It's just project after project and piles and piles of assignments! For god's sake, take a chill pill, teachers. Do you WANT us to sleep at night?! Yeah, I guess that explains why I am starting this chapter like two weeks after I published the last chapter. Thanks for coping. So last week we left of when Gabriella said she would donate one of her kidneys to Troy. You also learned a little bit of Jesse's past, too. He was dating Teagan Crow for a well spent time before he moved away to London. Good enough recap? I'm glad...

Quick update: I changed everything on my profile...well my part of it;not my sisters and I even included an Author commentary on all of my stories. So if you guys are interested in reading a little behind the scenes on your favorite story by me, check out my profile. But, I must remind you that I haven't put up one on Good Comes Last because I want to finish this story before I give random drabble about it. So, yeah...

Disclaimer: I don't own High School Musical or Angel lyrics by Natasha Bedingfield


Good Comes Last

by: Laugh, in laughnsmile96

Chapter Nine: Angel


If I could be your angel
Your angel, Your angel
Protect you from the pain
I'll keep you safe from danger
You'll never hurt again
I'll be your a.n.g.e.l
I'm gonna be your a.n.g.e.l
I'll be your angel

Natasha Bedingfield, Angel


JACK & LUCILLE BOLTON HOUSEHOLD
MARCH 1, 2009
3:30:42 AM

Jack winced as a headache attacked his head when the shrill of the home phone went off. He gathered his senses together and pulled his arms out from Lucille's waist to grab the phone. Immediately after he pressed the 'talk' button the shrill went off and he shoved the speaker against his ear.

"Hello?" Through rough resonance in his voice the doctor on the other line could tell that she disturbed his slumber.

"I'm sorry if I disturbed your sleep, ," she apologized. "But I have some bad news for you," Jack's heart gave a resounding thump. Behind him, Lucille was now up and watching Jack for any expression. Nothing was given. He simply turned the phone on speaker-phone.

"Go on" he urged.

"I am Lisa calling from the Los Angles Hospital regarding your son Troy Bolton" The explanation prolonged...


LOS ANGLES HOSPITAL
MARCH 1, 2009
3:29:23

Gabriella stepped out of the cluster of her friends to face the doctor. There was no joking expression on her face except a serious tired smile that tugged at her lips. The nurse in front of her had brightened her features.

"My god, that's wonderful! Mrs. Montez, you are truly one of a kind!" The nurse complimented. Gabriella let out her breath in humility. She mumbled a 'thank you'. The lady continued giving instruction and led Gabriella into an office.

"Wait!" Chad called behind them. He ran towards the pair in front of the group. "Gabs, can we talk for a second," Gabriella nodded and followed Chad into the office.

"Gabriella, why are you doing this?" he asked, uncertain and confused. Chad refused to believe that she could actually care about Troy, when he practically destroyed her life.

"Would you rather have Troy die?" The wind was blown out of Chad. How could she say that? Chad was Troy's best friend of all time. They were brothers!

"Gabs" he said with a small laugh,"Troy and I are-"

"best friends, I know" Gabriella interrupted rudely."You don't act like it at all," She smiled softly before lightly touching his ice cold brown hands with her delicate warm ones. "Troy doesn't take his pills, Chad, and you're not even there to observe. Marissa caught him coming home drunk probably days a whole week's worth. And twice, he tried to come into my room drunk but nurses were always there to stop him. How could you just ignore him like that?" she scolded."Troy doesn't deserve to die. It's too soon. He needs a second chance and I guess I am the only one you wants that for him,"

"How did you know?" Chad asked

"I observe, okay? I'm not completely oblivious to everything Troy does when I take my monthly trips to the hospital and weekly trips around the house,"

Gabriella pulled her hands off of his and turned the golden knob on the door. "Do wanna leave?" she asked, solemnly. Chad shook his head, still shocked by his sister's outburst. She nodded and let in the nurse who still waited outside.

"It's great that I got both of you here," the nurse commented, completely oblivious to the argument that the pair had went through."I need someone to fill out a permission form for Gabriella and then we have to get right to business," Chad nodded and sat down.

As time went on Gabriella and Chad went through many forms for permission and the nurse discussed everything that was going to happen as they continue through the process.


LOS ANGELES HOSPITAL
MARCH 4, 2009
1:34:56 PM

It was afternoon and Troy's hospital room was only dimly lit with sunlight. Rays of yellow shine only seep through the windows to enlighten the front part of the room and leave the rest in weak light. Troy sat up on his bed after a knock came from the entrance. It was only yesterday that the surgery was completed and today morning that he woke up from coma. To him, he was unsure that he was still alive. No one was there when he woke up and the nurse only came in an hour ago to find his blue weary eyes open. From all that Troy could remember, the unbearable pain that he went through before blackness was unbearable and sinister. It was unbelievable and so incredible that he was alive and breathing to this moment. Surprisingly enough, Troy had cried several times in his state of indescribable confusion because the ultimate question:dead or alive?

There was one thing that Troy just couldn't let go. Along with the increasing pain, Troy distinctly remembered two arms holding him. Just holding him and even if those two arms let go after awhile he knew that those were probably the ones saved his life, if he was alive. Even now, Troy felt full and secure, protected-so to speak. Every now and then, from when he came out of coma, the twenty-five year old would sit back and hover over the feeling of those two petite arms holding him ,and holding his life, together.

Footsteps had corrupted Troy's thoughts and drew him out of his deadly fear. He stared at the ground, scared to death of seeing cruel eyes gaping at him, so first he saw two dull, worn out sneakers stepping into his view. Shocked, he immediately recognized those shoes.

"Chad" Troy breathed, wide-eyed and slowly being absorbed out of confusion. Instantly, Troy was engulfed by two strong arms with occasional manly pats on the back. "I th-thought that I was d-"

"Dead. Yeah, a lot of us thought that you're end came,too" Chad said, his voice cracked and eyes were teary. Chad's nose was a cotton pink and eyes were red shot. "I can't believe you," he squeaked. "I am so so sorry, Troy. I should've stood by your side in the past year. God, I am so damn stupid. I can't believe me,". Chad took Troy's hands in his and held them tight, like they were about to arm wrestle. Troy looked into those red eyes and nodded sincerely. "But why didn't you tell me?" he asked even though it was a stupid question.

"Wait" Troy snapped. "What do you mean 'us'?" Chad sniffed and nodded.

"Guys" he moderately yelled. "Come in" it was softer now but more like a frog. In a matter of moments, people piled into the room and Troy's mouth was ajar, immediately. Taylor,Marissa, Matt, Zeke, Sharpay and Jesse lined into the room and surrounded the bed Troy sat on.

"Hey,man" Zeke greeted softly, remembering slightly of the days back in East High. The boys shook hands lazily. "Glad that you're alive" Zeke humored, exerting a soft chuckle from Troy's mouth. Matt came next, nodded at Troy, shook his hand and gave a small greeting. Jesse stood behind Chad waiting for his turn at the end. Taylor and Sharpay went together, each giving a warming hug to Troy. Marissa sniffled her way though the crowd and engulfed Troy in tight embrace. Soon enough, the room emptied out and only two more people were left, not including Jesse and Chad.

"Mom?" Troy shivered in tears. His eyes rolled back in his head in pure joy."dad!" he choked, again. Lucille weak legs gave into her son and took him into her arms. The two sobbed carelessly with each other. Troy apologizing a million times and his mother bombarding kisses on his face. Jack too came and sat at his sons knees.

"I love you" he said, with no trace of weeping. "you know that ,right son?" His eyes watered and dripped slowly after saying, yet he shut his mouth tight. "And" he sobbed. "it's going to stay like that " paused to swallow a cry. "forever".

Overtime, Troy's parents left the room and only Jesse and Chad remained. Jesse pulled out a chair, placed it backwards and sat on it, so his chest leans on the back, but still facing Troy. Jesse took one of his Troy's firm hands in his.

At first silence sustained, but Troy soon broke it.

"I don't get it guys" he said."Why the hell am I still alive?" Chad gave him a weary smile.

Troy was completely and utterly bewildered. The more he thought about the more his confusion grew. Thoughts donned upon him and quickly disappeared, not giving enough time to ponder with. Finally, he wondered who had come to 's stomach dropped and he drew his eyebrows together. "Gabriella didn't come?" he looked, first at Chad, then at Jesse. Jesse was tearful, failing to cover his sorrowful expression. He got up and headed out the room.

"Gabriella did come, Troy" Chad said and Jesse stopped in his tracks. He rested his arm on the white wall for balance and leaned his forehead on his hand. He let the droplets pour and dampen his hand.

"Troy" Chad grabbed his attention once again, sucking it away from Jesse. "The night you went unconscious, Gabriella found you in the kitchen and called the hospital. She came to the hospital along with you and has been here ever since. Marissa ,from your house, called me while she was getting into the car. I came to hospital later and so did Jesse. Gabriella was here when we arrived and-" Jesse took it from there.

"She forgot me" he said. "her own brother, her only family and she forgot me!" Jesse was in consistent cries.

"An hour after Zeke, Sharpay, Taylor and Matt arrived the doctor finally approached us and explained what your problem is." pause "She said it had to do with your drinking problems" Troy's heart burned. "Troy, your kidneys were strongly affected by you excelling alcohol intake. On the night you passed out, Troy, your kidneys had failed. Acute Renal Failure," and his heart busted. "Doctor Lisa started speaking about treatments," it was Chad's turn, now.

"Doc. asked us if anyone with the same type of blood as you would be willing to donate a healthy kidney to you," Chad kept the setting calm."And Gabriella volunteered,"

A single ,salty droplet fell from Troy's eyes.


LOS ANGELES HOSPITAL
MARCH 14, 2009
3:24:01 PM

"Alright, Gabriella. Your brain tests are complete and much progressed is shown. I guess now that means that you don't have to stay in bed all day!" Gabriella grinned in delight. Even though she was not free from the Bolton household at least she could go somewhere! There was so much of Los Angeles that her new self didn't discover. "Plus, you're body seems to working well with a new kidney, so that means you and Troy can finally be discharged from the hospital!" Gabriella giggled in ecstasy. Finally home, and free!


Home. Troy was yearning and burning for the sacred feeling of being homey. Gabriella and him were locked away in different rooms for recovery of the surgery and he had a strange desire to see her. He didn't know what to say, though, if perhaps they were too meet. Silently, Troy had made an oath to his life that he would never drink one sip of alcohol. For him. For Gabriella. He will never end his gratitude to Gabriella. For him. For Gabriella. And he would never fall in love again. For him.

Although, after he went home, Troy knew that no promises could be kept. Everything would change.