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A pair of light brown eyes followed Troy's slumped over form as he walked to his locker down the hall, taking in the misery and heartache that came wafting off of him like a bad cologne. They stayed on him as Troy opened his locker and stopped to look at a picture of him and a certain brunette, almost hearing his groan before Troy forced his gaze away from the picture of him and Gabriella, focusing instead on something in his locker.
"Well I'll be damned. Tristan finally did his fucking part of this plan, what I hired him for," murmured Sharpay, finding the corners of her lips curving upward at this realization.
Ryan noticed this smile too and knew from experience that it wasn't a good sign. "Shar, what did you just mumble?"
Sharpay spared Ryan a glance before she strutted down the hall, leaving her twin's question unanswered as she walked directly towards Troy, who was longingly gazing back at the picture again. "Hi Troy!" she greeted, trying to keep her voice from showing her true excitement. "How's everything going?"
Troy's gaze left the picture on his locker door to look over at Sharpay, giving Sharpay a close up view of the dark bags under his eyes, the redness that made his eyes look like Wildcat spirit as it mixed in with the white, and the dullness of his usually bright eyes. "Been better Sharpay."
She swallowed the gasp that had bubbled up to her throat at the mere sight of the state Troy was in. "Is there anything I can do? What's wrong?" she asked, making sure she put every ounce of concern into her voice, knowing this was her opportunity to capitalize on the window Tristan had created for her, however he did it.
"I'm honestly not sure but I do know that Gabriella is in L.A. with Tristan and I don't know why she went out there. To top it off, well, never mind. I'm just babbling now," stated Troy, running a tired hand over his even more tired face. "I better get going home."
Sharpay reached out and placed a well-manicured hand on his arm, looking back at him with sympathy on her face. "I'm sorry Gabriella did that to you after all you have given up for her. I guess Tristan really was her first love she'll never forget or something, I mean based on her running off midweek to L.A. like that. Don't worry Troy, I think it's for the best this way. You have so much more going on for you than just being her boyfriend. You are after all captain of the basketball team, being scouted for the top schools including U of A, and are pretty popular around this school and even West when we aren't feuding. Chin up Troy, it'll all be fabulous in the end."
"So you saw Gabriella and Tristan having some deep connection tied to their first love or something?" asked Troy, processing Sharpay's words, pondering whether or not he had been blind to Gabriella stringing him along, knowing that she would always love Tristan more than Troy. 'Wait, that can't be right, can it?'
Sharpay nodded her head, confirming her answer. "It was obvious from the first day I met Tristan at the park this summer with Gabriella and that friend of hers. That's why I felt so bad when you broke up with me for her, when you fought so long and hard for what I always felt would only hurt you in the end and look at you now."
A corner of Troy's mouth curved upward, giving Sharpay a sort of small, grateful smile. "Thanks for the concern Sharpay, maybe I misjudged you some time back. You really do care about me as a person and not just my status."
'Victory, he bought into the act!' she rejoiced in her head, suppressing the smile that was trying to show on her face. "Of course I do Troy. What we shared this past summer meant a lot to me and I only want to be here for you in any way that I can, to help you get through this rough time, to find a better life after you leave these halls."
"Thanks Sharpay, that means a lot," he replied, allowing her to hug him and finding it almost natural to wrap his arms around her waist, finding comfort in being held like that just then, even if it was blonde and not brunette hair he was seeing right in front of his eyes.
Sharpay allowed Troy to linger as long as he wanted to, knowing each moment that passed brought her closer to obtaining the rebuilt relationship she wanted with Troy. Eventually, Troy did pull away, giving Sharpay a bit more of a smile. "Feeling fabulous yet?"
Troy let out a little chuckle and shook his head. "No, and definitely not pink and sparkly, but I appreciate you being there for me Sharpay, for being so understanding. I'll catch you on Monday?"
'Oh, it'll be sooner if I have anything to say about it,' thought Sharpay as she nodded her head, smiling her best sweet smile at him. "Have a fabulous weekend Troy!"
From down the hall, Chad, Taylor, Kelsi, and Jason were all standing in disbelief at the scene the four had just witnessed, unsure if what they saw really just happened. "Did Country Club Barbie actually act sweet and nice to our Captain?" asked Chad.
"The word 'act' is key to what you just said," replied Taylor, narrowing her eyes on Sharpay as she strutted down the hall in those ridiculous pink cowboy boots of hers. "She's up to no good and if I didn't know any better, I'd say she kidnapped Gabriella and threw away the key from that expression on her face."
"Like she's the cat that ate the canary," supplied Kelsi, also watching Sharpay walk away from them. "There is definitely something going on."
"Wait, Sharpay had a canary that was eaten by a cat? That's so horrible," remarked Jason, earning a quiet groan from Chad before being elbowed in the ribs by Taylor discreetly.
Kelsi shook her head and looked sweetly at her boyfriend. "No, it's just an expression meaning Sharpay looks really smug and satisfied for some unknown reason and Taylor and I want to know why. What's going on with Troy anyway?"
Jason shrugged his shoulders. "He's been down and out and looks like shit. Won't really talk to any of us."
"Which is why it's even more curious he murmured a word let alone hugged and talked with blondie," stated Chad, also trying to piece together the puzzle.
"You don't think he's thinking of going back to Sharpay after courting Gabriella's affection for so long do you?" questioned Taylor, wondering if Troy could change his mind so quickly from the desperate guy who wanted everything Taylor knew as to where Gabriella could be only yesterday.
Jason denied this immediately. "Troy was totally through with Sharpay, leaving it to Zeke to pick up if he wanted."
"Doesn't mean though he couldn't change his mind," stated Kelsi, hating the idea of Troy and Sharpay dating again. "Does this mean that he and Gabriella have broken up or something? I mean, Troy and Sharpay could be friends only…"
"But when Sharpay is involved and it includes Troy, all bets are off as to what is really going on in that girl's head," finished Taylor, knowing Kelsi had a good point. "I don't think Troy and Gabriella could be broken up, not so quickly."
"Speaking of, where has Gab been the past two days?" asked Chad, realizing that he hadn't seen Gabriella around lately. "Maybe that's why Troy is so down."
"Maybe," agreed Kelsi. "Which is unfortunate because that has left him vulnerable to Sharpay and any other girl in this school who will take advantage of his state right now. Vulnerability draws in girls like Sharpay like blood for sharks."
Jason shivered at this imagery. "Remind me never to swim in the ocean."
Chad quirked an eyebrow at this. "Dude, why? Not like there are any sharks anywhere near New Mexico anyway."
"Just cause I'm clumsy and knowing my luck, my first time in the ocean, I'll have some scratch and be bleeding and then BAM!, eaten by a shark," said Jason. "Makes total sense man!"
Kelsi and Taylor exchanged amused glances while Chad just shook his head and placed a friendly arm around his friend. "Dude, we gotta talk about you and your thoughts," replied Chad, leading Jason, Kelsi, and Taylor down the hallway, now distracted from the topic of Troy and Gabriella by the ramblings of Jason Cross.
"Troy, please, please call me back. Maybe you are playing basketball with the guys or something, that's why your phone is off again, but I really need you, just even to hear your voice for five seconds. Please call me back," pleaded Gabriella, her voice raspy as she left the voicemail, sighing as she put her cell phone back down on the nightstand next to the hotel bed.
"Still no luck?" asked Sandra, giving Gabriella a sympathetic smile.
Gabriella shook her head, bringing her knees up to her chest so she could wrap her arms around her legs. "No, I don't know why I keep getting voicemails either. He usually has his cell phone on all the time. At least Mom went out with her girlfriends to get a break from me."
Her mother had reluctantly left about forty minutes ago to meet up with some friends in the area with the assurance from Sandra that she would call Mary immediately if Gabriella needed her. As it was, Sandra thought it was best to just allow Gabriella to heal in her own way, to recover from the shock and pain without too much attention on her. Sandra though was still puzzled over why Troy hadn't called Gabriella back yet, especially hearing Gabriella's words to her boyfriend just the day before in the car, knowing that Troy had to realize and understand that Gabriella needed him the most now, more than ever before. 'But if he knows that and isn't answering her calls or returning her voicemails, maybe he isn't the one for her, like Gabriella seems to think.'
For the better part of the day, Gabriella stayed locked away in the hotel room, only allowing Sandra, who had skipped school for the day, to drag her out so the maids could clean the room, wearing sunglasses out on the patio of the hotel restaurant to cover her more than red rimmed eyes. After watching Gabriella just move the pieces of lettuce around her plate, Mary had stepped in and practically hand fed her daughter to make sure Gabriella ate something despite her protests of not being hungry. It was around that time that Sandra and Mary both made a silent agreement to take turns watching over Gabriella, both more than worried that the spunk and will in Gabriella seemed to have disappeared in the last two days.
"So, since your mom is going for dinner, what do you say we order room service? Or we could take my car and go to In-N-Out even. Junk food should do wonders as far as comfort food. That or Ben and Jerry's. Take your pick! Your mom isn't around to tell us to eat healthier, take advantage of it!" joked Sandra, forcing more cheerfulness into her voice than she really felt.
"I'm really not hungry Sandy," returned Gabriella, averting her eyes from her best friend and looking out the glass windows of the room. "Besides, I don't know if I could go there and not lose it. Tristan loved those burgers, especially animal style. It's bad enough I've cried most of today and I haven't even been outside this room really. I'm such a horrible person Sandra!"
"Gabriella, for the millionth time, you're not! It's not like you took the gun and shot him! Tristan did this to himself!" exclaimed Sandra, hating herself for her outburst as a pained expression crossed Gabriella's face but knowing she had to do something to try to stop this downward spiral she was witnessing. "Listen, Gaby, you know that I love you dearly but you need to realize that you aren't at fault here. Tristan, as much as he was your first love, as much as he was a great guy despite all his flaws, he took his own life, with no influence from anyone else. You may have been on the phone with him but I know for a fact Tristan didn't know you were on the phone otherwise he wouldn't have done it. Why? Because he cared too much about you to let you witness it. Tristan really loved you Gaby, I could see it shine from him ever since this summer and he wouldn't do that to you nor would he want you to sit here blaming yourself!"
Gabriella sat there, staring at her best friend whose eyes were searching hers, not knowing what to say, how to respond. Her thoughts in the past two days had left Gabriella down, confused, and frustrated. The rational part of her, her brain, knew that Sandra was right, that Gabriella wasn't really guilty since she hadn't told Tristan to take his father's gun from his study and kill himself nor had she pulled the trigger, yet Gabriella couldn't help but feel that she might as well have done so as she was the one that caused him so much pain. 'I should have seen the signs. I should have screamed louder to him, to let him know that I was still there, that I would always be there for him. There are so many other things I could have done to save Tristan!'
As Gabriella continued to think about what had happened less than two days ago, Sandra sat on the other bed in the room and watched, wondering if her words had sunk into Gabriella's head and heart at all. Sandra felt awful for Gabriella, to have to go through so much, but Sandra also knew that Gabriella wasn't truly at fault nor to be blamed for what Tristan did. Knowing Gabriella the way she did though also meant Sandra knew that Gabriella would be taking this to heart way more than is healthy and deserved.
Before Sandra could speak again, Gabriella's cell phone went off, going unnoticed by Gabriella, who was too deep in her musings. Anxious to know who it was, knowing it could be Ian with news of the funeral, Sandra reached over and grabbed the phone off the nightstand and smiled a little as she saw the name appear on the screen. "Hi Taylor, it's Sandra."
"Oh, hey Sandra. Does this mean that Gabriella is out in L.A. with you?" asked Taylor, some anxiety in her voice. "She hasn't been at school and I'm worried about her. It doesn't look like she or her mom are home either."
Sandra grimaced as she watched a solo tear trickle down from Gabriella's eyes, down her cheek, and onto her lap. "They are both here in L.A. and have been since yesterday morning," answered Sandra, debating on what to tell Taylor. "Has Troy been in school?"
There was a pause before Taylor replied, "Yes, he's been around but he's been looking like crap. Did Troy and Gabriella have a fight or something, more than what happened at school? Do you know about that?"
A sigh escaped Sandra's lips, letting Taylor know that Gabriella's other best friend knew exactly what had been going on between Gabriella and Troy. "She told me about it yes. Ella, I mean Gabriella said she and Troy fought, that she got jealous and insecure seeing him hugging Sharpay and that they argued when he saw a picture in her hand of her and," paused Sandra, stumbling over the next part, "Tristan together."
"That about sums it up," stated Taylor. "Sandra, please, if something is wrong, please tell me. This isn't like Gabriella to just disappear like this and from the tone in your voice, I can tell you're hiding something and are worried."
As Gabriella seemed to snap back to reality, her brown eyes refocusing on Sandra, she murmured, "I better let Gabriella tell you. Hang on one second."
Gabriella blinked a few times at the cell phone Sandra was presenting her with. "Is it Troy?" she asked in a hopeful voice.
Sandra shook her head. "No, it's Taylor. I thought it best that you tell her everything, what you want her to know," said Sandra while she inwardly wished that it was Troy for Gabriella's sake.
Curiously, Gabriella took the phone from Sandra and hesitantly put it to her ear, somehow afraid of what she would hear on the other side. "Hello?"
"Oh thank God Gaby! I've, we've been so worried about you!" exclaimed Taylor, relief in her voice at hearing her best friend talking to her. "Where have you been? Why didn't you tell me you were going to L.A.?"
Confusion etched Gabriella's face as she took in Taylor's words, unsure of whether Taylor knew or not what happened. 'Surely Troy would have told her right? Even via Chad?' she thought. "You don't know?"
"Know what? Gabriella, what is going on?" questioned Taylor, becoming worried once again. "Please, just tell me."
Gabriella closed her eyes again, willing herself not to cry, realizing she couldn't control the tears as much as she wanted to. After a few escaped, she felt the bed shift as Sandra sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around her and leaning her head on Gabriella's shoulder to give her comfort and courage. Gabriella breathed in deeply before answering Taylor. "I'm in L.A. Tay. I had to come. After you left… I was delivered roses and then he called and then it happened," rushed Gabriella, not realizing that most of what she was saying hadn't made any sense to Taylor. "I had to see if he was okay but God Taylor, he isn't and it's all my fault! There was something I should have seen, something I should have done to make sure he was off playing football tonight instead of his team mourning him."
Taylor listened to the sobs on the other end of the line that followed Gabriella's explanation, feeling her heart break for her best friend as Taylor's mind pieced the puzzle together. "Gab, did something happen to Tristan?"
Her answer though were quiet sobs before there was some shuffling of what Taylor assumed was the cell phone before she heard Sandra's voice. "Sorry Taylor, she's been a mess since it happened, since she's been here. I don't blame her for a second though."
"What exactly happened?" asked Taylor, needing to hear the confirmation that one of her worst conclusions was right.
Sandra took in a deep breath as she continued to hold Gabriella, soothing her with her left hand while holding Gabriella's phone in her right. "In short, Gabriella received a delivery of roses from Tristan followed shortly by a call from him where he said that he loved her but realized he wasn't good enough. She tried calling him back after but he never answered until, and this is where Ms. Montez and I are hypothesizing, the phone was accidentally brushed and accepted the call without Tristan knowing before he shot himself. We've learned it was a gun from his father's study and that Tristan passed away shortly after, being found already dead when his mother found him. That much I know from Gabriella and Tristan's cousin Ian. She explained most of this to Troy though yesterday, at least the general timeline. Why didn't he tell you guys, at least you?"
This time it was Taylor's turn to remain quiet for a few moments, choosing her words carefully. "Troy has been rather withdrawn the past two days at school. He's hardly talking to anyone. He won't even talk to Chad, who has left him voicemails on his phone but gotten nothing. Is Gabriella going to be okay? Is she staying out there much longer?"
"I think enough to go to the funeral and Ian also mentioned the police want to talk to her tomorrow, just to get her statement of what happened. I don't know if Gabriella can handle it but it's a formality as Ian said it's pretty clear Tristan did what he did on his own. Taylor, promise me when she goes back you'll keep me informed?" begged Sandra, knowing that she'd go nuts not knowing how Gabriella was doing.
"I promise if you do the same. Troy may be out of the picture Sandra but I promise you that you and I can do our best to keep her safe, to help her without him," blurted Taylor, not realizing she had revealed a piece of what she was trying to omit from Sandra.
"Wait a second, Taylor. What do you mean by Troy being out of the picture? Don't tell me he's abandoning Gabriella when she needs her the most!" exclaimed Sandra, becoming aware that Gabriella was now looking at her with wide eyes. 'Crap!'
"I honestly don't know but I think he may be if he knows all this and was acting the way he was at school. It kind of makes sense for him not to talk to anyone from our group out of guilt. The only one I saw him talk to was Sharpay at the end of school. Don't say anything to Gab yet, I don't know the truth yet but it's just this feeling like he's not on the same wavelength as Gab anymore," stated Taylor, unaware of the worried look now on Sandra's face as she gazed back at Gabriella.
Sandra swallowed before she replied, "It may be too late not to tell her Taylor. Let me talk to her and I'll keep in touch okay?"
"Oh God, this is not the way I wanted her to find out about Troy and the pink bitch. Do you want me to talk to her?" offered Taylor, now worried about how Gabriella would respond to this news on top of everything else.
"I got it. Bye Taylor," concluded Sandra, ending the call and putting the phone down, forcing herself to meet the brown eyes staring back at her with an even deeper pain darkening her eyes now. "Gabriella…"
Gabriella shook her head, interrupting Sandra's words. "I'm just too messed up for Troy now aren't I? Too much baggage, too many issues. I knew it would all catch up with me, taking so long to decide between them but I just, I couldn't let go of Tristan so easily, even for Troy. And now, and now, well Tristan is gone, forever, and I don't know what I'm going to do. Sandra, I've lost both guys I'll ever love, that I have ever loved and nothing can change that, nothing!"
Before Sandra could say anything further, Gabriella sprung from the bed and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her and locking it. She rested her hands on the cold marble of the countertop, staring at the image of a girl that looked like her but yet looked nothing like the Gabriella that had existed just two days ago, when her life was ripped apart and something, somewhere, seemed bent on completing the demolition. Her brown eyes stared lifelessly back at her, her normally dark skin looking impossibly pale, making the dark circles around her eyes even more prominent.
'Did I really make Tristan feel this bad? Was this what he felt? Like his life was being sucked away from him, like he was suffocating even when he knew he was breathing?' she wondered to herself, feeling like she needed to cry again, to release the pain and anguish that was bubbling back to the surface but finding herself unable to, her tears all gone. Instead, she sank down to the ground, her back pressed up against the coldness of the tub behind her, placing her head in her hands as she ignored the pounding and pleas from outside from Sandra, pushing aside the discomfort a while later from her position, being entirely lost to it all by the deep emotions she felt taking a firmer grip on her than before, distantly wondering if her life would ever be better ever again.