Chapter 7
Troy was at Gabriella's side for three weeks. If she took a shower he was in the bathroom talking to her the whole time. Maria, Troy's parents and at least three of their friends called everyday and spoke to Gabriella and Troy, asking Troy seriously how Gabriella was doing. And everyday he was lectured on making sure he too was ok. Little was heard about Eric other then they hadn't found him yet. They had release some facts about Eric's past on a special on Dateline. Some Pictures of Gabriella that Eric had pinned up in his room were shown along with the school. Taylor watched it and told Troy it was on. Troy had insisted that Gabriella go to sleep and watched a few minutes of in it in the living room, but after that few minutes, he just couldn't watch it. He already seen the evils of Eric Miller and didn't need anymore. But Gabriella's lack of sleep was starting to take it's toll, until one day during a walk at the park with Troy, Gabriella, she fainted. Troy rushed her to the hospital.
"Exhaustion" He diagnosed her. He sent her home with three prescriptions, two sleep aids and xanax for her panic attacks. She was directed to take them as needed.
Gabriella needed the sleep aids every night. After using them she began to have nights where she sleep a good seven hours.
It was Wednesday afternoon and Troy was sitting in the living room. Gabriella's head was on his lap. She had taken a xanax and a seep aid, the night before she didn't take it and was kept up by nightmares. Troy was qentily stroking her soft silky brown locks when the phone rang. He carefully slid out from underneath Gabriella. Picking up the cordless phone on the end table.
"Hello?" Troy glanced back over at his beautiful sleeping Gabi.
"Hello is this a Parent or guardian of Gabriella Montez?"
"No this is Troy Bolton, can I take a message."
"Hi Troy this is Stephen Smith from the public school board. I'm calling to inform all the students of East high that school will be reopening in a month. On April 20th, as of right now the students will be given an A average due to the trauma of grim events. However it is up to the student to keep it that way: We are encouraging all students to come back to school and finish out the year as it is so close to graduation time." The man who Troy pictured to be a thin man with little personality, mechanically told him from the other line. What was going to happen.
(A/N April 20th was the day Columbine High School had their school shooting)
"Ok…uh…Thanks" Troy couldn't focus, all he could think about was having to go back in those hall ways, having to walk Gabi in those dangerous hall ways. And he didn't know if he could do it.
They hung up. Troy took a deep breath. How was he going to tell Gabriella.
Just then the phone rang again. This time it was Jake Bolton.
Troy/ Jack
"Hello?"
"Troy?"
"Yeah hey dad…"
"Troy the school board just called…"
"Yeah they called here too…"
"You have to go back son. We have a team that counts on us, and we have the end of the year senior game…"
"Yeah I know dad, I'm just worried about Gabriella…I don't know if she's ready…."
"Troy, you need to worry about your future here too…Speaking of, Remember those friends of the Evens family?"
Troy sighed sharply looking down.
"Yeah…Why?"
"Their impressed son, they want you for a few more practices…"
Troy turned back to look at Gabriella.
"Troy? Son are you there?"
"Yeah dad, I'm here, just speechless is all…."
"Well they want you this Saturday! Isn't that great?"
Troy's eyes were still on Gabriella, She was starting to wake up. He didn't know how she would act without him in sight.
"Ok, I'll just tell Gabi and we'll be there…"
"Troy, it's a closed practice"
"What?"
"Gabriella will not be able to go with you."
"Then tell them I'm not going…"
Gabriella sat up, Troy quickly sat down next to her grabbing her hand.
"Troy, you can't give up your future to stay with Gabriella…"
"Dad you don't you get it Gabi is my future."
Jack sighed loud in the phone.
Gabriella looked confused at Troy.
"Dad just tell them I'm not going!"
Gabriella snatched the phone away from Troy leaving him dumbfounded.
"Mr. Bolton, what's Troy talking about?"
Jack was taken aback.
"Um, The college basketball team have asked that he started practicing with him on Saturday and sometimes Wednesdays. It's a great opportunity for him to get a scholarship." Jack explained.
"And they want to meet this Saturday?"
"Yeah"
"He'll be there Mr. Bolton, I'll make sure of it." She said with solid determination.
"WHAT!!" Troy shouted.
"Troy your going, I don't care what you say. I'll have Taylor and Chad come over."
"Gabi, I don't know…" Troy have doubt laced in his voice.
"Troy, Your going and that's it." Gabriella had the last word. She put her foot down and that was it.
Maybe Gabriella wasn't so bad. Jack thought thinking back to what his wife said about Gabriella helping Troy succeed.
"Thank you Gabriella."
"No problem Mr. Bolton I wouldn't let Troy miss out on this opportunity."
With that the conversation was over.
"What was that?" Troy asked amazed.
"Troy you can't just let go of everything you want to babysit me."
"Gabi…" Her took her hands in his. "I meant what I said about you being my future."
"I believe you Troy. But you have to hold onto your dreams." Troy looked down. She placed her hand on his cheek.
"Troy." She said so softly. He skin was so soft against his cheek that he leaned into it never wanting the comfort to go away.
"You are my future too, But I still want to be a science teacher. We have to become what we always dreamed of doing."
"Gabi, I want us to get married. I'm not proposing now, but I want this, I want you. Forever."
Tears filled Gabriella's eyes.
"I Love you so much Troy." She smiled kissing him with every fiber of her soul. "But you sill going." She giggled.
"Ok, ok you win, but promise me this."
"What?"
"Never stop singing."
"I promise, as long as your there with me."
"I promise."
She smiled at him.
"Oh" She jumped up.
"I'm going to called Taylor about Saturday!" Gabriella went to the phone.
The girls talked for about an hour, Troy heard their girly-ness (A/N is that a word?) and rolled his eyes a few times, smiling.
"Ok Taylor see you then I can't wait." Gabriella smiled hanging up the phone.
"Ok it's all set! She and Chad are coming first thing in the morning."
(A/N Chapter 8 coming very soon. Hope you all like. I think i'm going to wait until I get a few more reviews though, they are what keeps the story going)
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