Wow, I owe all of you an apology. It's been about a month since chapter 7. And believe me, I know it's awful. As an avid reader, I hate waiting for updates. But let me explain. First, I had midyears. Actually, I still have midyears. But, I knew I owed you guys a chapter about 2 weeks ago. So I sat down to write chapter 8 right after chapter 7. But I was tuck. You see, I know where I want this story to go, I know what I want to say, but this chapter was kind of a filler to get to the next one. The next couple of chapters are going to be angst-y, dramatic, and so emotional. This one is leading up to it. But I actually couldn't figure out what to write. So it took me forever. And then I finished it but I didn't like it 100. So I erased it and started over. And then I finished that draft but knew it needed to still be fixed. So I sent it to the best ff writer I know, Gizmo8us (who if you aren't reading, you should be!) to edit. And she turned it into the gem you see before you. Hope you all like it. I promise to send chapter 9 off to Gizmo by Thursday, so as son as she finishes it, I will post it right away, Lots of Love to all of you. -Bookworm.


This is me crying myself to sleep that HSM isn't mine and that these characters and the actors that portray them have nothing to do with me. Also, I am unfortunately not making any money off this. Shit. Also, for those of you who don't know, Zac was in the hospital this weekend, for an emergency appendicitis operation. Don't worry he's fine. And the pics of him and Vanessa leaving the hospital are so cute.

OH! and sorry about the spacing.


Gabi rubbed her eyes, slowly opening them into the bright sunlight of the room. It took her a second to remember where she was. The walls and the bed were different then home. But then she remembered the party and that she was at Chad's, with Troy. Troy. A smile crossed her face and she reached out her hand to touch Troy. However, her hand meet an empty space and rumpled sheets. Gabi rolled over and sat up.

"Troy?" she called. No answer.

"Troy?!?!!?" she called again.

"In here Gabi." she heard Troy's voice call from the bathroom. Gabi smiled as she crawled out of bed, pulled on a pair of Troy's boxer and an undershirt, and headed towards the bathroom. Troy was standing there in his towel, having just stepped out of the shower, with his towel around his waist, drops of water glistening down his back, facing the mirror. Gabi leaned into the doorway and looked at her boyfriend. Their eyes connected in the mirror. Troy grinned at her, letting his eyes wander over her body. It didn't make Gabi feel dirty, like it had when Tony or Jordan did it. Gabi's smile faded at the reminder of last night. 'He doesn't deserve this. I don't deserve him.'

"Gabi? Gabi!" Troy said.

"Oh! Sorry, I kind of spaced out." Gabi said. "What were you saying?"

"I said, take a quick shower, get dressed, and lets go downstairs for breakfast. I heard Chad already run downstairs. And Taylor was yelling at him to slow down, he was going to kill himself on the stairs, and he was like I'm hungry and well…I mean, you know our friends." Troy finished with a laugh.

"Oh, yeah. Breakfast. Okay." Gabi said as she moved over to the sink. Gabi began to brush her teeth as Troy continued to watch her.
"What ?" she asked finally, after spitting out a mouthful of minty tasting toothpaste.
"Nothing," He whispered, breathlessly. "You are just so beautiful."
Gabi felt the blush rise in her cheeks as his stare became more intense and she busied herself with pulling her shirt over her head. His arms were around her before she made it half way through the movement and his mouth was on her neck almost before they appeared from beneath the material.
"Wait, wait." her muffled voice came from under the shirt. "Let me get this off first."
" No," he murmured, his lips brushing her skin. " I like you this way, powerless to my kisses."
"Troy!" she giggled as the finally managed to remove the offending garment and discard on the floor behind her.
"Just the way I like you." his breath skirted across her lips. "Naked and kissing me."
Gabi wrapped her arms around him, losing herself in the feel of his warm, tight body against hers, his skin brushing hers, his lips ravishing hers. 'Maybe if I don't stop kissing him, we'll never have to go downstairs, and I won't have to see Ryan or Jordan again. We can just never leave this room -'
"Yo! Troy !" Zeke's voice interrupted her thoughts as it sounded from the outer room.
Gabi let out a gasp of surprise and stumbled out of Troy's arms.
"Ah!" she yelled.
"Gabi?" came Zeke's voice again, this time much closer to the bathroom door.
"Zeke!" she yelled. " Stay there. Don't come any closer !"
Gabi got to the door and slammed it shut with a resounding noise that echoed throughout the tiny room.
"Why?" Zeke asked from directly on the other side of the door.
"I swear, if you take another step closer, I'm going to kill you." she yelled, her tone firm and forceful.
She cast her eyes towards Troy, silently pleading with him for help, only to find him sitting on the floor trying hard to restrain his laughter.
"This isn't funny !" she insisted as she watched his face turning red from trying to keep the laughter inside. "Just go out there, close the door behind you and let me take a shower."
"Okay, okay." He answered defeated as he got to his feet. But the smirk remained all the same and he looked her from under his long bangs. "But it is kind of funny."
"Really?" she asked. "You would think it would be funny if Zeke saw me topless?"

His expression darkened slightly. "Okay maybe that isn't so funny." Troy replied.
"Wait," Zeke called, "Gabi is topless? I'm coming in!" They could hear his laughter through the door.
Troy jumped up and bolted out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Gabi heard Zeke trying in vain to assure Troy that he had only been joking. Then she heard the distinct sound of a body hitting the floor and she smiled to herself at the sounds of a struggle that followed. Obviously Troy had tackled him and they were now wrestling on the other side of the door.
"Boys." She giggled as she stepped into the shower.


A few blissfully quiet, refreshing moments later she emerged from the bathroom after slipping a towel quickly around her. She poked her head quickly to make sure the door was closed before she entered the bedroom and started getting dressed. Gabi choose a pair of black short shorts, a green tank top, a pair of flip flops and her necklace with the golden T charm. As she checked herself in the mirror, she felt the tears begin to sting the
corners of her eyes.

"I can't go down there." she whispered to her reflection.
"Gabi ?" Troy's voice sounded seconds before he entered the room. "Are you ready to go downstairs?"
She went to him, quickly wrapping her arms around him and burying herself in his protective warmth.
"Let's stay here." she whispered into his chest. " Let's never leave this room. Just you and me together."
"What ?" Troy asked, clearly confused as he looked down at her. "Everyone is downstairs, having breakfast and getting ready to leave. We should go down there with them."
She pulled at him, making her way towards the bed in an another attempt to
change his mind. " Don't you want to go back to bed ? Don't you want to -"
Troy cut her off as he untangled her arms from around him. " Let's go downstairs, okay ?"
Gabi nodded, her eyes glued to the floor. 'Great, now he thinks I'm a sex maniac', she thought.
Troy placed his finger under her chin raising her eyes to meet his. "Are you okay? I'm getting the feeling that you don't want to go downstairs for some reason."
Gabi forced a smile. "Of course I want to go downstairs. I just want to be with you more."
He leaned into her. "I love you." he murmured as he kissed her.
"I love you, too." she replied, deepening the kiss and bringing him closer into her.
'Maybe when the truth comes out, he'll remember this kiss. I need him to love me. I need him to be with me. I can't live without him.'


Clasping his hand, for strength and support, they walked downstairs and into the dining room where a feast was laid out. Piles of golden pancakes sat on the table surrounded by bowls of fresh fruits like dark red strawberries and huge dark blue blueberries. Crispy Belgian waffles were piled high next to a bowl of fresh whipped cream. An array of different flavors of yogurts and granolas was sitting next to dozens of different cereals. The aroma coming from a pot of coffee was mixed with the smell of hot chocolate and cinnamon. Plates of flaky pastries were placed next to mounds of jellies and butter. Oatmeal and sugar finished the choices.

Troy let go of Gabi's hand and let out a yell of excitement.
"Nice spread, Chad." he offered his approval as he grabbed a plate and began piling it high with pancakes and fruits.
"You should have seen it before Chad got to it." Taylor announced sardonically as she threw her boyfriend a withering look.
"I was hungry." Chad whined childishly as she placed a quick kiss on her cheek.
"You're always hungry. You need a new excuse." she said in an annoyed tone, which was balanced with a smile.
"Yeah, hungry for you !" he replied as he nibbled at her neck.
Gabi stood lingering in the doorway silently watching, grateful that Jordon's back was to her and he hadn't noticed her yet.
"Come on, Gab" Troy called. " Get something to eat."
Jordon spun around in his chair and gave her a leering creepy smile.
"Yeah, Gabi, come eat with us."

Gabi forced a smile and walked into the room, avoiding Jordon's gaze. She grabbed a bagel and a glass of juice off the side table and looked around for some place to sit. The only place left was a chair between Jordon and Troy. Everyone was too preoccupied to see the way Jordon watched her as she took the chair or to notice Ryan glaring at him, his hand curling into a fist.
As she sat, Troy placed his arm around her and she took the opportunity to shift her chair closer to him and further away from Jordon, who just continued to grin at her a moment longer before resuming his conversation with Sharpay, who was sitting on his other side. Gabi picked at her bagel unenthusiastically, not really listening to
anything that was happening around her.
Gabi jumped causing her orange juice to topple from her hand as she suddenly felt Jordon's hand close over her thigh and give it a squeeze. Leaping from the table, she looked down at her drenched clothes and gasped loudly.
"Are you alright?" Troy asked, startled as he glanced at her.
"Yeah, just clumsy I guess." She answered, feeling very uncomfortable as everyone's eyes came to rest on her. "I'm going to change."
Troy nodded.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Taylor offered.
"Nope, I'm okay." Gabi answered.
She made herself walk out of the room with measured steps until she was out of sight, then she sprinted up the staircase and into the safety of her temporary room.


Gabi stripped off her soaked clothes, tossing them into a plastic bag she found under the sink and grabbed a pair of jeans and a white tank from her bag. Before pulling them on, she sank to the floor. She could still feel his hand on her thigh, burning her skin, like poison or a rash she couldn't get rid of.
A knock on the door caused her to jump and she got to her feet quickly. She pulled the door opened, thinking it was either Taylor or Troy, making sure she was okay. She opened her mouth to scream as she realized how wrong she was, but Jordan's hand shot out to cover it before she got the sound out.
"Don't scream." he warned, "Or you'll be forced to explain to everyone why you would open the door for me wearing nothing but your underwear. And that could lead to questions about pictures of you with a certain basketball captain that, oddly enough, isn't a Wildcat. Now that wouldn't be very pretty, would it?"
Gabi slowly shook her head as he pushed his way into the room and guided her backwards towards the bed after shutting the door behind him.

"Good," she said, moving his hand from her mouth. "I'm glad we understand each other."
He pushed her down onto the edge of the bed. "What are you doing? I didn't do anything wrong. I didn't tell Troy or Ryan or Taylor. And if anyone comes up here and sees you, I'll - "
"You'll what ? " he cut her off with a sneer. He raised is hand and ran it slowly down her arm, causing a revolting shutter to run through her body. "You are in no position to make threat, Montez. Besides, the guys went outside to play basketball and the girls are with Sharpay in the living room looking at something on the computer. I told them I was changing into a different pair of shorts before joining them. And I told them I'd get you."
"Fine, " Gabi answered defiantly. "You've told me. Now get out." She tried to stand and brush past him, but he pushed her make to the mattress with a hand on her shoulder.
"You still don't get it.." he growled. "I make the rules. I'm in charge. It's in your best interest to listen to me. When I touch you, on your arm," he moved his hand down her arm again. "or your waist," his hand moved there, lingering for a moment at the waist band of her underwear. "or your leg. " He slid his fingers down, skirting them down her thigh. "You can't do anything about it. Got it ?"
Now he was straddling her, his hand pulling back her hair, forcing her to look at him. Gabi nodded, afraid to say anything. Jordon surprised her by rolling off her and sitting on the edge of the bed.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, then stopped and looked away for a moment as if he were thinking about something. His face changed slowly and he looked back at her with an expression she had no idea how to define.
"Tony's been my best friend since Kindergarten., just like Troy and Chad. In fact, we were all in the same kindergarten. And last year, when we lost, Tony was devastated. So he thought of this. We're doing this for the championship. At the first game of the season, East High versus West High, we're going to hurt Troy Bolton bad enough that it will mess up his game. He'll lose and we'll prove that we are the superior team. But that's just one game. And he'll get over it. But if we let it slip out that his girlfriend is cheating on him, he won't get over that so easy. It'll mess up his whole season, which will mess up his future. Do you really want to be the reason that Troy never makes it to the NBA? He's the best around, maybe the best in the country, but he needs a scholarship. We all know that. So don't screw up his life."
He took a deep breath and paused for a moment.
"We took those pictures because we need your help. And if you do everything we ask, Troy will never need to see the photos or the video. I promise."
He feel silent and let his eyes drop to the floor at his feet.
Gabi found herself inexplicably reaching out and touching his shoulder.
Jordan flinched and pushed her away. " Don't " he spat.
"Then why are you doing this to me ? Why do you need to keep hurting me like this ? I'm listening to you. I don't think you even want to do this. "
"Oh, I do. " he turned his eyes back to her and once again they held that mocking, threatening gaze.
"You see, you are hot. You're in my power. You're Troy's and Tony told me to. Besides, it's fun."
"Fun?" Gabi gasped. "This isn't fun!"
"That's where you're wrong. If it wasn't 'fun', I wouldn't be able to do stuff like this." He got to his feet and pulled her with him. "Kiss me."
Gabi hesitated but the look in his eyes told her not to push him too far. She leaned over and quickly brushed her lips against his.
"No, I want you to kiss me like you kiss him, like you kiss Troy. Kiss me like you mean it." he snarled. Grabbing her arm, he pulled her against him.
Gabi closed her eyes and leaned forward. She conjured up a picture of Troy in her mind, his deep blue eyes, the color of the ocean, his messy brown hair that was always falling into his eyes. His arms, strong and firm from years of basketball, the way they felt around her when he held her against him. His hard planes of his chest as it contacted her own much softer curves. And his smile, the one he reserved especially for her., the one he gave her in the hallways or after class or just when ever he saw her. The smile that she knew no one else ever saw.

Jordon pulled away. " Wow. " he teased., licking his lips. " Troy would be a lucky guy if his girlfriend wasn't a cheating bitch." He stepped out of her arms and sneered at her viciously. " Get dressed, Montez. You look like a ho."

She hastily grabbed her shirt and tugged over her head, as tears threaten once again.
"Wait," she stopped him with his hand on the doorknob. "What are you going to do to Troy at the game?"
Jordon shot her one of his signature smiles that always caused her skin to crawl. "You'll see." he said. Then he opened the door, made sure the coast was clear and left, shutting the door behind him.
Gabi sluggishly finished getting dressed, before stepping in front of the mirror again.
"Congratulations." she told the reflection staring back at her. " You are officially a slut." She watched as a the tears that had been on the verge of falling all weekend finally erupted and slid down her cheeks.


That afternoon, Gabi stared out the window while Troy hummed along to a few lines from the song on the radio as he drove her back home. As she watched the trees and house flying past, her mind was occupied with its own inner dialog.

She couldn't tell him now. It was too late for confessions. If she had told him after she kissed Ryan, none of this would have happened. If she had never kissed Ryan, none of this would have happened. But she couldn't tell Troy now. If she told him after Jordan told her about having the tape, Troy would have said she wouldn't have told him otherwise. Which, she admitted silently, was true. She didn't tell him for fear of hurting him. Now she couldn't tell him because it would hurt him.
She did this to herself. She deserved the hurt and pain she was going through. She had no choice but to do whatever Tony said. She couldn't be responsible for messing up Troy's future. She couldn't let herself be to blame for Troy's future falling apart. She quickly, indiscreetly wiped at the tears that were suddenly, once again, falling down her cheeks.
'I've got to stop crying all over the place.' She told herself. 'I've got to be strong. I can't let him know anything is wrong. I will fix this before Troy gets hurt. I have to find a way.'


She watched as he drove off, already missing him. He would be sleeping in his own bed at home tonight. His mother had finally put her foot down, saying that sleeping at Chad's every night was ridiculous. He had a perfectly good bed and she never got to see him. She was insisting that he spend the next two weeks at home, in fact. Troy had paced around the kitchen, yelling about his mother was the one being ridiculous. He was eighteen and next year in college he would sleep where ever he wanted.
Gabi had watched him, preparing to tell him that his mother was right. He did need to spend some time at home, especially since next year he would be away at college. He was just ranting about how he was going to call his mother and tell her to fuck off, when she grabbed the phone from him.
"Gabi!" he exclaimed, reaching for the cell phone that she now held clutched behind her back, securely out of his reach.
"You will do no such thing." she answered calmly. "Your mother loves you and she misses you. You should spend some time at home."
"But this is so stupid. Who cares where I sleep?" he protested.
"Apparently, your mother does and she just wants to spend some time with you. You should be grateful you have a mother that cares so much." she told him.
He had watched her with his mouth hanging open in shock.
"Go sleep at home. I know how your mother feels. She loves you and cares about you." she repeated again this time much quieter. "At least your mother still loves you." She remembered forcing a smile as the last comment slid from her lips, though inside she was screaming in protest.
Deep down, she knew she had done the right thing. But still, sleeping in her bed alone was almost more than she could bare to think about, especially with everything that was going on at the moment. How could she manage to get through her days without knowing she would have him there with his arms wrapped protectively around her while she slept? She had reminded herself that Troy had a family and that no matter how much she loved him, she needed to help him appreciate what he had waiting for him. She missed her mother more than ever.
Gabi had gotten a quick message from her the week before saying she wasn't sure when she would be back, but she would send more money and she was sorry but it was her work. The message had left Gabi devastated. Of course it didn't help that she had heard laughter and music in the background. Work, Mom? Sure. She had cried for an hour. Gabi had never been so grateful that Troy was at practice and Taylor had driven her home. She hadn't told him about the message. Between her mother and Tony, it had killed her to tell him that he should be at home for a well. But he had a family that needed him, too.
Gabi went into the house and closed the door behind her.

Troy had practically begged her to let him stay, or least to tell his family that he had actually been staying with her. But she vehemently forbid him. She didn't need their sympathy or Coach Bolton's snide comments at school. He already complained, where she was sure to hear him, that Troy was turning into a girl over her. That she was too much of a distraction. And he needed to go back to dating brainless bimbos. Each time she had run from the scene, never telling Troy what she had heard. Finally, Chad heard about it from some of the other guys and he told Troy. The results of which was a huge screaming match between Troy and his dad in the gym. She was glad she had refused to wait for him inside that day, afraid of Coach Bolton.
Gabi looked the door, grabbed a box of cracker out of the kitchen, turned off all the lights and went upstairs to her room. She flopped into the middle of her bed and turned on the television. She lay like that for hours, having no idea what she was actually watching, until she fell into a fitful sleep, having neither eaten nor undressed.
The next week passed in much the same way. She would get up each morning after far too little sleep, go to school, pretend not to care, avoid Jordan and go home to try to sleep again. Time slipped away from her, lost in a daze of exhaustion. Most nights she didn't bother with food. Other times she grabbed a box of crackers or a piece of fruit on her way to her room.
Friday morning dawned exactly like all the others, until Gabi realized that today was the Pep Rally for the first scrimmage match of the season, West High versus East High.
Her first instinct was to dress in black, it would hide her recent weight loss and the dark circles under her eyes and she thought, with a heavy sigh, it would match her mood. But she knew she wouldn't, it would cause too many uncomfortable questions, from Troy mostly.
Troy, who had spent the last week questioning her, asking if she was okay, wanting her to tell him what was wrong, because, he knew something was. They had started out, jokingly, light hearted, but only increased after two days of tight smiles and unanswered phone calls. All she could do was let him hold her while she fought back tears.
She knew, with a dark suspicion what Jordon and Tony were planning. Her fears were only reinforced after two days of nightmares and twisted sheets, she got to her locker on Monday morning and found a note in Jordon's handwriting.
-Don't get too attached to Troy. He wouldn't want you around much after
Friday.-
She was beyond rational anymore. All she could think was that if Troy was mad at her, couldn't understand what she was doing, it would hurt less when she broke his heart. Maybe, if he felt it had been building, a storm brewing on the horizon of their doomed relationship, it wouldn't kill him completely to say goodbye.
So, she put on her number 14 Bolton jersey and her red, Wildcats shorts and all the other bobbles and sparkles that proclaimed her a player's girlfriend, and drove to school. She sat in the parking lot and took a deep breath with the knowledge that, at least, after tonight it would be over. He would hate her, she would still love him, but it would be over. He would be able to move on, to prepare for his future, even if it was
without her. Her life, she knew, ended tonight. And it was all her fault.

Please review! Even if it's just you yelling at me for taking so long to update…… At least I'll know you care. Lol.
As for the next chapter, I promise. As soon as possible.