The Next Day,Gabriella took Logan to the doctor, and Troy took his girls out for some ben and jerry's and taking the girls to the mall. as Troy and the girls sat at the food court. Emily had chocolate ice cream all over her face. Troy chuckled, "baby.." he took a napkin wiping her face off. Sophie just sat there enjoying her vaniella ice cream going down her tongue. Troy noticed a Tall Man lurking over at them. then Troy realized something..his eyes widened, it was his father, the father that had abandoned him, abused him, for years.
He looked quickly away, wiping the rest of the ice cream from Emily's face, then he turned to Sophie, "so what do you two want to do today?" Both girls thought, or at least pretended to it seemed, "uhh FAIR! THE FAIR!" they screamed, Troy laughed, his father seemed to have moved closer to them now. He swallowed his unease and pushed it to the back of his mind, "The Fair it is..." he said, kissing Emily on the top of the head and tousling Sophie's hair because she was on the other side of the small table in the ice cream parlor. "Let's go girls." the girls slid out of the booth, Troy held both their hands as they walked to the door. "Troy," his father said, putting a thick set hand on his son's shoulder, "good to see you son...have you seen Josh?"
Troy closed his eyes, "Uhm Sophie, why don't you take Emily to wait in the car, I'll be there soon K?" Sophie nodded, puffing out her chest with enthusiasm as she was given the task to look over her younger sister. When they were gone, Troy turned only his head, "What do you want Jack?" He thought that his father didn't deserve to be called 'dad'. Jack smirked, "Only to talk to you.." Troy shook off his father's hand, "well I'm busy, and you're supposed to be in jail." Jack laughed, "Yeah ...well, good behaviour does wonders son...now, back to the question, heard from your brother?"
Troy glared at him, "what do you want from him?" Jack smirked, "Just to see what his up too, like you? what have you been up to lately.." Troy glared at him, "Is it really any of your buisness.. or like you care..?" Jack chuckled, "Cute little girls, are they yours? are they boltons?" Troy's hands formed into fists. "Don't Fucking Dare...you try any bullshit, in touching them, or my family, I will kill you!" Jack laughed, "You've grown up Troy." Troy growled, and turned the other way to get to his girls, "Say, that girl your with, I would love to meet her, and maybe get to hang out with her in bed.. she seems...tasty.." he smirked.
Troy's blood boiled, "stay away from her!" Jack crossed his arms, "aww what's a matter? did I make Troy mad?" Troy's nostrals flare, turning to him, "You come near me, Gabriella, or my three kids, I will fucking kill you! I'm not afraid to knock your head off your shoulders!" Jack smirked, "Just like your Mother, So Confident in herself... you know, your children need to know their Grandpa don't they? and so does your beauty, you wouldn't keep your kids away from meeting their grandpa would you?"
Troy shoved him backwards, "You? You aren't their grandpa, cause you aren't my father...or Josh's...just stay away from all of us." Jack got into his face, his face impassive and cold, "watch your mouth boy..."-he slithered his hand to grope Troy's throat-"or do you need another 'little lesson' like when you and Josh were younger...remember? Of course you do." Yes, he did...everytime he and Josh did something or saw something that they weren't supposed to, Jack would send them to their rooms. That's what he called it, 'a little lesson'. Josh was the one who told his teacher about it, Troy was scared shitless to tell anyone...still is, and he didn't think that he could tell Gabriella about it. He gulped, his eyes flickering in fear.
Jack held his stong grip around Troy's throat, then a ball was hit at Jack, he snarled turning around looking at Sophie, who was holding Emily's hand, "Leave my daddy alone!" she said. Jack smirked, Looking at Troy, "Cute little girls, would be shame if something happened to them, wouldn't it?" Troy glared at him, kicking him in the nuts sending him to the ground, he would not let his kids go through the same thing he went through. he rushed over to Sophie and Emily picking them up and taking them to the car, and driving off.
Sophie and Emily sat in the back seat. Sophie was the first to speak, "Daddy, who was that man?" she asked. Troy sighed, "no one important soph.." she looked out the window, watching the rain about to pour. "did he hurt you?" she asked.
Troy tightened his grip on the steering wheel, it was amazing; first the sun was out and shining...and then this. Troy felt tears sting his eyes as memories of what his father had done slipped into his memory, "Just relax boys..." said Jack's voice, smooth but nothing hid the threat and intent, 10 year old Troy and 5 year old Josh cowered in the corner; just to the side of the bed. "Now get on the bed...now." his voice still remained calm, the two frightened boys shook their heads. Troy wasn't supposed to be afraid, he was 10 years old, he was supposed to be brave and protect his little brother. "L-Leave us a-alone!" Jack growled, grabbing Troy by the hair, "don't talk back to me boy!" He could still hear his father yelling at him most days, he wondered if Josh did too...he sighed.
"Sophie...let's go home okay?" Sophie nodded, cuddling into Troy's side as he drove, Emily sat in the back seat with silent tears running down her face and her usual thumb in her mouth; what a shitty day. Troy parked in the driveway and got out, hearing voices inside. Gabriella's and Josh's. Good, he needed to talk to his brother.
Troy and the girls walked in and Gabriella noticed Troy was kind of tensed up. "Baby, is something wrong?" she asked walking over to him. he sighed, pecking her lips, "I'm fine Brie..I just-" "Don't lie to me... I know when something is wrong.." he bit his bottom lip, "I can't talk to you about it.." she crossed her arms, "what do you mean? we always tell each other everything.." he sighed, "I know Brie, I know..this..it's just..so hard to tell you...especially right now..." Gabriella sighed, "When will you tell me what's up?" he sighed once more, "If I knew I would tell you... but you just got to trust right now Brie.." she sighed looking away, "I'm gonna take a shower Troy." and with that she headed up the stairs. Troy sighed taking a seat by Josh. Josh gulped, "hey, I got you a shake?"
Troy shook his head, "Thanks, but that's fine..." his legs were shaking from nervousness, Josh sighed, "Okay...what is it?" Troy gulped, remembering his run in with Jack. He turned to his brother, "I ran into dad." Josh felt his blood run cold, and his eyes widen, "D-dad?" Troy nodded wordlessly, "they let that son of a fucking bitch out of jail? When?"
Troy sighed, "I have no clue, but they let him out cause he was having a good behavior.." Josh sighed, "What did he say? what did he want?" Troy sighed running a hand through his hair, standing up, and leaning against the chair, "He was just saying things to piss me off... and talking about..ugh...I hate him Josh, his just the one person I can't stand, and I can't stand alot of people..." Josh gulped, "what did he say?" "He was saying stuff about Gabriella.. and my kids, and then he tried to teach me another lesson, then Sophie saved me by hitting him with a ball, and I kicked him in the balls, and he fell backwards, and I ran with the girls and drove here." Josh sighed, "why can't you tell Gabriella?"
His head snapped up, his blue eyes seeming darker than his normal hue of blue, "I can't Josh...I just can't...and neither can you." Josh sighed, "Man, it was years ago-" "you remember then right? The 'little lessons' that would happen every time we did or saw something we supposed to..." Troy's voice faded, Josh looked down, "Of course I remember Troy-I'm the one who-" Troy pinched the bridge of his nose, "we're not telling Gabriella...we're not, okay?" Josh felt himself nodding, "what about cousin Chad? We were always close, did you ever tell him?" Troy shook his head, "why not?"
Troy took a deep breath, "I...I was afraid of being made fun of.. ok? you had it lucky Josh, You had a family that cared for you when you were in foster care...I was on the streets! I got into drugs at 15, and Chad helped me out, I couldn't tell him what I've been through..my childhood sucked.. and my teenage life sucked until Gabriella... and she made my life worth living..So I had to quit the drugs..." Josh eyes went wide, "T-Troy..I..I didn't know-" "well now you do! life wasen't simple for me, It was Life In The Fast lane, I never knew what was gonna happen, but I'm glad it turned out how it did, cause now I have the most beauitful girl, and the most beautiful children, and I wouldn't trade it for nothing!" Josh gulped, "I'm sorry Troy..I didn't know..."
there was a long pause then Josh asked, "How did you and Gabriella meet? was she into drugs too, or was she a friend of Chad's or anything?" Troy chuckled at the memory, "no...she uh was pregnant with Sophie and, she was in labour when we met-I was volunteering at the hospital." Josh smiled, "wonderful way to meet, so Sophie isn't yours biologically?" Troy shook his head, "no, but I love her the same...I'd never hurt her like Jack hurt us..." he turned to his little brother, "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you by the way.." Josh scoffed, "dude you were 10." "But you were 5, it shouldn't have happened to you too." Josh sighed, "Troy it shouldn't have happened to either of us..." another silence, this time it was much longer than the first. Troy moved his eyes around, seeing Josh's book bag and a discarded psyhology book. He picked it up, "You in college?"
Josh sat up walking over to him, "yeah, umm this is my first year.. kind of rough being a freshman.." Troy nodded, "yeah, I would say.. what you studying to be?" Josh smiled, "Well I either want to be a Teacher, cause I love and adore kids, or maybe a Police Officer..." Troy nodded, "Well I'm happy for you..I never made it to college.." Josh looked at him, "why?" Troy shrugged, "I guess I didn't want too..I don't know..I made pretty good grades and school, and was gonna go to college on a free scholarship to Berkley, but umm I got into drugs and everything.. they wouldn't accept me.." Josh sighed, "Oh..umm..I'm sorry.." Troy nodded, "So umm, about Sophie, does she know her real dad?"
Troy looked at him, "Vaguely...when she was younger than 4...hopefully she never finds out about him." Josh looked at his brother, "but she has a right to know her actual father Troy.." he sighed, "Go-not this again, look Josh...I really don't want to talk about this okay...let's just worry about our so called father right now, Gabriella needs protection and my kids need protection." Josh raised an eyebrow, "okay...?" What's that have to me? were the unspoken dialogue, "You are going to help."
Josh blinked, "What?" Troy nodded, "you heard me...until Jack is...not in our lives anymore, they need protection, Josh, you're going to help." "What about my classes?" "We'll take it shifts...but 'dear old daddy' is not coming anywhere near any of us."
Josh sighed, "Troy, don't you think Gabriella can take care of herself?" Troy looked at him, "No.. she's mine, and I need to protect her." Josh gulped, but then sighed, "but umm.. what are we suppose to tell her? I mean, she's gonna realize were keeping an eye on her?" Troy sighed, "We'll be careful, I can't risk losing her, and I can't risk her finding out.." Josh looked at him, "why do you not want her finding out? Troy, you were 10, she's not gonna make fun of you."
"What happened when he was 10?" Troy turned his head at the voice, Gabriella stood in short denim shorts that reminded Josh of Daisy Duke from Dukes Of Hazzard, and to go with it was a pink spaghetti strap tank top. He felt his mouth run dry, his hands roamed her body as he lifted her shirt from her abdomen. Her skin was warm to his touch, and as he kissed her neck, she arched against him when he hit the sensitive sweet spot; she dug her nails into his back as she muttered in his ear..."Hello? Troy, what happened when you were 10?" Troy gulped, Josh came out of his reverie, he suddenly felt like he needed a cold shower. "Uhm...nothing Brie." she frowned, crossing her arms; Josh groaned when the action pushed her breasts up a little. I shouldn't be doing this...She's Troy's.
"It didn't sound like nothing Troy." Troy sighed, walking over to her, and gently grabbing her wrists, "It's fine Brie..all right, trust me? Everything's going to be fine..." there was something in his voice that Gabriella didn't like but his eyes was what held her focus.
Gabriella looked away from him, "Something is going on Troy..I can see it in your eyes.." Troy sighed cupping her cheek with his hand.."Baby, nothing is going-" she shook her head, "No, until you can tell me the truth...I don't wanna see you...me, Sophie, Logan, and Emily will stay with Sharpay until you are ready to tell me what's going on, cause I'm getting my feelings mixed up, and I don't know what to do, your hurting me Troy, I'm confused and hurt by you.." Troy sighed, "Brie, baby, just try to listen to me, I'm trying to protect you." she crossed her arms, "That's it Troy, from what? your really starting to piss me off! and It's not making me happy at all!" Josh stood there uncomfortable, she was kind of a turn on for him when they were arguing, and when she was...mad.
Gabriella crossed her arms, looking at Troy, "I'm leaving Troy.. and when your ready to trust me, and tell me the truth, you know where sharpay lives, cause I'm through being the one to know everything last, It's not fair, and it's hurting me."
Troy blinked at her, "Baby, No! You have to stay here!" he grabbed her wrists, "Please..Please stay here.." his heart was pounding fast, and his eyes had fear written all over them. Gabriella noticed this looking into his eyes, and she whispered, "I'm sorry.. no.. I know something is wrong, Cause I can see the fear written in your eyes, and I bet your heart is pounding fast... and I can't stand being lied to Troy... I want the truth, and if you can't give me at least that, then I don't know what we have right now.."
Josh cleared his throat, "I'm just gonna go-" Troy turned toward him, " I'm following her.. this is just like last time." That peaked Josh's interest, "you mean she went to her friends house last time? What'd you do then?" the memory of him climbing the tree and singing Hit Me Baby One More Time came to him and then singing I'm Henry The 8th I Am, he chuckled, "Nothing that would interest you." Josh laughed, "Yeah...that smile says differently...what'd you do?" Troy sighed, "Let's just say...I can't sing all that great if I'm holding onto a tree." Josh thought about that for a second, "you sang to her...from a tree branch..."
Troy smiled, "Hey I would do anything for the one I love." Josh sighed, "Well, I wish you luck, and Troy.." Troy looked at him, "Tell her...she'll understand.." Troy nodded as he rushed after her, she had taken the car, so he would have to run, not walk, run.