CHAPTER 9

((I'm back everyone! Sorry I couldn't update yesterday…I was sick…I actually still am…and I have a really bad headache so I might not write the whole thing today because this is a VERY IMPORTANT chapter…and skipping ahead to when I am finished with this story…I need your opinions on my next story…I want my next story to be about the cast instead of the characters…you know a story more about Zac and Vanessa instead of Troy and Gabriella…what do you think? This chapter takes place at the memorial on the same night…January 24, 2007…I wont update again after this story until I reach 55 reviews…a little more required than last time…encourage your friends to read and review too…I also have a contest idea for my NEXT story…it's the write a chapter contest…anyone who wants to enter has to write at least a 600 word chapter continuing from the last one…the winner is acknowledged as an author for the story…what do you think of a contest like that…your opinions please…read and review…XOXO,CHRISTINE))

and every day you gaze upon the sunset
with such love and intensity
it's almost...it's almost as if
if you could only crack the code
then you'd finally understand what this all means

It was 10:30 pm and a rather large crowd was accumulating for the memorial service. Kelsi and Taylor were handing out candles to the mourners as they came. They placed a large candle in the center for everyone to light their candles from. Mr. and Mrs. Bolton came, standing on opposite ends of the crowd. Gabriella came too, tears streaming down her face as she stared at the exact spot where he died. The whole basketball team attended, along with many other students from East High. Various neighbors in the Bolton's neighborhood also attended, along with other townspeople.

Gabriella was standing next to Ryan, who looked very uncomfortable. He didn't know what he should do about the sobbing Gabriella standing next to him. He noticed Zeke watching him, suspiciously, seeing what he would do. Sharpay was next to him, nudging him. "Look normal,' she spat into his ear. "Comfort her or something."

"I thought you wanted me to stay away from her," Ryan replied quietly.

"Yeah well you look strange just standing there like that. I give you permission just this once to comfort her a little."

The memorial service started. Chad recited a reading from the bible until 10:42. At ten forty-two exactly, he announced that they would have a moment of silence in the remembrance of Troy.

Gabriella stood there on the spot, tears streaming uncontrollably down her beautiful face. Ryan put an awkward, comforting arm around her, pulling her close to him, gaining confidence as she obliged. "It's okay," he whispered, momentarily forgetting that he was the cause of her pain. "Everything will be alright."

"No it won't," Gabriella murmured, sobbing harder. "He's really gone. He's not here anymore."

"He's here in spirit," Ryan told her. "He's here in spirit, and he's watching you right now, telling you not to cry for him, that he's in a better place, where he's happier than ever. He wants you to move on, Gabriella, and get on with your life, and keep going with all your dreams and to follow them and see where they lead you. He doesn't want you to pine for him every second of the day. You're a wonderful girl, Gabriella, and you have the potential to do great things. Troy would want you to go for the gold and pursue your wildest dreams, you know that."

"That is the sweetest thing anyone has said to me since Troy was here, Ryan," Gabriella whispered. "Thank you so much for being here for me in my time of need. You truly are a great friend."

"I want to be more than just a friend, Gabriella," Ryan whispered to her, gently turning her chin up to his face. "I want to be the one to pick up the pieces of your broken heart and put them back together like no one else can. I want to be with you, in the same way you were with Troy before he died."

"Ryan, I…" Gabriella began utterly surprised, but Ryan cut her off, bringing her face to his, trying to begin to pick up the pieces of her stone-cold shattered broken heart.

"What do you think you're doing?" Gabriella growled icily, pulling away from Ryan's embracing kiss. "Get away from me."

"Gabriella…" Ryan started. Gabriella cut him off, slapping him hard in the face. "Gabriella…"

Gabriella hurried away into the street, not paying attention to her actions. A loud, frantic honk from a truck caused her to whirl around.

Gabriella's POV

A loud honk. Turn to the sound. Big white lights heading straight at me. Another honk. People screaming. White lights getting bigger and bigger, closer…closer…blackout.

Normal POV

The peaceful memorial crowd was not so peaceful anymore. Everyone began to scream.

"Gabriella!" Ryan shouted, running out to where she lay in the street, unconscious. He checked her pulse. It was faint, but it was definitely there. "Somebody call 911! She's still alive!"

Taylor hastily grabbed her phone and made the call. Ms. Montez was too arrive home from her mother's around midnight where she had spent the day. After calling an ambulance, Taylor dialed her phone.

"Hello, Karen Montez."

"Hi, Ms. Montez, it's Taylor," Taylor said frantically.

"Is something wrong?" Ms. Montez asked worriedly reacting to the sound of Taylor's voice.

"It's Gabriella!" Taylor declared bursting into tears, not able to go on.

Ms. Montez's worst nightmare had been confirmed. Something had happened to her dear daughter, the pride and joy of her life. "What is it? What happened! What's wrong, Taylor! Tell me!"

"Sh-she was h-hit b-by a t-t-t-truck!" Taylor wailed.

"Is she…?" Ms. Montez nervously asked, all color draining from her face.

"N-no, we called an ambulance, but she losing lots of blood, and it doesn't look good!"

"I'll be over as soon as I can. I'll meet you at the hospital."

Taylor, Chad, Sharpay, Ryan, Kelsi, Jason, and Zeke nervously sat in the emergency room waiting area in the hospital. It had only been a few minutes but the doctor had already told them that it didn't look too good. Ms. Montez's mother lived four and a half hours away so she wouldn't arrive for a long time. Ryan was hysterical.

"I'm such an idiot! If Gabriella dies, I will never forgive myself!"

"You didn't mean for it to happen, Ryan," Zeke replied. "Sure your move was a little stupid, but it's not your fault. It was an accident. Now Troy's death was bad. That's unforgiveable, but Gabi's situation, you were just trying to comfort her. No one can blame you."

"Yeah, Ryan, don't be too hard on yourself," Chad added. "No one blames you, right Sharpay?"

Sharpay had been angrily standing alone in the corner, angrier at her brother than she felt she had ever been in her entire life. "I told him only to comfort her!" she screamed, "and what does he do! He makes a move! I told you know, Ryan! And you know I had my reasons! With what happened to Troy, you and her together are not appropriate!"

"Sharpay, relax," Taylor said. "Gabriella shouldn't be single for the rest of her life. She needs to be able to move on. Ryan's move may have been a little too soon, but she needs another man in her life to help her get over Troy."

"I had my reasons, Ryan!" Sharpay yelled, ignoring Taylor. "I had my reasons, and you went against them!"

"You don't own me!" Ryan retorted. "I can do what I want, date who I want! My decisions are mine, not yours, and you don't seem to understand that!"

"Excuse me," a doctor came out. "I need to talk to you all. Gabriella's mother called and said that I was to tell you all the information. I am very sorry to say that at 11:42 pm, Gabriella died from blood loss and the impact of the truck. Her body was not strong enough to fight it. I'm so sorry. I will leave you all to be alone. My condolences."

The group stood there, silently, stunned, unable to believe such a thing. Their Gabriella, their friend, their deceased friend's girl, was gone, just like Troy. She was now with him, away from them all. Sharpay couldn't take it.

"Ryan!" she screamed. "You filthy bastard! First Troy, now Gabriella! Who are you gonna kill next!" The rest of the group stood there, rooted to the spot, not trusting there own ears, unable to speak.

Finally Taylor managed to form three words of question together, "You killed Troy?"

((There is chapter 9…everyone…now I know nobody wanted me to kill Gabriella…but it is essential for this story to go on…I warned you all at the beginning…this is not happy…this is not a happy ending…this is a tragedy…hence the genre…and drama…reviews please…I wanna know how you liked the chapter…remember…I need 55 reviews to update again…XOXO,CHRISTINE))