Okay, I won't keep you waiting with a long author's note! Here is chapter seven :) Enjoy...

The colour drained from Troy's face. By now, Chad had also removed himself from the game to join them. They ran out of the gym at full speed. Searching from classroom to classroom, Troy suddenly heard a faint yell from down the hall. He knew it had to be his Gabriella. "Gabi!" he called out as he continued to run, with Chad and Taylor close behind. They could also hear running footsteps, which were becoming fainter with every second.

Finally, as they came to the end of the hall, they peered through the window of another room and there she was. Mark was nowhere to be seen, and Gabriella was lying motionless on the floor. The door was locked, so Troy quickly broke the door down, kicking it repeatedly. As he rushed over to his girlfriend's side, he saw that she was bleeding from a wound on the side of her head. She was breathing, but she was unconscious.

Her phone still in her hand, Taylor dialled for an ambulance as Chad knelt on the floor on Gabriella's other side. Troy was cradling her in his arms, talking softly to her. Hoping desperately that she was going to wake up. "Come on, Gabi, please don't leave me..." he whispered helplessly. The ambulance turned up within ten minutes, and as the paramedics lifted Gabriella onto a stretcher, Troy noticed that there was also blood on the edge of one of the desks. It appeared that she had knocked her head on it. Looking on the floor, he found her phone, and picked it up to store in his pocket.

Mark must have pushed her. And then disappeared, leaving her alone, weak and helpless. Troy had always been taught that bullies were cowards deep down. This was about as cowardly as you could get. But as much as he wanted to find this guy and rip his head off for leaving his girlfriend to die, Troy had no intention of leaving Gabriella's side. Mark could be dealt with later. Right now, he had to be strong for her. He held her hand throughout the journey to the hospital. Chad drove himself and Taylor, tailing behind the ambulance.

Troy kept his grip on Gabriella's hand as they entered the hospital. He could hear the paramedics mumbling to the doctors. Eighteen years old...serious head injury...blood loss...still unconscious... Everything he heard terrified him. Was he about to lose her? He snapped out of his thoughts when he realised that the doctors were talking to him. They were asking him if he needed to call anybody. He didn't want to leave Gabriella, but he had to call her mom.

He watched as she was wheeled away, then ran outside and dialled. Telling Maria Montez that her only child could be seriously injured was heartbreaking. She struggled not to drop the phone, quickly recovered herself and told Troy she was on her way. He hung up and returned to the emergency room, asking a receptionist where Gabriella had been taken to. Just as he set off to find the room, one of the doctors he had spoken to earlier approached him.

"You're the one who came in with Miss Montez?" he asked. Troy nodded, waiting for him to continue. "She has regained consciousness. A few bruises, and she will need stitches, but she will be fine." Troy was overwhelmed with relief. "Her mother is on her way from California," he told the doctor. "I'm her boyfriend, is it okay if I go in and sit with her?" When he got a nod in response, he darted round the corner and found the room. Chad and Taylor had heard everything, and decided to sit down in the waiting area to give Troy some time alone with Gabriella.

Troy approached the bed and took a seat next to it. Gabriella was sitting up, looking pale. But she was still here – she was alive. He reached for her hand, and she squeezed it. "I'm sorry about your game..." she told him. Troy wondered whether she was simply in a state of shock. What importance did a basketball game have when the love of his life had been in danger? "Oh, baby. Don't be silly. It's just a game. I could have lost you. Do you remember what happened? What did Mark do to you?" he asked her gently.

Gabriella closed her eyes, tears escaping. "He threw my phone across the room. Then he started threatening me. I tried to get away, but he grabbed hold of me. Then he knocked me over..." she finished. Troy let out a breath. "The doctor said you have some bruises. Is that where he grabbed you?" he asked. She nodded, showing him the marks on her upper arms. These bruises were larger than ever before. She whimpered, clearly in pain.

"Oh Gabs..." Troy whispered, his heart breaking at the sight. "The police are going to come by later, after you've had some rest." She nodded. It was time to make sure that Mark wouldn't be able to hurt her, or anyone else, again. As Gabriella drifted off to sleep, Troy made his own silent vow that no one would ever hurt her again.

Next chapter: a final showdown with Mark...Will he be punished?

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