Thank you to everyone who read the last part or has reviewed this story over the last three years. This is the final arc of Scenes from Freshman Year.
Special note in this Chapter the story is going to flash forward 14 years, similar to what was done on Desperate Housewives, so you can see where everyone ends up. (Of course, maybe the flash forward is another Sharpay writing assignment. You will find out later.)
This may be disjointed in parts, but that is intentional. It will all make sense in the end.
Warning: character death (Not Chad or Sharpay)
The Future is in the Past: Part one
Friday April 7, 2023
Weston Academy
Manhattan, New York
Oh the misery of Career Day. Chad did not even like this day when he was a child and now he was the main attraction. The things one does for one's children. This was the universe's revenge for all the times his mom was forced to do this. During the years that his mom worked for child welfare services, she managed to turn her participation into a public service announcement about the importance of coming forward if you are being abused, much to his embarrassment. After the fourth grade presentation, when one of his classmates told his mom about her uncle that 'touched her in her special places' Chad started to see she was doing the right thing. (Too bad Sharpay never took her advice back then.)
Charles despised his job and therefore never actually showed up even though he promised he would. (It probably would have been more humiliating if he did.) Charles never did a lot of things he said he would. Thinking about it now the only thing his father ever did for him was give him two wonderful children. As far as Olivia and Isaac were concerned, Chad was their father.
In an effort to be a good parent, he was stuck talking about his job in front of the auditorium filled with eighth graders at the overly pretentious NYC private school Sharpay said the twins just had to attend. They ended up in New York because that was where he was able to get a residency after attending med school in New Jersey and finishing undergrad in California. They stayed because Ryan lived there too with his future CEO husband Zack and matching puppies.
The students looked like hungry vultures ready to attack Chad at any moment, just like the last time he agreed to do this. (Seriously, why couldn't their Uncle Zack be in town to do this? The former A of U basketball player was great with children he was a regular Boys and Girls club volunteer.) Last time Chad did this it was in first grade and technically, he was still in med school. He was supposed to talk about all the cool doctor things he was learning. That did not happen. It was a disaster. Within the first two minutes, he was asked several inappropriate questions about how a 24 year old can have seven year old children. That disaster resulted in Mr. Shelton's first grade class finding out that the Twins were adopted because their biological mother has been in a coma since they were born and their biological father was the one responsible for it. Chad was never asked to come back again until the twins transferred schools. He also received lots of dirty looks from the PTA.
From that point forward until now, Sharpay handled all career days. She was perfect for it. She was actually good with children mostly because she was scared of nothing. By age 33, she has ran the family company, created several charitable organizations including the Tiffany Jackson foundation to Prevent Domestic Violence and sexual assault, become a published author (for children and adults), and had a few of her musical projects turned into Broadway smashes. Not bad for someone who took more than a decade to graduate from College. Her list of accomplishments even made her much more age appropriate than him.
Actually, the disastrous first-grade incident could have been prevented if Sharpay took care of it as originally planned but she was sick with the flu or at least they thought it was the flu and Chad had no choice but to fill in. It turns out Sharpay was pregnant but miscarried two weeks later. That was the first of four miscarriages along with more failed attempts at in Vitro than he cares to remember. They keep trying but it never works. Sharpay has an appointment this afternoon to see if attempt number four billion actually took. She was extremely nervous about it but she wouldn't let him come. Instead, she was taking her Broadway choreographer brother. He needed the distraction because he hated when his husband was away on a business trip. Ryan's BFF Taylor, despite the break up nearly 14 years ago, delegated the job to Sharpay because she was busy with her latest political aspirations.
It's better that Chad is not at the doctor with her anyway. His Doctor side knows that a baby is just never going to happen. Sharpay cannot carry a child. He has accepted that a long time ago but Sharpay hasn't. Sharpay Evans does not take no for an answer. It doesn't matter to him. He has two (sometimes) wonderful children, he doesn't need more.
To distract him from worrying about what's going on with Sharpay's most recent attempt to get pregnant his brilliant children signed him up for career day 2023, without telling him until this morning. He was going to get back at his darling twins in the most embarrassing way possible.
It's not that hard considering his career. He has built an embarrassment potential. He is not just a doctor he is a sexual health and relationship expert. As his wife suggested on their honeymoon years ago it is possible to make a career out of sex (that does not involve 'solicitation'). That led to Chad switching to Pre med and psychology. He still managed to finish undergrad in four years even though he switched schools after his second year. After everything that happened, Sharpay needed a change of scenery, and being in the same city as their best friends seem idea once they could leave. (Sharpay needed to spend a year in New Mexico to stabilize Evans International after the upheaval of the spring before. Afterwards, she was able to turn the reins over to Mr. Kim.)
After a few more years of school and helping Jackie with a school assignment to create a new type of medical website, they started the blog Sex and Life with Dr. Chad that handled questions from college students about everything from the best type of lube to use to the best way to leave an abusive relationship. He was just supposed to be the medical expert on Jackie's class project instead the web site was still going strong seven years later and he got a book deal out of the thing. Six months ago, his second book The Significant Other's Guide to Sexual Assault: How to Help your Partner Heel came out and it was still on the bestseller list. He was currently in talks for his own MTV Network show for either BET or MTV U. Basically they were trying to reincarnate Loveline but with him and his video blog as the focus. Embarrassment possibilities were endless, Chad thought as he walked up to the podium.
"My name is Dr. Chad Evans and I am a sex expert." All students laughed except for the twins who were hiding beneath the seats. A few of the parents and some of the teachers look equally embarrassed and/or angry. Miss Ramos the teacher in charge of organizing career day just chuckled to herself, having most likely read his biography.
"That explains why a 32 year old has 14 year old children." This was said by a certain smart ass that attacks his daughter on a regular basis, name William. He hated that boy.
"Honestly the circumstances behind that are none of your damn business especially considering your mom is just slightly older than me and your father is old enough to be my grandfather." He said quickly causing the other students to laugh. "I'm an expert in the field of human sexual health and relationships because of my studies in the field of internal medicine, reproductive science, sexual health, and human behavior at some of the best institutions in the country." William in the front row looked like he was about to say something else but was stopped by one of the teachers.
"I'm sure the students here would love to know how you chose such an interesting field of study." Miss Ramos prompted.
"I've always loved learning, even if I wasn't comfortable with other people knowing that. I would read anything I could get my hands on. I was reading my mother's legal textbooks by the time I was eight years old. However, when you are a teenage boy there is one area that seems to hold your interest more than others and that's what I decided to focus on. I had a good professor in college who told me to find my passion. That's what I did. Next question?" He said as 20 hands went up.
March 31, 2009
Chad was highly annoyed right now. He was supposed to be meeting his incompetent academic adviser in 20 minutes but instead he was having to meet with his women's studies professor to get his midterm paper back, he assumed. Most likely it was so bad that she couldn't bring herself to give it to Chad in front of his wife and friends. Considering Sharpay's paper contained an actual apology and the business card from a detective that handles sexual assault cases in Albuquerque, it had to be really bad. Sharpay's paper focused on why women don't report sexual assaults rather than sexual assault itself and included the many reasons why Sharpay personally didn't tell anybody when it happened to her. He was proud that she was willing to write about that.
"If you hated my paper that much, you could've told me in front of everybody. I have much more important things to worry about than how others perceive me. I have to meet my academic advisor in 19 minutes and my lawyer after that." Chad said impatiently.
"Mr. Danforth, I did not hate your paper. You wrote probably the best paper I have read in this class and that includes the paper that your girlfriend wrote. Your research was wonderful and your personal antidote added to the paper. The images included were a nice addition that brought your point across more than the words ever could. I wasn't expecting something like this from you." She said handing the paperback to him.
Chad wanted to say that she most likely only expected him to be in this class because Sharpay was in it but he just didn't have the energy to be overly snide this afternoon. Lots of homework and newborn twins do not allow for sufficient sleep for snarkiness.
"Thank you. Although Sharpay is no longer just my girlfriend, she is my wife. Also, I took her last name. So if you see Chad Evans on a paper, it's me. I'm surprised you didn't know. It made the society page." Chad said casually.
"I never read that page. Changing your last name doesn't surprise me considering what happened." She said with a sad expression. "Although, the marriage does. You both seem too intelligent to rush into such an outdated institution." She said with alarmed.
"The timing was a business decision more than anything else but I do love and respect her greatly. A piece of paper doesn't change that. It's just putting the commitment in writing. We currently have custody of my brother and sister, because of what happened." He said without elaborating.
"At least taking care of newborns explains why you fell asleep in my class last week." She said looking disapprovingly.
"Sorry about that, although I blame the sleep deprivation more on late night lawyer meetings then midnight feedings. We are in the middle of a major custody fight because Tiffany's mom doesn't want us to have the children even if custody papers signed by Tiffany say otherwise. As we all know Albuquerque family court would rather have children waste away in Foster Care than let someone who is part of a nontraditional family adopt. We did what we had to do to be seen as desirable." He explained.
"That's unfortunate." She said in an angry tone.
"But fortunately, I had someone who would do anything to help me keep Olivia and Isaac. If that's all, I have to meet with my incompetent student adviser in 15 minutes." Chad said getting up from his chair but she stopped him with a gesture of her hand.
"Actually, that's why I asked for you to meet me today. Your advisor sent me an e-mail after you told him that you were looking for a new major preferably something that did not involve computer programming. Anything not computer related is pretty much outside his area of expertise, therefore he asked me to speak with you." She explained as he sat back down.
"Yes, completely incompetent." Chad mumbled under breath. "I'm sure you will probably be able to provide me with more guidance than the alternative but I don't think Feminist Studies is going to be the best fit for me even if I do like some of the research possibilities." He added the last part hastily because he still wanted to pass this class. "Why did he ask you to help me?"
"That may have something to do with the fact that he's my brother." Chad face fell at that.
"I apologize for all my incompetent jokes." He said quickly hoping that his grade wasn't already in jeopardy.
"You don't need to. He's not the best academic adviser in the world or even at this school. He usually asks me to council any of his students considering a transfer to a non-science major. You are just the first student that he has asked me to help that has actually been in one of my classes. I'm not that popular with the computer science crowd. It's a lot easier to help a student when you know that they are very intelligent but their heart is just not into designing the next big video game or whatever." She said in a way that almost sounded like a joke. "Why do you want to change majors?
"I don't think I chose the right one in the first place. My dad always discouraged me from actually displaying my true intelligence or really thinking at all. He felt that I had the most potential on the basketball court and only the basketball court. My mom was terrified that I would end up like her and therefore never pushed me. I think she was afraid of becoming her father who pushed her too hard and therefore she rebelled by having me at 17. I think I chose computer science because it was easy and no one would question that decision. In high school, I played the part of the dumb jock perfectly, because I wasn't comfortable being myself. Now that I am, I'm not sure if I want to be designing video games in 15 years. However, I also have the twins to consider in whatever decision I make. For all intensive purposes I am a Dad now." He explained honestly.
"Kids do change everything. I can see your point considering that you already have a majority of the class is needed for the computer science degree before you even got here. Let's start with a simple question, what type of classes do you like?" She asked.
"It's not that I hate computer science, it's just not exciting. I can do the work in my computer classes but I hate it now. I think that is why I pretty much avoided taking any of those classes this year and focused more on the general stuff like calculus and physics. I like your class, eccept when I get a project that makes me highly uncomfortable." He said with a smirk.
"I'm sorry about what happened. If I knew that you and Sharpay accidentally chose highly sensitive issues I would have given you both different subjects for your midterm project. Despite that, you both did very well on your projects." She said with a smile that seemed genuine.
"We didn't want special treatment." He explained quickly. "Honestly, I like any class where I'm not bored to tears. That happened a lot in high school before I started taking mostly college classes. I'm always learning something new or getting to work on some interesting project. I like research and connecting the dots. Nobody likes Calculus or Physics but it's okay but it's not really a challenge. Actually I enjoy teaching Kim the material more than I actually like the class." He said honestly.
"If you like teaching, you can always consider a career in education." She suggested. The thought alone scared him.
"Not going to happen. I enjoy explaining how things work, but not to the really young. Maybe, I could deal with college students, but high school students would eat me alive. I have helped Sharpay out a few times during her rehearsals for the play she is putting on with students from every high school in the city. I don't know how she does it. They drive me crazy after only a few moments. I just don't have the patience for it." He would have also mentioned something about the fact that he was constantly molested by teenage girls (and a few boys) but his professor did not need to know that.
"I've heard about that. It's a very ambitious project." Chad translates that to mean 'I can't believe she has the time to do that and everything else.' He can't either but it is Sharpay. She can do anything if she puts her mind to it. She also gets a lot of work done when she cannot fall back to sleep after a two AM feeding.
"It is Sharpay's passion, so of course she's going to throw everything into it. She loves writing. It's her favorite thing to do. It's her favorite stress relief activity and she has a lot of stress right now. She is an excellent storyteller. I catch her telling the babies crazy original bedtime stories every night. I think I want that." Chad said wistfully.
"To be a writer?" She asked.
"To find something I am passionate about." He responded.
"I think we all want that. You just need to fine your passion. I think try different things next semester will be the best way to do that. Take a bunch of different classes that you would not normally take. You already have a lot of your basic classes out of the way and they will switch over no matter what you choose. You're in good shape if you want to take a semester off to look around a little bit. Since you've already taken so many computer classes you can do a minor in computer science." The professor suggested wisely.
"What classes do you suggest?" He asked hoping for a little more guidance.
"I suggest more women studies classes since you do actually like them. Maybe some Latino studies or African American studies classes as well. Actually, I suggest you look at the class catalog and just choose anything that is interesting." He could do that, if he could ever find the time. He and Sharpay have already decided that they would stay at A of U next year until they get the handle of being parents then they would transfer somewhere that would work with his new major (if he ever figured one out).
"I could do that. Well this was slightly more helpful than what Sharpay suggested." He said sarcastically.
"What did your wife suggest?" Apparently, sarcasm was lost on this professor.
"That's not important. She wasn't being serious." He said quickly not wanting to tell her.
"I would still like to know." She pushed.
"She suggested sex." Chad said as his face became warmer hoping she would let it drop there.
"Human reproduction or the human behavior aspect of it?" She asked in complete seriousness, causing him to nearly fall out of his chair.
"Probably both, she knows I like researching and reading things on the subject." He said giving up on avoiding this conversation.
"When you say research are you talking about watching pornography or reading journal articles?" He could not believe she actually asked that.
"Mostly the latter, although I did find the Kama Sutra quite interesting." He said resisting the urge to smirk.
"That's not really pornography, more like anthropology. You might find introduction to anthropology interesting. I suggest that for next semester along with child development. The latter may help with your personal situation. Also, have you taken any biology classes?" She asked almost out of nowhere.
"I will think about those two classes. Last year I took a college level biology class. I liked it a lot more than physics. Who wouldn't enjoy a class where you get to dissect a pig?" He said with another smirk.
"I personally despised it, but it was a requirement." She remarked before asking him a lot of different questions about classes that he has taken. He also mentioned all the research he has been doing regarding the Tiffany situation.
"Have you ever considered premed? You may do good in it, if you survived the pig thing. It also seems to be something that you find interesting. Bonus, the majority of your classes will transfer over." Again, that sounded like a joke.
"One of Tiffany's doctors has suggested it more than once, especially after he caught me reading some of Tiffany's old textbooks when I was visiting because I was bored. I've had a lot of wonderful organic chemistry assistants this semester." He joked.
"How do you feel about it?" She asked again.
"I find it interesting." He said with a smile.
"That's a good starting point. I will send you a few more suggested classes to sign up for next semester. I assume you have a lawyer to see about some twins." She said finally letting him leave.
April 7, 2023
East High Vice Principle Office
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Penelope Castro sat in her relatively new office despising her boss. Whose idea was it to make the vice principal in charge of organizing a high school reunion? It was probably her boss' husband's idea or possibly her stepsister. If she remembered correctly, Taylor McKessie was student council president for the East High class of 2008. She should be sending out the invitations to her own peers and haggling over catering prices instead Penelope was stuck doing it because Taylor was too focus on the special election to fill the seat of a career politician in Maryland who got caught with his pants down.
About 34 years ago the guy slept with an intern, got her pregnant, and then tried to have her killed to get rid of any evidence of his 'indiscretion'. The whole messy thing came out in the Washington Post due to a series of coincidences involving a political correspondent having his son's star-studded bar mitzvah planned by basketball husband and D. C. party planner extraordinaire Marc Zara who told him part of the story after finding out when he was planning Jay Kim's funeral. (Yes, that Marc who she went to college with who is now married to Washington Wizards' player Jimmy Zara who she worked with as a student in drama club.) Vanessa Kim got a little too drunk at her husband's funeral, that Marc was all too happy to help her plan as a favor to his BFF Taylor. You will be amazed what someone will let slip when she is picking out the casket for the love of her life who just died of a heart attack. Personally, Penelope does not believe that Marc accidentally let the whole thing slip to the Washington Post reporter, especially considering the fact that he's now Taylor's campaign manager.
The fact that Taylor was the baby in Question didn't stop her from running for his seat. The top Stanford and Berkeley graduate and President of the Washington based Tiffany Jackson Foundation for the Prevention of Domestic Violence had a pretty good chance of winning. If Penelope had lived in Maryland, she probably would have voted for Taylor even though they don't like each other very much. Taylor is still mad at Penelope for setting Ryan up with his future husband Zack the summer between freshman year and sophomore year of college. Did Taylor really think he would just wait for her to get her act together? Love doesn't work like that, she should know. Penelope was 33 and single, but she is really not that upset about that (unlike some political hopefuls that she knows). Taylor should just get over herself.
Penelope is convinced that putting her in charge of organizing the class of 2008 high school reunion was her punishment for her role in Ryan finding some happiness. This wasn't fair (especially because the pair in question were already starting to hook up on their own before she gave Ryan a little push.)
Penelope was not even going to her own high school reunion. There really wasn't anyone from her high school years that she wanted to connect with. To be completely honest she had more friends from the East High class of 2008 then her own class. She was great friends with Troy, even if he was out of New Mexico half of the time due to his career, mostly because he was married to her boss. She was close to Ryan because he was married to Zack, who she has been friends with since she met him at age five when she was stuck living with her cousins for the summer. They were always visiting her in Albuquerque at least twice a year. She is also friends with Sharpay because they were able to bond over mutual misery. Chad was actually her best friend even if he lived in New York now. Moments like these make her wonder if she went to the right high school.
She didn't want to deal with the pettiness that came with a high school reunion. She was happy with her life and really didn't care that she hasn't got laid in a good 10 months or had a steady boyfriend since the first term of the Hillary Clinton administration. Unfortunately, others would just see her as 33 and unmarried. She didn't need to spend time with the small minded idiots of West High and therefore she was not going to go.
She also didn't want to be labeled a traitor because she was now working for the 'enemy'. She had got over the silly rivalry but others lived in the Glory days of high school (they were never her glory days). Penelope has moved on. She had been the drama teacher at East High for the last eight years before being promoted to Vice Principal after an unfortunate scandal involving her predecessor's inappropriate touching of a freshman in a supply closet.
It wasn't her fault that West High no longer had a drama program. They would have one if they would accept a grant from the Vance Evans
Foundation for the Performing Arts. Penelope had to completely rebuild the program from scratch after principle moron dismantled it. She was given the job because she was one of the three people who kept high school drama alive in Albuquerque through a special program hosted by A of U and a grant from the Garden Foundation. (Yes, the garden foundation was started by Beijing Gardens and Kim Bolton.)
Thankfully, Ms. Ortega was principle moron's successor after the school board decided to blame him for East High losing the state championship three years in a row after scaring Coach Bolton back to grad school. Even though Kim is now principal after Ms. Ortega took a new job at one of the cushy prep schools in town Coach Bolton still will not come back. He's having much more fun running the Garden Foundation's programs for underprivileged students.
It was an entire year after she took the job that the school had musicals again. She finds it ironic that Miss Darbus lost her battle with cancer the night the curtain went up on the first production. Sharpay suggested at the funeral that she was sticking around to make sure that her legacy was passed on to the next generation and Penelope allowed her to finally pass on in peace.
Penelope put so much of herself into making the East High drama program great again, that she almost did not want to take this promotion. Thankfully Kim found somebody halfway competent from the local theater scene for the rest of this semester. It helps when your husband is a famous actor and singer (American Star Maker finalist 2010). Besides she couldn't say no to the woman who put a roof over her head and helped her pay for college after Richard's uncle had her cheerleading scholarship revoked and had her removed from the team as retaliation. She would not have made it through college without Kim's generosity she owed the woman a lot.
That is probably the same reason why she is helping organize this stupid reunion even though she went to another high school. The worst part was sending out the invitations surprisingly. Other than negotiating a price, the catering was easy. Her ex boyfriend Zeke owns several restaurants in town after becoming head chef at the restaurant in Chicago's Michigan Gardens at 21 making him the youngest head chef at any Beijing Gardens restaurant (all made possible by a chance meeting with Kim's grandfather who tasted his cuisine.) Zeke offered to take care of the menu like he should since this is his class reunion and he moved back to town two years ago with his then two-year-old daughter after his first marriage came undone.
Of course, he is in the middle of planning the wedding for his second marriage that will take place the day after the reunion, so he was probably having his assistant do it. Penelope didn't care as long as she did not have to do it. He owes her for making this wedding possible because she was the one who set him up with Amanda again after he caught his wife of five years fucking around with one of his 'friends'. (It took all her strength not to break into What Goes Around /Comes Around when he told her.) The first time around with Amanda fell apart because neither could do a long distance relationship when Zeke ended up back in Chicago to finish culinary school and Amanda stayed here even after she changed majors to Diversity Studies. Amanda was now the Chief Diversity Officer at Evans international.
She would ask Amanda to help her out but Penelope doesn't think it's fair for her to ask another non alumni to help her with this process that was taking forever. Even now, not everybody has a Face Book page and even though they started including e-mail addresses in the phone book (not that it was an actual book anymore) some people kept their e-mails unlisted like Sharpay and Troy for obvious reasons. Thankfully, she had access to the hardest ones to find but it still took a week to find everyone else. She was just about to press the send button on the invitation with the 200 E mail addresses that she somehow managed to find for various alumni when she saw an e-mail from the New Mexico department of corrections in her mailbox. She just assumed it was another notice for Richard's upcoming parole hearing. Considering what happen 14 years ago she is surprised that they are contacting her but considering it just came out that Richard's uncle bought the Albuquerque DA when he ran for a senate seat maybe there was a change of heart.
She opened the e-mail anyway, shocked at the contents. Penelope knew that everything was done via e-mail now but something like this still warranted a phone call in her opinion.
April 8, 2009
"What the fuck do you mean you're dropping the charges?" Penelope asked shaking not caring about her language.
"In light of recent evidence and news articles brought to her attention the DA does not believe your entire account of events without collaborating evidence. There's just not enough evidence to support your claim according to the DA." The ADA explained because her boss was too big of a coward to tell Penelope in person that she was dropping her case. You can tell from her voice that the ADA was not happy about this.
"Like hell there is not. Other than my statement there is the pictures of my bruises and damaged clothing. Then there's the fact that an entire common room filled with students heard me trying to get away from him. They saw me collapse in the common room." Penelope responded.
"You are a cheerleader. It's quite common for you to receive bruises and abrasions or at least that's what my boss said." The bitterness is obvious in her words.
"Not in the shape of a hand." Penelope's attorney argued and the ADA just nodded sadly. Her attorney Miss Mason worked for the same firm as Kim's stepmom and came with her because Kim was very wary of the district attorney's office. Apparently, her new roommate had a reason to be cautious.
"Unfortunately, most of the witnesses have recanted their statements. Those that have not are close personal friends of Miss Castro. My boss is worried about how a jury will see this." By the way she said this Penelope was not sure the ADA completely believed this. However, that did not matter if her boss did.
"That is complete and utter bullshit." Penelope said walking out of the office. She was on the verge of tears and barely made it to the restroom before she exploded. She refused to cry in front of the ADA.
"Are you okay?" She heard a voice ask that she recognized. She wondered if it would be better if it was a complete stranger instead of Sharpay. She didn't feel any shame in being caught crying in the ladies room because Sharpay's mascara was already running as well.
"I should be asking you that question." Penelope shot back as she pointed to Sharpay's damaged makeup.
"I'm fine. These are happy tears. The judge sided with us. We get to keep the babies." Despite everything that actually made Penelope smile. She knew that Sharpay actually loved those babies a lot more than that woman who reminded Penelope too much of her own absentee mother.
"Well at least the justice system only screwed one of us over. The DA's Office is dropping all charges against the bastard. Thanks to buying off witnesses and smearing my reputation the DA doesn't think that they have a case."
"Fuck," Penelope heard Sharpay and the woman in the handicapped stall that she assumes to be Kim, due to hearing a few more curse words in mandarin come from that direction, scream.
"This is my fault. If I just went to the police when he actually raped me this would have never happened. Now, he's just going to get away with it again unless the next girl shows up in a body bag." Sharpay says on the verge of frustrated tears.
"His uncle will probably just buy his way out of it again, like this time." Penelope mumbled in annoyance.
"Richard actually raped you?" Asked the same ADA who destroyed her faith in the legal system moments earlier.
"Why the hell do you care? You didn't believe me, why would you believe her. There probably wouldn't be enough evidence. Your boss will argue that she gave herself the GHB." Penelope responded with biting sarcasm.
"I also took a shower before Kim over there dragged me to the hospital. All the good stuff went down the drain." She said just as sarcastically.
"I know you are upset. I wasn't the one who dropped the charges I'm just the one who was forced to tell you because my boss decided to drop the case for reasons that I don't want to know about and she is nowhere near as strong as you are. I believe you." She said looking directly into Penelope's eyes.
"Then why is the case being dropped?" She asked on the verge of tears.
"I don't know but if my boss starts driving a new BMW soon, we will all have our answer." Penelope snorted at that.
"I don't want him to walk anymore than you do. If what you said is true it will be a lot harder for him to make the charges go away this time." The ADA explained.
"Unfortunately, the evidence really did go down the drain three years ago even though thanks to my money I'm sure I will be a little bit more believable then Penelope." Sharpay said sardonically.
"Not all of it. They still did a rape kit even though you did not want to press charges. They took pictures of your injuries at AMC and did a toxicology. They have your clothing too. Your father also had a private investigator look at the crime scene for evidence in case you ever changed your mind." Kim explained.
"He was underage at the time anyway and what about the statue of limitations? It's been three years." Sharpay asked looking for any excuse.
"We have time." The ADA said. "As for the age thing, when exactly did this assault take place?"
"April 15, 2006," Sharpay told her shivering.
"He turned 18 on February 17 2006. He was held back a few times for sports. It wouldn't matter anyway because of the nature of the crime." The attorney explained.
"If you really feel guilty for what he did to me, you have to do this. He will go free if you don't. Do you want to be responsible when the next girl really does show up in a body bag?" She said grabbing Sharpay's hand. "You have the power to make sure he never hurts anyone again."
"Okay," Was all Sharpay said.
April 7, 2023
Sharpay stayed silent the entire subway ride back from her doctor's office. Ryan just squeezed her hand in support not saying a word. That is why she chose to bring him instead of Chad. Her husband would be reciting meaningless statistics and going over there medical options. Her brother gives her silence, which is exactly what she needs at this moment.
Instead of going back to the apartment, Ryan points her to the Starbucks two blocks from where they live. It is the type of Starbucks that sells wine, but she doesn't drink anymore. She hasn't consumed a drop since Darby died of alcohol poisoning three years ago. Instead, she sticks to a nonfat vanilla cappuccino and the giant brownie that Ryan makes her get because he knows that she hasn't eaten anything all day because she was so nervous. Ryan has a glass of wine, probably to work up his nerve to address the elephant that they both have been avoiding since Dr. Rose told her that attempt number two trillion at making baby Chadpay did not work and was never going to work. It's not the first time but it still hurts just as much. Actually, it feels a million times worse every time, not that she would ever tell anybody that. 10 years of trying and nothing to show for it. She would cry but they were in public and she is pretty sure that at least one person from TMZ is in the coffee shop.
"I would ask if you were okay but I already know the answer is no." Ryan said as he took another drink of his wine.
"You're such a good little brother. I'm not okay. I'm nowhere near okay. But it's all right. It didn't work. It's never going to work. I just need to accept that. I don't need you to baby sit me. I'm not going to fall apart the second you leave. Don't you have a husband to prepare for?" She suggested hoping Ryan would just let her sulk in private.
"His plane doesn't land for another 3 hours. I'm here because I want to be. You were never that good at taking no for an answer." Ryan said with a smirk.
"Yes but it's been 10 years and four miscarriages. I think I just need to accept that baby Chadpay is just not going to happen." She said as she inhaled half of her brownie.
"It's not the worst thing in the world. I'm never going to be able to have a child with my husband either. If Kim did not start early, she would be in the same boat because of what happened with she who will not be named." Ryan said referencing the one day 14 years ago that neither talked about.
"I know that Ryan." She said with a sigh.
"You already have two wonderful children. Is it such a bad thing that they are not biologically yours?" Ryan asked.
"It's not a bad thing, not at all. I love Olivia and Isaac more than anything in the universe. From the moment they were placed in my arms, they were mine. I have always known that. We would not have fought so hard if that wasn't the case. It's just that ever since I was 18, I've had this idea in my head that we would have a little girl with my smile and his hair. It's hard to let go of a dream. Remember how long it took me to let go of seeing my name in lights on Broadway." Sharpay explained with a sigh.
"But here's the thing Pay, your name is in lights on Broadway. Instead of performing in the next great musical, you wrote it."
"With my writing partner Jason M." Sharpay interrupted.
"Doesn't matter. Scenes from an American High School is like the new Rent. Your mantle is still filled with Tony awards. Your follow-up Scenes from Freshman Year opened last month to great reviews and more Tony talk. Taming of the Drama Queen was turned into a movie that was a top grosser. That's not even to mention your highly successful series of children's books. I thought MTV Networks was in talks to turn it into a series for Nick Junior?" He question.
"They were but a few of the executives are freaked out that the children's book lady is married to the star of their new sex education talk show. We'll see what happens." Sharpay said with a shrug.
"You still got your dream, it just didn't happen the way you were expecting it to. So you cannot carry the child yourself. It's not that big of a deal. What about a gestational carrier? That's what Kim and Troy did. We all know that your egg and Chad's sperm are good at getting together. That's better than Troy and Kim's situation." Sharpay only has time to laugh at his comment before her phone rings.
"It's Penelope. She's probably calling to complain about being forced to organize the class of 2008 high school reunion." Sharpay explained. That was what she complained about the entire time she called last time.
"Better her, than me." Ryan remarked as he took another drink of his wine.
"Hi Penelope." She said as soon as Penelope's face appeared on the screen. "Even though she is my best friend I cannot convince your boss to give this to someone else. You know that nobody can convince Kim to do something that she doesn't want to do."
"I'm not calling about that. Besides I've come to the conclusion that I'm being given grunt work because half of the staff is furious that I got the Vice Principle job at 33. If this is to avoid accusations of nepotism, I will do it."
"Who cares what they think. You never have before." Sharpay told her.
"Never will either, but I care about Kim and she doesn't need the extra stress. The reason why I called is I got a letter or rather an e-mail from the Albuquerque Department of Corrections. I thought I should call you because I doubt the department is going to be able to find you without going through your publicist. That will take forever and I know how you absolutely despised finding stuff out on CNN." She said most likely referring to how Sharpay found out that Darby was dead. No one should find out their mother died from reading their favorite news web site, no matter how horrible their relationship was. Then she could have been referring to what happen 14 years ago this month, but that was Ryan, not her.
"Better than Twitter. Please tell me they're not letting that serial rapist get out?" She asked with trepidation.
It turns out she was not the only girl that Richard successfully raped. Within hours of her decision to press charges against Richard for what he did to her, the story was conveniently leaked to the media most likely in an attempt to discredit her or to get her to change her mind. She was too well hated at school for the techniques that he used on Penelope to work on her so he had to resort to using the media immediately. After dealing with Darby's mind games for years, she knew how to play the media to her advantage. Within two days, four other women came forward. Most were convinced that nobody would believe them since Richard came from such a powerful family but because she spoke up, they would too. Richard's bastard of an uncle and the District Attorney couldn't make this disappear. There were too many Marches on the lawn of the Albuquerque courthouse and the A of U campus for that to happen. He was able to get a plea bargain for 20 years with the chance of parole after 10 years. Every year for the last four, Sharpay has been sending a letter asking that Richard not be released. Apparently, because she is a celebrity her word carries more credence with the parole board then his other victims. This is one time that Sharpay is happy to use her celebrity status for the greater good.
"You know that wasn't going to happen. His uncle is now the laughing stock of Albuquerque after all his dirty laundry came out a few years ago. Besides the parole board absolutely loves you. Apparently, there were more victims than the five that came forward." Penelope said gravely.
"Of course there were more, there was you." Sharpay said not understanding.
"Yeah well in this case almost doesn't count. Not all the details were in the letter, but Richard was killed last night by a new inmate. The person who did it said it was revenge for Richard raping his then 14 year old sister." Sharpay practically dropped her phone she was so shocked.
"Is it wrong that part of me considers this good news?" She wondered out loud as she recovered.
"Not really." Penelope said with a sad smile. "I felt the same way once the shock when away. I think I was mostly relieved that he can't hurt anyone else. I actually am surprised this hasn't made the news yet. But that may have something to do with the fact that a plane just crashed in the Nevada desert." She instantly thinks of her brother in law of seven years who was out west taking a bunch of meetings in person for Beijing Gardens because some people are not used to doing everything by video conference yet. Ryan hates that part of his job.
"What is his flight number?" Sharpay asked as she heard a wine glass shattered to the floor. Ryan looked as pale as could be as he stared motionless at his phone screen. She looked at her phone to see Penelope equally pale. Obviously, her mind went to the same place Ryan's did. She didn't end the call because Penelope was already in tears but she focused on her brother first.
"You don't know Ryan. Maybe he was on another flight. You know he always misses his flight. You don't know Ryan." She said as she pulled him closer to her. He just burst into tears. TMZ was going to love this.
XXX
Saturday April 25, 2009
Sharpay was backstage celebrating with everyone else. Okay they were not really backstage but rather in one of the classrooms adjacent to the Cesar Chavez auditorium, but it was the after party for her best musical ever and she didn't make one single appearance in it herself. Everyone else was celebrating the successful completion of A Very High School Musical complete with music, good food, and nonalcoholic beverages since most of the cast was under 18 except for a few exceptions like Chad and Zeke who played teachers as part of their final grade for Acting 101. Her husband was absolutely wonderful as the basketball coach. Considering East and West high students were able to get along for the duration of this musical and they were able to put together the entire thing in under two months, it truly deserved celebration.
Penelope and she were celebrating the news that Richard would be spending the next 20 years behind bars. They just received word of the plea bargain right before the show. He deserved more time, but she was happy he was going to serve any at all. It was a moment worth celebrating. Too bad Kim wasn't there yet.
Sharpay was truly happy. Her life was good. She was married to the most wonderful man in the world. She had two wonderful children (even if it was because their biological mother was still in a coma) that no one was going to take away from her. Her grades were better right now although that was probably because the twins were sleeping more. Even her mother couldn't touch her now that Sharpay was the one in charge of her and Ryan's trust fund. Her life wasn't perfect by any means, but it was good.
Maybe that's why everything fell apart in the next moment. It seemed like every single phone in the room when off at the same time but it was really only the phones of the actual A of U students in the room. The message was vague but scary enough. Shots were fired on campus. Shelter in place.
"What are you doing?" Chad asked her as she goes to make a phone call.
"Calling Kim. She's not here yet." Sharpay said with worry.
"She is probably fine. She was the one escorting the grownups here. For all we know they all decided it would be better to go back home to relieve the baby sitter. Everything's OK." Chad said trying to reassure her but there was something in his eyes that told her he did not believe the words he was saying.
"You're right, I am being paranoid." She told him as she leaned in for a kiss not completely believing her words.
"Let's focus on keeping the high school kids in here nice and calm." She just nodded and did what he suggested. 30 minutes later when Caroline walks into the room with blood splatters on her cream colored business suit, it made Sharpay realizes her paranoia was justified. Caroline just wraps her arms around Sharpay and whispers, "I'm sorry."
"Is it Kim?" Sharpay asked shaking. She did not know what she would do if her best friend was dead.
"She's breathing and but it's bad. She is on her way to AMC. I don't know how the crazy Bitch got out. Lucy had a gun but your father got in the way. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Caroline kept repeating as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Are they taking my father to AMC?" Sharpay asked her with eerie calm.
"It is too late for that." Caroline said in a whisper as Sharpay feels herself falling to the ground as if her legs collapsed under their own weight. Chad was beneath her holding her tightly as everything shattered around her.
Gabriella is glad that Madison's boyfriend decided that Troy needed a boy's night out. More importantly, she is happy that he made Troy leave his cell at phone home. That left Gabriella to answer the shaky phone call from a crying Jack. Lucy finely made good on her threats despite her bail being revoked, supposedly. After being quiet since the beginning of March, they all assumed everything would be okay. The false sense of security led to Kim being in critical condition and Mr. Evans being dead. From what jack told her, when Lucy turned the gun on Caroline after shooting Kim multiple times Mr. Evans tackled her to the ground. Whatever happened next was enough to kill him. Jack did not give many details even if he saw everything. Considering that Lucy shot Kim in the uterus multiple times, Gabriella was sure that the unborn baby was gone too. The thing is so sick Gabriella is almost sad that the governor of New Mexico suspended the death penalty last month.
Gabriella throws up twice before she can do anything. She calls Taylor but she already knows and was on her way to the train station to take the Acela to New York. Even though they broke up last month, Taylor knew she needed to be there. Gabriella is given the unpleasant task of calling Kelsey because they both know that Ryan cannot be alone right now. With very little prodding she agrees to wait for Ryan at his apartment.
She goes into Troy's room and prepares a bag for him because she knows Troy won't be able to. Amanda called her a few minutes ago to let her know they were on a 4:30 AM flight to New Mexico. When Gabriella comes across a pair of Kim's lacy underwear, she begins to cry. If Kim does not survive, it will kill a part of Troy. Losing the baby will be bad enough.
He finds her sobbing on his bed with a half packed suitcase. That's when she explains everything. The only thing she could do is hold him as he cried.
It is a typical Saturday night although this time his friends were dragging him around to every single club in the state and New Jersey to find him a new girlfriend or boyfriend. Actually, they've been doing that the last month after the end of his just sex relationship with Taylor. He personally finds it ridiculous but he doesn't say anything. It is a little after one when Ryan makes it back to his apartment, alone. It was nice being out of the dorms even if his father stayed here whenever he was in town. Considering the situation with Sharpay he hasn't been in New York a lot recently. Ryan sees that as a good thing.
He gets out of the cab only to see his ex girlfriend arguing with the door person to let her in.
"Kelsey, whatever it is I don't care. I don't want to see you right now." She tries to speak again but he doesn't let her.
"Again I don't care. Whatever it is, it can wait till Monday." He said moving right past her without looking back.
"I don't even know why I tried. I'm only here because Gabriella and Jackie asked me to tell you in person instead of you finding out in a phone call. Call your brother in law." She shouted just as the elevator doors closed behind him.
He checks the phone as he walks to his apartment. He has five missed calls one from his sister, two from Chad, and two more from Taylor but he doesn't think anything of it. Maybe his sister's play was a disaster but why was Kelsey at his apartment to tell him that? Nothing made sense. He probably should just go ahead and call Chad to alleviate his nervousness.
As is Ryan's habit, he turns on the television as he walks into the apartment. It is on CNN and he instantly recognizes the picture on the screen as the A of U campus. There were police cars everywhere and he can't help but wonder if something bad happened to Sharpay. Was that why Kelsey was here? He already had his phone in his hand to call Chad when he saw the caption, "Evans international President, Vince Evans dead at 49." With those simple words, his world crashed down around him.
To be continued
The next chapter is going through editing and should be up within a week. My goal is to get the entire story up by the end of the month.