Chapter 12

When I got to the hospital I was so confused. I didn't know the phone number to call Gabi's mom. Gabriella was still unconscious, so she couldn't tell me. They are taking x-rays right now to see if any major damage was done. They don't know what happened and neither do I. I have an idea, but I sincerely hope that that's not the case. My mom met me when we arrived at the ER. It was a nightmare. My mom was screaming. Machines were beeping. Ugh. At least I found her. Thank the Lord she called or I'd be lost here. The smell of this place makes me nauseous, but I don't want to show it.

"Troy Bolton." I heard someone call. I turned my head around to see who it was that was calling me.

"Over here." The voice said again. Then I saw where the voice was coming from. A petite nurse stood with her head poking out of a door behind the receptionist's office. I walked over to her.

"Yes?"

"Your Gabriella Montez's boyfriend. Right?" She questioned. Oh no, not another inquiry.

"Yeah, I am." I told her. She had a huge yellow stain on her shirt above her name tag that read, "Madeline." I was so upset about Gabi that I couldn't even make myself laugh.

"Follow me." She said and turned into the room. I followed her through a door and down a long hallway to a room where a sleeping Gabriella lay. I walked up to her bed. Her arm was wrapped up in a gauze-like substance again, and IVs were dripping large amounts of some liquid stuff.

"Is she OK?" I turned around to ask Madeline who was standing at the door with her arms akimbo.

"I think you need to ask that question to the doctors. And I'm just a nurse." Feisty one, that girl. What kind of person would be that ignorant?

"Well than can you, being just a nurse, get me one?" I snapped back with a smirk. She turned on her heel and went off to find me Gabi's doc. I went back over to my girlfriend. I held her hand and prayed.

About five minutes later a doctor wearing a lab coat that read Dr. Luczak walked in. He looked old and experienced. Good.

"You're Troy. Correct?" He asked. His voice resembled a dying duck. I smuggled a laugh. I was in a better mood since I saw that Gabi was still in stable condition. I managed to nod my head at the doctor. "Your girlfriend here seems to have some psychological issues." I nodded at that too. I already know, now can you tell me if she's gonna be OK? I felt like screaming at him. "Were you aware of these circumstances?"

"Yes." I cleared my throat.

"And you didn't tell anyone?"

"No."

"But you knew something like this could have happened. Right?" I didn't like how this Dr. Luczak was putting me on the spot.

"I guess." I shrugged.

"Well, I just wanted to let you know, Gabriella needs surgery." He looked me in the eye. I couldn't believe it.

"What!"

"She severed a major tendon in her wrist. We can't do anything yet. Someone needs to contact her mother to give us permission to perform the surgery." Wow was all I could think. "I've heard that you don't know the mother's phone number. Is this true?"

"Uh, yeah." I thought about it for a second. "No. Wait! Gabi said her mom left her cell phone number on the wall." I remember once, when Gabi was telling me about her babysitting experience. She said that she went through the whole emergency list of phone numbers on the wall, before she reached her mom's cell phone. Her mother was the only one to pick up the phone. After all those phone calls, Gabi forgot what she wanted to ask. That was a fun night.

"Is there anyway you can find out that number?" He asked.

"My mom's in that waiting room down the hall. I can ask her to run and get the number from her house." I proposed.

"That would be great. Do you mind if I come with? I'd like to speak with your mother." He said. I nodded my head and turned around to walk out the door.

"Troy?" I heard a weak voice coming from behind me.

"Gabi!" I swung around with a huge smile on my face.

"I'll leave you two alone for a minute. No– I need to get your mother's cell Gabriella." Dr. Luczak said. Gabi rattled off the number to him. He told her why he needed the number, and the risks of the surgery. Then he left us to talk. Gabi was crying silently as soon as he left the room.

"I'm sorry." She told me.

"You didn't do anything Gabs." I comforted her.

"You're wrong Troy. I dragged you into this. I can't believe you saw me like this." She said, the tears still streaming down her cheeks.

"It's OK Gabs. I'm here for you always and forever." I cooed.

"Thanks." My girlfriend said.

"Thanks? Thanks for what?" I asked her.

"For saving my life. Troy, if you wouldn't have came when you did, I'm sure I would have been dead by now. You saved me." I started to tear up.

"I love you." I told her.

"I love you too." She echoed. Then, I pulled her into a hug. Well, I did the best I could with all the hospital equipment. I began to sing to her.

You say you're falling apart.
Reached the end of the line.
Just looking for your place in an ordinary life.
No one calls you friend.
No one even knows your name.
You just want to feel loved instead of all the pain.

You no longer have to say.
No one's listening anyway.

Come here and cry on my shoulder. I'll hold you 'till it's over.
I'll rescue you tonight.
Let my arms be your shelter,
Your hiding place forever.
I'll love you more than life

You're wearing a frown.
Given up on hope.
My heart is reaching out.
More than you will ever know.
Is your burden too much?
Is it more than you can bear?
I'll help carry the load if you're willing to share.

You no longer have to say.
No one's listening anyway.

Come here and cry on my shoulder.
I'll hold you 'till its over.
I'll rescue you tonight.
Let my arms be your shelter,
You're hiding place forever.
I'll love you more than life

You have had some hard times.
Had thorns placed in your side.
I know about what you've been going though.
Tears of pain are falling down.
It hurts so bad you're crying out.
Your problems won't last forever.
Let Me put you back together

When I finished, Gabi was fast asleep. I wiped her tear-streaked cheeks with my thumb and gently kissed her. I drifted off to sleep then, with her in my arms.

A/N: How was it? Good? Bad? What did you think? Review! The song was called "Cry on my Shoulder" by Overflow. : )

This chapter is for Steph. She'll always be there for me. Even though we've only really known each other for a few months, I feel closer to her than some of the people I've known for several years. I love you, Steph. I know God brought us together for a reason.