Love Hurts

Gabriella entered Phoenix County Hospital the next day, furious. She held in her hand a copy of Snapshot magazine. Today's cover read A Troyella Story: The True Story about Troy Bolton and mistress Gabriella Montez and more. She usually read this magazine for fun but now she was pissed off. She skimmed the article somewhat. It told the world they were high school and college sweethearts and how they were still good friends with other know celebrities. Gabriella walked up to the nearest trashcan and threw away the magazine.

Near the end of her shift, Gabriella was paged to the Chief of Surgery's office. She groaned and headed for the nearest elevator in the ER. Gabriella could feel millions of eyes watching her as she waited for the elevator but she ignored them. She saw nurses huddled around a copy of today issue of Snapshot. They tried to hide what they were doing but Gabriella knew.

Gabriella stopped at the chief's office door, which read Dr. H. Patterson, Chief of Surgery. She knocked and heard a voice within say, "Come in." Gabriella took a deep breath and entered the office. She saw that the chief was finishing up some paperwork. Dr. Henry Patterson looked up from his desk and grinned. "Ah, Gabriella, please sit down. I'll only be a moment." Dr. Patterson said in his deep, but gentle voice.

Gabriella took a seat in front of his desk and crossed her legs. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest but she kept a straight face as she looked at her mentor. Patterson signed the last of his paperwork, put the pen down, and intertwined his hands atop his desk. "I heard about the incident in front of the hospital the other day. In fact, I saw the video." Dr. Patternson said.

Gabriella sighed. "Now the hospital board wanting me to suspend you; however, the video showed that it was self-defense. She attacked you and you defended yourself. It was just a shame that it ended up on national television… So I am letting you off with a warning. Okay?" Dr. Patterson said and smirked. Gabriella smiled.

"Thank you, Henry. I owe you." Gabriella said.

"Oh, I know. Now go home and take the next few days off because I believe there's a little baby boy you're dying to see." They both stood and shook hands. "By the way, Gabi…I hope you kicked her ass." Henry said. Gabriella smiled and winked at him. She walked out of his office and headed for the doctors' lounge.

Gabriella was only a few feet from the doctors' lounge when she suddenly recognized a disguised figure. Troy wore jeans, a t-shirt, a Phoenix Suns cap and dark sunglasses. He saw Gabriella quickly pass the waiting room and he ran after her. Troy grabbed Gabriella's arm as soon she opened the door to the lounge.

"Troy! What are you doing here?" Gabriella tried to keep her voice down.

"I had to see you. We need to talk." Troy said. Gabriella pulled him into the lounge, hopefully unnoticed. Troy took off his cap and sunglasses while Gabriella checked to see if the lounge was empty. "Why haven't you returned any of my calls?"

Seeing that they were alone, Gabriella approached Troy. "You know why! You're engaged! And I was a fool to believe that there was anything between us. I let my guard down. I can't believe I slept with you again!" Gabriella snapped.

"What if I wasn't?" Troy asked anxiously.

"What are you talking about?" Gabriella asked.

"What if I left Katie? Then you, me, and Jesse could be together as a family." Gabriella turned her back to Troy. "Isn't that what you want?" Troy asked.

"I… I just don't know. I don't know what I want anymore. And I don't know if I can let you do this." Gabriella said.

"Do what?" Troy asked.

"Let you leave Kate for me! I will not be the other woman, Troy." Gabriella said.

"But you're not the other woman, Katie is. Don't you see? It's always been you, Gabriella." Troy said charmingly. He slowly began to caress Gabriella's face.

"Troy, please don't." Gabriella said softly. But he didn't and she did not want him to stop.

"Gabriella, I love you. I never stopped. And I want to be with you and Jesse. So please let me." Troy said softly. He pulled her close and his lips brushed up against hers. "Please say something."

Gabriella so desperately wanted to say that she loved him too and for him to kiss her. No, I don't want to get hurt again. Gabriella thought. Gabriella then pulled away from him. "I'm sorry, Troy but…but I don't know if I want you." Gabriella said with tears forming in her eyes. She quickly went over to her locker.

"What are you saying?" Troy asked somberly. He held back the tears forming in his own eyes. Gabriella took off her medical coat, hung it on its hook, and put on her own leather jacket without saying a word to Troy. Troy then grabbed her and turned her to face him. "Answer me!"

"Troy, let me go!" Gabriella cried. She saw tears rolling down his face.

Troy saw that he was scaring her so he let her go and took a few steps back. "I'm sorry... If you don't want me…why did you sleep with me?" Troy said.

"I had a moment of weakness and nothing more. I'm sorry." Gabriella said. It hurt her to say it but it needed to be said. "Troy, we need time apart. You can still see Jesse but you won't see me." She spoke as calmly as she could while holding back tears.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Troy asked somberly. Gabriella grabbed her purse and closed her locker.

"Troy, it's for the best." Gabriella caressed his face. "Goodbye Troy." She kissed his cheek. "I hope you and Kate will be happy together." Gabriella walked out of the lounge discreetly wiping the tears from her eyes.

Gabriella soon walked out of the hospital, where reporters and paparazzi were waiting for. "How did you feel to find out your high school sweetheart was engaged?" "Miss Montez, just a few questions!"

Troy wanted so badly to run after her but all he did was sit down in a chair, put his face in his hands and cry.

Gabriella parked in front of her apartment building. She gently put her head down onto the steering wheel and cried.

Two Days Later

Gabriella had taken Dr. Patterson's advice and had asked for some time off. Sharpay entered Gabriella's apartment to find Gabriella moping in the living room while eating cookie dough ice cream out of the carton. Sharpay knew both Gabriella and Troy were miserable.

Sharpay crossed her arms, looked at Gabriella with an annoyed expression, and shook her head in disappointment. "Ah, I can't take it anymore!" Sharpay cried, throwing her hands up in frustration. She snatched the ice cream out of her hands.

"Sharpay! What did you do that for?" Gabriella cried.

"I am not going to let you spend another day moping around this…this badly decorated apartment because of Troy Bolton." Gabriella gave Sharpay a dirty look. Sharpay put her hands on her hips. "Listen, I have to go home tonight. Apparently, Ryan can't manage Lava Springs without moi. But my point being, I am taking you with me, Miss 'I'm so depressed over a guy…again.'" Sharpay said.

"I am not depressed. And I don't want to go home… My mom saw the video." Gabriella groaned and covered her face with a pillow.

Sharpay winced and then she pulled the pillow off of Gabriella's face. "You may not want to go home but you need to. You need to get away. Away from Troy, the hospital, the public, and that blond bitch, Katie, Kate, whatever the hell her name is. Now, you are coming with me, whether you like it or not." Sharpay said.

"I hate you." Gabriella said.

"No, you don't." Sharpay said.

Troy stared blankly at the picture of him and Gabriella in their freshmen year of college. They were so happy then and he had to screw it up. He took another sip of scotch and continued to stare at the photo. A tear began to roll down Troy's cheek but he wiped it away and took another sip.

Chad came down the stairs and entered the basement to see Troy drinking again. "Dude, this has to stop." Chad said as he took the drink out of Troy's hand. Chad went into the downstairs bathroom and poured the drink down the sink.

"Give me a reason to stop." Troy said, sounding extremely depressed.

"How about this… Gabriella is leaving with Jesse tonight." Chad replied seriously. Troy sat right up, alert.

"How do you know? Are you sure?" Troy asked quickly.

"Sharpay told Ryan and Zeke; and Zeke told Jason, who told Kelsi, who told Martha, who told Taylor, who told me so…yeah, I'm sure." Chad explained thoroughly.

Troy leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Chad, have you ever been in love with a woman who didn't love you back?" Troy asked sadly.

"She may not act like she does but Gabriella loves you, man. She just scared that you'll hurt her again. Trust me." Chad said.

"When did you become Dr. Phil?" Troy asked, impressed by his friend's response.

"I actually listen when Taylor is talking or yelling at me." Chad replied.

"Do you listen when she's talking to you or when she's talking to somebody else like on the phone?" Troy asked, unconvinced.

"Both but the point is… What are you going to do?" You could sit her drinking my expensive scotch and lose Gabi. Or you can get up and go get the woman you are so madly in love with. So…what's it gonna be?" Chad asked.

Troy had already made his decision. He got up and grabbed his car keys but then he felt dizzy. "Whoa. I should probably wait til I sober up." Troy said.

"Good idea." Chad said. Troy flopped down and passed out on the couch while Chad went back upstairs.

After sobering up and taking some aspirin, Troy drove over to Gabriella's. Troy rapidly knocked on her door. "Gabriella! Gabriella!" He called. He continued knocking until someone opened the door. Troy smiled but then his smile faded when he saw who was at the door.

Taylor stood at the door instead of Gabriella. "Troy, what are you doing here?" Taylor asked.

"Is Gabi here? I have to talk to her." Troy said anxiously.

"Troy, I'm sorry. Gabriella and Jesse left over an hour ago." Taylor said, sincere. Troy sighed sadly and nodded.

Troy climbed back into his truck and just sat there, thinking. Taylor left the apartment building and drove off. Troy sat there for a few more minutes and then pulled out his cell phone. He pressed the speed dial number six and Katie appeared on the small screen. Troy hit the talk button. Kate, as she now liked to be called, answered on the third ring.

Albuquerque

Gabriella leaned back in the passenger side of Sharpay's pink convertible and watched the New Mexico desert swiftly pass by. It is good to be home, Gabriella thought and smiled.

Since her mom was in New York on a business trip, Gabriella and Jesse had the house all to themselves. Sharpay decided to take Gabriella with her to Lava Springs so she could relax and left Ryan to babysit Jesse. Gabriella was reluctant at first until she saw how great Ryan was with Jesse.

Lava Springs country club came into view. They pulled up to the front and the valets rushed to the pink convertible. The two women linked arms and went inside for a day of relaxation.

Ryan laid a sleeping Jesse down in the white cradle Gabriella had brought with them. Ryan tip-toed to the living room with the baby monitor. He plopped down onto the couch and turned on the TV. He turned down the volume and changed the channel that was showing the World Series.

Ryan quietly cheered when his team scored a home run. Then the power and all the lights went out. "What the…" Ryan muttered. He sighed and pulled out his cell phone from his pocket. He clicked Gabriella's speed dial number. But before he could push the talk button, something hit Ryan hard on the back of the head. Ryan fell off the couch out cold, his cell phone landing next to him.

Sharpay and Gabriella pulled up to the house. "Thanks Sharpay. You were right. I did need to get away." Gabriella said.

"I know. Now please tell my brother to hurry it up." Sharpay looked at her watch. "Zeke is cooking me dinner." Sharpay said. Gabriella smiled and got out of the convertible.

As she was walking up to the house, Gabriella noticed that none of the lights were on. That's weird, Gabriella thought and took her keys out of her purse. She unlocked the door and opened the door.

The house was in total darkness. Gabriella flipped the light switch on and off but it was still pitch black. "Ryan…? Ryan, you better not have Lea over here!" Gabriella said into the dark. Gabriella carefully wandered in the dark, feeling for the furniture and the walls.

Then Gabriella tripped over something. "Ow!" She then realized what she tripped over. "Oh my god! Ryan!" Gabriella cried. She quickly checked his pulse and was relieved when she found a strong, steady pulse.

Gabriella felt around for her purse but she must have dropped it far from her reach. She slowly got up and felt her way toward the front door. Then the lights suddenly came back on. She stopped for a second, surprised. She reached for the door. "I wouldn't do that." Said a cold and familiar voice.

Gabriella slowly turned around with fear in her eyes. Paul Curtis stood there with Jesse sleeping in his arms. She froze when she saw Jesse. Paul Curtis was tall, had brown hair, a thin mustache and goatee. "Paul…please. Please put him down. Leave my son out of this. This is between you and me. Please." Gabriella begged, trying to also remain calm.

Paul looked at Gabriella and then at Jesse. "What the hell." He laid Jesse down on the couch and then walked over to Gabriella. "But we are going for a ride and this time your knight isn't here." Paul said while caressing Gabriella's face. His skin felt ice cold to Gabriella. Then he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the back door.

Then Ryan's cell phone rang, which made Paul jump. Gabriella took the opportunity and heel kicked Paul high in the chest. He fell back, groaning in pain. She made a dash for Jesse. Then Paul grabbed her ankles, causing Gabriella to fall and hit her head on an end table.

Gabriella was very dazed. She heard a lamp fall over and break and Jesse's cries. She fell in and out of consciousness Suddenly, Sharpay was standing over her. "I need an ambulance at…" Then everything went dark.

Phoenix

Troy walked onto the set of the ridiculous horror film Kate was starring in. "CUT! Alright, go to the lunch!" The director yelled and everyone began walking off set.

Troy knocked on Kate's dressing room door. "Come in." Troy entered to find her brushing her hair in front of a vanity mirror. "Good, you're here. What did you want to talk about? And hurry it up, okay." Kate said.

"We need to talk…" Troy said but Kate cut him off.

"You bet we do. The wedding will be here before we know it and we are way behind on all the arrangements." Kate said still brushing her hair and not even looking at Troy..

"So I take it you're not mad at me anymore." Troy said bluntly.

"You made a mistake in a moment of weakness. Well, two moments of weakness. A lot of athletes do. But that bitch Gabriella is gone so things can now go back to normal. I'm so glad that you paid her off to keep her mouth shut about that little brat." Kate said. Her tone wasn't cold but it was almost emotionless.

"Don't talk about them like that! As a matter of fact, don't talk about them at all!" Troy said furiously.

Kate turned around and looked at Troy. "What is up with you?" Troy ran his hand through his hair and remained silent. That's what made Kate really upset so she stood up. "You actually care about that woman and her brat!" Kate snapped.

"That brat is my son! And I just don't care about them. I love them. And because I love them is the reason why I'm here." Troy said. He took a step closer towards a furious Kate. "It's over."

"WHAT! You must be joking!" Kate cried.

"Oh…so you think I'm joking." Troy then went over to her dresser and snatched up the HUGE diamond engagement ring. "Do you think I'm joking now?" Troy said. He left the dressing room with a furious Kate following.

"So you're leaving me for that slut and her…!" Kate was yelling and this time Troy cut her off.

Troy put a warning finger in her face. "I told you not to talk about them at all. And like I said before that so called brat is my son and right now he needs his father. And that would be me so see ya." Troy said and headed for the exit. Members of both the cast and crew were watching them fight while eating their lunch.

Kate then picked up a prop knife from the last scene and threw it at Troy. The fake knife flew passed Troy's head and got stuck on a wall. Troy stopped, turned around and shook his head at Kate. He then left when she began throwing more props at him.

Troy got into his truck and his cell phone was vibrating. The caller ID read Chad so he answered it. "What's up, man?" Troy froze when Chad told him about what happened back home in Albuquerque.