Chapter 12

Recap

"That's not the reason why I had to break up with Troy." Gabriella said honestly as Rafael stared at her in complete confusion.

"But we thought--- What happened?" Sandra, who also snuck up, asked in perplexity.

"Here, come sit." Gabriella said as the five kids ran to their sister.

"So what's the real reason?" Camille asked curiously.

"We had a fight in the hospital and we said things that we didn't mean. We said horrible things to each other that really hurt our feelings." Gabriella said sadly.

"What are you gonna do now then?" Jeremy and Nicole said in unison.

"Try to run away from the pain." Gabriella whispered, smiling sadly at the kids.

End of Recap

Its been a week and the gang haven't heard anything from Gabriella or her siblings at all. Troy was getting really worried and he couldn't help but feel guilty at the same time.

"Have you guys heard anything from Gabi at all?" Troy asked his group of friends as Mrs Darbus entered the classroom.

"Nah man. She doesn't answer her phone and I haven't been at her place for ages." Chad answered.

"QUIET MR DANFORTH!" Mrs Darbus loud voice echoed in the room, quieting everyone in the room.

"Sorry Mrs Darbus." Chad mumbled as Mrs Darbus just huffed.

"Maybe I can ask Mrs Darbus if she knows anything about what happened to Gabriella." Troy thought as he raised his hand uncertainly.

"What is it Mr Bolton?" Mrs Darbus asked.

"Umm.. I'm just wondering if you know why Gabriella had been away this past week." Troy said quietly as everyone turned their heads to face Mrs Darbus.

"I thought you knew? I mean, you are Ms Montez's boyfriend. Didn't she tell you?" Mrs Darbus asked, a little confused at the situation.

"What is she suppose to tell us?" Sharpay asked curiously.

"She left school. She moved houses." Mrs Darbus announced while the gang's mouths dropped in shock.

"WHAT?!! SINCE WHEN?!!" Troy shouted as he stood up.

"Umm.. a week ago, I think." The teacher replied. Mrs Darbus didn't even get a chance to explain since Troy already darted to the door, ignoring everyone's looks.

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"No, no, no!! This is not true!! Gabriella is still here. She's just.. sick or something. She didn't move houses. Please!! She didn't move!!" Troy mumbled as he ran as fast as he could towards Gabriella's house.

When he arrived, he banged on the door so loudly that it felt like it was gonna fall down any second.

"Gabi?!! Gabi!! Its me, Troy!! Please open the door!! I want to talk to you!! Please!! Open the door!!" Troy exclaimed as tears started to roll down his cheeks.
"Gabi please tell me you're in there. Gabi!!" Troy cried as he continued to knock on the door solidly even though his fists were starting to bleed.

"They moved already so please be quiet!" The neighbour yelled but Troy just ignored him.

"Its all my fault." He mumbled as he slid down the door and hugged his knees.

"Troy!" Chad called out, followed by the rest of the gang.

"Leave me alone!" Troy exclaimed, not showing his face.

"Dude, you shouldn't be alone in this type of situation. You need a friend." Zeke said softly.

"All I need is Gabi. I want her back!" Troy answered as everyone became quiet.

"But we don't know where she is." Chad responded stupidly and immediately received a smack on the arm.

"Just shut up Chad! You're not making the situation better!" Taylor scolded her boyfriend.

"Let's get you home, Troy. I don't think it's a good idea for you to go back to school." Sharpay said softly as she kneeled down beside him.

"NO! I'm not leaving!! What if they come back?! I want to be there and I want to say sorry to Gabi and to her siblings! Its all my fault so just go and leave me to my misery!" Troy said, shooing the group of people away.

"Troy you're not the only one hurting here! We're also her friends you know!! Seeing you like that is making the matter worst!" Kelsi exclaimed, surprising everyone including Troy.
"You guys can go home. I'll just stay here for a while. Please.." Troy said, looking up and meeting his friends' eyes.

"Ok. Take care of yourself man." Jason said as they all turned to leave.

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"Gabi, are you sure you made the right decision?" Rita asked concerned.

"Mom don't worry. I'm fine! I know what I'm doing." Gabriella sighed as they grabbed the last boxes form the truck.

"Can I ask you something Gabi?" Rita asked while Gabriella nodded in response.

"Its not that I'm saying its wrong or anything but.. why did you choose your siblings over Troy even though we both know that he never made any mistake?" Rita asked curiously. Gabriella stayed quiet and sat on the couch, the silence deafening.

"Mom, I love you guys and I wouldn't trade you for anything in this world." Gabriella answered but Rita knew better.

"Gabi there will be a time that you'll find your true love and you gotta let your siblings go and head your own way. You're tying yourself Gabi." Rita told her daughter.

"But mom…. I haven't found my true love yet so don't worry." Gabriella said, forcing a smile.

"Are you sure?" Rita questioned with her eyebrow up.

"umm.. yeah…" Gabriella stated as she tried to get up but Rita pulled her down.

"Missy don't think that I don't know what's going on with you. You're in love with Troy and its very clear that he's head over heels for you. I mean, he suffered the torment from your siblings and he didn't give up." Rita explained to her daughter but Gabriella just shook her head.

"But he snapped mom! He snapped right at the end!" Gabriella exclaimed, frustrated that her mother is getting everything she wanted from her.
"What do you expect Gabi? He's bound to snap at one time and it was reasonable. His cousin was almost killed for Pete's sakes." Rita exclaimed.

"Too late now mom. Why are you saying all these anyway?" Gabriella asked curiously.

"I just think that you made a wrong decision and you didn't even tell your friends about moving." Rita said softly.

"Mum I really don't want to get too attached because I know that we're gonna move again at one stage and its gonna hurt like hell because right now, its killing me already." Gabriella confessed.

"Its up to you sweetheart. I don't want to force you into anything. I just want you to learn from your mistakes." Rita said, kissing Gabriella's forehead.

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"Troy! Its dinner!" Mrs Bolton called out, knocking on Troy's door.

"I'm not hungry!" Troy answered.

"Can I come in?" Mrs Bolton asked softly.

"Yeah I guess," came Troy's response.

Mrs Bolton opened the door and spotted Troy curled up in his bed, crying softly.

"Oh Troy! What's going on?" Mrs Bolton exclaimed worriedly as she rushed over to her son.

"Are you still blaming yourself about what happened to John? Come on Troy. He's fine. The triplets are fine and they're back in their house now." Mrs Bolton said, assuming a completely different matter.

"Its not that mom." Troy said, turning to his mother with teary eyes.

"Then what is it?" She asked softly, sitting next to her son.

"Its Gabi." He said quietly.

"Did something happen to her? Is she ok?" Mrs Bolton asked because she knew how much Gabriella meant to Troy.

"She moved houses without telling anyone. Without telling me! I have no idea where she is now and I never even got the chance to tell her that I'm sorry for everything that I said to her in the hospital. Its all my fault she left! What am I gonna do now mom?" Troy cried desperately as her mother engulfed him in a warm embrace.

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Gabriella thought about what her mom had said. She realised that everything her mother told her were right. But she knew she couldn't go back now since she already made a decision.

"Uhh!! Why does life have to be so freakin confusing!" Gabriella thought as she slammed her head on her pillow.

"Gabi?" Sandra knocked.

"Not now please. Later. I'm in the middle of something." Gabriella called out.

"But your phone is ringing again!" Rafael exclaimed as Gabriella turned her head towards the door.

"Didn't I throw my phone away already?" Gabriella asked curiously.

"We kinda picked it up." Jeremy said sheepishly.

"Ughh!!" Gabriella exclaimed, walking over to the door.

"Hi!" They said in unison.

"Hi. Where's my phone?" Gabriella asked.

"Here you go. Your friends wouldn't stop calling you." Nicole said, handing over the phone. By the mention of friends, Gabriella stared at the phone and the kids knew exactly what was on her mind.

"Yes Gabi. Troy called a million times." Camille said as Gabriella bit her lip. She snatched the phone away and shut the door again.

"What do I do with this?" Gabriella asked no one in particular. She started to looked through her contacts and found a certain name.

"Troy." She breathed out as she started pressing the keys of her phone. When she finally finished, she reluctantly press the 'send' button.

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Troy felt his phone vibrate on his bed. He was actually pretty sleep but he just couldn't stop thinking about Gabriella. He reached for his phone and his tired eyes stared at the screen. His eyes widened when he saw who the message was from.

"Gabi." He sat up, suddenly feeling energetic, excited and nervous.

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I know I haven't been updating and I'm really sorry. I also know that I've been saying the same reason but its true. School is really taking my time right now and my yearly's are in 2 weeks!! I'm so scared and nervous!! I hope you like this chapter. Please review.