Hey everyone! So like I promised, I was going to have another chapter up by today or Sunday so I'm just going to write it now. I'm sorry the last chapter was so short, but at least it was up. I'll be doing a re-write all of my stories that are completed anyways, and that includes this one so hopefully, you guys will enjoy this next chapter.

Shout-out(s):

Zac is my life: Well I'm glad you enjoyed that chapter because it definitely wasn't my best. And ah procrastination. It usually doesn't work for me hahaha and when I decided NOT to procrastinate, my oh-so-lovely teachers decide to postpone the due date. I guess there's a plus to that but either way, I still hate it. Thanks for reviewing!

EllaPayneStyles18: It's been a while since I updated and I apologize for making you wait. My life is hectic these days and I've been not in the mood to write. In addition, I'm not a huge fan of High School Musical or any of the actors or characters anymore. I started writing on fanfiction about six years ago so I've grown up and it's hard to write about something that I'm not as passionate about. Anyways, happy belated birthday. Thanks for reviewing.

MariaTaylor: I'm glad you liked it so much! I hope you enjoy this chapter as well!

Sweethappylove07: Well I'm glad to be back! I took a bit of an unknown hiatus and I was just tired. Anyways, I guess we'll see what happen with Zak and Troy in this chapter considering things are slowly getting better. I'm anxious to re-write this story actually since my writing style has definitely not been showing in my recent chapters. Anyways thank you so much for reviewing!

Jadiee: Well I hope this was soon enough for ya! Hahaha, thanks for reviewing!

Yogaluva: I guess you'll find out what happens in this chapter. Thanks for reviewing!

Fishing: I guess everyone hopes that since that's all of what the reviews said hahaha. Thanks for the review!

Well you guys never fail to amaze me with all the love and support you guys usually give me so I'm hoping this chapter will be a bit of a thank you to show my gratitude!

Chapter 21-The Little Engine That Could

If I could call myself anything right now, I would probably be a splitting image of the Greek God Narcissus. Maybe not to the point where I wanted to stare at my reflection all the time, but I was being selfish and I had only cared about my well-being.

Today, I finally had decided to suck it up and go talk to Zak in the first time in a while. I needed to see that he was doing better—or at least I needed to know that he still wasn't angry with me. I had been eating in the last few days and I fixed things with two out of the three people that mean the most to me and that had to count for something.

I put my silver flats on, fixing my jeans to go over them and then smiled at myself in the mirror. "You can do this Gabriella." I whispered as I nodded and then opened the door.

I swung the door quickly and saw Troy and Madi holding each other against Troy's door. My heart sunk quicker than a pound of rocks would have hit the bottom of a shallow pond.

They pulled apart instantly, Troy's hair being a mess and Madi's up-do looking a little abstract. "Hi Gabriella, it's nice to see you come out of your bedroom."

I wasn't sure if that was supposed to be a compliment or a huge smack in the face. I decided to smile and nod at her, not looking at Troy or his reaction.

Be strong, Gabriella.

I walked down the stairs hastily and went into the kitchen, finding Kayla and Sam throwing grapes into each other's mouths. "Going somewhere?" Sam said, throwing a grape into Kayla's mouth.

"I'm going to go say hi to Zak. I miss him." I said, grapping a water bottle from the refrigerator.

"Do you want us to come with?" Kayla asked, looking worried.

"No, I think I'll be okay. Thanks though. I kind of just want to get out of this house since I've been stuck here for so long, but maybe you guys want to go out to dinner?"

Kayla and Sam looked at each other with wry glances and I narrowed my eyes, as I twisted the cap off my water bottle. "Uh…" Sam trailed off.

"Catch!" Kayla threw a grape at me and it me right in the middle of the forehead. I wasn't amused.

"Don't change the subject." I said, "Do you guys have other plans?"

"Madi invited us to have dinner with her and Troy." Kayla said quickly, Sam hitting her lightly on the shoulder.

"Kayla!" Sam hissed.

"She deserved to know! It wasn't like we could blow her off!"

"She is standing two feet away from you." I said, "Besides, it's okay. We don't need to hang out tonight. Maybe I'll go out with Luke or something. I kind of owe him an apology too."

Kayla rolled her eyes. "When are you going to realize-"

"That you need to get going because visiting times are going to be over soon!" Sam interrupted her, holding Kayla's mouth shut.

"I'll talk to you guys later. Have fun tonight." I said, grabbing my bag from the counter and headed out the door.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

I turned around, making sure the door didn't slam shut because I noticed that Zak's eyes were shut.

I quietly walked toward him, observing his facial features. His usual dark olive skin was now turned pale with a little bit of color on his cheeks. Underneath his eyes held dark rings that showed that he was tired or not getting much sleep. His lips were a lighter shade of pink and his usually styled black hair was flat as Kansas's geography.

I grabbed a seat that stood by the window and I put it next Zak's cot. I sat down then grabbed Zak's left hand caressing the back of his hand. I turned my attention back to Zak's face and he almost looked happy. He looked peaceful and I guess in mind, if someone looked peaceful, it meant that they were at peace in their heart and mind which also meant that they were happy.

"So…I was hoping you'd be awake Zak, but since you're not, I guess I'll just say this now and then repeat myself later." I laughed softly in the dead silence and I held onto Zak's hand a little tighter.

"So I fixed things with Kayla and Sam the other day and it's been going well. We've talked and stuff and they've told me things about Madi. They said that she wasn't really that bad so I guess that's really good for Troy. At least she's a lot better than Jess, right?" I laughed once more and then shook my head.

"I miss being able to spend a lot of my time with you these days. I feel so weak and so pathetic and without you, I feel like it keeps getting worse and worse and hate myself for that. Troy and I are probably even more distant now than we ever were last year when we first met. And that's saying something because neither of us were very fond of each other. I'm not sure if I really like Madi but I guess if Troy's happy then I should be happy too. I screwed up really badly this time, Zak and I don't know how to fix it."

I laid my forehead against Zak's hand on the bed and tried my best not to let the tears fall. "Gosh dang it Zak why can't you be awake? I need you."

Raspy laughter filled the room and I looked up to see Zak smiling with his eyes still shut. "Zak? You're awake?"

"No?" he whispered, his voice dry.

"Have you been awake this whole time?" I said, looking at up him suspiciously.

"No?"

"Zachary Greene!" I said, smacking him on the stomach.

Zak groaned in pain and rolled over on his stomach, moaning loudly into his pillow. He murmured something into the pillow that I couldn't understand and I laughed.

"It helps if you talk to me and not the pillow Zak."

"It also helps if you don't injure those who are sick and in the hospital."

I giggles and grabbed his hand once more. "Sorry…"

"Next time don't hit me."

"Well next time you shouldn't pretend like you're asleep. I really wanted to talk to you."

"You were talking to me."

"Well I wanted to feel like I was really talking to you." I sighed, "I needed someone to talk to."

"Well I'm all ears."

"Well I already told you everything."

Zak narrowed his eyes at me as he looked at the buttons on the side of his bed and pressed one to make the bed start making him sit upright. "Everything, eh?"

"Madi, Troy, Kayla, and Sam are all going on some date tonight and they didn't think to tell me. I wanted to hang out with Sam and Kayla today but they're busy now. So I was thinking I could hang out with Luke instead."

Zak's face turned into a look of disgust. "Why do you hang out with him?"

"He's not a bad guy."

"Yeah, but he is kind of the reason why the golden couple of East High broke up. And I'm pretty sure Troy won't be very happy that you'll be hanging out with him."

"Troy moved on. Shouldn't I move on too?"

"Gabi…" Zak sighed, "Troy didn't move on. Troy was defeated and hurt when you decided to take a break and he thought the best way to cope was to start seeing someone else. I know what it's like to be in love with you…"

"That's totally uncalled for."

"I'm not done." Zak said, narrowing his eyes at me.

"Sorry. Continue."

"My point is, Luke was the person who made your guys' relationship get on the rocks and you were the one who decided you guys should take a break. Troy was just doing what he thought you wanted him to do and that was to move on. When love hurts, people start doing crazy things. Talk to him and maybe you can figure out what's going in his crazy mind of his."

"Zak-"

"You don't have to do it right now, but doing it soon might help." Zak said.

I sighed knowing that I was defeated. There was no reason to argue with Zak because I knew that Zak's speech held nothing but the truth. "I'll try."

"That's my girl." Zak said, "Always so brave."

"Always is not the word I would use with me."

"I would. You don't see it Gabriella but you keep going along just the little engine that could."

"The little engine that could?"

"You know, from the movie Major Payne."

I laughed at his reference and shrugged. "Your point being?"

"You may have points where you feel weak and defeated but you still get up to face the world every day. Just keep going and just take one day at a time. Troy will realize that he misses you one day and he'll see that Madi is just some sort of rebound girl. Sure, she's nice, but she's not what he really wants."

"And what does he really want?"

"You."

So this chapter is a little longer and stuff, but the next chapter will be much better. I'm pretty happy with what I wrote for this chapter, but I will totally be rewriting this story and all the rest of my stories this summer so hopefully you guys will help me decide which one I should rewrite first. So for those who do read these author's notes, help me choose now by reviewing and letting me now.

Which story should I do a complete rewrite of first?

-A Summer With The Boltons (The first story of this series)

-See Me Who I Really Am

-My Best Friend's Brother's Friend

-A Broken Wing

-Bringing Back The Past

If you could help me, that would be great. I'll also be changing some of the names of the stories so we'll see.

Next Update: Next Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. I'm off Thursday, but I have to go to a graduation ceremony to play in band, but I also have a doctor's appointment. So we'll see how that goes as well. Check my profile on occasion to see if those dates changes.

Check out my fictionpress or wattpad

Fictionpress username/Wattpad username: whackedout101

Enjoy the chapter and don't forget to review!