Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue.

A/N: Sorry for the general suckiness of the last chapter. I don't know what came over me. I wasn't feeling too great and just really wanted to get the chapter out. I am really sorry that it wasn't my best work. I hope this chapter is better.

Oh, and I'm sorry this took so long :D

Yes, Jason will sing in this chapter. This chapter takes place a few weeks after the last one.

Enjoy!

Troy let his head fall into his English book, the monotone voice of Ms. Walker becoming background noise as his eyes slipped closed. English was one of his favorite classes, but he was having trouble concentrating. It had taken all of his strength to last until fifth period, and he was utterly exhausted.

"Troy Bolton, are we boring you?"

"Huh?" Troy's head shot up, his eyes darting around wild.

"Stay awake. There's fifteen minutes left in the period." Ms. Walker turned back to the board, returning to her lecture on John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath."

"Sorry," Troy whispered, rubbing his eyes tiredly. The class giggled behind him, turning back to their notebooks.

"You okay?" Chad asked quietly, leaning forward from the seat behind Troy's.

"What? Yeah, fine. Just tired."

Chad sat back, and Troy let his head fall softly into his book, unable to support it any longer.

"Alright, you can have the last ten minutes to yourselves," Ms. Walker said, closing her book. "Read chapters 4 through 8 for homework." She sat behind her desk and began to grade papers, tuning out the sudden noise that filled the small classroom.

"Troy, are you sure you're okay?" Sharpay leaned over from the next row, placing her hand on Troy's shoulder.

"I'm fine," he said, closing his book and getting his stuff ready to leave. He found himself wishing that he was with Gabriella, but she and Taylor were in AP English, while the others were in Honors. Zeke and Jason were in regular English.

"Why don't you go to the nurse?" she asked, putting a hand to his forehead to feel for a fever. Troy swatted her hand away.

"Only three more periods. I think I can make it."

"Troy, you're practically falling asleep. Why don't you at least go lay down for a while?" Chad asked, looking concerned at his friend.

"We have lunch next. I'll take a nap in the caf," Troy replied, putting his head back onto his arm.

The bell rang, forcing him to lift his head.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Ms. Walker said, erasing the board for her next class. "Don't forget to read the chapters!"

"Not likely," Troy muttered, picking up his books and leaving the classroom, followed closely by Sharpay and Troy.

"I swear, this book has to be the worst book ever written," Ryan complained, jogging to catch up with them as the left the classroom.

"You're not kidding," Chad said, pausing before turning to go to his locker. "I'll see you guys at lunch."

Sharpay, Ryan and Troy continued, Troy turning off when he reached the hall that his locker was in.

"See you," he said, waving as he walked to his locker. Spinning the combination, he pulled open the door, bending down to retrieve his books for seventh period. Reaching to the shelf above, he took out his lunch, slowly closing the door. Gabriella appeared behind the door, startling him.

"Hey," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him and kissing him gently.

"Hey," he whispered back, returning the embrace. "How long were you standing there?"

"About a minute. You look horrible, are you feeling okay?" Gabriella asked, putting a hand to his forehead.

"I didn't get much sleep last night. My stomach decided to go to war with the chemo."

"I'm sorry," Gabriella whispered, kissing him again.

"Don't be. I'm better now," he said, knowing she'd catch his meaning. Troy dipped his face toward hers again, moving to kiss her again.

"Mr. Bolton, Ms. Montez, this is not a movie theater," Darbus's voice came from across the hall, causing the couple to break apart. "The bell is about to ring, get to class."

"Sorry," Gabriella muttered, her cheeks coloring as she grabbed Troy's hand and pulled him down the hall.

"Where were you guys?" Chad asked, moving to allow room for Gabriella and Troy to sit at the lunch table.

"Darbus caught us kissing in the hall," Gabriella said, smiling embarrassedly as she thought of it.

"Oh," Chad said understandingly, locking eyes with Zeke and Jason and laughing.

"Guys, please, grow up," Troy said irritably, pulling out his lunch and starting to eat.

"Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed," Ryan said, looking concernedly at Troy.

"I've just had a rough night, okay?" Troy said.

"Well, I know how to cheer you up," Jason said, standing and coming to stand behind Troy's chair.

"I don't want to know," Gabriella said, shaking her head as Jason leaned forward to place his hands on Troy's shoulders. All of a sudden, he broke into a very off-key, a capella rendition of "Breaking Free."

"We're soaring, flying,

there's not a star in heaven that we can't see-"

"Reach," Troy interrupted, smiling as he corrected Jason. Jason swatted at his head, moving back to his side of the table and beginning to wave his arms dramatically as he sang.

"If we're trying, so we're breaking free.

You know the world can see us

In way that's different than what-"

"Who," Gabriella corrected, giggling. Jason made a face, starting back in on the song, lengthening the notes on purpose.

"-we are. Creating space between us,

Till we're separate arms-"

"Hearts," Troy said, finally smiling.

"I told you it would work," Jason taunted, smiling at his friend as he sat down. The entire table was laughing, making fun of Jason's butchering of the song.

"Thanks," Troy said, a genuine smile gracing his features as he laughed with his friends.

"Yeah, but Jason?" Sharpay said, smiling broadly.

"Hmm?"

"Never do that again. Please."

The table laughed again, turning back to their lunches. Troy leaned over and kissed Gabriella, turning back to his friends and laughing.

"Can you come over and help me with my math homework?" Troy asked Gabriella later that day as they stood at his locker while he got his books out. Gabriella had already retrieved her backpack. "Those few days in the hospital kind of set me back and I'm having trouble catching up."

"Sure. Let me just call me mom when we get outside."

Troy shut his locker, slinging his bag over his shoulder and leaning in to kiss Gabriella. She smiled, putting a finger over his lips and pushing him away gently.

"Let me call my mom," she said, giggling as Troy tickled her ribs. "Troy, stop it!"

"Alright, alright," he smiled, draping an arm around her shoulders as they walked out to his car. Gabriella dug out her cell phone, calling her mom to tell her about the delay.

"What do you need help with?" Gabriella asked, getting into Troy's car and buckling her seat belt as he started the engine.

"Inverse functions," Troy said, looking out the back window as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"Oh, that's easy," Gabriella said, looking out the window.

"Yeah, for you, freaky math girl," Troy teased, pulling onto the main road. Gabriella smiled, reaching across the car to squeeze Troy's hand. In a few minutes, they reached his house. Troy shut off the car, and they got out.

"I'm gonna check the mail, I'll be right in," Troy said, tossing her his house key. She nodded, and he walked to the mailbox. Reaching in, he pulled out the small stack of letters and magazines, beginning to sort them as he walked to the front door.

"Bill, bill, Reader's Digest, bill, bill," his hand stopped as he reached a letter addressed to him. The return address read Duke University. Stopping in his steps, he slid his finger along the seal, opening the envelope and practically ripping the letter out. He scanned it quickly continuing to walk toward the house.

"What's that?" Gabriella asked, dropping her bag on the kitchen chair and walking to her boyfriend.

"It's a letter from Duke," he replied, his face unreadable.

A/N: Well, that was more humor than I intended. Oh well. Reviews greatly appreciated, as always!

Coming in Chapter 10: What is in the letter? What is Troy's prognosis?