A/N: Okay, sorry I haven't uploaded this weekend but I've been concentrating on this HSM video of we're all in this together (graduation version) /watch?vUwHJcSIHgow Anyhow, I liked this chapter...check it out. Don't own HSM

Chapter 26 – The truth is revealed

Gabriella repositioned the hot water bottle on her stomach and smiled gratefully at the nurse. "Thank you."

"No worries. The principal is talking to the cheerleaders now. You're lucky Mr Bolton was her to save you." She replied, pointing at Troy with her pen as she wrote in the medical book.

Troy smiled sympathetically at her from the chair he was occupying. "Think nothing of it."

"I just need to go and talk to your teachers. Troy, you'll be excused to. I think Gabriella could use the company. I'll be back in a few moments." She smiled at the couple and left the office, closing the door softly behind her.

Gabriella turned her head to face Troy. She was lying on the bed and looked fragile and weak, her face drained of colour. "Thank you."

"Hey, I promised I'd protect you. I mean, I did miss the turning and run into some lockers." He chuckled.

"Is that what the bang was?" She inquired.

"Yeah. I'm so sorry, Baby. I should've been there. I just…I should've told you about the kiss. I'm an idiot." He whacked his forehead with his hand. "When am I ever going to learn?"

Gabriella reached out and grasped his hand softly. "Troy, you are a huge idiot. But, a very cute one."

Troy looked at her and found a small smile gracing her lips. He chuckled and held her hand more tightly, looking at their locked hands before moving his gaze to her face. "I really am sorry."

She nodded. "I know. And I'd say I forgive you but I can't. Not yet."

He nodded with understanding. "I know."

She was about to say something when there was a knock at the door. Troy stood up, letting her hand slip out of his and pulled the door open to reveal Jason and Kelsi standing their nervously. "Jason? Kelsi? What's up?"

Kelsi swallowed hard and tears rimmed her eyes, making Jason automatically grasp her hand. "We need to talk." He said simply, staring at his best friend.

Sharpay stared in disbelief at Mr Matsui. "I can't be expelled!"

"I'm sorry, Miss Evans. You should've thought of that before you brutally attacked Miss Montez." He said sternly.

"But, this isn't fair." She whined, slouching in her seat.

"Neither is getting kicked in the stomach! And that little stunt you pulled with telling the school about Gabriella's incident with Blake." He replied. "That was strictly between Blake and Gabriella. If she didn't want people to know, that was her choice. And I'm sorry but you have shown inappropriate behaviour."

"Can't I just be excluded for a week or something?" She asked impatiently.

"No. You're not showing true Wildcat spirit. You're not welcome at East High anymore." He said in exasperation.

There was a knock at the door and Mrs Bridges walked in. "Mr Matsui, Mr and Mrs Evans are here."

"My parents?! Sharpay screeched.

"Bring them in." Mr Matsui nodded at Mrs Bridges as she retreated out of the door. Less than a minute later, it opened again and Vance and Derby Evans entered. "Thank you so much for coming in at such short notice."

Vance and Derby both sat either side of their daughter. Vance glanced at Sharpay – who was slouched in her seat, fiddling with her hands – and then looked at Mr Matsui. "What is this about?"

"Sharpay is expelled from East High. She will not be graduating. She has expressed indecent behaviour within this school." Mr Matsui explained.

"What has she done?" Derby asked carefully.

"She told the whole school something private about a student which was very serious and then she violently bullied a student which has been with us just two weeks." Mr Matsui explained.

Vance turned to his daughter, a frown creasing his forehead. "Sharpay! Is that true?"

"Maybe." She mumbled, not meeting his eyes.

"Look at me when I'm speaking to you." Vance ordered.

Sharpay finally looked up, cowering at her father's glare. "Yes, I did it. I bullied her, I kicked her in the gut. Happy now?"

Derby gasped. "Sharpay Brianna Evans! How dare you?"

Sharpay slouched once again. "What's my punishment?"

"No shopping for two weeks." Vance stated without hesitation. To any normal girl, it wouldn't seem that big of a deal as any normal girl couldn't afford to shop everyday and then afford to go to college. But, Sharpay was different and her parents knew her weakness. "And you're grounded for the month. No phone, no TV, no make-up, no stereo and taking up extra chores. Only use the computer for school work and no using the country club. Are we clear?"

"But-" She started in protest.

"No buts." Derby cut in. She stood up and pointed to the door. "March."

Sharpay sulkily did as she was toled, leaving the parents alone with Mr Matsui. "I am so sorry." Vance said sincerely, standing up and straightening his blazer. "Sharpay was way out of line and we apologise on her behalf."

Mr Matsui stood up and shook hands with the parents. "Well, as it is, Gabriella, the student who she bullied, just suffered a bad stomach ache. She will be okay. The nurse assured me."

Derby smiled in relief. "Thank God. But, will you give her our apologies?"

"Of course. Mrs Bridges will show you out. I'm going to visit Gabriella." He smiled politely, holding the door open.

"What's going on?" Gabriella asked weakly as Troy sat on the bed with her and Jason and Kelsi both sat on the chairs which occupied the room.

"Well, we need to tell you something." Kelsi started nervously, her hand still interlocked with Jason's and she pushed her glasses further up her nose.

Troy reached for Gabriella's hand and gently pushed her back down when she attempted to sit up. "Brie, lie down. You need rest." He said sternly. He turned back to Jason and Kelsi and stared at them. "What's up?"

"We were the reason you guys broke up yesterday." Jason started.

"What?" Gabriella whispered after a moment of awkward silence.

"Sharpay told us about Blake. She had been talking to him ever since he was expelled and he told her. She knew since it happened. She knew you would comfort Gabriella and then assumed you'd…you know." He made a rolling movement with his free hand for indication of what he meant. He turned his eyes on Gabriella. "Then, she planned to fake an apology for the kiss. She knew you would get mad and break up with him. It was all of us. We planned it. Us, Zeke, Ryan, Martha and Sharpay."

"Why?" Gabriella mumbled.

"We didn't want to." Kelsi muttered. "It was the last thing we want. First of all, because we could see how happy you were. Second of all, because we're in the same position you guys are in."

Gabriella smiled softly and let go of Troy's hand, beckoning the auburn-haired girl over. "Come here."

Kelsi let go of Jason and allowed Gabriella to embrace her. "You never did anything wrong because you told us." Gabriella whispered into her shoulder.

Kelsi nodded as tears leaked from her eyes. "Thank you so much." She pulled back wiped her cheeks, noticing Gabriella's cheeks were also damp.

Jason looked at Troy who was staring intently at the wall which was opposite the young jock. "Troy? You okay?"

Troy gripped the thin mattress tighter as he turned to Jason. Slowly, he started to smile. "You finally asked her, huh?"

Jason and Troy simultaneously stood up and hugged each other tightly, like long lost brothers. "We never doubted you'd hurt her." Jason said, pride lacing his voice as they pulled back.

Kelsi helped Gabriella to sit up and she set the hot water bottle aside. "You guys were pretty smart. Not many people would be brave enough to admit the plan to this lump of uncontrollable anger."

Troy stared at her in amusement. "Is that so?"

She nodded. "But, you're my lump."

He kissed her forehead and held her hand. "So, you guys going official?"

Jason looked at Kelsi with raised eyebrows. "Kels…"

She finally nodded. "I think we need to. You guys are strong, so are we. And nothing's happened to Chad and Tay yet."

Jason nodded. "We'll tell everyone at lunch, okay?"

She nodded. "We'd better go. We've been way longer than it takes to get some paper towels."

Gabriella laughed. "You skived?"

"We needed to tell you." Jason shrugged. "See you guys later." He hugged Gabriella quickly before they both left.

Gabriella looked at Troy. "You know we're not back together, right?"

Troy turned to her and pushed her back down. He lifted her shirt slightly and kissed her stomach which had already started to bruise. He pulled her shirt back down and then positioned the hot water bottle back. "I know." He said sadly. "But I'm not giving up on us. You're going back in two weeks. And we'll be together by then."

Gabriella nodded. "I'm sure we will be. And I want to be with you. But, not yet. I need to figure things out. And I love you, I do, I swear. And I know you love me too. But, I need to think about this. I'm sorry." She said sincerely.

Troy nodded mutely, sitting down on the chair which Jason once occupied. He sighed, resting his chin in his palm. How to gain her trust?

He felt a light bulb go off above his head as an idea struck him. She wanted to know she could trust him. And the song they wrote together said it all.