AN: As promised, here is chapter 9. Thanks to those of you who reviewed chapter 8. I want to hopefully soon finish this story, so I should be updating much quicker unless something happens like my computer crashes again...

DSisclaimer: HSM is still not mine.

The following day, Gabriella was surprised when she noticed Troy wasn't in school. Had his injury been that bad? Had something else happened to him? These questions worried her more than they should. After all, they just met.

In homeroom, a small piece of paper landed on her desk. Hesitently, she unfolded it and read it:

You seem kinda out of it today. What's wrong?

Taylor

Beneath this, Gabriella wrote another message:

Is Troy absent often?

Even though she wasn't facing her, Gabriella knew Taylor was rolling her eyes as she replied:

As I said, he's priveledged. He misses often but never gets in trouble thanks to his father. But, it's so much better when he's gone.

After recieving this last message, Gabriella didn't reply back and instead tried to listen to Ms. Darbus, hoping it would distract her.

On Wednesday, Gabriella smiled with relief as Troy took his seat in homeroom, seeming unscathed besides his now properly banaged hand. He seemed okay, but she knew looks could be decieving. He must've sensed her staring, for he turned to her and smiled, although it appeatred to be forced. Nonetheless, she returned his smile.

After homeroom Gabriella quickly caught up to him, falling into step beside him. Troy looked at her, evidentally confused. "Troy, where were you yesterday?"

"What do you mean? I was here," he lied smoothly. "But, I was a little late so I missed homeroom to avoid detention with Darbus."

"Oh," she replied, feeling a sense of unease. "So...can we still talk on the roof during free period?"

Troy nodded. "Yeah, sure."

"Okay, well, I better...get going," she stated and started off in the other direction.

"I'll see you in a bit," he replied, not looking back at her. Sighing, he stuffed his hands in his pockets. He hated lying to Gabriella. He lied everyday of his life and it was second nature to him now. However, everytime he had to lie to her it felt wrong, even though he just met her. If he hadn't lied, she would know he wasn't in school because of his punishment he endured the night before. He was in no condition to leave his room. In fact, he shouldn't have been there today, either. As he thought this his back trobbed slightly more in agreement. Nonetheless, Gabriella knew about his hand. If he didn't come then she would become more suspicious than she already was. He knew he was lying to protect them both, but there was something about her that made him want to tell her his every secret, as if he could trust her not to tell. Tck, not. The voice inside his mind sneered. She was just just like everyone else, maybe somewhat nicer, but as soon as she knew his secret she would tell the rest of the student body. No girl could pass up the chance to gossip.

During free period, Troy quickly made his way to the roof where Gabriella was sure to be waiting. Oddly, he was in a better mood today. He only got in one person's face instead of the ten or so he would've on any other day by this time. It was strange to everyone, including himself, for no one had ever seen him hanging out with anyone before today. Now, suddenly, he was talking to the new girl in an unusually friendly manner. Although it was bizarre, Troy knew exactly why he was attached to her. His heart told him she was the one he was looking for to save him from the Hell hole he called his life. However, he had no idea as to why it was her, or how it could be her.

Making his way up the stairs to the roof, he pondered over the strange yet pleasurable feeling in his chest which he felt every time he knew he would see her. Was this how elation felt? He was never happy a day in his life, that was until two days ago. She gave him something to look forward to everyday; not a reason to live, but a reason to want to live.

Whoa, slow down, you just met her, he reminded himself, sighing. Besides, he knew if she knew his secret, she would turn and run, meaning he couldn't let her know anything was dysfunctional about his lifestyle, other than what she already knew in regards to his personality.

While Gabriella waited for Troy, her mind wondered over the last few days. She thought about how lucky she was to not have to play catch-up in her classes, for her former school was farther ahead and slightly more advanced, and so it was a cinch to catch up to the curriculum.

Her aunt and uncle were another story, however. Of course, living with them was a thousand times better than living with her deadbeat mother or jailbird father, but she found it difficult to adjust. They were warm and kind; the type of people she wished were her parents. However, it was all too perfect for her. She was accustomed to disorder and living in fear, and so how could she just leave that and, a few days later, learn to live a life of peace and happiness?

Gabriella sighed. This life was too boring and calm for her. For once, she would welcome any new drama. She figured that was where Troy came into the picture.

She smiled at the thought of Troy. At first, she thought he would never speak to her again after her first day, but, when he confirmed that he would meet her again today, she knew he must've wanted to see her again, making her feel slightly more at ease.

So lost in thought, Gabriella hadn't noticed Troy was already there, sitting next to her and staring at her intently. Finally seeing him, she jumped, causing Troy to laugh, something he never actually did before, willingly that is.

Clutching her now rapidly beating heart, she spoke, "S-sorry, didn't see you there. I was thinking."

"About what?" he asked curiously once he had calmed down.

"About the last few days," she answered vaguely. "It's All been going by so fast since I moved here. It's a parallel universe from my old home."

Troy nodded. "Yeah, Albuquerque definitely isn't California, huh?"

"Definitely not," she confirmed. "But, I like it better here."

"You do? Why?" he asked, surprised by her response. Who would choose this small town over California, he wondered.

Gabriella shrugged. "Less madness, I guess."

Troy grunted upon hearing this, knowing his home was nothing but madness. What did she, a girl who was probably treated like royalty growing up, know about madness?

"What's wrong?" Gabriella asked cautiously, feeling sudden tension in the air surrounding them.

"Madness is everywhere. There is no escape," he stated sourly. "Unless we die."

"Some madness is escapable," she argued, not paying attention as the next words slipped from her mouth, "My mom escaped it."

"That doesn't mean it doesn't still exist," he countered. "And, what could've been so bad that she had to escape it, anyway?"

Gabriella succumbed to an awkward silence, telling him she wasn't going to talk about it, although, instead of changing the subject, he decided to push her into talking about it. "It's okay, you can trust me," he told her in the softest tone he had never used before, but it felt completely natural to him to speak to her like this.

Gabriella shook her head. "It's complicated."

Gently, Troy placed his hand on her shoulder to comfort her; although her response wasn't what he was anticipating. She cringed away in terror, for the only reason a man had ever touched her before was to hurt her; it was her natural instinct to do so. Sensing his alarm when he pulled his hand away, she knew it was over. The lies she told him for the past few days crumbled down around her, along with the image Troy had of her. He knew something was wrong with her, and she knew he would make her tell him everything.

"I guess I have some explaining to do, huh?" she said after a brief moment of silence.

Troy nodded. "We aren't leaving this spot until you do."

Reluctantly, she replied, "Swear to me that you won't tell a single soul."

"I swear on my mother's grave," he assured her, fighting back a smile at the thought. This was serious; he had to remain focused.

Taking a deep breath, she began, "When I was little my dad became a very heavy alcoholic. He called it his stress relief. We weren't the richest people in San Diego but we weren't the poorest. We had our financial problems like everyone else, but it got a little worse when I was about three and he resorted to drinking. He basically drank us into the hole and it got worse. He took it out on my mom. He blamed her for everything. When he was really drunk, he would not only yell at her, but he hurt her, Troy." Gabriella paused for a moment to read his face, although it was unreadable; he didn't move an inch, and so she continued, "It gave him the feeling of power and pleasure, knowing he had the power to do that to someone and them not fight back. I'll never understand why, but that's how he felt, according to my mom.

"Soon, the abuse turned sexual. He knew he could control her even more now and he took full advantage of it. When I was six, my mom became pregnant with my baby sister, Alexis. The abuse continued throughout her pregnancy but Ally lived."

Gabriella didn't see the tortured expression on Troy's face, for she was too busy trying not to cry. Noticing this, he interrupted, "Don't be afraid to fall right now. I know this is really hard, believe me, I do. You're not alone in this, and you don't have to tell me the rest if you don't want to. I'm sorry for making you tell me anything. "

Hesitantly, Gabriella moved closer to him, silently giving him permission to wrap his arm around her. It was an expected move, and so she didn't pull away or even flinch. "I want to continue." She didn't understand why, but after four years of trusting only one person and fearing all men, she felt like she could trust Troy.

Troy nodded as she started again, "Six more years passed and bad just got worse for my mom. I was kept completely in the dark for nine years, never knowing fully what was going on. I mean, I occasionally heard yelling but I never witnessed anything. However, three months after my twelfth birthday she left a note on my pillow explaining everything that happened. She had taken off in the middle of the night, never saying goodbye.

"Within a week after my mom left, my dad's drinking got even worse. I was forced to do the housework while he drank our lives away. If he didn't like how I did something or if it wasn't good enough for him, he'd scream at me. A few weeks later came the first time he slapped me."

Troy shivered as the image of a younger Gabriella standing before a larger, drunken man flashed through his mind. How could anyone hurt someone so perfect, so gentle? He understood why he got hurt; he was a waste of life. Her, on the other hand, she was too nice to be abused.

"Thanks to one of my mom's sisters, I got a hold of my mom over the phone once almost a year later. She never said where she was; only that she would come back for Alexis and me. But, we waited three years and never heard from her again.

"As he did with me when I was little, my dad made sure Ally stayed in the dark about this, as did I. I lied to her about our mom and any cuts or bruises she may have caught. I wanted to die for lying to her, but I didn't want her to think the man she called 'daddy' was a monster in disguise.

"To Ally, I was her new mother. I took care of her just as well, if not better, than our mom did. I was the one who took care of her, the one whom she ran to when she was afraid, and she was my rock even though she never realized it. If not for her, I would've given up a long time ago. She's why I'm here right now. She truly was my angel."

Troy couldn't comprehend why she spoke of her sister in past tense, although he didn't ask, trusting she would tell him if she was ready for that.

Closing her eyes as the tears clouded her vision, she rested her head on his shoulder. Troy stiffened but she either didn't notice or just ignored it and started again, "About three weeks ago, he forgot she was there when he slapped me. She was so upset…he hit her…" As Gabriella broke down in sobs, Troy held her that much closer to him, rubbing her back as his mind frantically searched for something to say. "H-he killed her, Troy! H-he killed his own daughter-my little sister! I-I have no one left now!"

What could he say to this? 'It'll be okay' was the biggest lie he'd ever heard; of course he wouldn't tell her that. Finally, he thought of something, "No, you are not alone in this. I'm right here, I can help you. I will help you."

"No!" she cried. "Walk away now! It's what you're supposed to do!"

Carefully, Troy cupped her chin in his hands, secretly admiring her soft skin. "I understand you much better than you think I do. You need someone whom you can fall apart on that'll put you back together. I'm here, I want the challenge."