I stood out in the yard, listening to the pitter-patter of the rain and thunder clapping. Closing my eyes, I sucked in a huge breath and blew it out. The gloomy surrounding matched my melancholy feeling.

"Dude," I opened my eyes to find Zeke frowning at me with his arm folded across his chest. "That was totally uncalled for."

"What do you mean?"

He took a seat next to me on the bench. "I get you've been feeling like a failure for the last three years, but it's unfair for you to take it out on Gabby. She might have broken up with you, but you're the one who lost his confidence afterward and couldn't stop blaming yourself. That had nothing to with her; it was all you."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not taking anything out on Gabby. She's the one who lied and cheated on me three years ago, and she's still lying to us about it now. My confidence has nothing to do with that."

He studied me, asking, "And you're sure she cheated on you?"

I nodded, "I saw her in Javy's arms, and it wasn't one of those friendly hugs between friends. It was more, and they also already admitted they love each other more than all the stars in the sky."

Zeke sighed, "But you never actually talk to her or ask her why she was hugging Javy?"

I shook my head, "I really don't need details with the visuals."

Zeke shrugged, "Maybe you do. Like it or not, there are two sides to every story, and whatever you saw, it might not be the whole truth."

I bit my lip, taking in Zeke's words. He wasn't wrong. I didn't have the entire story-only my half. Without Gabby's side, I won't ever know the whole story.

Rubbing my hands down my face, I groaned. "What does it matter? It doesn't change the fact that she loves Javy and not me. Or that we've been over for three years. I just need to get over it and accept that Gabby isn't who we thought she was."

Zeke sighed, "Sounds like you're giving up."

I shrugged, "Maybe it's for the best if I did. It's not like anything I've tried worked."

Memories of spending time with Gabriella the last few weeks flashed into my mind. Many of the memories included Javier, which didn't sit well with me. I groaned, hating that I felt so jealous.

Why can't I just let her go?"

"Dude, what have you tried to salvage your relationship," Zeke paused for a second, "Or what was left of it?"

I recalled our attempt at a deeper conversation at Monterey Bay. It was a train wreck; other than hurt feelings, not much more was achieved.

I kicked the dirt on the ground. "We tried talking about what happened at Monterey Bay. That went south faster than it took for you to fall in love with Sharpay. We tried hanging out several times before then, but that didn't turn out so well either."

Zeke frowned with his brows narrowed. "So you decide to just throw in the towel? What happened to being friends with her is better than not having her around at all?"

I shrugged with a sigh, "Clearly, she doesn't feel the same way, and I just have to accept it."

Zeke shook his head. "Bro, you still aren't getting it. Success isn't a given. It's earned through hard work and following through, no matter how defeated you feel."

I tried not to look offended. "I work hard. Too bad, I have nothing to show for it."

"Too bad, you also choose to give up every time something makes you feel defeated, and you lose your confidence. And failure only comes if you decide to take yourself out of the game," He pointed out, standing up. He started to leave but turned around, saying, "No one ever thought of you as a failure. So why do you keep calling yourself one?"

Zeke didn't need an answer. He turned, heading back into the hospital. I watched him disappear behind the double doors while his words slowly sank in. It was hard to say how I was out there, mulling over Zeke's words.


"You're Gram Gram is ready for visitors any time you're ready to see her," Dr. Diaz-Montez notified me when she found me outside.

I turned around to face Dr. Diaz-Montez. "Thanks, I'll be right in."

Dr. Diaz-Montez nodded and turned, heading back inside the hospital. Taking another looking at the gloomy weather, I followed behind her.

Gram Gram was still out cold when I got up to the ICU. She had a couple of wires hooked up to her with monitors beeping. Dr. Diaz-Montez gave me some information before leaving us alone.

Pulling up a chair, I sat and started talking to her, hoping she could hear me. Slipping my hand into hers, I started welling up again. My voice was shaky, letting her know everything that had happened. I missed talking to her and hearing her advice. Closing my eyes, I imagined her giving me advice. The corner of my lips curved up slightly into a smile with warmth flowing through me.

Opening my eyes again, reality set in fast. Dread quickly settled in me as thoughts of losing my Great-Grandparents, and Dad flashed in my mind. With every breath, I made my chest feel more constricted than the last. Desperate for some relief, I decided to take a walk.


I heard Jason's voice down the hall and followed it back to the surgical waiting room. Peeking in the room, I saw Chad and Taylor with Jason. But Kelsie, Sharpay, Ryan, Gabriella, and Zeke were nowhere to be seen.

That's weird. Where did everyone go? And what are they talking about in there?

Stretching my neck, I leaned in closer to get a better view and hear the conversation.

Why does Jason have that packet? What is it?

"Here," Jason handed Chad and Taylor the packet in his hands. "It's information on First Steps Kindercare. You both might want to at least skim through it."

Taylor took the packet, confusion on her face. "Why? We couldn't even get on the waitlist because it was at full capacity."

Taylor and Chad quickly skimmed through the packet. "Yeah, there's no way they'd even consider C.J. until next year."

Taylor added, "And that's only if we get on the waitlist and enough spaces free up."

"Actually, C.J.'s already in," Jason corrected, shoving his hand into his pocket. "You'll still need to bring C.J. to an interview with the Director of the school. But it's really just a formality and meet and greet more than anything else."

Chad and Taylor's jaws dropped to the floor in shock. Their glances darted from each other to Jason. They were speechless while they flipped through the packet again.

Chad picked his head up, and his gaze bounced to Jason. "How," He asked when he found his voice. "How did you pull it off?"

Jason shrugged, "I just told a friend you're interested, and that was it."

Taylor tore her attention away from the packet. "That's it?"

Jason nodded, "Pretty much, more or less. The school will be in contact to schedule the interview."

Chad and Taylor beamed from ear to ear. They wrapped him in a hug. "Thank you, we really owe you and your friend one."

Jason shook his head, backing away. "You owe me nothing. I was just the messenger; my friend was the one who got C.J. the spot."

Chad looked up from the packet. "There is something I don't understand. Who's your friend, and why are they willing to help us? What does your friend get out of this?"

"Nothing," Jason stated, "my friend just wanted to help you two out. It's not a big deal, and my friend wishes to remain anonymous."

Taylor raised a brow and folded her arms across her chest. She stared straight into Jason's eyes. "Your friend is Gabby. Otherwise, you'd tell us no problem."

My forehead scrunched up. I had so many questions. None of this was making any sense. I felt so confused.

"Why does it matter if Gabby was the one who got C.J. or not?"

Chad shoved the packet back at Jason. "Because if this was Gabby's doing, then you can bet there's an angle."

Taylor added. "You have to stop being so gullible, Jason. Not everyone is your friend and can be trusted."

Jason looked at them with his infamous confused look. "Says you. Clearly, Gabby is out to get us by helping your son get into playschool, and she will do every more damage by remaining anonymous. Yeah, she's clearly an evil mastermind out to ruin our lives."

"If it's so innocent, why didn't she just give us this stuff and tell us about the interview herself," Chad asked.

Jason stared at them in disbelief. "You can't be seriously wondering that. How about how you're reacting now, and don't say it's because she didn't tell you herself. Because we all know that's not true."

"OK, so we haven't been the nicest to her. But she started it when she abandoned us. She has to deal with the consequences."

"No, she doesn't!" Jason practically shouted, causing me to jump. "She doesn't have to do anything. Friendship works both ways. She's putting up with your bullying and still trying to reach out because, in her heart, she still sees us as her friends. But if you keep pushing her, we might lose more than the three years we've already lost with Gabby."

I shrunk back, feeling guilt hit me square in the chest. Jason's words weren't just for Chad and Taylor. We could all use a dose of the hard truth, no matter how painful it was.

I leaned my head back and shut my eyes. Memories of the last several weeks flashed through my mind. I didn't want to admit it, but the few attempts I made to connect or talk with Gabriella weren't that great. There was barely any effort put in, and I had no one to blame but myself.

"Dude, chill," Chad replied when I peeked back into the room, "So maybe she doesn't have to put up with us, but she's the one who's choosing to stick around. Plus, how can we trust her again after she cheated on Troy and ghosted us like we meant nothing to her."

"Seriously," Jason screeched and yelled, "that's your excuse. How about stopping living in the past and realizing if we couldn't even tell that something was bothering our friend that badly then maybe we're partially to blame? Plus, we don't know what Troy saw to make him believe that Gabby cheated. And Gabby said she didn't, so it's his words against hers."

Taylor chuckled, "So what are we supposed to do, pretend everything is fine? Even if it isn't."

"No, what you all should've done in the first place. Take the first step in forgiveness and hear her out, hoping it's not too late," Jason shoved the packet back at Chad. "If you want to turn down Gabby's offer, tell her yourself. Just remember, everyone has a breaking point, and Gabby might have reached hers."

I backed up, seeing Jason head towards me. Frantically I looked around for a place to hide. Adrenaline came over me as I took off, racing down the hall as fast as possible, realizing I had no choice but to run. Rounding a corner, I slowed and heard another familiar voice.

That's Sharpay.


I followed her voice and found her with Ryan staring at newborns outside of the nursery. Backing up into the hallway I just ran through, I leaned on the wall to catch my breath.

I leaned closer when I heard Ryan talking. "Have you always known?"

Sharpay shook her head. "Not exactly. It's always been more of a feeling. Until now."

"What exactly did your OB say," Ryan asked.

Sharpay's shoulders slumped. "That my PCOS is really severe, and I'm lucky that I'm not stacked with a whole list of symptoms to deal with. And that my chances of conceiving naturally are slim."

Ryan stood up straighter. "And Gabby's OB agrees with this?"

My forehead wrinkled in confusion.

Gabriella's OB? When did she give Sharpay her OB's number?

"I never called him," She admitted sheepishly.

Ryan raised his left brow. "Why not?"

Sharpay shrugged with a sigh. "I don't know. I guess it just feels like I'm getting double confirmation on my worse fears."

Ryan shoved his hands in his pocket, still confused. "I'm not sure I understood that?"

Sharpay pushed off the wall she was leaning on. "What I mean is growing up, I never knew. So I could pretend it's nothing and not worry about it. Now that I've been tested and confirmed, it's different. I can't just pretend everything is OK when I know it isn't. Seeing more doctors is an even bigger confirmation that I'm different."

"But you are different," Ryan pointed out jokingly, "You've always been different."

Sharpay gasped, pretending to be offended, and whacked him in his arm. "You know what I mean."

They chuckled and giggled, causing me to let out a little snicker I couldn't hold back. It's been a while since I've seen Sharpay and Ryan smiling like they were now. It was great to see Sharpay and Ryan goofing on each other again.

A spark of hope lit in me, even if I didn't fully understand what was happening, causing me to smile. Maybe things weren't going to be so bad for Sharpay and Zeke. Maybe there was hope for them.

Hearing the elevator ding, I dashed down the hall, rounding the first corner. Before I could stop myself, I slammed into the window. Groaning, I backed away, rubbing my forehead. I started hearing a piano playing in the background and groaned with a shake of my head.

Good going. Give yourself a concussion, and start hallucinating your high school years.


I whacked my head, trying to get myself to stop hearing the music. Maybe I'm not hallucinating; I thought when my attempt to ring out my ears failed. Following the music, I stopped in front of an office with a plack reading: Dr. Antonio Diaz-Montez.

Diaz-Montez. Just like Dr. Diaz-Montez and Inspector Diaz-Montez. What's the connection?

Gently, I pushed the door a crack and peeked inside. The music suddenly stopped, and the door flew open. Before I could gather what was happening, I ended up with a hard thud on the floor in the room.

Groaning, I rubbed my throbbing head. "What happened," I grumbled, feeling disoriented.

"Hurry, get up," Kelsie reached for my hand, trying to help me on my feet. "We have to get out of here."

My knees buckled when I was attempting to stand, and I hit the floor again with Kelsie landing on top of me. My head felt like it was on fire. The second I tried to move, my world started to spin to the point I was nauseous. I gave up trying to move and decided to lay there, waiting for my world to stop spinning.

"Troy, we have to go," Kelsie warned, trying to pull me up.

I groaned, feeling a wave of nausea. "Kelsie, stop. I'm gonna puke."

Kelsie immediately released my arm, and I hit the ground with another hard thud. Letting out a painful and nauseated groan, I gaged. I shut my eyes, praying for the world to stop spinning.

Seconds after I shut my eyes, footsteps started approaching us. My eyes fluttered open, and I didn't think twice about getting up. The second I got on my feet, I stumbled forward and landed flat on my face.

Groaning, I reacted without thinking and crawled a little further into the room and kicked the door shut behind Kelsie. Laying on the floor, I motioned for Kelsie to stay quiet. Nausea hit me again as footsteps closed in. I held my breath, praying whoever it was wouldn't come in.

The nob started jiggling, and my heart pounded hard against my chest. Ignoring my nausea and dizziness, I attempted to stand again with Kelsie's help. My entire body gave in, and I took both of us down as the door opened. I couldn't hold back a painful groan as my world spun worse than before.

We're screwed.