-1Title: Action and Reaction

Rating: Teen

Summary: Gabriella and Troy talk, and he learns just how much she's changed. And as Troy rushes to see Sharpay, he may be in for a rude shock.

Notes: This stuff isn't going to be so dramatic one of these days, but until then …

Warnings: A bit of sexual innuendo.

Disclaimer: I own it like I own Santa.

Chapter Four: Dizzy

She was the last person he ever expected to see.

His and Gabriella's break up had been so utterly absolute. Up until the very last day until their closely guarded secret about the musical broke, they'd been foolishly giddy around each other. She hung out in the gym with him during her free period, and he walked her to class afterwards. They went to the movies together, had after school ice cream dates, and spend hours laying out in his large backyard at night, just watching the stars. They'd truly been infatuated with each other, a classic case of puppy love.

But that love seemed to end right around the time their hopes and dreams crashed down to earth. He was upset, but she was heartbroken. He watched her mope around, incredibly depressed. She started declining his dates, and locking herself in her room when he attempted to talk to her. She was suddenly closed off, hurting so terribly and he couldn't help but think she blamed him, at least partially. Their fate as a couple was sealed when she came to him two weeks before graduation. They never held hands again.

He though for the longest time, that she just need a break. Gabriella was a kind and sensitive person, and perhaps he had overestimated her versatility. Maybe he'd pressured her too much, or the relationship had simply run aground. So he was quiet inclined to give her a time before he attempted to rekindle what he'd been so completely involved in.

The e-mail had broken his heart far more then her need to take a break. It had been abrupt, cold, and so completely un-Gabriella. He'd been sorely tempted to send a reply, asking for some explanation. However after consulting with his mother, he'd been convinced to respect her wishes for a complete break.

He'd shuffled through life, almost afraid to date again. He was terrified of the thought of meeting another Gabriella. He couldn't take that kind of a chance again as far as he was concerned.

But Sharpay had come into his life again, in the most unlikely fashion. When she accepted the invitation for coffee, it seemed the fear fled his body. Her eyes were bright and clear and he couldn't help but take that chance. He almost felt like he needed to. It had been the best decision of his life.

Now here was Gabriella again, the girl who'd broken his heart. She was just standing in front of him, looking exactly the same as the day she'd walked out of his life. Her smile was far from comforting.

"What're you doing here?" He asked, voice thick.

She slid into the chair across from her, her smile slipping into concern. "I thought you'd be glad to see me."

A hand flew to his hair and he clutched at his shaggy hair. "Yes--no, I mean," he sighed. "What are you doing here?" He reiterated.

"My aunt," Gabriella told him, head down. "She's sick, and she's really important to my mom and I. She and my mom were the only adults I had in my life, growing up. She's," her voice tailed off, then she finally finished, "She isn't doing well."

Troy nodded solemnly. "I'm sorry." He peered at her, fully aware she'd lost none of her beauty. She was as physically desirable as ever. "I didn't think you'd ever want to talk to me again."

She leaned forward, crossed her arms over the table top and rested upon them. "I didn't, for a very long time. I was upset, hurt, devastated, take your pick. What we had done felt so right at the time, but the consequences weren't worth that play, Troy. That play wasn't worth our future. It just wasn't."

His forehead crinkled as he mimicked her pose. "We didn't think it through. We were brash, but I'm not convinced it wasn't worth it."

"How can you say that? Look what it did to our future? We could have had it all."

He just couldn't help but disagree. "Sure," he reasoned, "Things didn't work out the way we planned. Our dreams didn't come true, but for that one moment we were on stage, it just felt right. Singing out there made me feel real. It made me feel so much better then basketball, and I didn't think that was possible. I would have liked to go to a great college, and my dream was to play professional basketball, but I'm happy now. My life is boring and simple, just the way I want it."

"I'm glad you're happy," she said, and Troy believed it. "I always wanted you to be happy."

He had to ask, "Is that why you broke my heart?"

Her eyes began to water and he instantly regretted his sharp tongue. "I'm sorry," she tried, "But I couldn't handle a relationship after we were branded cheaters. Troy, my whole life was gone in a minute, everything I'd worked for. My own mother couldn't look me in the eyes."

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "That was a cheap shot." He gripped his coffee cup, debating whether to throw it out. "You look good now."

She smiled. "I'm doing good."

"I heard you were accepted up north."

Gabriella confirmed, "A small school that allowed me to take an advanced track. I finished my chemistry degree last year. I'm working for a growing company right now."

He couldn't stop his own smile. "I always knew you'd be a great chemist one day."

She reached out to slide her fingers over his. He noted the goose bumps that ran up his arm. "What about you? Taylor told me you'd gone to California."

He drew his hands away from hers and tucked then in his lap, underneath the table. "I am, Fresno, actually. I'm getting a business degree, but I'm in theater, too. Not full time, mind you, but I'm in the running for a couple roles." Or at least he was, he realized. He'd miss callbacks certainly, because there was no way he was leaving Sharpay's side.

"Good for you."

Gabriella took a bite out of her bagel, smearing a bit of cream cheese on her nose. His fingers tingled and he almost reached out to wipe it away. He blinked heavily and shook his head to clear his thoughts. It seemed the longer he was near her, the more intoxicating she became.

"I'm here for my aunt, what are you here for?"

His gut clenched. The clock told him he'd been sitting in the cafeteria for well over three hours. Was no news really good news? He wasn't so inclined to believe. "Sharpay," he whispered, just needing to say her name. "I'm here for Sharpay."

Gabriella reeled back, unable to mask her confusion. "Sharpay Evans? Why are you here for her?"

The words lodged in his throat, and after several failed attempts, he managed, "Because she's a patient. She was in a car accident."

Gabriella gasped softly, hands clenching together. "Is she alright?"

"I don't know."

"But I don't understand," she said. "How did you know to come? Who called you?"

Here came the moment. He was going to tell her. He was going to make it clear Sharpay was the woman in his life, the woman he loved. She'd never walk away from him. She had said she wouldn't, and Sharpay Evans did not break her word.

"Sharpay and I have been seeing each other for the past ten months."

Void of emotion Gabriella asked, "Seeing each other?"

"Romantically," he supplied.

"Wow," she sighed. "Wow. You and Sharpay? Sharpay?"

He frowned, muscles tensing. "What about her?"

"Nothing," Gabriella squeaked quickly, but Troy knew better.

"What about her? Gabriella?"

Nervous and twitchy, Gabriella avoided his glaring eyes. "It's just … Gabriella and Ryan, they're the reason I lost my dream."

"They are not!" He defended fiercely.

"They are!" She shot back, hands slamming down on the table. "If they hadn't been so manipulative and if they hadn't gotten the auditions moved, we'd be doing what we're supposed to. She's vindictive, Troy, and I don't want you to get hurt."

His mind spun. "Don't you dare blame our actions on her. She didn't make us do anything. We broke the rules and we got punished, end of story. We made the decisions, we live with the consequences and we take responsibility, it's called being mature. Now don't you dare blame Sharpay, who's lying in a coma, who could possibly die. Don't be petty, Gabriella. She won't hurt me, at least never in the way you did."

His feet were carrying him away from her before he realized it. She was calling his name, calling him back, but he refused. He had to get away from her. She'd grown bitter and angry over their years apart. She wasn't the person he'd been so dedicated to.

He didn't care if Mr. and Mrs. Evans tried to stop him. He didn't care if they called the police. He was going to see Sharpay and he was going to find out her condition. His place was by her side.

Troy's feet slapped the shinny floors harshly as his walk became a jog, and then a full out sprint. He was running, for his life, for her life, for their future.

And when he skidded to a stop in front of Sharpay's open door, his heart skipped a beat, then another, and he pressed a heavy hand to his chest. Sharp paints shot through his chest and breathing became next to impossible. He'd never felt so much physical pain from his chest, and it wasn't long before he was learning on the doorframe. He tried to call for help moments before he collapsed to the floor, gasping helplessly.

His eyes rolled back to the room, through the doorway. He couldn't trust his vision, as it blurred around the edges, fading to black. How was it possible?

Sharpay's bed was empty and then he was deathly still.

Troy came to with a tremendous jerk, flinching away from the doctor's smelling salts. He blinked sluggishly up at the graying man, then at the tale nurse to his side. Finally his vision line swung around to Ryan's concerned face.

"Hey," Ryan said softly. "Don't do that again."

Troy eased himself up into a sitting position. "What happened?" His memory was eluding him for the moment.

The doctor's warm hand gripped his shoulder firmly. "You experienced a panic attack, quite a big one, too."

"A panic attack?"

Ryan nodded, eyes only slightly wild. "You almost gave me one, just lying on the ground. You were out cold, breathing heavily, like you couldn't get enough air. I didn't know what was wrong."

The doctor eased Troy back down. "Your friend acted quickly. Now I want you to rest for at least a little longer. Your vitals look good, so I won't have you check in, but I want you to be careful." The doctor left quickly, having other patients to attend to.

Troy nodded to the retreating man and folded his hands over his stomach. He searched his mind desperately for his memories, wondering what had caused his panic attack. He'd never had one before.

Ryan gripped the bed's rails and leaned on the metal. "You freaked me out," he confessed. "I was just coming to find you. I wanted to let you know what was happening with Sharpay."

It rushed back at Troy with an icy grip. His fingers curled around the sheets and a feeling of nausea threatened to over take him. "Sharpay!" He nearly moaned, sweat beading on his forehead. "Where's Sharpay?"

Ryan regarded his friend with sudden realization. "You saw the empty room!"

"Where is she?" Troy demanded. "Tell me she's fine."

Ryan leaned forward. "They moved her," he hastily explained. "She underwent an operation a few hours ago, and it was successful. The doctors are confident they've stopped the bleeding, and if everything goes well, she'll be awake within the next seventy-two hours. They think she'll be okay."

Troy smiled as wide as possible, the edges of his mouth hurting from the pull. "She's going to be alright?"

Ryan laughed and caught Troy's hand. "Yeah. That's what they're saying."

"And the coma?"

"It was medically induced," Ryan said. "The doctors put her into it so they could prep her for surgery. They didn't want to risk her waking and moving around. They say she'll wake up once the drugs flush from her system."

"Look at me here," Troy joked, wiping quickly at his eyes. "Don't tell Sharpay, okay? I'll never hear the end of it."

Ryan agreed, "Sure, man. After all, I'd never hear the end of it either."

As Troy settled back on his pillow Gabriella was forgotten for the time being. His main priority was to wait until the room stopped spinning, and then to go see his girl. He couldn't wait to be there when she woke up.