The next morning, Gabriella woke up first. She was still wrapped up in Troy's arms. She raised her head and watched him sleep. Slowly, she kissed his chin and he woke up with a jump. He smiled when he saw Gabriella.

"Morning, boyfriend," she smiled.

"Morning, girlfriend," Troy grinned back.

"We better get up," Gabriella said.

"Yeah," Troy agreed. "Get ready to go to school quickly and we can have breakfast over at my house."

"Okay," Gabriella nodded.

After Gabriella had gotten ready, Troy drove them to his house. His mother was just making breakfast.

"Morning, mom," Troy called walking into the house. "We have a visitor for breakfast, alright?"

"Hi, Gabriella," Julie smiled. "I'm really sorry about yesterday."

"It's okay," Gabriella waved off the apology. "Were you going to make breakfast? Let me help you."

"Sure," Julie said, grateful to have some help.

"I'll just go and take a shower," Troy said as he walked upstairs.

A couple of minutes later, Troy walked downstairs into the kitchen to find everyone seated at the table. Gabriella's eyes were red and puffy and Troy instantly knew that she had been crying. Julie looked embarrassed and Jack looked worried. Troy sat down beside Gabriella and took her hand. She took one look at him and she burst into tears again. Lucas put his arms around her and allowed her to cry into his shirt. He rested his chi on her head and glared at his mother. He knew that she had said something to Gabriella.

"Gabriella, I'm really sorry if I am upsetting you," Julie apologized. "But –"

"Mom," Troy said, warningly. "Will you just –" Troy caught his father's eye. "Will you just not talk?"

"Trust me, Troy," Julie said, gently. "This is important. It may be good."

"Brie," Troy said, ignoring his mother. "You okay?"

Gabriella nodded and she pulled away from Troy. He wiped away her tears with his thumb only for them to be replaced with new ones.

"Gabriella, honey," Julie began. "A transplant is not possible because the waiting list is high unless, a person wants to give up some of their marrow bone (A/N Dunno if that's what they call it) to a particular person."

"So, if a person wants to give up their marrow bone to my mother," Gabriella said, slowly, wiping her tears away. "My mother can get a transplant."

"Yes," Julie nodded.

"I can do it," Gabriella said, immediately.

"NO!" Troy said, sharply. "I can't let you do that, Brie."

"Why not?" Gabriella demanded, angrily. "This is my mother we're talking about. Not some stupid basketball game. My mother is about to die. And if I don't do something while I can, I'll feel guilty about it for the rest of my life. It'll be like I would have killed her."

"Gabi," Troy began.

"Gabriella," Julie interrupted Troy. "You cannot do it. You're far too young. Your mother and I have become very close friends and that's why I have decided that I am going to give her some of my marrow bone."

"Mom!" Troy exclaimed.

"No!" Jack yelled at the same time.

A second later Troy and Gabriella were telling – more like yelling – the reasons why Julie could not go along with the operation. Gabriela was close to tears again and Julie looked worn out. Gabriella touched Troy's arm lightly and Troy stopped yelling. Jack, on the other hand, carried on.

"What is it, Brie?" Troy asked gently.

"It seems like you want my mother to die," Gabriella whispered.

"No, baby," Troy shook his head frantically taking Gabriella's hand. "It's nothing like that. I mean, it's just that…this might be bad for my mom, too."

"How?" Gabriella asked.

"That's enough!" Julie exclaimed and Jack stopped yelling. She lowered her voice. "Look, I know that this is a risky thing to do. I mean, Maria might not make it or she will. I might not make it, too. There's a chance that both of us will die –"

"And, you're still willing to go through with this?" Troy yelled. "Mom, you know what might happen."

"There's also a chance that we'll both survive," Julie finished. "It's my decision and I'm doing it."

Gabriella jumped up and hugged Julie. "Thank you," she whispered.

"You're welcome, sweetie," Julie said hugging Gabriella. "I want to do this."

"But, Julie," Jack began.

"No 'buts'," Julie said firmly. "It's my decision. End of discussion."

This was followed by a long silence. Troy – as usual – was the one to break it.

"We better get going," he said getting up as he glanced at his watch. "We're going to miss the bus."

"Bye," Gabriella smiled as she got up as well. "And thanks, for everything."

Without waiting for Gabriella, Troy walked out of the house. She followed him.

"Troy, what's the rush?" she called.

Troy did not answer. The bus pulled up against the curb and he got into it without looking behind. Hurt, Gabriella got in, too, to find that the bus was once again full and that there was no extra seat this time. Troy was sitting next to Chad. He was not talking to Chad, who was blabbing about this or that.

Sighing, Gabriella walked between the seats to see if there were any empty seats in the back. The bus pulled away from the curb and this time Gabriella did not fall. She reached Troy's seat and was about to pass it when someone pushed her. Once again, she fell onto Troy's lap.

"This has become a habit," Gabriella smiled.

Troy chose to ignore her and she got up and walked to the back of the bus to stand there.

Troy mentally kicked himself. What had gotten into him? Nothing! Well, that is nothing except for the fact that his mother had decided to do an operation in which she could die. Troy cursed loudly as they reached the school and everyone turned to look at him. Troy glared at them.

"What are you looking at?" he snarled as he got off the bus.

" Troy, man, what has gotten into you?" Chad asked grabbing one of Troy's shoulders and bringing him to a stop.

"What has gotten into me?" Troy yelled.

"Dude, calm down!" Chad yelled. He was the only one who knew how to handle Troy's bad mood.

Troy took a deep breath. "My mom has decided to help Gabi's mom out by doing a transplant and if the operation goes wrong, she might not survive," he explained quietly to Troy. "And, because that was on my mind, I was a jerk and I have probably hurt Gabi."

"So, are you two together yet?" Chad asked.

"Yup," Troy grinned.

"Then, what are you doing here?" Chad asked hitting his best friend's back. "Go apologize to her and win her back."

"You're right, man," Troy said. "See you later."

Troy was about to go and find Gabriella when the bell for homeroom rang. He hurried into his classroom and saw that Gabriella was not there yet. He sat down at his desk in front of the class and watched for Gabriella. A few minutes later, she walked in. she did not look at anyone. She walked past Troy and when someone stuck out his leg, she tripped and fell, her books and papers flying out of her hands. Troy and Chad rose it their feet at once.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" Troy yelled angrily as Chad collected all of Gabriella's things. He leaned down next to Gabriella. "Are you okay?"

"You basically ignore me all morning and now you ask me whether I am okay?" Gabriella asked, furiously.

"Brie, I'm sorry," Troy apologized. "Honestly, I am."

"I don't believe you, Troy," Gabriella said. "Just leave me alone."

"Here you go, Gabriella," Chad said handing her books back to her.

"Thanks," Gabriella muttered and grabbed her books. She walked to the back of the class and sat down at her desk, leaving Troy and Chad speechless.


A/N: So, I don't know what to think of this chapter...I'm writinmg the next one now. I think it'll be up today or tonight. I'm not sure. LOL! R&R!!!