Hola cats and dogs! Jai here back with another update! I would like to send out my usual apologies due to the fact I have been side tracked with school and the fact my computer is working against me. My MS Word failed on me so...I am stuck using the Notepad which is good enough for now. :( Now to my usual shout outs:Sweetchocolate26,MermaidRam85,xBabyDollxBlondiex,Gifted-Hands05,Chinweoa
I still thank all of you guys for still PMing me and bugging me to update and I WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO my readers who are still chronically checking and Alerting my stories! Thanks for sticking by me in this rough patch and i can't make any promises but...I'll try my best to stay on top of updates with the stories! Now enough of my babbling...Don't forget to R&R!
"This place looks beautiful I tell ya,"Kelsi raised an eyebrow and took a seat at the nearest table.
"I agree, I mean who would've ever thought that the decorating committee would of been able to cover up a gymnasium full of East High's signature Wildcat colors?"
"Bonjour Playmaker, I see you're taking a liking to the decorations." Gabriella and I turned around to see Troy standing there.
"Troy!"
"Hey Bolton! You're looking very sharp!"
"Troysie!" Savannah squealed, tightly hugging Troy.
Troysie? What type of gibberish was this? Troy routinely hated names like that.
"Hey..baby you look...interesting tonight,"he stated,forcing a smile.
"Hola ladies and lizards! What's up?"
"Hey Noah! I had no idea you were coming tonight!"
"Yeah Marty, neither did I. My sister and Ryan kind of convinced me to go."
"Well you look very handsome if I may add."
"Thanks, and you ladies you look gorgeous if I may say so myself."
"What a gentleman you are Noah. It almost makes me wish Chad was that considerate," Gabriella smiled sheepishly.
"The red compliments you well. You look almost like a spanish Marilyn Monroe," Noah replied, winking at Gabriella.
With that said Gabriella instantly turned into a dark shade a red.
Chad smiled, despite the fact that every vein in his arm seemed to pop out. "Noah, you're romancing my girl just a little too if I were you I would fall the hell back before I get knocked the hell out."
"Well you know I'm a sucker for elegantes damas maravillosamente sorprendentes. I mean every Cinderella needs her Latino Prince Charming,"he replied, cheekily. (elegant beautifully stunning ladies)
-Beep! Beep! Beep!-
I groaned and opened my eyes. There are just some days I would like to sleep my life away. I know that sounds wrong, but I keep thinking these damn dreams are trying to tell me something. I'm just not...analyzing them correctly. I reached over and hit the snooze button on the alarm clock.
"Hey what's up New Mexico? This is DJ Double Jazzy J hittin' you with the freshest beats around! I wanna take a hot minute to say today is Thursday, February 15th, 2012 and it is 5:01 a.m. The weather is gorgeous outside today. The weather is 89 degrees with low humidity and a light breeze with nothing but sun! The temperature drops to a nice 67 degrees tonight-nice partying weather! Okay so now we head back to the jams with the recently requested song Without You by Chris Brown from Michael Bolton to Taylor McKessie. Michael's message to Taylor; remember this song baby?"
If you had a choice
Then what would you choose
I could live without the money...
My eyes widened and my heart quickened. A flashback suddenly hit me.
-Flashback-
May 26th, 2005
Friday Afternoon
4:07 p.m.
"The weather always works against me!"
"Why do you say that?"
"When I needed to go school shopping, it rained. I needed to get my nails done, it flooded. Now I wanna go to dinner and a movie with you, it rains again! Doesn't this seem a little ironic to you Troy?"
"Well...no not really. maybe it's just a case of wrong place and wrong time."
"I still say it's a little ironic."
"Listen I have to go handle something and then I'll be right over."
"Okay I'll see you then."
"I love you babe."
"I love you too."
"Adios."
"Arriverdecci."
-4:50 p.m.-
My phone rang. It was Troy. "Hey babe come downstairs into the backyard."
"You do realize that's it still raining outside?"
"What's your point?"
I sighed and put on a pair of sneakers. "I'll be down in a second."
"Don't take an umbrella."
"Why?"
"It's a surprise, now would you please come down?"
"Okay! Sheesh!"
I headed down the stairs into the backyard only to see Troy standing, underneath the tree in the backyard soaking wet, holding a rose.
I opened the double door in the kitchen and ran into the backyard smiling. "Troy are you crazy? Why are you out here in the rain? Why are you smiling?" He offered the rose and took my hand then gently lifted my chin.
"Would you relax please Tay,"he stepped back and offered his hand.
"May I have this dance?"
"Yes you may Troy." He took a remote out of his pocket and turned on a stereo in his truck. The song Without You by Chris Brown came on."You do realize that we're slow dancing in the rain, don't you?"
If you had a choice
Then what would you choose
I could live without the money
I could live without the fame
"Do you really mind?"
"No..not at all." I smiled, closing my eyes and took in his scent. Then I heard sniffling. "Uh..Troy are you crying?"
"I'm not, but Tracey is." I turned around and saw Tracey holding a Kleenex, crying and Trevor rubbing his back. He mouthed 'sorry' and took out a camera.
And if everyday was sunny
I could live without the rain
And if I ever went up to heaven
"Say cheese you two lovebirds!"
"Cheese!"
"Cheese!"
Trevor snapped the picture and pushed Tracey back inside.
I turned my attention back to Troy and looked into his eyes...his beautiful serene eyes.
"I love you Troy."
I would fall right back down
That life wouldn't be worth living
Because you're the one I couldn't live without...
"I love you too Taylor," I pecked him and rested my head on his chest.
-End of Flashback-
I caught myself smiling at the memory. I got a helluva cold after that.
An urgent knock sounded at the door.
"Taylor!"
I opened the door to see Gabriella in her pajamas panting.
"What's wrong Gabs?"
She stepped in closer and closed the door behind her. "Were you just listening to the radio?"
"It's just a coincidence Gabi."
"No it's notTaylor!"
"Why do you say that?"
"Taylor no one, and I repeat no one was in that hallway a 10 minutes ago. I know that because Chad was still sleeping and Zeke just got up to go to the bathroom while I was knocking on your door. There was no activity before that. During the broadcast on the radio, I heard 3 footsteps by my bedroom door, a picture was slipped underneath it, then the footsteps faded. I thought it was one of the boys because of how heavy the steps were, but then you would've heard one of the doors close. It can't be Shar or Kelsi because Shar has kind of a quick step and Kelsi drags her feet. You were in your bedroom and I just got up. Something is wrong...verywrong"
I felt the hairs at the back of my neck stand up.
"Which photo are you talking about?"
She rested it in the palm of my hand. It was damn near frozen when I touched it. A lump formed in my throat to the point where I could barely breathe. I tried to regulate my breathing, but it was as of no use to me.
"That...that..picture...it...me...and Troy...rain..music..."
"Wait Tay calm down! What are you trying to say?"
I took a deep breath and sat back down on the bed followed by Gabriella next to me. "It was a rainy Friday afternoon in May. We were supposed to go to the movies but our plans were cancelled because it started to rain even harder. Troy told me he had to handle something before he came over, we said our goodbyes and hung up. Almost an hour later he surprised me by standing outside in the pouring rain, holding a rose. He gave me the rose and we started to slow dance in the rain to..." I felt myself tear up inside. "We slow danced to...that same song. Troy pointed out to me that Tracey was crying and Trevor snapped a picture of us. I must reallybe losing my mind Gabi."
"Tay if you're losing your mind then, I must be losing mine along side of you,"she pointed to the picture.
"Gabi I feel something is not right and it has something to do with Troy."
"I was going to say the same thing. Listen why don't we head over to Sweetheart Sal's and see if we could go apply today? Me, you, and Zeke could go seeing as me or you don't have any classes and Zeke has one late this afternoon. What do you say to that?"
"I don't have a good feeling about this."
"Tay relax, it's only your nerves getting to you."
"I'll see you downstairs in an hour. Give me a chance to get myself together."
"Okay-"we were interrupted ny a knocking on my door.
"Come in!" Kelsi stuck her head inside and yawned,"Good...morning you two."
"Morning sleepy head! You're up very early."
"Morning to you too Mitchie."
"Yeah I love U of A's schedule." I know I mentioned earlier that Kelsi went to Julliard, but I forgot to mention that she's in the process of switching colleges.
"It's nice to know you appreciate our college. So what brings you by my room?"
"Did any of you turn down the thermostat in the hallway?"
"No...why?"
"I don't know why, but the hallway seems oddly cold, especially by Gabriella's door."
"Are you sure it was turned down?"
"Well that's why I asked, because it was at it's normal 56 degree mark."
"That's weird.."
"Maybe Chad left the air conditioner on in ya'll room Gabi."
Gabriella quirked her eyebrows,"Yeah...maybe.."
"Gabi, when was the last time you spoke to Sebastian?"
"Wow...uh..to be honest with you..I have no clue."
"Do you remember the Autumn dance?"
"Savannah ruined the greater majority of it for us, but that doesn't matter anymore."
"I guess it doesn't,does it?"
She got up and smiled. "I'm off to go wake Ezekiel up."
"Be nice Gabriella."
She flashed a devious smile and and called out behind her when she left, "I will..."
I peeled off my clothes and stepped into the shower, turning on the water.
-Flashback-
Saturday Morning
11:06 a.m.
"I'm not going in Sharpay."
We were in Sharpay and Ryan's backyard and Jason had discovered I couldn't swim.
"What about that time when we were 10 and we went to the beach?"
"Yeah and even then,I barely went into the water. This a different situation smart ass! This pool is really big and reallydeep."
Gabi dipped herself further into the water and swam back up to the surface. "Come on Tay, the water is wonderful."
"No."
Troy came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I sensed he was probably up to something.
"Would you go in if I went with you?"
"No."
He chuckled and rested his head on my shoulder,"Would you go in by yourself?"
"No."
He stepped closer to the pool causing me to step as well. "Would you go in if...I pushed you?"
"Troy..."
"Would you?"
"No!" Before I could say anything else, he pushed me in, but I managed to grab his arm and pull him down with me. It took a second to catch myself but I swam back up to the surface.
"Good job Tay!" Chad and Sharpay were clapping, but yet I couldn't seem to find Troy.
"Where is Troy?"
"I'm behind you Tay," I turned around and saw Troy smirking.
I tried my hardest to continue to keep sulking but...I couldn't hold back my smile despite my apparent shock and confusion.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Oh Taylor dear, whatever do you mean?"
"What if I had drowned?"
"You swam didn't you?"
"Well...yes." I never understood how he had always managed to calm me down just by looking into my eyes.
"Okay then."
-End of Flashback-
I felt a smile creep onto my face, but along with the smile came...agony..pain and...tears. I broke down and started to cry, ignoring the drops of water hitting my naked skin. You know...in life when something...dramatic happens to someone you love...seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, years, that time...time in general does not matter anymore. It just...after a while becomes this...big blur. It always works against you then it just..fades away, but somewhere in the back your mind it still exists.
1 Hour Later...
6:19 a.m.
"Good morning..wow."
After dragging myself out of the shower I didn't really bother doing my hair so I just pulled it into a neat ponytail, leaving the end in it's naturally curly state. I picked something relatively simple to wear so opted for a brown summer dress with a sweetheart cut down the middle. I chose a white vest underneath, brown flats, gold hoop earrings, and the charm bracelet. I also eagerly picked up my brand new pair of Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses. These babies cost me a whopping $279.00 due to the diamond encrusted T on the rims. What can I say? I love to be such a girl at times and treat myself...occasionally.
"Good morning Ryan. What are you doing up so early? I thought class doesn't start until 10 o'clock?"
"They do, but I have a few errands to run around the campus. You look pretty today."
"Aw thank you," I poured out a cup of coffee and smiled.
"Oh tell Kelsi I'll be back in a few. I gotta run. Bye Tay!" He grabbed his bag and dashed out the kitchen.
"Bye Ry!"
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I warned you twice Zeke!"
"Uh what's going on with those two?" Sharpay sounded her voice behind me.
"I think Gabriella may have done something to your boyfriend."
She shrugged,"I figured."
"Where are you heading off to?"
She smiled and adjusted her basketball shorts," I am off to the gym. "
I scanned her over visually, but then my eyes caught something quite peculiar.
"When did you pierce your bellybutton Sharpie?"
She looked down and touched her stomach. "Oh wow...I got it after Troy died. Like two months later, my dad and "Barbie" (another name for her stepmother Violet) found out and off came the piercing. I don't know how the hell it ended back up on there. I also wanted a tattoo of a butterfly on my back but I was kinda hesitant."
"Don't you think that's a bit stereotypical? I mean a teenager with a tattoo of a butterfly on her lower back is kinda...expected."
"There are a lot of stereotypical moves people prove everyday,"she took a bite of her granola bar and leaned on the counter.
"Like what Sharpie?"
"All black people drink kool aid and like watermelon."
"Well that's where you're wrong Sharpay. I mean, what's there not to like about kool aid or watermelon?"
"You do have a point,"she smiled.
"Good morning everyone! Does my shirt look okay?" Gabriella entered, smiling.
"Yeah. Why do you ask?"
"I think I look too professional,"she adjusted the black broad belt on her stomach.
She had on a dark purple short sleeve v-neck shirt, white shorts, and black ankle high boots. Her hair was pulled into a loose curly ponytail complimenting the silver hoops and bangles she was wearing on both of her wrists.
"Gabriella your outfit would only be considered "professional" if you worked at a shoe store or a nightclub."
She smiled, rolling her eyes,"Bite my ass Taylor."
Sharpay giggled, "What'd you do to my boyfriend?"
"I threw a bucket of cold water on him."
"Why if I may ask?"
"He should've been up and ready by now."
"Zeke doesn't have to go with you guys you know."
"Correction Sharpie yes he does! The other day I was whining and he promised me that he would go if I shut the hell up."
"He was never the one to break a promise."
"My point exactly!"
"Was the cold water really necessary?" Zeke questioned, entering the kitchen, yawning.
"No that was just for fun."
"Now can we please go before Gabi gets another bucket?"
He wore a white fitted v-neck shirt, a pair of light wash jeans, and a pair of white converse. As usual, his right ear held a diamond stud.
"Whatever Baylor."
I smiled, but I started to sense something again. This time my senses picked up quickly...whatever it was..it was getting closer and closer to us...
Please Read!
So what'd you guys think? I think I am still slacking with the dialogue but...I would like to say that this will be a two-parter because this chappie alone was like 10 pages alone to write so...yeah. lol. Thanks again for reading and seriously...don't be afraid to review even if it's only with like two words! Plz R&R!
A Million&A Chocolate Bar, Jai