Chapter 3- Break or one more chance?

I flipped the phone in my hand a few times, as I glanced towards the clock; I was dressed in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. I had Troy's jacket it on which comforted me, his smell of sweat and AX perfectly combined into one. I had gotten up twice in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, which was strange because I never got up to go to the bathroom.

"Gabriella Montez?" I glanced over to my father and he nodded his head, I whimpered quietly and he got up as well with a sigh. He wrapped his arms around my waist, I had been uneasy on my feet the entire day, dizzy, lightheaded.

"Hi Gabriella," I stopped her, "Gabi," I sometimes hated the name Gabriella but I loved Gabi.

She nodded her head, "Gabi, we are going to weigh you and take your temperature."

I went into the weighing room as they called it; they asked me to step on the scale and tried not to fall over. "Alright you can get off." Her voice was soft and down to earth, like a nurse should be.

I got off and I sat back down, I watched the nurse as she frowned before taking my temperature.

My dad followed me towards the room that I was going to be viewed in. I rubbed my eyes as I got up onto the table, "So Gabriella can you explain your symptoms? She asked, Gabi, that is all I wanted to say but I did not.

I nodded my head slowly, "Going to the bathroom frequently, sleeping, dizziness, eating some, stomach pains…" I said she nodded her head, "Headache? Sore throat?" she asked

I nodded my head, "I have gotten lots of headaches lately and a few sore throats but not many." She nodded her head and then she put her pen down.

"I'll be right back, I am going to get a strep test and then the doctor will be right in, probably before me."

"Thanks," my dad said, she stepped out of the room and I leaned against the back wall. "You okay honey?"

I kept quiet for a few moments before I nodded my head, no words left my mouth.

We heard a knock on the door before Doctor Layla walked in, "Hey Gabi!" she said, and I gave her a small smile before I pulled my legs up to my chest.

"We have a few things we need to discuss here," she said shifting some papers around. "I need to know if you have any…" she glanced over at my dad. His eyes widened open and I glanced at her, my jaw dropped a few inches.

"No! Oh God no!" I said, she only shifted her glance back to me and nodded her head, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

I nodded my head again, "Well…sort of" I said, "Is he being abusive?"

I tried not to smile but I could not help it, "No, Troy isn't like that. He is…he is amazing."

"So why the kinda?"

I sighed, "Just not putting enough into the relationship…" I said quietly, I rubbed my arms and tried to push back the tears in my eyes. I was not going to cry here, not now.

She glanced down, "Stress?" she noted something down in her book and then looked back up at me.

I nodded my head, "A lot of it, lot of school work and then-" I looked towards my dad before his eyes caught mine; I felt tears start to pool in my eyes. "Uhm- Gabi's mother and I have been doing a lot of fighting lately, sleeping in other rooms, hotels…" my dad only kept his eyes on me. Dr. Layla shifted her stool and then sat up a little straighter.

Layla shared a look between both of us, "Okay, I am seeing Gabi is having a lot of stress. She looks a little pale but she has lost 19 pounds since I last saw her two months ago."

My dad gapped, he looked over at me "Have you been dieting?" he asked, his voice was tense and hard. His eyes were a deep dark brown that always scared me.

"No! I havent even been working out besides gym!" I said, I looked at the doctor again, "Troy told me last night that I looked thin but…" I then looked down at my body. My sweatpants have been loose; my jeans needed extra on the belt, my shirts were getting baggy.

I rubbed my eyes, "I don't throw up meals and you have seen me eat, I am fine."

"What about you puking the other day!" his question threw me for a curve, "Dad, I don't feel good! I threw up from that, I have never once thrown up besides that!" I rubbed my fingers and looked down at my necklace; Troy had given it to me last summer.

"No, I think Gabi has Mono." Dr. Layla spoke up, thank God!

"Mono?" I asked

She nodded her head, "Going to the bathroom a lot, sore throat, losing weight, tired, pale, stomach pains…it fits your symptoms on top of all the stress you are going through is not good. So you are not going to school for another ten days, so two weeks off of school."

"Well she is on spring break next week until Wednesday," my dad piped in

"Good but you can't have any physical activity for a whole month…I am going to test you for mono just to make sure you have it and we aren't misdiagnosing it." She said writing things down I only nodded my head, I wish Troy was sitting right next to me. He would hold me hand and sooth me, well maybe.

"Okay, I am going to get the blood work and you will be free to go."

I swung my feet around and kept my head back, "Oh and she had a small temperature." She told my dad as she started to walk out, "If she gets worse by Sunday, please take her straight here. We will be opened Sunday at noon so if it gets any worse her spleen or something might be bad. We should have her test results back on Sunday too."

He nodded his head, "Will do,"

"Hope you start to feel better Gabi!" she said shutting the door, I smiled again and my dad looked at me. "Thank you for not making her say that forbidden word."

I gave him a soft smile; I looked up at the clock to see school was going to be over soon, thirty minutes. The woman came in to take some blood to run my test. I closed my eyes not being able to watch, one hating needles, and two not liking blood. I hated both of them with a burning passion. I felt tears sting my eyes when she poked me with the needle.

When she was done, she patted my leg and I reopened my eyes. I got down off the table carefully when a cold chill went down my back.

"So you know Troy can't kiss you?" my dad joked

"I can't tell you the last time Troy kissed me." I mumbled sleepily, my dad had his arms around me as I shuffled along the path. My feet were tired and I was tired. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket of my hoodie but I waited until we got into the car. If I got it out now then I would fall over.

I slipped my cell phone out of my pocket to see Troy had tried to call me, I called him back and he answered quickly. "Hey, how was the doctor?" his voice rushed and concerned.

"We just left, Troy I had lost 19 pounds in two months!" I told him, my dad got into the car and he started it.

"Have you been dieting? I mean you eat like Chad at lunch until recently…," he said, I nodded my head, "I know which is insane! I cannot believe I have lost so much weight! However, they think I have mono they took blood and everything. I am super tired. I also wish you were there for me. Holding my hand and holding me, I miss you Troy," I whispered into the phone.

"I am going to come over really fast to say bye, we are leaving early tomorrow." He said into the phone, I sighed softly, "Troy we need to talk." He brushed off my subject, great.

He did not say anything after that, "I am on my way to your house," he said quickly; I then heard the dial tone on the other end of the phone.

I leaned against the car door I watched as all the trees, cars, grass, people all passed by the car. My dad drove slowly into our neighborhood. I saw Troy's car parked out front and I then saw him getting out. I felt my eyes start blinking back the tears.

"Gabs, you don't have to do this now." My dad said as he carefully approached the house. "But I do," I said to him, he parked the car and he leaned over to give me a hug. "I will be there waiting with a movie and ice cream." He kissed my forehead and rubbed my hand.

I smiled greatly at him, "Thank you,"

He gave me a kiss on the cheek and I got out, Troy was by my side quickly and had his arms wrapped around me. "Hey what do you want to talk about?"

"Let's go up to my room first okay? And I can totally walk on my own," I told him, he unslipped his hands from around me and we walked inside the house. My cat Squishy meet us at the door, she rubbed against my leg. I walked straight forward ignoring her. I felt like I was in autopilot.

Troy was behide me and once we hit my hallway I knew I had to stop, I could not go any farther knowing what was about to go down but my feet kept moving. I was panicking on the inside, my heart tugging one way and then it going the other way. In my mind though I knew what I needed to do, I knew he did not want this anymore. I knew that he was looking for somebody else but he was way too nice just to leave, right in the middle of all of this too. My parents, me being sick, and so much more.

I opened up my bedroom door and I stopped, I glanced around to see my bed was still unmade. I had a teddy bear that Troy gave me sitting there on the bed. A bottle of water sitting on the nightstand, my iPod lying carelessly on the bed flipped over. My cell phone charger hung across my bed.

"Are you going to go in?" Troy asked, I snapped out and I took another step forward. I went over to my bed and I sat down holding the bear in my hands. I then let my hand travel up my chest up to my wonderful necklace he gave me at the end of summer last year, one of the first things he gave me.

"So why do you wanna talk?"

I twirled it around in my hand before I became a little dizzy; I looked up at him tears welling in my eyes. I felt the sob starting to climb my throat, "T-Troy" I shook with pain, "I-I don't think I can keep doing this anymore," I told him, I saw his face pale and he sat down right next to me.

"What do you mean exactly?" I tried blinking back all of my tears but it was not working, "I k-know you don't w-want this r-relationship anymore." I said as I let my hand go to the clasped of the necklace. I started to unhook it.

"What do you mean? I am 110% into this relationship!" He said standing up I heard his voice shake. I glanced up at him, "Troy no you aren't! You have blown off at least three dates in the past three weeks and please don't give me that March Madness bullshit because frankly I am sick of it!" I yelled my body was too tired to stand up and face off with him.

I had the necklace securely wrapped in my hand, "W-What about just a break, no break up, not yet please." Troy begged, I looked at him, I knew in his eyes he was pleading with me, not wanting to let go.

"A second chance," I said looking up at him, "Because second chances are pointless" I told him

"No…I just want all of this to blow over, I just want you to start feeling better. You are so stressed Gabi that you cant think straight" he said, he did make a great point there, I looked up at him before reaching for his hand, I put my hand inside his and I dropped the necklace, his eyes caught mine.

"I can't take this, I gave it to you."

"And I am giving it back to you, Troy; I can't have it when I know something could happen we won't be on a break or a break-up ok? But for now keep it, once everything settles then I will take it back gladly."

"But nothing is going to happen, I swear Gabs!"

I shrugged my shoulders, "Go to Arizona with the boys, and go have fun like you should be having." I told him, I started to get up to go crawl into my bed.

"I can't leave you Gabi, knowing you are sick…" he said drawing out the last of his words, I sat down on my bed and I let my head drop softly.

"Its just mono Troy, I'll be okay in the end." I said he looked at me with his intense blue eyes. He came over to my bed and his kissed my forehead.

"I have strong feelings for you," he whispered, I stayed quiet and I lay down on my bed. "Call me if anything gets worse okay, I really don't want to leave you." He said

"Why are you so caring now?" I asked him, he turned to look at me more closely.

"I have always cared Gabs, but when it was just tired and I didn't know anything," he paused to collect his thoughts, "And March Madness makes me insane sometimes, just like the World Series does. Now that I know you are sick now that you can't go and play basketball with me for a month, it sucks."

I shook my head, "Now that it is affecting you," I pointed out to him, he shook his head again, "Now when we start sand volleyball in a week you can't play and the whole dancing in the talent show next Monday for our First Monday back from break celebration to welcome us back from our break." He teased about our funny little dance with one of our favorite songs.

I felt the tears glisten in my eyes as he rattled all of these things off, "Gosh, I didn't even think about all of that." I told him, "I won't even get to see the talent show because I can't go to school until Wednesday next week, if I am even feeling up to it." I whispered, he cupped my cheeks and he looked at me.

"I'll video tape it for you," I knew that he was proving to me that he did not want it to end.

"March Madness," I started, he laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I get this obsessed every year; I always have since I was probably 7 when my dad let me make brackets." He said laughing, I giggled and I closed my eyes, as they grew heavier.

"Well you are my basketball and baseball star." I said letting my hands fall through his hair, he gave me a smile, "Does this mean that we don't have to go on anything? That we can just be Troy and Gabi?"

I pursed my lips out as I glanced up at him, "I think we can just be Troy and Gabi," I said softly, he grinned and started to lean in for a kiss when I darted my head to the side.

"No kissing, you don't want mono." I said giving him a small smile, he nodded his head, "Right, no mono" he said, I leaned in to kiss his cheek.

"Have fun on your trip." I told him

"Really, I don't have to go Gabi; I can stay back and be with you."

"No, Troy, you can't do that you have been looking forward to this. Go and have fun, I will call you later okay." I said giving him another smile.

He started to walk out and I started to crawl under my covers.

"Gabi," he choked out, I turned to look at him, "Yeah?"

"Please, just trust me" he said, his face nervous as he left the room.

I sighed deeply, "I promise I will trust you."

He gave me a very brief smile before he placed the necklace down on the table, "Keep it please," he said, I only looked up at him, I knew I should go put it on since we weren't on a break.

"Will you come put it on for me," He grinned and he came over, "Just like the first time I gave it to you, right before summer break."

I smiled thinking back to that day, "It was a very interesting day." I told him, he laughed and he kissed my neck. "Bye baby girl." He said

"Bye babe," I watched as his figured retreated to the door.

Troy then left without another word; a few tears fell down my cheek, more tears of joy since that worked out better than planned. He cared more than I thought, I knew I was stressed; it was not fair enough to Troy that I am stressed to just break up with him.

I slipped under my covers and I looked around the room, I saw signs of Troy everywhere which I loved, that mean he was always around. I saw his jacket hanging in my closet; I saw his book of guitar songs laying on my desk, a picture of us two at the lake last summer. Little things he had gave me when we had first started dating.

I batted my eyelashes a few times before I knew it; I was slipping into a deep sleep.

"Gabi, honey you need to eat." I groaned and I rolled over. I rolled onto my stomach but it was hurting like crazy right now. I felt my eyes and they were all puffy and itchy, ugh allergies.

"Honey,"

I blinked back and I saw my room pitch dark, I rolled back over to my back to see my mom standing there above me. I smiled and she smoothed some of my hair back, "Hey, I brought some chicken from KFC. Your dad told me how much weight you had lost. Are you dieting?"

I shook my head no, my mouth was dry and I had to pee. I pushed my blankets back and I walked over to the bathroom. I went quickly before getting up and washing my hands. I ran my fingers through my hair and I saw my mom standing there waiting. Tears glistened in her eyes.

"Honey you don't look good at all," she said, I closed my eyes and I held onto the wall for support. I did not feel good at all; my mom came over and brought me into a hug.

"I love you honey, I am sorry we are putting you through all of this." She said, I pulled back and looked at her.

"Can we talk a little later?" I asked her quietly, she only nodded her head. We both walked down the stairs and I heard the baseball game on in the living room.

I made my way through the living room, "Hey baby, if you want that milkshake it is in the freezer." My dad said winking at me; I gave him a soft smile. "Thanks daddy,"

I went into the kitchen with my mom; I pulled out a plate and grabbed two chicken strips. Probably the only thing my stomach would be able to keep down.

I pulled my knees up to my chest as I started to nibble on my chicken. When I chewed, I laid my head on my knee and I kept my eyes closed.

"Gabi, are you okay?" my mom asked

"Really tired," I said, "Thirsty," I added on to the last part. I heard her scoot back her chair as I took another bite of the chicken. I heard the clank of a cup hitting the table. I lifted my head to see a glass of Kool-aid in front of me.

I smiled and I took a nice long drink, I let the ice melt in my mouth before I continued eating my chicken. I finished eating and my stomach hurt worse than ever.

I clutched over as I made my way upstairs, both of my parents looked at me before I continued up the stairs. I made it into my bedroom and I lay back on the bed.

I closed my eyes and I started to drift off back to sleep, I then got a taste of hot acid in my throat. I jumped up and I headed to the bathroom. I bent over the toilet and threw up multiply times. I heard feet pounding up the stairs, tears gathered in my eyes and I felt my dads hand on my back.

"Oh Gabi," he whispered, he drew my hair back and I fell back against him when I was done. He held me in his arms for ten minutes before I starting to fall back asleep.

"Come on brush your teeth," he whispered, I got up and he stood behide me. My parents were the only thing there for me but only one at a time. They could never come together at more than one point at a time.

I finished brushing my teeth before I went back into the room, I went over to my bed and I lay against it. I then slipped under the covers and I felt my body starting to shut down. I had aches, pains, and headaches. I curled up into a ball and my dad kissed my cheek.

"Want me to bring up water," I nodded my head and then I heard him leave shutting my door quietly. I pulled my phone out from under the pillows. No missed messages.

I sighed and I started to close my eyes as I heard my dad creep back in. I heard him put the water down and then walk back out of the room. I heard faint yelling after that, I took a long drink of my water before I put it down. I crawled under the covers once more before I went over to dreamland.

3:40AM

I flushed the toilet and washed my hands, for the third time that night. I made my way into my bedroom and I picked up my water cup to see nothing left.

I felt my head pound and my stomach charred, I opened my door slowly and I made my way down the stairs and into the kitchen.

I opened the freezer and I dropped a few ice cubes in my cup, I looked down to see a full thing of Ice pops. I grabbed one and set it on the counter. I closed the freezer, walked over to the sink, and got water out of the faucet. I grabbed the Pop ice and cut the top off.

I walked upstairs and sucked on the Popsicle, I took a drink of water. "Gabi?"

I jumped slightly to see my dad sitting up on the couch; he turned on the lamp next to the couch. I turned around to face him, "What are you doing up?"

"Bathroom and I was out of water," I said raising my cup, "That huge thing!" He cried

I nodded my head, I yawned and he looked at me, "Alright honey go to bed, okay?" I swung my head around before taking off to my room. I saw the light go back out and I walked into my bedroom. I finished my Popsicle quickly.

I drank a third of my water and then I climbed back into bed falling asleep easily.

Here is a lovely update! : ) I know, I know it is sooooo overdue! I am so behide on my writing and is praying summer will come a heck of a lot soon because school is getting sooo hectic. Just found out that we have to take finals this year! AH! Are you SERIOUS! This school has never done them before and this year, guess what? Oh and we have to go to June 3rd. I really don't like school…

I hope you all liked it! :D

Speaking of school, I need to get off because I need to work on a book project due Tuesday..omg. Its 1:13 to…I need to go to bed! Ahhh

I love you all…lol

PLEASE REVIEW!

Much Love

xoxo