Chapter 4:

Gabriella gasped. Zeke had sadly been one of the lucky ones. Sure, he'd have problems, but she never imagined this!

"Gabi, you still there?" Sharpay asked.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm still here. How are you handling things? You doing alright?" Gabriella heard Sharpay sigh.

"I'm dong as good as one would expect. I actually just got home. Zeke's Dad drove me. He wanted me to get some sleep tonight, but I don't think that that's going to happen. Gabi, can I tell you something?" Gabriella noticed how odd Sharpay sounded.

"Sure, Shar. What's wrong? You sound funny."

"It's about the shooting. I was going down to surprise Zeke. We were going to hang out during lunch. Just us." Gabriella smiled to herself. She knew what Sharpay by "hang out during lunch. Just us." They were going to find a secluded spot, and make-out. "Okay, anyway, I know what you're thinking, Gabi. I was walking down the hall when I heard gunshots. Before I could even run, an man in all black and a black ski mask with a gun grabbed my arm, and spun me around." Sharpay's voice got lower, and began to shake. "He looked right into my eyes, and raised the gun to my head. Suddenly, he lowered his gun, and pushed me away. I looked into the eyes of death, Gabi." Sharpay began to sob.

"Shar, you need to tell this to the police; it's the only way for them to piece together what happened."

"I don't want to though. I'm too worried about Zeke. He was in surgery all evening. He's the one that would go down to tell the police with me."

"What about Ryan? Couldn't he go with you?" Sharpay laughed bitterly.

"Yeah, right. Ryan and I haven't been as close since Zeke and I started dating. He's so protective of me. He thinks I'll break if someone breathes on me, and that I'm emotionally unstable. Now, when I really need him, he's totally oblivious to that. Hey, um Gabi, would you come with me?"

"Sure. We'll go down to the school and tell someone there." Gabriella heard a tap on her window, and saw Troy standing on the balcony. "Shar, I gotta go. I'll see you later, okay? Bye."

"Bye."

Gabriella hung up her cell phone, and went outside. Troy pulled her close to his body, and buried his face in her hair. They both stood in silence for a few minutes. Gabriella looked into Troy's deep blue eyes. He gently stroked her cheek with his thumb, and kissed her tenderly on the lips.

"I had a dream that you were shot, so I came to check on you," he whispered. Gabriella ran her fingers through his hair.

"I'm right here, Troy. I'm not going anywhere. I love you; Troy, and I want you to know that. I also want you to know that you don't have to be strong for me."

Gabriella pulled Troy over to the bench swing on one side of the balcony, and he rested his head in her lap.

"How's you Dad?" she asked as she traced over his features with her fingertip, and began to swing back and forth.

"He's doing pretty well. A lot of people were shot today, Gabi; including two teachers. Six students and one of the teachers died. Things are never going to be the same again. Mr. Chen called-"

"The Vice Principal? What did he want?"

"There's going to be a Memorial Service tomorrow, I mean today, and he wants us to sing."

"I don't know. I mean I'll be there for sure, but singing?"

"It's up to you. I don't mind either way, but I told him that I won't sing without you. Gabriella bit her bottom lip.

"Okay, I'll sing with you." She leaned over, and kissed his forehead. "Now, Mr. Bolton, as much as I love you company, you should probably get home before your parents realize that you're gone."

Troy and Gabriella both stood up, and walked hand-in-hand to the door. Suddenly, Gabriella felt herself being pressed up against the door, and Troy's warm lips on hers. After a few minutes, they both stopped, gasping. Gabriella had a dazed look on her face.

"Goodnight, Gabi, love you," Troy whispered in her ear before kissing her cheek, and climbing down the balcony. Gabriella smiled slightly as she went inside. Just for a moment, she forgot about the shooting.

Sharpay called Gabriella the next morning to tell her that she was going to see Zeke at the hospital, and she'd see her at the Memorial Service. Sharpay climbed into her silver Jaguar, and drove to the hospital. When she got there, she was directed to Zeke's room. When Sharpay got to his room, she was surprised to see that his parents weren't there. She sat down lightly in the chair next to Zeke's bed, and held his hand. He appeared to still be asleep. Suddenly, his eyes fluttered open, and he looked at Sharpay.

"Hey," he said in a raspy voice.

"'Hey' yourself," she replied. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I've been run over by a truck. I saw my parents earlier today, and they told me that you were here really late last night. You didn't have to do that." Sharpay kissed the back of his hand.

"I know, but I wanted to. I was really worried about you. It kept my mind off of everything else. There's a memorial service tonight, but I don't know if I'm going."

"Why not?"

"I'd rather be here with you."

"Shar, I would say, 'Forget about me, and have a good time', but I highly doubt that you'll have a good time there. Just go, don't let me hold you back." Sharpay placed the back of Zeke's hand on her cheek. Zeke gently broke free of her grip, and began to stroke her cheek with his thumb. "You're absolutely gorgeous, you know that right?"

"You tell me that all the time, but I never get tired of hearing it. Just like I never get tired of saying, 'I love you'."

"Love you too, Shar." Sharpay stayed and talked to Zeke for nearly two hours. Not once did they turn on the TV; they didn't want to see any footage from the shooting.

When Sharpay got home, Ryan grabbed her, and demanded, "Where were you?" Sharpay broke free of her brother's grip.

"Let go of me, Ryan! I went to go and see Zeke if that's okay with you. I told Mom, so I don't know why you're asking. Oh, and Zeke's doing good, thanks for asking." Before Ryan could say anything else, Sharpay stomped up to her room.

Sharpay called Gabriella, and asked her if she would give her a ride to the Memorial Service, because she didn't feel like going with her brother. Gabriella said that she would be there in two hours. She also asked Sharpay if she would sing with her and Troy at the service. Sharpay agreed, and the two hung up. Sharpay took a long, hot shower, and got ready to go.

Gabriella pulled into the driveway of the Evan's household. Sharpay grabbed her backpack purse, and rushed out to the car.

"Hey, Shar," Gabriella said as Sharpay got into the car. "How's Zeke doing?"

"He's doing pretty good. We talked for a while today. He told me that he felt really tired, but his spirits were up." Gabriella backed out of the driveway, and made her way to West High School where the Memorial Service was being held. It took nearly fifteen minutes to find a parking spot, but they finally did.

Troy was waiting for Gabriella and Sharpay when they got to the side gate of the stadium. He was talking to a boy with rich brown eyes.

"Well, I have to go," Troy told him. "It was nice talking to you."

"Yeah, bye," the boy said. Sharpay looked into his eyes. Even though she had never seen him before, something seemed oddly familiar about him.

"Shar, you coming?" Gabriella asked, snapping Sharpay out of her thoughts.

"Yeah, yeah, let's go," she said.

The Memorial Service started out with the National Anthem, followed by a few words from the principal. Troy saw news cameras littered around the stadium.

"And now, I'm very pleased to introduce Troy Bolton, Gabriella Montez, and Sharpay Evans, who will be singing Amazing Grace," Mr. Chen said, standing up. Troy, Gabriella, and Sharpay stood up, microphones in hand. They were about to start singing when they heard the distinct sound of gunshots.

A/N: Dun dun dun! Hey, if you want to read an absolutely amazing book (and let me emphasize the word "amazing"), read She Said Yes. I do believe that it's by Misty Barnell. It's about Columbine, and is AMAZING! That's it for now.