A/N: Hey everyone. I can't believe that some of you are crying because of this story. It kind of makes me feel good that my work moves people to tears. Well…it's not good that you cried…oh never mind. You get the point. Anyway, here's the next chappie. I hope you all like it!

Chapter 10

After another day in the hospital, Gabriella went home. It was a Saturday so her mother was off. Her mother tried her hardest to help and care for Gabriella, but she really didn't want her mother to do anything for her. Gabriella just wanted to be alone. When she got home she limped up to her room and locked the door behind her. She also sort of locked herself away from the world.

Her room was the same. It was the same tidy room that she always had. The only difference was that it some how felt empty to her. She looked around it and saw her bulletin board. There were about a dozen pictures of her, Troy, Chad, and Taylor. She looked them over. When she saw them she turned around and flung herself onto her bed. She started crying, again.

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That Monday, Gabriella went back to school. Everyone was staring at her. She felt like all eyes were glaring at her broken leg and bruised face.

Gabriella went to her locker and started to do the combination. A girl by Gabriella's locker was talking to another girl. She knew that they were both cheerleaders because they had on the East High cheerleading uniform. She listened in to the conversation silently as she turned her combo.

"She was about to kill herself in the hospital when she learned that Troy was in a coma. The nurse stopped her before she could slash her wrists with a syringe."

Gabriella grumbled to herself. Just ignore her, she said to herself. She really didn't feel like confronting the girl.

"Too bad," she heard the other girl say. "I never really thought much of her. She was always really weird. She and that Taylor girl. Taylor was always so bitchy towards everyone! She'd act like she was so great just because she was smart. I'm not sure why Chad or Troy ever got involved with them."

"I've always hated Taylor. Ever since the 7th grade. She got me detention for sneaking in late. I'm glad I won't see her again!"

Gabriella got angry at that point. She turned to the girl and said, "Have you no decency? How dare you say that about Taylor! Her family has been through hell this week. She did not deserve to die! You two are the real bitches here!

"Whatever," the first girl said to Gabriella. "Why don't you just go kiss her if you love her so much."

The second girl rolled her eyes, "Lindsay, she can't!"

Gabriella felt herself get very warm with frustration. She grabbed the girl named Lindsay and slapped her right across her smug face. Before Lindsay could react her friend grabbed Gabriella and pinned her against the locker. Gabriella pushed her back with all her strength and Lindsay grabbed her and tried to slap her. Before she could hit her, a large hand grabbed Lindsay's wrist and roughly brought it down to her side. Lindsay stood there mouth agape.

A familiar voice said, "What the hell do you think your doing? She just got out of the hospital. Leave her the hell alone!"

Gabriella watched as the girls got their stuff together and left. She looked up and saw Chad holding her up with his unbroken hand by her arm. She snatched it away and said, "I could have handled it you know!"

Chad looked a little hurt when she snatched her arm out of his grasp. He then said, "From where I was standing you looked like you needed a little help."

"Well I didn't need it," Gabriella said as she grabbed her crutches. She made her way away from Chad. He didn't seem to get the hint so he followed.

"Hey Gabi," he said using her nickname. She paused in the corner of the hallway near the janitor's closet. She winced at that nickname. No one could call her that except for Taylor and Sharpay-her closest friends-, Troy, and her mom.

"What," she said as she turned around slightly annoyed.

"How are you doing?" he asked her awkwardly.

"Alright I guess," she responded as she shrugged. "How are you doing?" she asked politely even though she really didn't care how well he was doing.

"I'm not doing too well," he responded slowly. "The police might charge me with vehicular homicide. I don't know what to do! I don't want to go to jail!"

Gabriella looked at him softly. She really didn't know how she felt about him. He was one of her friends. He was Taylor's boyfriend. Was, she thought to herself miserably. I'm going to have to get used to saying Taylor and was in the same sentence.

"I'm not sure what you should do. But all I know is that you better tell the truth. Because I am not going to lie for you, Chad," her eyes softened and then she said, "Chad, was there something that you wanted to say to me?"

He looked down and said, "No, I was just hoping that you wouldn't be alienating me like Sharpay and Taylor's families are. No one will talk to me. Well, that's not true. Jason and Zeke will say a few things to me, but they aren't really supposed to. Kelsi and Sharpay don't want them talking to me." He paused and sighed to himself. Gabriella sort of felt sorry for him. She pulled him closer and gave him a stiff hug. It was sort of awkward at first because of her crutches and Chad's broken arm, but Chad tenderly put his broken arm and his uninjured arm around her and pulled her a little closer. He started to tear up a little bit. Gabriella had never seen him like this before. She felt so bad for him. They just held each other for a while in the hallway corner. She really didn't care about the bell that signaled that free period was over. She just felt obligated to comfort Chad.

"Gabriella?" she heard a voice say behind her. She turned still embracing Chad. Chad also turned to see who it was. Kelsi was standing there with Sharpay sitting beside her in her wheelchair. Gabriella let go of Chad and took a step back from him. Chad looked down. Gabriella smoothed out her shirt and smiled at Kelsi and Sharpay. Kelsi went over towards her and grabbed her arm firmly. Kelsi led her away and towards the bathroom as Sharpay wheeled herself behind them.

"What are you doing?" Kelsi asked Gabriella when they were finally able to have a private conversation.

"What do you mean what was I doing? I was giving him hug," she responded plainly.

Sharpay gave her a questioning look and said, "You just said on Friday that you thought he should go to jail, and now you are hugging the guy? He's a murderer, for Christ's sake!"

"Sharpay," Gabriella gave her stern look saying 'back off.'

"Gabriella," Kelsi said to her firmly. "He killed Taylor, Troy might never wake up because of him, and Sharpay is never going to walk again! This guy did this to your friends. And now you are going around and hugging the guy. Chad doesn't deserve any sympathy!"

"Kelsi," she said softly. "It was just a hug. We went through something horrible together. I deserve some comfort and so does he. Besides, he just rescued me from getting mauled by an evil cheerleader."

"What?" they both said together.

"I'll tell you guys later. I really do have to get to class now." With that Gabriella turned around and headed for the door. Kelsi and Sharpay followed and made their ways to their classrooms.