Thanks you for the amazing reviews, I read them with a big smile on my face!

Vanilla, I am sure Troy does get his braces off but I haven't written it in that he does.

Sunnycougar, thanks for the note, I am glad you mentioned it because I would rather know if something doesn't sound right or detracts from the story. Saying that, I've written this story so I prob won't be changing it. x

CHAPTER 12

"Give me a T!" Gabi called as Troy opened the door to Gabi in her cheerleading costume and he frowned at her

"Really?" he begged, dressed in soft sweat pants and an over size t-shirt

"Give me a T!" she called again, praying she could make him laugh, get him to smile, get him to do anything other than think about his sad situation.

"T" he said flatly and rolled his eyes and she smiled excitedly, making him smile in return as her face lit up.

He felt guilty for robbing her of that child-like enthusiasm and weighing her down with his problems.

"Give me an R!" she called again and they went through his name until she launched herself at him and he caught her with a chuckle

"Come for dinner?" she begged.

He blinked "I better not" he said thinking if his dad caught him next door it would only make him angry again and he didn't need that right now.

"Okay then I'll make you something" she said determinedly, coming into the house

He watched her as she went past him and prayed his dad would be at work all night, never quite sure when he was coming home depending on how busy it was.

"What do you have…?" she pondered as she went through his fridge and found more than she expected to find but then she knew Troy worked out and he must have to eat well to do that.

"Okay how about Macaroni cheese?" she suggested

"My favourite" he smiled at her as she went about making dinner and he watched her from the kitchen bar.

He heard the door go and he sat up stiffly, panicking as he heard his dad come through the house, Gabi's gaze meeting his with fear in her eyes.

"I can go…" she pointed to the back door as Jack came into the room before Gabi could leave.

"Oh there you are" he said to Troy and Troy breathed in relief as he knew his dad was sober. "And who is your friend?" he asked as Gabi stirred the cheese sauce, afraid she would give Troy away if she looked at his dad, and a little bit afraid of him too.

"Err dad, th-this is G-Gabi" he said and Gabi turned, pasting a smile on her face

"Hi Mr Bolton" she beamed

"It's not often Troy has friends round" he smiled at her "It's nice to meet you" he said and Troy stared at him.

Of course he didn't have friends round. What did he think he'd want people to know his dad was a drunk?

"And you" Gabi said shyly

"And a cheerleader" he lifted his brows "Never knew you had it in you, son" he patted his shoulder and Troy looked at him, horrified

"Dad!" he complained, blushing bright red

"So, you live next door?" he asked Gabi as he moved across the kitchen and Gabi tried to stay really still.

"Mm-mm" she agreed, mixing the pasta and sauce and looking round to Troy for support.

Troy got up from his seat and came over to pull some plates down from the cupboard, effectively coming between his dad and Gabi.

"We're going to sit in my room" Troy said levelly to his dad as Gabi dished out the food and he collected some cutlery from the drawer, taking a plate from Gabi and then her free hand as she turned to him.

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"I'm so sorry" Troy said as they sat on his bed and he sighed heavily, picking up the comic that Gabi had brought him the day before and moving it out of the way.

"You don't need to be" she said, unaffected

"I can't believe he came home" he continued, feeling so awkward

"Are you coming back to school soon?" she asked, noticing his cheek was less bruised and red than the day before

"Next week" he said as he pressed his lips together

She put her fork down and leaned across to kiss him gently on the cheek, missing his bruise

"What was that for?" he blushed

She shrugged "I don't know. You're cute sometimes" she said and he smiled at her shyly

"Sometimes" he said more than asked

"Only sometimes" she agreed

"The rest of the time?" he wondered

"Very cute" she grinned and he watched her for a moment before finishing his food as she did the same

Gabi put her plate on the floor and lifted her knees up onto the bed so that she could face Troy.

"I can bring your homework by if you'd like?" she asked softly "I can't tomorrow because there's a game but how about Friday?"

He nodded "Thank you"

"And you could come for dinner" she almost pleaded "We're having pizza" she added

Troy leaned back on his bed, unsure how to act with a girl in his room. He kind of wanted to pull her onto his lap but he wasn't sure if she would appreciate that. He folded his arms and tensed up.

"Okay. What time?" he checked

"Come by about four thirty. We can do homework before dinner" she suggested

"Now wasn't it you who once told me that if a girl asks me over for homework, we don't actually do homework?" he pondered

"Nice try." She said drily "But I have to actually do homework"

She sat next to him against the wall, leaning into his shoulder, not finding it comfy as she fidgeted.

He rubbed his lips together and watched as she shifted on the bed, laying next to him and eyeing his chest.

"Well move your arms, silly" she chided gently and he unfolded them, which allowed her to curl into his body, resting her head against his chest. He slowly curled his arm around her shoulder, really awkward with this situation, but strangely comforted, too. He wasn't used to being close with girls. Kissing her in the cupboard was bad enough but hugging was a new thing to him.

She snuggled into him and he wrapped his other arm around her front and curled his hand onto her upper arm.

"Mmm" she sighed, tipping her knee across his thigh as she finally got comfortable.

"I don't want you to go" he said, wrapping her into his arms and for the

first time really showing his true feelings to Gabi.

"Then I won't" she said, cuddling into him and he took a breath as he thought about the complications of having her there

"My dad won't let you stay" he said

"But he can't hurt you when I'm here" she argued and he felt his heart tighten painfully.

"Please, Gabi" he begged and she sighed

"Okay" she conceded, holding him for one more long moment

"I'll see you tomorrow" he said and she looked up at him, seeing the fear in his eyes, just wanting him to relax and she nodded, getting up to go.

He walked her to the front door where she took his hand and gently stroked his fingers with her thumb, then stroked his face with her other hand before she turned to go and he shut the door with a sigh.

"Did you tell her?" his dad asked from behind him

Troy dipped his head "No, dad. Your secret's safe" he lied, heading for his room.

"Troy" he called as he made it halfway up the stairs "I'm sorry, son, you know that don't you? You know it's just because I miss your mom" he asked gently and Troy shook his head

"Yeah, sure, dad" he agreed disbelievingly, heading back into his room.