Title: Never Been More Frightened

With the State swimming and diving meet three weeks away, East High was full of excitement. This was the first time the whole team had qualified. The diving team had also qualified as well. Gabriella was carrying both teams on her shoulders. Her mother, Troy and his parents were all worried about all the pressure she was under.

On this particular evening, the two teams were holding a showcase at East High's natatorium. Gabriella was stretching near the edge of the pool. She had woken up with a 102 degree fever. She stayed home from school but was going to the showcase. Her mother sat up in the stands with Troy and his mother. Coach Bolton was down near the swimmers. He was keeping a close eye on Gabriella. He knew about all the extra pressure the coach was putting on Gabriella and did not inform Troy, knowing that he would loose his temper and cause a possible suspension. Coach Bolton was proud of his son on being so protective of Gabriella but knew Toy would be willing to be suspended if it meant protecting her or her name.

"How are you feeling?" Coach Bolton asked Gabriella sitting down next to her.

"I'm ok." Gabriella agreed quietly. "Still sick though."

"Montez! Let's go!" her coach, Greg Martin called.

Gabriella stood up and took her jacket off. She and her diving partner began to climb up the two spring diving boards. They walked to the edges and held their arms out. Both did the same dive in perfect sync. The audience clapped for them. Gabriella pulled herself out of the water and went to sit down. Coach Bolton draped her jacket over her shoulders.

"I can't dive anymore tonight." Gabriella cried softly. "I'll swim but I can't dive."

"I'll go tell Greg." Coach Bolton said getting up. "Hey, Greg?"

"What do you want Bolton?"

"Gabriella can't dive anymore. She's too sick."

"My team, I make the decisions. And I say she can tough it up."

"She's too sick to be up that high! She could fall or break her arm or leg!"

"Montez, you're up. Make it perfect or you'll do it again."

"But Coach…" Gabriella started to say.

"Now!"

Gabriella sighed and took her jacket off again. She then walked over to the boards. Coach Bolton shook his head and walked over to the edge of the pool.

"He's making her dive again?" Ms. Montez asked in shock.

"Why?" Troy asked. "What's wrong?"

"She can lose focus."

Gabriella was up on the diving board. She blinked trying to make the dizziness to go away. She stumbled slightly grabbing onto the bars to steady herself. The audience gasped. Gabriella walked to the edge of the board and turned around. Ms. Montez stood up felling like something was going to happen. Gabriella took a deep breath and jumped into the air. The audience gasped and screamed at the sickening smack of Gabriella's head slamming into the board echoed through the air. Gabriella crashed into the water and Coach Bolton dove in after her instantly. He pulled her back to the surface and the audience saw the young woman unconscious. Two boys from the swim team helped to pull Gabriella out of the pool.

"Oh my god." Mrs. Bolton said in shock.

Ms. Montez was already making her way down to the pool with Troy and Mrs. Bolton behind her. Sharpay, Taylor, Kelsi, Zeke, Chad, Jason and Ryan were rushing down from their seats. As they all got there, paramedics were loading Gabriella onto a gurney. A towel was bunched up behind her head trying to stop the bleeding. A small puddle of blood was where she was once laying. Paramedics placed an oxygen mask on Gabriella. Ms. Montez was gathering her daughter's belongings up before following the paramedics.

"We'll follow you!" Coach Bolton shouted ushering his wife and son to their car.

"Jack, you need to change." Mrs. Bolton said of her husband's soaked and blood stained clothes.

"I'll change when we get home."

"Was she awake?" Troy asked.

"No, but she was breathing on her own." Coach Bolton answered. "I think she might have a concussion."

"Why did she dive?"

"She didn't want to."

"Then why did she?" Troy demanded. "He made her, didn't he?"

"Troy…" Coach Bolton said trying to calm his son down.

"He knew that she didn't want to dive and he made her anyway?"

"Troy, you have to calm down. I know you're furious, I'm furious, but you need to stay composed. For Gabriella's sake."

"I'm calm."

They got to the hospital and raced inside. Ms. Montez was filling out paper work. A nurse was sitting beside her keeping her calm.

"Maria?" Mrs. Bolton asked. "How is she?"

"Gabby's going to be fine." Ms. Montez answered. "She's got a concussion, but she's going to be fine."

"When can we see her?" Troy asked anxiously.

"They're going to keep her here for a couple of days, so when they've got her settled in her room."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Troy demanded once he saw Coach Martin.

"I came to check on Gabriella." Martin answered. "How is she doing?"

"You almost got her killed and that's all you have to say?" Troy asked.

"Stay back." Coach Bolton whispered trying to keep his son back. "Greg, you better leave or you'll not have to worry about my son, but me."

"Maybe if she doesn't spend all of her free time fucking your son, she might be able to concentrate on her diving and swimming."

Troy broke from his father's grip and actually punched the coach. Ms. Montez gasped slightly. Coach Martin stood back with a shiner. Coach Bolton was having to struggle to keep his son from going at him again.

"You do not talk about my girl like that!" Troy shouted.

"Big mistake, Bolton." Martin threatened. "You're eighteen, expect me to bring charges."

"Let's go take a walk." Coach Bolton told his furious son. "Let's pick out something for Gabriella. Go find her a stuff animal."

"Dad…"

"Go."

Troy and Coach Bolton headed down to the hospital gift shop. Troy began to search for a teddy bear knowing that Gabriella loved them. Coach Bolton kept a close eye on him making sure that his son didn't go back up to Gabriella's floor without him knowing.

"We've talked about your temper."

"Dad, he called her a slut! I protected her name and her honor! Nobody calls her anything like that." Troy stated picking up a Panda Bear. "She'll like this one."

"Do you want to get her flowers?"

"I'm going to buy her a rose."

Five minutes later, Mrs. Bolton called her husband saying that they were allowed to see Gabriella. Troy quickly bought the bear and a rose then quickly raced back up to Gabriella's floor. Ms. Montez told him to go ahead in knowing Gabriella would want to see him first before anyone else. Troy walked into the hospital room. Gabriella was lying on her side facing away from him.

"Hey beautiful, you awake?" Troy asked as Gabriella turned over to face him. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"Like I slammed my head against the wall." Gabriella said groggily. "What happened? The only thing I remember is waking up in here?"

"Your head slammed against the board and knocked you out."

"I told coach I didn't want to do it, but Coach Martin told me to." Gabriella explained tearfully.

"I know, Baby. I don't think I've been more frightened in my life." Troy stated. "Don't scare me like that again, Gabby."

"I won't." Gabriella promised gently running her fingers through his hair. "Troy Bolton, you're stuck with me for life."

Troy then began to explain about what happened in the waiting room. Both promised to stand by each other in the past and Gabriella swore that she would never leave him no matter what her coach would bring against them. She would stick by him no matter what.