Troy walked along an embankment. He remembered Gabriella sitting at the end of it after he'd accused her of cheating, after Graduation, after her mom died, after she'd started dating Brad. He also remembered one time, about 2 months before Graduation, that she had sat there. He now knew why – she'd just found out about her pregnancy. He hadn't even suspected back then. He walked to the end of it and sat in the very spot she always had. He saw a small stain where he'd tried to sit with her and spilled his soda. She never let him near there again. He heard slow, quiet footsteps join him from behind.
'Hey Troy.'
He turned round to see Chad there. Chad grinned and sat next to him. 'I thought Gabs said you couldn't sit here.'
'She did.' Troy's voice was small and quiet.
Chad didn't catch on. 'Where's Skyla? Did you leave her with Gabriella?' Chad picked up a pebble and threw it into the water.
'Yeah.' Troy breathed deeply, realising that it probably hadn't been the best idea to leave a 5-month-old baby in a room with her dead mother.
Chad looked sideways at him. 'Hey. What's wrong?'
Troy looked down. He didn't know how to say it, he didn't want to. He thought that if he said it out loud then it would have to be true. There wouldn't be any hope whatsoever that she was still alive. Troy looked up at Chad. His cheeks were wet from tears and it didn't show any sign of stopping. Chad didn't want to say it, but he knew he had to.
'She's not…?' Chad couldn't bring himself to even mouth the words.
Troy nodded. 'She's gone, Chad. She's dead.' He broke down and Chad hugged his shaking body.
'It's gonna be okay, Troy. She's in a better place.' Chad knew it wasn't the best thing to say, but he wasn't sure of anything right now.
'No, she's not, Chad!' Troy yelled, tearing out his best friend's grip. 'She's not with her friends, she's not with Skyla, she's not with…' Troy's eyes were burning with rage. 'She's not with me!' he screamed, standing up.
Troy sprinted down the embankment. Chad stood up and followed him, running also. As Troy reached the road, he did something he'd never thought he'd do. A truck came speeding down and before Troy could jump in front, arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him out of harm's way.
'What the hell do you think you're doing?!' Chad yelled at him, ignoring the cursing from the truck driver.
Troy collapsed on the ground, sobbing. Chad knelt beside him, his voice softening. 'Do you want me to tell the guys?' he whispered.
Troy shook his head slightly, his blond-brown hair swaying. 'I'll do it. Can you pick up Skyla from the hospital?'
Chad didn't want to, he didn't want to see Gabriella, but he nodded anyway.
The knock on the door was so quiet that Sharpay nearly didn't hear it. She ran to the door and opened it, seeing Troy standing there. He looked up at her and she smiled. 'Hi Troy.' She said, still smiling.
Troy breathed deeply. 'You might want to get Ryan, Shar. And you might wanna sit down.'
Sharpay knew that this was about Gabriella, but she tried not to think the worst. She called Ryan downstairs and let Troy in, both of them taking a seat on the couch. Soon, Ryan joined them.
'So Troy, why are you here?' Ryan said, not realising that he was being very direct.
'I…um…I…' Troy gulped. 'I gotta tell you something.'
'Well, go on. We're not stopping you.' Sharpay whacked Ryan in the stomach. He looked protesting, he hadn't caught on that this was about Gabriella until Sharpay had given him a warning glare.
'It's okay, Troy.' Sharpay gave him a warm smile, but Troy didn't smile back.
'Gabriella…' Troy forced back the tears. '…died this morning.' Troy's voice cracked.
Sharpay pulled her knees to her chest and started to sob. Ryan stood up. 'What are you talking about?'
Sharpay looked up, confused. Troy tried again. 'She's dead, Ryan. She died this morning, and I can't bring her back.' Troy whispered. 'No-one can.'
'No. No, you're lying!' Ryan raised his voice. .
'Ryan –' Sharpay reached for his hand but he pulled away.
'He's lying! Look, I'll call her now; she always picks up her phone.' Ryan reached for the phone and dialled her number. It rang and rang but Ryan didn't put it down. Suddenly Gabriella's voice came on.
'Hi, this is Gabriella.'
'Gabriella!' Ryan nearly shouted.
'I'm not picking up my phone right now, but I'll ring you back, I promise. Bye.'
Ryan put the phone down on the hook. He dropped onto the coach. 'Is it true?' he whispered.
Troy nodded.
Sharpay leant into Ryan and he hugged her. Troy nodded, and walked out of the room, trying to ignore the heart wrenching cries from the twins as he left.
Chad walked into the hospital room. He caught sight of Skyla and as he was walking over, he saw out of the corner of his eye the girl that changed his life. If he hadn't met her, or if troy hadn't, he would've never met someone as loyal and kind. He probably wouldn't have met Taylor. He saw her wisps of black hair swaying slightly. He walked over to the window, locking it and closing the blind, and then turning back to watch her.
I close both locks below the window.
I close both blinds and turn away.
Sometimes solutions aren't so simple.
Sometimes goodbye's the only way.
He remembered one time when they had al come to see her. He remembered every single second, memorizing everything from what colour her cards and flowers were to the colour of her painted nails. Pink was the colour of the cards and flowers, purple for her nails. Sharpay had done them for her.
And the sun will set for you,
The sun will set for you.
And the shadow of the day,
Will embrace the world in grey,
And the sun will set for you.
Pink cards and flowers on your window,
Your friends all plead for you to stay.
Sometimes beginnings aren't so simple.
Sometimes goodbye's the only way.
The sun had been setting as it was now. He looked towards the window, quickly realising that he'd shut it. He noticed the dying flowers that had been given that day. That was the only time she'd let them all cry. He leant over Gabriella and kissed her on her forehead. As he got up, he broke down just as Troy had done when he told Chad. He didn't fall down but he rested his head on hers and cried. The door opened and Taylor ran in.
'Hey, I got your message. What's wrong?' she sounded panicky and as soon as she saw her best friend and fiancée, the panic was replaced with sadness and pain.
'Oh my God, she's…she's…dead, isn't she?' Taylor raised a hand over her mouth.
Chad looked up and nodded. Taylor went over to him and they held each other for what seemed like hours. Chad suddenly remembered Skyla and moved away picking her up. Skyla woke up and reached out to her mom. Taylor reached for the sheets and pulled them over Gabriella's head. Skyla stopped reaching out and started crying. Chad walked out with her in his arms and Taylor followed him, closing the door quietly. The doctor slowed to a stop in front of them and Taylor shook her head, silently telling him there was no point checking Gabriella's condition.
And the sun will set for you,
The sun will set for you.
And the shadow of the day,
Will embrace the world in grey,
And the sun will set for you.
The doctor smiled sympathetically. 'I'm sorry.' He whispered.
Taylor smiled back, but it obviously put on. She took Chad's hand and they walked out the hospital, seeing Troy sitting outside with his head in his hands. Chad passed Skyla to him as Troy came over.
And the shadow of the day,
Will embrace the world in grey,
And the sun will set for you.
Troy held her in his arms and Taylor led him to the car. He looked back at the hospital and sighed, holding back the tears. 'I love you so much.' He whispered into the setting sun.
And the shadow of the day,
Will embrace the world in grey,
And the sun will set for you.
Please Review.
