So sorry for not putting this up earlier! Please read everything!!

Chapter 13 – Slipped away

Gabriella hugged herself as a gush of wind caressed her sad face. She couldn't believe what she saw a few hours ago. She didn't even recognize the Troy that was in front of her, holding her and importantly, hurting her. She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his words repeating over and over in her head.

.."I DON'T FUCKING CARE!!"..

She passed her hand over her swollen arm, wincing at her own touch. She put her face in her arms that were hugging her knees. Letting out a sigh, she got up from her position on top of the park table, putting the hood of her sweater over her head before walking back to her house.

-"Gabi??" She heard a voice said behind her. The voice of the person she didn't what to see at that moment.

-"Hey Alex.." She said, turning around, not even trying to hide her sadness.

-"Hi!Hey are you okay??" He said, putting a hand on her arm, making her moved herself away from him.

-"Yeah."

-"Are you sure??"

-"Yeah. I need to go." She said and quickly turned away and started walking faster.

She finally reached her house within 10 minutes of walking. She took the keys out of her shoes, opening the front gate. She stepped inside not before taking a look a the Bolton's house to which she found dark. Not a single light coming out of it. She took a big breath before stepping inside, making her way to the front door. She just opened the door when Frank quickly pulled her into a tight hug, making her wince. Once he pulled out, she faked a smile.

-"Where have you been all of this hours??It's all ready dark outside!" Frank said to her, taking her face in his hands.

-"Sorry Papi. I went to walk to the park and I lost track of the time." She lied, smiling at him.

-"Probably since Chad came to give you back your cellphone."

-"Yeah. It probably felt out of my pocket when I was sitting on the couch. I'll be in my room.." She said and started walking up the stairs. She opened her room door and slowly walked toward her bed, letting herself fall on it.

-"Knock, knock."

-"Come in Papi." She said, looking at him.

-"What's wrong Lala. You seem so..sad. It's definitely not the Lala I know." He said, lying on her bed, next to her.

-"It's nothing."

-"I know you very well, darling. You can tell me anything, you know that."

-"It's nothing."

-"Does it have something to do with that young boy Troy?" He asked her. She looked down at her finger, not responding at him."I see.."He said, looking up at the ceiling.

-"What do you see Papi?" She asked him, turning on her side to face him.

-"I see..a beautiful young girl who's life isn't the best in this world. I also see, a life that changed in the process of starting a new one somewhere else. Knowing new places and new faces." He said, turning on his side too, brushing her hair while she looked at him in the eyes."And most importantly, a young girl who fell in love.."He finally said, smiling at her.

-"How can you know that??"She whispered to him, taking his hand.

-"How??Well, I see that little spark in your eyes every time you see him, talk about him or when you hear his name."

-"I do?"

-"Yes.."She looked down at their hands. She let out a sigh, while playing with his fingers, a silent slowly coming between the two. After a few minutes of only having each other company, Gabriella finally spoke up.

-"I always feel something inside of me every time I'm around him or talk to him or even when he bumps into me. I could say that they are butterflies, I'm not really sure but I know I feel them.."She said before another silent came upon the two."I do know also that I can't wait to pass another day with him, be close to him.."

-"Could you say that you like him more than a friend?"

-"A lot more.."She said, finally looking up at him.

-"Come here sweetie.."He said opening his arms for her to get in.

-"Listen to your heart. Close your eyes and just listen to it."He whispered to her."What do you hear?"

-"The sound of pumping."

-"What else?"

-"It's quickly getting faster.."

-"Why?"

-"Because I'm thinking of him.."

-"What does all of that says to you?"

-"I have fallen for him..and hard."She finally said, hugging him closer, her eyes slowling closing with one single person in her mind and heart. Troy Bolton.

zvzvzvzvzvzvzvzvzvzv

A week have passed since Gabriella didn't talk to Troy nor Chad; not even Jack. It's was actually friday morning on a dark day since clouds were slowly forming in the sky, telling that a bad storm was slowly approching. Gabriella was standing in front of her bathroom mirror, looking at herself, mostly at her arms that still had bruises on them. Slowly walking to her closet like every morning, taking out a t-shirt and a sweater, slowly putting it on to not hurt herself. She walked into an empty kitchen since Frank went back to Washington three days ago. She already missed his presence and advices. She took some juice out, quickly drinking it before she left for another painful day of school. Since that day in Troy's house, she didn't smile like she used to and everyone noticed. Even Carlos, who passed less time home noticed. But she didn't care if everyone looked at her with pity, wondering what was wrong it her.

Gabriella got out of her car, already feeling the eyes of the entire school on her. Sharpay quickly came to join her, sending glances at everyone around them.

-"Hey Gabi." She said with a smile to her best friend.

-"Hey Shar." Gabriella said, forcing a smile.

-"Do you still want to come after school at my house? We could see some movies?" She said, trying to cheer her up.

-"Sure."

-"Okay then.."She said, before both of them made their way inside the school.

Sharpay waved at her before she got into her own car after a long day of school. Gabriella looked up at the sky which was becoming darker by the hours. She turned the engine on, slowly getting out of the parking lot, right after Sharpay.

Quickly parking her car, she got out and made her way toward Sharpay's house for a evening with her since she knew that passing another evening all by herself would depress her more. She stood in front of the door, waiting for Sharpay to open it.

-"Hey Gabi!"

-"Hey Shar."

-"Come on. Hurry up, I already put some popcorn in the microwave and brought some gummy bears. We are watching 'The devil wears Prada', hope that you don't mind."

-"Not at all." Gabriella said, smiling at her.

-"Good!" Sharpay said, pulling her toward her room.

zvzvzvzvzvzvzvzv

-"See you tomorrow Gabi!" Sharpay screamed at her, before closing the door. It was already 9 o'clock of the night, which Gabriella decided to go home after passing the entire evening with Sharpay and Ryan, who came to join them after hanging around with the guys. Gabriella walked faster when she heard the sound of a thunder, telling her that the storm was close and rain could fall at anytime. She zipped her sweater up, felling the wind getting stronger by the second. She turned on her street and her eyes closed when she saw a car pass by her, quickly recognizing it. She looked down at her feet, trying to hide herself. She kept walking forward, quickly looking down again when she saw him get out of the car. She looked up and felt like everything went into slow motion. She passed by him while he looked up too, their eyes connecting for the first time in a week. He looked at her, as if she killed someone. She bit her bottom lip and kept walking until she stopped in her movement. She turned around and faced his back.

-"I didn't know." She simply said to him, making him stop in his track."I knew that I shouldn't have gone into that room. I didn't know you would be so mad. I'm sorry."She spoke again, looking at him."I'm really sorry.." She said in a low voice, almost in a whisper before she turned away. Troy heard her starting to walk away from him. He closed his eyes before he spoke to her.

-"Why did you do it then?" She stopped and slowly turned around."Why?" He asked her again, turning to face her.

-"Curiousity?"She said, looking down at her hand.

-"About what? If I haven't shown you that room, maybe because I didn't want you to know about it?"

-"I didn't think it will bother you so much.."She said in a low voice. As the last word came out of her mouth, little raindrops started to fall quickly turning into a storm. They let out a groan at the contact of the cold water. She was about to turn around when he spoke again.

-"Well it did!" He said, over the rain.

-"I know but I'm really sorry and I could do anything to change everything!"

-"Like you could!"

-"I know I can't change everything!" She yelled at him over the loud rain.

-"But why did you do it?"

-"I was trying to know you more!"

-"Why? Didn't everyone told you I was an asshole for the past 5 years? What do you need to know more??"He screamed at her, getting closer to her.

-"I know! I just needed to know the real you!!"

-"What?!"He said, confused.

-"Don't you get it!!Everything has to do with you!!" She yelled and turned around.

-"What are you talking about??" He said, taking her by the arm.

-"I was just trying to get through you!"She responded, yawking her arm away.

-"Why?!"

-"You don't even want to know!!Just go back to your old self being at what you are best!!" She screamed to him, quickly turning around.

-"GABRIELLA!" He screamed at her retriving figure."Gabriella!!" He screamed, taking her by the waist, turning her around to face him.

-"LET ME GO!!" She screamed, hitting his chest.

-"I want to know!!" He yelled, trying to control her arms. Once he took both of her wrist, he pulled her toward him, his face close to hers. She stopped moving and looked at his blue eyes."Why.."He whispered to her. She looked at his eyes, her hair sticking to her face and with the rain disturbing her vision. She looked at him for another second before she quickly attached her lips to his. He stood there in shock, while Gabriella pulled away and took a last look at him before running away. Gabriella ran toward her house, her tears blending with the rain. She quickly went through the gate and the front door. She closed the door behind her when she heard someone standing up. She turned around and came face to face with Carlos.

-"Dad?" She said, wiping her tears away.

-"Hey sweetie. Where have you been?"

-"Sharpay's. What are you doing here at this time?" She asked him, wiping some more tears that where falling from her eyes.

-"Come here.."He said to her, while he sat down on the couch.

-"What's wrong?" She asked him once she sat down next to him.

-"Sweetie, I have to tell you something."

-"What?"

-"I was at work when I received a call."

-"What kind of call??"

-"Sad one."

-"Tell me dad."

-"It's about Papi.."

-"What! What wrong with him!!Tell me he's okay!!" She said, getting more nervous.

-"Sweetie..he-he died today."

-"What.."Gabriella said in a whisper.

-"He died, honey.."He repeated, bringing his arms around her.

-"How.."She mumbled.

-"He was sick Gabi. Very sick. He had cancer and well, we were waiting for this day. That's why we came this last week. To pass his last days with you."

-"And you didn't tell me.."She said, slowly turning to face him.

-"He didn't want to."

-"But I'm your daughter!!" She half yelled, standing up.

-"I know but he didn't want to." He said, standing up to hug her.

-"Don't touch me!" She said, her voice cracking.

-"Gabriella, honey."

-"I hate you.."She whispered.

-"What?" He said, getting closer to her.

-"I HATE YOU!!" She screamed at him before walking away from him. Her body started shaking before she could reach the stairs, making her fall on the ground, crying her eyes out.

-"HONEY!!" He screamed running toward her.

-"DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME!!" She screamed at him.

-"Honey.."

-"Don't.."She said her tears taking control of her. He walked backward until he reached the couch, slowly sitting on it. He let his tears drop while listening to his daughter cry. After 15 minutes of her cries filling the room, it went completely silent making him to look up. He slowly walked toward her, thinking she was asleep.

-"Honey??" He whispered but didn't receive a reply. He looked at her to see that she had her eyes opened but which seemed blank.

-"Gabriella." He said, kneeling next to her. He put an arm under her but she moved away from him. He tried again but she did the same thing."Please honey, don't be like that." He pleaded but she didn't respond to him. He brought his hands to his face, crying in them. After 5 minutes of trying to do something with her, he stood up and walked toward the phone.

-"Hello?"

-"Hello. It's Carlos, could I speak with Troy?" He spoke.

-"Hi Mr Montez! How can I help you?" Troy said on the other line.

-"Troy! Thanks God you're there!" He said, passing his hand in his hair.

-"What's wrong Mr Montez??"

-"You have to come!"

-"Now?What's wrong??"

-"It's about Gabriella!"

-"I'll be right there!!" Troy quickly said in the phone before he hung up. Carlos turned around and looked at her daughter's lifeless body, lying on the ground. In less than a minutes, he heard a knock on the door.

-"Troy!" He said opening the door.

-"What's wrong!!" Troy said turning to look at him, not seeing Gabriella. Carlos slowly moved away from his vision, showing Gabriella on the ground.

-"Ella!!" He quickly said, running toward her.

-"She won't talk nor react. I don't know what to do Troy!" He said looking at him, kneeling down next to his daughter.

-"Ella.."He whispered to her, brushing her hair. She closed her eyes and slowly moved her head toward Troy, looking up at him."Come on.."He whispered again, putting an arm under her knees and back, before taking her upstair in bridal style. Carlos was about to follow but Troy turned around."I'll take care of her.."He simply said to which Carlos nodded. Troy slowly walked to her room, closing the door behind them. He put her on the bed but she quickly tighted her grip around his neck.

-"Ella.."He said to her. She moved closer to him, holding him tight. He pulled her up again and walked into the bathroom. He turned the water on before he slowly stepped into the shower with her in his arms. Once she felt the water make contact with her skin, she let out a cry holding him more. He sat down, putting her on his laps, brushing her hair. He slowly unzipped her sweater, while she looked up at him, putting a hand on his to stop him. He brought her hand to his lips, softly kissing it before he unzipped her sweater completely. He pushed the sweater of her shoulder, feeling her tremble against him. Once he took the sweater he brought his hand to brush her arm but saw that she winced a little bit. He stopped his action and slowly looked down at her. He caught her eyes before moving his glance at her arm only to see the bruises. He slowly looked at her other arm only to see that she had bruises on too. He brought her into a hug, kissing her at the top of her head.

-"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.."He repeated in a whisper to her. She brought her arm around his chest, hugging him while he closed his eyes and kissed her again."I'm sorry.."

Okay, first, I want to tell that I'm really sorry for not putting this chapter sooner but I've been really busy with school, it has been crazy!Second, I'm working on new stories(4 the be specific)that I'll start after this one end since at least two or three more chapters before this story ends. I'm thinking of maybe doing one of them in a YT story. And third, I'm working on 'still lucky' and I'll try to put a new chapter once March comes by, so wait for it!

Peace out!

Tati =D

Oh..and thank you so much for all the amazing reviews!!