Chapter 20 – That's my girl

A/N: as the first thing, I would like to thank you all for your reviews! It is nice to get some feedback! When that is said, I have another thing to say: I am working my *** off before I have to go back to school, so be patient with me! I am working around 8-10 hours each day, and some days more, so basically I am only sleeping and working right now, so I cannot upload every day and all the time, I am trying, but it takes time! So please, be patient, hurrying on me does not help me – I will rather take a little longer and do it as close to perfect as possible, than make something that I do not want to read myself! But well, here is the next chapter, enjoy. (:

Chad looked back at Troy, "yeah?" Chad said.

Troy smiled weakly, "her fingers just moved," he said.

Chad smiled, "maybe, because you are playing with them, dude, I'll see you later, okay?" He only saw Troy nodding before he opened the door and went out of it to tell the rest of the gang the good news.

Troy looked down at Gabriella and slowly took Gabriella's hand, and it was not just because he took it – she grabbed around his hand! He was sure!

"Gabriella," he said softly.

There were no answer, but Gabriella's eyes vibrated.

"Bella? Are you awake?" Troy asked and slowly shook her hand. Still there was no answer, but slowly there came a smile at her lips.

"Bella!" Troy said trying to make her open her eyes, but the smile just grew bigger. "You are awake, I know it!" Troy said and kissed her cheek.

"No," Gabriella said in a weak voice.

"Oh right, so who am I talking to then?" Troy smiled.

"I don't know," Gabriella smiled sadly, still with her eyes closed.

"Please, open your eyes, Bella," Troy said.

"Why?" Gabriella asked. She was afraid of looking Troy into the eyes after all of this. It was not supposed to be like this! She was not supposed to be alive! She was supposed to be dead, right? She did not know what to do or say to him, she was afraid that he would be mad at her even though she could tell that he was happy – it was in his voice.

"Because I want to look you in the eyes," Troy said and put his head right in front of Gabriella's, so that Gabriella could feel his breathing against her skin.

She slowly opened her eyes and looked directly into Troy's electric blue eyes, "hey there, blue eyes," Gabriella smiled and half-giggled nervously.

"Bella!" Troy hugged her tight, "OMG! You are alive!" Troy got tears in his eyes, he was so happy.

"Yeah, I think so," Gabriella sighed.

"Bella?" Troy slowly pulled away and looked her directly into her eyes.

Gabriella looked down trying not to look at Troy. She could tell from his eyes that he had not been sleeping and that he had been crying. She felt so bad for the pain, he had been through. She could see the pain in his eyes, it was still there.

Troy slowly lifted her chin, "why?" he asked looking at her.

Gabriella knew what he meant, "because… I couldn't take it anymore, Troy," she got tears in her eyes. It all sounded so stupid, when she said it. She felt so selfish.

"But Bella, you could have talked to me," Troy said and took her hand. Once again Gabriella could see and feel the pain Troy had been in and probably still was in.

Gabriella looked at Troy, "I… I… I know… it's just…" Gabriella looked down.

"It's just what?" Troy asked.

"I'm afraid…" Gabriella said still looking down.

"Why, Bella?" Troy asked softly.

"I'm afraid of losing you…" she looked up at Troy with tears in her eyes.

"Why would you lose me?" Troy asked looking at the girl he loved more than his own life.

"I don't know…." Gabriella cried.

"Oh, Bella," Troy said, "come here, let me hold you," Troy opened his arms so that Gabriella could cry in his arms.

"Troy… did… did you find my letter?" Gabriella asked after a little time, where her tears slowly were starting to fade away.

"Yes… I did find your letter, Bella…" Troy said and looked down at her.

"Did you…" she looked at him, "did you read my dairy?"

He shook his head, "No… I didn't want to… not until they could tell me if you couldn't live, but they said you could live, and then I didn't want to… so your secrets are still your secrets," Troy smiled at Gabriella, who smiled back.

"Thanks, Troy," she said and rested her head at his chest.

"We should call the doctor," Troy said.

"Yeah," Gabriella sighed. Troy called the doctor, who came and checked Gabriella, and said that she had to stay there at least a week more, they needed to be sure, that she wouldn't get any relapses and that her liver hadn't been damaged.

"Troy…" Gabriella said.

"Yeah?" Troy smiled at her.

"Thanks…" she said and looked up at him.

"For what?" Troy asked confused.

"Saving me…" Gabriella sighed.

"I had to, Bella! I can't live without you!" Troy smiled at her and sat down at the edge of the bed.

"I can't live without you either, Troy," Gabriella smiled and took his hand, "did you read the last part of the letter?" she looked down at their hands.

"Yeah…" Troy smiled, "and…"

Gabriella looked up at him, "and?" she asked.

"I love you too, Bella! More than I can ever explain!" Troy smiled.

Gabriella smiled at him, "do you mean that?" she asked trying to hold the tears of happiness back.

"Of course I do!" Troy smiled and kissed her cheek.

"You mean the world to me," Gabriella giggled, which made Troy chuckle.

"Oh right, and then you are laughing at the same time, as you say it, then I'm sure, I can trust you, when you say it," Troy chuckled teasingly.

"I mean it!" Gabriella said serious.

Troy smiled, "you mean the world to me too, Bella," Troy said looking her into the eyes, Gabriella smiled at him. Troy really loved to see her awake again, he could not explain how much it meant to him that she finally was awake, that he could see her eyes, see her smile, see her giggle and everything – it made him happy!

"Bella?" Troy asked after a couple of minutes of comfortable silence.

"Yeah, Troy?" Gabriella said and looked at him.

Troy took a deep breath, took Gabriella's hand and looked serious at her, "Gabriella Montez, do you want to be my girlfriend?" Troy asked nervous – this was serious! He meant this more than ever!

Gabriella smiled at him, "yes, I would love to!" She had hoped that this would happen someday. Well, she had hoped it would have been a nicer place than in the hospital and under some better circumstances, but when that was said being here in those strong arms of this tall, dirty-blond-haired guy seemed so perfect as it could be.

"Yes!" Troy almost shouted.

Gabriella giggled at him. "Are you laughing at me?" Troy asked looking at her.

"Yes," Gabriella giggled and pulled him down to her and softly kissed him.

"Okay then," he said and smiled.

"Troy?" Gabriella asked looking him into his electric blue eyes, those eyes, which had been so empty this morning, but now they were shining.

"Mmmh," Troy mumbled looking into Gabriella's dark chocolate brown eyes.

"How is everybody?" Gabriella asked and broke the eye-contact with looking down feeling guilty for what she had done.

Troy lifted her chin, "Bella baby, please don't look down – it hurts me to see you looking down," Troy whispered and slowly got her onto his lap and looked her into her eyes.

"But… I feel so guilty for causing you all this worry and your tears… Troy, you have been here the whole time for me, just sitting there, the doctor told me, when he checked me… he told me, you've been crying and Chad too… I… I…" Gabriella looked at Troy with tears in her eyes.

"Baby, it's okay! I promise you! Do you want to call Chad?" Troy whipped her tears and kissed her forehead.

"How? I don't have my phone…" Gabriella looked at Troy and sighed.

"Well…" Troy took his phone from the table beside the bed, "here…" he said and smiled at her.

"Troy…" Gabriella said, but got interrupted by Troy, "call him, baby, he want to know how you are and most of all, he'll get more than happy, if you call him but he think it's me he is talking to… so call him from my phone and then surprise him, okay?" Troy smiled at her.

"Okay then…" Gabriella smiled and dialed Chad's number.

With Chad, who is laying in his bed looking at the ceiling, while the tears slowly ran down his cheeks.

He could not take this! He wanted Gabriella to wake up – to smile, laugh and fool around with the gang as they always had done. He missed her so much… when he had been at the hospital with Troy, he felt like breaking down – his best friend was lying there, how could it end so bad? How?! What had gone by unnoticed by them? What was it, which Troy had noticed, which they hadn't seen?

He got ripped out of his thoughts by his phone ringing, he looked at the display, "Troy?" he asked himself and picked up.

"Hey man," he said.

"Hey big bro," Gabriella giggled looking at Troy.

"GABSTER?!" Chad almost shouted, "you are awake?!"

"Yeah, I'm awake," Gabriella giggled, and Chad could hear Troy chuckled behind her.

"I'm coming to you right now," Chad smiled and got out of his bed and ran downstairs.

"Hey, hey, hey, slow down, Chaddy," Gabriella giggled, "just get here, but drive safe!"

"I always drive safe," Chad said chuckling.

"Oh right," Gabriella smiled at Troy, who was sitting watching her.

"I'll see you in twenty minutes," Chad said as he put on his shoes.

"Yeah," Gabriella giggled and they hang up.

"Mom, I'm driving to the hospital again," Chad smiled as he put his head around the corner looking into the living room, where his mom was sitting.

"Uhm… okay sweetie, but why are you smiling?" his mom said, glad to see her son smiling again.

"Gabriella is awake!" Chad smiled at his mom.

"Great!" his mom smiled and stood up, "say hi to Troy and Gabby from me, and give her a hug from me, okay?" she smiled at Chad.

"Yeah, I will do that, mom," Chad smiled and kissed her cheek, "bye, mom, I don't know, when I'll be back, but just eat, when you eat, you don't have to wait for me," Chad said as he walked to the door.

"Okay, honey, oh, do you have money? So that you can get some flowers for her, you know just as saying "I'm glad you are awake" or something like that?" his mom asked.

"Yeah, I have money, mom," Chad smiled and opened the door, "bye, mom," Chad left and drove to the hospital.

With Troy and Gabriella, who was sitting in Gabriella's bed chatting and laughing.

"Bella?" Troy asked.

"Mh…" Gabriella mumbled as she rested her head at Troy's shoulder.

"I love you," Troy said and looked down at her.

"I love you too," Gabriella said and looked up at him. Troy kissed her softly, and when they pulled away, Gabriella rested her head against Troy's shoulder again.

There was a knock at the door…

Gabriella and Troy looked at the door, "come in," Troy said as he held Gabriella's hand.

A nurse came in, "hello, Mr. Bolton and Miss Montez, how are you?"

"Fine, thanks," Gabriella smiled.

"That's good, do you want some dinner?" the nurse said looking at them.

"Yes please," Troy smiled.

"Okay, I'll come with some food for you in a minute," the nurse smiled and walked out and then came back with some food.

"Thanks, miss," Gabriella smiled as her and Troy sat down to eat.

"No problem," the nurse said and left. Gabriella looked at the food, "well… I guess I have to eat it…" she sighed.

Troy smiled at her, "just a little, you know that," he said and took her hand across the table, "just eat a little, I can always go get you something in the cafeteria," he smiled at her.

"Thanks, Troy," Gabriella smiled at him, and slowly started to eat.

"You are more than welcome honey," Troy smiled and then he also started to eat.

While they ate, they talked and everything was like perfect – of course it was a little weird to sit there eating at the hospital, but they had fun and felt comfortable. Suddenly there was another knock at the door.

"Yeah?" Gabriella said and looked at the door, where Chad walked in.

"OMG! Chaddy!" Gabriella ran to him and jumped into his arms.

"Hey little sister," Chad chuckled as he caught her, trying not to cause damage at the flowers he was holding in his hands.

Troy chuckled, "hey! That's my girl! Get your hands off of her," Troy smiled as he walked up to them.

"Your girl?" Chad asked looking at Troy and then at Gabriella.

"Yeah, my girl," Troy smiled and put his arm around Gabriella.

"Gabster, care to explain that?" Chad chuckled.

"Well… Troy asked me, if I would be his girlfriend, and I said yes," Gabriella giggled and smiled up at Troy, "do you need more explanation, big bro?" Gabriella asked Chad, who was smiling like a little kid, who just got a big bag of sweets.

"No, of course not! I'm so happy for you, congrats, you guys," Chad said and hugged Gabriella and gave Troy a pad at the shoulder, "you better be nice to her or I will…. I don't know, but you won't be able to do anything for many months," Chad chuckled.

Troy chuckled, "I'll be nicer than you can ever imagine, I promise you," Troy smiled.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Chad said, "I should say hi from my mom, give Gabriella a hug," he gave her a hug, "and then give you those flowers," Chad smiled and handed Gabriella the flowers.

"Aww, Chad, thank you," Gabriella said and hugged him tight, "you are the best!"

"You are welcome," Chad said and they pulled apart, "I'll go get some water for those, and then you can finish your dinner," Chad smiled.

"Okay, thanks," Troy said as him and Gabriella sat down to finish their dinner.

Later that night, Chad, Troy and Gabriella sat in Gabriella's room at the hospital talking.

"Have you called the others?" Chad asked.

"No, I'm going to do that tomorrow," Gabriella smiled, "I don't need you all here at once, it's too much for me to handle right now," Gabriella looked down at her hands, she still felt guilty for making them worried about her.

"Bella baby, don't look down," Troy said and took her hand.

"Gabster, I know, they are happy, that you are awake!" Chad smiled at her and took her other hand.

Gabriella looked at the two boys, "but… I tried to kill myself… I made everything a mess for you…" Gabriella got teary.

"Don't worry about that," Chad smiled, "it's all fine now…"

Gabriella looked at her best friend, who sat there telling her everything was fine, "Chad, you don't understand…" she said.

"No I don't Gabby, but when you are ready then explain it, not now, but when you are ready, okay?" Chad said and stroked her cheek.

Gabriella just nodded and looked at Troy, who smiled at her, while he plaited their fingers and nodded at her, "remember that no one is going to force you, okay baby?" Troy said.

"Yeah, thanks," Gabriella smiled weakly at them.

"Well, I better get home, before it gets later," Chad said and stood up, "take care of her, Troy," Chad smiled and then he hugged Gabriella, "I love you, little sis, I'm happy, that you are awake again," Chad said as they pulled apart.

"I love you too, Chaddy," Gabriella smiled.

"Thanks," Chad smiled, "bye you guys, I'll see you tomorrow… oh give me a call, when you've told the rest, okay?"

"We will," Troy smiled.

"Thanks, bye," Chad smiled and walked to the door.

"Bye," Gabriella and Troy said and waved.

"So, what do you want to do now?" Troy smiled at Gabriella.

"Hm… get back to my bed," Gabriella said and stood up and climbed into the bed.

Troy chuckled, "okay then.."

"Come, join me, honey," Gabriella giggled.

Troy smiled and got into the bed too, "so…" he looked at her.

Gabriella smiled and laid her head at his chest, "Troy, you are the best!" she said.

"No, you are the best, my Bella," Troy smiled and kissed the top of her head.

"Not to me," Gabriella giggled.

"But to me you are," Troy chuckled and rested his head against the pillow as he held Gabriella in his arms.

"You are too sweet," Gabriella giggled.

"Not as sweet as you," Troy said as he looked down at Gabriella.

"No, much more," Gabriella giggled and looked up at him.

"Whatever, I don't want to discuss that with you," Troy smiled.

"Haha, okay then," Gabriella smiled and pecked his lips and rested her head at the pillow beside Troy's head.

Troy rolled over, so that he was lying at his side looking at Gabriella, "your eyes are beautiful, you know that?" Troy smiled.

"Thanks, prince charming," Gabriella giggled, "and so are yours."

"Thanks, princess," Troy smiled and kissed her softly, "I love you," he whispered while they slowly pulled apart.

"I love you too," Gabriella whispered back.

"Let's go to sleep, beauty," Troy said.

"Yeah," Gabriella smiled.

"Goodnight, my girl," Troy smiled and kissed her softly.

"Goodnight, my boy," Gabriella giggled and rested her head at Troy's chest, and Troy pulled the blanket over them, and placed his arm around Gabriella and closed his eyes.