Summary: The gang go through tough times at university with family illnesses to secrets as to two members accused of cheating. They are all attending UCLA and all the girls will be sharing an apartment just as the boys will. Someone's dad gets ill and causes them to withdraw from the gang and hurt the ones they love the most. How will they cope? Two people are helping each other out but with the amount of time they are spending together their other half's start to question them. Will they all still be friends by the time they've finished? Who will suffer heartache and will the pressures of being so different finally get too much?
A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed the last chapters even though it was only 7. Sorry I didn't update yesterday but I was having trouble writing this chapter for some reason. There won't be much Troyella in this chapter but do read. The alerts not working is really annoying me at the minute to because it takes forever before I can read any reviews. Anyway here's the next chapter. Please R&R!
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing except the plot and any original characters.
Chapter 28
Gabriella and Troy had been back at the Bolton's for an hour and were surprised to find the house empty. They just assumed they had gone out and would be back soon but to Gabriella she had a funny feeling something was up because it was 3pm and she would have thought they would have been at home unless something had happened.
"Hey Troy are you sure your mom's cell was off when you called?" Gabriella asked as she walked into the living room to where Troy was lying on the couch.
"Yeah. I'll try it again now though." Troy grabbed his cell and called again. "Voicemail again." Troy left a message telling his mom they were in Albuquerque and to call and let them know. Just as Troy hung up the house phone rang and Gabriella answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey Gabriella its Lisa, thank god you and Troy are down here." Gabriella was confused. "The two of you need to get up to the hospital, Jack got really ill during the night and they are doing tests." Lisa explained.
"We'll be there soon." Gabriella hung up and turned to Troy. "We have to get to the hospital." Troy stood up and grabbed the keys to his mom's car and ran out the door with Gabriella following behind.
They arrived at the hospital just moments later to find a very pale looking Lisa Bolton.
"Mom!" Troy shouted as he sprinted ahead pulling her into a hug as Gabriella walked up behind. She just watched as the two let tears fall. She knew she had to be strong for Troy and Lisa because they were there for her when she needed help.
"Gabriella sweetie." Lisa said as she pulled away from Troy and hugged Gabriella. The three then sat down waiting for some more news. Troy gripped Gabriella's hand tightly.
"It'll be ok." Gabriella whispered in his ear before giving him a simple kiss on the cheek.
"I'm just so worried." Troy admitted as a doctor walked out.
"Mrs Bolton?" the doctor asked as the three stood up.
"What's going on?" Gabriella gave Troy's hand a reassuring squeeze.
"He had a high temperature and the combinations caused him to get even worse. I would like to keep him in tonight and see how he goes and if alls well he can go home tomorrow. You can go see him if you like. Sorry only two at a time." They thanked the doctor before he was called away.
"You guys go and just tell Jack I'm thinking about him. I think I'm going to go now to give you three some space." Troy nodded before walking off to see his dad.
Gabriella just watched the two walked away before turning around and walking out the hospital. She realized that she would have to walk if she wanted to go anywhere. Gabriella stood there a few minutes thinking before deciding to just head back to the Bolton's.
With Troy
Troy walked into his dad's room to see him sitting up and awake in bed. He smiled at the two as they walked in.
"What are you doing here Troy?" Jack asked Troy and Lisa sat on two vacant seats next to the bed.
"I wanted to be here for you in case you need any help. How you feeling?" Troy told his dad who looked around the room.
"I'm fine I promise. Where's Gabriella?" Jack lied not wanting Troy to know the truth about how he really felt. Troy thought for a second before he realized he had no clue where she was.
"I honesty have no idea." His dad raised his eyebrows at him, "Don't worry I'll find her later and she has her cell if she needs anything." Jack wasn't convinced. He knew something was up.
"Hey Lisa do you think that you could give me and Troy some time alone?" Lisa smiled at the pair.
"I need to pop home to grab some things so I'll be back in a bit." Jack called her back and whispered something in her ear. "I'll get it don't worry." Lisa kissed Jack and Troy before leaving.
"So what's up dad? Why did you ask mom to leave?" Troy asked confused.
"I just wanted a bit of father son time. You know we haven't really talked properly since your senior year of high school." Troy laughed.
"Everyday during practise at home you use to keep talking to me about girls you thought would be perfect for me and how I should find something else besides basketball I love. Well I definitely did that." Jack looked at Troy proudly.
"Yeah you did and you made me so proud for just being you and finding someone in Gabriella who loves you for you." Troy smiled as he though about Gabriella. "You're thinking about her right now." Troy blushed slightly.
"How did you know mom was the one for you?" Troy asked his dad.
"I guess I just did. Why is something going on between you and Gabriella?" Jack asked. Troy shook his head no.
"No nothings wrong between us everything's fine. I have just been thinking about things lately. What if Gabriella suddenly finds someone better than me because we all know I'm not perfect and Gabi, well Gabi is." Jack reached over and grabbed Troy's hand.
"She already has found someone perfect for her I know and you are that perfect someone." Troy smiled at his dad. The two continued talking about college and basketball until Lisa came back.
"Hey guys." Jack looked at her.
"Did you get it?" she nodded and grabbed something out of her bag and gave it to Jack quickly so that Troy couldn't see.
"Troy there is something I want you to have. When my mom died she left this to your mom and me and told us we had to give it to you when you found a girl who won the hearts of this whole family and Gabriella has certainly done that. I think that this might come in very useful pretty soon." Jack handed Troy a black box. Troy opened it and his jaw dropped when he saw what was inside.
"I can't take this." Troy said trying to give the box back.
"Troy you can. We know how much you and Gabriella love each other and your grandma wanted you to have her ring." Troy smiled.
"Are you sure you really want me to have it?" Troy asked his parents.
"Troy we won't use it and everyone in this family would be proud to have Gabriella wear it." Troy smiled at his parents.
"Thanks."
"Troy just make sure you don't do anything stupid to stuff up your relationship with Gabriella because its times like this that you realize how much you love and need that someone special by your side." Jack looked at Lisa who had tears in her eyes while Troy smirked.
"Thanks for that dad and on that note I'm leaving because I'm not getting stuck in the middle of any of your mushy moments." Jack laughed.
"Like we don't catch you and Gabriella in 'mushy' moments often when you are both home." Troy shook his head.
"Bye dad I'll come back to see you tomorrow or if you are released before I get the chance I'll see you at home." Troy hugged his mom on the way out as he walked down the corridor and out to the car. Oh great Gabriella will have had to walk all the way home. I'm so stupid. Troy turned the engine on and drove home keeping an eye out for Gabriella.
A/N: There will be a surprise reappearance of someone in the next chapter and no it's not going to be Aaron. So if you want to find out who it is please review. Thanks!