The Lakers winning streak was unstoppable. David Stern, commissioner of the NBA, had stopped him in front of the cameras and fans right after the game to congratulate him, a grip and grin for the media. Stern told Troy he was glad he'd made this decision. Troy was doing exactly what the association wanted from him. Troy couldn't be more proud of himself or his team. He thanked Stern and followed his team into the locker room.
After giving them a congratulations himself, he turned to leave as Chad stopped him.
"Hey, why don't you come out with the boys and me?"
Troy shook his head. He just wanted to get home to Gabriella. With the way she's been feeling lately, he really didn't want her to be alone too long. Sure, she was home with Dominick and Temperance and Tori, and none of them were going to let anything happen to her without taking care of her, but that didn't mean he didn't still worry about her.
"Nah. Thanks but no thanks. I'd rather go home to my family." Troy laughed slightly. "I know they're gonna be super excited to celebrate with me because we won."
Chad knew he was happy they won, but he knew things weren't good at home because Gabriella was keeping something from him. They weren't fighting or anything, it isn't like it was in high school. Chad was beginning to wonder how long it would be before things blew up like they did back then
"Hey, have fun man," Chad told him, patting his back before freezing. "Maybe I'm speaking too soon..." He nodded his head toward the door where I saw Sharpay walking in the door. "What the hell does she think she's doing here?" He looked around. "How does she keep getting in here?" He wasn't really asking anyone in particular, just really annoyed about it.
"Jesus..." Troy groaned, rolling his eyes. "Ignore her and maybe she'll go away."
"Not a chance," Sharpay cooed, coming up behind him. Smirking at Chad, she winked at him. "Hey there, Uncle Chad. Think you could give lover boy and me a moment alone?"
He glared at her, shaking his head. "Not a chance. Go waste someone else's time." I glared at him, moving in between the two of them. "So good to see you again, baby daddy," she purred, smiling up at Troy. I've missed you!" Without another word, she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him down to her for a deep kiss.
?
"Stop it." He grabbed her arm and pulled her back before she could let her tongue slide into his mouth. "I don't have time for your shit." It was a little harsh, but he knew she had only told Troy about Tori to try to break him and Gabriella apart. He wasn't going to allow her to try anything like that again. Turning to Chad, he nodded. "I've got this. Go ahead and head out with the guys."
Chad nodded to him and walked past him, not giving Shapray another glance. Patting Troy on the back as he walked by, Chad wished him "Good luck," and headed out to where they were supposed to meet the guys.
Sharpay rolled her eyes at Chad and reached in her purse, smiling back at Troy. "Not here with shit, baby." She handed him the papers, the ones from the hospital with the hospital logo up at the top and the doctor's signature at the bottom. "Congratulations, daddy. Now you have two things to celebrate today."
"Yeah right we haven't even..." But then Troy stopped cold, the blood draining from his face. "Jesus..." he leaned against doorway to his office, sighing heavily. "Jesus..." He scrubbed a hand over his face. After all he'd been through, NOW God was just making his life a damn cosmic joke. He was sure of it.
Sharpay smiled, bouncing up and down in her heels. "It's good, right? We can finally be a family." She tossed her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "Oh, Troy! It's going to be perfect." She felt his phone go off in his pocket before hearing it, pulling back and smirking at him. "If you want to use toys, all you had to do is say so." She winked at him, smirking.
Troy rolled his eyes, stepping away from her. "No we aren't going to be a family. Baby or no damn baby, Sharpay. I'm not even sure the kid is mine. Who knows who passed you around." Mean yes. Honest. Yes. Troy looked at his phone. It was Gabriella. He didn't want to answer it in front of Sharpay, even though he needed to talk to Gabriella... especially now. "Goodbye, Sharpay. Go away. We'll discuss a DNA test later."
"No, Troy! The baby is yours! I haven't been with anyone but you!"
One of the guys still in the locker room spoke up. "Not for lack of trying!"
Sharpay flipped her head at him, growling, "Shut it, Peace!" When she looked back, Troy was gone and the door was closing. "Troy!"
Troy headed down the hallway as fast as his feet could carry him, ignoring Sharpay's cries for him to wait. He'd call Gabriella when he got to his car. All she wanted was for him to bring home dinner. She wasn't feeling up to cooking. After what he'd just heard from Sharpay, Troy didn't feel much like cooking either. He had been thrown for a loop because of his own choices. He had no idea how he was going to tell Gabriella any of this. He had almost an hour, give or take, before he would come face to face with her and the rest of their life, whatever happened after that point.
He stopped by Lares Restaurant and ordered food for the whole house, Dominick included. He wanted to get home, but at the same time, he was dreading it. He was worried about Gabriella not feeling well, but now he was also worried about how she was going to take this news he was coming home with. How could he have been so careless? Yes, he was pissed at Gabriella for keeping Victoria from him, but Jesus Christ, does that really give him the right to fuck Sharpay? He had no idea where that impulse had even come with. He was pissed, and he was lashing out, but still. He loved Gabriella, more than his life, and now one moment of anger might cost him everything.
It was almost two hours before he was actually walking in the door from the time he had talked to Gabriella on the phone. The only time it ever takes that long to get home is if he has to sit in parking lot traffic, but tonight's traffic hadn't been bad, except for the thought traffic in his head. There were so many different directions that this could go. She could get mad. She could leave. She could freeze him out. She could accept it. Honestly, she had kept Tori from him after all. He knew she was going to be hurt, but if she really took time to think about it, she'd understand. She'd know it was just Troy, but even he had to admit it was extreme.
"¿Dónde está mamá?" Troy asked Tori as he walked into the kitchen to serve out the food.
Tori and Tempe were sitting on the couch watching something on TV. Tori jumped up off the couch, running after her daddy.
"She's still in your room. She's been there all day."
Troy looked at his daughter as she came bounding into the kitchen. She was so happy. He didn't want to think that a split second choice he made before knowing her, after just finding out about her, could jeopardize the happiness he had here with her and her mama. He didn't want to lose his family, and he knew it was only a matter of time before that could actually happen.
"Tempe," Troy called out to Temperance in the living room. "Could you come help Tori set the food out and set the table?" He heard her grumble, but she got up and came toward the kitchen anyway. Troy looked back at Tori. "I'm gonna go get your mama. We'll be back down in a little while." Walking over to her, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Te amo, Princess. Por siempre."
Tori looked up at her father weirdly. He was really... weird, and she didn't know why. He walked out of the room and she looked over to Tempe as she walked into the room.
"Tempe, do you think something is really wrong with mama?"
Tempe shook her head, pulling some plates out of the cupboard. "I don't know. I think she's sick, and she doesn't want anyone to know."
"Do you think that's why daddy is acting so weird?"
Tempe didn't realize Troy was acting weirdly, but she supposed Tori was worried about her parents. Tempe really missed her parents, but those were issues she had to deal with on her own, especially since she couldn't rely on her sister. Of course she had Dominick, and he would help her all he could, but she had to do this on her own, get through losing her parents by herself.
"Don't worry about it, Victoria. I'm sure it's just because Bri is sick. Don't worry."
Tori nodded her head, pulling out the takeout. Even though she was a little unsure, she decided she'd take Tempe's word on it.
Troy came into the bedroom, hearing water running from the bathroom. Gabriella was in the shower. He knew he had to tell her. He knew it. He had never kept a thing from her in his entire life and here he was sitting on this HUGE secret. And she had the right to know. He knew he had to tell her when it happened because if it didn't, it would have come back to bite him in the butt. It ended up taking a huge chunk out anyway. Sharpay was pregnant, all because he lashed out against Gabriella, without even talking to her first about it. Had he thought before he acted, they wouldn't be in this position, but now they were, and he had to face it head on... even if he had delayed coming home as it was.
Stopping in the doorway, he listened through the closed door, hearing her singing. It brought a smile to his face, despite everything. He knew this song. She hadn't ever released an album, but she had recorded a few songs for her movies here and there and they had been released as singles. Even before they had gotten back together, he knew all of them. He had listened to them, even telling himself he shouldn't. He avoided most things that had to do with her when they were apart, but he never could resist her music, just to hear her voice.
He walked in, shutting the door behind him, quietly walking over to the shower. She didn't even notice him. Slowly, he slid his arms around her waist, laughing slightly when she jumped in his arms some.
"Don't stop on my account," he whispered against her, kissing her neck. He knew the next part of the song was a rap so he started saying that part. "If I could think of you and smile. Ask you could you stay a while, even if you gotta go chase your dough. That's for sure. It's my love you raising." He mumbled lightly, brushing his finger tips over her stomach, turning her head to kiss her deeply. "Bet you didn't know I knew that, huh?" He smiled. "What else should we sing?"
He thought for a second before starting another song, "You are fine. You are sweet. But I'm still a bit naive with my heart. When you're close, I don't breathe. I can't find the words to speak. I feel sparks. But I don't want to be into you. If you're not looking for true love. No I don't wanna start seein' you if I can't be your only one..." He turned her to face him fully, kissing her lips gently as his fingers moved up and over her sides.
"I love you, Gabriella. And I don't know... how to tell you this... so I'm going to wait till after we eat... just know I have something to tell you."
He lifted his fingers into her hair, lathering the stuff she had it in more before dipping her back slightly in the water. He washed the soap out, grabbing the conditioner, putting some of that in her hair and washing that out.
Gabriella closed her eyes, leaning her head back slightly for him. She felt as though she was going to turn to jelly in his embrace. It was fairly possible, especially in the heat of his water... or maybe it was the heat of his arms. Either way, she knew it could happen easily. She couldn't believe that he knew all that. It wasn't as though they listened to her songs since they had been back together, so for him to know those two like he did, was a big thing for her. She swallowed, shaking her head, still unable to find my voice. He'd been paying attention to her the entire time they were apart, just like she'd been watching him. She had watch his games... on TV only, as much as it would hurt. She had never been able to go down to the arena though. That would hurt way too much.
Whatever he had to talk about didn't sound good, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to hear it. She looked into his eyes as he rinsed her hair, staring into them. She didn't want him to keep anything from her. If he had something to say, she just wanted him to say it.
"T... Please just say it. I can't stand around waiting for you to say something if I'm sure it's going to be horrible."
She stepped away from him, finishing her own hair before stepping out of the shower and grabbing a towel for her hair and wrapping it up before grabbing a towel for her body. She dried her body off and grabbed one of the towels hanging beside the shower.
"If you can't tell me now, think it about it. Tell me once you get out of the shower."
She walked out of the bathroom and pulled the door shut behind her, walking out into their room and over to the balcony. Opening the door, she walked out, only dressed in her towel and the towel wrapped around her hair. Her feet almost burned at the coldness, but she didn't care. She was nervous about what Troy had to say and she needed a breather. She leaned out over the balcony railing, looking over the rooftops toward the ocean, waited for Troy to join me. She had no idea what he could possibly need to tell me, but she was sure it couldn't be good. It never was good if he couldn't tell her something.
Troy sighed, watching the door shut and turning his eyes back to the wall in front of me. He forced himself to finish his shower and stepped out, drying up and walking out into the bedroom to get dressed. He noticed the balcony door open with Gabriella standing against the balcony. Sighing heavily, he pulled on some boxers and grabbed his robe before walking out to her. It was chilly, but he could stand it. It wasn't anything like the freeze out she was giving him. It wasn't as bad as it could be, as it probably was going to get with her, but he knew it was going to be worse than the temperature around them.
He walked up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist, kissing her cheek. "Hello, beautiful," he whispered, breathing her in deeply, trying to enjoy the stillness he always felt with her. He didn't want to interrupt that stillness, not when it was this nice, but he knew I had to tell her, even if it hurt her- hurt them.
"Gabriella," I started, closing his eyes. "I don't wanna say this.. in fact, saying it will change everything. And I hate knowing that. Especially since we finally have everything we always wanted. A daughter. We're getting married. Life is..." He stepped back, turning her to face him. "I thought when I told you about what I did after I found out about Tori, that would be the end of it, but the truth is... Sharpay is pregnant, and I'm the father." He let his shoulders slump, rubbing the back of my neck. "I'm so incredibly sorry, Gabriella. I wish I wouldn't have... I wish I wouldn't have hurt you like this."
Troy hated this. He truly did. Because not only had he risked everything with her, Troy was sure if he lost her because of this, he was never going to be happy again. He was sure she'd never be happy again. And Gabriella deserved to be happy more than anything in the world. She really did. And Troy was upset he couldn't make her happy. He felt like complete shit, hurting her like this.
Gabriella wished she could have shown him she could handle whatever it was he had to tell her, but from the moment he had said something in the shower, she knew it was going to be horrible. She felt my world freeze on her and she stared bleakly at him. The world began spinning when he said Sharpay was pregnant and she knew she was going to be sick. Yes, he had told her he had fucked her that day, and she had wished he never would have told her... But now he was telling her not only did he fuck her, but that she was now pregnant with his child. It wasn't right. Gabriella was the only one who was supposed to have his children. Isn't that how it's supposed to be with soul mates? Gabriella thought so anyway.
Gabriella leaned back against the railing, trying to hold herself together, turning her eyes down. She wanted to start bawling, but she was stronger than that.
"I wish I could do something right," Troy spoke more silently, "anything, and no matter what I do, in the end something always comes out wrong."
Sighing he pulled back, lifting his hands to rub her arms. He wanted to make this better. He wanted to fix everything and never have to think about Sharpay again, but that was impossible, now that she was having his child. Having his baby changed everything. Nothing would be the same again
"I'm sorry," he whispered, taking a step forward but freezing when she shook her head.
"No." It barely came out as a whisper, but then she swallowed, repeating herself, "No!" This time, it came out much louder, much more resolved. "I don't want to hear it, Troy. Yes, I kept Tori from you, and yes, I know you told me you fucked Sharpay, but I can't handle this. I'm sorry. I just can't."
She pushed past him, walking back into their bedroom and into her closet. She couldn't stay around here. Not any longer. Troy followed her into her closet and she shook her head, pulling some pants and a shirt off of a few hangers before pushing past him, not wanting to listen to anything he had to say.
"Where are you going?"
She wasn't going to answer him. She couldn't talk to him right now. She couldn't even look at him. Pulling some panties and a bra out of her drawer, quickly getting dressed. She didn't even bother with socks before she slid on her shoes and grabbed her coat, heading out the door. She didn't know where she was going or what she was going to do. She was just gone. Troy ran after her, stopping at the front door and yelling after her as she ran away from the house.
"Daddy?"
Troy's eyes widened and he looked back to Tori. His heart was lodged in his throat and he could barely breathe. Shaking his head, he shut the door.
"Go back to the kitchen. Eat with Tempe. Mama and daddy will be right back."
"But-"
"Just do it, Victoria!
He hadn't meant to snap at her, but he couldn't even stop himself right now. When he turned back to look at her, she shook her head and ran away from him in tears back to the kitchen. Troy kicked the bottom stair, cursing beneath his breath. He had to get dressed and go after Gabriella. There was no telling what would happen to her running the way she was. Usually, he'd say she was in great shape and he wouldn't worry about her running the way she was, but after she had passed out the other night at the New Year's party, he knew anything could happen.
Gabriella walked into a grocery store. She had no idea how long she had been gone. She had no idea what time it was. She was tired, light headed and her stomach hurt. She walked in, talking to the cashier and rubbing her arms, trying to warm myself up.
"Do you have a public restroom here?"
The cashier looked her over, blinking. Gabriella sighed. She hadn't thought to grab a hat and sunglasses, the way she had run out of the house, but she didn't want to be noticed. She just wanted to be Gabriella. She didn't want to be Ella Leigh right now. She wasn't sure if she ever wanted to be her again. She just want to be herself. It was because of her and her career that she had lost the two people in her life that meant the most to her. She had kept Tori from Troy and because of that he had gotten someone else pregnant. Their life together was over.
"Hey, aren't you-"
She shook my head, stopping him from saying her name.
"Please. Do you have a public restroom or not?"
He looked her over, shaking his head. "No, we don't have a public restroom, but I can give you the key to the back to use the employee's restroom."
Usually, Gabriella didn't like special treatment just because of who she was, but she needed to use the restroom.
"Thank you," she told him as he handed her the key.
Taking it from him, she smiled, even though she didn't feel like smiling. Actually, it wasn't even like her usual smile that she put up for everyone. She didn't feel anything at all, even the need to pretend anymore. She'd been doing that for so long. She just needed to be herself. Not that that would get her family back, but at least she would be being honest and truthful with herself.
She walked into the back, unlocking the door with the key and looking for the bathroom. Locating it, she walked in. The bathroom wasn't that clean. There weren't even seat protectors. She started to make a makeshift one with the toilet paper so she could at least feel somewhat comfortable. But it's not like that matters. Comfortability didn't matter at all. Nothing mattered. She missed her family, even if it was all just a joke, a lie. She missed Troy and Tori and she knew their happily ever after would never come now. Not now that he was having another baby with some one else. The two of them had been trying for months now, and he fucks Sharpay one time- ONE TIME- and now she's pregnant. It wasn't fair.
I've been gone so long, I'm use to feeling alone. I estimated a love, my estimation was wrong. See I never knew what you were going through, but I just got back now let's see where your at. We just need time, some time to connect. What I'm telling you now, hope you never forget. I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you, all the loneliness I would go through. But if you wanna leave I won't stop you.
Baby boy you know I just begun to realize whats important to me. Maybe I should have tried to put your needs first, but my priorities were messed up, and I know you got hurt. See I never knew what you were going through, but i just got back, now let's see where your at.
Think about it, take a moment just to rewind, everything that you believe, and everything that was right. Do you really want to stand there and tell me goodbye when I'm saying I still love you. Lonely days and lonely nights, that's where you'd be without me by your side. Better think twice, baby, this could blow up crazy, you know.
I can't keep singing my secret cause it's out of control. I'll give you everything, body, mind, heart and soul, but you keep breaking me taking me to another low. Don't do it baby, don't do it. Don't let me go. Baby boy you know I just begun to realize what's important to me. So don't leave, don't leave. Baby boy, don't leave.
Outside, a man sat in his car, staring at the steering wheel. He needed this money. He needed it bad. His wife had just had a baby and his baby was sick. They needed the money. He knew that, but his skin still crawled. He had always worked hard for every penny he made. He didn't steal. He wasn't a man who carried around a gun, let alone planned on putting it to a man or woman's head and demanding money. He had no choice. It was either his baby or scaring someone. He choose scaring someone. Pulling the ski mask over his head, he got out of his car and headed inside.
"Give me all your money!" He yelled in a disguised voice, pointing the gun at the cashier. "Now!" he yelled louder, shaking the gun back and forth. His hand felt numb. He felt numb.
"No..."
His eyes widen, not expecting that. "What! Give me the fucking money!"
The man trembled. "I don't have any money in the cash register," the cashier said slowly, his hand reaching for something.
The man with the gun shot him, scared and unsure of what he was reaching for. He shot him dead on, right in the head. He had never heard a scarier sound in his life, his eyes opened even wider. His arm fell to his side as the man slumped and fell on the floor. Dead.
"Oh, God," he sighed out in a heavy whisper, frozen. Catching sight of brown hair to his side, he turned, the gun aiming at her.
"Ella Leigh..." The man was in shock. "I... give me all your money!" He yelled, finding his voice again, his body shaking so roughly he could barely keep the gun pointed on her.
For a brief moment after coming face to face with the barrel of a gun, Gabriella didn't even want to do anything but let him shoot her. She was about to tell him no, but of course neither Troy nor Tori could ever forgive her if she did. She had to do what the guy asked. She had left her purse home, but she always carried a twenty or two in her pockets.
"All I have is..." She looked up, swallowing. She felt bad. She had called Taylor after she'd ran away from the house. She didn't want her to walk in on this. "Please, ummm... I don't live far from here. We can get my purse. I'll give you anything you want."
"I... no..." The man let out a shaky breath. "we can't..."
He couldn't go with her to her home. They'd attract attention he didn't need. She was famous after all. He couldn't chance it. He had to take care of this now. He had no choice. It was making him sick. He felt so sick.
"I'm sorry," he spoke silently, hearing a car pull up. "I... God... I... I'm so sorry about this. You have no idea. I have no choice. I'm so sorry."
And with that, he pulled the trigger, watching as she fell as a heap on the ground. He walked over, taking the cash she held in her hand out to me and running out the door. He ran straight into a woman, knocking her down on her ass. She looked up at him in horror, her eyes big... scared. He raised the gun, my hand shaking hard. But then he froze. He had already killed two people. He couldn't add another to it. Something about the woman reminded him of his own wife.
"I'm sorry," he barely whispered, running away from her. Jumping in his car, he drove away as fast as he could.
Taylor sat on the ground forever... her eyes pouring with tears. At least it felt like forever, but it really couldn't have been more than a minute before she realized where she was.
"Gabriella..."
She pushed herself to stand and ran inside the store. When she saw her on the ground, Taylor's heart stopped. Her eyes filled with fresh tears.
"G!"
Taylor screamed, rushing over to her, slipping on the blood and falling flat on her ass again. She panicked, her hands reaching for her head where the blood was coming from and held her hands there.
"Help me!" Taylor screamed, crying so heavily she felt like she couldn't breathe. "Don't you die. Don't you dare fucking die. I swear to God. G!"
She remembered her phone, pulling it out of her pocket. She was barely able to read the screen as she dialed 911. Between her bloody hands and the tears, she could barely see anything. She told the dispatcher where she was and told them to hurry before dropping the phone and leaning over her best friend, her sister. She wasn't her sister, not biologically but she was Taylor's sister in any way that mattered.
Taylor held her hands tight against her head. "Please, G. I need you," she whispered, hearing the ambulance. It wasn't long before the paramedics rushed inside and pushed Taylor aside. They said Gabriella still had a pulse before rushing her out the front door on the stretcher. Taylor finally noticed the man they were laying a sheet over as she climbed in to the back of the ambulance with Gabriella.
Troy was so close to falling asleep out of exhaustion that he could feel it taking over when he felt a sharp pain rip through his chest. He sat up quickly, letting out a low deep growl, clenching a hand against his chest. It felt like something was being ripped from him- his heart. It felt like a hand was reaching in his chest and tearing his heart out.
"Lily," he barely spoke, his voice low as he reached for his cell phone. He didn't even have a chance to call her before he saw a strange number flash against the screen. "Hello?"
And from there his entire world stopped. Taylor explained about the accident, the best she could as she sobbed. Troy barely heard most of what she said, but what he did understand was all that mattered. Gabriella had been shot in the head and she was at the hospital.
Troy looked down at Tori who had cried herself to sleep on his lap. He felt so bad for yelling at her the way he did, but she had come back to him when he had gotten back from looking for Gabriella. This city was huge. The area was huge. There was no way he was going to find her. Lifting Tori into his arms, he kissed her as she curled against him, holding her tight.
"Daddy?"
"Shhh, baby. Shhh. I'm gonna go get your mama. Just go back to sleep."
He was trying to remain calm as he ran up the stairs to Temperance's room, not even bothering to knock. He laid Tori down on Tempe's bed and Tempe opened her eyes, glaring up at Troy.
"I am going to go get Gabriella," he told her, not saying where he was going to get her. "Watch Tori. I'll call you later."
Tori knew something was wrong. That look in his eyes. He knew something had happened to her sister, but he wasn't telling.
"Troy, where is she?"
Troy shook his head, kissing Tori on top of her head. "I'll call you."
And with that, he left the house and drove straight to the hospital. By the time he got there, he was in tears. Troy wasn't a man who cried, but the fear was gripping at him and he couldn't ignore it. The fear. The pain. The second he saw Taylor, his heart flipped in his chest. Her clothes were drenched in blood. Her clothes, her jacket, her shoes, her hair even had some in it. She was dripping with Gabriella's blood.
"Taylor."
She turned to him, her eyes wide with fear, her mouth motionless. Troy took the step toward her, even with the blood, and hugged her tight, his eyes closing tight.
"It's okay. She's okay," Troy promised, holding her as she cried against his chest. Looking around, he called out to anyone who would listen. "Can someone get Gabriella's doctor, please? Gabriella Montez's doctor as soon as they are allowed to walk away from her."
This was all Troy's fault. He was the reason she was here. He was such a fucking dick. He acted without thinking, and now here she was. Stuck in a hospital bed with a bullet in her God damn brain. Troy closed his eyes, trying to trap the tears but it was useless They pushed their way past his closed lids and rolled down his face.
Taylor had been silent since she had gotten to the hospital, only barely answering questions the hospital staff had asked her. The only thing she could think about was that since they had arrived at the hospital, B's heart had stopped. Three times. THREE whole times. How did a girl that small survive her heart stopping that many times? Taylor had no clue, but she had. She was still alive as they rolled her away from Taylor, rushing off and leaving her standing near the door, trembling, frozen in place. When Troy got there, she felt less frozen, less stuck, like the world was slowly coming back into view, but she still ached. Every inch of her body ached.
She felt like someone was poking every inch of her body with a hot poker. She felt sick, and she knew she was covered in blood, but she was too weak to go and wash off, too weak to move from the spot where she had last seen her sister before they wheeled her off. She heard Troy talking to the nurse but barely paid attention.
"What happened?"
Troy's voice was rough. Taylor could tell he was trying to stay strong but it was failing.
"I... don't know... I found her on the ground... blood was everywhere. I can't remember before that.. I'm trying but it's like.." She looked up at him blankly. "Like all of it's been erased."
"Erased?" Troy asked, wondering what she meant by that. "Are you okay?"
She nodded weakly, her legs trembling. Hell her entire body was. I could feel it.
"Let's sit down."
He walked her over to the benches, helping her sit before sitting himself.
"How can something be erased? Are you in shock?" Troy asked, trying to keep his mind off what was happening in the other part of the hospital.
Troy so badly wanted to run off screaming for Gabriella but stopped himself, knowing that wasn't a good idea at all. All he'd do was prevent her from getting help by making a complete ass of himself.
"I don't know." Taylor spoke bleakly, staring forward. "I just don't remember. You think she'll be okay?" But she didn't want that answer, shaking her head. "Don't answer that. I know she'll be okay. I don't need you to say it. She's going to be fine. She will. She'd never leave Tori."
She brushed a tear off of her face. It was only then that she really noticed her hands. The dried blood made her empty stomach turn. She turned her eyes to Troy's shirt.
"I got blood on you."
He shook his head. "It's okay. Don't worry about it."
She nodded, looking down at her blood stained hands. She know there was things she should be doing. People she could call, but the names were escaping her. The people she had to call wouldn't register. She just sat there quietly staring forward, saying a silent prayer for Gabriella.
Savannah Hodgens had done all she could. Now they just had to wait for her to pull through on her own. She took my operating scrubs off, washing her hands and taking the cap off her head, pulling her hair from it's pony tail. She had to go out and talk to the family now. At least she didn't have to tell them that she was dead. She hated that part of her job, but she was alive, even though it had been touch and go.
Walking out into the hall, she saw a couple waiting in the waiting area, the only ones out there. Walking up to them, she asked slowly, "Are you two Ella Leigh's family. Excuse me, Gabriella Montez's family?"
She knew Ella Leigh was only her public name, but they were her family. They were privy to her birth name, not like the rest of the world.
"Yeah. I'm her... a... her..." Now that the doctor was there with them, Troy couldn't speak.
Taylor looked up at the lady and back at me. "Her fiance," she answered for him.
Troy slowly stood, helping Taylor. "Is she..." He still felt like he couldn't get anything out.
"Alive?" Taylor finished for him, giving his hand a tight squeeze.
Dr. Hodgens nodded her head. "She's in critical care right now. Not ICU. She is breathing on her own, doesn't need the use of oxygen or any other life sustaining instruments." Taking a breath, she nodded her head slowly. "But if she wakes up from this, it's all on her. She pulled through everything else tonight. I am sure she will pull through this. She's strong. She's a fighter."
"Can I see her?" Troy asked, feeling relieved from the doctor's words, more relieved then he had ever been in his entire life. She was alive. And he knew she'd be okay. Like the doctor said she made it through this, she was a fighter. She always had been. She'd be okay. For Troy. For their little girl.
Taylor looked up at Troy and back to the doctor. "I'd much rather he see her first. I... just want to sit here."
Troy looked down at Taylor. "Are you sure?"
She nodded. "Yes, she'll wake up for you. I know her. If she knows your here and... she'll wake up."
Troy was sure Gabriella had called Taylor. She wouldn't have been with her to be here at the hospital if she hadn't. And if Gabriella called Taylor, he was sure she knew about everything. About Sharpay. About the baby. Gabriella would have told her.
Taylor smiled. "I know you love her, Troy. She'll wake up and love to hear that." She said to him before looking at the doctor. "Can he go see her?"
Dr. Hodgens nodded. She always liked the faith that families had in their loved ones. That, combined with their own will, was what got them through things like this. If Gabriella was going to get through this, she was going to get through it with their help.
"Go ahead. She's being moved to room 412. You can go up."
"Thank you."
Troy hugged Taylor quickly before running off to the elevator. He took it to the fourth floor and got off, running until he read the number 412. Stopping at the closed door, he listening to the soft beep from the other side of the door. Her heart. It was beating. Strong. He touched her name plate and glanced back at the nurse who was watching him. He gave her a nod and headed inside. Another nurse looked up from the file she was writing in.
"Hi," she said with a sympathetic smile.
"I'm Troy. Gabriella's fiance..." He knew considering the way she had left him didn't know if she really wanted him to be that anymore, but she was still his in his heart, despite the anger she was feeling toward him.
"Her vitals are strong. She's resting. We aren't really sure when she'll wake up."
Troy nodded. "Thank you." Walking over, he sat in the chair next to her bed, taking her hand. "Lily," He whispered, kissing her hand.
The nurse left them alone, shutting the door behind her. When they were alone, Troy moved to sit on her bed with her, kissing her forehead.
"You need to wake up. For me... for our daughter because... I can't live without you. I can't. I need you... more than you'll ever know." He kissed her hand he held in his. "I swear I'll make this up to you if you wake up... no matter what it takes. Just open those beautiful brown eyes. For me. Please." He begged, tears welling up in his eyes. "I need you."
Gabriella stirred slightly, feeling Troy beside her. She couldn't believe he was here, not after what happened. She tried to lift her hand to him, but couldn't. She was... tired. Too tired to lift her hand to touch him? What could make her so tired she couldn't touch the man she loved. He needed her. She needed him, more than he could ever imagine.
"T."
She spoke, but nothing came out of her mouth. He didn't move. It was as though he couldn't even hear her.
"Troy!"
She tried yelling so he could hear her, but nothing came out. Nothing was coming out. She felt like crying. What was wrong with her? Why couldn't she talk to him?
"Troy! I love you, Troy! I love you so much!"
She cried out, sobbing, but he couldn't hear any of it. She hated this. She couldn't touch him, She couldn't speak to him. Everything was wrong and nothing was right. Gabriella cried, letting it all flow, wishing but unable to get him to hear her.