Chapter 1

Gabriella sniffed. She didn't want to be here. She didn't belong here. And she didn't deserve to be here. She was in a prison cell for being accused of murdering her own mother. She knew it happened but she had never broken the rules. She was crying because she was scared. Scared about her son, Zack. He had been the result of her being raped when she was sixteen but she loved him to bits.

The door opened but she didn't look up, just kept on staring at the reddening sky. 'Are you okay?' A soft voice asked.

Gabriella shook her head, hugging her knees to her chest.

The door closed and footprints got closer. 'Do you need anything?'

Gabriella looked up at the police officer standing in her cell. He was really good looking with a mop of brown-blonde hair but Gabriella hardly noticed. 'I need my medication.' She whispered through tears.

The officer sat on the bed. 'Why do you need medication?'

Gabriella noticed that his badge said 'Troy Bolton'. 'I have cancer. And I need to make sure my Zack's okay. Even if I'm stuck in here, I need to know he's okay.'

'Ms. Montez,' Troy started softly. 'I don't believe you did this but it's just procedure. Who's Zack?'

'He's my son. He's staying at his godparents'.'

'Do you need any medication tonight?' Troy asked.

Gabriella shook her head.

'Well, tomorrow, what will happen is this: you'll be able to go home but I, being the officer in charge of this case, will have to stay with you and keep an eye on you. It's just standard procedure.' Troy explained.

Gabriella nodded, turning her gaze back to the window.

'Would you like to call your son?' Troy offered.

Gabriella looked at Troy and shook her head. 'I need to tell him in person and it would be too hard knowing I was here and he was there.'

'You can see him tomorrow, I promise. And I'll find who did it.' Troy assured her.

'Why are you so sure I didn't do it?' Gabriella questioned, looking at him an resting her cheek on her knee.

'I've seen lots of cases in the two years I've worked here. I know what criminals are like. For one thing, I've never seen a criminal who cries the second they step foot in here and I've never seen a criminal do worried about their children.'

Gabriella laughed slightly and let her feet touch the floor and she ran a hand over her face. 'I really shouldn't be laughing right now.'

'Hey, keep smiling and I promise you'll be fine.' Troy stood up and turned around to face Gabriella. 'And don't worry about Zack. I called his godparents a few minutes ago and Mrs. Danforth said he was awake for twent seven minutes asking about his Mummy before he fell asleep.' He smiled and left the room.

Gabriella opened the door and stepped inside, closely followed by Troy who carried a small suitcase and a duffel bag. She slipped her shoes off and closed the door once Troy was inside. 'Just leave your shoes by mine and I'll show you to the spare room.'

Troy nodded. He followed her instructions and started up the stairs behind Gabriella. She walked down the hall and opened the door. 'Thanks. Usually, my clients make me sleep on the couch.'

Gabriella smiled weakly. 'I'd make my son sleep on the couch. I'm not that cruel and I do want to be signed off as innocent.' She grinned as he placed his bags on the floor.

Troy turned around to face her. 'You'd be signed innocent anyway. So, when do I get to meet Zack?'

Gabriella leaned against the wall, folding her arms across her chest. 'Taylor and Chad are coming around for lunch so, in about twenty minutes.' She turned and walked out of the room, heading to the bathroom. She opened the cupboard and slipped two pills into her mouth. She walked back out and walked straight into Troy.

He saw she was going to fall and he wrapped his arms around her waist, steadying her. 'Are you okay?'

Gabriella opened her eyes and smiled up at Troy. 'Fine. Do you want something to drink? And you can let go of my waist now.'

Troy blushed, released his hands and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. 'Can I just have a cup of coffee?'

Gabriella headed back downstairs. 'We don't have coffee. My Mum banned it from the house after my first cup.' She went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water.

Troy leaned against the counter, folding his arms and one leg over the other casually. 'Why?'

'It was like having a kangaroo in the house.' Gabriella laughed.

'So you get hyper off coffee?' Troy smirked.

Gabriella rolled her eyes. 'Don't tell me you're one of the people who drink coffee for the caffeine in the morning?'

Troy held his hand up. 'Guilty.'

Suddenly, the front door opened. 'Mummy!'

Gabriella turned and knelt down with her arms wide open. 'Oh, sweetheart!' She squeezed him tightly, burying her head into his shoulder.

Zack started to squirm and she pulled back and ruffled his hair, crying. 'Mummy, you're crying.'

Gabriella smiled at him and stroked his cheek. 'I know. But, Mummy's just being silly.' She stood up and rested him on her hip. 'Where's Auntie Taylor and Uncle Chad?'

'Chad Danforth is in the house!' A voice shouted.

Gabriella rolled her eyes and looked up to see her friend who was like a brother, Chad. He had a wild afro and had dark skin but he was sweet. 'Chad, shut up and give me some love.'

Chad grinned and hugged her, not squashing Zack. He pulled back and noticed Troy. 'Who're you?'

A dark skinned woman walked in, Taylor, and whacked him over the head. 'Don't be rude.'

Troy laughed. 'Don't worry. I'm Troy Bolton. I'm the officer in charge of Gabriella's case. I've just got to stay here a while until the court hearing in a month.'

Taylor shot a Gabriella a look and mouthed. 'He's cute.'

'Oh, don't start.' Gabriella said out loud but quickly covered her mouth.

Troy raised his eyebrows. 'What are you talking about?'

Gabriella shook her head. 'Nothing. Nevermind.' She looked at Zack when he poked her arm. 'Hey, mister, what did I tell you about poking me?'

Zack smiled innocently but looked at Troy. 'Who's he?'

'I'm Troy. I'll be staying here for a while to make sure your Mummy's okay.' Troy said, ruffling Zack's hair like Gabriella did.

'Are you and Mummy going to get married?' Zack asked innocently.

Gabriella blushed. 'No. Now, go and watch some TV. I'll make some dinner.' She placed Zack on the floor and he toddled off with Chad following. 'Go an make sure Chad sits on the couch and not the coffee table.

Taylor smiled. 'Come on. You've got to love him.'

'I love him. Just not when he breaks my coffee table.' Gabriella smiled and Taylor left her alone with Troy.

'Chad seems cool.' Troy stated.

'He's a bit weird. And he still owes me a coffee table. But, he's like my brother and I love him.' Gabriella replied, grabbing some stuff out of the fridge to make some sandwiches.

Troy chuckled. 'Zack seems really protective of you.' He said seriously.

Gabriella sighed deeply, buttering some bread. 'It comes with the territory I guess. He's been the only guy in this house since he was born and he has always been the one I found comfort out of.'

Troy smiled. 'You know, I will find who did that to your Mum.'

Gabriella nodded as she added the fillings. 'It's just hard. One second having the perfect life and then the next being accused of murdering my own mother. Who does that?'

'People do. It's happened a lot.'

Gabriella cut some sandwiches into small pieces and put it to the side. 'I've got to ask this, do you want me to call you Mr. Bolton or Troy?'

Troy smiled at her innocence. 'Troy when we're here. Mr. Bolton in HQ.'

Gabriella handed two plates of cheese sandwiches to Troy. 'Can you give those to Taylor and Chad?'

'Sure.' Troy took the plates and walked into the lounge.

Gabriella took the other three plates and followed. She handed one to Troy who sat down on the spare couch. She, then, handed the plate with small sandwiches to Zack who was sat on the floor. He immediately started to gobble them down. 'Careful, Zack.' She warned as she sat next to Troy.

'Sorry, Mummy.' He said through mouthfuls of food.

Gabriella rolled her eyes. 'Sorry, Troy, he usually has manners.' She gently nudged him in the back with her foot.

Troy chuckled. 'He's eating sandwiches. Let him be. I've met worse kids. Much, much worse.'

'How? What did they do?' Chad asked eagerly.

Taylor threw a piece of cheese at him. 'Don't ask that.'

'That could've gone into my afro.' Chad warned eating the cheese which made Gabriella gag.

'Well, it didn't.' Taylor retorted.

Gabriella smiled at Troy. 'I'm sorry. It's just they love Zack so much and Chad's the closest he has to a Dad.'

'No worries.' Troy said, somewhat jealous of Chad.