A/N: ok i had like major writers block but i finally got it out and i have to give a shout out to BP(aka RandomReader101) she helped me get motivated and with alot of the stuff towards the end b/c i lost my concentration nd actually she gave me like 5, 6 lines nd she helps me every week nd i love her mucho hehe so big thx 2 her without her well...u wudnt b reading this right now so b happy! anyway on with that chapter

Can't Help But Wait

Chapter 10

Troy's POV

I sat the next day, watching Gabriella with Sharpay, Taylor and Kelsi. She seemed as if she was avoiding me lately. I went next door to give her a ride this morning and her mom had told me she already left. That was a little odd to me because she usually waited for me or told me when Bryan was taking her.

I saw her at her locker this morning, but when I went to say hello, she made an excuse and rushed away from me before I could say anything in response. I tried talking to her throughout the day, but there was always the interrupting and the whole having class thing.

As I watched Gabriella, not only did I have hate toward Bryan, from taking her from me, but I also had a feeling he was why she was avoiding me. I loved Gabriella, so much more than I should and I couldn't stop.

It was pretty evident to the entire gang what Bryan was doing to her now, but I was the only one that confronted her. They guys were constantly watching, making sure that he didn't her to bad and the girls were watching out for any suspicious behavior between the two of them.

I tried to figure out how to do more for Gabi. I didn't wanna see her hurt, not at all, but she made me promise to let it go. I wouldn't exactly let it go, but I'd make her believe I did.

I walked over to their table and quickly rested my hands over Gabriella eyes, motioning for the girls not to say anything as they giggled.

"Guess who," I told her, still covering her eyes.

"Hmm, I don't know. Could it be a certain boy whose name starts with a T and ends in Roy?"

"Ah darn," I said in mock disappointment as I removed my hands and she turned to smile at me. "How'd you know?"

"Oh I don't know, your voice, your hands. Oh wait, maybe it was the championship ring on your finger," she gasped, smirking.

"You got me," I said, holding my hands up before sitting beside her. "So what's up ladies?"

"Eating lunch obviously," Taylor answered me.

"Well thank you Ms. Smarty," I said sticking my tongue out at her.

"Hey you asked," She defended.

"Well as much as I would like to stay here I just came over here to steal Brie, so my lady," I said, holding out my hand for Gabriella.

She giggled and shook her head, taking my hand. "I'll bring her back soon," I promised the girls.

"Oh take your time," I heard Sharpay say from behind us and then I heard her shriek. "Oww! What I was just saying."

"So what did you wanna talk about?" Gabriella asked as we made our way down the hallway.

"I didn't," I confessed. "I just wanted to hang out with my best friend, is that a crime?"

"No but…"

"No buts, let's go," I said, pulling her along to my secret spot.

She sat on the bench next to me on the rooftop, looking a little nervous.

We sat in silence for a few minutes, which led me to believe something was wrong with her. As long as we had been friends there had never been an awkward silence between us or a moment when we didn't know what to say. There was most definitely never a time when she felt nervous around me either or vice versa, but I guess this was a time of changes for both of us.

"Brie?" I questioned her silence at the same time she spoke.

"Troy, there's something I need to say..."

"Oh sorry," She said, immediately.

"No you first."

She started playing with her hands. "Well um, it's about us…"

I got the teeniest bit excited when I thought she could be ready to say something to me. Maybe I wasn't the only one in this friendship that felt we should be more.

"What about us," I encouraged her to go on.

"Well…about us being friends."

I nodded, signaling for her to continue.

"I really…being friends with you is amazing and you know I love you, more than anything but uh…Bryan doesn't want me hanging out with you anymore," she blurted out immediately looking down and avoiding my gaze.

Gabriella's POV

I looked down quickly after I said this. I don't know what was suddenly causing me to get all shy around him, but I didn't like it too much.

Troy cleared his throat and I felt him move on the bench. He was staring out over the roof and I instantly felt bad for telling him this. "Troy, it's not like I don't want to be friends with you, it's just Bryan had insecurities..."

"So this is about your boyfriend's insecurities?" Troy snapped, causing me to jump slightly at his tone." And I'm supposed to stop my life because of him."

"No, Troy, I just…"

"You what Brie? I mean I honestly can't believe you're listening to him."

"I don't have a choice," I said, tears starting to flow freely down my face.

"What do you mean you don't have a choice? He doesn't control you." Troy said, his voice getting louder.

Troy, believe me when I say this is harder on me than it is on you," I tried pleading with him. "Troy, the last thing I need for you to do is stop living your life but if you care about my well being.....you'll....you'll stop talking to me. It's for the best."

I looked up at Troy face to see him trying to control his anger and I knew he had every right to be mad at me. "HOW IS THIS FOR THE BEST??!!!??" He yelled, and I could tell he was getting angrier by the second.

I sighed, knowing I had no other choice. I loved Troy and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt him, especially with these newfound feelings I was feeling toward him now. I couldn't stay friends with him, not while I was with Bryan, it would hurt us both.

I simply turned around; lifting up the back of my shirt to reveal a big bruise that I knew was resting on my back before speaking again. "Because it will put an end to this". I looked at Troy stunned face and then turned and left his standing there. It was getting worse, so worse that it had come to terms that I was hoping it wouldn't have to come to, but it did, and there was no way around it.

--

"SHE HAS WHAT ON HER BACK," Sharpay screeched at Troy the next day in the lunchroom. Heads turned toward their table and he quickly shushed her.

"There were bruises on her back?" Taylor asked alarmed.

Troy simply nodded. Chad slammed down his drink and stood up. "That's it, I'm kicking his ass."

"Chad, stop," Troy called behind him. "As much as you and I both wanna hurt him, we can't."

"And why not?"

"Because it will only make things worse. Think about what might happen if he finds out she told me. He might just hurt her more."

"Yea, but think about this Troy, if we beat his ass to a pulp, he won't touch her," Chad, replied getting impatient.

"Chad, listen to him, he's right," Taylor, said, siding with Troy. "Plus you can't fight him now, you'll get suspended."

Chad sighed, defeated. "So then what do we do?"

"Can't we go to the police," Kelsi asked.

"We can, but who's to say he won't still hurt her?"

"Screw that," Sharpay said. "You're just gonna sit there and let him beat her half to death? No I say we come up with a plan that involves all of us and Bryan and me and my 7 inch heels, connected with his face."

"Sharpay, calm down," Troy spoke to her. "I'll get a plan and it won't involve beating him to a pulp or bashing his face with heels…at least not yet."

A/N: ok one more thing b4 i leev u alone REVIEW lol