Not John Chapter 36, a high school musical fanfic

I think this is one of my favorite chapters. The last chapter was a major turning point for the story, but here is also a huge marker for the story as well as we see Troy really pour out his emotions to Gabriella.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Four days had passed since the accident. I had gotten a hotel nearby and had been at the hospital every chance I got, going in between Ryan and Gabriella, spending a lot of time with Gabriella once I knew Ryan was going to be okay. His voice still sounded funny after his surgery and he refused to talk, so he'd been writing on a marker board for the past few days. But today, he was starting to use his voice again after I convinced him that it wouldn't ever get better if he didn't use it. He still sounded like shit, though, but I didn't tell him that.

I had been in his room all morning, visiting with him, while Kelsi had spent her time with Gabriella. At lunchtime, I left and went to grab something to eat before running back to my hotel to grab my guitar, and to get some coffee as a surprise for Gabriella.

When I knocked on her door and peeked in, she and Kelsi were watching a movie.

"Hey," I said. "Is this a bad time?"

"Nah, not at all," she said with a giggle. I loved that sound. "Come on in, pull up a seat."

I walked in slowly. I had my leather jacket draped over my left arm, hiding her coffee, and my guitar in my left hand.

I looked over at Kelsi. "Ryan was asking for you," I said.

"Asking or writing for me?" she asked.

"No, he's actually talking, his voice is starting to come around." I grinned. "He still sounds like shit, though."

"I'll be sure to tell him you said so." Kelsi gathered her possessions and then turned to look at Gabriella. "You don't mind?"

"Hell no." She replied. I couldn't suppress the smile that came to my face. "Tell him I said hello."

"Will do," she said, giving us each a quick hug before scurrying out of the room. I was glad for the time alone with Gabriella.

"What are you hiding?" she asked me, as I gave her a devilish grin. I sat my guitar down and pulled my arm out from under my jacket, revealing her coffee…a caramel macchiato with whipped cream, double shot, just the way she likes it. "Thank you!" she exclaimed as she reached for it.

I pulled it back as she reached for it, my grin widening. "Nah, it's not that easy for you."

"What do you mean, not that easy? I've suffered enough, haven't I?"

I leaned in, still grinning as I bit my bottom lip. "Say it."

A blush crept up her cheeks. "Over a cup of coffee?" she protested.

"Not just…a cup of coffee." I moved my hand to hold it further away from her, never losing eye contact with her. "This will put you in absolute…" I leaned down to kiss her forehead. "…complete…" I kissed the tip of her nose. "…ecstasy." I wiggled my eyebrows at her before kissing her lips. "Say it."

"But it will sound so…"

I shook my head. "Not when you say it," I whispered. "Never when you say it." I loved hearing her say it. It made my heart soar to know that someone felt that way about me, that it was her who felt that way…about me.

"Troy…"

"Okay," I said with a shrug and a grin, stepping back from her and sitting in the chair Kelsi had occupied. "Suit yourself."

"Troy!" An adorable pout crossed her features.

"Don't whine; it's unbecoming," I said, leaning back in my chair and crossing my legs. "You gotta say it."

"Why?"

"Because…" I uncrossed my legs before leaning forward, placing my elbows on my knees, cup still in hand, eyes locked with hers. "Because I want to hear you say it. Because it does all kinds of things to me…things I can't even begin to describe, nor would I in these settings. Because…you mean it."

"Yes I do," she agreed.

"Say it."

"I love you."

"Of course you do," he replied, my grin taking up my whole face. I held the coffee out to her, but she hesitated a moment before taking it, eyes still locked with mine. "Christine, don't you want it?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah." She took the coffee from me as our fingers brushed against each other briefly. I sat back in the chair watching her face intently as she took her first sip.

She looked back over at me. "So what's the guitar for? You gonna bribe the nurses for me to get me out of here?" she asked with a laugh.

I looked at her with a serious expression. "No, actually, I wanted to sing you a song that I wrote…for you," I said, maintaining eye contact with her. The night she had been drugged at the club, I had begun writing a song for her. Over the past month since that night, I had been able to complete the song, my heart poured out into the song…just for her…only for her. The song could never be intended for anyone else, not even to be sung to my fans. It was written in my journal that no one ever read, the journal that someday I would allow her to read. It included all my thoughts, feelings, lyrics…anything that had to do with her.

"Ok…" she said a bit unsurely.

I picked up my guitar and began to lightly play a tune, then I began singing softly, looking her directly in the eyes.

Oh I had a lot to say was thinking on my time away
I missed you and things weren't the same
Cause everything inside it never comes out right
And when I see you cry it makes me want to die

I'm sorry I'm bad, I'm sorry you're blue, I'm sorry about all things I said to you
And I know I can't take it back
I love how you kiss, I love all your sounds, and baby the way you make my world go round
And I just wanted to say I'm sorry

This time I think I'm to blame it's harder to get through the days
You get older and blame turns to shame
Cause everything inside it never comes out right
And when I see you cry it makes me want to die

Every single day I think about how we came all this way
The sleepless nights and the tears you cried it's never too late to make it right
Oh yeah sorry!

The whole time I sang, she kept eye contact with me, watching me intently as tears came to her eyes. I put my heart and soul into singing that song for her, knowing just how real those lyrics were for me. I was sorry for everything I had ever put her through. And now that I was sure of what I wanted, I wanted her to know that, and I intended to show her.

I hated that it took the accident for me to realize exactly what I wanted. But I knew I wanted her and no one else. Just the thought of losing her crushed me and I knew that that wouldn't change. I had feelings for her and no one else.

When I finished singing, I sat the guitar down and scooted the chair closer to her, taking her hand in mine. We sat there a few minutes in comfortable silence, taking in everything from the song and our current situation.

I was the first to speak as I wiped the tears from her face. "You know, all of that is the honest truth. I'm so sorry for hurting you the way I have. I have said things that I shouldn't have. But it's in the past and we just have to leave it there." I sat there rubbing her hand with mine, tears threatening to fall from my own eyes. "I miss you so much when I can't be with you. Even hearing your voice isn't enough. And I hate seeing you cry…it breaks my heart to see you so broken, especially when I know it's my fault that you are crying. But you have no idea what you do to me. I love having you in my life, and I wouldn't want it any other way…" I trailed off as silence once again took over the room.

She was the first to speak this time. She lifted my hand to her mouth and placed a soft kiss there. "You know, it's going to take me a while to completely forgive you for everything. But I do love you and I wouldn't trade having you in my life for anything. I miss you when you have to be away…but that's why we have to treasure what time we do have together."

I nodded and smiled, wiping the tears from my face. "Agreed," I said softly. We smiled at each other, taking the rest of the afternoon to just enjoy each other's company, occasionally being interrupted by a nurse or doctor.

Monday morning came and I went to Gabi's room to check on her. She was supposed to be going home soon and I wanted to see if she had any word on when that would be. I had to get back to my job unfortunately now that both she and Ryan were doing better.

I walked to the door and heard the doctor in there talking to her before I walked in. I stood next to the open door, unseen, listening to what he had to say.

"Oh, come on!" I heard her protest. "You've got to be kidding me!""She has agreed to look after you for another couple of weeks before I feel okay with you maneuvering any stairs," the doctor said.

"I think I can handle a few stairs; besides it's been what…four days already?"

"If you disagree, I will keep you here."

"You're doing this on purpose."

"I'm not going to argue with you about this, Ms. Montez."

"But…" Gabriella continued to protest.

"If Dr. Craig had his say so, you'd be here until he could escort you home personally," the doctor cut her off. "Is that what you'd like?"

"No." I saw her cross her arms in front of her as I peeked in.

"It's only two weeks," I said. "Sorry; I was eavesdropping."

"But…it's…Lisa."

"She's family," I pointed out.

"But…Lisa."

"Gabi," I said softly, sitting on the bed beside her, "she's family."

"But…"

"I'll rescue you as soon as I can, I promise." she blinked a couple of times, surprise evident in her eyes.

"So, I'll have your release papers drawn up, and your nurse will come by with instructions." She glanced over to the doctor.

"It's Sharon's day off, isn't it?" she asked him, and he nodded. "I bet you anything she was behind me having to stay so long."

"I think you know better," I scolded her.

"Aren't you supposed to be on my side?"

"Always, but you should have had your damn…"

"…seatbelt on. Whatever. So, how soon am I sprung? Or do I have to wait for Lisa to get here?"

"I could drive you," I suggested.

"You would?" she asked softly, and I smiled.

"Your nurse should be by shortly," the doctor said just before he left the room. She was still looking at Troy, unasked questions in her eyes.

"Let's get all your stuff together," I said with a grin. She smiled and grabbed the clothes that Kelsi had brought to her.

"First things first," she said, walking to the washroom to change.

"You really don't have much here," I said, looking around. "About how long before your nurse comes?"

"Don't remember," she muttered, flipping through everything to be sure she had everything she needed.

"I need to tell them where I'm going, just in case," I said, stopping to drop a sweet kiss on her cheek. "I'll be right back, okay?"

"Of course," she replied, blushing. "I'll be waiting."

I walked out of her room with a grin on my face, knowing that the sooner I left to get my job done, the sooner I could be back to be in her arms.

The song was "Sorry" by Buckcherry. I do not own. Please leave a review!