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Okay a long awaited update….

Chapter 10: Gabriella's Concern

The school was still buzzing the day after the talent show. Troy and Gabriella were the golden couple, anyone who didn't like them together had to get over it because they were serious, and everyone knew it.

There was more news buzzing through the school though, the championship game was coming up. It was, as always against West High, and they were good, they beat East High last year, so this year, the guys had to step it up a notch.

The girls and Ryan all stood at Gabi and Ryleigh's lockers. "Where are those boneheads?" Taylor asked

"I don't know. Chad was gone when we left, but Lisa didn't say where he went." Gabi replied

"Well, there's the bell, we'll see them in homeroom." Ryan commented dryly. Everyone groaned, time for Darbus. They walked in a sat down together. After five minutes of waiting the guys still hadn't shown up.

"I'm getting a little worried." Ryleigh admitted. Sharpay nodded her agreement when they all walked in. They looked like they had just been beaten.

"And why are we late." Mrs. Darbus angrily asked

Troy just handed her a note and gave her a "don't ask you don't want to know" look. She accepted the note and grunted, but nonetheless carried on with her cell phone rant.

"Where have you been Troy Alexander Bolton? I have been out of my mind with worry!" Gabi scolded him

He gave her a cheeky smile, "Basketball practice, so basically hell and back." She smiled sympathetically as the bell rang. The guys groaned as they got up to go to their first period classes.

Once everyone was seated in the cafeteria the complaining began.

"Why do I do this to myself?" Zeke wailed, "This might actually not be worth it!"

"Yeah, well I'm going to have to deal with it when I get home too, you guys get a break. Oh I wouldn't come over to my house for a while guys. With dad on this kick he'd make us train while the girls and Ryan watched laughingly." Troy grumbled

Gabi looked at her boyfriend with concern in her eyes, if he was like this now how was he going to be when the game came around? She maneuvered herself out of his arms and stood up. She got behind him and began to massage his shoulders. He was really tense, but he instantly relaxed at her touch, "Come on Wildcat, we've still got 45 minutes left, let's go be alone. I know how to distress you." She bit his earlobe gently. He nodded and got up. No one at the table seemed to notice as the happy couple slipped away.

Gabi led Troy to the rooftop garden. "Sit." She directed. He did as he was told and sat down on the bench. She got behind him and began to massage his shoulders, then she moved down his arms and back up again. Once that was done she moved down his back. Slowly pushing on the muscles getting them to ease a bit.

"Troy, I'm worried about you. This is the first practice like this. The game's in two weeks, if you keep this up you're going to be dead. And I'm going to be very unhappy. Plus we'll lose without you there. And if you can't handle the practices then Zeke, Jason, Chad, and the rest of the team are screwed. And on top of that, like you said, you've got it at home. Maybe you should spend the next couple of nights at our house. Just to get a little rest." Gabi rambled on.

Troy laughed inwardly and surprised her by whipping around and capturing her lips in a kiss. When he suddenly pulled back she whimpered slightly, "You talk too much and I'd love to stay over if Lisa and Carl don't mind."

"They won't she sighed. And we'll ask your mother, not you dad, that way we'll get a yes. In fact, let's get on that now." Gabi smirked triumphantly as she pulled her cell phone out of her purse. She quickly dialed her house number.

"Hello." It was Lisa

"Hi Lisa it's Gabi."

"Honey is everything okay?" she was worried

"Um yes in a way. But in a way it's not. I'm worried about Troy. His dad is pushing him awfully hard and I was wondering if he could spend a couple of nights over at our house, just to get away from the home practices. I think that three a day is more than enough seeing how exhausted all the boys are, I think having them when he came home might kill him. So I was wondering if maybe we could be a tad manipulative and ask Mrs. Bolton if Troy could sleep over, I'm sure she shares my concern." Gabi went on

"Oh dear, I hope Chad's alright." Lisa fretted

"They're all exhausted they came into homeroom late and looked dead." Gabi gushed, making her case.

"Let me call Lucille right now, I don't see why not, and you're right about not asking Jack he'd say no. I'll call you back in a minute." They hung up.

Gabi smiled triumphantly, "One down one to go." Troy leaned in to kiss her just as her phone began ringing again.

"It's done, she's dropping off his things now so he can come straight here." Gabi smiled and they said goodbye and hung up.

"After practice Wildcat you're coming home with me, your mom is dropping stuff off as we speak, for four whole nights."

"Sounds perfect." Troy said, the sat happily together until the bell rang.

After a grueling gym class for everyone the guys had free period practice. Then they had basketball practice. All the girls sat up on the bleachers watching Coach Bolton all but whip the boys. Finally the whistle blew and it was over.

"Troy when we get home, we'll have a little one-on-one." His dad told him.

"Actually mom called today, I'm spending a few nights at Chad's. Gabi and I have a huge project and so I'm going straight there after school." He explained.

Jack frowned, but nodded nonetheless, he'd have to talk with Lucille. The guys showered and made their way back home. Gabriella, Ryleigh, Chad, and Troy made their way into the Danforth residence and quickly went up to their rooms to do homework before dinner.

Gabriella sat on her bed with her physics spread around her, while Troy sat on the other side reading Beloved. She'd been working on the same problem about friction for what felt like ages and had gotten nowhere. Finally she shoved the paper in her book and tossed it across the room, allowing it to collide with the chair that Gilligan was sleeping peacefully one. She let out a frustrated groan at Troy's chuckle and stormed over to her balcony doors, thrusting them open and going to lean against the railing.

Troy smiled at his girlfriends actions, put Beloved down and made his way to the balcony. He took in her appearance from behind and had to smile. He watched as she rubbed her temples in an attempt to rid herself of a headache. Sighing he walked up behind her and removed her hands from her head, instead he replaced his own fingers there and began rubbing soothing circles as she rested her head against his chest. Having enough of that, Troy gently began to trail kisses down the back of her neck. Finding her soft spot, he began sucking lightly, causing her to moan. He moved his hands away from her temples and used them to remove her sweater. Letting it drop to the ground, he began rubbing his hands up and down her arms as he kissed her bare shoulder.

He pulled away after a few minutes, "How's the headache?" He whispered in her ear.

"Huh?" she asked, slightly dazed by his actions. He chuckled as "DINNER" rang through the household. He helped her slip back into her sweater and they made their way down the steps to the dining room hand in hand where everyone else was already sitting.

Once dinner was served Carl began the conversation, "How's homework going?"

Gabi groaned loudly as she speared a piece of chicken angrily with her fork. The table laughed as Troy rubbed her thigh soothingly, causing her to jump slightly.

"That bad?" Lisa asked

"Physics." Gabi mumbled

"Oh I know!" Ryleigh said, "I might call Tay and see if she can come over and help me cause I'm so lost."

"Well, I haven't looked at it yet. Let me just finish up with Beloved then I'll see if we need reinforcements." Troy smiled and again laughed at Gabi's expression.

The subject changed for a while until Carl asked, "So boys, how's basketball going?"

Gabi groaned again, ANOTHER bad topic. "It's tough." Chad said. "Though I can only imagine how it is for you Troy. No offense, but your dad is working us to the bone." He grumbled.

"None taken, believe me I know." Troy said shaking his head. Suddenly Gabi got up and began to run back up the steps to her room. "I got it." Troy said, "El?" he called as he ran up the stairs after her. He caught her at the landing on the second floor. "What's up baby?" he asked

Gabi was crying, her body trembled as different thoughts ran through her head, all things leading to bad. And it all had to do with basketball. "Elle? I need you to talk to me sweetie." He repeated, wrapping his arms tightly around me. She sobbed into his chest. He looked towards the first floor landing and shrugged, everyone was standing there wondering what was wrong. Ryleigh was slightly pale, afraid for her sister.

"I just don't want you to get hurt." She mumbled into his chest

"Ah, so this is about basketball." He whispered, he felt her nod into his chest. He picked her up bridal style and carried her to he bedroom. He sat down on the bed and pulled her into his lap, laughing inwardly when he heard the Danforth's piling around the door, all wanting to hear what would happen next. "Okay, so tell me what's bothering you for real now."

"I'm just so worried. He's working you so hard. What if you really end up hurt Troy? What if Chad really ends up hurt? I don't fancy the idea of getting a call saying that one of you guys is in the hospital because of basketball." Troy was about to interrupt, but she continued, "And it might not just be physical. I'd bet a 100 bucks that by the end of the Championship game, one of the players is seriously hurt, emotionally, mentally, or physically." She sobbed

"Okay Ella, what if I talk to dad? What if I ask him to take it easy okay? How does that sound?" He whispered in his girlfriend's ear. He felt her nod and sighed. This was taking it's toll on her. He held her for a few minutes and felt her breathing even out. He looked down and saw that she was asleep. He slid out of her grasp and tucked her under the covers. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips and heard her moan slightly when he broke contact. He chuckled and turned off the lights, quietly shutting the door behind him.

Everyone was back in the dining room pretending that they had been there the whole time. Troy smiled and shook his head, "She's really worried."

"About what?" Chad asked casually as he shoved food into his mouth.

Troy shook his head again, "As if you guys didn't know."

"Whatever are you talking about?" Carl asked

"You guys wouldn't exactly when spy of the year award." Troy said wryly.

"Basketball, she's really worried Troy, we all are. Sharpay was near tears after P.E., she was afraid that Zeke was going to die." Ryleigh was exasperated, and so thankful that Ryan didn't play basketball. "We were all on edge. I mean P.E. was a training session, we're just lucky that we're all in shape. Your dad is lucky we're all in shape, because someone could have easily passed out on him."

"Losing to West last year really hurt him. And it was only because Jason had broken his ankle, so we were out one starter, and that's all we needed. We only lost by three points." Troy sighed "I'm going to try and rationalize with him tomorrow."

"At least he's not doing lunch practices." Chad sighed, stuffing his face.

"Cause you wouldn't be able to handle that if you couldn't eat." Lisa said dryly. The table laughed and finished eating. Once the dishes were put away Troy walked into Ella's room and went to finish his homework on the balcony. Once he was done he got ready for bed and slid in next to Ella. She immediately adjusted to him being there, sliding over to tuck her head into his neck and throwing her right leg over his legs. He smiled and kissed her forehead before drifting off into his own sleep.

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Mollie XOXO