Sooo, I guess it's Happy Belated Valentines day people! Well, er, by the time I get this out it will probably be pleasantly after February. So, I should say; Happy St. Patricks Day! te-he! Okay, before you guys blow my head off, I will finish this fast.

I have no idea why I picked this song for this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own High School Musical or the lyrics of the song Sober by Pink.

Enjoy, peeps

Good Comes Last

by: Laugh, in laughnsmile96

Chapter Ten: Sober

I'm safe up high,
Nothing can touch me
But why do I feel this party's over?
No pain inside
You're like perfection
But how do I feel this good sober?

Pink, Sober

Troy sat up on the living room sofa for a better reach for the remote control. He stretched his back and struggled to grab the controller, facing a large amount of pain along with it. Troy just arrived his house probably two hours ago and it was pretty painful ride. Once the nurse had dropped off Gabriella and him at the front door and made sure they safely got inside, Troy had collapsed on the sofa while Gabriella was led up stairs by Marissa. The two kidney sharers had made no progress in their badly taken relationship, mostly because Troy and Gabriella were in two separate parts of the mansion. The only contact between them was old Marissa. Troy heavily sighed. Yes, Troy did want to meet Gabriella, and thank her pure soul. She was holy, a goddess to him now. One that he would worship and praise for the good of him and her. As much as Troy knew, Gabriella was far away from forgiving him for everything, especially because she wouldn't know why he was forgiving him.

Marissa swiftly walked down the stairs and landed safely on the last step. She turned and smiled at Troy before calling Gabriella upstairs. "Gabi, honey, coming?" she yelled and her hearty voice echoed through the house. Troy gave her a unnoticed smile back. Curiousness overwhelmed Troy.

"Going somewhere, Marissa" The old nanny turned her face and nodded with a slight hint of a smile.

"Gabriella and I are going to the shopping mall" Marissa seemed delighted as her English accent caved in and spread out. Troy's heart jumped. This was his chance!

Without even thinking he offered to come, "Can I come?!" The old lady smiled and shook her head.

"Troy, darling, you just came back from a hospital after a major kidney failure, you need your rest!" Troy exhilarated.

"I had four weeks of enough it! Please can go with Gabriella" Troy was begging, he pleaded with his eyes. Marissa gasped at his childishness.

"Oh alright" her British accent flaring again, "Go have fun, but if I hear back from Gabi then you are going to your corner, young man" a loud whole-hearted laugh came from the two.

With a wimpy leap out off of the black leather sofa, Troy limped towards the stairs. His walk pained Marissa. "Dear, are you sure you want to go," Troy's breath was ragged and chopped off without breath.

"No" his raspy voice was lined with pain, "I wanna go". The light surroundings around the place slowly turned agonizing. The 25 year old man turned around after a kiss on Marissa cheeks and progressed up the stairs. Five steps and his lower abdomen broke out in cramps. Troy clutched his sweaty hand to his stomach and held his breath. Once he reached a step out of Marissa's eye sight, Troy stopped. He gripped the railing and slid down to sit on his knees. Tiny feet silently drifted down the stairs towards Troy and leaned down to catch him. They slowly pulled him up. Instantly, Troy was met with soft brown eyes.

"Take deep breaths. It helps," her angelic voice soothed Troy as his blank eyes bore into hers. He struggled at first to breathe so deeply but soon enough the pain faded and he relaxed.

The two parted down the stairs after Troy was fully calm. He climbed slowly the rest of the way, being aware of the his breathing. Like he had promised, about ten minutes later Troy safely made it downstairs.

"Take care of him" Marissa ordered Gabriella and she nodded. "I called a cab and Troy here's your phone" she handed the man a piece of machinery and bid them farewell.

Gabriella was nervous. This was the first time Troy and Gabriella were ever spending time together. She didn't know if it were going to be just like any time they were together, mute and no conversation at all, or will they progress. After Gabriella left to the hospital with Troy a couple of weeks ago she hadn't seen him until they came back home. In the cab, she barely said anything until he spoke.

"Um, so, how are you feeling?" He said, hesitating only at first.

She nodded, "I'm doing well. And you?" Gabriella asked quietly. Not much into the conversation but a good start.

"getting better" The cab fell silent the rest of the way to the mall.

"10.25" the cab owner said and put his hand out to receive the money. Seconds later, a ten dollar bill and a quarter reached his arm. Gabriella and Troy entered the elevating shopping complex.

"Are you going to be okay, walking around the mall, Troy?" He had to be honest. The malls in Los Angeles were huge and he didn't know how much Gabriella would shop. Troy shook his head, reluctantly.

"Stay here," Gabriella disappeared while Troy sat on a wooden bench. He waited, watching anxiously at the place where Gabriella went. Four wheels came into view before her petite, flat shoes appeared. Troy's eyes winded. A wheel chair. She wanted him to sit in a wheel chair. Troy winced.

"A wheel chair," he squeaked. Gabriella nodded and stopped the chair right in front him.

"Come on ,Troy, it's not gonna be that be,"

"No, you don't understand. There's paparazzi out there," Gabriella rolled her eyes as Troy hopelessly complained.

"Well, it's better for you if they see you in a wheel chair then with a funny face of pain," Troy stopped. "Besides, I promised Marissa that I would take care of you," The man couldn't argue with that, plus the last thing he wanted was a lecture from Marissa. Troy looked down and slowly lifted himself off of the bench and plopped onto the leather wheel chair. He got himself comfortable before Gabriella wheeled him off to the world of money.

Troy chuckled slightly as Gabriella scrunched her nose at a piece of fabric and neatly folded it back to wear it was supposed to be. Five shopping bags clung her to her arms and three smaller ones hung from the handles of his wheelchair. Troy sighed. Kindly, Gabriella had dropped Troy off at the Sport's store before departing into Victoria's Secret, right next door. The medium-sized bags held a pile of cloths for Gabriella and Troy. Gabriella had bought quite a few outfits for Troy and enough for her as well. Troy was delighted that she cared, it showed signs that maybe their relationship wouldn't rely on hatred and discomfort.

Right now, Troy watched Gabriella scuffle through Hollister Co, seeing if there was anything good enough for her clothing mindset. Truly, it was really entertaining. She had left him alone to roam the store, but he still sat on his wheelchair, following Gabriella where ever she went, and where his vehicle would fit through. Troy could stand up and walk around, but he was extremely curious of what Gabriella was like. Seriously, he wondered. What makes her so nice. In his thoughts, Gabriella had disappeared into the dimly lit store. Troy figured it was no use trying to find her and went off on his own adventure. Wandering off, Troy found himself in the Betty's section of the store. The clerk behind the jean's table,who seems like she always there whether there is work there or not, was absolutely excited. She exhaled sharply in incredible admiration. Troy pretended not to notice. Before he knew it, she had already made her way towards him with a piece of paper and a ,still, remained off of in his own world, ignoring the girl to the best of his ability.

"Ahem," she coughed. "Uh, hi! C-can I have an autograph, please...for my little brother" she added. "he absolutely loves you," Troy laughed and settled down. Normally, before -author hesitates for words- this predicament of Gabriella (BG--Before Gabriella), Troy would've flirted in a incredulously suggestive manner, but this time he didn't want to. More over, he would look ridiculously lame. Flirting in a wheel chair?...definitely a no go.

Troy nodded with a tint of energy and took the pen and paper from her hand."To Camilla," Troy looked up, stunned. Not that he excepted no one else to have that name, but he hadn't seen the girl in so many days and she was the first to make Troy smile. Before Troy would creep out Camilla, Troy scribbled down his signature and a note of future encouragement for her. He handed the paper back to her nad resumed his exploration. She muttered a 'thanks' and took her permanent position near the jean's table. Troy wheeled his chair to a table of shorts and searched around to get something for Gabriella. He picked up the first pair of shorts that came to his hands. As he slowly unfolded them, Troy's widened as the length of the pair was revealed.

"There you are!" the shorts when flying and Troy swiftly turned around. Gabriella's form put a wry smile on his face. "Stand up, I think this will look good on you," she ordered and slowly rested the green Hollister long-sleeve shirt on his torso. Troy watched as she contemplated on his looks. In the back of his head, he could see Camilla boiling with jealousy. Troy chuckled. Gabriella? right... "Hold it there" Gabriella stood back thought more.

"Maybe an orange would look better," with that she scurried off again to the guy's. Troy waited a few seconds and soon enough she came back with the same shirt in orange. "Perfect!" Gabriella squealed and ran off. Before long she came back with a pile of men's clothing.

"What about you?" Troy asked. She shrugged carelessly and headed for the cashier country.

An idea struck Troy. He ransacked the Betty's section for the best outfit possible. Troy didn't care how much the money, he had the money,now he just needed the outfit.

"Are you ready, Troy?" Gabriell asked while making sure her change was correct. She looked up. "What are you?"

"Uh, just looking for my phone, I must have dropped it somewhere. Y-you go wait outside. I'll be right there," Troy advised and continued his work.

Troy rolled out of the Hollister store and faced the bright lights of the mall again. On a wooden bench, just in front of the store, Gabriella sat there, staring at the ground with empty eyes. Troy raised his eyebrows curiously. Over the past couple of hours the two had spent together at the mall, Troy found himself wanting to know more and more of what goes on in the woman's mind. He wheeled himself closer to Gabriella. She caught sight of his feet and immediately looked up. Her smile vaguely disappeared and her eyes became a two worried orbs. Fear was evident in her face. Troy gave her a reassuring smile and took a seat next to her. Troy began talking ,but Gabriella still remained in her own world.

The picture was so clear. His eyes were brown with pure anger and detest. Gabriella stared at them directly, piled with fear and regret. He looked like he was just ending his teenage years and ready to be an adult.

"Dylan," she had uttered in almost a whisper.

"Who?" Troy snapped her out of her reverie. Gabriella smiled and shrugged her shoulders. She changed the subject immediately.

"What'cha got there," she reached for the Hollister bag on Troy's lap, but he swiped it away.

"Just things for Marissa. I owe her," Troy winced at the extemely bad lie, but Gabriella didn't seem to mind. Seriously, Marissa -the 54 year old maid- with Hollister? Gabriella acted like she had for the past couple of minutes-quiet.

She needed to clear things up. Gabriella wanted something that would keep her mind empty, give her a time of satisfaction. Just thinking of having no thoughts gave her a headache. Gabriella took in a deep breath. The last thing she would want right now was a severe headache, major fatigue and an extreme chance of passing out. Especially in front of Troy.

She exhaled sharply and jumped out of the bench with a slight bounce in the air. "Have enough energy for a few more shops," Troy gave out a heavy sigh and wheeled his chair for a head start. Gabriella laughed at his weak enthusiasm. She looked up for an interesting store.

Gabriella froze. Her body tingled as it thrived in the nonexisting heat. That was Dylan Sagar. The Dylan from high school, the Gabriella's-exboyfriend-Dylan. He stared right past her while struggling to keep his phone clutched to his ear.

The worst part was that Gabriella couldn't remember him. She could not grasp one memory of him. The onl recognition she had of the dark haired man in front of her was the recent daydream she had of him. Gabriella gasped lightly. She was going to be sick. Gabriella wanted to go home.

"On the other hand," she squeaked barely enough for Troy to hear."Rest is good". Troy scrunched his eyebrows together but then shrugged it off. Anything was good enough.

Okay, fine. Shoot me. One word, people: school.
Take a chill pill, because I'm back!

Review everyone--

Love ya and Keep smiling

Laugh