Chapter 11

I was so scared, I was shaking. "Dad!" I whispered in panic. "Dad! I have to go. NOW!"

"No you don't. You are staying here until he is done." He fought back gesturing toward the preacher who was still rattling on about some boat and Hawaii.

"Yeah, I do. Gabi needs me." I pleaded.

"Well, that girlfriend of yours can wait another 40 minutes." He retorted.

"No she can't. I have to go." I said my voice getting louder. I got up and my dad grabbed my arm.

"Sit down." He said loud enough for everyone to hear. They all looked at me again with that same angry glare. I was panicking now.

"Sorry Dad." I said as I pulled away from his grip. I walked fast, past all the pews filled with obviously agitated church-goers. I burst through the church doors out into the blinding sunlight. I ran to my car. Dad will have to call Mom to pick him up. This is an emergency.

Gabriella's House.

I knocked on Gabi's door. No answer. I called her cell phone. No answer, but I heard it ringing in the house. I ran around to her bedroom window. I climbed up to her patio and knocked on the door. Gabriella didn't answer, but the door was unlocked. I opened the door and called her name. "Gabriella! Gabi! Where are you?" I looked around her room. She wasn't there. I ran in to the hallway to see if she was there. "Gabi!" I called. I am so scared now. What if someone came and took her, and that's why the phone line went dead? Oh my gosh, what is going on?

I turned the corner and came to her bathroom. There, on the floor, was my Gabriella. She was sprawled out in a pool of blood with a long cut near her wrist. I bent down to see her face. She looked so pale. I saw the rise and fall of her chest to know she was still breathing. I grabbed her cell phone, which was lying next to her in the blood, and dialed 911. The calm voice of a lady answered the phone. I told her the problem and where Gabi lived. I was crying by the time I hung up with her. All she told me was not to panic and the medics are on there way.

I prayed while I waited. Dear God, I know You are a fair God. Please, Please don't take Gabriella away from me. I love her too much. Please help me to do what You have planned for me in this situation. I know that You have a reason behind the terrible things going on in this life. Just help me to realize that. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

About five minutes later I heard the blaring of sirens. Finally! I ran downstairs and opened the door for the four paramedics. The first one came in carrying a large red bag. He was followed by a women with a white bag. The next two followed empty handed.

"Where's the girl?" The man who entered first asked. He had long dark hair pulled back into a ponytail.

"Gabriella is upstairs in her bathroom." I said pointing towards the stairs. The woman jogged up the stairs and immediately found the bathroom.

"Found her." I heard her call. I stayed downstairs. I wouldn't want to get in the middle of this. More so, I wouldn't want to be in the four medic's way. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I wasn't sure I wanted to know. A few minutes later, the two that entered the house last came down the stairs. They went outside for a moment and returned with a gurney. The two medics rolled it upstair and to the bathroom. A while later, the woman and one of the guys who came in last rolled Gabi down the stairs and out the door.

"Do you want to ride with?" The man with the ponytail asked in a gruff voice.

"Yes." I managed to murmur.

"Come on then. We have to hurry." He said practically pushing me out the door and into the back of the ambulance.

Inside the vehicle Gabi was hooked up to all kinds of machines and tubes. I made my way over to the side with the unoccupied seat. The woman was writing frantically on a clip board and asking me questions at the same time. I reached over to Gabi's hand. I held it tight even though there was tubes sticking into her wrist. I glanced over at her other arm, were blood was soaking through the thick gauze wrap. I shuddered and closed my eyes briefly. I was preoccupied with answering the lady's question, that I didn't even hear my cell phone ring.

"You gonna answer that?" She interrupted me when I was answering her question of 'Where were you when Miss Montez called?'

"Yeah. Hang on." I read the name on the phone. Home it said. I picked it up.

"Hello." I said.

"Troy Bolton! Where are you?" It was my mother and she was furious.

"Uh, Mom. Umm, I'm kinda in an ambulance."

"You're WHAT!" she screamed.

"Ambulance." I spoke to her softly.

"Troy, What in the world happened? Is Gabriella OK?" She inquired.

"How'd you know it had anything to do with her?"

"I just picked up your father from the church. What were you thinking leaving him there? Your lucky he had his cell phone with him. And while your explaining, would you like to tell me why exactly are you in an ambulance?" She fumed.

"Gabriella called me at the church and all she said was help me. Then the phone went dead, so I thought she was in trouble and left to see what happened. I'm sorry I left Dad there, but it's a good thing I did. They say that Gabi probably would be dead if I hadn't came when I did." I explained.

"Jesus, Troy! What happened to Gabi?" I didn't know what to tell her. I was afraid that if I told her the truth she would forbid me from seeing Gabi. But worse, she'd think of her as a freak or something more terrible.

"Well, I came in and she was lying on the floor of the bathroom unconscious. I called 911 and we are on the way to the hospital. Can you meet me there and I'll tell you more?"

"Sure hon. I'll be there when you get there." I could tell she was worried about me. I hung up the phone.

"Mom." I told the paramedic who was just questioning me.

"OK, where were we?" She asked and we were off in the same questioning game. Only I don't like this game at all.

A/N: So how'd you like the chapter? Wait– don't say it just type it in the little review box. lol :)

Hmm. This chapter is for the homeless man down the street. God loves you too!