disgust and be slightly jealous.
"Ah guys, we're so glad you're here and that you got here safely" said Lucille leaning in to hug Debra. She didn't dare touch Troy or Taylor because she saw the looks on the two teens face.
"Well your instructions were spot on" said Mrs. Danforth, "Uh kids I think you need to get your luggage out of the back" she said quietly.
"Oh I can get it, don't move a muscle" said Kevin towards Troy and Taylor. He made his way out the front door and to the parked vehicle in the driveway.
"Debra I hope you can stay for dinner" said Lucille trying to make conversation. Troy kept looking at her stomach and Taylor was avoiding any eye contact what so ever.
"Actually I told Stephen I would come straight back before it got too late, but I believe these two haven't eaten dinner yet" she responded looking over at Troy and Taylor.
"Well we have plenty of food available" said Lucille sighing heavily. Kevin walked back in the house with the entire luggage within his two arms, dropping them at the door, "I hope that's everything" he said slightly out of breath.
The two teens kept up their silence, as Debra expressed she believe he grabbed the entire luggage. The party of five stood in an awkward silence for what felt like an eternity to Debra, "Alright kids I have to get going, come here and give me a hug" she said to the both of them. Taylor and Troy both walked over to her and she enveloped each of them in a tight hug, while reminding them to be on their best behavior and try to get along.
Lucille looked on longingly as all she wanted to do was grab her son into a hug and remind him of how much she stilled loved him. She glanced at Kevin who had the same look in his eyes as he watched Taylor hugging onto Debra.
Debra gave them one last squeeze, as she released them both she made her final goodbyes and opened the front door as Kevin offered to walk her to her car. That left another awkward silence in the foyer as Troy and Taylor were both looking down at their shoes.
Lucille decided to wait until Kevin came back in before really interacted with either one of them. She knew it was going to be hard trying to communicate with the both of them, especially Taylor. She always blamed herself for what happened to Taylor…her mother beating her to unconsciousness never came easy for her to accept, since she knew it would have never happened if Kevin never left.
"Hey you guys still standing here?" said Kevin as he entered back into the home, scaring Taylor out of her thoughts and making Troy look up at him for the first time since they arrived. He looked over at Lucille and he knew instantly that she was having difficulty talking to the kids.
Kevin took a deep breath than sighed, "Okay…how about you guys wash your hands in the bathroom around the corner, while I take your stuff upstairs to your rooms and Lucille and I will set up the table for dinner". Troy and Taylor just stared at him as if he were speaking a foreign language. "C'mon guys…please try to work with us" said Kevin pleadingly.
Taylor hadn't seen her father look that sad in years. She almost felt sorry for him, 'but he brought this on himself' she thought. She remembered that her only goal was to get him to sign the adoption papers, and that required her to try and make things work. "Where did you say the bathroom was?" she asked while clearing her throat.
"Just around the corner there to your left" he said as his face lightened up slightly. Taylor shook her head then grabbed Troy by the arm, as he had took his stance back up at glaring at Kevin. Troy remained rooted in his spot, until he heard Taylor say his name, "Troy c'mon" as she pulled him towards the bathroom.
Kevin and Lucille watched as they made their way to the wash room. Lucille out of habit started to rub her stomach as she begun shaking her head. Kevin walked over immediately and put his arms around her swollen frame, "It's gonna be okay Lucy…please don't stress out. We have our little person to think about too" said Kevin.
"I know" she responded tearing up slightly, "but they don't want to be here and it's like we're forcing them against their will" she said just as quietly.
"Well we knew when we left, that this is the mess we would have to deal with…so we are gonna deal, but I want you to calm yourself and not stress out about anything" he said. "I'm gonna take the stuff upstairs" he said releasing her and giving her a small peck on the lips, "I'll be back down to help set the table for dinner".
"Okay" she said quietly as she returned his kiss. She turned and walked into the large kitchen to but the last finishing touches on the meal. She made Troy's favorite lasagna and could only hope that Taylor enjoyed it as well.
"This is bullshit" said Troy angrily in the washroom as he leaned against the wall. "I just don't feel right about this Tay" he said crossing his hands over his chest.
"Neither do I Troy, but I'm here on a mission…and lower you voice would you?" she said looking at him through the mirror.
"Sorry…even though I didn't want to come here, I thought I could handle this, but seeing my mom about to explode with that baby and seeing your dad, it just brought up all those old feelings I thought I was over" he said more in control this time.
"Yeah I know what you mean" said Taylor turning to face him. "Maybe we never got over those feelings but suppressed them just to deal" she said quietly looking through Troy.
"Now you sound like Mrs. Peterson" said Troy chuckling slightly…"Its like I can't stand to be in the same room with them" he said.
"Well…once upon a time you couldn't stand to be next to me and somehow that has changed" said Taylor quietly. She looked up at Troy with those huge brown eyes he had become accustomed to, and he felt his heart melt. He walked over to Taylor and engulfed her in a big hug and placed a small but gentle kiss on her full lips.
"I haven't hugged or kissed you, in what seems like forever. What's going on with us Tay?" he asked quietly with his arms still wrapped around her small frame.
"I don't know Troy; I'm guessing it's the stress of everything. Especially having to be here when we really don't want to be" she said quietly as she placed her head gently on his shoulder. "But we're here together and I know we can get through this…I'm not promising it won't be some explosions but at least we have one another to lean on".
"Yeah you're right…as usual" he said smiling down at her. "Okay so by the end of the two weeks, you will have your adoption papers signed and we can finally move on with the rest of our lives" said Troy.
"Definitely" said Taylor. "Besides I have to catch you up on what happened today".
"What happened?" questioned Troy releasing her and opening the bathroom door.
"I slapped Sharpay…and she slapped me back" said Taylor nonchalantly. Taylor heard Troy audibly gasp…and question why she would do something like that, even though he was laughing slightly.
The broken family was seated around the dinning room table, eating in awkward silence. Even though lasagna was Troy's favorite he felt himself picking at the food and hoping for dinner to be over quickly so he and Taylor could retreat to their "bedrooms". The silence around the table said more than anything to Kevin about how much he and Lucille had messed up.
"So Taylor, you've become quite the basketball star" Kevin said trying to make small talk. "I didn't know you were that talented at sports, always thought you were a science girl".
Taylor looked up at the man that sired her, "Well things change…not necessarily by choice" she said quietly looking at her father.
Kevin cleared his throat as he tried to ignore the truth that she just spoke, "Well, I'm just proud of you is all" he said just as quietly as Lucille looked on between the two.
"Thanks…I guess" said Taylor quietly as she took a bite of her food, which Kevin took as his cue to drop the conversation.
Troy continued to pick at his food when his mother offered him something to drink. He politely declined but his mom refilled his glass full of iced tea. That's when Troy noticed the wedding ring on his mom's left hand that definitely wasn't the one she wore when she was with his dad. "When did you guys do it?" asked Troy a little more aggressively than he intended while nodding his head towards her ring.
Lucille immediately grabbed her hand close to her body. She didn't want to do anything that would upset him, but she answered him anyway. "About a month ago" she said quietly. Troy felt the heat rising to the back of his neck and he needed to leave before he blew up, "May I be excused please?" he asked standing up, not really waiting for an answer.
"You've barely touched your food Troy…aren't you hungry?" asked Kevin, addressing Troy for the first time.
"No" said Troy not giving Kevin any eye contact, "Keep calm Troy, keep calm" he thought to himself.
"Your mom has worked really hard on tonight's dinner…I thought lasagna was your favorite" probed Kevin some more as he was getting more annoyed by Troy's behavior and attitude.
"How the hell would you know anything about me!" asked Troy as he raised his voice, "I'm not hungry and I'm tired…just leave me alone alright!" yelled Troy as he ran from the dinning room and up the stairs. He obviously found where his bedroom was because a loud door slam made those remaining at the table jump.
Kevin's nostrils flared as he slammed his own fist on the table, causing Lucille and Taylor to jump some more. Realizing his mistake he immediately apologized. Taylor felt the tears sting her eyes, she hated seeing Troy so upset but she could fully understand his emotional state. She looked over at her fathers hand and saw his wedding band. It was like those two rings meant that everything was real, that her family as she knew it was over. And she felt so foolish for even holding some hope that somehow her parents would work everything out and that the last year had been some horrible dream.
"May I please be excused?" Taylor heard herself ask, as she felt a lone tear escape her eye.
Lucille saw the tear drop as a wave of guilt fell over her, "Sure" she said quietly, as she knew Kevin wasn't going to respond. Taylor quickly got up and made her way up the stairs.
She walked through the hallway and noticed the doors were open on four rooms. She saw that one of the doors was closed and she knew that room belonged to Troy. Directly across she gathered that this room belonged to her because she saw the luggage sitting on the floor next to the bed. She walked in and looked around. Everything looked brand new; the bedroom set, the massively large television connected to the wall, with a PS3 sitting directly under it. She noted that she had her own bathroom, and a brand new desk with what looked to be a brand new lap top sitting upon it.
"I guess they think buying all this stuff will erase what they did" she thought to herself, "to bad it doesn't".
Taylor turned around on the spot and decided to go exploring some more. She heard her father and Troy's mom having a discussion downstairs as she assumed they were cleaning up. She continued to walk down the hall and noted another bedroom, which looked to be a guest room. There was a bathroom directly across from there. As she continued to walk she noted the final room with the door open had to be her father's and his new wife. She walked through the door slightly and looked around.
The room didn't resemble anything of her parents' old room. It was like her father had completely started over; new wife, new baby, new house, with new stuff in it. When would she be allowed to start over? When would she finally be allowed to move on with what was left in her life? Even though most days it felt like it was in complete shambles, when would she be allowed to pick it up…just like he did. Taylor glanced over at what she assumed were her father and Lucille's bed and she instantly felt a sick feeling in her stomach. Deciding to go check on Troy she turned and walked to the closed door. She knocked on it and walked in not waiting for a response.
"Troy" she called out. Looking around she noted that his room was brand spanking new also. She heard him crying softly in what was his own bathroom and she rushed over to try and comfort him. Walking into the bathroom, she noticed he was crying over the sink as he held his head down. She walked over quietly and tapped him slightly on the shoulder while calling out his name. He immediately looked up and she could see his tear stained face in the mirror.
"I came to check on you" she said quietly, "maybe we can talk about this". Troy wiped the tears from his eyes and walked out of the bathroom without responding. Taylor was slightly taken back. "Troy did you hear me?" she asked walking out of the bathroom after him. He continued to ignore her as he took his luggage and began to unpack. "Troy?" she said quietly as her voice began to break with hurt. It was then that Troy stopped moving and looked at her. The pain in her voice snapped him back to reality and he stood there looking at her. It was like her heard her but he didn't hear her at the same time. In that moment she had become the Taylor that he couldn't stand being around and before he said something or did something that would ruin their relationship he decided that it wasn't the best time to talk.
"Look Tay" he started out quietly as his own voice began to shake, "I heard you and I'm sorry for ignoring you" he said, "but I don't want to hurt you Tay and I feel like I'm gonna explode at any minute…worse than before. So I just need to be alone, I need my space in order to get through this" he said looking at her in the eyes.
"But I thought we were gonna get through this together Troy…we were gonna be each others rock" she said trying to mask the hurt but failing miserably.
"I know Tay" said Troy starting to cry again, "but I can't be your rock when I feel like a pebble" he said quietly. "I just need a little time to get myself together" he said turning from her and putting some clothes in his new bed room furniture.
Taylor knew that Troy was trying to handle this situation the best he could and being more mature about it than fussing and cussing but she couldn't help but feel slightly devastated. A quiet "fine" was all she could muster up as she turned, walked out his room while shutting the door behind her. She felt tears rise once again, but refused to let them fall. "He needs to do what's best for him and I need to do the same" she thought to herself.
She walked across the hall to her bedroom and decided to do what Troy did and start to unpack since it looked like she was officially stuck there for the holidays. It had been an emotionally draining day for her, the first in a very long time, and as she unpacked she couldn't help but get angrier and angrier about the entire situation. Never in all her life had she felt such ranging emotions; one minute she's not necessarily happy but content, and the next she's crying her eyes out, then she's angrier than any normal person. "Are these just typical teenage emotions combined with hormones or am I going crazy" she thought as she slammed the drawer to her dresser exceptionally hard.
"Taylor, are you okay?" she heard her father ask her from the door.
Taylor looked up at him and rolled her eyes, "Yeah I'm fine" she rushed out as she walked over to her bed.
"Taylor, I know this situation is really hard for…" began her father.
"Hard for me" she said looking at him incredulously. "You don't know what hard is…especially for me" said Taylor angrily, yet her voice remained surprisingly calm. "You ran away dad, you put your needs before mine and moms. You choose to start a whole new family and hurt the people that loved you the most" she started as tears began to stream from her eyes.
"Oh Taylor" said Kevin as he rushed to go and comfort his daughter, but Taylor immediately moved back from him, "Don't you touch me" she said through clenched teeth. "You don't get to comfort me anymore" she said. Kevin tried his hardest but he felt his emotions rise and he felt his eyes water. It hurt him deeply that his own daughter had so much hatred for him, "Taylor I know you hate me but I really am sorry" said Kevin.
"You think I hate you…if you think that then you're more selfish and pathetic than I thought" said Taylor. "I wish I could hate you, than dealing with this would be so much easier, but hating you would mean hating myself and I can't do that. I'm angry dad. You just left!" she finally yelled. "You destroyed our family, not only our family but Troy's!" she yelled.
"I had to Taylor…Lucille was expecting" said her father desperately as his own tears finally fell.
"So!" said Taylor throwing her hands up. "What does that have to do with anything; it doesn't change the fact that you were a coward and ran away. You didn't stick around to see the consequences and damage that both of you caused!" screamed Taylor. "You weren't around to see my mom beat my ass until I blacked out, you weren't around to see her turn into an alcoholic. Do you have any idea how it feels to have your own mother give you away because you remind her too much of the man that betrayed her? No you don't…you don't get to make up for it now dad…especially by buying stuff to make up for you horrible parenting!" screamed Taylor almost out of breath as she wiped some of the tears from her face.
"With one decision dad, you turned me into an instant charity case and it was totally unfair. I didn't deserve that. But you know what, even though you put me through all of that, some how I still managed to survive" she said a little more calmly. "I survived without you, and I'm not totally fine but I guarantee I will get there without you" she said.
"Taylor I want to fix this…tell me how to get you to forgive me" stuttered out Kevin. He hadn't stop crying yet.
"You want to fix this dad…fix it by letting me go. Sign the adoption papers so I can move on with my life. You've gotten to move on. You have a new wife, baby, and house with new things…I just want to make it through high school without any more drama…I want you out of my life" she said quietly.
Kevin was taken back, "How can you ask that of me? You're my daughter and I love you, I want you in my life Taylor, I need you in my life" he said still a little shocked by her request of not wanting him in her life.
"You know all I heard was 'me' and 'I'. For once stop being selfish…this is what is best for me to move on. I don't want to see you in love with another woman, especially Troy's mother. I don't want to see you develop a relationship with another child, when you willingly gave up the relationship with the daughter you already had. I just want to move on and make it with people that actually think of others when making huge life decisions" said Taylor. "I just need you to sign the adoption papers, you want me to forgive you than that's the way…letting me go" said Taylor quietly as she turned her back towards her father, signaling the end of their discussion.
Kevin stood for sometime looking at his daughter. Somebody he barely recognized and it was entirely his fault that she was this way…a completely damaged person. He finally made his way towards the bedroom door as he took one look back at Taylor, who didn't even acknowledge his presence. He closed the door behind him as he looked over a Troy's shut door. Deciding today was a total lost cause, he made his way to his room where his wife was already in bed, beckoning him to come join her. Lucille heard the entire conversation and she wasn't surprised to see that he had tears still running out of his eyes. Kevin walked over to his pregnant wife and pulled her close to him. He held her tightly as he continued to let the tears fall from his eyes…he heard Lucille join him as the both lamented over the fact that their relationships with their first children was forever changed and ruined.