AN: One of you asked why someone would shoot at an elementary school, and I had a story for that but I never got it worked into the story. So I'll just say it here. It's not a very creative thing, just that some angry kid had a gun and went to the school and started shooting. That's all.

Get the tissues! You know, I was afraid that some of you would guess what was gonna happen, because I feel as if I've been giving so much away. But so far no one has guessed the right thing, and I'm glad. I love keeping readers in suspense. However, once you read this, you're gonna be like "duh, how obvious was that."

Okay so I'm posting this right before school and I'm usually I proofread my chapters right before posting them but I don't have time. I mean, I have re-read this about 10 times, so hopefully I caught all the mistakes already.

Title: Time Will Tell
Rating: T
Author: MadiWillow
Summary: Gabriella is raped in senior year and falls pregnant. Without telling her friends about it, she and her mom move to Florida. Six years later, she sees an old friend... and it all goes downhill from there.
Genre: Romance/Tragedy
Chapter: Chapter 5

Troy went back inside the lobby, as Gabriella had been looking around for him. When her eyes found his, she smiled slightly and walked over to him. "Hey."

"Already done?"

Gabriella nodded sadly. "Yeah... she's not awake. The doctor's won't let me stay overnight with her, so I think I'm gonna leave and come back later." She sighed. "I hate living so far away from the hospital..."

Troy cleared his throat nervously. "Uh, well, I live just two blocks away from here, if you'd wanna stay over or something..."

Her face brightened instantly. It looked strange with her red eyes and puffy cheeks, but Troy still thought she looked beautiful. "Really? You would do that for me?"

"Yeah! No problem."

"Thanks!" Gabriella threw her arms around him and hugged him for a long time. Then she broke away and said, "We'll have to go back to my place for clothes and stuff..."

"Alright. Do you need me to come with you?"

"Well, yeah, I don't know where you live," she laughed.

"Right," he grinned.

Troy and Gabriella got into their respective cars and drove to Gabriella's house. She went in quickly and came out with just one suitcase. Then they drove to Troy's house across town, which was two blocks away from Albuquerque General.

Troy felt slightly abashed by his house, since it was so much bigger than Gabriella's and Eva's. They deserved his three-bedroom, three-bathroom house much more than he did.

But if Gabriella was jealous, she didn't show it. She just said, "Wow, your house is gorgeous!" after they parked and got out.

"Thanks," he muttered sheepishly before letting her into the house. "You can sleep in the guest bedroom, which is right down the hall."

"Where's your room?" asked Gabriella, looking around.

"Right next to yours,"

"Good," smiled Gabriella. Troy felt himself blush, which was very unlike him. Gabriella didn't notice, as she had already started walking through the house. "Which room?"

"The one right next to you,"

"Oh," she opened the door and gasped. "Wow, it's beautiful," she murmured. She disappeared into the room. "Yay, and there's an adjoining bathroom!"

Troy laughed.

She came out of the room a little later, looking red around the eyes again. "I don't know what I'll do if I lose her..."

Troy strode over to her and wrapped his arms around her. She sighed and melted into him, their bodies blending together so well. "You won't lose her," said Troy confidently. "You won't."

Gabriella sighed again. "I hope so."

That night, Troy couldn't sleep. He was too wrapped up in his thoughts about Gabriella.

He loved her; he was sure of that. It hurt him so much to know all the pain she'd been through, and that he hadn't been there to help her through it. He should've known what had happened; he should've guessed that something was wrong that first month of school. How did he not notice anything?

He sighed deeply and got out of bed. Walking blindly to the living room, he figured he'd watch a little TV before he tried to go to sleep. Troy went to sit down on the couch and came down on something hard.

"Aaaah!" came a scream from under him. Troy jumped up, as if he'd sat on fire, and whirled around. Gabriella had been lying on the couch under a blanket that was almost the exact same dark brown color of the couch.

"Oh my God!" exclaimed Troy. Gabriella was sitting up, breathing heavily. "I'm so sorry, Gabriella – I came to watch TV because I couldn't sleep-,"

"No, no, it's okay," said Gabriella weakly. "I couldn't really sleep either, so I came out here... I'm sorry-,"

"No, I'm sorry-," Troy stopped and laughed. "Look at us, tripping over ourselves to apologize. How about this? I'm not sorry, and you're not sorry. Deal?"

Gabriella giggled slightly. "Deal." She scooted over and patted the space next to her. "Wanna sit with me?"

Troy grinned. "Sure." He sat down next to her and she immediately leaned against his chest. She threw some of the blanket around him and they lay there for a long time, waiting for sleep to find them.

But it didn't. After about a half an hour of them just holding each other, Gabriella's phone rang from the coffee table.

Gabriella gasped and threw herself forward. She picked up the phone and looked at the caller ID.

"Who'd be calling you this late?" asked Troy groggily, checking the clock on the DVD player. It was one thirty.

"The hospital," whispered Gabriella. She pressed the Call button and put the phone to her ear. "H-hello?" There a pause, then, "Yes?"

Troy watched Gabriella's face, hoping for some sign on why they were calling her, but it was blank; emotionless.

Gabriella was silent for a long, long time. Then she said softly, "Oh my God."

Troy put a comforting hand on her shoulder and squeezed it, trying to soothe her.

"Oh my God!" she screamed, and then started bawling. "Yes, I'll be right there!" She hung up the phone and sobbed into her arms.

Troy put his arms around her, and Gabriella was thankful that he wasn't one of those people that were always like "What is it? What happened?"

Suddenly, she jumped up the couch and said urgently, "Troy, we have to go to the hospital! Now!"

He didn't ask questions. Troy just ran into her room, grabbed a pair of shoes and a jacket for her and then a pair of shoes and jacket for himself. He handed them to her, grabbed his cell phone and keys and led Gabriella out the door.

She sobbed in the passenger seat all the way to the hospital as she explained to him what happened. "Th-they said something was wrong. That they'd f-found something th-that they h-hadn't noticed be-before," she wailed. "They don't know if she's g-going to make it!"

"Of course she'll make it," said Troy firmly, even though he wasn't too sure himself.

They reached the hospital in record time and ran into the lobby.

"Hello, we need to see Eva Montez?" asked Gabriella breathlessly, tears still streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry, but Miss Montez is not accepting any visitors," said the grumpy receptionist.

"Look, you better let me see my daughter or I swear I will-," Gabriella started to scream, but then a voice to their right spoke.

"Miss Montez?"

Gabriella spun around and came face-to-face with a woman who had bright red hair that was tied up into a bun. "Yes, are you the one who called?"

"Yes, I'm Dr. Schector," said the woman. "Come with me, your daughter is over here."

She led Troy and Gabriella through a big pair of double doors and down a few hallways. Troy felt his skin crawl as they passed patients in the emergency room. He'd always hated hospitals.

They stopped in front a huge blue door but didn't go in. Dr. Schector turned around and said, "Miss Montez, something has happened-,"

"What is it? Just tell me!" she screeched. "Is my daughter going to be okay?"

Dr. Schector paused, and then said, "I'm so sorry, Miss Montez."

Troy felt his stomach disappear, and said hoarsely, "What do you mean?"

Dr. Schector sighed. "It turns out there Eva had another hole in her skull that went unnoticed by the other doctors during surgery. The hole was causing the brain to lose oxygen. By the time we discovered it... it was too late."

"No!" screamed Gabriella, crumpling to the ground. Troy bent down and embraced her as she wept. "No, it can't be true! You can save her! I can't lose her!"

"I'm so, so sorry, Miss Montez," said Dr. Schector quietly, a tear rolling down her cheek. She cleared her throat, brushed it away, and said, "Eva is in here. She's awake, and I think it would be good for both of you to see her before she..." The doctor broke off.

Gabriella leapt up and ran through the door without a backwards glance.

She scanned the room and quickly found Eva lying in a bed on the far wall. Her eyes were closed, and Gabriella's heart froze, but as she got closer she saw her chest moving up and down, slowly.

Eva was a mess. She had an IV in each of her wrists, a huge bandage around her right arm, a bandage around her head, and a tube up her nose. Gabriella felt her heart break just looking at her.

"Eva?" she asked quietly.

Eva's eyes flew open. Her brown eyes were filled with pain and fright, but when they found Gabriella's, they seemed to relax. "Hi, mommy."

"Ooh, look at you," whispered Gabriella, tears streaming down her face. She put her hand to her daughter's cheek; it was ice cold. "You're freezing."

"Mommy, I'm sorry," said Eva quietly.

"What?" asked Gabriella. "Honey, you have nothing to be sorry about."

Eva nodded, tears filling her eyes.

"I'm sorry for making you cry,"

"Oh, sweetie," Gabriella leaned forward and kissed the top of her head. "It's because I love you."

"But I hate it when you cry," said Eva sadly. "You've been crying a lot. It makes me wanna cry too..."

Gabriella smiled weakly. She forced herself to stop crying; at least not while she was still with Eva. She would not let her daughter leave this world crying. "I'm sorry."

"Mommy, are you gonna be happy?"

She blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"When I go? Will you still be happy?"

"You're not going anywhere,"

Eva nodded. "Mommy, I heard the doctor's talking. They said they're losing me."

"Honey..."

"Mommy, I don't want you to be sad,"

Gabriella paused. "Well, Eva, of course I'm going to be sad-,"

"But I don't want you to. I want you to be happy,"

"Eva, I love you. I can't be happy if you're not with me," Gabriella tried to explain.

"But you have Troy,"

When Gabriella ran into the room, she left Troy and Dr. Schector outside, standing awkwardly.

"Are you family?" the doctor asked.

"Well, I'm really good friends with Gabriella,"

The doctor nodded understandingly. "I'm terribly sorry."

Troy took a deep, shaky breath and nodded. He didn't know Eva, but he felt like crying. He couldn't imagine that Gabriella had to go through all of this.

The doctor then walked away slowly, without saying anything, and a few seconds later Troy's phone started to vibrate in his pocket.

Wondering who on earth would be calling him now, Troy looked around for any doctors or nurses – not wanting to get yelled at – and answered his phone.

"Troy?" came Sharpay's voice. "Oh my God, I hope I didn't wake you!"

"No, no, you didn't," said Troy quietly. "Sharpay, why are you calling?"

"Chad told us about Gabriella," said Sharpay, her voice shaking. "I can't believe it... I couldn't sleep, it was all I was thinking about-,"

"I know," said Troy. "But Sharpay, I need to go-,"

"Where are you?" she demanded. "Why are you whispering? Do you have company?" Then Sharpay gasped excitedly. "Is Gabriella over? Aww, you guys-,"

"No, Sharpay," hissed Troy. "Did Chad tell you what happened to Gabriella's daughter?"

"No..."

"She was shot. I'm here at the hospital with Gabriella."

Sharpay gasped again, but this time in horror. "She was-,"

The doors opened and Gabriella reappeared, her eyes red and her face screwed up, as if trying not to cry. She beckoned Troy inside and whispered shakily, "She wants to s-say good-bye to you."

"I gotta go Sharpay," said Troy. He hung up the phone and turned it off while following Gabriella inside the room.

It was very dimly lit, with the only light coming from a lamp above Eva's head. Troy heart seemed to explode when he saw her. He was hurting so much – he could barely imagine Gabriella's feelings. He didn't know how she was still standing upright.

"Hi, Troy," said Eva softly. Her voice was filled with pain.

"Hey, Eva," said Troy quietly, leaning forward to kiss the top of her head. "How are you holding up?"

Eva shrugged. "Pretty good for my condition, I guess."

Troy glanced at Gabriella. Despite the situation, he couldn't help but marvel at Eva's intelligence and maturity. But then again, look at her mother.

"Troy, I wanted to tell you to stay with mommy," said Eva wisely. "My mommy needs someone to love."

Troy and Gabriella looked at each other.

"I think you can make my mom happy,"

"Eva-,"

"Please? For me?"

Troy looked deep into Eva's eyes and saw pleading.

"I don't like it when my mommy is sad. Or when she cries."

Gabriella sank to the floor, hiding her face in her arms. She was shaking from silent sobs, as though trying to hide them from Eva.

"Of course," said Troy, looking Eva in the eye.

Eva smiled weakly and let out a breath. She leaned back onto her pillow and closed her eyes.

"Eva?" Gabriella stood up on her knees. "Eva, no, please!" she sobbed. "Don't go!"

"I'm sorry mom," said Eva softly, her eyes still closed. "Don't cry..."

"Eva, don't be sorry!" Gabriella cried, tears flowing from her eyes as if they were waterfalls. "Just don't leave me – I love you, Eva!"

"I love you, too, mommy..." said Eva, so quietly it was almost inaudible.

There was a long beeeeeeeeeeep from the machine next to Eva. Troy looked at it and saw a straight line running across the screen, with a 0 by it.

Gabriella sobbed and gripped her daughter's hand, screaming, "Eva! No! Please come back! Eva, I love you! Don't leave me!"

Troy gently pulled Gabriella into her arms and let him sob into his chest as they fell to the ground together. Troy leaned his head back against the bed and felt tears drip down his nose onto Gabriella's head. She was crying harder than he'd ever seen anyone cry in his life. It didn't seem as if she'd ever stop. She was coughing and sputtering and sniffing into Troy.

A few nurses ran in, drawn from the beeping sound, and made Gabriella and Troy get up.

"Where are you taking her?" yelled Gabriella, still in Troy's arms as they backed away.

"We're going to take her body to the morgue," said a nurse sadly. "We have a room to keep her body before we send her there in the morning."

"No, please, not yet!" screamed Gabriella hysterically. "Not my baby – she's not gone yet!"

The nurses slowly removed the wires and tubes from Eva so they could wheel her out.

"Troy, make them stop!" Gabriella cried. "She's not gone yet! Don't let them take her there!"

Troy's throat was tight. He didn't know if he could speak, but he had to. "I'm sorry, Gabriella – but she's gone."

"No!" she shrieked, collapsing onto him so that they both crashed into the floor. Two nurses wheeled the body out while the third turned off all the machines.

Gabriella started to thrash wildly against Troy. "No! She's not dead!" she gasped hysterically, twisting and flailing left and right. "I won't let them take her there – Troy, stop them-,"

"Gabriella," said Troy firmly, tears leaking out of his eyes. He rolled on top of her and held her under him as she continued to squirm. "Gabriella, you're in shock," his voice squeaked from his tight throat. "Please, Gabriella, calm down."

"My baby's dead!" said Gabriella wildly, obviously not taking in a word from Troy. "She's gone, Troy!"

"I know, Gabriella!" Troy let out an involuntary sob, which, above everything, caused Gabriella to stop thrashing. "Gabriella – you have to stay strong. Eva didn't want this to happen to you."

Gabriella stayed still, breathing heavily. It seemed as though she had cried every tear. She just sat under him, hiccuping.

Troy, breathing heavily from trying to restrain Gabriella, slowly got off of her and helped her up. He led her out of the room slowly. Her face was blank, and it almost seemed as if what was happening had finally hit her, and her grief was now beyond tears.

They were met on the way out by Dr. Schector. "They're taking Eva's body to the morgue tomorrow morning. We have a bunch being sent over." She looked at Gabriella sympathetically. "I'm terribly sorry for your loss. We did everything we could."

Gabriella didn't say or do anything. Troy wasn't even sure if she was aware of Dr. Schector in front of them. Troy thanked her and led her out to his car.

As they drove home, he kept glancing at Gabriella, afraid she was going to explode and start crying again.

Troy led her into his house when they got there a few minutes later, and once they were in the house, Gabriella threw herself against the wall so hard that a picture of Troy's parents came crashing down to the ground, shattering.

"Gabriella!"

She was sobbing again, but not the hysterical, insane cries from before. It seemed as though she knew what was going on now, and was aware of her surroundings. She cried against the wall, slowly sliding down until she was sprawled next to the smashed picture of Mr. and Mrs. Bolton. "I'm sorry Troy..." she cried softly. She sniffed loudly and then wailed, "Eva's gone! Troy... why..."

"I don't know why," said Troy quietly as the tears began to spill from his own eyes. He leaned down next to her and stroked her hair.

Gabriella took a deep breath, trying to get control of her emotions.

"Gabriella... I think maybe you should call you mom,"

She nodded, her eyes still watery, and put her hands on the ground to help herself up. But, in her grief, she forgot about the shards of glass littering the ground from the broken picture frame, and her hands both got slashed.

She didn't wince, cringe, or even cry out. She just held up her hands and watched the blood seep down her palms and onto her arms.

Troy, on the other hand, had leapt up, ran into the kitchen, reached into the back of a cabinet to pull out a first-aid kit – which was there thanks to his mother's nagging – and streaked back to Gabriella.

He took out a long roll of bandages and wrapped up her hands, being gentle but firm. Gabriella just stared at her hands the whole time, her face oddly expressionless.

As Troy led her into the living room to sit on the couch, Gabriella turned to him and said, "It didn't hurt, Troy. Why didn't it hurt?" Her voice seemed void of emotion.

"Well," said Troy uncomfortably. He didn't like this side of his old friend. "Probably because you've taken such an emotional blow so recently."

Gabriella nodded blankly.

"Um, here," Troy handed her his home phone. "Are you gonna call your mom?"

She nodded miserably. Taking the phone from him, she slowly dialed her moms number. Gabriella put the phone to her ear and listened to it ring five times before her mother finally answered it. "Hello?" she asked sleepily.

"Hi, mami," said Gabriella quietly. "It's Gabi."

"Gabi?" asked her mom tiredly, as if not quite understanding. "What are you doing calling this early? It's four thirty a.m." Her mom paused. "Which means it about two thirty a.m. there. Sweetie, what's going on?"

"Mom," said Gabriella tearfully. "Eva's gone."

"Gone?" repeated Miss Montez, perplexed. "What do you mean, gone? Did she run away?"

"She's..." she paused as tears started rolling down her cheeks. And here Troy had thought she was all cried out. "She's dead."

There was a long silence. "What?"

"She's dead, mom!" said Gabriella, suddenly sobbing again. "There was a shooting at her school today, and they couldn't save her! Mom, she's dead! My daughter is gone!"