Here is my new story! This is written solely in Gabriella's point of view, so I hope you like it. Please let me know what you think with a review :)

The Inadvertent Bystander

Unbelievable. 'Let's have a girls' night out,' they say. But I don't actually think it qualifies as a night out if the people you came with disappear without you. Now I'm practically stranded in the middle of London. Alone.

Erin decided to bring her boyfriend along for the night, and they did not stop arguing from the moment we got here. Eventually they both stormed out of the club, still yelling at each other. Kelly was knocking back the wine and I haven't been able to find her for the last hour, despite looking everywhere and calling her mobile countless times.

This is officially the worst night out of my life. I just want to go home. But the original plan was for the three of us to share a taxi at the end of the night, and I fear that I don't have enough cash left on me to pay for one all to myself.

Realising that I am standing in the middle of the dance-floor like a loner, I hastily walk away and make my way towards the door. Then I push my way outside, where the cold air greets me. I haven't worked out what to do next yet, so I seat myself on the little wall that is adjacent to the club entrance and think.

I haven't even had a chance to contemplate anything when suddenly I hear shouting, and my head snaps up abruptly. There is a scene unfolding in front of me. Two men appear to be having a fight, but one seems to be pulling most of the punches as he yells verbal abuse at the other. There is another man who, like me, is watching from a short distance away, completely uninvolved in the drama. But in the next second, he is heading towards the two men.

"Hey, you! Stop it, you're going to end up seriously injuring him," the man shouts at the one throwing the punches.

"Who do you think you are?" he slurs in reply, clearly far beyond drunk. "This is none of your business, mate." Throughout this exchange, the poor guy who was receiving the blows shrinks back quietly. He looks shaken more than anything else. But he seems to be okay as he gathers his strength and runs away from the scene, before his tormentor can turn around and continue.

I turn my attention back to the drunk thug and the other man. I don't know why I'm sitting here watching this, but I'm genuinely intrigued as to what's going to happen next. "Maybe not," replies the man. "But I couldn't just stand by and watch you beat the guy senseless." That was rather brave of him. Who knows what reaction he'll get to that.

"You what?" the drunk man starts darkly. "Say that again," he dares. Don't do it, I am willing the other man silently. I have a very bad feeling that his interference might cost him. But he doesn't seem fazed. It's as if he's seen this kind of situation thousands of times. "Look, you're clearly drunk," he replies calmly. "I just wanted to stop you from making a big mistake when you're in this state..."

And then everything seems to happen in slow motion. It doesn't, of course, but it's one of those events that shock you so much that everything else around you becomes irrelevant. The drunk man hurls himself at the other, knocking him straight to the ground. There is no other movement from the man, who is now lying motionless.

Yet the thug doesn't stop there. I watch in horror, like the other onlookers around me, as he boots the poor man hard in the side. He does this three more times, and I can hardly bear to look any more. I want to do something, anything to stop him, but how can I without putting myself in danger too?

Finally, he stops, surveys the damage, and flees. I half expect one of the onlooking men nearby to go running after him, but no-one does. In fact, I can barely believe it, but people are walking away. Away from the scene, away from the man. This man could be dying, and they are all leaving him to it!

So I find myself running. Not away from him, but towards him. And then I'm screaming. "Help!" I'm sure there are supposed to be police patrolling the streets around here. Where are they when you need them? I'm kneeling down beside the man, who still hasn't moved. He's been knocked completely unconscious. "Someone, help!" I try again, my voice getting louder each time.

Then I frantically find my phone, and am just tapping out the emergency services number when two police officers appear out of nowhere. "An ambulance is on it's way, miss," says one. "What's the lad's name?" They think I know him.

"Oh, I...I don't know, I don't actually know hi-" I am cut off by the voice of the other officer, who has come across what looks to be the man's wallet. It must have fallen out of his pocket when he was knocked down. "His name's Troy Bolton. Did you see what happened to him, miss?"

"Yes, I did," I reply shakily, beginning to feel the shock of the situation. "What's your name?" asks the first officer, just as the ambulance pulls up. "Gabriella. Gabriella Montez," I answer, knowing that I am the only available witness.

"You can with him in the ambulance if you want," I am told, and I pause for a moment, watching the paramedics lift Troy onto a stretcher. I've done my bit; I've made sure this man got help, hopefully before it's too late. But even so, I don't want to walk away yet. I can't let him go through this alone. It's not right. I just know somehow that he deserves more than this. To be brought to the hospital all alone, as if nobody else cares.

So I nod slowly and follow the paramedics as they lift him into the ambulance. Then I find myself sitting there as we are driven away, watching him. And even though he is a total stranger to me; I am silently willing him to live.

And there's the first chapter!

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