First Date

Part Eight: Troubles and Fate

Troy became like loner after what happened to Gabriella. No one really heard what had happened since the dance. Did she suffer from a minor concussion? Was she actually dead? Only her mother really knew what had happened. School, seemed more quiet than usual. Sharpay just simply said, "I have no regrets…Gabriella asked for it."

"Shut up!" anyone would tell her. Sharpay was a bitch…but she didn't care.

Since the day of the dance, no one saw of Gabriella until Taylor received an unexpected call from Mrs. Montez.

"Hello, is the Mackenzie residence?" Mrs. Montez asked taking a slight even breath.

"Yes it is, Taylor Mackenzie speaking…would you like to talk to my mother or father? They're both home," Taylor answered politely.

"I'd like to talk to you…this is Mrs. Montez," Mrs. Montez said into the phone.

"Oh…Mrs. Montez…how is…umm…Gabriella?" stuttered Taylor holding the phone close to her ear.

"She's fine….minor concussion, you and your friends may come over if you like. Only to visit though…she's still in the hospital," Mrs. Montez answered abruptly. "She'll be back in school in around say…two weeks."

"Alright, I'll bring her, her homework then," Taylor said starting to pack a bag with the assignments she collected for Gabriella.

"Thank you, Taylor," Mrs. Montez said nicely. "You may visit her now; I'm on my way over to the hospital as well."

"Ok, see you in a few minutes, Mrs. Montez," Taylor said quickly into the phone. "Good bye."

"Good bye," Mrs. Montez said back. Taylor hung up the phone and Mrs. Montez started her car and was on her way to visit her daughter. Taylor stepped out into the bright day and looked at the sky. Taylor figured she'd tell the others later, besides Troy. Taylor took out her cell phone as she was walking to the hospital.

"Hello, who is this?" Troy's voice came from the other side of Taylor's phone.

"Hello, this is Taylor. Hi Troy," Taylor said normally.

"Oh…hi Taylor. What's up?" Troy asked.

"Gabriella's ok and we can go see her now," Taylor blurted out. Gabriella's name rang in Troy's head…he dropped his house phone of which he was speaking into. His face appeared blank and he was obviously spacing out.

"Troy? Troy? Are you there?" Taylor asked immediately when she heard no response. A few minutes later, of no reply, she hung up her cell phone and dropped it in her tote bag along with Gabriella's homework. Taylor sighed as she walked through the lobby of the hospital. Taylor stopped in the small gift shop and bought Gabriella a card and stuffed bear.

---At Troy's house---

Troy was out in his backyard. Playing basketball, and to top that he was missing every shot he'd try to make in the hoop outside. Mr. Bolton looked at his son from the door way, remembering the same thing happened after Troy's friends talked him into saying mean things and not noticing that Gabriella was watching him insult her. This time…Troy looked more upset…mentally. Troy figured he'd give it a rest and he walked up to his room.

"Is everything ok, Troy?" his father asked when Troy was on his way up the stairwell.

"Sure," Troy mumbled.

"Sure?" Jack Bolton on asked.

"Yeah…sure," Troy mumbled back.

"Alright…if you need anything just---." Troy's room door slammed and his father just sighed and walked away. Troy fell on his bed, his head to his pillows and he didn't look like "normal" Troy…he looked upset and depressed.

---At the local Albuquerque hospital----

Taylor found her way up to Gabriella's room after telling a nurse that she was a friend of Gabriella's. Taylor walked in to find Gabriella in a good and healthy looking condition.

"Hey Gabby!" Taylor's voice was smooth and soft; you could tell she was trying not to loose her cool.

"Hello," Gabriella put up a hand to wave.

"Hi Mrs. Montez," Taylor saw Mrs. Montez standing in the room corners chair.

"I bought you a gift," Taylor held up the stuffed bear and card in one hand. "Oh, and your homework too." In her other hand Taylor held up her tote bag with Gabriella's homework.

"Thanks so much, Taylor," Gabriella said looking out her window.

"Her condition is good; she's just trying to regain what she had lost when she was unconscious. Gabriella is kind of…in an unstable disposition. She now has a monotone act going on and she shows no sign of emotion…the doctor says she'll be normal within a couple weeks," Mrs. Montez noted just to make sure Taylor was aware of Gabriella's minor condition.

"Alright," Taylor said, she walked over the bed of which Gabriella was prompted on. "Here…I hope you feel better." Taylor took out the books and put Gabriella's gift out on the bed.

"Thanks," Gabriella said, her monotone kicking in. "How are the others?"

"Definitely worried and Troy's just…well, he's just different now," Taylor truthfully stated.

"Troy…." Gabriella mumbled.

"What?" Taylor asked, she obviously didn't hear.

"Nothing," Gabriella mumbled louder. A nurse walked in, "Visiting hours are over now."

"We should go, Taylor," Mrs. Montez said gently.

"Ok, get better Gab. I'll tell the others to visit you soon," Taylor said walking out the door with Mrs. Montez.

"She's different…isn't she?" Mrs. Montez asked Taylor as they both walked into the elevator.

"Yeah, she is," Taylor agreed pushing on the 'L' for Lobby button.

"She'll be better," Mrs. Montez said pushing away a slight tear with her finger.

"Ok," Taylor said.

---East High: the next day---

Troy was still acting like a loner but, he did remember what Taylor has said to him over the phone. He walked to school today and had his hands stuffed into his jean pockets. Troy had a blanked mind; finals were next week along with that new play Mrs. Darbus was putting on.

"Hey Caption!" Chad said stuffing a basketball into Troy's chest lightly. Troy said nothing.

"Yo! TROY!" Chad yelled, he could tell his friend was spacing out. Troy blinked and his eyes went wide and then to normal size.

"Hi Chad," Troy mumbled.

"Dude, what's with you?" Chad asked obviously alarmed.

"Huh?" Troy asked meanwhile passing the basketball to Zeke.

"Dude, you space, you never answer to people, and you've become a loner. You've been so different since the Gabriella incident," Chad explained.

"Shut up about Gabriella!" Troy said instantly when he heard her name.

"Whoa, sorry," Chad said stepping back.

"Go away!" Troy screamed, and then he ran off.

---Gabriella's room in the hospital---

Gabriella looked out her window, spacing again. Thoughts streamed through her mind.

Troy?

Spring Fling?

What happened? Did I fall? Why is Sharpay concerned?

Sirens? Ambulance? Hospital of Albuquerque?

What happened?

"Ms. Montez? Ms. Montez" a voice was interrupting Gabriella's mid thoughts.

"What? Oh, umm…hello," Gabriella crashed out of her spacing thoughts.

"Here is your lunch," the nurse put a tray on Gabriella's lap.

"Oh, thanks," Gabriella said sighing.

"Are you ok, Ms. Montez?" the nurse asked.

"I guess so," Gabriella said, she then felt dizzy…her eyes were blurring, and she fell back and was in deep sleep.

"Oh no," the nurse shuddered out of the room and got Gabriella's doctor.

"What is she saying?" the nurse asked.

"It sounds like 'Roy' or something?" the doctor listened close to Gabriella's mouth.

"Go and ask the front desk to call Mrs. Montez!" ordered the doctor. "I'll go get the other doctors to come and help me." Gabriella fell to the back pillow and she kept mumbling a name that the doctors were unsure of. Maybe she still was sick from the concussion?

---A couple days later: East High: End of school---

"Why haven't you visited Gabriella yet!" snapped Taylor angrily to Troy.

"Well, I've been really busy…finals are coming up, Taylor. And, you know I'm not that smart…so I have to study," Troy said, he was on the road to getting back to normal.

"Well, did you know she's been having weird attacks lately? Three already," Taylor asked tapping her foot.

"What!" Troy said brushing his hand through his bangs. "Are you serious!"

"No duh," Taylor muttered and quietly she said, "Smart kid."

"Well, I guess I should go see her," Troy said thinking for awhile.

"NOW WOULD BE GOOD!" Taylor yelled in an almost scream.

"Whoa, sorry. Spacing again…I've been doing that lately," Troy stammered.

"Yeah…everyone can tell," Taylor folded her arms across her chest. "Now, go."

"Ok," with that Troy ran all the way to the local hospital.

"Hello, please tell me your name and who you would like to see," the lady at the front desk said politely.

"Troy Bolton, I'm here to see Gabriella Montez," Troy said clearly.

"Oh…the Ms. Montez has just had another 'attack' that you might of heard of. You many visit her in." The lady checked her watch. "Say around ten minutes."

"Ok, thank you," Troy said simply.

---Troy visiting Gabriella---

Troy was now aloud to go into Gabriella's room. As he was in the elevator and then in the hallway towards Gabriella's room, her mom was there talking to Gabriella's doctor.

"She's been mumbling some name…does she have a friend or a dog or a pet or relative with the name like…..Roy?" the doctor asked.

"Well…the neighbor's kid's name is Roy…but we don't really interact with them," Mrs. Montez said. Troy was about to walk into Gabriella's room. Mrs. Montez pointed to Troy, "IT'S HIM! HE'S TROY!"

"Yes, Troy…she's probably saying Troy," the doctor said finally realizing this.

"I'm Troy!" Troy said confused.

"You're the name that Ms. Montez has been mumbling when she's having those strange attacks," the doctor explained. "You can go in now."

"Ok, umm…thanks," Troy smiled, then he walked in. "Hi Gabriella." Gabriella's eyes grew wide.

End Part Eight.

Previews for Part Nine:

The sky looked dark this night…but, it was pretty cool for a late summer's day. Troy had on cargo shorts, his hands in his pockets.

"AH," Troy muttered, he looked at the sky, it was starting to rain. "Shit." In the distance he saw a girl, with wavy hair. It looked like an illusion or shadow at first. When the girl came into view, Troy's eyes were wide and smile was drawn across his lips.