Troy's head was spinning. He'd just had the most amazing night of his life with a girl he thought he knew he was in love with. Gabriella was lying sleeping on her side, her hands underneath her head. She was curled up, her dainty little feet tucked up. He'd fallen in love with an angel…

6 hours before

"Troy, before we do this, there's something I have to tell you."

Troy pulled away from the passionate embrace, and sat up on the bed. Gabriella followed suit and pulled away, and sat on her heels, looking ashamed.

"I should have told you when we started becoming close. I should have told you weeks ago when you fell out with Holly. I should have-,"

"Gabs, what is it?" Troy interrupted

"It's a long story; it's going to take a while."

"We've got all night."

Gabriella took a deep breath in.

"It all started when I was fourteen. I had two best mates, Kelsie and Abi. Abi was a cheerleader, and Kelsie was the best pianist in the school, we did everything together, shopping, sleepovers, make-overs, just hanging out. All the girly stuff. Then Abi got a boyfriend, Ryan, and they were so cute together, always together, and Kelsie and I felt like we were losing her. We tried everything, more shopping, more sleepovers, water parks, stuff like that. But we couldn't prise them apart. They belonged to each other.

We realized that to get back in with her, we'd have to include him. But he wouldn't want to hang out with three girls. So we knew what we had to do. We needed boyfriends. But they couldn't be just anyone; they had to be friends with Ryan. It was easy for Kelsie, everyone liked her, but guys liked me because I was rich, and they all wanted Ferraris. There was this one guy, Hugh. He seemed to really like me. And, it sounds weird, but after a few hours, I was in love with him. So it was us six, me, Hugh, Kelsie, Zeke, Abi and Ryan. We did everything, clubbing all that. Then me and Hugh got…really serious," Gabriella looked at Troy, biting her lip. Troy nodded, he knew what she meant

"But my parents hated him. I knew they would, I mean, what parents want their fourteen-year-old daughter sleeping with someone? But I wouldn't listen. Hugh was old enough to move out from his parents' house, so he bought a flat. And he asked me to move in with him. Well I couldn't wait, I packed my Gucci boots and my DKNY jackets," Gabriella laughed "And I left. I got a limo round to Hugh's flat, and we finally lived together. It was great, we had housewarming parties, we went out for meals with the gang, and everything was fantastic, but still fairly normal, except we didn't have to worry about parents. Two months later, I found out I was pregnant. I couldn't risk losing Hugh, so I asked him what he wanted to do about it. He was over the moon, and starting buying so many babies clothes-on my credit card- and equipment and stuff like that. He set out a special diet for me so that the baby was as healthy as possible, and we were great.

"One night the gang asked if I wanted to go clubbing with them. I was four months pregnant, so I decided to give it a miss. Hugh went out, and got drunk. When he came back, staggering, I was annoyed. My hormones were all over the place and I felt like he was flaunting the fact I couldn't drink in my face. So I had a go at him. He turned on me.

"He spat in my face, and called me all sorts of names. He slapped me across the face for cheeking him, and then he kicked me. He kicked me again and again, until I was on the bed, writhing in pain. He hit my stomach over and over again. Suddenly I was wet. I knew what was happening. My baby was dead." Gabriella's voice shook and she started crying, and Troy reached for her hand. She let him take it, and he pulled her into a hug

"He was shocked and took me straight to hospital. When we knew for sure the baby was dead, he burst into tears. The nurse thought he was grieving. I knew he just felt guilty. When we got back to the flat, he got himself a whisky and downed it in one. I went straight to bed, and cried myself to sleep. I was so scared of him hurting me again, but I was too scared to leave him. If he could murder my baby what could he do to me?

"It was months before he beat me again. He was drunk again. He just kept hitting me. I lay still as I could. When he'd finished hitting me, he sobbed and wailed that he was so sorry, I was his baby, and then he'd take my clothes off and "love me". I hated him so much. Then it happened every night. And then about six months later, I was pregnant again. I didn't wait for him to get home from work, I went straight down to the police station, and I told them everything. I showed them the bruises, told them about the "miscarriage" and cried like a baby. Finally someone took me seriously, and arrested Hugh. He was sent to prison for three years. He'd be there now, but he hung himself. Last I'd heard, his inmates beat him up for being a woman-beater. I haven't spoken to Kelsie or Abi since. I couldn't face the bad memories." Gabriella paused and wiped her face

"And the baby?" Troy whispered

"Oh, I gave birth shortly after Hugh died. A baby girl, 5 pounds and seven ounces. Tia Lucy Montez."

"Tia?" Troy asked, astonished

"Tia isn't my sister, she's my little girl. That's what me and my Mum agreed when I moved back home. Everyone would act like Mum had had a surprise baby. Only the servants knew she was my real baby. Dad can't look me in the eye. He acts like I'm a slut, and Mum's doing my head in, acting like Tia's hers, I just want to tell the world she isn't."

"Oh Gabi…" Troy pulled her head against his chest, and kissed the top of it. She had no reason to be ashamed, he loved her more than ever, and now he could add an adjective to the list of kind, funny, smart, beautiful, witty, generous and caring. Brave. After a while, Troy took a deep breath

"So why don't you?"

"What?"

"Why don't you?"

"Why don't I what?"

"Tell the world Tia is your baby."

Gabriella looked at Troy like he was mad

"What?"

"Well why not; do something for you for once."

Gabriella thought about it, and smiled

"Maybe."

She kissed him on the lips

"But there's something else I have to do first," she carried on, kissing him, and undoing her top. Troy stopped her

"Are you sure about this Gabi?"

"Surer than I ever will be."

She smiled, and pushed him over

end of flashback