A little late Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers! I am sorry this chapter is delayed, but I had my half term mock exams, and a really bad cold for the past week. Today, finally, I am feeling good enough to edit and publish this chapter. Huge shoutout to Grace and Pumkingking5 for your reviews in the last chapter you guys are amazing! Hope this answers some of your questions regarding Troy's family, especially the incident with Calvin. Now my next couple of chapters are planned and they should be quite fun so without further ado!

"Great. We talked and she gave me some advice on how to tackle hard days and reminded me that I could just call her or talk to the school nurse," Gabriella summed up. "That's great hija. Did she tell you anything about when you could go?" Maria questioned hopefully.

"As soon as the doctors would allow so I am hoping for today. I miss my bed," she stated and Maria laughed hugging her daughter. "Oh sweetheart."

Monday February 18th

"Are you sure you want to go back full time?" Maria questioned her daughter as they were eating breakfast together early in the morning. "I am," Gabriella nodded. "I have been away for a couple of days already and I don't want to be too far behind on my work," she assured her mother.

"All right. I should be home by four and call me today if there should be anything," Maria reminded her daughter.

"I'll remember mom but I have to run. I am meeting up with Taylor soon," Gabriella told her mom as she gave her a quick hug before picking up her bag and rushed out the door. "Bye," she called out as the door closed and Maria were left with a smile on her face.

She would be all right in the end.

"Are you ready?" Taylor questioned as the two girls were nearing the school. "Yes, I mean I am a little nervous but I am ready to go back. Troy told me what happened to Brittney and Alexandra and I guess that helped me in making my decision about coming today," Gabriella explained and Taylor nodded.

"I have a feeling Troy is going to be surprised. I told Chad once you called me but he swore he wouldn't tell. Once Troy realises you're here, he will not leave your side," Taylor stated and Gabriella laughed. "I know, and I love that," she told her friend whom also started laughing at this point.

"Gabi," Chad exclaimed once he saw them and rushed forwards hugging Gabriella, lifting her up from the floor. "Chad," she yelped in surprise and laughed. "Put me down," she said through her laughed and Chad obligated.

"How are you?" he questioned her and she still had her smile on her face. "Good really. Ready to go back to normal," she told him and now it was Chad's time to grin. "Speaking off," he told her and it was then she noticed Troy.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he questioned not really sounding upset. "Um surprise?" she tried and he wrapped his arms around her. "Thank you," he told her quietly, hugging her.

"Wait," Gabriella told him grabbing his left arm not feeling his cast. "Your cast. When did you remove it? I knew you had it on Friday," she exclaimed and Taylor frowned too.

"Yes. I got it removed on Sunday and the doctor told me everything seemed to be as it should. After all I have had it on for nine weeks," he told her wrapping his fingers around her hand.

"Do you know when you can start playing basketball again?" she questioned him and he nodded. "Hopefully within four weeks but worst case would be eight or more," he shared.

"Which means that we have a shoot at the final becoming back to back champions," Chad told them all excited and they couldn't do anything else than laugh at his childlike excitement.

"Come on Chad we should get to class," Taylor told him grabbing him by the arm dragging him after her.

"Oh dear," Gabriella muttered smiling following her boyfriend through the hallways.

Walking through the door of their homeroom they were the first once there except for Mrs. Darbus. She looked up at the teens who entered the room and smiled once she saw Gabriella.

"Hello Miss Montez. It's good to see you here again. I hope you are doing better?" she questioned the young woman. "Hello Mrs. Darbus and yes I am doing much better thank you," Gabriella told the teacher with a smile.

"I look forwards seeing you in class and drama rehearsals. I am afraid it hasn't been quite the same without you," Darbus revealed looking at the two of them. "I plan on returning and I am very much looking forwards to it," Gabriella shared with her drama teacher who smiled.

"Welcome back," Darbus told the group with a smile as Gabriella walked over to her seat.

The day had gone well for Gabriella when lunch rolled around. Both of her classes she had with Troy and he were by her side once the bell rung. "Do you want to sit in the cafeteria or on the roof?" Troy questioned as they were walking out of Spanish together.

"Could we sit with the others. I haven't seen all of them for quite some time." Gabriella told Troy and followed her towards the cafeteria.

Upon entering the large room, it was not overly crowded by students but it was defiantly starting to fill up. Neither of them having brought their lunch with them, they grabbed a tray and walked up to the line that had been formed. Each of them grabbed their food and sat down at the table where they found Taylor along with Chad, Zeke and Kelsi.

"Hi," Gabriella said announcing their presence. "Hey Gabi. Good to see you again and finally someone who can help me," she exclaimed gathering some of the papers who covered the seats at the table.

"What is it?" Gabriella questioned sliding down in the seat. "I am trying to write some songs for our musical but I could need your help. Could you meet me in the music room after school? It shouldn't take long," Kelsi begged her friend.

"Sure. I am looking forward to seeing what you have written," Gabriella told the young composer who smiled.

The group continued on with their discussions about school, activities and life in general. Gabriella were staring at her bowl of soup eating some spoonful's slowly. "You okay?" Troy questioned his girlfriend quietly looking at her.

"Mhm, just not too hungry," she answered sheepishly. "I can tell you more once we're alone," she told him and he agreed taking another bite out of his own salad.

"So what I wanted to tell you during lunch was that my feeding tube wasn't removed until a couple of hours before I were discharged," Gabriella told Troy quietly as they stood in the hallway talking after school. Gabriella had managed to eat most of her soup during lunch.

"The doctor was a little reluctant at first to remove it but we agreed that if I managed to put on some weight until the next control then I wouldn't need it," she admitted to her boyfriend.

"So that is why you want to eat but not necessarily manage to," he said and she nodded. "I just want to become independent again and put all of this behind me."

At lunch the next day Gabriella wasn't really looking forward to eating but she knew she had to. "Brie you want to eat at the roof? I thought about what you said yesterday and I think I can help," he revealed to her and she looked at him curiously.

"Sure," she told him with a smile. "We'll meet you later. Troy wanted to show me something," Gabriella told her friends and Taylor smiled. "See you later," Taylor told them as they continued towards the canteen.

"What did you have in mind?" Gabriella questioned intrigued as her boyfriend found two containers and some plates. "I know for a fact that you have liked Etrean food so I decided to make some more Asian styled recipes," he told her and opened the boxes.

"I made some traditional spring rolls with noodles, chicken, carrot and fried eggs. I also made Thai styled fried rice with carrots, egg, rice, pork and spices," he explained to her and she smiled.

"It looks really good," she said taking one of the spring rolls. "I think I've only eaten spring rolls from Chinese take-out," Gabriella shared taking a bite, "but this is so much better. Did you make them?" Gabriella questioned Troy impressed.

"Yeah. It isn't that hard once you have everything ready. I made a large batch and frozen it for later," he shared and Gabriella took another bite. "Mmm. So good," she said and Troy smiled.

"Here. I have a feeling you'll like this too," Troy told her handing her a plate of fried rice. She looked curiously at the rice mixed with pork, egg and carrot before taking a bite. "Wow," she said surprised. "This was good," she told him scraping up the last of the small potion.

"I am glad you liked it," Troy smiled as Gabriella took some more. "Who thought you these recipes?" she questioned curiously finishing her spring roll.

"When my grandmother and grandfather had a trip to Thailand to meet with King Bhumibol, I was allowed to travel with them. While my grandparents were attending the meetings I got the opportunity to learn some traditional Thai recipes along with some more modern. When I came back home I tried some of them and they turned out to be quite successful," Troy told her while she was eating another spring roll.

"Oh I'm so full," Gabriella proclaimed as she finished the last spring roll, as lunch were coming to an end. "I am glad to hear that," Troy laughed and Gabriella cocked her head frowning.

"Well, the amount of food I took with me is usually intended for a family of four to five," he revealed placing the lid back on the two empty containers as Gabriella started laughing.

"Don't worry about it," he continued. "I am just happy you ate something you really liked," he told her and she smiled. "Yeah I finally felt like I was really hungry and that it actually tasted good," Gabriella shared just as the bell went off.

"Come 'on we're late," she giggled and they hurried down to their classes.

"Hello Troy how was school?" Lucille greeted him as he entered the house. "It was good. Gabriella really liked the food which was good," he told his mother and emptied his backpack.

"That's good," Lucille smiled following her son into the kitchen. "Do you have much homework for tomorrow?" she questioned him and Troy looked at her.

"No I don't," he answered and Lucille nodded. "Okay. I think there is something we need to talk about," she told him and he frowned.

"Is it something bad?" he questioned a little fearfully. "No," Lucille told him quickly her eyes soft. "All right," he agreed and they sat down on the couch.

"I think you need to know that Adrianna called me while Gabriella were in the hospital. She asked me if we should meet when she was in Iwaki for a meeting but I told her I was here and why. A little while later she called me back and somehow Makayla was also there during the call. She thought it was you Troy, who had committed suicide," Lucille shared openly with her son letting the news sink in.

"Somehow Calvin also got to know about it and Calvin feels really bad about something that happened during Christmas. What I do not know but I have a feeling you do?" Lucille questioned her son who sighed.

"Yeah I do. I'll make sure to talk to all three of them," Troy promised thinking. "Good. There was also one more thing. I thought about going back home within the next couple of days would that be all right or do you need me to stay?" she questioned looking at her son.

"I guess that's all right. I mean you had things you needed to do back home," he told her scratching the back of his neck. "Those can wait if you need me here Troy know that all right? Family is always more important," she told him sternly.

"I know and thank you mom, but I think I'll be fine on my own until the summer," Troy confessed and Lucille nodded. "I had a small feeling you would say that so I thought about leaving tomorrow evening if that were all right with you?" she questioned.

"That sounds all right," he agreed.

Wednesday 20th
12:00 AM

After lunch the next day the seniors had PE, but Troy was still excused from class seeing as he wasn't allowed to do any sports just yet. He was currently sitting on the bleachers, watching as Gabriella emerged from the lockers giving a note to the teacher. They spoke briefly before she made her way towards her boyfriend.

"Hey not attending class?" he questioned as she sat down beside him. "Nope. With everything that has happened the doctor didn't encourage me in doing physical activities until my next appointment," Gabriella explained looking at him.

"So neither of us are attending PE for what, the next two weeks?" he questioned and Gabriella nodded. "Yes," she said and took his hand intertwining their fingers.

"My mom told me something yesterday and to make a long story short. Makayla and Calvin heard about what happened and Calvin feels really bad about what happened at Christmas. I promised mom I would speak to all of you soon because he had something he wanted to tell you," Troy shared as the rest of the class emerged ready for the lesson.

"Ok, but do you know why it happened?" she questioned quietly not wanting everyone else to hear their conversation. "Well," he told her hesitantly. "You do know," Gabriella told him and he sighed.

"I am not a hundred percent certain if this is the reason but I think I know," Troy started telling her the story.

"For all the years I've spent Christmas with them it has just been the three of us who have been the same age. Suddenly I leave to study abroad and when I do come home for Christmas, I bring someone new with me who they have no relation to at all. Makayla did not mind seeing as the two of you got along great but for Calvin there was someone else who I spent my time with. I reckon that was the reason for why they dragged me off with them one of the first days. When you called and said you were lost, I knew I had to come and find you seeing as you had no way of finding your way back. However, both of them knew their way around the house. Because of this I think Calvin were a little jealous that I spent less time with him and more with you," Troy shared quietly not looking away from her.

"Why couldn't he have said or implied anything? I wouldn't have minded if you wanted to spend more time with your family," Gabriella told him frowning a little.

"Honestly I don't think he really wanted to admit that he might have been a little jealous. So the day we went riding together I know he had an argument with the family. He argued about the fact that we let you spend the holidays with us. He claimed that you didn't really love me for me. That you were more interested in the title," Troy added quietly making sure no-one overheard their conversation. Gabriella looked at her boyfriend in shock.

"That is not true," she defended, "I know that," he hurried to reassure her before continuing, "and apparently Makayla knew that to which I assume you told her?" he questioned and she nodded.

"Anyways, what I heard was that Araya and Makayla were sent outside while the adult spoke together. Mom then shared with them about how we really meet and what did happen when I decided to tell you the secret," Troy told her.

"So now your family know all about our relationship and how we met?" Gabriella questioned uncertainly and Troy nodded slowly.

"I am sorry. I had hoped that they would have found out differently," he apologized. "Which reminds me," he continued, "Do you have plans this weekend?"

"No what about it?" she questioned looking at him curiously. "Mom were planning on leaving tonight so I was wondering if you wanted to come over on Saturday?" he questioned and she smiled.

"I'd love too."

Saturday 23rd

On Saturday just after lunch Gabriella arrived at her boyfriend's house. "Hey how are you," he greeted her placing a gentle kiss to her lips as she walked inside. "I am good. Are you glad to be alone again?" she teased him with a smile as they walked inside to the living room.

"Well to be honest yes. It was good to have her around for the time being but I don't mind being alone too," he shared smiling. "So did your mom say anything about when you had to be home?" he questioned and she nodded.

"She really wanted me home for dinner so six," Gabriella told him and he nodded. "Sounds good. I spoke to Calvin and we agreed to call at four our time but first I wanted to give you something," he informed him.

"Troy you didn't have to," Gabriella told him but he ignored it.

"I didn't want our parents to know exactly so I had to wait until mom left," he informed her and gave her a box.

"What?" she questioned confused and took off the wrapping paper. Frowning and in awe she opened the small box. A single key laid there and she took it in her hand looking at it. "What is this?" she questioned looking at her boyfriend confused.

"It's a key to my house. I wanted to give it to you for valentine's day but I figured out our mothers didn't need to know. Whenever you feel alone or just need some company I want you to know that you can always come here. Now whether I am home or not," Troy told her and she wrapped her arms around him.

"Thank you Troy. It means a lot."

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Comments are always greatly appreciated!

-FreeFlyingWriter