Chapter 17

"Emmy, I'm sorry how my dad blew up like that," Troy said, pulling up to a mansion.

"Well, I kinda figured he would. I mean, his own niece telling on him. And even more, getting him fired." Emmy looked up at the mansion. "Where are we?"

"Well, I would've brought you to Gabriella's house, but she's not available. Chad….. Just no. So, this is Sharpay's house."

"WHAT?!" Emmy kicked his seat. "I do not want to stay with a diva!"

"Em, you know you can't stay at my house. My dad won't allow it after he found out that you got him fired."

"I don't want to be stuck with some frickin blond who wears pink."

"Emmy, there is nothing wrong with blonds. Besides, you used to wear pink."

"That's before I found my true look." She patted her leather boots.

"Emmy, you'll have nowhere else to go if you don't stay here."

"Fine." Emmy reluctantly got out of the car.

Troy followed her to the door. He rang the doorbell. Ryan answered.

"Oh, hello Troy. What can I do for you?"

"Hey, Ryan, could I…."

"Is that Troy?!" Sharpay came downstairs. She shoved Ryan out of the way. "Hi, Troy. Oh, and Emmy."

"Hey, could you do me a favor?" Troy asked.

"Anything."

"Could Emmy stay with you for a while?"

Sharpay's mouth dropped open. "What?"

"She has nowhere else to go."

"But, she's scary."

Emmy smiled. "Boo."

"See?! She is so scary!"

"Sharpay, could you please just do this?"

"Why should I? I've already completed a favor for you. I kept Gabriella company after you got dragged away from your dad! Besides, you love her and not me."

"Oh, cry me a river," Emmy said.

"You stay out of this!" Sharpay yelled.

"Sharpay. I'm sorry. I appreciate that you took care of Gabriella, but now I need you to take care of Emmy."

"But she smokes!" "Well, I got my frickin cigarettes taken away from me, so, I guess it's your lucky day." Emmy gave a fake smile.

"Well, fine. But you sleep in the basement." Sharpay grabbed Emmy and dragged her into the house.

"Bye, Emmy. Thank you, Sharpay."

"Yeah, yeah." Sharpay shut the door in Troy's face. She turned to Emmy. "So, do you want me to show you your cage, I mean room?"

"Ha, ha, funny," Emmy said sarcastically.

"Kitten, Ducky, I need you to do me a….. agghh! What is that?!"

"This is Emmy. Emmy, this is my mother."

"Hey." Emmy gave Mrs. Evans the piece sign.

"What is she doing here?"

"She has to stay with us."

"Why?"

"Because her parents left her."

"Well, I can't say I don't blame them. But, anyway, we're not a charity."

"Well, whatever. She's going in the basement, so I don't see how it could result in an issue."

Mrs. Evans looked at Emmy. "Fine."

"Guys, come on. Her parents just left her. You should be a little nicer." Ryan stepped into the conversation.

"Shut up, Ryan," Sharpay said.

"Well, this has been fun, but I think I'd like to see where my cage is located…. I mean room." Emmy grabbed Sharpay's arm and dragged her out of the room.

"Stupid Gabriella," Sharpay muttered as she led Emmy to where she would be staying.

"Well, I already know that she's stupid, but why do you think so?" Emmy asked.

"Because! No matter what, she still gets Troy! I even hired all of those kids to beat her up!" "It was you?"

"Uh, yeah! I mean, I even invited Troy's dad to come. But Troy still loves Gabriella."

"Wow. You're stupid."

"Why?"

"Because now I can tell Troy that you were the one who planned for Gabriella to get hurt."

"Oh my God, you wouldn't!"

"I could. I mean, if you don't treat me with respect…."

"Do you want a room on the third story?"

"I would love one on the third story!"

Sharpay groaned as she led Emmy up to her new room.

"On second thought…."

"WHAT?!"

Emmy smiled. "I want your room."

****

Gabriella smiled as she heard children laughing outside of her room. At least somebody was having a good time.

A knock came from her door. She managed to say "Come in!"

A little girl with red hair came in. She looked about five. She had a hospital dress on.

"HI!" she screamed running over to Gabriella.

"Hi, sweetie. Where are you from?"

"I got hurt," she said, climbing onto Gabriella's bed.

"Me too."

"My parents no love me. They push me down stairs."

Gabriella looked at her. "Is that how you got hurt?"

"Yes. My mommy and daddy got taken away."

Gabriella felt a tear roll down her cheek. "I'm sorry, honey."

"I need hug."

Gabriella stretched out her hands. The girl came over and put her tiny arms around Gabriella.

"Olivia!" A nurse came into the room. "I am sorry. She must've gotten away."

"It's okay," Gabriella said.

The nurse picked Olivia up. "Come on, let's go back to your room."

"Bye, bye!" Olivia called.

"Bye."

After the nurse took Olivia with her, Gabriella felt thankful. She realized that some kids have it harder than her. She felt more tears rolling down her cheeks.

She took out a notebook from under her pillow. It was the notebook she had used before for writing down random words. She opened it and looked at what she had written.

She began to turn the words into sentences. She let out all of her emotions.

After a while, she put the notebook away. She felt calm and relaxed for once.

A knock came from the door. Troy walked in.

"What are you doing here? Won't your dad get mad?" "He doesn't know."

"Well, what if he finds out?"

"I don't think he'll be too mad, considering he's livid with Emmy."

"What do you mean?"

"Emmy was the one who told on him about not doing anything when you got injured."

"Oh."

"So, I just dropped her off at Sharpay's house. My father won't let her stay with us."

"I hope she and Sharpay can cope with each other."

"Yeah, well, neither one of them seemed happy about it."

Gabriella smiled.

"But, anyways, are you feeling better?"

"A little. I understand that some people have it worse than me."

Troy nodded.

"I think I may be able to go back to school pretty soon. I mean, of course I'll have to have a wheelchair and stuff, but at least I'll be back."

Troy stroked her hair. "I got you something."

"What? No, don't buy me things."

"It's the other half that I have to make up."

"You already made up for it."

"Well, I still got this for you." He took out a little jewelry box. He handed it to her.

She took it. "Troy, I appreciate the offer, but I can't accept this."

"Just open it."

Gabriella slowly opened the box. She smiled as she looked at the necklace that lay inside. It was a 'T' necklace.

"T for Troy?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, I was going to get you a 'G', but they were all out, so I got you a 'T'."

"It's great." She looked at him. "I love it."

He looked back at her. "I'm glad."

Gabriella leaned over and kissed him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"But, I've been thinking a little. It's not really fair what you did to Sharpay."

"What are you talking about?"

"I love you, Wildcat, but you shouldn't have just left Sharpay like that." She gave him the necklace back. "I think she's the one who deserves you."

"Look, I know I made a mistake, but you have to listen…."

"Troy, if you truly love me, you'll leave me. I don't want to do this. But I have to."

"You want me to get together with Sharpay?"

"She doesn't deserve the pain…."

"You don't deserve this pain. And if she would have stepped up, maybe you wouldn't have it…."

"The pain of the heart is very severe! And she doesn't deserve it."

Troy looked at her. "But, I don't love her."

"That's why you have to stop seeing me. Other than what your dad will do to you, Sharpay deserves better. She's my friend. No matter what."

Troy held the necklace tightly. "If this is what you want, then I'll follow through with it. But I still love you."

"I love you too. But, we're going to have to move on."

Troy leaned in to kiss her, but she shielded him. "I think you should go."

Troy got up and left. Gabriella looked at the empty jewelry case he had left. She knew she had done the right thing.