Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 1: Until Her

The ball left his fingertips and with a swoosh, and went smoothly through the basket. The sound of hands clapping together was behind him. Turning around he smiled at the sight in front of him. Letting the ball that he'd caught drop from his calloused hands, he jogged over to the olive skinned temptress.

She giggled, the melodic sound seeping from her mouth, causing his irresistible grin to escalate even more. Her arms floated up around his neck, as his found their way around her thin waist. He lightly shoved his face into her hair, "How's your day been princess?"

She giggled again, "Better now that I've seen you Wildcat." Her tongue lightly licked his earlobe, causing a moan of desire and lust to escape his perfectly formed mouth. The bell rang and they both groaned in pain.

"Darbus the Dragon time." He pulled back and held out his hand. "Ready?"

She shook her head, "Never, but let's do it anyways."

He nodded and pulled her closely, "I'll make it up to you later." He promised, lightly kissing her jawbone. She sighed as she leaned into him more so. Their bodies molding to fit perfectly into each other as they left the gym, the door slamming loudly behind them.

When they reached the hallway they picked up two more people, they had come from the library. It was a room that would've been unknown the tall curly-haired boy before recently. His arm lazily draped over the dark-skinned girl next to him, he gripped her books tightly. Two more people joined their group, followed by another two, and the final two. They all stood protectively around the two girls, daring anyone to so much as throw an unsavory glance their way. They arrived at their destination.

The door opened and the 10 walked over to their corner. Taking their usual seats they waited for the rest of their classmates to enter, ready for English to start and finish.

He looked over at her, his blue eyes mirroring the love and affection he felt towards her. Her own orbs reflected that same passionate light. His hand, ever so gently, ran across the top of her thigh, causing heat to scorch through her jeans and up her leg, in contrast, ice-cold shivers ran down her spine at his touch. His touch was intoxicating.

His lips fought the smile that was threatening to take control as he watched her reaction. The final bell rang. The last student filed into the room and took his seat. The quiet whispering ceased as Mrs. Darbus took her place center stage, literally. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, her desk was right behind his, and his body was angled so he had easy access to her. She let her hands run up and down his back. Lightly massaging. She felt him tense then relax at her touch. Her breath lightly played over the hairs at the nape of his neck. She pressed a small kiss to it, before leaning back in her seat as Darbus turned back around to face the class once more. She felt him shiver as her persistent hands moved methodically down and up, reaching every spot. He bit his lip to fight off a small moan.

The class fought their focus, trying to pay attention to the blonde exuberant teacher, but wanting to watch the Captain and the mysterious brunette. All were unaware of how she came to be. But she did. They glanced next to the brunette and towards the quiet dark-skinned girl.

She was messing lightly with his hair, he was the co-captain. Just as untouchable as the Captain was. She braided his hair and then undid it. She felt him vibrate slightly, he was chuckling at her actions. A small smile graced her face. Darbus turned around and she took this opportunity to lean over his shoulder and look at his face, he was trying to hold the laugh in, trying to keep his cool exterior. She kissed his cheek before settling back into the routine of playing with his hair. His hair and his basketball, his two most prized possessions. No one touched them, until now. Until her.

Six Months Earlier…

"He goes to the middle and you take it downtown." Troy looked up at his father. Sweat drenched both of their bodies as the August heat scorched Albuquerque air.

Troy closed his blue eyes and took a breath, nodding his head he responded, "Like this?" he played the move out perfectly. He slid easily around Chad, without any hesitation he shot the ball. Every movement filled with perfection, as the ball went through the hoop without so much as grazing the rim.

"That's perfect, let's see that in the game." Jack slapped his son on the back. "How about a little two-on-two?"

Troy and Chad looked at each other and at their fathers, "How do you want the teams to go dad?" Troy cocked his head to the side, silently challenging his champion father.

"Yeah, do you think you old men could beat us?" Chad thumped his chest as he vocally challenged his own father.

Tim looked from Troy to Chad and then to Jack, "Let's show him what two former Wildcats are capable of." He grabbed the ball from his son, signaling the start of the game.

15 minutes later the game came to a screeching halt when, "Dinner." Rang out through the opened window. The four men looked at each other before dropping the basketball carelessly on the lawn of the Bolton's back yard and making a beeline for the back door.

Lucille Bolton and Lisa Danforth shook their heads, "Boys." They said simultaneously as they placed the final platters on the table.

She looked from one parent to the next; "Seriously?" she cocked her head to the side in disbelief, sending all her midnight black curls to one side. "Seriously?"

Her best friend looked at her parents, and then at the Montez', "Seriously?" her grin diminished. The happy mood was done.

Gabriella turned around. She took a deep breath and counted to 10. She turned back to face Greg and Isabella Montez. "Care to explain." She chanced a glance at her best friend, Taylor was in shock.

"It's just a month darling." Isabella's voice was overly sweet. Dripping with the sweet necktar that would come from a juicy piece of fruit. Only this piece was almost sour.

Taylor found her voice, "When?"

Cathy and Garry McKessie gave her a reassuring look, "Next week love." Garry's voice was thick as ice.

"A month alone?" Gabi couldn't wrap her head around the concept.

"Not alone." Greg tutted her. "You have her and she has you." He pointed between Taylor and Gabriella.

"Yeah cause that's the same as a mother and father." Gabi spat sarcastically. A hand collided with her face. The sting was nothing unusual. It would go away in time. Each bruise each mark does. But they all knew that.

"Don't take that tone with your father." Isabella warned.

"Can I take it with you then?" Gabi asked sweetly, in that same voice her mother possessed.

Isabella hissed out a reply, "No."

Taylor opened her mouth to speak, "Don't even think about it young lady." Garry smiled down at the two girls, "Now it's all settled, we don't care about which house you choose to stay at. Take your pick."

That was the end of the conversation. The girls shrugged. A mountain couldn't change their parents minds.

A Month Later

Jack Bolton had his feet propped up on his desk, a sandwich in one hand, and the Albuquerque Enquirer in the other. Reading through an article about taxation, he was quietly enjoying his lunch break. His black desk phone broke through the peaceful silence.

"Hello." He nearly choked on the sandwich as he attempted to spit out the miniscule greeting.

"Jack Bolton?" The voice was deep.

"Speaking." His tone was curt.

"This is Terrell Hogan, I represent the Montez estate." Terrell Hogan's voice was tired, as if the phone call was a burden to him.

Jack thought for a moment, Montez. Where had he heart that name before? "Can I help you?"

"I'm afraid I've got some news for you…"

Timothy Danforth sat in his office, going over paper after paper trying to get the trial straight in his mind. The DAs findings, the police's findings, nothing was adding up. Needless to say 2 plus 2 did not equal 4 in this equation. It seemed to equal 36 or some other random outlying number. The phone rang, breaking through both his headache and last nerve.

He picked it up, "Tim Danforth."

"My name is Robert Morgan, I represent the McKessie estate." The voice was annoyed.

Tim's grip on the phone tightened so that his dark hand was turning white, "Are Cathy and Garry okay?"

"I'm afraid there's been an accident of sorts…" Tim's mouth slightly dropped open.

So what'd you think? This is going to be based off of Blessed Gabriella. Review please!

Mollie XOXO