A/N I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!

The next morning Troy told Gabriella he had a surprise for her. After getting ready they jumped into Troy's car and drove away.

"Troy where are we going?" Gabriella wondered.

"You'll have to wait a see. It's a surprise."

"Troy." Gabriella whined.

Troy laughed. Gabriella looked out the window and her eyes went wide. Why was Troy going this way? If he kept going in this direction they'd end up back at the hospital. Why would Troy take her back there? Then it hit her, last night he was mad about last night and didn't want her anymore so he was taking her back to the hospital.

"Troy no. I'm sorry please don't" she cried.

"You don't even know where we are going."

"Yes I do please stop Troy. Don't take me there please Troy!"

"Baby where do you think I'm taking you?"

As he stopped at a light he turned to look at her. She pointed to a sign and gulped. The sign said "Sunshine Hospital next right." Troy's eyes went wide.

"Gabriella no I'm not taking you there."

"Why not? Everyone else does. They take me in try to help me and then when I pull away they return me like I'm a pair of shoes."

"Gabriella I will never give up on you. If it takes 20 years for you to heal then fine if it takes my whole life fine. I'm NOT giving up on you Gabriella Montez you hear me I will NEVER give up on you and I will NEVER send you back to the hospital."

"But you're mad at me."

"Baby I'm not mad. I shouldn't have pushed that on you."

"So where are we going?"

"I was going to surprise you but I'm taking you to a fire station. A good friend of my dad works there and agreed to meet with us. He is going to teach us about fire safety."

"I know all about fire safety. It a bunch of lies because it doesn't work. Fire is dangerous and fire kills."

"Yes you're right fire does kill. Fire is dangerous but a candle isn't steam isn't. Baby I wanted to find a way to get you over your fear of fire but still keep you alert and aware."

The light turned green and Troy continued to drive.

"It's good for you to fear big fire but there is a time when that fire fear can start to take over your life and that's when it needs to stop. Certain fires are ok."

"Ok…I'll try. M father would want me to do this."

"That's my girl."

Troy continued to drive until they arrived at the fire station. They got out of the car and went inside to the front desk.

"Hi I'm looking for Adam Tendo."

"Are you Troy Bolton?"

"Yes."

"He said you would be coming by. Follow me."

Troy took Gabriella's hand and followed the lady through some doors into the garage.

"Adam you have a visitor."

Troy saw Adam sitting around talking. He got up and went over to Troy.

"Hello Troy. Great to see you again. How's your father?"

"He's doing great. This is my girlfriend Gabriella."

"Ah so this is Gabriella. It's nice to meet you I've heard a lot about you."

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Tendo." Gabriella said shyly.

"So you guys are here for a little fire safety?"

"That's right. Gabriella lost her father in a house fire and is now scared of any kind of smoke or flame."

"Well it is good to be cautions around fires but not all fires are bad."

"I know…" Gabriella sighed.

"Let's get started."

Gabriella followed alongside Troy as they went through the stations relearning all about fire safety. Just as their tour ended a loud alarm sounded. Gabriella and Troy covered their ears.

"That's my cue guys. I'll see you later." Adam said.

He rushed off as Troy and Gabriella nodded a goodbye. They got to the car and drove away.

"That was loud." Gabriella said.

"It has to be. Otherwise they won't hear it and can't help people." Troy said. "So how do you feel now?"

"A lot better. It really did help relearning all that again. Thanks Troy."

"No problem baby. How would feel if we lit a candle at dinner tonight?"

"A small candle?"

"Yeah."

"Ok that won't be too bad."

Troy smiled. He had helped her overcome another one of her fears. Now all that was left was to help her overcome her fears of the darkness of night and darkness in general. The first step to doing that was to understand why she was so scared in the first place. That was going to take work.

That night Troy and Gabriella were in his room watching a movie cuddled on his bed. Troy gotten a small idea on how to get Gabriella move comfortable with being outside during the night he just hoped it worked.

"Troy Gabriella dinner." Jack called.

Gabriella groaned. "I'm comfy."

Troy laughed "Me too but I'm also hungry so let's go eat and then we can come back."

Troy and Gabriella got up and went out into the living room. It was then Gabriella noticed everything was set up outside. The sun had already started to set and Gabriella knew it was only a matter of time before it got dark outside. She let out a whimper.

"It's ok Gabriella it's just dinner." Troy soothed.

"No."

Gabriella also noticed the small candle in the center of the table. "Troy I…I'm scared."

"It's ok baby girl. You don't have to be scared. You're home safe and sound nothing is going to hurt you."

"It's dark."

"We have the patio light on."

"No."

"Come on sweetie just try it."

Gabriella shook her head and took a step back. Troy sighed. Two steps forward and three giant steps back. What was she so scared of?

"Gabriella what are you so scared of?"

"It's dark."

"You will have lots of light."

"No."

"Ok Brie. I'm not going to force you."

He started to head outside to help his dad bring everything in when he heard Gabriella scream

"TROY WHERE ARE YOU GOING?"

He spun around in shock. "I'm just going outside to help my dad with the plates. I'll be right back."

"NO YOU CAN'T GO OUT THERE!"

"Why not?"

"DON'T GO OUT THERE TROY PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!"

Troy rushed to Gabriella and pulled her into his arms. She burst into tears and clung to him as tight as she could.

"Don't' leave me Troy don't leave me."

"I'm not going to leave you sweetie I promise. I'm right here. Shhhh just calm down." Troy said rubbing her back.

"Yo-you can-can't go out-out there."

"It's just the backyard baby girl. Nothing is going to hurt me there."

"Yes it will. It will."

"Ok baby girl ok shhhhh." Troy soothed.

Gabriella was hysterical. He had never seen her this upset before. She was hardly breathing. He sat down on the couch and rocked her gently side to side.

"Shhhh settle down. It's ok. You're safe. I'm right here."

Gabriella started to calm down but she clung to Troy as tight as he weak hand could. Troy wished he knew why she got so scared of him going outside. He knew this was the last step in her healing process but so far he wasn't having any luck. Once everything was inside Troy carried Gabriella to the kitchen but she refused to let him go. So he sat down with her on his lap and started to eat. Every now and then he would put the fork to Gabriella's mouth and feed her.

"I'm sorry dad." Troy said.

"It's not your fault. We tried. I do need to talk to you about something important."

"What?"

"How did Gabriella get along with the others the other night?"

"Really well why?"

"Because if you miss anymore school you'll flunk out. Now I can sign Gabriella up and she can be in all your classes but I wasn't sure if she's ready for that."

"I think she'll be ok as long as I'm with her."

"Ok. I'll call tomorrow and Monday you guys will go back."

Troy nodded and put his fork up to Gabriella lips. She turned her head away. "No more."

Troy removed the fork and put it into his own mouth. He really hoped Gabriella's first day at school went well.

The weekend went by fast and soon it was time for Gabriella's first day at East High. Gabriella was scared to death. As they sat down for breakfast Jack said "Gabriella if you feel uncomfortable at any time you can always come to me. I'm the couch there so I'm always in my office. If you have any problems you can come find me ok?"

"Ok"

"Don't worry. You have all of the same classes with Troy. You won't be alone."

Gabriella nodded.

"Everything will be fine baby. I promise. Most of my teachers are really cool." Troy said.

"Most?"

"Well my homeroom teacher Mrs. Darbus is a little weird but I think you will like her. She is a Shakespeare freak."

"She's the also the drama teacher right?"

"Yep."

"Ok."

"Are you and Gabriella coming with me or are you waiting for the bus?" Jack asked.

"Come with you. I want to give Gabriella tour so she is comfortable by the time everyone else shows up." Troy answered.

"All right then let's go."

The three of them headed out. They arrived at East High.

"Wow this place is huge." Gabriella said.

Troy laughed. "Just wait till you see the inside."

They three of them went inside and Jack went to his office. Troy gave Gabriella a tour he stopped at a flight of stairs.

"This is my favorite spot of the whole school but no one knows about it so if I show you, you can't tell anyone ok?"

"Your favorite spot at East High is a stair case?" Gabriella teased.

"Ha-ha very funny Brie. I mean it's up these stairs."

Gabriella giggled. "I promise not to tell."

Together they made their way upstairs and Gabriella gasped. It was like a garden. There were flowers everywhere.

"Troy it's beautiful."

"I found it one day after my mom left. I needed to be alone and I found this place."

"It's so peaceful."

"I come here all the time when I need to think. Now it's yours."

"Thank you for sharing this with me Troy it's beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you."

Gabriella blushed. They stayed up there until it was time for their first class. They went inside and sat down. Mrs. Darbus came in and started the class.

"Class we have a new student here today Gabriella Montez. She is being fostered by the Bolton's. Now let's talk about drama."

All throughout class Gabriella took notes. She loved to learn and loved being able to learn again. Finally the first bell went off and everyone left. Once they were in the hallway Troy went with Gabriella to her locker as she put her books away. Once she was finished they went to Troy's locker. As Troy was putting his books away he heard a voice say: "When I first heard your name I didn't believe but I guess it's true Gabriella Montez is at East High."

Troy turned and saw Sharpay Evans she was Ice Queen of East High. Gabriella turned to face the voice and gasped. Then she whimpered. Sharpay laughed "So we meet again Gabriella…."

A/N how does Sharpay know Gabriella? Will Troy ever get Gabriella over her fear of the dark? Read the next chapter to find out.