Chapter 10 - Tough Decisions

Gabriella sat in a coffee shop opposite the clinic, clutching the cup of coffee Ryan had bought her in her hands. Neither had said a word yet, as they both searched for the right thing to say.
"Look, Ryan--"
"Gabriella, I just need to know the truth. What's going on with you? I mean, was I just another dumb fling, like Mr Bolton? And…is this baby mine?" Gabriella shrugged.
"You know I can't know that for sure, Ryan." She answered softly, for once doubting what she'd been so sure of over the last few days, knowing she had to disassociate herself with this thing growing inside of her. It didn't have a father, and it wouldn't have a mother soon enough. "Look, it's been ten minutes, I should--"
"I don't want you to do this." He said, holding onto her hands across the table. For the first time, he noticed that her hands were shaking, and she was terrified about what she was doing. "Taylor told me what you said. About you thinking it was mine. And I don't want to see my baby die. Because that's what aborting him or her is, and you know it. I love you, Gabriella, and I'm going to help you out the best I can. If you don't want us to be together, then that's fine. But I will always be there for you and the baby, providing for you both the best that I can." A tear slid down Gabriella's cheek, and she linked fingers with Ryan. He was the first person, other than Taylor in all this, who had thought about how she was really feeling, and not just looked at all the problems her actions had caused her.
"…Alright. I trust you." She sniffed. "I wanted to keep it. I was just…so terrified about facing it alone."
"You have me, and Taylor, and your mom…You have told her, right?" Gabriella didn't look up. "Gabs…"
"I didn't see the point in telling her. Not when I was…" Gabriella motioned to the clinic across the road. "But I'll tell her. I'll sit down with her as soon as she gets home from work, and tell her." Ryan nodded.
"You tell your mom, and I'll tell my parents tonight. You want me to take you back to school, or…" Gabriella nodded.
"I can't miss anymore school." She admitted. Ryan smiled slightly, knowing this sounded like the Gabriella he knew and loved. Taking her hand, he led her out to his car.

As lunchtime came, Chad came over to the brainiacs table to talk to Taylor. As soon as he spotted her, he sat next to her, banging his head on the table.
"Wake me up when this nightmare is over." He screamed into the table. Taylor laughed and pulled his head up. They were having fun hanging out, but Taylor couldn't help but feel awkward. Her and Chad had never officially said that they were dating, so she was unsure where she stood. Was it okay to kiss him, and assume they were dating?
"I wish I could but unfortunately, we have to get through this year. And even then it's not over as we go to college, then jobs…"
"I didn't mean school work, that's bad enough as it is." Sighed Chad. "But with Troy…man, it's like he's a completely different person."
"Is he okay?" Taylor realised that was a stupid question, so reworded it. "I mean, how is he coping with…everything." Chad shook his head.
"He's refusing to come to basketball practise, for obvious reasons. In lessons he's not concentrating. I'm pretty sure he was hungover this morning, too. And Troy would never drink anything, he said it'd mess with his game."
"Have you spoke to him about how things are at home?"
"No, he won't talk about it, he always changes the subject. I don't even know where he is now, either. But I know how things are, I overheard Coach Bolton on the phone begging Mrs Bolton to take him back. He looks a mess, too, I think he slept in his office." Chad shook his head. "There's no way we're gonna win the championship with the Boltons like this. Gabriella's really screwed everything up this time." Taylor sat up at this, and looked at him incredulously.
"Excuse me?!"
"Well, it's her fault! She slept with Coach Bolton! I mean, how sick can you get!"
"And how sick is it to not care how your best friend is feeling, and just caring about some stupid basketball trophy!" She shouted, standing up. Chad stood up too, knowing that as much as he hated Gabriella right now, telling Taylor that wasn't his smartest move.
"Tay, I didn't mean it like that, of course I didn't. I just mean--"
"No, I know what you 'just mean', Chad. And I don't want to hear it." She glared at him. "Just leave me the hell alone." Chad opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't find the words to say.
"Fine." He replied, throwing his arms up in annoyance. "Whatever." With that he picked up his lunch tray, and left to go to the basketball table. Taylor stormed off in the opposite direction, towards the biology classroom.

Troy had never had a hangover before, but he sure as hell knew he'd rather not have one ever again. His head was pounding, like a million hammers were banging in his head. When he woke up in the morning, he found puddles of sick all over the floor, and the memories of everything that had happened that night came flooding back to him. He'd told his mom everything, and she'd thrown his dad out.
"Serves him right." Troy muttered, holding onto his head as he sat out in his car, not wanting to talk to anyone, or see anyone. He'd come here at gym class so he didn't have to see his dad, and he'd just chose not to leave it. He knew how much people would be gossiping about his family, and he didn't want to listen to any of it. It was bad enough there was a rumour going around that Gabriella was pregnant, and as much as he knew he had to, he really didn't want to talk to her about it. "Stupid bitch." He said, staring into the distance. He jumped as a car pulled up next to his, and he rolled his eyes. Ryan Evans. If Troy felt like it, he would've got out of the car and hit him by now, but he was saving all his rage for the next time he saw his dad. Troy sunk down in the seat to avoid being seen, but couldn't help but see Ryan open the passenger door. Peaking out, Troy felt sick when he saw Gabriella step out of the car. She had been visibly crying, and looked stressed out and worried. 'Good.' was all Troy could think, as he saw Ryan take her hand and squeeze it gently. They walked away, not looking at the car for a second. Troy shook his head, and started up his engine. He was going to be much more help to his mom at home than he could be at school in a mood like this.

Gabriella couldn't help but notice the icy silence that came over the school the second she stepped into the building. No-one tried to hide the fact that they'd just been talking about her. Ryan walked a few steps ahead of her to their biology class, trying to clear the way for her the best he could before he had to take his seat next to Sharpay, and try and build bridges with her.
"I so can't believe she's even showing her face in school!"
"Surprised she's not standing on a street corner somewhere, it's where she'll end up."
"What a slut…" Gabriella focused on walking behind Ryan, trying to pretend she didn't hear the things being whispered as she walked past. It wouldn't have hurt as much if some of what they were saying hadn't been true.
"You did good." Said Ryan, as they stepped into the classroom. There was a few students scattered around, and Gabriella was relieved that Taylor was one of them. She rushed over to her and sat with her.
"What are you doing here!" Gasped Taylor, hugging her friend. "What happened? Did you--" Gabriella shook her head.
"Ryan stopped me. I know that…I'm a horrid person and shouldn't get something so…amazing out of all this. But I have to face the consequences, and I'm going to. I'm gonna talk to my mom about it when she's home."
"But what about schoolwork? What about--"
"I don't know. Other girls manage to do it. And I'm so ahead in my reading that I'll be okay here and there. And if I keep my grade point average up, I might even be able to do my exams a little bit earlier and get out sooner for…things." Taylor nodded.
"…Chad's pretty mad at you." She said, feeling that Gabriella deserved to know the truth.
"Isn't everyone?" She sighed, hugging her stomach. "You won't listen to them, will you? I'm turning over a new leaf, I'm serious. Once my mom know and everythings worked out, I'm gonna work my butt off." Taylor smiled.
"Thatta girl."

Ryan entered his house that evening with mixed emotions. Though he was on a high over the thought of being a parent with Gabriella, the backlash Gabriella was getting from everyone in school, and knowing they had good reason to be like that, depressed him, like he shouldn't be happy about this baby. He still hadn't been able to talk to Sharpay, after she chose to sit with Kelsi in Biology instead, and had banned him from the drama club practise that afternoon. She kept shooting him glares across the room, and he tried to ignore them.
"Mom, dad! I'm home!" He called, hanging his hat on the hat stand near the door.
"Ducky, there you are!" Gushed his mother, hurrying down the stairs and hugging him. "You shot off so fast this morning your father and I didn't get a chance to talk to you about…dinner yesterday." Ryan nodded.
"Right. That. Can…I talk with you and dad?" His mom nodded, and they went into the study, where his father was sitting reading the paper.
"What's the matter, son?" Asked Mr. Evans, folding the paper up. Ryan sat down at the chair opposite his dad, as his mom went to stand next to her husband.
"What…What Sharpay said is true. Me and Gabriella were dating. And she is pregnant. And it is mine." Mrs. Evans let out a gasp.
"…Ah." Was all Mr. Evans managed to say, in complete shock. "Well, is she…keeping it?" Ryan nodded.
"I really love her." He admitted. "And…I love the idea of…this baby."
"…If it's your responsibility, then you should." Said Mrs Evans, calmly. "I will not have a grandchild of mine being abandoned by it's father!"
"I never would, I swear. I just…want to help them out. When they need it." Said Ryan, looking at his dad. Mr Evans nodded.
"My baby!" Sobbed Mrs Evans, rushing forward and hugging Ryan. "He's growing up so fast!" Ryan smiled. He was pleased his parents took it as well as they had. He just hoped Mrs. Montez was as relaxed on Gabriella. 'She will be. She's a good person' thought Ryan.

Chad and the rest of the East High Wildcats waited impatiently for Coach Bolton in the gym. Troy had apparently left school just after lunch, and now Mr. Bolton had gone AWOL as well.
"Come on, lets just go, we've been waiting here for twenty minutes, and I'm hungry." Complained Zeke, dribbling a ball on the floor lazily.
"I'll go and look for him." Said Chad, standing up. "You guys wait here." The team half-heartedly agreed, and Chad left. Troy's attitude of not caring about the team seemed to be contagious. It was like the rest of the team didn't care if Troy didn't, and that annoyed Chad to no end. He was pissed when he saw Gabriella in school that day, and wanted to go up and shout at her, but he knew that would do him no favours when it came to winning Taylor back. He'd need to do something spectacular to get her to talk to him again, and he knew it. Just as Chad was wracking his brain for some romantic gesture, he heard voices in the hall. Chad ducked into a corner as he heard the familiar voice of Coach Bolton, and Principal Matsui.
"Jack, you know that there's nothing I can do in these circumstances. A complaint has been made about your conduct with the students, and the board decided that this is the only thing that can be done."
"Mr Matsui please, I've been teaching here for so many years- since before Troy was born! This team needs me, I love my job."
"Are you not listening! This isn't just some small complaint! You have been accused of being sexually active with a student! The school board aren't just going to sit back and let this go unpunished. Jack, please tell me it's all just rumours, so I can at least try and plead with the board…"
"…Gabriella Montez was a consenting adult. I didn't do anything she didn't want to do."
"She was a consenting student! That is the issue here!" Principal Matsui hissed. "I really am sorry to do this Jack, really I am. But you need to clear out your desk before the close of school today."
"But--"
"Do it!" He snapped. "We'll get one of the other teachers to coach the Wildcats until we can find a replacement." He paused. "..Again I really am sorry." Mr Bolton didn't say anything, and just walked past into his office, slamming the door behind him. From where he was standing, Chad stood shell-shocked. The East High Wildcats, without Coach Bolton?

Gabriella was going to pay.

AN: Feedback would be lovely. It really would be. As I'm barrel scraping, and it's not exactly a story you can fill with fluff lol. The next chapter promises to be a good one though. Really.