"Bells?" Taylor called, jogging up Gabriella's stairs. "Hey, are you home? The door was unlocked…"
"I don't think she's home," Sharpay whispered, knocking softly on Gabriella's wooden bedroom door. "Gabs? You in here?"
"Huh?" Gabriella moaned sleepily. "Oh, come in." They opened the door. Gabriella rubbed her tired eyes. "What time is it?"
"Time to wake up!" Taylor laughed. "No really, it's eight."
"That's crazy," Gabriella yawned, looking over at Troy, who was laying next to her, with his arms around her tightly. "Too early to get up." And she lay back down, pulling the covers over her head.
"Uh uh," Sharpay scolded, "You have some explaining to do." Gabriella cursed under her breath, just as the covers were ripped back off of her. She groaned.
Troy's eyes fluttered open. A smile spread over his lips, then turned to a frown. "Hey, what're you guys doing here?"
"We're here to find out what's been going on." Taylor explained.
"What do you mean?" Gabriella asked.
"Oh, don't try fooling me. I can't be fooled." Sharpay grinned evilly.
"Why haven't you been at school?" Taylor interrupted.
Gabriella looked at Troy. "I've been…sick. The flu."
"That's a likely story," Sharpay replied, sitting down in Gabriella's computer chair.
Troy gave her a look that she knew too well. "Well, she was sick."
"I'm sure," Taylor nodded. "She was gone for…I don't know how many days and we tried calling several times. Have you been dodging our calls?"
"No, of course not!" Gabriella cried, shaking her head. "No, never. I told you, I was sick. Honest to God."
"What'd you have? It wasn't the flu, was it?" Sharpay asked.
" 'Brie, you have to tell them sometime." Troy whispered, so only she could hear. Her fingers trailed toward the end of the sheets, which she began fiddling with.
"I know," she replied, softly.
"Hey," Troy said, pulling her face up, so that she was looking into his eyes, which were filled with concern. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
Gabriella smiled a little. "Okay…" She looked back toward Taylor and Sharpay, who were staring at her intently. "I have something to tell you."
"What is it, Gabby?" Taylor asked.
"Yeah, you know you can tell us anything," Sharpay smiled, warmly, spinning around in the chair.
Gabriella smiled again. She glanced at Troy, who gave her a side ways glance. "C'mon, baby," he encouraged her, taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.
She took a deep breath. "Guys, I have cancer."
Sharpay stopped spinning in the chair, and looked directly at her with a face she had never seen before. Taylor dropped the coffee mug in her hand. "What?!" The both cried out in unison.
"I have leukemia," Gabriella said, a little quieter. Troy ran a thumb over the back of her hand. He could see tears welling up in her eyes, and the other two's as well.
"Since when?" Taylor croaked out.
"Since a few years ago." Gabriella replied, looking down again.
"Have you been getting treated?" Sharpay asked, in disbelief.
Gabriella nodded. "Yes, but the treatments aren't…" She broke off. Her voice had cracked and she couldn't talk anymore.
"Working right?" Taylor asked, carefully.
Gabriella just nodded. Troy hugged her and held her in his strong arms. She felt safe for a moment, as if she were normal again. "I just wish I was normal."
"You are normal, sweetie," Sharpay whispered, trying to hold back the tears. "We love you and this stupid cancer isn't going to change that."
Taylor nodded, with a small smile plastered on her face. "Never, ever. We'll be right here with you until this is over. Until you fight it off."
"What if I can't fight it off?" Gabriella hiccupped.
The other three shook their heads. " 'Brie, we've been over this before," Troy said.
"I know, but, what if?"
"Don't talk like that," Sharpay said. "That's a 'what if' question."
"Thanks," Gabriella smiled. "Just for understanding and not running away." Taylor and Sharpay reached in and they all had a group hug.
"Anytime," Taylor said. "When's your next doctor's appointment?"
"Tomorrow at three." Troy answered for Gabriella.
"We'll be there," Sharpay grinned. Gabriella's face lit up.
"You will?"
"Of course, hon," Taylor muttered. "Always."