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Ch 3

The bell rang and Gabriella perked up, she couldn't deny that she was excited. No, she was more than excited those two days seemed like a thousand years as she thought about seeing Troy's face again. Gabriella shook herself to calm herself of her jitters and sauntered over to the door to give an appearance of 'who cares'. As she opened the door two familiar but unwelcomed faces stared back at her.

"Mom, Dad what are you doing here" Gabriella asked startled by their sudden appearance

Gabriella's mom looked at her dad, then quickly glanced back at her daughter. "Well aren't you going to invite your parents in" she said with a forced smile

Gabriella led them into the living room sitting in the armchair while her parents took the couch. The first to break the silence was her mother.

"So, you haven't changed this place much" her mother said

"I liked it the way grandma had it, I didn't think it could get better than how it is now"

Gabriella's father cleared his throat. "Alright, enough of the pleasantries, Gabriella how could you not have told us"

Gabriella decided to play dumb hoping that they weren't talking about what she thought they were. "What do you mean papa?"

"Gabriella please, we know it's begun" her mother said taking her daughter's hand

Gabriella pulled away, she didn't want sympathy she didn't need sympathy! They all knew this was coming. She was angry.

"How do you even know" Gabriella growled looking pointedly at her mother

"I asked Dr. Seaver" her mother said looking down at her feet

"That is confidential, he isn't allowed to do that I can have his license for that you know" Gabriella yelled

"Gabriella. Stop" her father's words resonated throughout the room, and she felt as if she was a child once again

"Your mother found out because she loved you, and we've known Dr. Seaver before you were even born, he's like family" he said

Gabriella slowly calmed down "We knew it was coming and….I've accepted it."

Gabriella's father walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, and whispered in her hear "No, you haven't"

Gabriella broke down right there and then, sobbing into her father's chest she cried every once in a while saying "I don't want to daddy, not yet, I don't want to die"

…

Gabriella sat in her bed sipping ginger tea, her parents had left an hour ago and all she could think about was death. Gabriella had no strength in her, knowing for so many years she thought she would be prepared.

She was fourteen when she had felt a sharp pain her chest then passed out during math class she was rushed to the ER where they had given her life changing news "Mr. and Mrs. Montez your daughter has a heart condition, it's a degenerative heart disease and as time passes it will become worse and sooner or later it will not be able to work on its own." Her parents had pleaded that she be able to go on the transplant list, but the doctors had told them that she wasn't in danger of dying right now as the many people on the transplant list were. She was told that when her heart was close to giving out only then could she be on the list. That night Gabriella had sat in her bedroom and cried.

But nothing could prepare you for when you're told your time is up.

The doorbell rang and Gabriella drifted towards it her mind void of anything. When she opened the door she saw something that broke her heart. Troy. He stood in the doorway dressed in a black tux and a blue tie that brought out his amazing eyes that seemed to sparkle in the late afternoon sun. In his left hand he held a bouquet of roses and in his right a picnic basket.

"I thought we could go on a late night stroll and have a bit to eat" he said as he raised the picnic basket.

Gabriella looked at him "I can't Troy"

Troy looked confused "Why not, we can skip the picnic if it seems to datey" he said

"It's not that, I just can't have a relationship"

"I told you…" Troy began but was cut off by the continuation of Gabriella's sentence

"Or a friendship" she finished

Troy looked ant Gabriella dumbfounded "But"

"Goodbye Troy" she said as she closed the door

Gabriella went back to her room and crawled underneath the covers, she never wanted to come out.

…..

Troy stood staring at the door; he couldn't understand what was happening. After a few seconds he turned and walked down the driveway towards his car. Sitting in the car he called Chad.

"Hello"

"Hey Chad, its Troy I need some advice"

Chad's voice turned worried "What's wrong man"

"It's Gabriella" Troy said

"What about her"

"Every time I get close to her, she pushes me away, and I don't know why"

Troy rested his head against the steering wheel waiting for Chad's reply.

"Troy, women are strange creatures, if she doesn't want to give you the time of day, then move on, there are other people in the world"

Troy looked at the phone in disbelief. Chad didn't understand, when he was with Gabriella he felt complete he felt he was given a new life and the one he was in before was horrible compared to the one she was in. Her smile made his insides go crazy and her voice, her voice was his guiding angel. Chad just didn't get it. It was like he couldn't live without her. As Troy thought this he came to a realization.

"Chad I gotta go I'll call you later" Troy said quickly hanging up and calling another number.

"I love her" he said into the phone

"Well brother it's about time" Sharpay said on the other end

"But, she doesn't want to be with me" Troy cried

"Pull it together man, you have to show her that you're not giving up Troy, you have to let her know that when she's with you your with her a 100% back. Troy if you really lover her you need to make her know. Do you understand?"She said

"Definitely" he said

"Now leave me alone I need my beauty rest, tomorrow I'm going shopping" Sharpay said mock curtly

Troy laughed "Thanks, sis"

"No problem, and Troy, good luck"

"Luck I don't need luck we Bolton-Evans succeed in everything we do" he said with a smile on his face

Sharpay laughed "Night Troy"

After he hung up with Sharpay Troy made one last call. He waited until the automated voice told him he could leave a message.

"Gabriella, I need you to know that I care about you, I care about you way too much than I think I should, but I do. No matter how far you push me I'll be coming back and no matter where you go I'll find you."

Troy hung up the phone and drove away determined to show Gabriella just how much he wanted and needed her.

….

Gabriella sat up in her bed when she had heard Troy start talking. It didn't change her mind though she was not getting involved, but it was nice to know that someone loved her. Even though he never said the word Gabriella could feel it emanating from all his other words. It was good to love and to be loved back, knowing this she thought maybe death didn't look so bleak.