Shortie!

Troy ran down the hall, brushing past the crowd of students, ignoring their remarks of protest. He reached the staircase and quietly climbed up. He looked over the railing and his heart ached at the sight of Gabriella curled up on the bench, staring out at Albuquerque, with tear stains on her cheeks.

"Gabriella?"

Troy sighed when she didn't answer. She didn't even look over at him.

"Look, Gabriella. I'm sorry. I didn't mean any of it. Chad and the guys wouldn't get off my back about you, so I said things I didn't mean."

Gabriella turned to face Troy. He let out a breath of relief.

"You know what, Troy? You've been lying to me since we've met. Why should I believe you now? What have you ever done to earn my trust? Huh?"

Troy was shocked at her sudden outburst, but walked over to her, pulling up a stool and setting it right in front of her. He sat facing her and took one of her hands in both of his.

"Gabi, when have I ever lied to you? What I said in the locker room, what you saw, it was a lie. But I have never lied to you."

Gabriella pulled her hand away from Troy, ignoring the pleading look on his face. A wave of dizziness hit her, but she ignored it.

"Gabi..."

Gabriella snapped.

"Don't call me that!"

Troy was startled.

"Why? I thought you said you liked it."

Gabriella glared at him.

"That was when you weren't being a complete jerk. You say you've never lied to me. What about Sharpay? You lied to me about her!"

Troy was confused.

"When have I ever lied to you about Sharpay?"

Gabriella shot Troy a look of disbelief.

"You said you broke up with her..."

"And I did."

"Really? That's why I saw you two swapping spit a few minutes ago?"

Troy paled.

"You saw that?"

"Yeah, Troy, I saw that. And you said you've never lied to me. That itself was a lie. You're such a jerk."

Gabriella got up to leave but Troy gently grabbed her arm.

"Let go of me, Troy!"

"No. Not until you hear me out."

Gabriella glared and reluctantly sat back on the bench.

"You have five minutes, Troy."

Troy took a deep breath.

"What you saw between Sharpay and I, it was all her. I didn't do anything. She came and sat down beside me and leaned over and kissed me. Then Chad and Taylor came and saved me.

"Why didn't you push her off then? You could've done something!"

"I couldn't! I was too shocked to do anything. I didn't kiss her back, though. I pushed her off when Chad and Taylor came."

Gabriella looked at her shoes, feeling guilty for blaming Troy about something he couldn't control.

"I'm sorry, Troy. I should've never believed that you would do something like that."

Troy gave her a cute grin.

"I may be a jerk, but I'm not heartless. I would never do anything like that to hurt you, Gabriella. Forgive me?"

Gabriella smiled, but it disappeared when a sharp pain pierced through her head. She tried to look at Troy, but he was blurred.

"What's happening?"

Troy watched as Gabriella's face contorted to a look of pain.

"Gabi? Gabriella? Are you okay? What's wrong?"

Instead of a reply, Gabriella fell over. Troy quickly stuck out his arms and caught her before she fell off the bench.

"Gabi? Oh, shit. Not again."

Troy quickly lifted Gabriella's small frame and carried her swiftly down the stairs. Troy ignored the other students as he jogged out of the building, carrying an unconscious Gabriella in his arms. Troy ran over to his truck and popped open the door with one hand, the other holding up Gabriella. He placed her in the front seat and put a seatbelt around her before running around the truck to the driver's side. Troy quickly started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, driving towards the hospital.

"Hang on, Gabi. I'm gonna get you to a hospital."

Troy wasn't sure whether or not Gabriella could hear him, but he tried talking to her anyways. He also needed to keep himself calm because inside, he was panicking.

"Please be okay, Gabi. Please be okay."

♪

Okay, it's really short, I know. But I have a reason. I'm not good with cliffhangers so this is my sad attempt at one.

Jay