A/N: Hi Readers! So, I know this chapter might be a little later than others…sorry. But I think it turned out good, so I hope you like it. And thanks so much for all the reviews you all have been giving! I appreciate them all :)

Enjoy!

The theme song to Die Hard woke me up – very, very loudly. I squinted and opened one eye to see the sun streaming down and hitting the still water of the lake. Hair stuck to the back of my neck from small beads of sweat and I'd managed to completely tangle myself in my sleeping bag over the night.

The cell phone continued to ring. "Uuuuuuuuuugh. Make it stop." Rolling over, I swatted at the sleeping bag next to me. "Troy, make it stop."

"It's not mine." He grumbled and buried his head under his pillow.

"Well, whose cell phone is it?"

Chad's pillow hit my leg. "Stop Darbusing my vacation!"

"Then turn off the cell phone!" I threw it back with as much force as I could muster at the early hour.

"It's not mine, Gabriella!"

Taylor sprung up and shot us a look to kill. "Will you two shut up!? And someone, geez, turn off that damn cell phone!"

"Guys," Zeke moaned. "Stop talking so loud. And god, someone answer that!"

"Please!" I begged with wide-eyes.

Then, Jason slowly rolled over and rubbed his eyes, yawning. "Dudes, I think my cell phone is ringing."

Five pillows, two legs and three arms hit him in the face.

That early afternoon, the box fan buzzed as it blew air around the room, slowly turning from one side to the other. The air outside was heavy and hot and the fan was our only escape from the heat. A wrinkled and almost empty bag of cheddar popcorn sat on the floor, a couple of kernels spilling onto the patterned rug.

The six of us sat around the coffee table, playing cards. Funny enough, the thing about strip poker is that to play, you have to know how to play poker. Which I do not. I feigned disappointment and offered to sit out, but apparently, that was not an option. So now I sat on the floor of the living room, the rest of the group seated around the same table, playing strip Go Fish.

The Danforth parents had made us agree not to swim while they were out with Jackie and Keith Ohm, another couple who vacation at the lake. It was, by far, the hottest day since we had arrived and since we couldn't swim, Jason had suggested we play strip poker.

"Chad," Troy looked up from his cards. "Do you have an ocho?"

"Ha-ha, sucks for you. Nope."

Troy's cards were laid face down on the coffee table and smirking, he pulled off his shirt. Taylor snuck a glance at me, trying to see my reaction, but I laughed and cheered just the same as everyone else. Chad's shirt was already discarded on the floor, Jason had opted to remove his pants and Taylor had lucked out when I had the nine she was looking for.

"Okay Babs," Troy wiggled his eyebrows. "It's your turn."

I grimaced playfully and tapped my cards.

"Zeke, no wait…Jason, do you have a king?"

"A king? Well, I hate to break it you Gabby, but you…are out of luck!"

A round of booing came when I sighed and pulled off my flip-flop.

"Gabby! You're such a cheater!" Troy laughed. "You just happened to be wearing your shoes inside the one time we play strip poker?"

"Yes. And it's Go Fish, by the way." I stuck my tongue out.

"Ah!" I jumped when someone's t-shirt hit me in the face. The game had turned into a clothes-chucking fight after Zeke lost his shorts and they hit Chad in the face. Then, suddenly, my flip-flop went flying out the window when Troy threw it at Jason.

"Oops," Troy laughed. "That was supposed to hit Jay."

"You threw my shoe out the window." I looked at him wide-eyed. "You threw my shoe out the window!"

"I'll go get it Gabby, don't worry." He was still laughing as he began to stand up.

"I'll get it Troy," I shook my head smiling. "I'm getting water from the kitchen anyway."

"Bring us some too!" Jason cried.

I pushed open the screen door and let out a heavy breath when the hot air outside enveloped me. My shoe had landed only a few yards from the open window, but walking over I suddenly felt a sharp pain on the bottom of my bare foot.

"Oh god." A stem of large thorns had fallen into the grass, where I hadn't seen them until I leaned against the house and examined the bottom of my foot. A couple of the thorns had pierced my skin and I whimpered when I pulled one out and immediately saw blood.

I clenched my jaw and wiped my forehead, the air was so heavy and sticky that I was already sweating. There was another thorn in my foot but as I tried to grab it, my surroundings became to seem distant. Dizziness settled in and I began to panic when everything blurred. I realized the voices from the house now seemed miles away and I tried to scream.

"Troy!" I think I was yelling. "I think I'm gonna faint." I managed to get out, afraid. "T-Troy?"

The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was that I was lying on the ground with Troy kneeling beside me, his face hovering over my body and his hand pushing hair from my face. The second thing I noticed was my friends standing around me. My memory was completely blank; it felt like I had been asleep for hours.

"Gabby!" Troy sighed with relief. "Hi honey, are you okay?"

"What are you guys doing here?" I looked at them quizzically. My vocal cords seemed to have energy of their own as I found myself talking.

Zeke laughed. "We heard you trying to yell, Gabs."

I had actually been asking why all my friends were at my house, but then, I remembered the lake.

I looked up at Troy. "I think I fainted."

"I think so too, Brie." He gave me a smile and placed his hand on my cheek. I needed something to hold on too so I put my hand on top of his as I began to cry.

"No, Brie. Don't cry. You're fine. Please, don't cry."

Suddenly, I heard Taylor's voice. "Troy, keep her there. If she tries to stand up she might faint again." Taylor said strictly. "I'm going to get her a damp washcloth and something with caffeine." She walked into the house, and at this point I realized nobody had put their clothes back on and they were all standing outside half dressed. I think I might have laughed.

When Taylor reached the door she turned around again and told Troy to raise my feet so blood went to my head. Troy had Jason run inside to grab a couch pillow, which he put under my feet. I was too upset and out of sorts to be embarrassed.

When Taylor came out she was carrying a small, yellow washcloth and a can of Diet Cherry Vanilla Coke. She placed the washcloth on my forehead and the cool towel felt incredible on my skin.

"This was the only soda I could find, Gabby." She held up the Coke can. "When you're ready to sit up I'll open it for you."

"I think I can sit up." I pressed the towel to my forehead.

"Yeah?" Troy asked and I nodded. He took my hand and I lifted my head until I was sitting up, my feet now on either side of the couch pillow. But when he started to pull me into a standing position my head went light and I protested, already afraid of fainting again. So, he lay me back down and adjusted the towel on my head.

Taylor had come to my other side and she too was kneeling beside me. "We'll just wait a minute, it'll be okay, Gabs." She smiled and I was thankful she was there. I'm pretty sure the boys wouldn't have had much of a clue as to what to do if Taylor hadn't been giving them directions.

As I continued to lie on the ground, everyone still half-dressed and surrounding me, I recounted what had happened. Up until then I had forgotten about the cuts on my foot, and they began to sting when I remembered they were there.

Less than a minute later I decided I was okay to stand up and Taylor helped me inside while Troy carried the pillow and the Coke can, waking right beside me, making me laugh by whispering in my ear.

I sat down right away on the couch and Taylor sat next to me. Thankfully, I had stopped crying by now but my head hurt and the cuts on my foot were still stinging.

"You guys keep playing, "I told my friends after I rested for a couple minutes. "I'm going to clean my foot up. Chad, where are the band-aids?"

"I've got band-aids, Gabby." Taylor told me. "Here, I'll come with you." She took my hand and we walked into the bathroom. Troy offered to come too, but I told him he should stay. I felt a little dizzy having to stand up again, especially since my foot was really painful now, and it didn't help that the bathroom was small.

I sat down on the closed toilet and closed my eyes as Taylor handed me a wet and slightly soapy washcloth. When I lifted my foot to clean it, and I saw the blood, I was dizzy all over again.

I quickly shut my eyes and dropped my head between my knees, in order to get the blood flowing downwards.

"Gabby," Taylor put her hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head, "I feel…" Breathe in. Breathe out. "Really lightheaded." Breathe in. Breathe Out.

"Okay, um, just keep your head there and breathe deeply. I'll get you another washcloth."

As good as a washcloth might feel, I was scared and discombobulated, and I needed something more.

"Can you…" I breathed. "Can you get Troy? Please."

She was gone before the words were out and only a second later Troy came rushing in and knelt in front of me. Taylor must have stayed in the living room and suddenly I felt guilty for wanting Troy instead of her.

"You okay?" Troy rubbed my upper back and spoke worriedly.

I took a deep breath and slowly sat back up. I nodded. "This is rather embarrassing."

He laughed and shook his head. "No, don't even think that." He kissed my forehead and picked up the wet washcloth. "You want me to do it?"

"I can." I took the yellow towel from him and lightly pressed it on where the thorns had pricked me, until the dirt and blood had disappeared. Troy handed me a couple band-aids that Taylor had put on the sink and he very carefully put them over the cuts. He smiled and tucked my hair behind my ear when he had finished.

"All better?"

"Thank you." I gave him a smile.

He pressed his lips to my forehead, so softly, and I closed my eyes and breathed in the moment. "Anytime." He whispered.

On the first day at Red Valley, Taylor and I had moved the bedside table in our room and pushed our beds together. It was now two hours past midnight and we lay side by side in our double bed, talking.

"What's it like to faint?" She asked me.

"Horrible." I laughed. "It's really scary, actually. The first time I fainted was onstage a couple years ago, that was humiliating, but quick. This time, I could feel it coming on and everything was kind of blurry around me."

"Wow." She looked thoughtful. "I wonder what it's like to die."

"Taylor!" I gasped. "That's kind of dark."

"I know, but don't you ever wonder?"

"Yeah, I mean, I guess so. Hopefully, I won't find out for awhile though." I smiled.

"No kidding. I can't imagine dying at only seventeen."

Her words hit me hard and I blinked a few times letting them echo though my head. I began to think about all my friends and what it would be like if something happened to them. I don't think I could ever make it with out them, especially Taylor and Troy. I started to picture it in my mind and suddenly, I couldn't stop. Death was such a final word, and the thoughts kept playing out in my head. I could almost feel the pain as I laid there in the dark.

"Gabby?" Taylor poked me. "You still awake?"

"Yeah, but do you want to go to sleep now?" I was surprised to find that I was almost crying and I faked a yawn, even though I was exhausted.

"Okay. Good night, Gabs."

"G'Night Taylor."

She turned over and closed her eyes, silence settling into the room. I didn't move. I stayed as quiet as I could, tears pricking my eyes, and I knew she couldn't hear me, because she would have said something if she did.

Taylor was lucky, she was one of those people who could fall asleep extremely quickly and after about fifteen minutes her breathing got deeper and I knew she was out. I stayed in bed, silently and softly crying, for a couple minutes. The feeling of losing my friends, especially Troy, had become insanely real. Taylor was right beside me, so for some reason, maybe because I could see she was fine, I wasn't as afraid of something happening to her.

I silently slipped out of the room. The hallway was dark but a small ray of light shined into our room and illuminated Taylor's face. The door squeaked a little as I closed it and I shut my eyes, praying I wouldn't wake anyone.

I tiptoed a few steps down the hall and stood outside the room that Troy and Zeke were sharing. Out in the living room I could vaguely hear two male voices and the sound of soda cans being crushed.

A strip of bright light was visible under the door making it clear that the boys were still awake, I'm not sure if this made me feel better or more embarrassed but I put my hand on the doorknob and turned it counter-clockwise.

"Gabby?" Troy shot up. "What's going on? Are you okay?"

For some reason, seeing him worried made me cry. I nodded though, and he stood up to come closer.

"Um, I think I'll just bunk with Jason and Chad tonight, guys, so you can have some privacy." I looked at Zeke surprised, almost as if I had forgotten he was in the room. He grabbed his pillow and checkered comforter and told me that everything would be okay as it dragged on the floor behind him. When I thanked him, he gave me a big bear hug. There were few boys like Zeke, I was pretty lucky.

When the door shut behind him, Troy engulfed me in his arms. "What's wrong? Did you faint again, Gabby?"

"Just don't let go, okay?"

"Yeah, Gabs, okay. Of course."

Feeling him holding me only reminded me how much it would hurt to lose him. We didn't let go of each other for a long time.

Finally, my crying subsided to teary eyes and I wiped them with the back of my hand. The gray 'Kilmarnick Regional Basketball Tournament 2006' t-shirt Troy wore was now damp with salty tears below his left shoulder. The room was quiet except for my sniffling and the soft buzz of the fan in the corner. Outside, a couple crickets chirped and a slight breeze blew the leaves of the trees.

The ruffled covers of Troy's bed were falling to the side and his pillow was vertical, the way he always slept with it. He motioned to it and climbed in first, then pulled the covers up until they settled onto my waist. The single bed was a tight squeeze for two people and when I put my head down on his pillow, which he had turned horizontal for me, his face was only a few inches from mine. Soft blue eyes scanned my face and he brought his hand up to wipe my wet cheeks. I wiggled down a bit until my head was at his shoulder and I put my face against his chest, where a damp spot still appeared.

"Gabby," He had a way of speaking softly, like a parent talks when comforting a child. "You're kind of freaking me out. What's wrong?"

I shook my head but didn't say a word. Troy was always the one who wanted to talk, the one who always found a plan to work things out. I was the emotional one, I tried to avoid drama and found it easier to opt for silence when things got complicated.

He seemed not sure of what to say. "Do you want me to turn out the light?"

"Okay." I answered quietly. He reached over me to the lamp and suddenly the room went completely dark. His arm rested on my side, his hand holding my waist. Suddenly, I realized how intimate this was and how nice it felt.

"You know, I'm not sure why you're upset and I'm sorry you are, but…I like having you here." Sometimes Troy knew exactly what to say, and I took a deep breath, taking in his presence so I would never forget this moment.

"I love you." He spoke so quietly, I almost didn't hear him.

"More than basketball?" I whispered back.

He planted kisses on the top of my head. "Of course."

"More than turkey and mustard sandwiches?" I grinned, this was our routine.

"Definitely."

"More than your Jeep?"

"Oh yeah."

"More than…'Guitar Hero'?"

"No question."

"Well then, I think I love you too."

I opened my eyes to unfamiliar surroundings and for a second, wondered where I was. Zeke's open suitcase spilled onto the floor and a silver iPod was charging in the wall. When I realized that I was waking up on a different side of the bed than I had fallen asleep on, I sprang up and looked around. In doing this, Troy's arm slid from my waist and hit the bed. He opened his eyes as he was jolted awake.

"Hi." I looked down at him, his brown hair ruffled and gorgeously out of place.

"Hi." He looked from my side to his. "How did we-?"

"Not a clue." I shook my head.

"Okay then. Good morning." He smiled. We had woken up spooning but I lay back down on his chest, moving my body to be completely on top of his. I couldn't guarantee fresh breath for either of us this early in the day.

I yawned. "Morning. What time is it?" This was the first time I'd ever fallen asleep and woken up next to him, just him. And laying together in his bed, I liked how precious the moment was. He chest rose and fell underneath me and I could vaguely hear the rhythmic beat of his heart.

"Um…" he twisted his neck to check his cell phone. "Holy crap! It's only eight-thirty!"

"What? Are you serious?" I grabbed his phone and looked for myself. Sure enough, it was eight-thirty, about two hours before we usually woke up.

"Geez," I handed the phone back. "No wonder I'm still half-asleep."

"No kidding." He closed his eyes, and I followed in his great idea. Our feet were tangled together under the covers and he was lightly moving his toe against mine. Five minutes passed before anyone spoke, and when he did, it was the exact words I had been expecting.

"So…" I opened my eyes to see his were open too, and looking down at me. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"You mean my spontaneous crying fit?"

"Unless there's something else you want to talk about."

Sighing I reached up and rested my hands on his shoulders. "Looking back, it was pretty stupid."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, Brie."

"I just…I was just tired and emotional. Yesterday with the fainting, then Taylor and I were talking about dying…and I don't know, I was really exhausted and it kind of set me off."

"I'd appreciate if you didn't die anytime soon."

I laughed, which made him smile and his eyes twinkle. "Trust me, I'm not going anywhere."

"Well," He took my hand and kissed my palm. "I know you're not fully awake, but since we're both up, and this bed is kind of small, and we have this time all to ourselves…how about going outside with me?"

I had to smile. "That sounds good."

Troy stood outside my door, now wearing his blue sweatshirt over the clothes he slept in. I had snuck back into my room to grab my own sweatshirt and he took my hand as I left and closed the door behind me. I was surprised, but also slightly relieved, that neither of Chad's parents were awake. I wasn't dying to see their reaction when Troy and I walked out of the same bedroom. We walked quietly passed Zeke, Chad and Jason who were sleeping amongst numerous crushed soda cans and bag of 'Cheezie-Puffz'.

The morning air felt good but cool as we stepped outside, I was glad I had my sweatshirt.

"Dock?" Troy asked. Our hands were swinging together between us.

"Okay." I closed my eyes and smiled as we made out way down to the lake.

We sat on the very end of the dock, looking out for ripples in the water. I was having trouble keeping my eyes open but Troy loved to point things out to me, I think he would make a good teacher if he wanted to be. The 'new day' feeling was present in the air, and the whole world seemed quiet and still.

Troy found a pebble on the dock and skipped it across the water. "Important question."

"Hit me." I yawned.

"Do you think those guys really drank all that Diet Cherry Vanilla Coke?"

A/N: Well, whatdja think? I know it seems like Gabriella's reaction to her conversation with Taylor was a bit over the top, but remember that she had a pretty tough day and she's a sensitive girl. And yes, that can be exactly what it's like to faint. Take it from someone with more than enough experience ;) And yes, I am going somewhere with this story...but like I said, it's just about her summer so it's not all drama.

-Sparks-