The next morning, Troy woke up in the position that he had gone to sleep in – one arm around Gabriella and the other resting on her stomach. He sat up on the bed. Gabriella woke up a few minutes later. She smiled at Troy, but, the smile had disappeared as soon as it had come. She jumped out of the bed and hurried to the bathroom. Troy looked surprised for a minute and then he remembered what Gabriella had said about her throwing up. He jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom. He found Gabriella kneeling by the toilet seat. He held back her dark hair and rubbed her back comfortingly.
Gabriella washed her mouth and slumped back against the bathtub, covering her face in her hands. Troy sat down next to her. He put his arm around her and pulled her closer to him. Leaning against Troy, Gabriella began to cry.
"Ella, what's wrong?" Troy asked, stroking her hair.
"I'm so tired, Troy," Gabriella whispered.
Gabriella had not eaten anything the previous day, because, she kept becoming sick. She was afraid to eat. Troy, Chad and Sharpay had all tried their best to get Gabriella to eat something, but, they were all unlucky.
"It's okay," Troy said. "Stay in bed today, until our parents come."
"What if they don't like me being pregnant?" Gabriella sobbed. "What if they make me get an abortion?"
"I won't let them do that," Troy said, soothingly.
"I love you, Troy," Gabriella whispered, before she fell asleep again against Troy's chest.
"I love you, too, Gabriella," Troy whispered. "More than you will ever know."
Troy scooped up Gabriella in his arms and carried her back to the bed. She's really tired! Troy realized. He put Gabriella into bed and covered her with a blanket. He kissed her forehead and got into bed next to her, ready to do anything for her.
Later that evening, Troy and Gabriella waited for their parents in the kitchen. Gabriella was pacing up and down. Troy watched her for a while, before he got up and walked over to her.
"Ella, everything's going to work out fine," Troy told her, after placing his hands on her shoulders. "Calm down."
Gabriella nodded and took a deep breath. Troy kissed her just as the doorbell rang. Troy hurried to open the door with Gabriella close behind him. He opened the door and saw his family standing outside. He hugged each one of them – even Chloe.
"Hey guys," he smiled. "I'm really glad you came."
"We wouldn't have missed it," Mrs. Bolton said.
The Danforths arrived a few minutes later and they all sat down to eat.
"I have something to tell you," Gabriella said and everyone looked at her expectantly. "I'm moving in with Troy."
"Are you sure that's what you want?" Mr. Danforth asked.
"I'm positive," Gabriella smiled back.
"Okay, then," Mrs. Danforth said.
"It's okay with you guys, right?" Troy asked Mr. and Mrs. Bolton quickly.
"It's your life, Troy," Mrs. Danforth said.
"Thanks," Troy said, smiling gratefully at his parents.
Gabriella played with her food. She was not up to eating, because she knew that they all come out. The morning sickness had turned into an all day sickness.
"Gabriella, are you okay?" Mrs. Danforth asked.
"Yeah," Gabriella replied. "Why?"
"You aren't eating," Mrs. Danforth said. "You love Chinese food." Troy had ordered Chinese food for dinner that evening.
"I…uh," Gabriella glanced at Troy who smiled at her encouragingly. "I just don't feel like eating tonight. Anyway, my stomach isn't up to it either."
"Gabriella, are you sick?" Mr. Danforth asked.
"Yeah," Gabriella admitted. "Um, well, sort of, anyway."
"What's wrong?" Mrs. Danforth asked.
"I…um…I'm…uh," Gabriella glanced at Troy asking for help.
"Gabriella's pregnant!" Troy blurted out.
Everyone except Gabriella gaped at him. Troy took Gabriella's hand and gave it a little squeeze, letting her know that he was there for her.
"Gabriella, that's wonderful," Mrs. Danforth said, hugging Gabriella.
"You're keeping the baby, right?" Mrs. Bolton asked.
"Yeah," Gabriella smiled. "It's already a part of me. I can't let it go."
"Dad?" Troy waited for his father's opinion.
"Congratulations, son," Mr. Bolton said. "You could have made this happed a bit earlier when I had the strength to play with the kids."
"Dad, leukemia doesn't stop you from playing basketball, does it?" Chloe asked and everyone laughed.
"I'm really happy for the both of you," Mr. Danforth smiled.
"Thanks," Troy said. "Mr. D. you can be sure that I will never let anything happen to Gabriella."
"He'll keep his word dad," Gabriella smiled.
"No, he won't," Chloe said.
"What are you talking about?" Troy asked Chloe. "I always keep my word. When was the last time I broke a promise to you?"
"You told me that Gabriella would become my sister," Chloe said.
"What?" Gabriella looked at Troy who was turning red. "When did you say that?"
"Right before he left for college," Chloe answered for Troy.
"Look, Chloe," Troy said. "I intend to make Gabriella your sister, or in other word…my wife."
"You do?" Gabriella asked.
"Yeah," Troy nodded. "When I'm ready. But, for now, I think a baby is all about I can handle."
"Chloe, when Troy was eight years old, he made a promise," Mrs. Bolton said. "It was on the day you were born."
"He said that he would do his level best to make sure that you're happy and he said that he would never let anyone or anything hurt you," Mr. Bolton said.
"You did keep your word," Chloe said, slowly. "You beat up the bullies in third grade."
"Dad didn't like it," Troy chuckled.
"And, when he was ten he put you on his shoulder and played soccer when you wanted to play," Mrs. Bolton said. "You were only two years old then."
"Why didn't you tell me any of this?" Gabriella whispered so that only Troy could hear her.
"I was waiting for the right moment when my girlfriend and my family were happy together," Troy smiled back.
"And, once when we were on vacation," Mr. Bolton began. "You were at the deep end of the pool and you got a cramp. There was no lifeguard. Your mother was worried sick. I wasn't there. Your mother did not know how to swim so, she was in a state. Then, Troy who had been playing basketball saw you struggling and jumped in. he pulled you out with great difficulty. His clothes were wet and heavy and you were clinging onto him so hard."
"He risked his life to save you that day," Mrs. Bolton said. "And, I'm sure he'll do it again."
"Will you risk your life for Gabriella?" Mr. Danforth asked suddenly.
"Dad," Gabriella said, feeling uncomfortable. "Don't ask stuff like that."
"It's okay, Gabriella," Troy smiled. "The answer is yes. I'll risk my life for Gabriella."
"Well, in that case," Mr. Danforth smiled. "I'm sure Gabriella is in safe hands."
"You can bet on that," Troy grinned.
"You saved my life, Troy," Chloe said, quietly.
"Um," Troy was feeling uncomfortable, now. He jumped up. "So, I hope you guys enjoyed dinner."
"Why don't you guys go to the living room while I clear the table?" Gabriella asked.
Mr. and Mrs. Bolton and Mr. and Mrs. Danforth went to the living room. Gabriella reached for the plates, but, Troy grabbed her arm, stopping her.
"I'll clear the table when everyone leaves," Troy said. "I'm forbidding you to do any work around the house, okay?"
"But…" Gabriella smiled at him, glad that he was so protective of her and the baby.
"No 'buts', Gabriella," Troy declared. "You are not going to do any work here as anywhere else."
"You make me feel like I'm royalty or something, Troy," Gabriella laughed.
"Well, you are my queen," Troy smiled. "I might as well treat you like one."
"You saved my life Troy," Chloe said interrupting the couple who was about to share a romantic kiss.
"Look, Chloe," Troy said kneeling down next to Chloe's chair. "It's okay. You don't have to feel bad or anything because I pulled you out of the water."
"Okay," Chloe said. "But, I never thanked you, though. Thank you."
"You're welcome, Chloe," Troy smiled and gave his sister a hug. "Now, drop all of this stuff. I like you better when you're a mean old idiot."
Chloe laughed and the three of them headed to the living room.