Chapter 10: Just Hope

The weekend came by quickly and I greatly dreaded the Saturday when Troy and I have to meet. I never told Taylor of the conversation I had with Troy. She assumed that I haven't done anything (I don't blame her) and so she hasn't really said much to me. She has been spending most of her time with Chad. My mom also noticed that and won't stop questioning me about what happened. She thinks that we've had a fight (which technically we have) and that we need to go make up. My mind wasn't really paying attention to what she was saying because I was too preoccupied with the whole meeting Troy this weekend.

It's now 12:00 and I'm meeting Troy in about an hour and I'm freaking out like crazy. I can't tell Taylor and it's kind of driving me insane. There really is no one I can tell because the majority of people that I would talk to would probably laugh in my face.

I'm starting to think that maybe this was a bad idea. What if he doesn't even show or maybe he just wants to yell at me again. I hate the what if's. That's all I've been worrying about since the whole movie night incident. I highly doubt that he would back out now because it isn't like him.

I'm going to get off my lazy ass now and take a shower. We are most likely going out in public and I want to look good. As I step into the bathroom I hear the phone ring and I leave it because my mom will get it.

"Gabi! It's Troy! He's on the phone asking to speak with you!" my mom yelled at me. I wonder why he's calling me now. He doesn't want to cancel, does he?

(Bold is Troy Regular is Gabi)

"Hello?" I said.

"Gabriella?"

"Troy what's the matter?"

"My dad… my dad (takes a shakey breath), my dad was in a car accident."

"Is he alright? It's alright if you can't make it today, you stay with your family. They need you more than I do," I said.

"He's in a coma and the doctors won't know much more until he's out of it. Look I am truly sorry that we couldn't get together to work this out but I promise we will do it. Let's just wait until my dad gets a little better."

"You know what Troy forget about it and just concentrate on your family. I'm gonna tell my mom unless you don't want me to. Maybe I can come pay your dad a visit after school tomorrow and see how you're holding up?"

"Ya I'd like that. And you can tell your mom and Gabi can you do me a favour?"

"Ya, sure, anything."

"Could you call Sharpay, Ryan, Chad and Taylor and tell them the news. My mom is just really worried and scared right now so if you don't mind."

"Don't worry, I'll do that. I hope your dad gets better and I'll put him in my prayers," I said and then the line went dead.

I told my mom and had her call Sharpay and Ryan. I called Taylor and Chad from my cell. I am so scared about what is going to happen to Troy's dad, Jack. Jack is like a my mom's brother and he helped us a lot when my father died. Jack and my dad were best friends and when my dad died he took over the funeral planning's because my mom was so upset and unfocused to do it. If Jack doesn't make it out of this then I don't know what'll happen the Bolton family.

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It's been two days sine Jack's accident and I decided I would wait a bit until I saw Troy and his family. I was thinking that maybe in those two days that his condition would become a bit better but I heard it hasn't changed. I'm going up to the hospital today after school alone. I thought it might be better and Troy might be able to distract himself a bit from his dad's problems and concentrate ours.

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

When I reached the hospital I was told I could find Troy in the church chapel. I made my way over there and I found him sitting on the first bench. He didn't know I was here so I came and sat next to him.

"Hey," I said to him, "How are you holding up?"

"The doctors said that he had some internal bleeding so they took him into surgery. They also said that they won't know how badly his brain is hurt until he wakes up," Troy said as he took a shaky breath, "I haven't really left this room. I'm such a bad son."

"Troy you are his Wildcat superstar. Don't you ever think you are a bad son," I told him trying to comfort him in any way.

"I am, I am Gabi. I haven't… I can't see him. He's my dad, he was strong, he is strong but seeing him hooked up to all those machines, it makes him seem so weak." Troy said in a sad tone.

I was able to relate to his trouble with seeing his dad. It was the exact same way I felt when my dad was in the hospital. My dad had brain surgery and there was complications during the surgery. He too slipped into a coma but he woke up a few days later. In those few days I saw my dad in very different ways. I saw his strong moments when he got out of bed and his weak moments when he couldn't even chew his own food. It was a very tiring time for my mom and I. We hardly got any rest because we were constantly worrying about him.

The day he died seemed to be a very good day. He was able to sit up for a few hours and talk with us. My mom and I were there until the nurse had to kick us out. We recieved the terrible news that he had died during that night. Apparently he was so exhausted from his day that he fell into a very deep sleep. When the nurse went to check on him, he wouldn't get up. He had died in his sleep.

"I was the same, Troy. I couldn't see my dad until my mom had to drag me in there. So I'm going to do the same to you. Seeing your dad will make you feel some what better," I said with a determined look on my face. I got up and held out my hand for Troy to take. He was a bit hesitant at first but then grabbed my hand. He kept his hand in mine as we walked through the halls of the hospital.

Troy started to slow down as we reached his dad's room. Troy began to speak, "I don't think I can do this."

"Come on, I know you can," I replied. He sighed and walked into Jack's room.

Troy's POV

The site I saw when I saw my dad and heart breaking. There was my strong, out-going dad hooked up to so many machines. It made him look so weak and helpless. I took in a seat in the chair in the bedside while I watched his still body. I felt Gabi come up from behind me and put her hand on my shoulder.

"He can hear you if you talk to him. Maybe if he hears your voice it will make want to wake up," she said to me.

I thought about it for a second. What would I say to him? Sorry dad, I havent't been in but I'm here now? Everything is just too hard and I don't know if I can handle this. I finally picked up enough courage to speak to him. I said, " Hey dad, it's me, Troy. Ummm... Gabi's here. She's the one that actually forced me to come down here, but I'm glad she did. I know mom's probably said this a thousand times but you need to wake up. You need to wake up so that we can bring home the championship and I need you to get me out of detentions with Ms. Darbus. But mostly I need you to wake up so that you can continue to be my dad," by now I had tears running down my face, "Please dad, wake up."

I was sobbing so hard that I didn't realise that Gabi had put her arms around. She was whispering soothing things in my ear and rubbing circles on my back.

Sorry I haven't updated in a while but my life is sooo hectic. Please review (even if that includes saying how bad I am at updating)!!!!