Hey everyone! My exams are over! Hallelujah! Anyways, I'll keep this short because there is a lot of HSM info to be given.
News of Zanessa breaking up is false!! The pair was seen out shopping with Stella (Vanessa's sister) in LA together and then again just the two of them getting smoothies. They were holding hands and they were seen with friendship commitment rings. Apparently, Zac's ring is engraved with Vanessa's name and vice versa.
Apparently, Vanessa's third single 'Let's Dance' has not been confirmed yet. So far no video is planned on being released as of yet but I'll keep you posted.
A second HSM trailer has been released, you can see it on youtube and it's looking SO awesome right now! It's really funny so be sure to catch the premiere on August 17.
Vanessa has been offered a lot of movie roles, ranging from a genie to a widow. So far she has not accepted any of the roles but maybe she will later?
Ashley is in the middle of re-filming her 'He said she said' music video. Apparently she wanted to make the video a bit more mature, so the video will not be premiering on the Disney Channel.
Disney Radio has just premiered a second song from HSM2, it's called 'Bet on it' sung by none other than Zac Efron and it sounds so cool! Tell me if you want the song and I'll post up a download link for you guys.
Ok, apparently the Asia premiere of HSM2 is September 9th if I'm not mistaken. Again I'm still unsure about England or Australia.
A little HSM2 info, as you all know, Vanessa plays a life guard in the sequel. But in reality, Vanessa is extremely allergic to chlorine-which is in most pools. When she filmed 'Thunderbirds' they had to cover her body in gasoline but apparently in HSM2 they didn't, so when they did scenes of her in the pool, she broke out into rashes and hives the next day.
And lastly, the Teen Choice Awards 2007 is here!! You can now go on their website to vote. Vanessa is nominated for Choice break out singer-female, Zac is nominated for Choice Hottie of the year and HSM2 is nominated for Choice TV/Musical of the Year so go vote!
Chapter 21: Now you know
Troy had never driven so fast ever since he had gotten his car. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that Mrs. Montez was in the passenger seat next to him he would've ran every single stop light. But he didn't and he nervously followed his mom's car in front of him, all the while looking at the clock on his car on a regular basis, and mentally cursing the government for building the hospital so far away from his house.
Isabella Montez looked at the young man next to her that was so eager to get to the hospital. Even through the tense situation, she managed the smallest of smiles.
"You know Troy, I've never seen Gabby so happy than this afternoon," Isabella said as they were on their way to the hospital. Troy visibly relaxed slightly, "Her face was positively glowing, and she couldn't stop smiling."
Troy could already see-in his mind-Gabriella's radiant face in a huge smile, her chocolate eyes twinkling and her unique childish laugh.
"Troy you… understand Gabriella's situation don't you?" Isabella said quietly. Troy nodded, needing the time to unstuck his throat to speak,
"We… she told me last week… and we sorted things out today." He said softly, "It was just one day… not even one day."
"It hurts me when she was so sad this weekend," Isabella said and Troy couldn't help but feel slightly guilty, "But… as a mother, all I want is for her to be happy, and Troy you are the best thing that's happened to her life, I just want to say thank you." Isabella was starting to get teary. Troy saw the glowing H and relaxed only slightly knowing that they were close,
"Mrs. Montez, Gabriella… how long as she had this?" Troy asked quietly as if intruding on a family secret. Isabella was silent for a moment,
"Ever since she was 16, she took it better than any one actually," Isabella said, "The disease made her mature faster, she learned to accept it."
"That's one and a half years…" Troy thought silently. Through the rest of the care ride neither spoke a word until Troy's mom's car eventually came to a stop and parked into her personal parking lot, then instructing Troy to park into the one next to her, saying the doctor wasn't due to be in until later that evening.
"Troy you and Mrs Montez go, I'll check with a couple of friends," Diane told her son, Troy didn't need to be told twice. With a thankful glance to his mom, Troy allowed Mrs. Montez to go first-finally realizing he had no idea what room she was in-and the mother and boyfriend rushed to the elevator and taking it to the third level.
Troy had been to the hospital a couple of times already, more so last weekend due to his research. But he had only been to the second level where his mom was usually, but he knew the third level was mostly personal rooms. His thoughts were confirmed when the elevator dinged and slid opened to reveal and slightly quieter level, as well as a less crowded level. The pair slowly turned left and walked down to the furthest room,
"Troy I really need to thank your mother for getting Gabriella such good treatment," Isabella said as they approached the last few rooms, "Your mother is Gabriella's doctor now." Troy nodded mutely as they came up to the last room facing the backyard that was currently empty. Troy's throat stuck even more when he saw Gabriella Maria Montez written on a small cardboard and slipped into a little slot.
Troy didn't know what to do, so he stood in front of the semi opened door waiting for Mrs Montez to go in first.
"No you go, she'll want to see you," Isabella said gently, gently pushing the young man in. Troy nodded his thanks, before slowly entering the room just when Diane had arrived. The two mothers looked at each other knowingly and settled themselves upon a couple of chairs in front of the room.
Troy really didn't know what to expect in there. Was she awake or was she sleeping? Would she be pale? Was she even conscious enough to recognize him? His thoughts entertained him slightly when it imagined her up and awake with the day's math homework sprawled out on her lap; the image gave him a small smile. When he pushed the curtains aside, his smile slowly faded off of his face when he saw her petite body underneath the hospital covers, her eyes closed, her brunette curls fanned out on top of the white pillows, and an IV that was stuck into her wrist. The only thing that relieved Troy was her even and peaceful breathing.
Silently, he drew up a chair and settled beside her and sat down, taking her limp hand in his.
"Somehow, when ever your mom sees me and you together, you're either in bed ready to sleep, or on the floor or some how lying down," Troy said softly, "And as lovely as you look sleeping, I really do prefer you awake." He paused, half expecting her to answer him, but when a minute passed and she didn't, he went on.
"I don't like this, I know I'm sounding so… whiny, but I'm a jock what do you expect?" he chuckled softly, "Wake up please, we just sorted everything out and now you leave me hanging like this? I know you need your rest, but I'm selfish and I want you to wake up." Troy's voice sounded chocked. "If you don't wake up, who's going to make sure I actually learn how to do laundry? Who's going to help me do my math homework?"
"I don't do your math…" the words fell weakly out of Gabriella's slacked mouth as her eyes slowly began to open. Troy nearly fell and then straightened up, seeing her chocolate orbs starting to appear,
"Gabby?" he said softly, Gabriella flashed him a weak smile,
"Were you expecting someone else?" she asked quietly. Her body felt sore all over, her muscles were aching and it took a lot of energy to open her eyes.
"You're brattier when you're half asleep," Troy said in a relieved voice, and then he swooped down and caught her lips for a split second, "I'm glad,"
"You're really cheesy today," Gabriella laughed softly, coughing slightly, Troy stood up to go to the counter across from her to pour her a cup of water, which she accepted thankfully, after a couple of gulps she looked around, "Wow, it's nice here."
"Hospitals aren't nice," Troy commented,
"Well it's a nice room then," she declared, his face didn't brighten up a lot,
"You had your mom really worried," Troy said, "You had me really worried, if it wasn't for your mom in my car I would've sped through every single stop light and probably would've crashed myself getting here." Gabriella's face fell,
"Troy, are you still… you know sure?" she asked quietly, she was afraid this incident might've set him thinking that maybe this wasn't that good of an idea, and she prayed to god it wasn't true.
"Yes I am, do you want me any cheesier?" he asked with a hint of a smirk, Gabriella smiled softly, shaking her head. "Good now I'm going to go and get your mom, stay here." He said sternly, he disappeared behind the curtains and outside she could hear his muffled voice talk to his mom, and a second later, Isabella appeared, and immediately ran to her daughter and hugged her tightly, careful of the IV in her arm.
"Oh mi hija you had me so scared," Isabella breathed out relieved. Gabriella smiled into her mom's shoulder,
"Sorry, I'll behave," she said, behind her mom, she could see Troy and an older woman she recognized as Troy's mom, Gabriella mouthed a thank you to the older woman, and Diane smiled.
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Gabriella remained in the hospital for a few more days.
"Fore precautions" was that Diane had told Troy the night he had visited Gabriella. Then he drove Isabella home-who thanked him once again-and he drove himself back home to find his angry father.
The father and son stood in the family room, arguing for what seemed like a whole hour before Diane had gotten home.
"Dad, she's in the hospital, for once in your life can you at least try to think there's something else besides basketball?" Troy hollered at his dad.
"Troy this is the business of her family, there is absolutely no need for you to get involved," Jack replied just as angry. If there was anything in his hand, Troy would've thrown it at his dad,
"Dad, listen to me, and listen to me closely," Troy said in a stony voice, "I love her alright? She's more important to me than marks, than my car, than basketball, what happens to her is my business." Then he left Jack, speechless, in the living room as he stormed up to his room, and slammed the door to his room. When Jack looked for his wife, he found her with a similar disapproving frown. Even in his room Troy could hear his mom and dad arguing back and fourth. Troy plugged his ears with his ear phones to his I-pod and had nothing to do but think about having to go to school without Gabriella.
One of the last things Troy would've expected to see in school was the first thing he saw as he stepped through the doors. Chad was sitting with Taylor and the entire gang was-miraculously- all in class before the bell had rung. The moment they spotted him, the first words out of Taylor and Sharpay's mouths were,
"Where's Gabriella?" The two completely opposite people looked at one another, the words having escaped from their mouths at the same time,
"She's… getting better," Troy chose to say, "You guys can visit her, but maybe another day," Troy said, but Taylor stood up and away from Chad, and pulled Troy close to her,
"I want to see her today," she said in a quiet voice, Troy looked at her, seeing a fiery blaze in her eyes, "I just… want to make sure she's ok, she's like a sister to me… and I just need to make sure," Taylor said in a softer voice. Troy saw that her eyes seemed to look wetter,
"I'm going to see her today after school, if you and Chad want to meet me at the front of the school we'll go together," Troy offered, Taylor smiled at him appreciatively and even gave him a hug which he returned, behind Taylor he saw Chad's eyes give an annoyed flicker towards their direction and smirked slightly, "You can go tell Chad before he decides he wants to come and kill me,"
Taylor let go of him to look over at the bushy haired jock, and blushed slightly seeing that he was looking at them with quite an annoyed expression. However, after whispering something in his ear, Chad looked up to his best friend, and flashed him a grin, Troy chuckled as he rejoined the gang.
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Lunch rolled around, and Chad invited Taylor to eat with them.
"Oh by the way, did you ever find out who made the play?" Troy asked suddenly, having realized he hadn't been really paying attention in class the past few days, Sharpay, Zeke, Jason, Ryan, and Kelsi all smirked as they looked at Taylor and Chad who looked embarrassed.
"Whoa you mean-" Troy looked from Chad to Taylor, "You mean Sharpay actually lost?" Sharpay glared at him as the table laughed,
"Shut it Bolton," the drama queen said, "Besides, Zeke and I are the Nurse and the Father." Sharpay beamed,
"That's going to be fun to see," Troy teased, "I'll make sure to bring a video camera," but it was Sharpay's turn to smirk,
"No you won't, not when you're back stage." Sharpay said, Troy looked confused, looking for his friends for help,
"Remember when I was here but Kelsi and Mrs Darbus were deciding who were going to play what role?" Ryan said, Troy nodded, "Well, after deciding, they thought you and Gabriella were too juicy to pass up."
"Why do I not like where this is going?" Troy asked carefully, Kelsi laughed,
"Because you and Gabriella are going to end the show with a song... together"
After school ended, Chad and Taylor met Troy at the front door as promised. As the three teenagers headed to the parking lot, Troy bumped into his Dad, who paused, looking as though he was resisting the urge to talk to his son. Troy, on the other hand, walked past him ignoring him completely
"Is… something wrong between you and the Coach?" Taylor asked once they had pulled out of the parking lot. Troy shrugged,
"We're just… going through a father/son phase," he put simply. The drive to the hospital was a lot shorter than the drive there when he found out Gabriella was in the hospital. He parked in the guest parking lot this time, and on the way in caught sight of his mom's car. Leading Chad and Taylor to the elevator, he punched in the floor, and with the other two waited for it to arrive. Then Troy led them down the hall to the last room,
"What's… what's going on?" Chad suddenly said. There were about three nurses outside the room and another doctor had just rushed into the room, the doctor-Troy recognized-was a friend of Diane's. Not bothering to answer Chad's question, Troy went directly up to a nurse who turned out to be one working for his mom,
"Excuse me; can I know what's going on?" Troy asked politely, the curtain shielding his view from Gabriella; the nurse didn't even answer him when Diane's voice called out to him,
"Troy?" Diane came out from behind the curtain, putting her stethoscope back around her neck; Diane came out and found Chad and Taylor there with him too.
"Hey Mrs. Bolton," Chad greeted the familiar woman, and Taylor smiled at her, Diane smiled back,
"What happened?" Troy asked his mom, Diane shook her head,
"Don't worry, it's alright now," Diane said, seeing her son's non-satisfied face, "It was just a little problem with the medicine, trust me Troy, its fine now. You can all go and see her if you'd like, I need to go make a call to Isabella." Diane excused her self. Troy walked into the room, and Chad and Taylor decided to stay outside for a bit to offer a bit of privacy for the couple.
Inside the room, the curtains were drawn back, and Gabriella was leaning against the headboard, paler than yesterday, and seemingly a bit more tired. When she looked up, she smiled softly,
"Hey," she whispered. Troy grinned, walking to her and kissing her on her forehead, not liking how clammy it felt.
"How are you doing?" he asked caringly, Gabriella smiled,
"Pretty normal," she said. She didn't want him to worry.
"OK, because I brought Chad and Taylor, they wanted to see you," Troy said, "No I didn't tell them yet I thought I'd leave that up to you," he added in a quieter voice. Gabriella nodded, bile starting to stick in her throat. Troy's head stuck out and waved for the two to come in, which they did with Taylor leading,
"Gabriella!" Taylor gasped seeing her white face, she immediately went to the other side, and sat on the chair, "Oh how are you doing? What's wrong?" Gabriella tried to assure her best friend,
"It's… nothing." She said quietly before going into a spasm of coughs. Surprisingly, it was Chad who came with a cup of water, handing it to her and the brunette smiled in thanks, drinking it. Even after drinking the cup, she still coughed for a few more seconds before calming down.
"No I know something's wrong, Gabby tell me please," Taylor begged. Gabriella looked as though she was fighting down a mix of emotions and Troy considered shooing Chad and Taylor out, but Gabriella took a deep breath.
"Tay," her voice was shaky, "I… I have to tell you something, I… I have leukemia." Taylor's hands flew up to her mouth, cutting her sharp gasp short. Chad looked shocked, his supporting hand was now on Troy's shoulder, who looked as though he was about to break into tears any second as well. Taylor… well Taylor had already broken into tears.
"No…no you're joking," Taylor shook her head, "Did you put her up to this?" she demanded Chad,
"No, he didn't know either no one knew… not even Troy until Friday." Gabriella said, Taylor hiccupped, tears running down her cheeks she then drew Gabriella into a hug, making the brunette cry along,
"Gabby, oh my god Gabby," Taylor sobbed, and that was how it was for five minutes. The girls hugged, tears flowing from their eyes and Chad trying to support his captain as he looked on.
Chad and Taylor left an hour after they had come and only Troy and Gabriella were there. They said little, just staying in each other's company. Troy told Gabriella about Chad and Taylor getting the roles of Romeo and Juliet, and Gabriella giggled at the prospect of seeing them practicing their ending scenes. Troy also informed Gabriella of their own performance as well.
"So I'm expecting you to be better before then Miss. Montez, I don't intend to fail after four years of High School," Troy teased her. Troy stayed with her until a nurse came in to give Gabriella her medicine, and he continued to stay until the medicine made her fall asleep. It was half an hour after she had fallen asleep-and Diane coming in to pick him up as her shift had ended as well (which would've meant it was around 5PM)-did Troy finally leave.
Later that night, as many of the patients were asleep, and nurses were slowly patrolling the halls did Gabriella finally wake up. Her window curtains were drawn and the only light was the light outside in the halls. Still she kept her eyes closed, her mind flashing back to the afternoon when her mom had been outside.
Flashback
Gabriella was awake, and was reading a book when she heard her mom and Troy's mom outside her door. Her first instinct was to draw back the curtains to greet them, but stopped when she heard their loud voices.
"What… what are you trying to say to me?" Isabella's voice said, her voice laced with anger and anxiety, "We have been waiting on the list for a year now!"
"I understand that," Diane's voice came next, "But bone marrow transplants are very complicated, and even more complicated when each person requires a specific one, we're trying as hard as I can, I'm trying as hard as I can, but Gabriella is young, very young, and it's hard to find one for someone so young."
"What are you trying to say?" Isabella said, her voice shaking. There was a pause… a long, tensioned pause,
"We may not have enough time for her to find a bone marrow and be able to the transplant."
Gabriella drew the covers above her head, and fell asleep to the quiet sobs of her mother.
End of flashback
In the dark of the night, Gabriella clenched her fist as silent tears fell from her face.
A/N: Why am I writing these chapters so sad?? I'm so sorry! Again, this story has gone on a lot longer than I had anticipated, so if the next few chapters seem rushed, I apologize.
An extra little update. Zac just attended the Hairpsray premiere in London, England. He looks SO cute! As of the moment, I don't think Vanessa or any of the casts were at the premiere because there aren't any pictures of them. But I'll let you know if they went.
Again, make sure to tell me if you want the download link for Zac's new song, "Bet on it"
A note to those who have read my story 'Just like Kindergarten' ready or not, because the sequel is coming soon!!