Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 3: Meet Troy Bolton

Everyone stood still and stared at each other. The only thing that could be heard was Gabi's occasional sob, and Troy telling her that it was okay. Sharpay suddenly groaned and ran to Gabi, engulfing her in the biggest hug they'd ever shared. "Boo, where have you been I've been out of my mind with worry?"

Gabi let out a little sob before pulling away and throwing herself back into Troy's arms, which inwardly confused both of them since she had such a problem trusting him earlier. "Why don't you let us in."? Troy suggested as he picked Gabi up bridal style. She was still sobbing in his arms. He entered the apartment and was faced with a new problem. "Which one?" he asked, referring to the four doors. When no one responded he asked again, only more forcefully. This time Kelsi jumped and opened the door for him that led to Gabi's room. He nodded his thanks and went to set her down on the bed.

"I'm sorry, but who the hell do you think you are? Bossing us around like that." Taylor demanded defensively.

"Troy Bolton." Troy answered without even glancing at her. He walked into her adjoining bedroom and picked up a washcloth, he then soaked in cold water. "Two Tylenol and a glass of ice water." He looked towards Kelsi again, who ran off to get what he requested.

The police officer was now aggravated; he didn't understand what he was even doing here now. "You know him?" he asked Sharpay. She shook her head no as she went to sit on the edge of her best friends bed.

Kelsi handed Gabi the Tylenol, who took them with the water as Troy gently wiped her tears away with the wet washcloth as he rocked her and told her it would all be okay.

Finally the police officer stepped forward. "Okay sweetheart," he began referring to Gabi, "you can't just run off and cause a scene like that doll. Cause you waste my time honey. Understand?" When Gabi didn't respond and just sunk into Troy's arms even more he yelled, "Understand?" She whimpered and Troy got up from his place on the bed.

"She's got it. We'll be down at the police station tomorrow morning to file a report as to what actually happened tonight. And I want a different officer on the case. Understand?" Troy demanded and mocked. "Out." With that he led the officer out of the apartment. Suddenly his phone began vibrating in his pocket, he pulled it out. "What?" He yelled as Gabi got up from the bed and went running to Troy, who swiftly wrapped his arms around her. "Sure Zeke, it's on the second floor, apartment 4." He hung up and turned to Gabi, "Zeke wants to make sure you're okay, he's coming up El, Chad and Jason went on home." Gabi nodded her understanding and smiled weakly at Troy, who kissed her forehead.

"Okay, I think it's time someone explained what the hell is going on here." Sharpay said with a small laugh. There was a knock at the door. She turned to answer it and admitted a very handsome dark skinned man, about her own age.

"I'm Zeke Baylor." He stuck out his hand to Sharpay, who accepted it and replied, "Sharpay Evans". The two smiled and shook hands until Taylor said,

"That's enough lovebirds, you now know each other's names." Kelsi sniggered at Taylor's wisecrack. Both Sharpay and Zeke blushed as Zeke made his way over to Gabi.

"You okay Brie?" He asked softly. She nodded from her place in Troy's strong arms and yawned. "I think it's past someone's bed time." He lightly joked and Gabi just nodded.

She stood on her tiptoes and whispered into Troy's ear, "Can you stay?" He nodded and led her back to her room where he tucked her in bed after she changed.

"I'll be right back baby." He kissed her temple and walked into the living room. "Dude, I'm going to crash with Ella. I'll be by tomorrow morning early to change though, and I'll be there for lunch as usual." They did a quick man handshake and Zeke said his goodnights and left. "Okay, I'll quickly explain to you patient ladies," he tossed a glance at a VERY annoyed Taylor, "what happened tonight."

Troy explained about he and his friends were walking home from, apparently, the same club the girls had been at earlier to see Gabi come running out. He explained about her reluctant walk home, and then told them what had been said before the door open revealing them. The girls sat in a shocked silence as tears streamed down their faces, thinking about how they almost lost their best friend to some psycho who was still looking for her. Suddenly screaming came from Gabi's room.

Troy was the first one in there, he gently shook her awake from her nightmare and she began sobbing hysterically in his arms remembering, and creating the unknown details, of what had happened that night in her dreams. "I have to get away from him. I don't want the same thing to happen again!" she wailed. After about five minutes she calmed down and Troy crawled into the bed with her.

Sharpay, Taylor, and Kelsi watched on as this stranger calmed Gabi down and got her to sleep again by just holding her. The quietly left the room, leaving the door open just in case and decided to turn in after a very long night.

The next morning Gabi got up with two strong arms wrapped protectively around her waist. She looked over to see Troy Bolton next to her. She smiled and carefully slid out of his grip. She went over to her closet and chose a white fancier sundress with gold stilettos and went to take a shower. When she came out of the bathroom 20 minutes later, dressed and ready to go she saw Troy smiling from the edge of her bed. "Morning." She greeted him with a smile.

"Morning beautiful." He smirked when she blushed. "I'm going to head home, I've got to shower and change. You should come with me. I bet Zeke's cooking an amazing breakfast."

Gabi smiled and said, "How can I turn Zeke down?" she smirked at the look on his face and said, "Let me just get my stuff together for work." He nodded and got his pants, shoes and shirt back on.

Gabi walked into the kitchen to find Sharpay, Kelsi, and Taylor sipping on coffee. Pouring her cup of coffee she said, "Morning ladies, I'm going with Troy to his apartment. Apparently Zeke's cooking breakfast. I'll see you ladies for lunch. Rooftop?" She asked

"What was Zeke's last name again?" Sharpay asked, a thoughtful look on her pretty face.

"Baylor." Troy said coming into the kitchen and wrapping his arms around Gabi's waist.

"He doesn't own that little café across the street from our office building does he?" Sharpay asked

"Depends." Troy responded, "Where do ya'll work?" He asked

"Davis Building." All four responded.

"Then yup, he does. You should join us for lunch. The four of us eat there everyday." He offered "Jason, Chad, and I work in the Davis Building. We normally meet outside my office on the 24th floor if you want to join us."

"No kidding." Gabi gasped, "I work on the 24th floor at American Spectator. Do you work at ESPN?" She asked. When he nodded she giggled, "What a coincidence." He just smiled at her.

"What do say ladies, wanna meet these guys for lunch?" Sharpay asked. It was agreed that they'd meet there at 12:15 on the 24th floor.

"Someone might have to get Gabs though, she tends to lose track of time." Kelsi piped up

"Oh I don't think she'll forget this, it involves Troy." Taylor shot back. Only to receive a glare from Gabi, who was blushing furiously.

Troy and Gabi left her apartment building and walked hand-in-hand to his apartment around the corner. They made their way to the 4th floor and into his apartment. "I'm going to shower quickly. Zeke'll feed you." He gave her a quick peck on the kiss as Zeke laid out a scrumptious looking breakfast in front of her.

"Eat up, before Chad comes out." He laughed.

"Heard that!" Chad yelled from his bedroom, which caused Zeke, Jason, and Gabi laugh. 20 minutes later they were all heading out the door to their jobs. They got into two cabs and got dropped off in front of the Davis Building, as Zeke made his way across the street to open up the café, the other four made their way to their offices. Chad got off on the 22nd floor, which happened to be where Taylor worked, Troy and Gabi got off on the 24th and Jason continued up to the 28th, where Sharpay and Kelsi's offices were.

Troy walked Gabi into her office, and the two got all kinds of stares as they went over to Gabi's cubicle. "You know Troy, you didn't have to come all this way."

"Yeah, well I might need to get you for lunch, so I might as well know where it is." He joked. She laughed and they shared a sweet kiss before Troy headed to the door calling over his shoulder, "I'll be back around 12."

"See ya then Bolton." Gabi responded to his retreating figure with a laugh. When he was gone, she looked around at the people around her who were staring. "What?" she asked. They all laughed and her friend Elizabeth came over to sit in her cubicle next to Gabi.

"Nice score G. He your boyfriend?" She asked

"Yeah, I guess so." Gabi responded with a small smile.

"How long have you known each other?" Elizabeth asked curiously

"We met last night. He saved me actually." She smiled and then shivered, remembering that Troy had said after work they would go down to the police station to file a rape and kidnapping charge.

AN: Okay, I think I'm done for the day with In the Blink of an Eye. But I hope you like it, I'm kind of proud of it! Review please!

Mollie XOXO