Chapter 21

I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a really long time... I was at band camp the last week, and life was pretty hectic before. Hopefully you'll like the chapter. Sorry!

Previously-

"You know what? How about we get through both of our aches together? I know that we can do anything when we're together." I tried to smile through the pain.

"Troy, that sounds awesome. Better than anything right now." She smiled brightly at me. Her tears were still gleaming on her cheeks. I wiped them off and gently kissed her lips.

"Great." I smiled a real smile for the first time in days.

Gabriella and I took this whole week off. Gabi say's she's going to go back on Monday, but I'm not sure if I can. It just wont be the same. I don't know if I can ever get through this. I'll need God. That's the only thing I know for sure. He is my only constant. Gabi could leave me tomorrow, but God, He will never leave me.

Gabi went home around noon and I really have nothing to do. I'm still exhausted from all the crying. Maybe I'll take a nap.

Saturday...Lunch Time.

I woke up with the bright glare of the sun from my window shining on my eyes. I rolled over and glanced at my alarm clock. At first they were blurry, but I let my eyes adjust and soon I could read that it was 11:56 AM. I can't believe I slept for two days. Last I remember was Thursday and Gabi was still over. I pulled myself out of bed. I was still dressed from two days ago in a pink polo. I figured I needed a shower. I quickly stripped and jumped in. The cold water felt good on my back.

A while later, after getting dressed and praying, I heard a loud clatter down stairs. I ran skipping every other step down. My mom was leaning against the wall with a broken plate at her feet. She was crying softly.

"Mom?" She jumped and turned around quickly. I could hear the broken glass crunching beneath her feet. Good thing she was wearing her shoes.

"Troy. Oh my Gosh, you scared me." She wiped her eyes and sniffed loudly. I went over and grabbed her a kleenex.

"Sorry." She nodded and blew her nose. Poor mom.

"It's okay. Did I wake you up? You've been sleeping for a really long time, but I figured you needed it." I looked at her. I don't think she's slept since my dad died. Her eyes had dark bags under them and she just looked completely worn.

"No mom. You didn't. I think you could use some sleep though." She looked away. "I think I'm going to go over to Chad's." I said after a moment of quiet. "I haven't seen him since the funeral."

"Okay honey. Have fun." She tried to smile, but it looked like she was wincing. I kissed her on the cheek and turned to grab an orange from the bowl. When I got hold of it, I noticed that it was all moldy. "I guess we need to go shopping." Mom said.

"Yeah." I turned back to her and the glass crunched beneath my feet. I had forgotten that there was glass on the floor. "Here, let me clean this up before I go."

"No, you go have fun at Chad's. I can handle this." Again she attempted to smile.

"I guess." I grabbed my cell phone from the table and headed outside. Once I shut the door, I dialed my mom's mom.

"Grandma?"

"Troy! Is everything okay?" She asked concerned.

"Umm, mom's not doing to well. Can you come over for a bit while I go out?" I asked.

"Yeah, hun. No problem. I'll be right there." She hung up the phone. I put mine in my pocket and began the short walk to Chad's.

When I got there he was practicing his free-throws. I stood and watched for a bit until he noticed me. Chad turned his head, looked at me, and turned away like I wasn't there. He quickly turned back just to make sure he wasn't imagining things. Once his mind actually confirmed that I was standing there, he dropped the ball and ran toward me.

"Troy!" He gave me a hug.

"Chad." I returned.

"Oh my gosh. I'm really sorry about your dad. How are you doing?"

"Better."

"What do you want to do today? I'm doing like nothing so anything you want to do is totally fine with me." He offered. I hate how even my best friend feels like he has to act nicer to me because of what happened.

"I'm really hungry. Lets go get something to eat." I rubbed my stomach.

"Okay. Sounds good to me." He said. "Wanna go to the pizza place right down the street? We can walk there."

"Yeah. Pizza equals yum." I laughed. So him and I walked to Dino's Pizza and shared a whole pepperoni pizza. I don't think pizza has ever tasted so good. Maybe its because I was so hungry my stomach was eating itself. Chad payed the bill and we began the walk home. It seemed a lot longer on a full stomach. It felt like we were waddling like pregnant women. Finally we got back to Chad's house.

"Wanna play some ball to work all that pizza we just ate off?" I asked him.

"Most definitely." He smiled and threw the ball at me hard.

We played one on one for the longest time. We finally went in at about nine.

"I need a shower." I said wiping the sweat off my face.

"Me too! Are you staying the night?" He asked.

"If that's okay with you. I don't see why not."

"Okay then. I'm happy." He smiled. I started racing up the stairs.

"I call the upstairs shower!" I yelled.

"No!" Chad tried to get ahead of me. When we were younger we used to have this argument all the time. Neither of us wanted to go down to the basement to take one. We used to do best two out of three rock paper scissors.

"Lets settle this the old fashion way!" I stopped him at the top of the stairs.

"Rock...Paper...Scissors!" Chad yelled out. I showed rock and he had paper. "Ha! I'm winning!" Chad smiled.

"Rock...paper...scissors!" I said. This time I showed paper and he showed rock. It was tied one-one.

"Rock...Paper...Scissors!" We both shouted. I showed scissors and he had shown paper. I won!

"Yay! I won!" I poked him hard in the shoulder. "You have to go down stairs."

"Oh yeah whatever, I let you win." He smiled.

"Sure you did Chad." I ran to the bathroom just in case. I took my second shower of the day and boy did it feel good. I grabbed some of Chad's clothes and went downstairs to call Gabriella. I'm sure she'd be excited about what happened today.

"Gabi?"

"Hey Troy! What's going on? I came over yesterday, but you were sleeping." I blushed.

"Sorry. I'm at Chad's hanging out."

"That's awesome." I could tell she was smiling.

"You going to church tomorrow?" I asked.

"Yup. Are you?"

"Duh!" I laughed. "Call Sharpay, Ryan, and Zeke. Tell them to come too."

"Don't forget Taylor!" she said defensively.

"And Tay. I got Chad."

"Okay. I got to go. I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"Love you!"

"Love you too. Bye!" She hung up the phone as Chad came up stairs with his Barbie towel wrapped around his lower half. I couldn't help but laugh at him.

"Hey! Don't laugh at me. I was either this or Strawberry Shortcake!" This made me laugh even harder. He walked upstairs to change. I heard a shriek moments later.

"CHAD! THAT'S MY TOWEL! GET IT OFF RIGHT NOW!" I heard his little sister, Tatiana scream. This sent me off into another fit of giggles. I was laughing so loud I couldn't hear the rest of the conversation.

A while later Chad came down with out the towel, and fully dressed. He flopped down next to me and switched on the TV. I dialed my mom and told her I was staying over at Chad's. She didn't seem to care. Grandma was going to stay over there. Chad and I watched TV for a while and ate junk food.

"Do you want to come to church with Gabi, Taylor, Shar, Zeke, Ryan, and I tomorrow?" I asked him out of the blue.

"You got Tay going there now?" He groaned.

"Yup. It's really not so bad, Chad. I think you should come." I begged.

"You know how I feel about that."

"Yeah, puh-leeze!" I pleaded like a little kid.

"I don't think so Troy. I'm tired. Lets go to sleep." He switched off the TV and went to bed. I stayed up a little while and prayed. For a lot of things but mainly for God to grab Chad. Once I finished I felt like I could finally sleep.

A/N: That one wasn't such a good chapter...ONLY ONE MORE! I promise the last one is going to be GOOD! Lol...you will like it. But you wont get it unless you review. So puh-leeze (hehe) review. Again, I'm really sorry it took me so long to update.

Much luv,

Jess