Closed Book

Disclaimer: I don't own HSM.

AN: Don't ask me where this is leading because honestly I couldn't tell you. We will see what comes out of my fingers.

Troy Bolton

We have breakthrough! Gabriella has revealed something more to me than I ever hoped for. But now I'm in so deep I don't know if I can get back out. Don't ask me what that means.

So after I told Gabriella I was glad her mind was talking to me she smiled at me and we just kind of sat there in silence until the final bell rang meaning time for home.

She sniffled and tried to compose herself. Wiping her eyes and fixing her hair.

"So, how do I look?" Beautiful.

"Like you've been crying…" I'm not going to lie to her; I owe her that much after all she's given me.

"Shit. I was afraid of that." Of course you were. "What am I going to do?"

"We are going to stay up here until most of the school leaves so you can go home without raising any suspicion from our classmates."

She smiled up at me. "Why are you so nice?" I'm not usually.

"You bring out the best in me." Hey, I think we are flirting. Interesting twist…

"You don't have to stay up here." I know that.

"I know…" Hold up, an idea is brewing… "Wait!" She jumped about 3 feet at my exclamation.

"Sorry for startling you, I just got a better idea than sitting here."

"And that would be?"

"Come on." I grab hold of her hand and we start running.

"Troy! What are you doing, I can't go down there!"

"Oh yes you can. Come on" We are now running through the halls and the only noise I hear is her excited laughter coming from behind me.

We finally reach my car and are doubled over laughing and trying to catch our breath. Strangely enough I am still holding her hand.

"So that was your brilliant plan?" She spoke after our laughter calmed down.

"I thought it worked wonders. Now anyone who saw us will just think you were crying because of your laughter. No suspicion rose." I'm a genius.

She laughs again. It's the most beautiful sound on the planet. "Why were even laughing?" I honestly don't know.

"Uhhh…because of the faces our classmates were making?" That's weak Bolton.

"Is that the best you can come up with? I didn't even notice their faces."

"Me neither." I can tell she's about to get serious. Oh well it was fun while it lasted.

"Thanks Troy, really."

"Don't worry about it. I'm just listening."

"Sometimes that's all a person needs is to be listened to. It's just different to be the listenee rather than the listener."

"And I'm not used to be the listener myself."

"Well you're doing a pretty good job." I thought so.

"Why thank you."

"Well I gotta get heading home, I'll see you tomorrow?" For sure.

"Yeah, although I think we should probably go to class next time" There's that laugh again.

"Probably" Damn, I was wishing she would say we could skip again to talk more.

So, since then I haven't had a serious conversation with Gabriella. We talk more but it's mostly just joking around like that day we went to the park. She still hasn't told me her problem that is continuing to eat away at her but I'm sure she will soon. My plan now is just to make her comfortable around me and trust me. It seems to be working. Besides, I am piecing together my own clues of her problem:

- Involves Pine Street?

- Something in text reminder her?

- Is really big and on going?

That's all I can remember for now. And notice the ? at the end of every statement. None of them really make sense.

Gabriella Montez

"Do you even care about this family?" My mom is yelling at my dad. What he did this time is unknown. It's not like they ever actually talk about the problem. It's more just throwing words around to aggravate the other.

"Of course I care about this family! Everything I do is for this family!"

"What about Gabriella?!" What about me?

"What about her?"

"Do you have any idea how our constant fighting is affecting her?" No no no! Don't fight about me… stop!

"Key word there…our… it isn't just me in these fights. This is just as much your fault as my own."

"You are the reason I fight! Gabriella cries every time we fight. Must you keep doing things to provoke fights?"

"Are you saying I make my own daughter cry!?" Oh great, mom told him I cry.

"That is exactly what I'm saying!!" No, no it's not. Daddy, she didn't mean it.

"Well then I'm leaving! Maybe our daughter can live a happy life now!" What? Daddy's leaving because of me?

I wake up startled and hyperventilating. Every since I unlocked that memory to tell Troy I've been dreaming about it. This isn't good.

I just heard something fall downstairs.

"Mom?" I call out. It's the middle of the night, what is she doing up?

No answer…

Okay, come on Gabriella it's just your mom. Get your ass out of bed and go check it out.

…

Fine, I'll get up.

Downstairs now and I see my mom lying on the ground in the kitchen with food fallen beside her.

"Mom?....Mom!" Phone, I need a phone! Come on Gabriella, stay calm. Get a phone and call 911 they will tell you what to do. I'm shaking, I can't stop! GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF! YOU'RE MOM IS ON THE FLOOR UNCONSIOUS! CALL 911!

"911 what's your emergency?"

"MY MOM IS UNCONSCIOUS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO! TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" Why isn't she telling me what to do?!!!

"Listen I need you to calm down. Okay? Tell me where you live." I tell her.

"HURRY!"

"Someone is one their way. Now, I need you to do something for me."

"What?"

"If your mom breathing and does she have a pulse?"

"Yes, but she's still unconscious!" just then the paramedic comes rushing through the door, and the dispatcher on the phone is quickly forgotten and hung up on.

Troy Bolton

I am suddenly awoken by a pounding on my front door.

1:30am. Are you kidding me? I better get the door before my parents wake up – they would not be nice.

"What do you want?" I fling open the door to notice a broken down Gabriella crying on my door step.

"Gabriella? What's wrong?" I'm at her side with my arms around her. She's still crying.

"---my—mom." Her mom? Does this have anything do to with her problem.

"Your mom? What happened?" Apparently the thought is too much for her to handle because her sobs overtake her ability to speak once again.

"Come on, let's get you inside." I help her up and led her into my kitchen. Once she gets a glass of water into her she starts to calm down.

"Now, are you going to tell me what happened?"

"I woke up because I heard something from downstairs. When I went down to see what it was I found my mom on the floor unconscious. She wasn't responding to me so I just flipped out and called 911. She's at the hospital now…" Then what is Gabriella doing here?

"Then why are you here instead of being there?"

"Because I can't do it. I can't spend one more second at the hospital!" Did I miss something here?

"Gabriella, how often do you go to the hospital?" Please say I'm wrong, please!

"….once a week. Sometimes twice." Is she sick? She better not be sick.

"Wha-, why??"

"My mom…" Okay, wave of relief. But still confused.

"I'm going to need more than that."

She sighed. This is definitely the problem that's been eating at her. "My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer just under 2 months ago. I've been going with her for her chemo sessions. Her…episode tonight was a result of the chemo. And just the other day we found out that the tumour is growing. It doesn't look good Troy." Wow. That is quite the problem.

"Come on." I grab her hand and lead her to the door grabbing my jacket and keys on the way.

"Troy, where are we going?" She's clearly exhausted.

"We are going to the hospital."

"Didn't I just say I couldn't spend another second there."

"Yes, but. You're mom is going to wake up in the hospital without any idea of what's going on and I can guarantee you that the only person she is going to want to see is you. And if you aren't going to take yourself there then I'm going to make you go." I have so many questions for her. All of which are going to have to wait until the nightmare night is over.

We have been in the waiting room now for 2 hours. We haven't talked much but I have a feeling that silence is all that's needed tonight.

"Gabriella Montez?" Wait over…

"That's me."

"Your mother is awake now. You can go see her."

"Thank you." Gabriella gets up. Should I come? No, I should stay. Gabriella turns to look at me.

"Troy, I'm going to need you in there" She made my decision for me.

We walk into the hospital room to find Gabriella's mom sitting up with a weak smile on her face.

"Hey sweetie."

"Hey mom."

"Did I scare you? I'm sorry."

"Mom, don't apologize. It wasn't your fault."

"You are too good to me." She notices me for the first time. "Who's this?"

"Oh, that's Troy. Troy this is my mom."

"Nice to meet you Troy. What brings you here this late hour?" Good question.

Gabriella jumped in before I could answer. "Troy was out for a drive and saw me walking and offered me a ride." Thank goodness she's the queen of excuses.

"Oh, well thank you Troy."

"Anytime."

"Mom, you should get some rest. I'll be back after breakfast to get you out of here."

"Alright. Goodnight sweetie. Night Troy."

"Goodnight mom." After a quick kiss on her mother's forehead we are out the door.

Once we are out the doors Gabriella smiles. "God I hate hospitals." She must have just needed to see her mom was alright. I like this Gabriella much better.

"So, what do you want to do now?" Please don't say you want to go home.

"Well it is 4am…"

"Early breakfast?" Say yes.

"Sure."

AN: man oh man. I planned on including breakfast in this chapter but it got way too long. So next time will be breakfast and answers… I can't wait to write it.