Hey everyone! Thank you so much for keeping up with my crazy update schedule. I wanted this to be up way earlier but I couldn't find the time nor inspiration to write it the way I wanted the story to go. Shout out to Grace and Pumpkinking5 for your constant review and support you mean the world to me! I hope you like how this turned out! Final written math exam was finished on Monday so no more exams on me this school year Yay!
"Eat up, drink some water and sleep for a while then you should feel better," Troy stated giving him a bowl of breakfast. "Chopsticks?" he questioned as Chad stared at the contents of the bowl.
"How is it possible to eat this with chopsticks?" he frowned looking at the two of them.
Shrugging Marcus took his own pair of chopsticks getting a piece of egg and rice. "Suit yourself."
"I still don't understand," Chad shook his head as he accepted the cutlery from Troy. "Really you to hoops?" he questioned as he watched Troy.
"Trust me if you don't eat this with chopsticks in Japan you're going to stick out like a sore thumb."
"I don't think I'll ever understand Asian culture," he stated tasting the foreign food.
"It really isn't that complicated if you just look away from the history. Now I heard a rumour that you play, so I challenge you to a game later," Marcus stated pointing his chopsticks at Chad.
"Oh, you're on!"
March 20th
Thursday
"So I have to give you a heads up," Troy told Marcus he leaning down to put the bowl into the dishwasher.
"About what?" Marcus inquired taking a sip of his tea. Frowning he looked down into the cup, as he did whenever the drink had gone cold.
"Gabriella."
"What about her?" Marcus wondered turning his attention back towards his friend. "Does it have anything to do about the um… suicide?" Troy turned towards Marcus nodding. Hopping onto the counter he let out a sigh.
"Partially. Her mother has been working quite a bit, and sometimes out of state too. I did tell Gabriella to come whenever she wanted but that didn't happen."
Marcus studied his brothers face to see why he grew silent all of a sudden. Troy noticed him looking and shifted his look towards the floor.
"Is her mom working now during Easter?" he questioned shifting in his seat, as to look for a reaction from an unusually quiet Troy.
"Don't think so."
There was a silence again as something dawned on Marcus.
"You still haven't come to terms with everything have you?"
Troy let out a short, but silent, laugh gave him the answer. "You're starting to sound more and more like mom."
"Hey it might be a gift," he joked as Troy smiled. "Maybe I should rethink my major next year?"
"Please don't say you'll major in psychology. It's enough with one psychiatrist in the family."
"Don't really see the problem. We're not related," he added bursting into laughter. "Ah don't worry. I am going for International relations."
Marcus gave a bright smile but knew better than to ask Troy what he was going to study. He had that pressure from the public in Etrea, he didn't need that from his best friend too…
"So about the late night visits," Marcus hinted as Troy nodded. "Right. Despite me saying she could come over at any time, it didn't always happen. I got the idea as the incident happened but as mom showed up I wanted to wait. So a little after Valentine's day she got the key and as a result, she has been over more frequently. A few times during the evening as well. I guess it made it easier for her to see that I really meant at any time."
"I think it is a little ironic. Some would state that it should be the other way around with you being the prince and all, but I guess since this isn't Etrea and you live alone there wouldn't be a point."
"Funnily enough Gabriella stated the exact same thing," Troy laughed, "I enjoy living alone and the freedom it entails but I don't mind Gabriella and the others coming over. Maria also told me I was welcomed there at any time."
"So your grandfather, is he all right and what happened last week?" Marcus questioned as Troy sighed.
"The last thing I heard was that he was doing well given the circumstances. I don't know the full story but he fainted in his office after working most of the night. He was then rushed to the hospital where they ran tests for several hours. I heard about this the same time you texted me and mom called several times with little news. The last time I heard from her was sometime during the night saying it was due to stress. He was advised to step down but you can imagine the outcome there."
"Don't see that coming within the reasonable future."
"Right which was what he said too. Mom said they were going to wait a little before bringing the subject up again with the hopes he was a little more forthcoming. Mom proposed that we should start taking more responsibility and obligations. As she told me this I started to question if I could complete my year here in America. Mom assured me that it shouldn't become a problem since it's only a couple of months left."
"I have always known what could happen after I turn 18," he continued looking at Marcus, "and almost all my life I have been taught how to rule the country and handle more and more responsibilities. It's just that I never anticipated being faced with the possibility on the day I was eligible to take the throne. I thought I had years before that would become a possibility! God… Now I am wondering if this is even what I want to do…"
"I'm sorry to say that this isn't a situation where I can give you a definite answer, but do know that I am here to support you."
"Well, it is not like I have much of a choice…." Troy muttered looking down on the floor. "There is no-one else to take the throne besides my parents. I couldn't do that to them."
"Who? Your parents or grandparents?" Marcus frowned, Troy sighed as his shoulders slumped.
"Both of them…"
"Well, let's say you had a sibling. They would have taken the throne and 'problem solved'" Marcus stated making small air quotes with his fingers. Troy nodded not looking up from the floor. "So hypothetically speaking. If you didn't take the throne what would happen? Would Etrea be without a ruler?"
"Correct," Troy stated towards his best friends first question. "About the second one, probably. The problem is that Etrea, according to the current law, would not be functioning without a king to make the decisions. Though historically speaking three generations have been alive at the same time, which would mean that when my parents step down, the throne would be passed on to my child but I couldn't do that."
"Sounds like you have an identity crisis," Marcus employed watching as Troy looked at him.
"Yeah. I guess I am. I didn't think a year here would change everything I have been taught back home. I'm starting to question my future and who I am. I know there are other options out there that I can never accept… Like basketball. Most seniors on the team have college scouts interested looking for giving them a scholarship. Me included."
Marcus frowned a little surprised about hearing this. "Are you thinking of accepting?" he questioned sceptically.
"I would be lying if I said no, but I can't…."
"Why not? A lot of royalty or other important people study abroad for most of their education."
"Because of dad. I don't see it likely that he will agree to me studying abroad again… He and mom had an argument about me even returning after Christmas."
"What! But why?" Marcus frowned as Troy started telling the story about all he discovered during Christmas.
"When did life become so difficult?" Troy wondered, "I thought I had most things figured out, and then making the decision of studying abroad makes me question my life back home. Did I make the decisions because I wanted to or did I do it to please the people around me?"
"I won't be the right person to answer that. However, as you are aware of it now you can change that. I mean what monarchy doesn't have a pending scandal of someone breaking with tradition?"
"Wreak havoc?"
"Wreak havoc," Marcus confirmed with a nod.
Soon after their conversation the two boys headed outside not wanting to wait on Chad. "I missed this," Marcus stated as he picked up the basketball that Troy had shot through the net.
"Me too. I still have to remind myself that this isn't a dream, that you're really here in Albuquerque. Just last summer we barely had time for a visit before you left on a vacation and I moved."
"Yeah," Marcus smiled before he tried getting past his friend, but to no avail. They had been playing together for too long and both of the boys were way to good at reading each other.
"It was an impulse decision but once I understood we both had time off at the same time it wasn't a hard decision to go through with."
"We should do something like that together at one point. It would be so much fun!"
"Hey," Chad called grabbing their attention. "Mind if I join?"
"Game on," Marcus challenged throwing him the ball.
As Saturday came around Marcus finally had the opportunity to meet the rest of the Wildcats. Chad had invited the guys over to his house to play basketball and as Taylor heard about his plans, all of the girls got invited too. As per usual, the boys immersed themselves into the game while the girls gathered at the side watching. Ryan who had never been into sports opted to watch from the sideline, but as the game progressed he moved further and further away. As Kelsi noticed him pulling away from the group she invited him over towards them which he gladly accepted.
"So how was it meeting Troy's best friend?" Sharpay questioned her trademark pink designer sunglasses resting on top of her head.
"A little weird at first because he has known Troy for so long but he's great. I have heard a lot about Marcus before I actually meet him."
"So since you now know both of them do you plan on visiting Etrea?" Kelsi question having heard their conversation.
"Oh yeah, I defiantly want to go back there."
"Going back?" Sharpay frowned looking at her friend. "You mean you've already been there. When was that?" Gabriella smiled at the question, looking at her blond friend.
"Yes I have been to Etrea not too long ago actually," she stared, "I celebrated Christmas and New Year's eve with Troy and his family three months ago. Mom was invited too of course but couldn't because of work. As for any further visits to Etrea," Gabriella said shifting her seat slightly thinking about her response. "I hope I get the chance next year with college but I might also have applied for a college there…"
"What!" screeched Sharpay her blond hair flying as she turned towards Gabriella. "I'm going to be deaf," Taylor muttered winching.
"I mean why not?" Gabriella shrugged. "I know there's a slim chance of getting accepted but I've got nothing to lose."
Meanwhile
Troy and Marcus had teamed up against Jason, Chad and Zeke and at the moment the two brothers were leading. "How on earth did the two of you learn to play like that?" Zeke questioned impressed about their teamwork.
"We taught ourselves. Growing up together we played basketball most of the time and made it a challenge to beat the other person. As I moved our challenge continued and since our visits became rare we made quite an effort to win so naturally our games improved. Also, his dad played with us when he had the time," Marcus explained a goofy grin spreading on his face thinking back.
"You make it sound so normal," Chad commented making both Troy and Marcus chuckle.
Looking at Troy, Marcus noticed a slight change in his demeanour. He had strong doubts anyone else noticed. To everyone else, Troy laughed it off like it was no big deal, but after spending years in the limelight of the press he had learned how to fake different emotions without anyone noticing
Well everyone except his family and Marcus.
Hope you liked it! Feel free to leave your comments I love reading them trying to get inspiration or fixing plot holes!
-FreeFlyingWriter