A/N: Hey guys! I missed you! Sorry I haven't been updating faster. I was grounded from the computer because I had a huge project (30 of our grade) that was due and my mom said that I couldn't use the computer until it's done. Well, I'm done, I typed, and now I'm updating. And thanks for all the reviews! I love them!

lol925: Wow, long review! Thanks! I'm not bugged, I love long reviews! And all your questionsanswers (maybe not all but some (:) will be answered. You got some parts right, but some, close, but not quite.

megan: Thanks for the review! I'm glad that you like my story! And I don't think you'll cry in this chapter, it's not really something to cry over. I think. And don't worry, the story ends happy... I hope.

Vanessa Turner: yeah, she is! Thanks for reviewing!

highsmusicalrox: Thanks! And she's really evil! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

moonshine101: All right, I'll take you off suspense. Here's an update! You'll see what'll happen!

Well, that was really long, LOL! I'll stop it right here and introduce the next chapter! Here's chapter 14!

This Is War

Chapter 14: The Worst New Year Ever

Gabriella woke up extra early on New Year's Day. She decided to surprise him by cooking breakfast and bringing it to him when he wakes up. She calls the girls to ask them what their father's favorite breakfast meal is and where the key to the house is and what the combination to the alarm is so she could turn it off.

A few minutes later, Gabriella found herself at the Evans' household preparing a big stack of pancakes for her fiancé.

As she was gathering up the materials and ingredients, she started humming to the tune of "Because of You", the song that Ryan tantalized her with a few years back.

Meanwhile, up in Ryan's room, Ryan was sleeping as soundly as ever before, still knocked out from what he was feeling last night. Leslie, on the other hand, is wide-awake and ready to ruin Ryan's life just as soon as Gabriella walks through the door. She had woken up as soon as she heard Gabriella in the kitchen.

She then turned to Ryan and shifted his body so that his body was facing hers. She took his arm and placed it around her shoulders and put her arm on his shoulders, trying to make the whole scene suspicious for when Gabriella comes through the door.

A few more moments later, Gabriella finished making the stack of pancakes. She put the plate on the tray and got some orange juice, the morning paper, and a romantic note and also put it on the tray. She carried the tray all the way to the second floor being very careful not to spill anything on the tile, wooden, and carpeted floor.

As she balanced the tray on one hand, she turned the doorknob to Ryan's room. She opened the door and what came before her, was completely unexpected that she dropped the tray and it hit the carpeted floor with a loud thud and glass-breaking noise.

Leslie bolted up pretending to be startled. She sat up and put the sheets over her body and backed up against the headboard.

"Gabriella! Um…" She started. She pretended to stutter as she kicked Ryan hard in the stomach to wake him up. It worked and Ryan opened his eyes slowly and saw Leslie next to him, nude and the only thing covering her were his bed sheets. He then perked up and looked under his comforter to see that his clothes were off and he was in his boxers.

He tried to find his clothes and as soon as he looked up, he saw a very confused/shocked/mad/sad Gabriella in front of him.

"Gabriella…" He started. He then looked at her and then looked at Leslie and then back at her. "Gabriella, I didn't do-" He got cut off as Gabriella took the remaining of the orange juice in the glass, came up to him, and dumped it on his head. After that, she took the romantic note, ripped it to shreds and threw it at him. Then, she took two pieces of the pancake and stuffed one in his mouth and stuffed one in his boxers.

"I hope that feels better than what she did to you last night." Gabriella said, nodding at his boxers. She then started to leave.

"But, Gabby I-" Ryan said with a full mouth.

Gabriella whipped around. "Don't you dare call me that name! You don't deserve to call me that! I can't believe I was stupid enough to fall for you! Clearly, you have changed since high school. I don't like it one bit. I want the old Ryan! The one who said had my back no matter what! I want him! I don't want you!" Gabriella shouted with tears forming in her eyes, threatening to fall at any moment. She then turned around and started walking out.

"Gabby-" Ryan started.

"I said don't call me that name!" She said as she took off her engagement ring and threw it at his head. It hit his cheek really hard. Before Ryan knew it, Gabriella was long gone.

He spent a few moments just looking at the door, waiting to see if it was all a dream. That he would wake up at any moment and Gabriella would still be his. He then took the pancake out of his boxers and realized that it was indeed real, and it happened.

He turned his head to Leslie and pointed a threatening finger at her.

"You. What are you doing here?"

"Don't you remember last night? Shall I refresh your memory?" She said as she took off the sheets and Ryan closed his eyes.

"No, I am not looking at your goods now put the sheets back on or you will be sorry." God, I feel so sorry for Troy right now. He deserves a better girl. He thought

"Don't you remember last night?" Leslie said as she stood up and gathered her clothes.

"All I remember is having this really painful headache. I remember telling Sharpay that you guys should count down without me. Then I remember jumping into my bed. And then I don't remember anything else. Then I woke up."

"So you don't remember?" Leslie asked as she put her shirt back on. Ryan thought about it for a while, and then it hit him.

"YOU! This is all your fault!" Ryan accused Leslie.

"How is it my fault?" Leslie asked oh-so innocently.

"You drugged me! You set up the drinks, you put drugs in one drink, you gave me the drink with the drugs, I drank it, I began feeling really woozy and out of my mind, then I fell asleep, then you snuck in here, took off my clothes and yours, and then you climbed into bed. You knew Gabriella would be here. You knew she'd be really mad if she saw you with me. You set up the whole thing. This is all your fault!" Ryan shouted.

Leslie finished putting her skirt on and started clapping.

"Very good, Ryan. I didn't know you could figure out my whole scheme. You're very smart." Leslie said.

Ryan got out of bed, quickly put his shirt back on, approached Leslie and slapped her across the face. Hard.

"I want you, to get the hell out of my house. I want you out of my life, out of the girls' lives, and out of everybody's life. If you ever come back, I swear on my grandmother's grave that I will personally come and kill you in your sleep. Do you understand?" Ryan said through gritted teeth.

"Okay, okay. I get it. I promise you that this is the last time that you'll see me. You won't see me again. Not ever. So don't worry. I'll be long gone before you even know it. I'm done with what I had to do, so I have no business being with you anymore." Leslie said as she grabbed her purse and walked out of his room.

Ryan went to his bed and took the engagement ring that Gabriella threw at him. He read the inscription that he had put. I'll Forever Be Yours it read. Ryan tried to fight off the tears that were going to fall but he couldn't help it. His tears cascaded over his cheeks. They reached his chin and finally fall on the ring. What a lie. He thought.

That same night, Ryan called the girls and tried to get them to come home. No such luck came to him.

"God, how much worse could this day be?" Ryan shouted as he got the keys to one of his cars so he could go for a drive. He went to the garage to find one of his cars totally trashed with Gabriella's name etched on the side. (A/N: Like in Carrie Underwood's song "Before He Cheats")

"Of course." He said.

Meanwhile in Gabriella's house, she has just finished taking a long hot shower to relieve all the stress and depression that she was feeling.

As she was drying herself, the phone began to ring. Gabriella decided to let the machine get it since she was busy.

After a few rings, the ringing died and she heard the machine pick it up.

Hi this is Gabby Montez's residence. I can't come to the phone right now but I'll be happy to return your call when I get the chance so don't hesitate to leave a message after the beep. She heard her recording say. She was startled when an unfamiliar male voice started talking.

"Hello Ms. Montez, this is Dr. Sparks, your mother's doctor…" She heard the person say on the other line. Oh no. She thought. She finished drying herself, put her robe on and came over to the phone.

"We have some important issues that need to be discussed concerning your mother. So, when you get the chance, please call immediately at 798-512-0364. Again that's 798-512-0364. Thank you" Gabriella heard Dr. Sparks say. She then heard the click of a phone hanging up. (A/N: I made the number up)

She hurriedly put fresh clothes on and put the towel on her head in an attempt not to use the blow dryer. She decided to play the recording again so she could write down the number. She scribbled as quickly as she could. After she jotted it down, she took the towel off of her head and brushed her hair before attempting to call back. She took a while so it would look like she was really away for the moment.

She dialed the number and someone answered immediately on the first ring.

"Hello this is Dr. Sparks." Said Dr. Sparks on the other end of the line.

"Hi Dr. Sparks, this is Gabriella Montez, Grace Montez's daughter. You called earlier saying that there is an important issue that needs to be discussed immediately."

"Ah, yes, Ms. Montez. I'm afraid to tell you that your mother is dying."

"My mother's dying?" Gabriella asked again, making sure she heard right.

"I'm sorry Ms. Montez, but her diabetes keeps acting up and she has a terribly high blood sugar. Also, the rash that's spreading through her leg is spreading like wildfire. I'm afraid we have to cut her leg off or the rash is going to cover her whole body."

Gabriella was speechless. Her mother is going to get surgery. She just couldn't believe it.

"Ms. Montez? Are you still there?" Dr. Sparks said.

"Y-yes. I'm still here." Gabriella answered with a cracked voice.

"Are you willing for us to take your mother's leg off?" Dr. Sparks asked.

"Will it lower her chances of dying?" Gabriella asked.

There was no response for a while, but after a few minutes, Dr. Sparks started talking again. "Yes it will, actually. If you don't take it off, she has about a year to live. But if we do take it off, she will have a longer life."

Gabriella sighed. "Okay, I'm willing for you to do surgery on my mom."

"That's great to know Ms. Montez."

"But… don't do the surgery until I'm there. I want to be there for my mama." Gabriella said.

"Yes Ms. Montez. But just to let you know, while you're gone, the rash will be spreading. Keep that in mind. Good night Ms. Montez."

"Good night." Gabriella answered as she hung up her phone.

The twins went home a week after New Year's as promised. But they had walked home.

"Why did you girls walk home?" Ryan asked his girls.

"Well, our friend's dad wasn't home and we didn't want you worrying so we walked home." Rachelle explained.

"Thank God that nobody kidnapped you. You could've gotten hurt!" That's it! No more sleepovers! Indefinitely!"

"WHAT? You can't do that!" Roxanne said.

"Yes I can, I'm your father." Ryan said.

"Then why'd you let us go in the first place?" Rachelle asked with tears in her eyes.

"Because Leslie put-" Ryan started but dared not finish his sentence. "Because I didn't feel like myself. That's why."

The next day, Tuesday, the twins resumed schooling. Ryan decided to pick the girls up for school. He also attempted to try to win Gabriella back. He came with flowers in his hand and words in his mind.

"Gabriella, I want to tell you something." He said as he went through the classroom door. The twins had confused look on their faces. Gabriella didn't pay attention and continued writing things on the board.

Ryan sighed. "I was wondering if there was a chance for us to talk." Again, no response was heard.

Ryan sighed once more. "Fine. Don't talk. I just want you to know that I love you, and I wouldn't do anything to hurt you. Leslie set me up. She set us all up. If you don't believe me, fine, but at least I got it out of my chest." Ryan said as he put the flowers on her desk. "I love you." He said before taking the girls' hands and walking out of the school.

When Ryan and the girls were long gone, Gabriella stopped writing on the board and turned around to see that there was a bouquet of red roses on her desk with one single white rose sticking out that has a small card attached to it.

After she read it, she burst out in tears. She couldn't help it. She didn't know what to do or who to believe. Her heart or her mind?

That following Friday night, Gabriella was bored to death. She just got back from the mall with her friends and took a long bath. She took a glance at the clock and saw that it was only 7:30. She didn't want to go to bed yet because she was not tired. After a few minutes of thinking it over, she finally decided to go to a local bar. What the heck? I'll give it a try. She thought.
(A/N: Okay, I'm clueless about bars and drinks so just follow along as I pretend to know what I'm saying)

Gabriella had never been to a bar before so she didn't know what to expect. As Gabriella walked into the bar, she expected to see people getting drunk and people beating up other people for money. But she was wrong.

Turns out that a bar was just like a restaurant with booths, tables, chairs, and of course, the drink bar.

She walked her way to the bar and sat on the tall stool. She kept her head down in an attempt to hide her face.

"Can I please have a shot of tequila?" Gabriella silently asked the bartender.

"Yes ma'am." Gabriella heard a very familiar voice say. A few minutes of looking at her hands, her drink finally came.

"Here you go. Enjoy." Said the familiar voice again. Gabriella looked up to see who it was and to her surprise, it was Zeke.

"Zeke?" Gabriella said. The bartender was startled and looked at Gabriella. "Gabriella?" Zeke said.

"What are you doing here?" Gabriella asked.

"Oh, I work here. Part time, during the weekends. Actually, Jason and Troy are supposed to be here right now but there's not a lot of customers so they're at the back taking a break." Zeke answered. "But more importantly, what are you doing here? This is the first time I've seen you here. I didn't know you drink." Zeke said.

"Well, that's because it's my first time here and I don't drink." Gabriella answered.

"So why are you here?" Zeke asked. Gabriella didn't answer. "Gabriella?" He asked again. Suddenly, Gabriella broke out in tears.

"Whoa, what's wrong?" Zeke said as he tried to hug Gabriella over the counter.

"It's just so hard!" Gabriella said.

"So hard for what?"

"It's so hard when you get your heart broken!" Gabriella said.

"When did you get your heart broken?" Zeke asked.

"I'd really rather not talk about it. And on top of that, my mother's doctor said that my mom has to have surgery if she wants to live a little longer." Gabriella said as she composes herself.

"I'm sorry Gabby. I really am." Zeke said as he patted her hair. "If I can do anything to help, please let me know." Zeke said. Gabriella's head perked up.

"Actually, can I ask you a favor?" Gabriella said.

"Sure! Anything!"

"I'm gonna have to stay in New Mexico for a while to take care of my mom. Maybe a year… or five, and I need some help packing my stuff. You think you, Jason, and Troy can help me? You know, with the big boxes?"

"Sure! I'll tell them right now." Zeke said as he rushed to the back of the bar. Gabriella sat in silence for a while, staring at her tequila shot. She had never had tequila before, or any alcoholic beverage. But that night, it changed. She took the shot of tequila and quickly gulped it down even before she had a chance to taste it. That felt really good. She thought.

For the rest of the month, Ryan tried to talk to Gabriella. He sent her letters through the mail, left her messages on her phone (both home and cell), sending flowers to her house, and offering to go out. He even tried serenading her once. Gabriella just dumped water on him. But nothing could make Ryan give up.
One day in late January, Gabriella was frantically rushing through the school after hours. She had to find a substitute teacher to replace her while she was gone. Also, Troy, Jason, and Zeke were waiting for her at her house to so they would know which things to pack. She was messing around with papers and things until her phone rang. She was so unorganized that she didn't even look at the caller and just answered it.

"Hello?" Gabriella said.

"Gabriella? Finally! You picked up!" Gabriella heard Ryan on the other line.

"Ryan, I really have no time for this."

"Gabby, I'm just really sorry. I really am. And it's not my fault! Leslie set me up! So can you please forgive me now?" Ryan said.

Gabriella sighed. "Ryan, I'm not sure if I should believe you right now-"

"You should because it's the truth!" Ryan said.

"I don't know that for sure. And I have to tell you something."

"What?"

"I'm leaving for Albuquerque."

Mmm... what's going to happen? Only I know! HAHAHA! Just kidding. You'll find out soon! Please leave a review! It's the season!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!