Chapter 12 – Together

AN: HEY! AMAZING reviews for the last chapter! I'm really sorry that I haven't updated in a long time but I had many things going on, including the fact that my laptop had multiple virus's and that I had a ton of things I needed to get through. I'm sorry I didn't update quickly but I am going to be very busy this holiday season. Please bear with me!

Anyway… please read this chapter and review at the end! The number of reviews I have gotten is phenomenal. Simple fantastic! Please can we keep that going?

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Troy's P.O.V

I was still in shock as I headed back to the waiting room. My best friend and me had finally had a huge fight, over a girl that I used to despise. I couldn't believe it! I was barely focusing and almost spilled the coffee that was in my hand.

When I finally got back to the waiting room, Mrs. Montez was sitting there.

"Here you go." I said in a monotone voice.

"Thank you dear." She paused, taking a sip. "Ah. Just the way I like it. You did well, son." She looked at me, and must have seen my downhearted face. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Uhh. Yeah. Just worrying about Gabriella, that's all." She nodded, believing it.

"Right. Well, I have to go fix my makeup, so you just wait here." She got up, grabbed her designer bag, and headed off towards the washrooms. Why would someone need makeup in a hospital, while they were waiting for their daughter's diagnosis? It didn't make any sense.

I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Mrs. Montez finally came back from her trip to the washroom. I continued waiting in the waiting room.

Finally a nurse came up to Mrs. Montez and me.

"Hello. Are you guys here for Gabriella Montez?" She asked. We nodded. "Great! Umm… she can see visitors now." Had it really been 24-hours already?

"Sure. How many visitors at a time?"

"Two. We try to keep the patients stress level, and the noise, to a minimum. Also, you two will need to put on a mask and gloves, just to be safe. Would you two follow me..."

"Oh, I think that Mrs. Montez should have some time alone with her daughter." Mrs. Montez clapped me on my back.

"Nonsense. You've done more for her than anyone has. You deserve to see her the most." I nodded. We followed the overly chipper nurse down the corridor until we finally came to a room. The woman handed each of us a facemask and rubber gloves.

"Here it is! Just, buzz if you need anybody. Okay?"

"Okay." We responded together. She nodded and skipped down the corridor. In my opinion, she was probably more suited as one of Santa's elves than a nurse.

"Mrs. Montez, you go in first." She nodded, and opened the door. I followed, and the sight brought tears to my eyes.

Gabriella was lying in the bed, looking as fragile as a porcelain doll. Her usually tan skin was pale white, and many beeping machines that were hooked up to almost every inch of her body surrounded her. Her body looked clammy, so she probably had a high fever. I couldn't believe how sick she looked.

"Hey baby girl, how are you?" Mrs. Montez said as she headed towards the bed.

"M…mami?" She asked.

"Si, hija." The mother said. I didn't realize that Gabriella spoke Spanish, and found it very intriguing.

"T…Troy?" Gabriella's frail voice caught my attention. I turned to look at her, and our eyes locked. I ran to the other side of the bed, and grasped her tiny hand.

"Hey Brie, how are you?"

"Don't f…feel to gr…great, but at least I'm not d…dead, right?" I laughed.

"You're right."

"Aren't I al…ways?" I was glad to see that our playful relationship was still intact.

"Hija." Mrs. Montez tapped Gabriella on the shoulder. Gabriella turned to face her mom.

"Si, mami?"

"¿Es él su novio? [Is he your boyfriend?]" Gabriella looked shocked, then blushed.

"¡Ninguna mamá! [No mom!]" She replied back, almost embarrassed.

"El chico está enamorado de usted. No saldría en todo. [That boy is in love with you. He wouldn't leave at all.]" Gabriella rolled her eyes.

"Mami…" Gabriella said with a stern look on her face.

"¡Bueno! ¡Bueno! [Okay! Okay!]" She replied, and then looked at me. "I'm going to leave for a little while, leave you guys a little time to catch up. Have a good time!" She said, and Gabriella's face turned a deep scarlet. Mrs. Montez left the room, and there was an awkward silence in the room. Finally, I tried to break it.

"So, you speak Spanish, huh?"

"Yeah. It was my first language. Been speaking it every since." After she had been talking, I could hear that her voice was getting stronger. It was probably weak because it hadn't been used.

"It sounds, cool! Almost, exotic."

"Yeah." She replied.

"What were you two talking about?" Gabriella's face turned scarlet, yet again. She began fiddling with her fingers.

"My mom just asked me a question."

"Which was?" She was not going to get away with it.

"Umm…shewantedtoknowifyouweremyboyfriend." She rapidly replied.

"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that." Gabriella sighed.

"She wanted to know, if you were my boyfriend." She finally said.

"And you said?"

"No. But then she told me you were in love with me because you wouldn't leave the hospital." Okay, now it was my time to blush.

"She really said that?" Gabriella nodded. "Wow."

"Yeah." Things were silent again. "Is it true?"

"What?"

"Do you love me?" I looked down.

"Well, yeah." I said. I felt Gabriella's frail fingers lift my chin up and I looked her straight in the eyes.

"Troy. That's nothing to be ashamed of. I feel the same way."

"Really?"

"Si." She said. I laughed, and we settled into a comfortable silence.

"So, do you know how my friends are?" She asked.

"Yeah. They have been waiting for you to wake up. Turns out that our sets of friends actually worked together and waiting together for news on us."

"Really? So, are they friends now?" I sighed.

"No." She looked at me questioning.

"What are you hiding from me?"

"You know you can really read me well."

"Troy." She said, looking at me sternly. "What are you trying to hide from me?" I had to tell her. Surprisingly, I couldn't keep anything away from her.

"You see, Chad and I got into a bit of a… disagreement. He doesn't like the fact that I'm close to you."

"Oh."

"But it doesn't matter. I told him that you meant more to me than anything, and that I would pick you over him any day." Gabriella's eyes seemed to light up.

"You really said that?"

"Of course. Brie, I learned just how important you are while we were trapped there. I don't know what I would do without you." I pushed a small piece of hair behind her ears. "I don't care about Chad, or Zeke, or any of the students at East High. All that matters is you and me. That is… if you want that?"

"I do. I am a bit unsure of how Sharpay is going to react to the news of us, but I'm sure Kelsi will stick by me." I smiled.

"You're willing to give up your popularity, just for me?" She laughed.

"You're willing to do the exact same thing."

"Touché." We both burst out into giggles.

"What are you two laughing at?" I turned to see my parents standing at the door.

"Hey Mr. Bolton! Mrs. Bolton."

"Hello dear, how are you feeling?" My mom asked as she walked towards Gabriella and gave her a hug. It was an odd scene, my mother hugging my old enemy, but somehow it felt right.

"I'm alright. I still cough a bit, and the nurse says I have to stay on these medications for a little while because of my liver and such, but honestly… I just want to get out of here."

"I'm sure you do. It's tough being in a hospital. All those nurses and sick patients, it would just freak me out."

"It freaks us all out." My dad said as he came behind my mom and wrapped his arms around her. "It's good to see you, Miss Montez."

"Hi coach!" Gabriella said waving. Gabriella's mom soon entered the room, and it became a peaceful room filled with laughter, happiness, and all worries being pushed aside. My family and Gabriella's family interacting felt like it was natural, and I was surprised to see the bond that my mom and her mom instantly formed.

It felt right to be together with Gabriella and her family.

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"Dude, what did you say to Chad?" Jason asked.

"It's not important. Why?"

"He's furious. Refuses to talk to any of the girls, and is really yelling at Sharpay. It seems like they have their own hatred for one another, just like you and Montez."

"Her name is Gabriella. And we have actually overlooked our differences and become friends."

"AHA! I knew there was a reason Chad was mad! How could you Troy? We hate her!"

"Well I don't. She's nice, and sweet, and I can't fight with her anymore."

"Dude, you got problems. Falling for your enemy? It's just not right. I think…" I hung up. I didn't need to get another lecture from Jason.

The news to Gabriella's and my relationship did not go well with our friends. As Gabriella predicted, Sharpay was livid and refused to talk to Gabriella until 'she got back to her senses'. Zeke found out from Chad and sent me an angry text about it. Taylor is siding with Sharpay on this, and apparently so is Jason. Gabriella was also right in stating that Kelsi would be the only one that would support us.

The doctor came into the room to tell Gabriella some news.

The good news: her liver and kidney were no longer in danger and she would be free to leave the hospital in three days after some tests were run.

The bad news: we would have to face East High in four.

This obstacle we would overcome, together.

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AN: SORRY! I am so sorry it took so long for this chapter to come out, but I have been incredibly busy. Also, a close friend of the families just died and so I have to go to her funeral and such. I will try to get the next chapters out for you as soon as possible!

Next chapter: Gabriella and Troy face East High.

Review if you want the next chapter!

Xoxo,

Lar