We Go On

Chapter 2 - Depression Takes Its Toll

a/n: Ok! Chapter 2! ...That's all I have to say. I'm posting this chapter right after the first one, so naturally I have no reviews.. YET! ...Hopefully. So... review! Oh boy, I think I'm addicted to putting lots of dots... Dots... haha. REVIEW!

Gabriella awoke the next morning to find herself in the same clothes as the night before. Her hair fell in front of her face in curly mess. Lazily, she walked over to her mirror and gasped as she caught her own reflection. Her eyes were red and swollen, her clothes were slightly wrinkled, and her face was pale and blotchy. Her reflection alone made her want to cry. Grabbing some clothes and a hairbrush, she walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Steam rose out over the shower and damped the clear windows.

Troy's POV

Troy hadn't spoken to anyone all night. This latest emotional blow had captured his heart and all that he had. Gabriella had been his first and only girlfriend. He hated when she was angry with him, but he still felt that this was his fault. He didn't deny Sharpay. If anything, he was leading her on. Gabriella had all the reasons in the world to hate him. He just wanted her to forget all of those reasons. He wanted her to forgive him. He knew should... In time. All he could do was wait.

He wiped at his damp eyes, and ran his fingers through his chestnut hair, sighing deeply. There was nothing he could do to make the situation better.

'Maybe I should call her...' He thought. 'No, that would only make it worse... Would it? Maybe I should call.' He picked up his cellphone and instinctively dialed Gabriella's number. The rang in his ear...Once...Twice...Three times...

"Augh." He grumbled into the receiver as the message machine kicked in. He could almost recite the short message from memory.

"Hi! You have reached 465-9712 (a/n: Totally random. I don't know if it's right.). If you would like to leave a message for Maria (a/n: Again, totally random) or Gabriella, please wait for the beep!" Gabriella's mother's voice said cheerily. There was a loud beep. Troy swallowed loudly. What could he possibly say?

"Hey, Gabriella. I just...well, I just wanted to call. To see if you're alright, I guess." He paused for a few seconds, "I just want to talk to you, Gabriella. Please, pick up the phone. I'm not going to beg for forgiveness on a message machine. So...please, just call me. Talk to me Gabriella! Please! Just -" The phone beeped again and the message ended before he could finish his sentence.

"Just, call."

Gabriella's POV

"Please, pick up the phone." His voice rang throughout her small room, via the message machine. I'm not going to beg for forgiveness on a message machine"

"I wish you would..." She said to herself.

"So..." The message continued, "Please, just call me. Talk to me, Gabriella! Please! Just-" The message ended. She sighed. The sigh quickly turned into a long, choking sob. Fat tears spilled from her eyes. Her attempts to wipe them away with the mounds of tissue in her hands failed pitifully.

'Why am I so sad?' She thought, 'I should be furious. Am I furious? But, I'm sad. How could I be angry with Troy? I love - No! No... I don't love him anymore... Do I? Augh...' She groaned in frustration.

The phone rang again. She ran over to check the Caller ID, almost tripping on a pile of clothes. It was Troy again.

'I should anwser it...' It rang again. 'No, I should make him suffer... I'm suffering because of what he did. This is his punishment.' It rang for the final time, but without thinking, she brought the purple phone to her ear.

"Hello?" He voice cracked slightly. She didn't sound well. The tone of her voice hinted that she hadn't slept in a while, and that she couldn't stop herself from crying all through the night.

"Gabriella!"

"Troy." She said flatly. There was a bit of a pause in the conversation.

"...How are you?" He asked her

"How well do you think I am, Troy? The one guy I've ever trusted just betrayed me."

"I told you! I meant nothing!"

"I-I...I know that... I think..."

"Then why won't you forgive me?!" He said, almost in a yell

"I can't...I just can't. I think that I just need to be alone for while... Just, you know... by myself." She trailed off.

"OK. I can give you time if you need it, Gabriella. But, can I come by tomorrow? Or the day after that, or next week.. Whenever you want. I need to see you, Gabriella. I love you... You know I do. I don't know if you still love me, Gabby, but I love you some much..." He choked out the last few words

"Of course I know... Troy... I'm sorry... I've got to go..."

"So, I'll...I'll see you soon, then?"

"Yeah. Maybe. I mean, I'm still the lifeguard at LavaSprings for another three weeks."

"I'm not going back to LavaSprings."

"Why not?" She asked. He said nothing, but sighed softly, and she knew what he meant.

Sharpay.

"She'll be there. You know, I don't think I've ever hated someone as much as I hate her. I know it sounds bad, but I really hate her."

"I've always hated her... The minute I got here, she was being her usual arrogant self. I thought she had changed, the day of the Callback... I guess some people never change. I'm just sad for Ryan. I mean, he is the complete opposite of his sister. I don't know how they're related..."

"You like him."

"No I don't!"

"Yes you do! Admit it, Gabriella, you are in love with Ryan Evans."

"You're insane."

"No I'm not!" They were joking, but Gabriella quickly had enough of it.

"...Whatever...I have to go." She stated quickly

"OK. Bye -" She hung up. "...Gabriella..."

a/n: Another short chapter. The plot is developing slowly, but it's making more sense now... Right... ? Well. . . REVIEW! That's all I ask of you... Hehe, my Phantom buddies will get that one :) OK. All for now!

-LittleLotte