Author's Note: Hey guys. You've all been waiting very patiently for this chapter. So here it is. It's a lot longer than what my chapters are usually like but there you go. R&R!

Chapter 17: Matters of Life and Death

Taylor lifted her head of the pillow to look at Troy

Taylor: What?

Gabriella: What happened?

Troy:(a little stunned himself) He...he was walking on the path heading to the beach and he stepped onto the road, not looking where he was going and was run over by car.

Gabriella covers her mouth and Taylor sits up.

Taylor: Oh my god!

Troy: And...and the driver didn't even stop...he just kept driving.

Taylor: Is he seriously hurt?

Troy: I dunno but we gotta get down there. I'll call a cab.

Troy starts to call the taxi firm.

Gabriella: I better go find the others.

Taylor: We'll call them from the cab now lets go!

She grabs Troy by the arm and hurries them both out of the room. While they're walking to the elevator they run into Jason.

Jason: Hey guys, what's...

He's pushed into the open elevator by Taylor and Gabriella.

Jason: Whoa, hey, hey, what's the hurry?

Taylor hysterically explains the situation to Jason as the elevator moves and then they wait anxiously in the lobby for the cab to turn up.

When they are in the cab, Taylor starts to think the worst.

Taylor: What if he's really hurt?

Gabriella: I'm sure he'll be fine.

Taylor: But it would be my fault, he wouldn't have gone off so angry if it hadn't been for me!

Gabriella: It's not your fault he got ran over, Taylor.

Gabriella fails to call Kelsi for the third time.

Gabriella: Aaah, why isn't she picking up?

Troy: Has anyone actually seen Kelsi at all today?

The guys shake their heads.

Gabriella: Well she must be somewhere, where could she be?

Taylor: She said she was ill, maybe she's asleep.

Gabriella: Maybe. Any luck with Zeke?

Jason: No, he's not picking up. But that may be because he's expecting me to lecture him about earlier. Troy, you try.

Troy: Fine.

Troy calls Zeke. He doesn't pick up.

Troy: No, nothing.

Gabriella: I'll try.

Taylor: No I will, if he's gonna pick up to anyone, it'll be me.

Everyone's a little wary about this but allow her to call.

Zeke was lying on the grass by the lake, staring up at the clouds. He was starting to regret telling Chad about his feeling but he felt it was for the best. What was the worst that could happen after this?
Zeke's cell phone went off again. Jason had called about four times, probably to lecture him. Troy had even called but Zeke didn't feel like to talking to him either. He picked up the phone to see who it was. To his surprise it was Taylor. He answered.

Zeke: Taylor?

Taylor: ZEKE! Where the hell have you been?

Zeke: What?

Taylor: We've all been calling you for the last ten minutes!

Zeke: We?

Taylor: Yes! Jason and Troy!

Zeke: Well, I've been...

Taylor: Chad's been in an accident. He's in hospital.

Zeke: Oh my god, is he all right?

Taylor: We don't know but get your butt down to the hospital right now.

Then Zeke heard someone else talk to Taylor.

Taylor: Oh yeah, and if you could find Kelsi, that'd be very helpful...

Then Taylor hung up.

Troy, Gabriella, Taylor, Jason and Zeke were waiting in the reception for Chad's doctor to see to them.

Jason: He is gonna be alright, right?

Gabriella: I hope so.

Taylor: I don't know what I'd do if he died.

Troy: Hey, hey, don't talk like he's gonna die. He's probably gonna be fine.

Then a woman walked over.

Woman: Are you waiting to see Mr Danforth?

Everyone quickly stands up.

Troy: Yes, yes we are.

Woman: I'm Dr Lawson. I'm Chad's doctor. Would you follow me please?

Everyone walks after Dr Lawson who leads them to Chad's room.

Troy: Can i ask how you got my number?

Dr Lawson: Well when we found his cell phone, we immediately called his parents. Now we know you're not originally from this state so they told us to call Troy Bolton. Mr and Mrs Danforth are getting the next flight here to be with their son.

Troy: Oh, well that's good I suppose.

Dr Lawson opens the door to where Chad lies. Everyone is shocked to see him like this. Chad is lying on a hospital bed. There are deep cuts on his face and his arms, a cast around his left arm.

Taylor:(quietly) Oh my god...

Troy: How is he?

Dr Lawson: He's in quite a bad way. He's broken his left arm and cracked three ribs.

Troy: oh...

Dr Lawson: I also regret to tell you that a little while ago, Chad slipped into a coma.

Everyone looks up at Dr Lawson with horror on their faces.

Dr Lawson: It's too early to tell whether he's going to recover but we'll let you know as soon as he makes any progress or otherwise. I'll leave you alone with him.

No one speaks as she leaves the room. They are all too stunned to talk. The fact that one of their best friends was in a state that he possibly might never recover from absolutely terrified them. Taylor sat in a chair next to Chad. She held his hand and started to cry.

Taylor: I'm sorry Chad, I'm so sorry I caused you this pain.

Gabriella hugs Troy and starts to cry herself. The pain, too much for either of them to bear.

Kelsi is on the road between the woods by the hotel. She leans against the parked car and cries. Her cell phone has constantly rang from all her friends. And she probably knew what it was about. She was disgusted with herself. How could she have got herself in such a mess? She didn't want to drive the stupid car in the first place. It wasn't even her car. If it wasn't for the stupid plan... and she didn't mean to run over Chad. She didn't mean to leave him. She just panicked. What could she do now?

Everyone except Taylor, who wanted to stay with Chad, arrived back at the country club. It was almost midnight and the gang decided that it was no use waiting for Chad to make any progress so soon, even though they hoped he would. Taylor was determined to stay with Chad until he woke up and no one could say anything to change her mind. So she promised to call them if anything happened. Troy paid the taxi-driver and the gang started to head for the hotel entrance.

Jason: God, I can't wait till I get to bed.

Gabriella: I'm not gonna be able to sleep. I actually feel like taking a walk.

Troy: I'll come with you.

Gabriella: No, you don't have to if you're tired.

Troy: I'm not gonna let you take a walk on your own in the dark. Plus, I want to.

Zeke: Right then, see you guys tomorrow.

Troy: Yeah, see ya.

Jason and Zeke entered the hotel while Gabriella and Troy slowly walk around the club.

Gabriella: Troy, I'm worried.

Troy: Yeah, me too.

Gabriella: What if, you know...

Troy: No, I'm sure he'll be fine. Chad's always been a fighter. No matter what was going on his life, he'd still want to play the game.

Gabriella: Yeah

Troy: You know, I never thought I'd say this, but I can't wait to go back to school.

Gabriella: Really?

Troy: Yeah, I mean this holidays sort of been a disaster, I can't wait till we get back and just get back to school and everything's normal and the scariest thing we have to worry about is whether we get into the championships or whether you and I get the parts in the next musical.

Gabriella: You want to audition again?

Troy: Well, yeah, but only if you want to

Gabriella:(smiles) yeah, yeah I do

Troy: (smiles back) great.

Then both of them stop smiling as if they felt guilty to be even mildly happy when Chad was stuck in hospital.

Gabriella: Hey, who's that?

Troy and Gabriella could see an outline of someone walking towards them. It was now past midnight and they hadn't seen anyone else. It was rather eerie. Gabriella gripped Troy's hand tightly.

Troy: I don't know.

The small, dark figure was still walking towards them. Then they walked under the light from a lamppost. They could see who it was.

Gabriella: Kelsi?

Troy: What are you doing out here alone?

Kelsi: I'm just...

Kelsi's eyes were red, as if she'd been crying. Which she had.

Gabriella: Do you know about Chad?

Kelsi: Yeah... yeah I know about Chad.

Troy: Well why didn't you come to the hospital?

Kelsi didn't answer.

Troy: You know he's in a coma?

Kelsi's eyes widened and then started to water.

Gabriella: Kelsi, what's wrong?

Then Kelsi started to cry. Gabriella walked over to hug her.

Gabriella: Don't worry, Chad's gonna be okay.

Kelsi: It's all my fault.

Gabriella: What? None of this is your fault.

Kelsi: It is. It all is!

Troy: What are you talking about?

Later on, Troy, Gabriella and Kelsi were in Gabriella's room. Kelsi had just told them the fact that it was her that ran over Chad.

Troy: Oh my god.

Gabriella: How did you get yourself into this mess?

Kelsi:(still crying) I don't know, It's not like I meant to run over Chad. He just..walked out. I am sooo sorry.

Gabriella: But... how did you get a car?

Kelsi: It's not mine, it's... someone else's.

Troy: Who's?

Kelsi: I'm ... not allowed to say...

Troy: You're not allowed to say whose car it was?

Kelsi: I'm not allowed to tell you anything else. It wasn't part of the plan to run over someone.

Gabriella: What plan?

Kelsi hesitated.

Kelsi: I am so gonna get in trouble for this.

Gabriella: Just tell us Kelsi.

Kelsi: Last night, well actually the night before now, remember how I went to the bathroom after you told that story about the musical?

Troy: Yeah

Kelsi: Well, there was someone there. And she threw up against the wall and told me not to scream.

Gabriella: Oh my god. Who was it?

Kelsi: I can't tell you. Anyway, she said that, that I was gonna help her with something, and I had to meet her in the lobby yesterday morning. I was gonna help her with her plan.

Troy: So that's why you said you were ill.

Kelsi: Yeah, none of you lot where to know. Otherwise, something bad would happen.

Troy: So let me get this straight, someone got you to drive their car for some plan?

Kelsi: It wasn't her car. It was someone else's.

Troy: Oh…right.

Gabriella: What was the plan?

Kelsi: I can't...

Troy: ...tell us, right?

Kelsi: Right. Guys what am I gonna do?

It was half six in the morning. Taylor wiped her eyes to keep herself awake. She was so tired. But she knew she had to stay with Chad. She felt so responsible for all this. She kept holding his hand, telling him he was going to be all right. She knew he couldn't hear him, but if anything, it made her feel marginally better.

Taylor: I'm so sorry Chad. I never meant for you to find out that I was lying. I just didn't know whether I loved you. Like you loved me.

Taylor looked at Chad and played with his hair. Then she looked at the hand she was holding.

Taylor: I suppose I started to have feelings for Zeke because I was having doubts. But those feelings aren't important any more. Because I now know how I feel. It took someone to run you over to make me realise how much you do mean to me. The thought that you could die breaks my heart. Because now I know, Chad. I know now that I love you to.

Chad: Well that's good to know.

Taylor looked up suddenly to see Chad smiling back at her.

To be continued...

A/N: Hehe see? No major cliffhanger there. Nice way to end a rather sombre chapter. R&R!