I Want You This Much
Chapter 7
Zeke rubbed Sharpay's back later that week.
"Baby, are you okay?" he asked.
She nodded, wiping her mouth. "I love you, Zeke," she reminded. Every since she kissed Chad, every other sentence she said was how much she loved him.
"I love you too," he said, pulling her onto his lap.
He kissed her temple and then muttered, "Oh, Shar'." He brushed a stray hair in front of her face behind her ear. Her body was drenched in sweat, her mouth was covered with dried vomit, and her eyes were filled with tears of exhaustion. "You poor thing. C'mon."
Zeke scooped Sharpay in his arms, walking off to their bedroom. She cried on his shoulder in distress of her three and a half month pregnancy and her kiss with Chad. He placed her in bed.
"I'll go call Gabby," he muttered, walking out of the room.
Sharpay continued to cry in her bed, staring up at the ceiling as her head became dizzy and once again her stomach churned.
After what seemed like ages, the phone rang. Sharpay picked it up and sighed at hearing Troy's voice.
"Sharpay!" he screamed. He sounded like he was crying.
"What is it? Are you okay?" Sharpay asked, sitting up too quickly and a wave of dizziness hit her again. She ignored it as she heard Troy sob.
"Gabby and James were in an accident. James's is fine, but Gabby..." his voice cracked.
Tears filled Sharpay's eyes, daring to ask, "But Gabby what?"
"Gabby died, Shar'," he cried.
She coughed, "I'm sorry... Did you just say what I thought you said?"
"Gabriella Cristina Bolton is dead! She died on impact when the semi hit her!" he yelled in a pained tone.
"Shhh... I'll be at your place in a few minutes," Sharpay swore before hanging up.
She got up and walked out to the living room to leave, ignoring her plagued dizziness.
"Where are you doing?" Zeke asked, looking up from the couch. She didn't reply. "Sharpay?"
He just followed her out to her minivan and she drove them to Gabriella and Troy's. She got out of the car, slamming her door shut. He winced before getting out. She didn't stop as she raced into the house.
Sharpay found Troy cuddled on the couch with his three week old son in his arms, tears falling down the new father's cheeks as he gazed at the newborn.
"Troy," she sighed, tears falling from her own eyes.
He looked up at her and let out a choked sob at seeing her face. She kissed his cheek and took James.
"Zeke..." she called.
Zeke ran to her side, "I'm here, Babe."
"Can you take James to the nursery... I want to talk with Troy," Sharpay asked.
He nodded and took James upstairs.
Sharpay sat next to Troy and took his hands in hers. "I want you to know that her death is my fault."
"Sharpay, a semi ran into the jeep. It's not your..."
"Zeke said he'd call Gabriella to help me. She was driving to help me, Troy, but it only led to her demise," she said, looking away.
He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.
"God. Why do all the guys I know have to be so perfect and hot?" she thought and then a mental image of Gabriella and Zeke popped into her head.
She pulled away and then ran before Troy could stop her. She ran until her legs were weak and then she sprinted until she collapsed, right in front of her brother's lawn.
"SHARPAY!"
She rolled her head to the side, finding Ryan and Kelsi running her aid. Her heart raced as her eyes closed into darkness and she remembered being in this same position a several months ago.