Chapter 12- Rumors

I yawned as I tugged on my sweat pants. We were gaining closer to the final days of school, it was May 2nd and we were all ready to get out. Nobody was paying attention in class any longer and I was still keeping my secret.

It was currently Saturday morning and I was home alone. My dad had gone to Arizona to see Anthony; my mom was out with a group of friends. I plopped down on the living room couch as I began to shuffle through the channels.

A chill ran down my back as I turned on the previous weeks Saturday Night Live. I chewed on my lip as I pushed my blanket over my body and curled up onto the couch. I held my phone close as a text message flew through my phone Call me. Xo Mom

I called her and she answered.

"Would you care if I stayed the night at Lava Springs? Sharpay's mom invited all of us out tonight, I mean if you feel comfortable." She added, I laughed, "I will be fine, Taylor might come over and we will watch movies tonight."

"Uh huh, sure you mean Troy,"

"Nah, Taylor, unless Troy calls me about something but if he comes over, I promise I will call or text you." I replied to her, my mom sighed, "Please make sure to check your blood sugar and eat something."

"Mom, stop worrying." I muttered wanting to hang up, this was the last thing I wanted to do. "Fine, fine but call me if anything goes wrong."

"Alright," I commented, "I'll talk to you later."

We both said our goodbyes and I cuddled back into the couch. Yawning I texted Taylor asking if she wanted to hang, a quick reply of she was hanging out with Chad. I frowned and then I texted Sharpay.

After a quick minute she called me, "Hey babe," she answered, "Please tell me you can hang out." I whined, "I am all by myself for the night and I would love company."

"Ah, sorry, I am busy helping my dad today painting the living room." I could hear the annoyance in her voice, "Punishment for sneaking into the house late last night."

"Damn," I muttered, "I am bored and it's only ten!"

"Call Troy,"

"Troy and I are always together, but I never complain about it because I love him but seriously, I would love some friend time."

"Well, you are not getting that today so call your beeves boyfriend and have him come hang out." I sighed and I leaned against the back of the couch. "Fine, my friends don't love me anymore." I pouted, Sharpay laughed, "Honey, I will love you forever. Now, my dad is staring at me so I have to go. Love you!"

"Love you too," I mumbled before I heard the dial tone. I tossed my phone to my lap and decided to slum it by myself for a little while. I popped in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and snuggled back into the couch. I closed my eyes as I watched the movie.

After the first half of the movie I got up to grab a snack but then I stopped not wanting to take a shot. I sat back down and then watched the rest of the movie.

I then decided it was time to break out the Twilight Saga, I flashed through the first one and it was almost two in the afternoon. I popped the second on in and I groaned, I was so bored but I did not feel like calling Troy.

I grabbed my backpack from the spot next to me and begun to do my homework. I did that through the first half of New Moon before I heard the doorbell ring. I raised an eyebrow as I tossed my stuff onto the floor and my blanket onto the other side of me.

Walking towards the front door, I opened it to reveal Troy with a McAlister's Deli bag and a happy grin. I quickly opened the door to smell the fresh food; I then realized how hungry I was. My stomach grumbled and Troy looked back towards us.

"I thought you might like a little lunch date if you havent already ate," he said moving his way through the room. "I really havent eaten at all today."

Troy frowned as he slipped off his Nike's, "What do you mean you havent eaten?"

"I have just been watching movies and I really didn't want to take a shot so I didn't eat. Time spilt away from me and you showed up but I am suddenly hungry."

"Gabi, you need insulin,"

"Troy, I really just don't want to talk about it. I have that long lasting shit that I have to take in my ass. I should be fine all day, I checked a little while ago and I was perfect. Why can't everybody just relax, it's almost been two months."

"We just don't want to see you hurt!" Troy told me as he placed my salad on the counter. "We just want you to be happy."

"I am a lot happier when you guys can just forget about diabetes." I mumbled as I grabbed a fork from the drawer. "I just don't want anything happening to you." Troy said wrapping a quick arm around me. I let my head fall onto his chest while he kissed my forehead.

"I know, I just, and I want more space, more freedom."

Troy and I separated from our hug before he squeezed my fingers. We both took our food towards the couch and sat down to eat. We ate while watching the end of New Moon. Once I was done, I got up to go take a small shot of insulin since salad didn't have many carbs.

"So I was thinking we could go out to a movie and dinner." Troy said as he pulled me down into his lap. "Sounds good to me. I am home alone all night. Taylor and Sharpay both are busy," I said, "Good, so what movie do you wanna see?"

"Let's go see Bridesmaids!" I told him, he looked at me before nodding, "Who is going to buy tickets."

"We can buy online dummy," I said winking, he laughed and nodded, "Great," he said kissing my neck, "So what are we going to do between now and then?" I asked

"Uhm, I don't know, lay here, make-out, and make-out." He added, I giggled as I let my lips press against his and they moved in harmony. His hand caressed my face as I put my hands on his hip.

"Mm, I could get used to this." I whispered as his lips kissed my jaw and then to my cheek. "I could too,"

"Man, I loved that movie!" Troy said as he opened the door to California Pizza Kitchen. "I know that was so stinking funny." A server met us at the stand.

"How many?"

"Two," Troy said waving fingers, I had texted my mom telling her Troy and I went to a movie. "So do you want me to stay the night tonight?" he asked as she had seated us at a nearby booth.

"Only if you want to. I mean I should be perfectly fine on my own."

"I think you should just say yes," I laughed, as I already knew what I was going to get, "So are we going to split?"

"Please, oh and will you do my shot in my arm?" I asked him, he nodded his head. "Sure, I will do just fine. Did your mom say they ordered you the pump?" I smiled, "yes!" I yelled, "I am so excited!"

Troy chuckled as he got up to come over to me. "Look who it is, Troy Bolton and Gabi Montez," Troy and I both looked up towards the person talking and it was Keegan. "Keegan, what's up?" Troy asked slapping hands, "Nothing much. Working, so can I get you guys anything?"

"How about two waters and a large BBQ pizza." He jotted it down on a pad before he looked up, "So what you two up too?"

"Caught a movie and now finishing off our date with dinner." Keegan crossed his arms and nodded, "We miss you on the basketball team."

"I don't miss it." Troy said as he glanced over at me, he winked before he turned back to Keegan. "Well, I better go put this order in."

Keegan walked away and I cuddled up to Troy. "I don't wanna take a shot." He pushed back some of my hair and held me closer to him. "I know baby," kissing my head, he held me for a few more minutes. "I guess I should get my shot ready." I grumbled as I got up from Troy.

"I promise to make it quick." He rubbed my arm and I grabbed the needle out of my bag. I screwed the right amount of insulin through the pin and stabbed the needle on top. I took the cap off and gave Troy the pad to wipe my arm off.

Troy pushed my sleeve up my arm and the coolness of the wipe tickled. Goosebumps traveled up my arm and I shivered. I handed the needle to Troy and I nodded as if I was ready.

"Ready, 1…2…3" the needle pinched in and I heard him push it before he was done. I took a deep breath as he pulled it out, Troy capped the needle and I put it back into my bag. Troy kissed my temple, "Good job baby girl," I nodded as he went back over to his spot.

I shook my head as I reached for his hand, "Come back," I told him, he grinned softly as he slide right back in next to me. I curled my hand around his as I let my head drop onto his shoulder.

"I'm thinking you need to go to bed."

"Nah," I whispered as my eyes fluttered between open and close. "Well, I think we will go home and just lay with each other."

"Sounds good to me,"

I looked around the restaurant to see Sydney Hoffman glaring at us with an evil smirk. "Oh man, Sydney Hoffman is here." I groaned as she turned to look away. Troy sighed and kissed the top of my head once again, "Don't worry about her. What is she going to do?" Troy asked I shrugged my shoulders, "Nothing."

The rest of the weekend was fabulous, as Sharpay would say. Troy spent the night and we had fallen asleep on the couch watching Old School. My mom had come home the next morning to us making pancakes with each other.

We spent the rest of the day doing homework and laying around the house just having fun. Now as Monday morning was here, I was ready to go.

I lugged my backpack over my shoulder as I pushed open my car door. As soon as I stepped out, I felt like everybody was starring right at me. A blush creped up onto my cheeks as I walked forward. Whispers were heard all around me, people saying things that I could not make out.

Walking into the building Taylor was quick to spot me, she left her position by Chad and waved through the crowd. She latched her wrist to mine and dragged me through the building. When we walked past my locker, I knew something was wrong. She flung open an empty classroom door and shoved me inside.

"Sydney Hoffman started a huge rumor that is all over school." Taylor said taking a deep breath as if she was trying to regain herself. "Well what did the witch come up with now? Troy and I saw her the other night at California Pizza Kitchen."

Taylor paled and then she looked up, "Oh my god," she whispered putting her hand close to her face. "What? Taylor you are beginning to scare me."

"She started saying that you are doing steroids." I raised an eyebrow as I looked at her, "You're shitting me right?"

"I guess she saw you taking a shot at the restaurant." Tears blurred my vision as all my secrets I have been trying so hard to keep were going to come undone. "No, she couldn't have!" I told her, "Troy was doing it and he had to completely block her view."

"She must not have seen it all if she is saying what she is." Taylor pointed out; a sob ran through my throat as I clung to the desk for support. Once I regained balance, I dashed out the door and went running down the hallways looking for Troy. Once I caught sight of him, I knew he had heard.

He kept looking around the crowd and I ran straight into him. "Oh, God, you heard." He whispered rubbing my back, "Taylor told me," I cried into his chest as he held me tightly. We had escaped to a corner away from everybody else. He then quietly then started walking towards his dad's office. I clung to his side and we approached the office door.

"Did you hear?" Troy said towards his dad, "What rumor now?" he asked, his door clicked shut. "Sydney Hoffman is saying Gabi is doing steroids."

"What? That's insane!"

"She caught me giving her a shot at California Pizza Kitchen." Jack sighed, "Just tell everybody the truth."

"No!" I rasped as my eyes looked up at the older version of Troy. "You can't I don't want everybody to know yet!" I began to breathe harder but Troy just rubbed my back.

"See, I told you." Troy mumbled softly, I tried to slow down my breathing as I fanned myself. Jack sighed as the bell rang, "Guys, get to class, we will talk later." I felt terrified at the moment, I had to face classes without Troy.

"Yea, we'll see you later." Troy told him as he helped me up. I felt shaky and dizzy all at once, "Troy, I think I should go check my blood sugar." I told him as we walked out of the office.

"Babe, I think you are just nervous."

"No. I need to check." I replied again, he guided me towards the office and into the nurse's office. "Look, who it is." Somebody murmured, "No wonder she kicks everybody's ass."

Troy shot them a look before the nurse saw us. "Gabi are you feeling okay?"

"Dizzy," I murmured as I grabbed the case. "Troy, head on to class and I will get her back."

"I'm good, its just homeroom." Troy put his hand on my shoulder while I pricked my finger. Once the strip took my blood it came back perfect. 110.

"See, I told you."

"Maybe you wouldn't feel so sick if you stopped taking steroids." A kid from the chair said, Troy's eyes were ready to kill. "Maybe you shouldn't listen to everything little thing from Sydney's mouth," Troy choked, "I don't have to! I saw pictures; you should really stop protecting her."

"Stop!" I managed, "Troy, can we please just get to homeroom,"

"Gabi, would you just please tell people? God, what are they going to do? Laugh?" I bit on my lip nervously, "Probably Troy. These kids only know one type of this out there. The fat people kind, the kind old people get. So once I tell them what is it going to be? Fat jokes. Old jokes?"

"It's juvenile Gabi! You just have to tell them, explain to them."

"I will get questions like no other. Every time somebody wonders."

"You have to raise awareness! You don't want to be the forgotten kind." I fumed as I pushed past him but he gripped my arm. "Please, just, just think about it. Think of all the things you wouldn't have to hide."

"Why? Why does everybody think they know what is best for me? Maybe in the future, I will tell all of these kids Troy but right now, I am still trying to fight off everything. Trying to figure it all out in my head. Yes, I know it's been two months since everything but really, its just starting to sink in that this is life." I stopped as Troy's eyes softened faster than butter.

"I thought you were the one person to understand that." In addition, with that, I turned on my heel and walked away.

I climbed into my bed as I arrived home. I did not peel off my jeans or put my hair into the messiest bun possible. I just simply climbed into bed.

Being cold was never fun, I held my shoulders and wrapped the blankets further around me. I buried my face into my pillows and let the first teardrop. The day had sucked, Troy and I were in a fight, the whole school was judging me, and I had so much homework, I did not care enough to do.

I had wanted to work things out with Troy as he kept asking me all day to talk. He wanted me to talk and he wanted to apologize but I just felt like it was not the time, or it was but I did not want to hear it yet. I felt my eyelids close. They kept drifting back and forth from sleeping to waking with a start.

The front door slammed as somebody had walked into the house. "Gabs?" my mom.

I did not respond, just curled up further into a ball. Chills swept over my spin and into my hands as they grew to ice. I felt tired, sickness, and gross.

My bedroom door cracked open and my mom entered the room. "Gabi?" I moved slightly to tell her I was alive but she approached further towards me.

She pulled back the covers of my blanket, "Sweetie, are you okay?"

"No,"

"Well, why arent you okay?" she asked me, "Troy and I are fighting and I'm freezing." I flipped over onto my back to face her. My mother's hands drew to my face as she felt them.

"You feel kind of warm baby," she leaned over to kiss my forehead, "Yea, you're pretty warm." She said, "I want to check your temperature."

I sighed and rolled back over as she quickly left the room and back to mine. She put the thing under my tongue and waited until it beeped.

"102.3" her hand quickly went back to my face, "You didn't feel that warm but no school for you tomorrow."

This day could not get any worse. Troy was not here, I was no sick, and they would all speak about my absence tomorrow. Fantastic.

I pulled the covers back over my skin as I pulled my cell phone out. Now I wanted to make up with Troy because I wanted him to hold me. He was my Jacob from Twilight. He held warmth and passion.

Dialing his phone number was hard but I did it and placed it against my ear. It rang twice before he was on the other line. "Brie, I swear, I am so sorry. This is my entire fault and I know, I should have understood but you have to know that there are just some things that I will not understand. You looked happy and like you were getting over it and-"

"Are you done?" I questioned as he stop to take a breath, "No, I"

"No, you are done talking Troy." I coughed a little before resting back onto the pillow. "I just want you to come hold me. I'm sick." I murmured

"I'll be right there, I promise."

"Troy, relax, it's just a fever."

"I know, but you are always cold when you have fevers." I smiled softly as he already knew. "I'm glad you understand."

"I gotta understand something," he told me, I stiffened in bed as I let my head fall back against the headboard. "Is your balcony unlocked or go through the front door?"

"Front door or I can unlock my,"

"No, stay in bed." I just nodded as the doorbell rang and my mom's heels clicked towards the door. "I'm here," he mumbled, my mom greeted him and then I heard him bounding up the stairs.

He pushed open my door and we both hung up my phone call. "I was already on my way over to apologize." I smiled softly as he came crawling into the bed next to me. He pulled me close to him as he kissed my forehead. "You do feel warm."

A chill ran down my spin again, as I clung to him, "Thank you," I whispered quietly, "I think you should put the rumor to rest still. Maybe that might ease your pain a little bit more with everything. You won't feel as stressed to keep this hidden from everybody."

I sighed as I buried my head into his chest. "Can I just not think about it for twenty four hours? Or until this fever goes away for twenty-four hours." Troy smoothed back a piece of my hair.

"I guess until then it just stays a rumor."

"Rumors are good for people." I started as a yawn lifted from my mouth, "Because then they realize that they shouldn't always listen to what they hear. As long as my boyfriend and friends know the truth, I don't care."

Troy rubbed my arms while planting a sweet kiss on my lips, before I could begin to protest that he may get sick too. He just shook his head and wrapped his arms further around me.

There you guys go! Another chapter to this story(: I hope you enjoyed it! Now I am going to start writing to My Laker Baby! Mauh!

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