A/N I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING! I ONLY OWN THIS PLOT! THANKS FOR SUCH A GREAT TURN OUT ON THIS STORY GUYS. HERE IS THE NEXT CHAPTER:

The next morning Troy stirred and opened his eyes. He smiled at Gabriella sleeping on him. He soflty stroked her hair. She stirred at his touch and opened her eyes. It took her a second to realize where she was but then she smiled.

"Morning." She muttered.

"Morning Baby girl. Did you sleep all right."

Gabriella nodded and sat up. Troy lifted his knees so she could lean back against them. Suddenly the memories from last night returned and Gabriella laid back down onto Troy's chest crying.

"It wasn't a dream was it?" she asked.

"What wasn't baby girl?" Troy asked.

"My mother's murderer…"

Troy sighed and hugged her tighter. He had a feeling that's what had happened but he was hoping to be wrong. "No baby, I'm sorry. It wasn't just a dream." Gabriella cried into him as he just held her and let her cry. He knew there wasn't much more he could do for her. He couldn't bring Maria back.

"Just let it out baby. I'm right here. You're ok. It's just you and me no one else. Just you and me."

"Please don't leave me Troy!" Gabriella whimpered.

"I promise. I'll never leave you." Troy kissed her head and she calmed down a little. She sat back up against his legs. He wiped her tears and rubbed her legs.

"Will you be ok coming to school today with me? If not you can stay home with my mom."

"I want to stay with you. Even if I have to go to school."

"Are you sure?"

Gabriella nodded. "Ok, then we need to get dressed."

"Can we go with your dad? I don't want to take the bus."

"Why not?"

"I'm not ready to see the others."

"Ok, why don't you go hope in the shower, I'll go make sure my dad doesn't leave."

Gabriella nodded. She climbed off Troy and went into the bathroom. Troy sighed. It was going to be a rough day for both of them. Troy left and went to talk to his dad.

A few minutes later when he returned Gabriella was already out and dressed.

"That's was fast."

"The water stung."

"All right, well I spoke to my dad, he'll take us but we need to ride the bus back because he is working late."

Gabriella just nodded.

"I'm going to jump in the shower will you be ok?"

Gabriella nodded again.

Troy was starting to worry why she wasn't speak.

"Are you sure?"

Gabriella nodded again.

"Ok, I'll be out real soon."

He went into the bathroom and closed the door. Gabriella rubbed her sore face. The water had actually hurt her to the point she almost cried…but she didn't tell Troy that. He'd just worry. She wasn't too thrilled about the idea of going back to school so soon but she didn't want to be away from Troy. The person who murdered her mother had threatened to kill Troy if she spoke about what happen and she had already lost her mother. She wasn't going to lose Troy too. She sighed and laid down on Troy's bed. Yesterday had been the worst night of her life and she didn't think she'd ever recover from it. She heard the bathroom door open throwing her from her thoughts. Troy came out dressed and ready to go.

He went over to her and stroked her hair.

"You can stay here and sleep. I'll be back in just a few hours. My mom will be here so you aren't alone."

Gabriella shook her head.

"Baby please talk to me."

"I want to stay with you."

"Are you sure because you look really tired. I won't mind if you stay here."

"Stay here…with you?"

"I need to go to school, but you can stay here with my mom."

"Stay with you…."

"OK baby girl. Come on let's go get breakfast."

The two of them went into the kitchen. After eating Troy and Gabriella left with Jack.

School was still pretty empty since Jack had to be in earlier than the rest. Troy was at his locker when a voice screamed "GABRIELLA!" Gabriella whimpered and hid behind Troy. Troy closed his locker and turned keeping Gabriella behind him and putting his hand out to stop the person running toward him.

"Tay stop." Troy said as she got close enough.

"I need to see Gabriella, her house was on the news last night!"

"I know Taylor. I went there and got her. She is really shaken up still, just give her , her space."

"Is she ok?"

"A few cuts and bruises but nothing too series. Her mother is gone though."

"Oh no how?"

"Murdered."

"By who?"

"I don't know. Gabriella won't tell me. She won't talk about it."

"Why is she here? She doesn't seem like she'd be able to focus."

"I doubt she will but she was too scared to be without me so she followed me here."

"Has she spoken?"

"A little last night and some this morning but not since she got out of the shower."

"Poor Gabriella."

"Yeah I'm just hoping to get her through the day."

"If you need anything, I'm here."

"Thanks Taylor."

They three of them headed to homeroom. It went by fast and Gabriella couldn't focus at all. When class was over Troy took Gabriella into his arms. He didn't even bother to ask if she wanted to go to math because he knew she'd say no.

"Are you going to take her to practice with you?" Taylor asked

"Yeah, I think she'll be more comfortable that way."

"Ok I'll see you at lunch."

Troy nodded. He took Gabriella into the gym and set her down on the bleachers.

"Just stay here baby girl. After practice you and I will go get some lunch ok?"

Gabriella only nodded. Troy sighed and kissed her head. She had gone from talking a little to not talking at all. That's what worried him. Gabriella was getting worse and pulling herself further into her shell instead of better.

After practice was over Troy noticed Taylor had come into the gym. He went over to her.

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd take Gabriella to lunch while you shower, that way she isn't alone. I don't think she should be alone right now, not even for a second."

"I agree but Gabriella is a little clingy to me and choosey to everyone else. She won't go with just anyone."

"If she doesn't want to come that's fine. It can't hurt to offer though. Gabriella is my friend and I want to help her."

Troy nodded and the two of them went over to Gabriella.

"Hey Beautiful girl."

Gabriella jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Troy chuckled. "Baby I'm all sweaty let go." He tried to remove her arms but she just whimpered. Troy rubbed her back.

"It's ok baby girl. I just have to go shower and I can't do that with you attached to me."

Gabriella made no movement to show she heard him.

"You can go grab lunch with Taylor. I'll be there real soon."

Finally Gabriella spoke but it wasn't the answer Troy was looking for.

"Don't get rid of me. I love you." She whimpered.

"Baby I love you too. I'm not trying to get rid of you. If I go shower you'll be here in the gym all alone. I figured you'd rather be with friends than alone. "Troy said hugging her tighter.

"Be with you…"

"I have to shower. Then you can be with me."

"You shower already."

"Yes but now I'm all sweaty. I need to take another. It will be a fast one I promise."

Gabriella sighed. He was starting to smell but she was scared of him not being in her sight. She loosened her grip.

"I'll go….lunch…" she muttered.

Troy kissed her head. "Good girl. I love you and I'll meet you in the lunch room."

Gabriella nodded.

"I'll take care of her Troy." Taylor said.

She and Gabriella made their way to the lunch room. Troy ran into the locker room and jumped into the shower.

While that was going on every news stations in the state were getting told their next assignment.

"I want you to find Gabriella Montez and do whatever you have to, to find out what happen inside her house last night. The first station to get the story will be rewarded $10,000 for each member of the team. Now Gabriella will be at school at this time so go get your story!"

Back at the school Gabriella had sat down at the table with the others but not talking or eating. Suddenly she felt arms around her waist. "Hey Beautiful." Troy greeted kissing her ear making her giggle slightly. "Troy…" she said softly. Troy lifted her up and sat down keeping her on his lap.

"Why haven't you eaten anything sweetie?"

"Not hungry."

"Baby you hardly ate anything at breakfast. Just have a few bites. You need to stay healthy."

"Not hungry."

Troy sighed. He put some of his pasta onto his fork. He put the fork to Gabriella's lips.

"Come on baby please."

"Not hungry."

"Gabriella I want you to eat this. Now." Troy said sternly yet softly.

Gabriella sighed. He only called her by Gabriella when he was serious. She opened her mouth and let Troy feed her some of the food. She ate as much as she could. When she was full she buried her face in Troy's shoulder.

"No more…feel sick."

Troy kissed her head. "Ok baby girl. No more."

School went by fast after that. Gabriella was waiting outside with the girls as Troy said goodbye to his father. Suddenly out of no where they girls were blinded by flashing lights. Cameras and microphones were shoved in their faces. Questions were being shouted at them a mile a minute.

"Which one of you is Gabriella?"

"Gabriella what happen to you're mother last night?"

"Gabriella where is the body hidden?"

"Gabriella who attacked you?

"Gabriella what happen to you last night?"

Gabriella went stiff as stone. She wanted to run but the fear paralyzed her. Now she was trapped and had no way to get to Troy. She only hoped Troy hurried up and got outside to save her.

A/N if anyone at any time wants to guess what happen to Gabriella feel free to do so. I will let you know in PM if you get it right. I will say this, she was not raped. It's mostly what happen to her mother and what she saw. Anyway next chapter Gabriella gives her statement and I may tell a little bit more about what happen. For updates and sneak peeks at my future work fan me on face book here: .com/pages/Hopelessromanticgurl/122036234528562