By the next week everything seemingly went back to normal. Troy barely left my side. I didn't ask him to, he was always just there. April and Troy's project was over so he didn't have to hang out with her anymore. She still got on my nerves but I promised myself I wasn't going to loose everything I've worked so hard for. I made new great friends. People aren't really afraid of me anymore. Sharpay is leaving me alone, which is amazing. Everything is okay again.

"Hey baby." Troy said after I walked out of first period. He kissed my lips gently. "How was class?"

"It was alright. Do you leave early so you can meet me outside of my class?" I asked with a small smirk. He nodded shamelessly. I rolled my eyes. "You know you don't have to. You don't have to be with me every second of every day."

Troy shrugged his shoulders, wrapping his arms around me. "I know I don't have to, but I want to." We walked over to my locker. I opened it up, pulling out the books I needed. "I want to because I love you."

I smiled at him as I switched out my books. I closed the locker and leaned up against it. "You know I love you too." Troy wrapped his arms around my waist. "But I don't want you to leave early from class just to walk me to class." I cupped his face kissing his lips. "It has been really sweet seeing you every 50 minutes, so thank you."

He chuckled and kissed my lips gently. "You're welcome, and I love you." I hugged Troy tightly, putting my face in his chest. "I won't walk you to third period if you hang out with me later."

I laughed and shook my head. I laced my fingers in between his. "You can walk me to class AND we can hang out later, but it's going to have to be a study date because I've been behind on my homework."

He nodded. "That's perfectly fine with me babe." He squeezed my hand gently. "Now let's go, were going to be late." Troy walked me to my second class, kissed me and then left.

Lunch rolled around quickly and I was on my way upstairs with my bagged lunch when I saw Troy and April talking. I leaned against the locker and watched them. I decided to get closer just so I could hear what they were saying.

"You're not in love with me April. You don't even know me." Troy said, moving his hands away from hers. "Look, you're a nice girl but I don't like you, I don't have any feelings for you, what so ever."

April pouted. "Why won't you give us a chance?" She ran her hand up his arm slowly. "We would be so good together. Why don't you see that?"

Troy sighed. "Look, I have a girlfriend and I don't like you. I'm very happy with Gabriella. I already fucked up once, I'm not doing it again." Troy turned to leave but April pulled him back and kissed his lips. He pushed her away. "What the fuck April?"

"Tell me you didn't feel anything." She said, looking up at him.

"I didn't feel anything. It was like kissing the Aunt you never liked." Troy said. I had enough of this. I walked up to them, pushing Troy away. "Gabi? What are you doing?" Troy asked just before my fist collided with her nose. I felt pain in my hand and I pushed her down with my other hand. I walked past them and down the next hallway.

"Whoa Gabriella, what are you doing?" Oliver popped up in front of me. I jumped. "Are you okay?"

I flexed my hand a couple times, it hurt. I definitely sprained something. I looked up at Oliver. "I punched your sister in the face. You might want to go check on her." I pushed past him and walked up to the rooftop garden. I walked to the other side of the roof, just past the garden. Nobody ever came to this side. I sat down and pulled my knees to my chest.

I knew I was going to get in trouble. I knew I was going to get into another fight with Troy. I just didn't want to deal with it right now. I couldn't afford another day of weakness. I could already see my hand start to swell. I ate my sandwich with my good hand.

Even though Sharpay and I hated each others guts, we never got violent with each other. I don't know what it was about her that made me snap. I don't know why I resorted to punching her in the face and most importantly I don't know why it felt so good. I didn't regret it, I just wish I handled it differently. I heard my phone buzzing in my purse. I picked it up and turned it off, not bothering to look at any of the messages.

"Gabi? Gabi!" I heard Taylor yelling. "Gabriella! Are you up here? God, what is she doing?" I froze, praying she wouldn't find me. "Shit! Troy, she isn't up here." I heard the door close and I let out my breath.

The pain in my hand was getting unbearable. I knew I had to go to the doctors, but I knew if I left then somebody was bound to find me. I'd just have to wait until lunch was over. I heard the bell ring about 10 minutes later. I sat there for a little while longer until the second bell rang. I got up, grabbing my things. I walked down the stairs, I hit my hand on the railing and I felt the tears prick my eyes. God, it hurt like a bitch. I walked towards the Gym, I saw Coach closing the door to the boys locker room.

"Coach!" I called out. I ran over to him.

"What are you doing Miss Montez?" Coach shut the door behind him.

I held up my hand. "I think I broke my hand. I punched a girl in the face at lunch and I know it was wrong I just had a lapse of judgment and now it hurts like a bitch and I have to go. I just needed to let somebody know. I'm going to leave, Just tell the office and not anybody else okay? This day is turning into shit and I'm tired." I let out a sob. "And I just want to go home. Okay? I don't know if I'll see you tomorrow."

Coach Miller's face softened and he pulled me into a hug. "It's alright Gabriella. Just go to the doctor and get your hand looked at. I'll let the office know, don't worry about it." He said quietly as i pulled away from him.

I wiped the tears from my cheeks. "Thank you Coach." I said quietly before sprinting to my car. I hopped in the car and drove to the hospital quickly.

I spent the rest of the school day at the hospital. I got a bright orange cast on my hand. My dad stopped by for a minute but he had something to go do so, I drove myself home with my lunky cast. I parked in my drive way and went straight upstairs. I had to work today but I called in sick.

My dad came upstairs a little after I got home. I was looking out my windows and pulling my legs against my chest. "Hey Gab." Dad asked, looking at me. I glanced at him briefly before looking out the window. I wiped a tear running down my cheek with my good hand. "What are you doing?" He asked quietly.

I let out a breath. "I don't know. You know, at least four different people asked me that today and the answer is I have no fucking clue anymore. I thought I have high school figured out. I thought I had Love figured out. I thought I had myself figured out, but I don't." I let out a shaky laugh. "I have no idea what I'm doing and that scares the shit out of me."

Dad walked over to me and sat down on the bed next to me, looking out the window like I was. "You're seventeen. You're not supposed to have anything figured out." Dad said, wrapping his arm around me. "These last couple months you've changed. You've matured. I rarely get calls from your school, you don't party a lot. I can see you stopped smoking whatever you were smoking." My eyes grew. "Don't think I didn't know. I knew. I was just like you."

I gave him a small laugh. "I find that hard to believe."

Dad chuckled with me. "I would too now but that's what these years are for. Drink until you throw up. Smoke all the weed you want to. Be a kid because when you step into the real world me and your mom won't always be here to catch you when you fall." I looked away from him. "I know you don't want to hear it but it's true. I'm telling you now so you don't have to learn the hard way like I did."

I leaned my head against him. "I feel like it's not important to me any more. I don't have to smoke weed or drink a lot. I just want my relationship back."

My father rubbed my back slowly. "Maybe you started to grow up and he didn't and that's okay Gabi. It really is. I know you love him and you won't give up on him easily. Now is the time to reevaluate what you need Gabi, it's better to realize it now then in a couple of months." Dad kissed the top of my head. "Do you want a milkshake?"

I nodded and had a soft smile on my face. "Yes, please."

"I'll go make you one. You should lay down, you had a rough day." I did as I was told and climbed under the covers. "We can talk when I get back."

"Thank you daddy. You always know how to make me feel a little better." He smiled at me and kissed my forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too princess." Dad closed the door behind him and I pulled out my phone. I turned it on and let all the incoming text messages come in. I pressed Taylor's number into my phone and called her. She answered after the first ring.

"Gabriella Montez. Where the fuck have you been?" She said.

"I drove myself to the hospital after lunch. I broke my hand on April's face." I said quietly, pulling up "I have a bright orange cast."

She laughed a little bit. "That's not funny but it's funny. Troy has been shitting himself."

"Why?" I was afraid to ask.

"Maybe because his crazy girlfriend punched some bitch in the face and disappeared!" Taylor yelled dramatically. I rolled my eyes to myself. "Are you okay Gabi, Really?"

I sighed. "I don't know anymore."

She was quiet for a second. "I'll come over if you need me to." Taylor said softly. "If you need to talk Gab, I'll always be here for you."

"Thanks Tay. I appreciate it, but I'm okay for today. I'll see you tomorrow." I said quietly. "I'll be okay, pass the message on."

She sighed. "Alright. Love ya, Gab."

"Love you too." I said before I hung up. I looked through all of my texts and sighed. "I guess I better call him." I dialed Troy's number and waited for him to answer.

"Hello?" Troy answered his phone.

"Hi, Troy." I said quietly.

"Gabi." He breathed out. "Are you okay? Coach told me you went to the hospital."

Damn coach. "I'm okay. I broke my hand."

He sighed. "Why did you do that Gab? She kissed me and I pushed her away. I wish you would have let me explain."

"It wouldn't have mattered Troy! Girls are relentless and I know because I was that girl when you were with Sharpay. Sure I never kissed you while you and Sharpay were still together but I know what she's thinking." I said. "I am going to apologize to her tomorrow."

Troy was quiet. "Good. You should. I don't want to be with you when you're like this Gabi."

I raised my eyebrows. "When I'm like what Troy?"

"Jealous Gab. You have nothing to be jealous off." Troy said.

I felt my anger bubble up. "I'm not just jealous Troy! I'm pissed the fuck off because this bitch just waltzed in here and ruined a very good relationship. If you don't want to be with me anymore just say it and don't beat around the fucking bush, pulling this jealousy bullshit. I've been jealous since before we've been together because I wanted you so bad." I paused for a second. "I thought you felt the same way about me, but I'm just the crazy girlfriend now."

Troy groaned in frustration. "That's not even what I'm saying."

I gritted my teeth. I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself down. "Maybe we weren't what we thought we were. I just want you to be happy Troy and I don't know if you are anymore. I guess I have to let you go."

"Baby, come on. Please don't do this." Troy said softly.

I bit my bottom lip to keep it from quivering. "I love you Troy. I'm sorry." I said quietly before I hung up the phone.

My dad knocked on the door and walked in with a milkshake. "Here you go Gabi, we can talk later if you want to."

I tried to blink away the tears. "Can you just stay here please? I don't want to be alone right now." I said quietly. Dad set the milkshake down and climbed in my bed. He wrapped his arms around me tightly. I let the tears fall down my cheeks slowly. "Talk to me about something. Anything."

"Okay… Let's see." He rubbed my back slowly and thought for a moment. "Well I remember one time in high school, I was going out with this girl. Her name was Jackie. I was a senior and she was a sophomore." I raised my eyebrows and looked up at him. "I know, your dad was a pimp."

I burst out in giggles, wiping away my tears. "Please dad, never say that again."

"Don't hate the player Gabi, hate the game." Dad said, looking down at me. I couldn't help but laugh. I covered my face in his chest. "Why are you laughing? You know you have a cool dad. I'm down."

I shook my head, giggling. "Get out of my room." I joked. He was about to get up and I pulled him back. "I was kidding. Continue with the story."

"Jackie and I were dating and she dumped me for a freshman." I made a face at him. "I realized that I was ready for someone more serious, but I wasn't sure that I would find it in high school. When I met your mom in college, I knew. I knew she was the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. It's okay to be single Gab. You don't need a boyfriend for you to be happy. I know it sucks now, but it will get better." He handed me the milkshake. "Drink up. It's melting."

"Thanks dad, for everything." I said quietly, putting the straw in my mouth.

"Anytime baby girl." He got up and walked out of the door, closing it behind him.

I sighed and drank my milkshake alone in my quiet room. I heard tapping on my balcony door. I got up and opened the door with my good hand. "Hi." I said quietly, letting Troy into my room. I closed the door behind him. "Why are you here?"

"Because we need to talk." Troy said, looking at me. I avoided eye contact. I took another drink of my milkshake before putting it down on my bedside table. I climbed under my blanket, pulling it up to my chin. "I heard your dad in here so I waited until he left."

Troy sat down on my bed next to me. "I feel like we've just been talking in circles. I don't think I am actually over what happened at that party to be honest." I said quietly.

"You should have told me that before you broke your hand." Troy said, reaching over for my cast. I let him knock on my cast before he gave my hand back.

I shrugged. "Bones heal, I don't know if we will."

Troy sighed. "You were the most confident person I've ever met and god, I feel like shit that I made you like this. I didn't mean for any of that to happen. Nothing was intentional."

"But it still happened. I may have been strong on the outside but I have always been an insecure little girl on the inside." I looked away from him. "Now that it's resurfacing, I don't know if I want to be the crazy, insecure girlfriend. I don't want to be that. I just don't know how to get back to the way I was."

Troy reached over for my good hand and he kissed my knuckles. "I want to help you. We can get through this together."

"I don't want to hurt you Troy. That is the last thing I want to do, I want you to be happy but I don't know how to be without you. You're my best friend." I pulled his hand closer to me. He got up and sat next to me.

"I am going to help you whether I am your boyfriend or just your friend. I'll be here for you, I only want to be with you Gabriella, but if you need time then that is fine with me. So I'm going to give you some time to decide if you want to be single or in a relationship. I'll be okay with either one as long as you're happy." He leaned down and kissed my lips gently. "I love you, I'll just be a phone call away if you need me." He went to get up.

I pulled him back to me and I kissed his lips firmly. "Stay for a little while longer." I whispered against his lips. I laid him down and locked my bedroom door. I walked over to Troy and pulled his shoes off with my good hand. I crawled on top of him and kissed his lips firmly.

Troy wrapped his arms around my waist holding me against his lap. I licked his bottom lip gently and he parted his lips. I brushed my tongue along his, holding on to the back of his hair. I rolled off him, nipping at his bottom lip as I pulled away. I laid down and pulled him on top of me. I covered us with blankets. My fingers moved under his shirt. "Gabi." Troy said breathlessly as I kissed down his neck slowly.

I pulled away from him and looked up at him. "I want you to make love to me." His body tensed up and he opened his mouth to protest. "Please?" I asked quietly. I was answered by his lips crushing mine. I pulled his shirt off and rubbed his abs slowly.

Our clothes were discarded and Troy looked down at me. I kissed his lips firmly. "Are you sure about this Gab?" I nodded my head and pulled his lips down to mine.


Drama, drama, drama- If ya'll were wondering they are taking a 'break' from their relationship not actually breaking up. I didn't really make that clear, but you'll see in the next chapter! Now i'm off to watch Vampire Diaries. Don't forget to review :)))))