A/N: Once again thanks for the reviews! This is a Troyella story for those unsure, it's just going to take a few twist and turns along the way :). Enjoy! Xxx

Gabriella stood speechless and rooted to the spot as she watched Troy trying to calm Sharpay back into her usual docile nature but, his efforts didn't seem to be working as effectively as either of them hoped. Sharpay was still shaking as she curled up on the two seater sofa, her tears staining her rosy cheeks. Her grip on Troy's hand intensified until the point Troy had to pull his hand back in fear of her crushing his bones.

"Please don't leave me..." Sharpay whimpered.

"I won't," Troy told her softly knelt down beside her. A smile crossed Gabriella's face as his caring side once again was revealed to her. Troy's sparkling blue eyes settled on Sharpay, his hand reached for a small box underneath the nearby table which Gabriella could soon identify as a first aid kit. He unlatched the buckle with one hand, keeping his eyes fixated on Sharpay while he reached for the small needle in the equipment.

"What is that?" Gabriella asked quietly feeling like a spectator.

"Something to help her sleep..." Troy mumbled prepping it. Gabriella frowned watching him as he held the needle up for Sharpay to see. Sharpay nodded her head to give him permission and he took her arm and pushed the needle into her skin. Gabriella was cautious with what Troy was doing but, Sharpay trusted him and Gabriella didn't think Troy could ever hurt Sharpay he cared for her too much.

Slowly Sharpay's eyes drooped shut and she was soon in slumber. Troy carefully removed the needle disposing of it in the bin.

"Is she going to be ok?" Gabriella queried.

Troy nodded and scooped Sharpay up into his arms, her head rolling back. He adjusted her weight until he was certain she was supported before carrying her down the corridor into one of the small rooms to lie her on the bed and allow her to sleep in peace.

Gabriella's curiousity went into overdrive as he disappeared out the room with Sharpay. She wanted to know what had happened to bring Sharpay into such a state, away from her usual confident characteristics and more so who's blood covered Troy if it was not his own. Her eyes scanned the room once Troy had departed, she hadn't paid much attention to the room the last time she was in it because the consumption of alcohol had distracted her and earlier she had other thoughts on her mind. Gabriella's attention was attracted to a small photo of a middle aged woman with the estimated age of 35 aligned in the centre of the table. Her fingers grazed it while she examined it further finding something about the pictured woman very familiar. Her dark hair cascaded down to her shoulders in loose curls and a bright smile captivated her but, it was her eyes that intrigued Gabriella the most her luminous ocean coloured eyes that mirrored Troy's.

"That would be my Mum," Troy informed her returning to the room.

Gabriella jumped not expecting him to back so soon, she kept the picture in her hands turning to him.

"How's Sharpay?" She questionned, her eyes scanning his naked torso where he'd shed his bloodied shirt.

"Sleeping," Troy answered holding his hand out for the photo whilst walking further into the room. Gabriella complied and passed the photo, seeing it held some sentimental value to him. He pulled his wallet out from the back pocket of his jeans after collecting the image.

"She's beautiful," Gabriella smiled faintly.

"She was," Troy murmured returning the photo to his wallet sitting down next to her.

"What happened to her?" Gabriella asked wondering whether the question was too bold.

"Her heart stopped beating," Troy shrugged showing disinterest- sat crossed legged on the couch.

"Her heart stopped beating?" Gabriella frowned before rolling her espresso eyes. "You're not going to tell me are you?"

"Not much to tell," Troy responded shutting his wallet. "She's dead. End of."

"How old were you?" Gabriella inquired tucking a loose curl of hair behind her ear.

"5," Troy answered.

Gabriella nodded, figuring that was the last bit of information she could coax out of him.

"Why are you here?" Troy questionned breaking the silence which, had developed between them.

"I ran away from home," Gabriella shrugged. "My Mum... She's just become such a control freak."

"No," Troy sighed. "Why are you here?"

Gabriella frowned unsure what Troy was getting at until it was revealed to her.

"You could have gone anywhere else, family, friends... A motel," Troy continued.

"I feel safe here," Gabriella admitted. She could swear she saw a glimmer of a smile on Troy's part and that gave her that their liason wouldn't just be brief. He pushed himself up from where he was seated and headed into the kitchen turning the oven on.

"What you doing?" Gabriella asked following him through.

"Getting something to eat," Troy responded grabbing some food out the cupboards.

"You can cook?!" Gabriella gasped in mock horror.

"You've met my Dad," Troy smirked. "Do you really think he cooks?"

"... Well I've had the image of him in a frilly apron for a while now," She teased.

Troy smiled slightly, his mood lightened by her presence.

"You hungry?" He offered.

It wasn't until then that Gabriella realised the scale of hunger, her stomach rumbling as she hadn't eaten since breakfast and it was now nearing 10. She rested her hand on the worktop, letting the surface slide under her fingers.

"I'm taking that sound as a yes," Troy taunted.

"Yes please," Gabriella giggled. Troy added some more pasta to the saucepan, stirring the contents.

Half an hour later and both Gabriella and Troy were back in the living room with plates rested on their laps.

The tv was on at a reasonable level and Troy appeared to be the only one paying attention to it.

Gabriella played with her food pushing it to each side of her plate. It wasn't that Troy was a bad cook, from what she'd tasted he was an excellent cook. It was the fact she couldn't erase the haunting image of blood from her mind and it was unnerving. She happened to glance over at Troy as he shifted to make himself more comfortable on the sofa and quickly dropped her plae.

"Shit!" Gabriella cried grabbing the first aid kit.

"What?" Troy frowned jumping at her sudden outburst.

"You're bleeding!" She exclaimed. He followed her eyeline as she grasped at the fresh shirt he was wearing, spotting the staining blood emerging.

"Oh... That is mine."