Chapter 8
A Time to Panic
"Is she okay?"
Troy took a deep breath.
"She will be," he answered softly. He watched as Taylor's forehead wrinkled in anger. She pushed him.
"You're always saying that! You're always saying she'll get better and she hasn't! Do you understand? There is something wrong with her Troy." Troy took a loose hold on her arms.
"Taylor please. This is the first bout in a long time. She's been doing really well." Taylor stared up at him, the glint in her eyes indicating she wasn't fully convinced.
"I want the old Gabriella back," she whispered sadly. "You remember? The one that was emotionally stable!"
"Come here Taylor," Troy took Taylor's hand and led her towards the slider that led out into her backyard. Chad and Gabriella were ankle deep in a tin tub of soapy water, an impatient Mozart between them. Gabriella giggled hysterically as she held the wet dog around the neck as Chad tried, with little success, to scrub her down. To make matters worse, Docker was circling the tub anxiously trying everything to foil their plan of ever getting Mozart clean by attempting to climb into the way too small tub.
"Chad!" Gabriella let out a shriek as he lost his footing and slipped. Mozart took off into the yard, bounding after Docker, leaving a sudsy trail behind her. Gabriella found herself in hysterics as she was now holding Chad around the neck instead of Mozart. He had the most irritated look on his face but her laugh was contagious and soon the two found themselves in the middle of a full fledged soap fight. Taylor couldn't stop grinning.
"That's Gabriella," she whispered sadly, her arms crossed over her chest. She looked up at Troy. "That's our friend. I can't help but…just feel like something else happened that night you know? We lost a part of our Gabriella that night." Troy nodded slowly and placed his hand on Taylor's shoulder.
"Why don't you go outside? I'll be out there in a minute." Taylor paused for a minute before opening up the slider and heading into the yard. Troy watched as she was tugged into the tub by Chad and given a generous dousing of soapy water by Gabriella. He couldn't help but admire, as he often times did, how beautiful she was. Her chocolate brown eyes were always shining with an excitement for life. As he watched her giggle and romp around with Taylor and Chad he thought about Taylor's words. About something more having happened the night of Kelsi's death. Everything had been so rushed and crazy…had there been something he missed? Something crucial? He had to think…even though a sharp pang shot through his chest. Her voice still rang clear in his head.
Had to remember…
After they had watched Gabriella and Kelsi drive off in Troy's car the winds picked up and rain splattered against Troy and Chad as they headed towards Taylor's car.
"Would you two hurry it up?" Taylor scolded impatiently already sitting in the front seat. She handed Chad the keys as he climbed into the drivers' seat.
"Gee thanks guys," Zeke rolled his eyes playfully as him and Troy climbed into the backseat. Troy stared out the window, rubbing his hands together anxiously as Chad started down the slick road. The sky was jet black, even blacker then it normally was this time of night. The rain pounded against the roof of the car, growing louder and louder as they went almost as if wanting to purposely torment Troy.
"Troy…what's wrong?" Taylor noticed her friend fidgeting around uncomfortably in the backseat.
"Gabriella…," was all that made its way out of his mouth still fidgeting, eyes still glued to the awful weather.
"She'll be fine man. The only driver I know that's more cautious then that girl is my 82 year old great grandmother. And she hasn't driven in at least 3 years." Zeke and Taylor laughed.
"One has absolutely nothing to do with the other," Taylor giggled. Troy faked a small smile.
"I guess your right."
A few minutes later they arrived at Taylor's house, Chad parking the car up in the driveway.
"Where are your parents Taylor?" Zeke asked his voice raised to a volume a lot louder then his norm so Taylor could hear him over the raging winds. Troy lifted the collar of his t-shirt, Zeke and Chad following suit as they quickly followed Taylor into her house. Docker skidded into the entrance hall barking like mad.
"SETTLE DOWN YOU OVERGROWN POLKA DOT!" Taylor shrieked. The Dalmatian gave her his signature loopy grin before attacking Chad's face with his wet tongue.
"Parents?" Zeke repeated, Taylor frowning at the growing excitement in his voice.
"Are coming home after my dad's business party," Taylor said. "So don't be getting any ideas!"
"Wanna bake some cookies?"
"Sounds good to me…come on…CHAD! YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT TONGUE HAS BEEN!" Taylor yanked a fully slobbered up Chad to his feet.
"Gross…," Chad moaned slightly as Taylor drug him to the kitchen. She turned back to Troy who hadn't let the front door yet.
"You coming Troy?"
"Huh? Oh yeah…yeah I'm coming."
2 hours had gone by. Then 2 and a half. Troy was making himself sick with worry. Even Taylor and Chad started getting uneasy feelings in the pit of their stomachs. Zeke had long since gone home. Troy paced in front of them, his cell phone clutched tightly between both hands.
"Where could she be?" he whispered, his voice low and full of rising emotion. He had tried calling her 4 times. Every time he got her voicemail. Gabriella always answered her phone. It wouldn't have taken this long. Something had to have happened.
"Maybe she was tired and went home," Taylor tried suggesting even though she highly doubted the words herself. That wasn't Gabriella. She said she was going to come and get Troy. And knowing her best friend she would have been more then anxious to get back home with Troy so she could have him to herself.
"Try to sit down Troy. Let's think about this for a minute," Chad was trying to think logically. But doing so was extremely hard when he knew deep down something had definitely gone awry. Everyone's heart seemed to skip a beat as Troy's phone rang out through the otherwise quiet of Taylor's living room. Troy wasted no time in getting the phone up to his ear.
"Gabriella!"
"Troy….," Gabriella was sobbing. "Troy…please help me Troy."
"Gabriella! What's the matter? What happened?" Troy tried keeping his voice calm but it was a useless effort. Taylor and Chad looked on helplessly as their friend frantically spoke to Gabriella, only getting his end of the conversation which wasn't much they could go by.
"It's Kelsi," Gabriella's voice sounded raw and scratched. Troy couldn't remember a time where he had ever heard anybody sound so hysterical. So scared. Just saying those two words sounded like it was draining her of everything she had. "The car…the rain…the road was slick." Gabriella wasn't making much sense but Troy's head was buzzing and all he could think about was getting to her. "I'm at the hospital. Please Troy." Chad gripped Taylor's hand tightly as audible sobs were heard out of Troy's phone. A lump steadily rose in Troy's throat as he pictured Gabriella's small figure being wracked with pain. She was able to tell him what hospital they were at. Where he could find her. Troy glanced back at Taylor and Chad.
"I'll be right there Gabriella. Okay? I love you." Gabriella's voice came out tired and barely there. But the words came through all the same.
"I love you too."
AN:
I hope everyone had a safe holiday! I'm estimating the next update will be some time Sunday night or early Monday. But maybe just maybe I'll get a little bug in me tonight and you could be seeing the next installment as early as tomorrow morning : ) Thank you all for the wonderful reviews.
