A/N I don't own HSM/HSM2 disney does!
The school morning was like any other. Troy anxiously waited at Gabriella's locker. Finally to his delight he spotted her. His breath was taken away when her looked at her, she was so beautiful in her white dress and her lace tie up shoes. Her hair was longer now the ebony curls bouncing as she walked towards him. Her eyes meeting his cause that shy smile to cross her angelic face. He crossed his arms and leaned on her locker. Both hearts fluttering and Gabriella subconsciously quickened her stride.
"Well hello handsome." She said sweetly. Running her fingers through his sandy blonde hair. "Hey.' He almost purred at her affection. He wrapped his arms around the petite girl. "You look so amazing! Who are you trying to impress?" He razed his eyebrow smirking.
"Well there's this guy I like, he's kind of important and I don't know I'm a little shy." She tried to ramble. "Oh did I mention he's a popular wildcat?"
They laughed together. "Really you look so beautiful"
"Troy you say that everyday" She giggled.
"And everyday more beautiful then the day before." He kissed her on the cheek.
She opened her locker grabbing a purple notebook.
Troy looked around. "Wait, Gabi where's Taylor?"
"Oh she called me this morning, she's got a cold." Gabriella said nonchalantly. Troy immediately grabbed her arms turning her around to face him.
"You mean you walked to school alone?!" Troy slightly raised his voice.
She was caught off guard by his behavior.
"Troy.?" She whispered confused. Trying to wiggle out of the grasp he had on her arms.
"Gabi, you should never walk alone." He had panic in his voice. Gabriella's heart sped up, was there fear rising in her, caused by Troy..
Ryan and Sharpay were down the hall walking to homeroom when Ryan looked up from Sharpay's typical end of the world rant about something that didn't go her way. He saw Troy holding Gabriella against the lockers and the look on Gabriella's face horrified him. Ryan started to run over to them.
"Troy, it's only four blocks ." She breathed, trying to understand what was happening.
He stepped forward, Gabriella's back was pressed hard against the lockers.
"Just please Gabi, Promise me that you'll never do that again, call me. or Chad. or, if you really have to, Ryan. just never walk alone."
"Troy?" She said softly again. "What's wrong?" She was almost in tears. He was always over protective of her. But this? There was so much desperation in his voice. It was haunting. The pressure between her wrist, his grasp and the lockers was causing her a lot of pain.
"Promise me please."
"I prom--"
Just then Ryan pulled Troy away from Gabriella stepping in between them. The mounding pain from Troy's grasp was ripped away.
Gabriella was beside herself, and stunned, what the hell was going on?
"Troy what were you doing to her?!" Ryan stepped forward making more distance between Troy and Gabriella. Sharpay caught up to the situation.
"What's going on?" She asked confused.
Troy went to speak but his eyes drifted to the look on Gabriella's face as she moved her arms to hold herself, all this, making his voice fail.
Sharpay was ignored, but unmoving, she looked at Gabriella, then her brother then Troy.
"Gabriella?" Sharpay said softly taking a step towards her, she didn't know what was going on, but by the looks that Ryan and Troy were giving each other this wasn't going to be pretty. Sharpay and Gabriella were never close friends and it didn't seem like there was any hope in becoming anything more then aquatics, but Sharpay did have a heart, not to mention her twin brother was not involved with this. He kept running into situations with Troy and Gabriella, so she was trying to keep a closer eye on Ryan. Sharpay grabbed Gabriella's upper arm. "Gabriella come with me." Sharpay whispered. But Gabriella was unmoving. Ryan's stance was threatening. Finally Gabriella snapped out of it pulling away from Sharpay. Ryan was taking another move toward Troy. The silence was only making the situation open for assumptions.
"Ryan stop! He didn't do anything." Gabriella cried. Stepping out from behind him and grasped onto Troy.
"We were just talking." She defended Troy. Ryan not believing a word she was saying.
"Talking.right, that's not what it looked like." Ryan looked Troy up and down angrily. Then his glair softened as he glanced at Gabriella giving her a quick scan.
"Are you ok?" Ryan asked her softly. Reaching out to her cheek rubbing it softly. Gabriella stiffened. Sharpay was even more confused. Troy stepped in-between them giving Gabriella a push, talking a moment to regain her balance.
Gabriella didn't know what to say she was confused by the whole situation, it was bizarre.
But she knew, Sharpay, Ryan, Troy all this close , meant trouble. Ever since Troy caught Gabriella and Ryan dancing next to the pool last summer, things have never been the same between the two guys. It meant nothing but friendship to Gabriella, but to Ryan it meant so much more. He knew things with Gabriella and Troy was going sour, and he was taking advantage of Gabriella's pain. And it didn't help that Troy over heard Ryan talking to someone in the theater that he had feelings for Gabriella that he wished could be carried out'. Ryan was disappointed when he found out that Troy and Gabriella had patched things up.
Troy never told Gabriella. But, did he ever want to, maybe it would change how she felt about Ryan.
The first bell finally rang, finally causing everything to end. Ryan and Troy gave one last glair to each other before both turning their attention to Gabriella. Who was looking at the floor. Unable to do anything else. She was devastated.
"Gabi?" Ryan asked. She was shocked, he called her Gabi only Troy called her that. Troy shot him and angry look. Ryan then took his leave.
"Gabriella?" Troy lifted her chin to make her look at him. "I'm sorry. I..I never meant to scare you, I never would hurt you. I just don't ever want anything to happen to you that's all."
She understood him. She had to. But it still hurt. And it shocked her that he used force on her. He looked like he was going to cry at the sight of her uncertainty.
"I promise." She took his hand, entwining her fingers in his. She leaned in and whispered it a again, then kissed him.
The warning bell rang and the two ran hand and hand together to homeroom.
As always Mrs. Darbus was rambling dramatically about something no one was getting. Troy twisted one of Gabriella's curls delicately in his fingers, sending chills of delight down her spine. Ryan glanced and rolled his eyes at the display of affection. Then Ryan's eyes glanced down at Gabriella's wrist, which now were both slightly purple. She was sitting so still, her hands cupped together. Annoyed that Ryan was looking at his girlfriend, Troy followed Ryan's shocked expression.
The sight of Gabriella's wrists sickened Troy. He knew he was that one who did that to her.
Soon class was over and the halls were filled with chatting students.
Gabriella didn't get up like everyone else when the bell screamed out. She had felt Troy playing with her hair all through class, but that was the only thing that made her realize that she was on earth. Everything happened so fast this morning and she was replaying it over and over in her head trying to make any kind of since of it. She had a blank look on her face and her eyes were glazed over. Ryan looked at her sitting there so still and fragile. He wanted to comfort her, but Troy was right there. Like always.
Ryan was standing in the doorway watching Troy look at a frozen Gabriella.
"Ryan what are you doing? Come on!" Martha said unaware.
"Yeah I'm coming." He said a normally as he could. Taking one last look at Gabriella, he left.
"Gabi?" Troy said softly for the third time.
"uh?" Her voice always like a song no matter what she said. She noticed the empty room. Where did everyone go? What was going on? Had it really been 45 minutes? "Oh sorry."She snapped out of it. Tucking her hair behind her ear. As she did Troy tenderly caught her hand and examined her wrist.
"Gabi I'm so sorry." He was horrified. He place gentile kisses on the bruises on both wrist. "I would never mean to hurt you."
She watched him softly, her heart melting. She was surprised when she saw the dark bruises to which he brought to her attention.
"Troy."
She went to talk but Troy's lips came crashing down on hers.
"I love you Gabi, I'm so sorry I hurt you." His thumbs softly rubbed her wrists.
"It's ok Troy, it's ok." She whispered, standing and pulling him into a tight embrace. Swallowing what she had to say. It was so important. He needed to know.
---------
Troy and Gabriella were headed to the library to meet Chad for free period. They were flirting, completely consumed in each other. When suddenly a tall, dark student rammed right into Gabriella ripping her from Troy's tender grasp and knocking her to the unforgiving floor completely. She screamed from the sudden blow.
"Gabi!" Troy was on the floor in an instant. "Are you alright?" He helped her up. Examining her carefully.
"Yeah, just a little embarrassed." She smiled. The guy who knocked her over just stood there, eyes baring down on Gabriella.
"What's your problem!" Troy defended his Gabi.
Gabriella knew of the student, Eric Miller. He gave her the creeps. She caught him gazing at her more times then she could count and having biology class with him didn't help. He'd stair at her the whole time. He didn't say a word to either of them just continued to walk. Again bumping harshly into Gabriella with force as he walked in between them.
They watched him walk away stunned. Gabriella rubbed her shoulder where Eric had intentionally bumped into her.
"Are you ok?" Troy said softly, concern overtaking him. This is exactly what I meant' He thought.
"I think so." She half smiled. "What a strange day this is turning out to be."
"Yeah." Troy was distracted with half guilt half fear, looking at the strange boy walk solemnly down the hall. "Come on sweetie lets get you out of here." He gently puller her to him. His grasp was tight, as if he was never going to see her again.
"Troy? Are you ok today?"
"yeah, why?"
"Well you seem really..protective. like you."
"Of course I am, I don't want anything to happen to you." He smiled.
"I know but it just seems.I mean like."
"Like I know something?."
Gabriella was silent. Giving him a confused look. Her heart sped up and she felt her skin get clamy.
They had reached the library, but Troy no longer wanted to go, he wanted to take Gabriella and leave the school. He didn't know what was wrong. But he just didn't want her to be there.
They had things to talk about and this wasn't where he wanted to do it. That's it! He had convinced himself the moment he saw Gabi's reaction. They were going to skip he rest of the day. He grabbed her hand and headed in the other direction.
"Hey! What took you so long?.Wait. Never mind I don't want to know." Chad laughed as they turned in his direction and all walked into the library.
Damn!
They sat down at their typical spot, Gabriella already had her books out, like always she would do extra credit work while they were hanging out. She had to distract herself. Just act as normal as possible' She told herself. Like it was any other day'.
Yeah right!
"Hey Chad I wanted to talk to you about practice.." Troy was standing, hands in his pockets, he was watching Gabriella. He wasn't convincing at all and nither was her behavior, as normal as she's trying to be. Troy could see right threw the act.
"Yeah man what is it? I thought we didn't have any this week."
"Hey Gabi.we'll be right back ok?" Troy told her softly.
"Sure anything to spare me the basketball talk" She laughed. Giving Troy a heartwarming smile.
"Ha ha funny." Troy kissed her and headed away from the table. Chad following.
Chad saw the marks on Gabriella's wrist and frowned quietly. A few things were now on his mind as Troy lead the way outside.
From across the library Eric watched Gabriella alone, distracted by her work. He gingerly walked over the exit door where Troy and Chad had just stepped out.
"So what's up?" Chad asked. "And why did we have to come out here?"
"Listen, something is wrong." Troy looked panicked.
"Yeah, I'd say so, what happened to Gabriella's arms?"
Troy exhaled sharply.
"I did that." Troy looked down like a young child in trouble.
"What!?.Wait do I want to know cause if that is some freaky."
"No!.no Chad it's not like that. At all." Troy struggled to disable his mind from painting that picture. He was nothing but gentile with Gabriella.
"I just got a little, I don't know what I was thinking, I screwed up, I hurt her and I didn't mean to.but that's not what I wanted to talk to you about.."
"What, what are you talking about then , It looks like everything is fine between you two now so why."
"No Chad it's not that.it's like, I feel like something bad is going to happen..To Gabi..something really bad, I mean I flipped out on her because she walked to school today without Taylor, its like I know someone is trying to hurt her or something is going to happen to her and its killing me..and it think shes.." Troy paced in front of Chad.
"Wait, slow down.Troy your no physic." Chad tried to laugh it off. It would make more since if it were a bad joke.
"I'm telling you man, it's making me go crazy, even now I feel like I need to get back in there, just so she's in my sight."
"Wow, man your in to deep.Are you feeling ok?"
"Chad! I'm not joking!" Troy shouted.
"I bet your just feeling insecure because of the whole Ryan thing, maybe your just being a bit possessive"
Chad felt good to let that out, it was more of a personal opinion of Taylor's, but he was starting to see it himself recently.
Troy was quiet for a moment, taking in the comment about being a little possessive. He would admit to that, but he felt threatened. And he didn't want anyone to take Gabi from him.
"Chad I think that she might be pregnant." Troy said quickly. Feeling the same shock Chad was. He hadn't said it out loud yet.
"WHAT!!"
Just then they heard the door lock. Troy looked up to see Eric in the thin rectangle window.
"NO!" Troy pounded on the door. "Gabriella!!!" Troy screamed.
Gabriella snapped her head up when she heard Troy scream her name.
"Troy?" She got up and headed in the direction she hear it from.
Troy then heard Gabriellas blood curdling scream. Then he heard gun shots followed by explosions.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!!!" Chad yelled holding his ears.
"GABRIELLA!!!" He ran over to the window, but smoke clouded inside and there was no way to see.
Troy ran around the building. Screams from hundreds of students could be heard.
"Troy where are you going?" Chad followed.
"She's in there I have to help her."
"Troy you can't go in there, you'll get killed."
Troy snapped back around to Chad.
"If something happens to her I could never live with myself. I can't live without her."
He went to the front of the building which was crowded with a massive amount of people running out of the school. Gun shots were coming from every direction.
Troy tried to get in through the main doors, but the stampede of people made it impossible.
He ran to the south side of the school and snuck in through the auto shop passing junk cars and scattered parts. Slowly he opened the door. The hall way was empty but he could hear gun shots upstairs. Troy didn't have time to think. He needed to get to Gabriella.
Quietly he tried to make it to the library passing three dead teenagers and one teacher. Troy was horrified, but all he could think about was Gabriella's scream, hoping she wasn't hurt.
He heard the Library doors bust open and hid behind the corner. His heart jumped when he heard Gabriella whimper.
"Keep moving!" Eric ordered. Tapping her back with the shot gun.
"Mike, How many you go up there?" Eric's voice roared.
Another guy laughed. "You mean dead or alive?"
"Alive you ass, we need hostages!"
Right, right.it's more fun to kill them though."
Troy heard Gabriella crying.
"Shut up Gabriella, or your dead!"
Dead. That word kept playing over and over in Troy's head. Gabriella and dead never need to be in any kind of sentence.
"Hey Dave, you got all the doors blocked yet??"
"Yeah two more to go, then we'll be ready"
God how many are there?
Two more to go, he looked back to the door he just came from. crap he's going to see me. Troy tip toed to a nearby bathroom and hid until he heard the auto shop door being chained, then the noise was gone.
"Please, Don't hurt me." Gabriella pleaded.
Troy froze, she was so scared. He just wanted her back in his arms. He listened to the clapping of her shoe to determine where they were.
Troy peeked around the corner again to see Eric grab Gabriella's hair yanking her back, then forcing her to look at him.
"You don't know the meaning of pain." Eric looked her up and down. Smirking. "Yet!" Eric and his two friends let out fits of laugher.
Smoke started to full the halls.
"Everything completed on level one." Dave reported to Eric.
"To the third floor gentlemen." Eric told Dave and Mike.
Gabriella struggled. "Let me go please." She cried harder.
They just continued to laugh, Eric dragging her along.
------
Troy followed them up to the third floor. The stopped and went into a film class room. This room was the largest class room in the whole school. It basically was half of the third floor. Troy knew that just feet away as the stairs to get to his and Gabriella's secret spot. If only they could be there now.
---------
Chad looked at the school in disbelief. Hundreds of students were all out side crying some hurt, the police, EMS and fire trucks were trickling in. The gun shots were only every few minuets. It was complete horror and chaos.
"CHAD!!" Someone called out.
Chad was spinning in circles. He was thinking of his friends. Thank god you stayed home today Taylor.
"CHAD!" It was Ryan, he was running over to Chad, Sharpay and Kelsey following.
Chad heard it again. His hands were on his forehead, he felt like, yelling, running, just doing anything other then stand here, not knowing for sure that Troy and Gabriella were in there alive, and he didn't even know if any of the others were in there as well.
Ryan and the others finally caught up to Chad.
"Chad are you ok?" Ryan had his hand on Chad's shoulder. Chad looked at his friend, his brain having a two second delay. He didn't say anything, he was in shock.
"Oh my god Chad where's Gabriella?" Ryan asked panicked.
"She..she was inside." Chad whispered. "She was screaming.
Kelsey and Sharpay gasped. "Where's Troy does he know?" Sharpay was exasperated.
"He went in after her.." Chad blinked the tears out of his eyes.
"Oh my god." Jason said catching the last part.
"Jason!" Kelsey screamed jumping into his arms. They held each other grateful that they were ok and together.
------
Taylor laid in her bed watching soap's something she would never admit to. She was rolling her eyes at the drama unfolding on the small screen.
"We're sorry to interrupt this program." Taylor sat up paying attention, grabbing the remote turning up to the volume.
"There is a horrific scene unfolding here at East High, at exactly 10:59am the school broke out in a series of gun shots and explosions." A detached women tried to speak about the upset classmates. The sound of gun shots could still be heard.
Taylor's heart stopped. The screen flashed to different angles of the school. She saw all of her classmates standing around all crying some bleeding. There was smoke coming out of some of the windows.
She immediately thought of Chad and her beloved friends. Jumping out of bed she got dressed and ran to the school.
-------
Troy could hear the other classmates they had kept as hostages. Some were crying.
"SHUT UP!!!" Dave shouted at a small blond headed girl. Gabriella jumped at his roaring voice. She couldn't let this happen she had to do something.
"Don't yell at her!" Gabriella shouted. Then immediately snapped her mouth shut. Not believing she just did that. The blond head girl looked to her in thanks.
Troy held his breath, hoping Gabi wouldn't be hurt for her act of bravery.
Dave watched Gabriella for a moment.
"Eric, you said she wasn't going to be a problem." He walked over to her. She was backed into the far corner of the room. Dave got inches from her face.
"She's not." Eric snapped.
"Oh yeah, she got a little bit of fire in her." Dave put his arms on the walls, trapping her. "I'd love to taste your fire sweetie." Dave chewed his gum in her face. She felt sick and hugged her stomach. Tears falling from her eyes. Her knees were giving way and she started to slip to the floor.
"Where are you going little lady?" Dave pulled her back up. He looked at her for what felt like for ever.
Troy's blood was boiling. He wanted to bash this guys face in. But he couldn't give away that he was there. Not yet. He had to think of something.
"Hey Eric, Mike. I think we need to punish the little lady"
The annoying man grabbed Gabriella by her hair. She whimpered in pain. He shoved her in front of the 10 frightened students.
"MMM, choices, choices, choices... Gabi you're a nerd, we have six girl's and Four boys ." He whispered in her ear.
"LINE UP!!" Dave demanded. The 10 students did as they were told.
Troy was just outside the door. Listening carefully.
-----
Taylor looked everywhere for her friends. Finally some hope!
"Zeke!!' Taylor shouted. Zeke turned to the sound. Surprised to see Taylor. "Taylor!!" They crashed into a grateful hug. "Have you found anyone else?" "No" Zeke looked down.
They pulled from their huge.
"Everyone is ok I'm sure." Taylor tried to think positively. She backed into someone. Turning to see who it was she shrieked.
"CHAD!!" Taylor threw herself into his arms. "Oh my god, I've never been so glad to see you in my whole life." She squeezed him tightly.
"Sharpay! Your ok!" Zeke called out. The reaction was repeated with the whole group. But the happiness fell silent as they all looked up to the building, knowing that their two most important friends were in there.
The crowed of students was getting smaller and smaller as frantic parents snatched their hysterical children away from the school. The police had forced some distance between the remaining crowd and the school. It was getting eerily quiet, as everyone waited for a sign of anything.
---
"Ok, tell me six girls, four boys, a total of ten students.how do we make the boy girl ratio even, with also having an even number? Tic Toc.
Gabriella knew the answer, but she couldn't say it, she had a feeling what was going to happen if she did.
"I'M WAITING!!" He shouted in her ear. She jumped.
"Um." She was shaking in fear. She absentmindedly looked to the corner of her eye noticing a shadow outside the door. She know it had to be Troy. She hoped it was Troy. Oh god please be Troy. She closed her eyes as if she were really praying. If she had really counted the difference between the boys and girls, it out be 8 guys and 7 girls. That's including her, these madmen and the supposed Troy outside the door.
"Answer now!!" She was snatched out of her rambling thought's.
"You can't!" She cried. "You can't try and make six girls and four boys even because if you take away one from one side, you have to have an equal action happen on the other side, and you'll always end up uneven or with only one."
"Good girl." He let go of her hair, slicking it to one side, then placing his hand on top of her bare neck to keep a hold of her.
"So which is it?!" Dave asked out load. "Uneven.." Dave waved the gun to the lined up students. "Or only one.." Dave breathed on Gabriella's neck smelling her hair. She stiffened, hot tears falling.
"Troy" She breathed, Swallowing and closing her eyes Trying to calm herself.
Dave heard her.
"Ahhh, the High School sweetheart calls for her night in shining armor." Dave let go of Gabriella. Troy heard he whisper his name sending his heart into cartwheels. That was her signal, she knows I'm here.
"Tiffany." Dave motioned to the blond girl Gabriella had taken up for moments earlier.
Tiffany stepped forward. Dave pointed the gun on her and in one simple second shot the girl right in the heart. The girl landed in a thud blood pooling around her body. Gabriella screamed as load squeezing her eyes shut and covering her ears.
-------
Outside everyone heard the single gunshot, then a scream.
Ryan looked at everyone.. "Was that ."
"Yeah I think so." Sharpay answered not looking away from the school.
"I know that voice like the back of my hand.." Kelsey added.
"Gabi." Ryan whispered.
------
Sobs took over Gabriella and she feel to the floor. She felt like this was her fault.
"no, no, no, no, please." Gabi crawled to Tiffany crying, not knowing what to do she just placed her hand on the wound and watched Tiffany's life fade away. "Tiffany don't die." Gabriella cried outload.
"She's pathetic." Dave walked away from her over to Eric and Mike. "I say we just off her and play with one of the other girls." Dave pointed the gun at Gabriella who was slouched over Tiffany trying to will her back to life.
Troy's eyes grew wide.
"No!" Eric took over. "Don't slip up like that again, she stay's alive!! Mike take the body and put it in the hall way."
Mike shoved Gabriella away from Tiffany and started to drag her out to the hall.
"Your monsters all of you!!" Gabriella cried out. Rage, fear and trauma all taking over.
Shh Gabi please just stay quiet so they don't hurt you.
Troy had to think quickly, mike was coming out in the hall, Troy looked around and finally took refuge in a small space between the end of the lockers and a corner of the hall walls.
Mike drug the girl out of the class room and into another next to it. Quickly returning to where everyone else was. Troy returned to the edge of the door way.
"We have to many." Eric said looking at the nine remaining hostages that were still lined up.
"What?" Mike said sharply.
"Yeah all right!" Dave smirked. "You'll like this Gabi!" Dave yanked her off the floor. His gun ready.
"No! not that way!" Eric shouted.
"What the hell are you doing Eric!!?" Mike questioned angrily.
"Let them go! All we need is her." Eric said as if it was a revolution.
Troy kept his rage in check. He had to stay under control, if he didn't he'd never see Gabriella again.
"Let them go!!" Dave shouted.
"That's what I said.!!"
"So we'll let seven or eight of them go, but we need some other then just Gabriella." Mike spat out. Eric giving him a dangerous look.
Gabriella saw that they were completely distracted by there arguing and looked over to the nine scared students. She placed a finger over her mouth telling them to stay quiet, She waved her hand motioning them to run. All got out running down the halls. Troy couldn't believe what he was seeing. One of the student's looked at him with wide eyes. But with a quick shake of his head and a finger over his mouth the student regained his composure and continued to run, they all went into different directions. Trying to find a way out or a place to hide. Gabriella felt victory and Started to sneak out of the room. Troy saw her hand on the door frame. He was never so glad to see her delicate fingers. He softly put his over her and she covered her mouth so she didn't make a sound. Finally she emerged from the room. Troy pulled her into his arms. She tried to be silent but a whimper was released and she could hardly contain the river of tears she wanted to pour out. Troy kissed her tenderly on the cheek and motioned for her to stay quiet. She had blood all over her arm and shirt. Horrifying Troy He looked around knowing there was no way to get out, everything was chained and they were on the third floor.
"Come on Gabi." He whispered. Grabbing her hand he pulled her towards their secret spot.
"What the fuck!" Dave yelled. "You see what you did Eric! Let them go let them go" Dave mocked whining. All of them noticing the empty room.
Eric was unmoving. He didn't worry at all. The only person he wanted back here was Gabriella. She was the whole reason this was happening. His love, his obsession. Gabriella.
"Calm down.They have no where to run" He smiled. -------
"Spencer over here." A girl with red hair whispered to the boy behind her. "I think I can fit threw here." Spencer joined the small girl.
"Are you sure?"
She looked at him uncertain. The could hear the gun men notice the empty room.
"I'll get help, go hide in the printing room, I'll tell them where you are." She instructed Spencer. They had just met through all of this, but he still trusted her. She squeezed through the chains and quietly went down the 2 flights of stairs out to the main hall.
------------
"Look someone is coming out!!" Kelsey shouted.
Chad recognized her. "That's Rachel!!"
Rachel was running as fast as she could.
"Freeze!" A police officer called out. Rachel froze seeing another gun pointed at her. Two policemen approached her. She was crying. They checked her for any weapons. She's clear." "What's your name?" The police officer who's tag read out officer Leo Martin.
Rachel regained her composure and told them everything they needed to know.
Rachel spotted Chad, Zeke and Jason and headed towards them. She had her arms crossed. Clearly still afraid. She knew what they would want to know.
"Rachel are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm ok thanks to Gabriella"
"Gabriella!! Is she ok?" Ryan blurted out.
"I don't know, she got us all out, but I didn't see her after that, but." Rachel tried to gather her thoughts.
"But what."
"I don't think she's going to be ok.."
"What! What do you mean!?" Taylor screamed.
"They, they didn't want any of us, it was me and nine other students, then Gabriella." Rachel tried to explain. Everyone was listening very carefully.
"They killed Tiffany, because Gabriella took up for her, but they only did it to punish Gabriella. They were going to let us go. That's when they started to argue with each other and Gabriella told us to run."
Everyone's heart sank.
"What does Gabriella have to do with any of this?" Sharpay asked. "I knew there was something more to that girl.."
"Sharpay shut up!!" Kelsey yelled.
Sharpay was quiet immediately
"Rachel did you see Troy in there?" Chad asked softly.
"I didn't but Spencer said he was standing outside of the room, and told him to stay quiet"
Rachel almost whispered remembering her friend. She forgot to tell the police where he was hiding.
"I have to go back to the police." Rachel just walked away, everyone was to distracted in their own thoughts to say anymore, even Rachel.
"At least we know that their both still alive, but who would do this." Chad said talking to his friends.
"Oh My God!!!" Taylor spit out. "Gabriella said that Eric ummm Oh God whats his last name" Taylor was talking quickly.
"Miller! Eric Miller, Gabriella told me he was bothering her too!" Kelsey added. "Come on we have to tell someone." Jason added.
Zeke and Chad motioned for a Police officer to come over to them.
"Officer Martin uhh, we think we know who might be doing this." Jason started.
"Yeah he's been bothering our friend Gabriella"
"Gabriella the victim in question?"
"Yes."
"His name is Eric miller and his two friends are Dave Cooper and Mike Dullen. Currently there are ten hostages inside." To officer kept saying.
"Um there's actually only eight." Taylor pointed to the two students on the roof. Selfishly hoping it was Troy and Gabriella. They were waving their hands as to motion to the crowed that they were there.
Troy and Gabriella looked down at the silent crowed.
"They'll help us Gabi." He whispered. But Gabriella didn't feel any better.
------
"There is no way out." Rachel whispered. But only the police officer and Taylor heard her.
Kelsey was lost in the situation that didn't seem real. "That has to be Gabriella and Troy. please be Gabriella and Troy."
"It has to be, that's where Troy would always take Gabriella." Jason whispered to Kelsey.
"Gabi." Ryan whispered to himself.
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"Troy what are we going to do?" Gabi whispered, keeping her tears at bay.
"Shh." Troy kept moving forward. Finally they had made it to their secret spot. Troy sat Gabi down and started to examine her.
Troy was franticly looking over Gabriella's body .
"Troy it's not my blood."
These words stilled Troy. Tears were finally falling.
Troy jumped up and held her tight.
"I screwed up Troy, I don't know what I'm doing." She cried not making any sense.
"It's going to be ok Gabi, I promise.." He soothed.
"No, Troy..I" She sat up looking him in the eyes.
"I'm pregnant Troy." She stiffened. Not believing she told him this way. She fell into hysterics. Troy's heart beat wildly. He knew it, he had sensed it from the beginning, she had been keeping it from him now for five weeks.
"Gabi shh calm down look at me.." She looked at him with desperate eyes.
"I already knew Gabi."
"You what.." how was that possible? I didn't tell anyone. She thought.
"I already know, I just thought I was wrong so I didn't say anything. Listen to me. I love you, and I'm never going to leave you. You understand. I'm going to be right here." He put his hand in hers, holding it tightly. He leaned into her. "I promise." She wrapped her arms around him, the two holding each other tightly.
"Were going to be a family Gabi" He softly placed his hand on he stomach. She wearily smiled up at him.
They both jumped at the sound of gun shots firing.
Dave looked at the two recent students he just shot. Mocking their begs for mercy. He kicked the foot ball player foot to make sure he was dead.
Eric was on the stairs to the third floor listening to Troy's and Gabriella's conversation. While mike was looking for more students.
Another shot rang out, Mike had found a small band student. The girl knew what was coming and she said a quick prayer before she was shot in the stomach.
Gabriella jumped at yet another loud bang and buried her head in Tory's chest. Troy heard a noise on the stairs and took a few steps back. Gabriella caught on as the two continued to back up and hide in the corner.
"Here Gabi, Gabi ,Gabi.."Eric emerged with a smug smile on his face. " I know your up here, and I know your little secret." Eric looked around the small space.
Gabriella clasped her mouth tightly she almost held her breath. Her eyes were locked with Troy's.
Gabriella's face turned to horror when she was snatched from her hiding place. The crowed below all gasped when the saw what was unfolding.
"GABI!!!" Troy shouted facing Eric who was restraining Gabriella by holding his arm around her neck.
Everyone heard the identity of one of the students on the roof and all of Gabriella's and Troy's friends gasped.
"LET HER GO!!!" Troy demanded.
"Say you last words lover boy." Eric sang.
"NO!" Gabriella screamed. "Please I'll go with you just please don't hurt him. I'll do what ever you want." She pleaded in desperation.
"No Gabi." Troy said with a horse voice.
Mike emerged behind Eric. The crowed watched the scene unfold, completely helpless.
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"Get a chopper!" An officer demanded into a cell phone. The negotiator had just arrived.
"What do we have?" The tall nearly bold man named John asked the chief office.
"Typical hostage situation, high school shooting, were not sure of the number of students shot but we know there are possible 10 alive inside the building. Three shots were fire approximately four minutes ago. And one of the three shooters is currently on the roof with two hostages.
"Alright lets try to get some communication and relief for these hostages."
The orders were sent and a plan was in the works.
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"Ahh, what do have here?" Mike laughed. "Gabi's little basketball hero.
Gabriella closed her eyes tears poring out. She was shaking uncontrollably.
Troy saw the stress she was going through and knew it wasn't good for their child.
"Gabi, look at me." Troy said softly. Gabriella opened her eyes locking them with Troy's. "Look just at me. You have to stay calm. You can't let your body get to tense, it's harmful." Troy's words only sent her into hysterics.
"Gabi please listen to me." Troy pleaded with her.
"Shut up or I'll shoot you!" Mike pointed the gun at Troy.
"NO!!" Gabriella cried. "Please!!"
Eric smiled. "No Mike, we could use this to our advantage." Eric smiled Grabbing tightly around Gabriella's upper arm.
"Ow.." She cried.
"Stop, your hurting her!"
"Oh that's not all that I'm going to do to her." Eric laughed. Mike also smirked.
"Grab Troy lets go." Eric told Mike.
Eric shoved Gabriella down the stairs, Mike firmly held the gun to Troy's back as they walked back the classroom where they started.
Dave smirked when he saw who Eric and Mike had.
"Show time." Dave said to himself before joining them in the classroom.
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"Sit down!" Eric shoved Gabriella into the desk. Her abdomen slamming into the corner. She gasped and cried out in pain.
"Gabi!!" Troy started to rush to her.
"Ah,Ah,Ah" Mike had stopped him by grabbing his collar to his polo shirt stopping him dead in his track. Troy looked only at Gabriella.
"You sit too!" Eric demanded pointing the gun at Troy.
"STOP!" Gabriella screamed. She couldn't stand the gun being pointed at Troy.
"Shut up!" Eric slapped her.
"Don't you ever touch her again." Troy shouted.
"Perhaps you would like for me to kill her instead." Eric pointed the gun to her chest.
Gabriella whimpered. Troy was quiet, knowing it would be the only way to get Eric to back off.
"I have so much in store for you my pretty." Eric whispered in her ear. Her eyes grew wide. Eric withdrew the gun from her chest.
"Please, just let Troy go, please." Gabriella said as convincing as she could.
"ugh you two make me sick." Eric shouted angrily. He was infatuated with Gabriella and wanted her all to himself.
------
"We have information on Eric and were still waiting on mike and Dave's info."
"What have you got?"
"We searched Eric's room, you wouldn't believe the stuff we found. One of the hostages. Gabriella Montez.. He's got pictures of her everywhere. Walking to school, at school, in her room, getting dressed, this one appears to be at a shopping center and well, this is what I'm guessing is her boyfriend. It's rather personal. It looks like this whole thing is driven by obsession."
"Do we know anything about his back round?"
"His parents are divorced, his father has many domestic violence charges and restraining orders for stalking his mother, His mother was then murdered in 1999 by his father who is now in a Florida prison. He's currently living with his maternal grandparents."
"Well like father like son. We need to find the girl and get her out of there. There's no telling what he'll do to her."
--------------
"Do you love him!" Eric shouted in Gabriella's face. The look of rage on his face.
Troy looked at Gabriella, praying nothing bad would come from this.
"DO. YOU. LOVE. HIM.?" He shouted loader.
Gabriella tensed, she held herself. She looked to Troy for help.
"Yes" Her heart beat wildly.
Troy looked at Eric with horror. The look on Eric's face was indescribable.
"AHHHHHH" Eric shouted. Putting his fist to his forehead. He was losing it.
He snapped his attention to Gabriella. Her stomach turned. He grabbed her arm pulling her from the desk. Once again her stomach slamming into the edge of the desktop.
She cried out and slouched wrapping her arm around her waist.
"Gabi!" Tory jumped out of his seat reaching out for her. Mike came up beside him. "It would be wise of you to sit still my friend" Mike held the gun to Troy's head. Gabriella caught a glimpse of it and screamed.
"No! Troy!!" She swiftly moved, but Eric was faster. Wrapping a tight grip around her waist.
"Ah." She cried out in pain. "Please don't I'm."
"Pregnant, yes I know, to bad though." Eric started to repeatedly slam his fist into Gabriella's abdomen.
"Stop." She said in-between blows.
Troy was screaming for Eric to stop. From outside people could hear the horror unfolding.
Troy's adrenalin kicked in and he quickly twisted Mikes arm and knocked the gun out of his hand. He punched him in the face, breaking his nose. He tripped him making him slam onto the tile floors that were reinforced with concrete. Thus knocking Mike out. Troy quickly grabbed the gun, pointing it at Eric.
"Let her go now!!!" Troy shouted. Eric stopped beating on Gabriella and let her go. She feel to the floor.
Eric began to laugh at Troy's attempt to save her.
"Gabi, please try to make it over to me." Troy said tenderly.
"I can't, I can't move. It hurts Troy." She cried. "It's hurt's so bad."
Troy was struck with horror. Oh god please no' he begged.
Troy felt something sticking into his back.
"Drop the gun Troy.' Dave laughed. "Or I'll kill you." Troy slowly move closer to the desk and placed the gun on the hard surface.
Eric laughed and snatched Gabriella to her feet. She screamed bloody murder, the pain was so intense.
Troy was frozen. Dave kept the gun to his back.
Eric pushed Gabriella into a large storage closet, throwing her down to the floor. Tears were flowing from pain and fear.
The door was slammed shut and Gabriella was screaming and pleading on the other side. Troy was raging inside there was nothing he could do. Dave reached for the other gun when he felt Troy try to make a move and pointed it at his head.
"Make another move and I will not hesitate to put a bullet in your head." Dave stated sharply.
"Eric please don't please." Eric was forcefully pulled her dress up.
"I'm going to make you love me, your going to me mine.!"
"No" She cried. Troy cried as he could her the love of his life scream in pain as Eric raped her. His blood was boiling.
Gabriella fell silent and Helplessness consumed Troy. He didn't protect her, he just let this happen to her. And he was forced to hear it all. Troy thought of Gabriella's beautiful face and imagined her holding their little baby. Then he just snapped.
He swung his leg backwards kicking Dave in the groin then kicked both guns out of his hand, in and instant he grabbed both guns and shot Dave in the stomach.
Troy then went over to the closet and busted the door open. Pulling Eric off Gabriella and throwing him several feet away and before Eric could react Troy shot him in the shoulder, Demobilizing him. Troy turned his attention on Gabriella taking his shirt off putting it over top her dress and gently lifted her in his arms. Gun still in hand, he carried her out of the room.
"If your still hiding, come on were getting out of here!!" Troy yelled out. Student's started to emerge and join Troy.
"Is she ok?" A ninth grader asked softly.
"No." Troy said with a horse voice.
"Come on you guys."
They came to the steps and halted at the chain link fence the was chained shut.
"Cover your ears he said to everyone. He leaned against the wall to balance Gabriella covering her right ear as her left was against his chest.
He shot the lock and the other students pushed the gate open.
Finally Troy reached the main doors and took a deep breath.
"It's Troy right?" The same ninth grader asked.
"Yeah." He said distant.
"She's bleeding" The young girl looking back at the trail of blood as did the other students and Troy.
"Oh god!" Troy rushed out the doors the crowd erupting.
"PLEASE HELP!!!" Troy shouted.
Ryan, Sharpay, Kelsey, Jason, Taylor and Chad all panicked when they saw Troy carrying Gabriella, screaming for help. Gabriella was covered in blood.
EMS rushed over to the group. Troy placed a lymph Gabriella on the stretcher. He then noticed how white her face was and how the color from her lips was completely faded. She was faintly breathing.
"Was she shot?"
"No.What s wrong with her."
"She's lost a lot of blood. We have to get her to the hospital. Called the trauma chopper now!"
The helicopter was there in not time and they quickly wheeled her over to it. Troy followed never letting go of Gabriella's hand.
"Please I need to go with her!" Troy shouted.
"Are you family?"
Family' Troy froze at the word.
"Ah yes! Yes I am."
"Alright come on then."
------
Troy was forced to sit in the waiting room while Gabriella was sent to the trauma unit. Maria. Gabriella's mother was sitting with Troy, they were gripping onto each others hands. It had been 3 agonizing hours.
The gang busted through the doors. A million questions flying. But Troy just looked at them blankly. Unable to think about anything but Gabi.
"Hey man, I thought you could uses these." Chad handed Troy the pile of clothes. Troy rushed to the bathroom to change and clean the blood off of him. He was as fast as the speed of lightning and tossed his old clothes in the garbage can on the way out the door.
He almost collided with the nurse coming out the door.
"Montez?"
"Here!" Troy almost shouted, forgetting he was right next to her. Maria popped up and rushed over. Troy's friends staying behind.
"You can come back and see her now. She had lost a lot of blood, and I'm afraid she lost the baby."
Troy and Maria exchanged a look of sorrow, then headed back to Gabriella's room.
She was hooked to an IV and a heart monitor and another machine Troy had never seen before.
She was awake, and looked so afraid.
"Gabi." Troy rushed to her.
"Troy?" Her voice was horse.
"I'm here." He grabbed her hand.
"Troy.the baby." a tear fell down her cheek.
"Shh.it's ok Gabi." He brushed her hair back with his hand.
A/N Thank you so much for the reviews!