Chapter Thirty Two! Sorry about the long wait, guys. I've been really busy lately. I have work, my sister's soccer games, and to top things off, my parents are getting a divorce. Again. My parents already split and now my Mom and Step Dad are calling it quits. Funny thing is, I'm staying with my Step Dad. I get along with him better. So yeah, now that I've told you my life story... I hope you guys like this chapter. It's short but emotional.

After school, Troy found himself at Gabriella's doorstep again.

"Come in, Troy. She's up in her room."

Troy followed Mr. Montez into the house, surprised that the man was allowing him to go up to Gabriella's room.

"I guess the circumstances have changed."

Troy walked up the stairs and down the hall, mentally preparing himself to be there for his girlfriend. Troy knocked quietly on the door. After a few seconds of shuffling, the door opened, revealing a pale and weak Gabriella.

"Troy? What are you doing here?"

Troy stepped into her room and wrapped his arms around her. Gabriella was taken by surprise, but after a few seconds, she placed her hands on Troy's chest and gently pushed him away. Troy took a step back, giving Gabriela a confused look.

"Are you okay, Gabi?"

Troy mentally cursed himself.

"Okay, Bolton. That was a stupid question. Of course she's not okay!"

Gabriella sat on the edge of her bed, tucking her knees beneath her chin.

"I'm fine. I'm just really tired."

Troy nodded hesitantly, not fully believing her.

"I think... you should go, Troy. I need more time to myself."

"But, Gab..."

Gabriella shook her head violently.

"No, Troy! I have to deal with this my way! I need to do this alone."

"But you don't have to do this alone, Gabi! You have our friends, your father... you have me. We want to help you."

Gabriella shook her head sadly, tears starting to well up in her tired eyes.

"This is something you can't help me with, Troy. Please leave."

Troy let out an exasperated sigh, but turned to walk out the door. He paused and turned back to face Gabriella.

"I love you. You don't have to push me away."

Troy closed the door and walked downstairs while Gabriella sobbed on her bed. She couldn't hold it in anymore. She crawled under the covers, clutching her pillow tightly.

"I've just pushed away the man I love; the only one that could really help me through this. How could I be so stupid?"

Despite the grades on her report card, Gabriella felt like the most stupid person in the entire world.

♪

Troy walked into the living room and found Mr. Montez reading his Bible. When Troy walked in, Greg placed a bookmark in the old book and closed it, setting it on the table beside him.

"I take it she was stubborn?"

Troy sat on the couch and nodded, running his hands through his hair.

"I tried, Mr. Montez, I really tried. She thinks that this is something she has to deal with herself. That's not true. Our friends and I want to be there for her. I would do anything for her, but she won't let me in."

"I know, Troy. Gabriella was always independent. She never liked to depend on others to do things for her. She even pushed her mother and me away when we tried to cut her food. And she was two! But, Troy, she always came back and asked for help when she couldn't do it."

Troy sighed but he nodded.

"I'll be there when she needs me. I promise you, Mr. Montez."

Greg smiled.

"You're a good man, Troy. I now know what me wife saw in you... what Gabriella sees in you."

♪

Gabriella lay in bed on Saturday morning. She hadn't been out of the house in days. Troy had come by a few times, but he never stayed long. Gabriella would always push him out, only to regret it a few moments later. She didn't answer her phone, so none of her friends could talk to her. Gabriella found herself getting weaker and weaker.

"Did I take my pills last night?"

Gabriella rolled out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom. She heard her father outside her door, calling her down for breakfast.

"Gabriella! Come eat!"

Gabriella opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out. She felt herself collapse on the cold bathroom floor. The last thing she heard was her bedroom door opening.

♪

"Gabi... Wake up... I need you... Our friends need you... Wake up, Gabriella..."

Gabriella looked around her, trying to find the voice.

"I know that voice! Troy!"

"Troy! I'm right here!"

"Please, Gabi... Don't leave me... I love you..."

Gabriella ran around the darkness frantically, trying to find her boyfriend.

"Troy! Where are you?"

Gabriella wandered around, trying to find anything that would bring her back to Troy. In the distance, Gabriella saw a bright light coming from a closed door. It emitted light, but didn't light up any of her surroundings. She ran towards it.

"Gabi! You can't leave me here!"

Gabriella stopped. Troy's voice was fading. She turned around and saw a faded figure of Troy standing at the end of the dark tunnel.

"Troy!"

Gabriella ran as fast as she could towards Troy. She saw the tears in his eyes and launched herself into his arms.

♪

"Gabi! You can't leave me here!"

Troy couldn't stop the flow of tears that poured down his face. He gripped Gabriella's hand tightly.

"She has to live. I can't live without her."

"Troy!"

Troy glanced down at Gabriella, startled. His eyes widened when she flew into his arms, almost knocking him off his chair.

"Gabi?"

Gabriella let go of Troy, using her thumbs to wipe his tears.

"I love you."

Troy's face broke out in a grin.

"I love you, too, Gabi. More than anything."

Gabriella buried her head in Troy's chest, wrapping her arms tightly around his torso.

"I'm so sorry, Troy."

Troy wrapped his arms around her waist, gently rubbing her back, and rested his chin on top of her brown curls.

"For what?"

Gabriella tilted her head to look into Troy's eyes. A few tears slipped down her face and Troy kissed them away.

"For everything. For pushing you and our friends away. For ignoring your calls. The truth is, Troy, I need you. I love you so much."

Troy planted a gentle, but firm, kiss on her forehead.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Gabi. You are going through a rough time. The gang understands that and so do I. I love you, Gabi. I will always be here for you. Remember that."

Gabriella nodded.

"I will."

♪

There you go, guys. I hope you weren't disappointed. I'm thinking one or two more chapters and an epilogue. I would like to thank my 400th reviewer. You know who you are. And I'd also like to thank everyone that's helped me get where I am today. (I feel like I'm receiving a Grammy or something.) A note to people looking for jobs: If you want to have a life, don't work at an ice cream place in the summer! It is excruciatingly time consuming! There. I'm finished my rant. Please review!