A/N: Hello! I'm so sorry by the delay with this chapter, people! Seriously, my life is being crazy and I don't have time to do anything! :( real life can suck big time! I've been working on this chapter whenever I've had the time, I swear, but nothing convinced me…I mean, I've started the chapter and deleted everything I had…fffffff…more than six times! This has been difficult and I'm not 100% sure with how this chapter has turned out, but I hope it makes sense with how the story has been developed.

You'll see, once you finish this, that there are like two "holes" – that's been done on purpose because what fills those holes will be explained in the next chapter – but even with those holes I think the plot continues making sense. Those "holes", as I've labelled them, are not an impediment for me to take a step further with the plot because that's what I've done (I hope) with how I've ended this chapter. I really really really hope you'll like this…

(I'm seriously afraid, btw!)

I know you're not interested in that as you were before (some chapters ago, I mean) but this story is super important for me and I want to work on it consciously and thoroughly; I don't want to leave holes and I don't want to just end the story in a rush, either. Each one of my characters has a meaning for me, is important and also is a reflect of a part of myself…and so I want for it to have its moment, the moment where his or her personality finishes its development. I swear I'm so very sorry you don't find this as interesting and you all seemed to think "Breaking Walls" was…but this story is the next step for "my cure", and just for that I know I need to finish this.

I really hope you can understand me…

For those of you (the few of you) who're still reading this…here's chapter 28. Enjoy! :)


"Are you sure you'll be okay?"

He nodded silently avoiding her eyes but she knew him better than he thought; she lifted his chin with her fingers and locked her eyes with his, repeating her question softly. This time, unable to free himself from her grasp, he couldn't help but let his real emotions flow out of him. "No."

It was just a two letter word…but it meant a lot. His admission of weakness was costing him a lot, both him and Gabriella knew that, but he felt better knowing that he could muster his real face, his real emotions, his real feelings to Gabriella without any kind of worry. She was the only one who could understand him the way she did – completely – and she was also the only one he wanted to be with when he felt so fucked up as he was feeling at the moment. Just her presence, her scent helped him…and the feeling of having her arms around his body, her lips pressed softly in his skin, the tender caresses of her fingertips along his arms were the things he was grabbing onto to not fall into a black hole of desperation, pain and sadness he was sure would be consuming him if not because Gabriella and her magic had come to find him like a lifesaver.

The couple was embraced in front of her car, which was in front of the building where his home was. They had walked from the park in silence and with their bodies pressed together and she'd been able to feel his arm around her shoulders tighten with each step that brought them closer to her car, with each step that brought them closer to the moment she would go home and he would be alone. She knew he was dreading the moment where he would feel himself alone with no one to talk to and with all the thoughts that were plaguing his mind, but she needed for him to admit precisely that so they could work on it together.

That was the reason because of she felt relief ran through her veins at his whispered word because it meant that she'd been able to read through his lie and that she'd had the truth out of him. It wasn't as if he was cautious around her; he usually told him the truth of his feelings and his thoughts but, sometimes, Troy felt as if to show weakness was something bad, as if that was something that would make the others mock him and laugh at him and so he buried his deeper emotions inside of his core not letting anyone in…at least at first because, in the end, he would cave and look for comfort in her, something Gabriella was thankful for. Since the moment they had embraced and he'd pulled her on his lap, the connection between them had gotten even stronger; it was weird because Gabriella thought that wasn't possible…but she'd been wrong all along because she felt so closer to him, she felt his pain as if it was hers and the misery that was eating him alive as if it was also eating her…as if they were one person instead of two different beings.

"I'm not going anywhere then," she said lowly while pulling him towards her body again and sighing when she felt something wet landing on the warm skin of her neck. "Hey, everything is going to work out…"

"I've hurt him too much, Ella," he said, his voice throaty and husky. "He won't forgive me."

"He needs time," Gabriella said rubbing his back softly.

Troy shook his head. "I've fucked up big time…now it's too late."

Knowing that whatever she told him wouldn't help him, Gabriella sighed and pulled her phone from her sweats, typing a text message to her parents never stopping the soft movement of her free hand along his back, soothing him and trying to ease his pain.

'Mom, I'm safe and at Troy's. I'll be home in the morning but I can't leave him now; he needs me. Love, Gabriella'

Putting the phone inside of her pocket again, Gabriella sighed and pulled away from Troy. "Let's go inside, come on…"

TWOFTWOF

"Go in the bathroom and take a warm shower; it'll help you to relax," Gabriella whispered already pushing Troy with her hands on his shoulders. "I'll wait for you here."

Troy took the hint and began to walk towards the bathroom adjacent to his room only to stop when he was in front of its door. "Ella," he called in a throaty voice, turning around in time to see Gabriella stopping and also turning around, looking at him confusedly.

"What?" She asked with a worried expression because of his blank face, his dishevelled state and the thunderstorm behind his usually blue eyes.

Troy bit his lip – there were so many things he wanted to say yet he didn't know how to phrase, so many thoughts he wanted to share yet he didn't understand them himself, so many worries he was afraid to voice because then they would be real, so many emotions she was making him feel he was afraid of loosing them if he said the wrong thing, that he simply stood there, watching her and reading the confusion, her own fear and her worry for him in her face. Silent seconds turned into silent minutes and then he sighed; leaning his back into the wooden door of his bathroom, Troy closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Thank you."

It was simple yet meaningful; it didn't cover everything he wanted for her to know but he knew she would understand and read between lines like she always did.

And she did. Walking back towards him noticing how his eyes were still tightly closed, Gabriella stood in front of him with a soft smile plastered on her face. "Open your eyes, Troy."

He did what she told him to do and then inhaled sharply at the intensity he could read in her perfectly brown eyes, stunned not only by her beauty but also by her concern, by her glorious face he wanted to see everyday, by the love shining in her eyes he hoped would remain untouched until the end of their days…by the care with which she was looking at him that made him want for them to get lost together in a place where no problems and no worries taunted them.

Her arms snaked up to his neck and then he could feel her body pressed with his, her breath washing over his face and the tickling sensation that overcame him every time Gabriella played with the hairs of his nape. Her lips found his for a brief time…brief but enough to snap him out of his reverie her perfection had made him fall into and wrap his own arms around her, pulling even closer and deepening the kiss desperately, craving to feel the joy and the happiness only Gabriella could make him feel. She opened her mouth slowly and he crawled his tongue into her wet and warm cavern gladly accepting the invitation, moaning when Gabriella let out a low and throaty moan herself and slipping his hands under her top so her warmness invaded his whole him.

The need of air soon overcame them and Gabriella pulled away breathlessly, closing her eyes briefly when Troy touched her forehead with his. "I love you," she whispered, blushing furiously when Troy's eyes locked with hers.

"I love you too," he said with a strained voice hugging her tightly and as close as possible, burying his head into her hair and just inhaling deeply so the scent that was she calmed him.

Gabriella pulled away and smiled sweetly at him. "Now go take that shower; I'll wait for you here."

"You need clothes," Troy said frowning pointing at her sweats and top.

"I'll be okay with that," Gabriella shrugged her shoulders already sitting on his bed and then lying down. "Now go take that shower, come on, I need my pillow if I want to sleep."

The wink that accompanied her words made him smile a sincere smile. Shaking his head, he went to her and kneeled on the mattress beside her body; lowering his head until his nose rubbed hers, Troy kissed her lips softly once. "And who says that said pillow will want for you to sleep on?"

She giggled playfully. "So…you really say you would let me sleep without a pillow? That's just mean, you know…"

He chuckled good-naturedly and nodded. "Fair enough," he kissed the tip of her nose. "Okay, you'll have your pillow only if you accept to step out of your clothes so you can be really comfortable."

Gabriella blushed and widened her eyes in what Troy recognized was sudden fear. Those same eyes that had been locked with his all this time found then very interesting a random spot out of the window – she was avoiding his scrutinizing look. "I'm…I'm…comfortable."

"Baby," he said while pulling away once he noticed the change in his girlfriend's voice and posture – her back was tense, her muscles stiffened and her face had become blank, without showing any emotion.

"No, Troy," Gabriella said rolling away from him and sitting on his bed, hugging her legs closer to her body. "I'm okay, really, now go…"

"Not a chance," he shook his head and moved closer to her, wrapping one of his arms around her shoulders, tightening it when he saw her wince and try to shake it off. "Tell me what's in your mind."

"Troy please, go shower," she sighed still not meeting his concerned and worried eyes moving her shoulders so Troy took the hint and freed her. "It's late and I'm…I'm tired…"

He sighed in defeat knowing that Gabriella could be so stubborn and that she didn't want to talk…they wouldn't talk. Freeing her from his grasp, Troy leaned down and kissed her hair. "I'm sorry…for everything and…and I love you…so much."

Not even looking back, Troy went into the bathroom and Gabriella sighed when she heard the water already running. She didn't know what has possessed her to act this way but the words he'd spoken had senselessly scared her, because she was aware that she was overreacting…yet she couldn't help it. She knew he would never force her to do something she didn't want to do; she knew he really cared for her; she knew his feelings for her were so deep she really was important for him…but even though she knew all that, she also knew he was experimented, she knew he'd been with uncountable girls, she knew he'd made love a lot of times with multiple girls…and that was what, precisely, scared her – she was afraid she wouldn't be able to satisfy him when they made love, she was afraid he would discover she wasn't what he wanted…but, mostly, she was afraid he would kick her out of his life when he knew she wasn't ready to even think about to take that step with him (or with anybody for that matter) anytime soon.

The euphoria she felt every time he told her he loved her vanished from her body and soon sadness washed over her. She wanted to make him happy, to please him and make his life easier and happier, to make him want her and to make reality his wishes and dreams…but how could she do that when she wasn't able to even talk about the physical aspect of a relationship with him? How could she do that when she wasn't ready to let him in all the way? How could she do that when she was afraid of just be herself 100% in front of him? Because she knew she could voice her thoughts and everything with Troy…but there was always that hidden fear, that hidden trauma, that hidden worry, inside of her that became a barrier at some point and made her feel a little girl lost in the middle of a dark forest.

A faint click snapped her out of her reverie yet Gabriella didn't lift her head from her shoulders, not daring to look at him and read disappointment, hurt or, worse, hate in his face. But Troy wouldn't allow her to go back into her shell. "Ella," he said sitting beside her but not touching her. "We need to talk."

He felt refreshed after the shower he'd just taken; his sore muscles weren't as sore and his mind was clearer than before…and though the drama with Chad still worried him, his main concern, at the moment, was Gabriella. While he showered he'd been thinking about reasons for her sudden weird behaviour and he'd come back empty; he couldn't think of a reason for her to be so distant with him, for her to shut him out…and that was killing him. He'd been thinking about if he'd done or said something that could have gotten her upset yet he'd found nothing; they had been okay, she'd been even flirting with him, they had talked, kissed and embraced and she'd seemed to be at a perfect ease around him…yet something had happened for Gabriella's behaviour to so drastically change.

Even though her body was close to his, the truth was that Troy felt as if their bodies were miles apart; he couldn't help it but feel as if Gabriella was drifting away from his hold, as if Gabriella was leaving his life…and that was something he not just couldn't bear but didn't want to even think about. The possibility of loosing her now that he'd found her scared him endlessly and he knew, he was positive, he would fight against everything and anything that was scaring her in order for her to not ever leave his side…but he needed to know what it was to be able to make everything better – he needed to know which the demon was so he could fight and win, he needed to know where the problem was so they could talk and, together, solve it…he just needed to know what was bothering her so they could be in their private bubble where only them and perfection existed…again.

Gabriella, on her part, felt tears burning in the corner of her eyes. She felt so stupid, so naïve and so ridiculous she didn't dare to lift her head from her knees so ashamed of herself she was. She couldn't believe he'd already showered and that astonished her – had she been hiding her face in her knees for just this long for real? It seemed impossible yet it was true because she could smell the scent of his gel and his cologne, smells she's grown used to and loved them to death, that always calmed her but that day were useless because she could still feel her nerves running wildly up and down her body. She knew he was waiting for an answer, a sign that told him that she was alive…but she couldn't bring herself out of her shell so embarrassed she was; however, the awkward silence and the tension she could feel emanating from his body were making her feel ever worse so, finally, she decided to talk but not move. "Then talk."

He sighed. "I want to talk to you while seeing your eyes."

"No," she sniffed.

"Yes," he said sternly shifting closer to her and narrowing his eyes when she backed away from him. Hurt, shock and sadness mixed in his heart, stabbing his heart painfully over and over again. The last thing he needed was for Gabriella to act that way with him; he felt bad enough with everything going on with Chad and the thing that had comforted him all along was to know that he had her by his side…but, at the moment, she was everything but, which hurt him more than everything he'd even suffered before.

The sadness and hurt soon became fury, the frustration he was feeling like a beast eating him alive. "What the fuck, Gabriella?"

She gasped, not just because he'd used her whole name – something he'd never done since the first day they met at the oak – but also because of the venom she could feel in his voice; the anger she'd been expecting was actually there and she couldn't help but whimper in fear at what he would do.

"What have I done?" He asked standing up from his bed and pacing in front of Gabriella's statuesque form. "You were okay and now…and now that? You won't ever look at me! You're shutting me out without any reason and I have all the rights to know what the hell has gone into you to behave like this!"

The ire was blinding him; he only could see red and not the girl shaking in fear he had in front of him. "I've apologized in case I did something that upset you, I've told you I love you, I've tried to hug you yet you're still hiding from me…and I…fuck, Gabriella, why are you being like this?"

"Stop," she begged in a trembling voice.

"I don't want to stop," Troy hissed in frustration. "I feel bad enough with everything that has happened tonight and I just wanted to cuddle with you and hug you and kiss you and forget everything but you and me…I just…fuck, I just needed you…"

His last words, soft, whispered and almost said in defeat, were like a cold shower for Gabriella, who lifted her head and looked at him with her eyes wide. "You what?"

Troy saw the change in her and looked at her questioningly not really knowing if it was a bad sign or a good one. "I what what?"

"That last thing you've said," she whispered not moving her eyes from his. "You really mean it?"

Troy shrugged his shoulders and put his hands in the pockets of the basketball shorts he was wearing, suddenly feeling helpless, shy…as if the only thing that was left for him was to surrender and try to ease his pain – that now was even worse – alone. "If I mean what? That I just wanted to cuddle with you, hug you, kiss you and forget everything but you and me?" Gabriella didn't say anything but kept her eyes locked with his. "That I needed you?" She nodded silently this time and she heard him sigh never breaking their eye-lock. "Of course I do."

If until then she'd been crying – huge but silent tears – when he whispered he really meant everything he'd said she began to sob. Violent sobs corrupted her body and she left her back fell onto the mattress not having enough strength to keep a sitting position anymore, rolling over so Troy couldn't see this first hand the awful sight she knew he was seeing at the moment. She felt stupid, desperate and afraid; she was sure she'd lost him behaving the way she did, not trusting him and just shutting him out when she knew he needed her. She felt heartbroken and miserable because she'd done the last thing she wanted to do – hurt him and made him feel bad – when she promised to herself he would never feel sad because of her.

Troy, on the other side, stood frozen in front of his bed really lost and not understanding anything at all. However, this frozen state lasted just seconds because when his brain registered she was actually crying, when his brain registered she was hurting, when his brain registered she felt miserable, he lowered onto the mattress beside her trembling body as closer as he could and then wrapped his arms around her from behind pulling her even closer so her back and his front were pressed tightly together. "I love you, Ella…of course I meant…of course I mean everything…"

She turned then and wrapped her arms around his torso, burying her face in the crock of his neck. "I'm so sorry…"

With the way she was clinging to him, with the way she was pressing herself closer to him, with the strength with which her arms were wrapped around him, Troy felt his heart rebuilt – they needed to talk, of course they did, but he didn't feel her as far away as before which, at the present time, was enough. Deciding to just try to comfort and sooth her, Troy began to rub his hands softly along her back under her shirt; he noticed her shiver but just tightened his arms around her and peppered soft kisses along her hair and her face…whatever part his lips could reach.

TWOFTWOF

The sobs subsided after a while – Troy didn't know for how long they had been lying without speaking to each other but he didn't care; he could feel her body less tensed and relaxed in the cocoon his body was and that made him relax as well.

"What happened?" He whispered pulling her face away and brushing the silent tears that were still falling from her eyes away with his thumbs.

"I'm sorry," she hiccupped closing her eyes tightly. "I just…I don't…"

He pecked her lips softly. "Hey," he cooed, "it's just me; you know you can tell me everything."

"I'm sorry," she repeated again.

"Baby, come on," he encouraged pulling her hair away from her face. "Tell me what's made you be like this."

"I was scared," she admitted in a low and throaty voice with her eyes closed, her past worries seeming to be silly because of the way he was looking at her and taking care of her.

"Of me?" He asked in an even lowest voice, his hands stilled in her face.

She opened her eyes then. "Yes…and no…"

Knowing that if he wanted to get the truth out of her he couldn't pressure her, Troy took a deep breath trying to calm his need to yell, scream and shout. "You need to elaborate that a little more…"

"You'll think I'm being silly," she blushed and played with the collar of his shirt.

"What?" He asked confusedly. "Why should I think you're being silly? If you're upset…if something has upset you the last thing I'm going to do is to think you're being silly…"

She closed her eyes in frustration at herself – she needed to tell him the truth so they could talk and be okay again…and she just wanted that! But just the thought of admitting to him that she wasn't ready to have sex made her feel so small and so immature and inexperienced she felt incapable to do so. His lips touched hers then and she opened her eyes again, only to meet his concerned face, his worried eyes and his love for her radiating from each one of his pores, and then she took a deep breath. "I'm not ready to have sex, Troy."

His eyes widened in surprise – hell, that was the last thing he'd expected for her to say! – and he chocked. "What?"

She sighed. "I've said I'm not ready to have sex."

"I've heard you," he stuttered. "But what has brought this on? Who's talked about having sex?"

"You?" She said, her voice sounding dubious now.

"Me?" Troy's eyes bulged and he felt himself getting redder by the minute. "When? I mean…I haven't said anything about that…I mean…not that I don't want you…because I want you…so much but…you know? I mean…sex? No one has said anything about it…"

"Well, not about sex itself but just…" Gabriella didn't know how to continue; she was aware that he hadn't said the word 'sex' but the way he'd talked had it implied. "I just want you to know that I'm not ready."

"I know that," he answered nodding his head. "But I want to know what has made you think I was talking about sex…or that I was implying it or…hell, tell me what I've said so you think about sex." She blushed furiously and lowered her face even more only to whimper when two of his fingers lifted her chin softly. "Look at me, please…"

"It's just…" Gabriella sighed and then talked faster than ever too embarrassed as she was to speak calmly. "I've realized you'll need more than what I can give you and…shit Troy, you've been with a lot of girls and you have an experience I don't have…I mean, I've never been with a guy and I don't want to disappoint you…I mean…you have needs I can satisfy but…well, of course there are loads of girls ready for you to…"

"Woah!" Troy said covering her mouth with his hand when he realized what she'd understood from his words and what she was implying. "What the heck are you talking about?" Her eyes were wide and her breath became laboured, making Troy to lower his hand, embrace her again and kiss her nose softly. "Baby, I want to be with you…when you're ready to be with me, when you want to be with me and, more important than all that, when you're convinced that you want for me to be your first. I'll follow your lead, whichever speed you want to go, because I love you…and I'm willing to wait for you as long as you want because you matter to me…a lot."

Fresh tears began to cover her eyes and she sniffed. "I'm sorry…"

"Hey now," Troy smiled sweetly at her and rubbed his nose with hers. "There's no need to apologize; when I've talked about you being out of these clothes…I just meant that I wanted for you to wear something more comfortable, I wasn't implying I wanted you without any clothe."

"See? I was being silly," Gabriella muttered in embarrassment.

"That's not true," he said hugging her tightly. "I shouldn't have said that…or at least not that way."

She sighed in contentment once his words kicked in – he knew she wasn't ready and he wouldn't pressure her – and so she relaxed in his embrace, taking deep breaths knowing that his scent would be the faster thing that would help her relax.

Troy, on his part, was biting his lip in nervousness. There was another part of her fear he wanted and needed to reassure but he didn't want for his words to come out wrong upsetting Gabriella even more. "And about my needs…"

Gabriella's head snapped away from its place under his chin, her cheeks fuming bright red again. "No-no…"

"Yes," he said softly locking his eyes with hers. "I may have needs but, Gabriella," he insisted when she struggled to free her head from his grasp so she could bury it in the crock of his neck. "Those needs…can wait; the physical side of a relationship is important but it's not the most important part of it – the comprehension, the care, the love, the company, the friendship…everything is as important…and…I wouldn't…I won't jeopardize what I have with you just because I can't keep but dick into my pants…" His eyes widened when he realized what he'd said and he rushed to explain himself. "Which I totally can, I mean…"

She giggled seeing him so troubled to find the words to say and then he stopped his rambling and looked at her. "Am I doing a fool of myself, right?"

"Yep," she answered smiling. "But you're cute when you're embarrassed."

He chuckled. "No please, seriously, tell me you understand what I'm trying to say…"

"I understand," she whispered pressing herself closer to him. "And I'm glad you feel that way."

He relaxed again and welcomed her new closeness rolling her onto her back, hovering her body with his and pressing his lips softly to hers. "I love you."

"I love you too," she smiled. "And about those clothes you were talking about…"

He pecked her nose and stood up, going towards his closet afterwards. Rummaging between his clothes, Troy muttered some nonsense that made Gabriella stood up too and went to him, wrapping her arms around his torso from behind. "What are you looking for?"

"Aha!" Troy said victoriously turning around with an old long and big shirt between his hands. "That's going to be perfect!"

She took the shirt and wrinkled her nose. "Why?"

"Oh," he cleared his throat and rubbed the nape of his neck in what Gabriella knew were nerves. "Is just…that's my favourite shirt…is old, I know, and…you won't want to wear it but…I've thought…well, my mom wants to throw it away but…it's the first shirt I had when I became a member of the basketball team when I was 15 and…I've had it since then…" She just kept looking at him with a smile on her face but saying nothing. "I mean, if you don't want to wear it…is totally fine with me…of course…but…well…"

"I'd love to wear it," she said lifting the shirt to her nose. "It smells like you."

With that, Gabriella turned and went to the bathroom to get changed and Troy looked at her back disappear around the door with a stupid grin that talked more than whatever word he could have said – there were things like this one that made him feel so grateful for having her, so in love with and so happy to just have found her that he knew that everything he'd said had come from the bottom of his heart: he would wait forever if that just meant to have her by his side all his life.


The beeping of her phone woke her up; reaching for it so the sound stopped and didn't wake Troy, Gabriella saw it was from her mom and she bit her lip before pressing the 'read' button. She couldn't lie – she was afraid of her parents' reaction at her decision to spend the night at Troy's – but she knew she had to read the text in order to avoid further damage, if there was really a damage to solve, that was.

Turning her head to her right, she couldn't help but smile and the sight of her boyfriend sleeping peacefully with his left arm wrapped around her stomach and cuddled into her body, as if he was looking for comfort or protection in his sleep. That made her heart soar; to just know that she was the remedy he needed in order to feel happy was enough for her to feel enough for him, if that made any sense. She lifted her hand softly and traced the contour of his face with her fingertips while a soft smile adorned her features – she couldn't believe she was this lucky; she loved him and he loved her back, she had an amazing boyfriend that not just was his boyfriend but also his best friend, that also knew her better than anyone and also the person she didn't want to lose, ever, if it had something to do with her. She didn't just want to have him by her side all her life but also to feel the special connection they felt since the moment 0 increase, get deeper and more meaningful – because she couldn't bear the thought of not having the 'feeling' between them, the 'feeling' that made words between them unnecessary, the 'feeling' that made her smile whenever she thought about him, the 'feeling' that made her forget her demons and just enjoy her life, the 'feeling' that made her feel worthy…the 'feeling' that made her the happiest she'd even been.

With a sigh, she pressed the 'read' button and couldn't help but smile at what her mom wrote.

'I just needed to go to the bathroom and I've seen your text. I hope this text won't wake you up but if it does, I apologize :) We'll talk once you get here but just know that we trust your judgement and that we know you're being careful. Tell Troy we hope he feels better soon. Love, mom'

Smiling to herself, Gabriella moved Troy's arm off her and put her pillow where her body had previously been so he didn't notice her absence, wincing when he mumbled something in his sleep and sighing in relief when he didn't wake. She grabbed her phone with her and then tiptoed towards the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Turning on the lights, Gabriella went to sit with her back leaning into the cold tub and dialled her mother's phone, hoping she wouldn't wake her up.

"Hello?"

"Mom," Gabriella whispered.

"Baby," Maria sighed softly. "Have I waked you up?"

"Yeah," the younger Montez answered. "But don't worry, I was also worried you would get mad if you woke up and you didn't find me in my bed."

Maria cleared her throat. "Is everything okay, there?"

"No," Gabriella whispered closing her eyes. "Troy is a mess…and…I haven't been able to leave him, mom, I just…when I've seen him so broken…and…and he's asked me to stay with him because he didn't want to be alone…I've just known I couldn't go."

"Aren't his parents there?" Maria asked curiously.

"Well yeah,"Gabriella mumbled in shyness. "But they don't know I'm here and…well, the problem he's had with Chad…I doubt he would go to his parents and talk to them about it. I mean, Troy's a very private person and he just wants for his things…to still be his things, you know?"

"Okay," Maria allowed after some seconds in silence. "I'm not mad you've decided to stay with him…I'd have done the same for your father if you were me but, just…please, Gabriella, be careful…"

Though Maria wasn't speaking the words, Gabriella understood her completely. "Nothing like that is going to happen, mom…and I know Troy, he won't pressure me into anything. You can relax, okay? We're just sleeping together as in…he sleeps beside me and I sleep beside him, nothing more and nothing less."

"I know you're responsible, sweetie," Gabriella could hear the smile in her mother's voice. "Is just…well, he's your first boyfriend and…"

"No worries," Gabriella smiled at the embarrassment she could detect in Maria's tone of voice. "We both know where we stand with that."

"Okay then, I'm not going to say anything more so I don't embarrass neither myself or you anymore," the older Montez giggled softly and soon Gabriella imitated her. "I'll talk to your father in the morning, okay? He won't say a thing, don't you worry, but please, come here in the morning…and with in the morning I mean in the morning, no at lunch."

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Will do, mom," she sighed. "I gotta go now, I don't want for Troy to wake up…"

"Okay, sweet dreams, my love," Maria said softly into the phone. "I love you."

"Love you too, mom," Gabriella said quietly pressing the "end" button of her phone and looking blankly at the screen for some minutes while biting her lip before she stood up and turned off the lights the bathroom while opening the door so the light didn't disturb Troy's sleep. Slowly and trying to be as noiseless as possible, again, Gabriella tiptoed towards the bed and, just when she was about to lie down again, the dim light of the lamp on his nightstand startled her. "Troy," she breathed. "You've scared me…"

Troy stood up then and walked to her, embracing her petite body into his lovely. "Sorry," he muttered with his lips against her temple. "I've just woken up when I haven't felt you there and then I've heard the bathroom's door opening. You okay?"

"I was talking to my mom," she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his nude torso. "She's answered my text and I've preferred to talk to her tonight than wait until the morning…"

"Is everything okay with her?" Troy pulled away and tried to read the truth in her eyes, knowing Gabriella's absurd need of trying to make everyone feel better though she felt like crap.

Gabriella, on her part, saw through him. "I promise everything is okay," she said lifting one of her arms from around his waist to his cheek and smiling when he leaned into her touch. "She understands you need me here with you."

"I do," Troy nodded. "But you won't be in trouble for that, will you?"

Gabriella giggled cutely. "I've already told you she's okay with me sleeping here, Troy."

"I was talking about your dad," he mumbled embarrassedly. "He's going to hate me."

"Hey," Gabriella said using two of her fingers to lift his chin for he lowered his face so she couldn't see the worry in his eyes. "Mom's going to talk to him and…I'm an adult, Troy, inexperienced and naïve and…silly and even stupid some times…but I'm an adult."

"You aren't stupid or silly, baby," Troy said tightening his arms around her and pulling her even closer. "If anything, the stupid here is me, not you."

"You know what I mean," Gabriella said sighed contently while pressing her cheek into his hard pecks relishing in the feeling of his strong arms around her and his body cocooning hers.

Troy could hear her breathing getting lower by the minute and pulled away. "Let's go back to bed, princess…you're exhausted."

She yawned. "A little," she said not letting him go but walking with him so their bodies never broke contact. "And I'm sure you're too."

Troy lied down and pulled her with him, pressing his chest into her back and spooning her from behind, interlacing their fingers together and taking a deep breath inhaling the sweet and fresh aroma of her shampoo. "Are you comfortable?"

"Of course," she answered while turning her head so he could see her face, smiling softly at him. "More than comfortable, actually. You?"

He leaned down and connected their lips in a sweet kiss so full of emotion, devotion, adoration and love, Gabriella couldn't help but shiver, making Troy to press his body closer to his and tighten his arms around her, warming her instantly. "With you I'm always perfect, baby."


"Can't we wait until they go out of the house so they don't see me?"

He sighed. "Ella, seriously, they are not going to say anything."

"Easy for you to say," she mumbled. "You're not the girlfriend they don't know who's slept in their house, in their son's bedroom without them knowing."

Troy rolled his eyes. "Baby, I promise you that – they are not going to tell you anything; they are going to wait for you to go and then they'll talk to me. You won't hear a thing."

"You talk as if it was normal for them to find a random girl coming out of your bedroom," Gabriella said flatly.

"Gabriella," he said, his tone warning.

"Sorry, that's come out wrong," she sighed. "What I mean is that you don't give any importance to the fact that they don't know I'm here…and for me this is a big deal. I'm not trying to say you're sleeping with different girls every night, I promise, but the fact that you talk about it with this normalcy…well, bothers me somehow."

His lips touched her forehead. "I understand that…but…once I explain to them why you're here, they are going to shut up and let us be."

Her arms wrapped around his torso and she pressed herself closer to him. "Couldn't you go first, talk to them and then come here so we go there together?"

Troy pulled away and locked his eyes with hers. "Would that make you feel more comfortable?"

Just when Gabriella was about to answer, the door of Troy's bedroom opened startling the embraced couple and Jack appeared there, widening his eyes in shock at the fact of finding his son with a girl he recognized as the one who changed his son for the better embraced together…with both him and Lucille in the house. He knew Troy had brought girls at home and had done God knew what with them there…but they had never been around when that had happened – that he knew, that was, because the sight he had in front of him made him wonder how many times they had had a girl sleeping in their son's bedroom with them ignoring everything.

"What's happening here?" His voice sounded cold, Jack was aware of that fact – and also of Gabriella's mortified face buried deeply in Troy's chest – but he couldn't help it; he didn't mind Gabriella sleeping there – he knew Troy wasn't a virgin – but the fact of his son lying to him made him angry.

"Dad," Troy nodded his head in greeting and tightened his arms around Gabriella's trembling body. "I'm sure you remember Gabriella, right?" Jack widened his eyes. Was his son really talking as if nothing? Too startled to say something, Jack nodded his head. "We'd like to talk to you…and to mom."

Gabriella snapped her head away from Troy's chest and looked at him in shock. "Troy…"

"It's okay, baby," Troy kissed her temple softly, his pose and voice sounding sure. "I want for them to know what happened with Chad…and why you're here."

"Chad?" Jack asked from his place at the door. "What are you talking about?"

"It's a long story," Troy said, the sadness he felt the night before coming wildly again when he remembered the last events with the boy he'd always considered his brother. "Can we go to the living room?"

Jack didn't know what to do – he could notice the way not only Gabriella clung from Troy but also the way his body gravitated towards her, as if he also was looking for some kind of protection or relief in her, which made Gabriella to lift his shirt a little and rub his stomach in soothing circles in a gesture Jack recognized at once for he'd done that to calm down Troy a lot of times when he was little. Something was wrong, clearly and totally wrong.

"Mr. Bolton," Gabriella's voice snapped the two men out of their personal bubble and soon both were looking at her – though her eyes only met Jack's because she was looking at him. "I'm sorry for intrude in your home this way…I understand you're mad and that you're probably shocked but, please, could you give us the chance to explain why I'm here? I promise you I'm not here to disrespect you or your home, not at all, and I wouldn't forgive myself if you thought Troy had done that."

Troy's lips touched her forehead again. "Thank you, baby."

"Jack!"

Lucille's voice came from the other side of the apartment and soon the older Bolton shook his head. "Okay, I'm going to trust you two and hear you out. Let's go."

The three of them stepped out of Troy's room – the younger couple with their fingers tightly intertwined encouraging each other – and soon met with Lucille in the middle of the main corridor, who gasped in surprise at the sight she had in front of her. "What have I missed?"

Gabriella blushed again. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Bolton, could we talk to you two before you jump into the wrong conclusion, please?"

Lucille couldn't forget the perfect impression Gabriella caused her when she met her and so, silently, she nodded. She was well aware of the tight look that was adorning her husband's face but, on the other hand, her heart was telling her to not just trust Troy but Gabriella as well; she seemed to be a sweet girl – the image of Gabriella breaking down in her son's arms was enough for everyone with heart to feel bad and sorry for the young woman – and she knew Gabriella was the reason behind Troy's change. Just for that the girl deserved all her respect and the chance to explain the reason of her being there without neither Jack nor herself knowing.

"Of course," Lucille nodded quietly. "Shall we go to the living room?"

This time Troy took the lead. "Thank you, mom." He said softly when he leaned down to kiss her cheek before he pulled Gabriella towards the living room, followed by Lucille and Jack, who shared a questioning and curious look.

The two couples sat in the two sofas the Bolton had; the older couple didn't miss the way Troy and Gabriella were sitting with their sides completely touching nor the loving look that was adorning Gabriella's features while looking at Troy nor the way he connected his lips with the hand of hers he had tightly grabbed with both of his.

"Troy?" Jack asked urging Troy to begin with the story.

The boy nodded once. "First of all, I want to tell you that if Gabriella is here is because I asked her to be because…because…"

Gabriella sensed the pain in his voice and she turned her face and kissed his throat. "I'm here, Troy, I'm here…"

Troy looked down at her and sighed. "Yesterday afternoon I met with Chad and explained to him that we're together; he took the news good and everything seemed to be okay but…but then I explained to him that…that I've befriended some of Gabriella's friends and that I've been hanging out with them…and that was what took for him to hate me…"

His last words were whispered but the other three people in the room heard him loud and clear.

Lucille gasped in surprise.

Jack widened his eyes because of the shock.

Gabriella squeezed his fingers showing her unconditional support.

And Troy closed his eyes letting the tears fall.


"Call me when you're at your house so I know you're safe," Troy whispered into Gabriella's curls when they were beside her car after the long talk they had with both of his parents.

Gabriella nodded into his chest. "I promise."

"God, I don't want you to go," he said, an edge of desperation in his voice.

She closed her eyes – his pain was also hers. "I'm sorry, baby, but I need to go home now because I have to talk with my parents."

"I know," he sighed tightening his arms around her waist. "I'm going to miss you."

Gabriella pulled her head away from his chest and gave him a sad smile. "I'm sure your parents want to talk to you alone now…you've just dropped a bomb to them…and…and I'm sure they both are shocked and will like for you to re-explain everything."

He groaned. "I don't want to talk about it anymore."

"Baby," Gabriella said softly grabbing his face with her hands. "You can't shut them out; they have accepted and understood me being here this morning and there while you talked to them but…there is a part of that 'problem' with which I'm not involved – the relationship you've had with Chad all your life…and theirs with him as well. You need to sort it out…with your parents, who are the ones who've lived your friendship with Chad first hand all your life."

"I understand that but," Troy sighed again. "I just can't believe I've been this stupid. Was so difficult to talk to Chad from the very beginning and explain to him everything? I'm stupid…"

"You're not stupid," she kissed the column of his throat. "You were worried he wouldn't understand you; you did wrong keeping everything from him but…to an extent, I can understand why you did it…and I'm pretty sure Chad will understand you too once things cool down a little and he thinks about what you told him."

"He hates me," Troy whispered. "I've fucked up everything."

Gabriella dropped his face and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Give him some time," she said kissing his tense jaw. "I'm going to help you with that…we're together in this, remember?"

Troy couldn't help but smile – though it didn't reach his eyes – at her constant need to make him feel better; she was an angel fallen directly from Heaven…his angel. "I don't know what I would do if you weren't here, Ella, I swear I don't know."

"You don't have to worry about it because I'm here, because I'm going to be here and because there isn't anywhere where I'd like to be more than where I'm now," Gabriella smiled and pecked his lips. "I'll call you later, okay? Do you want for us to do something this afternoon?"

"Would you get mad if I told you that I'd like to have some time to think?" He asked in a petite voice, afraid of her reaction and embarrassed at his own need.

"Of course not," Gabriella smiled. "Call me when you want to meet me, okay?"

"We could go to have some dinner," he suggested softly – needing her but also needing some time to himself at the same time.

Gabriella nodded. "Fine with me," she kissed his lips once more. "I'll have my phone with me all afternoon so you can call me if you really want to go out, okay?"

She didn't want to pressure him and, though she knew he wanted for her to comfort him and be with him, the truth was that Gabriella didn't want to help him to "forget" what had happened with Chad because she knew things couldn't be left the way they were at the moment; the last thing she wanted was for Troy to give up Chad and their friendship and so she wanted for Troy to think over everything, to analyze what he'd done wrong and also to understand Chad's reaction…without her being there physically but, of course, emotionally. Some alone time would do good in Troy, she just knew it.

"I love you," he whispered against her lips. "I love you so much, Ella, so much."

"I love you too," she answered before she climbed in the car and drove towards her home, where she knew both her parents would be already waiting for her to come so they could talk.

Firstly, though, she knew she had to do another thing. Once she had her car parked in front of the building where her home was, Gabriella grabbed her phone and sent a text to Meredith – the only one person who could help her.

'Hey Mer, could you give me Chad's number? I want to talk to him…without Troy. I guess he feels as bad as Troy feels…and I kinda feel this is my doing, I mean, I feel responsible for their fight and I want to talk to Chad. How is he? Troy feels horrible and is a mess; we were talking until late hours in the morning but I'm not sure I've been able to really help him… :( either way, I need is my responsibility to talk to Chad. Help me? love, Gabriella xx'

Meredith's answer arrived soon.

'Hey Gabi! Chad's a mess too. He feels betrayed and…hurt; I understand him…I would feel this bad too, but I think that he's so adamant in no hearing Troy because of that. I mean, he knows Troy and he knows he wouldn't do anything to hurt him on purpose but…the feeling of being left out…well, is what's hurting him. He didn't talk much, to be honest…but from what he told me…part of him wants to begin a fresh new start and the other wants to forget Troy and their friendship. I really think you talking to him will do some good and I, actually, was about to ask you to talk to him. His number is 456435531902. Call him and let me know what he says… :) good luck! Mer :**'

Gabriella memorized the number in her phone and then pressed "call" – better get over with it as soon as possible – waiting for Chad to pick up. The phone rang four times before a sleepy and throaty voice answered. "Hello?"

"Chad, it's Gabriella," she said softly into the phone hoping he would hear what she had to say before hanging up.

"Oh, hello," Chad said quietly.

Sixty silent seconds passed before Gabriella felt confident enough to begin with the chat. "I guess you're surprised I'm calling you but I want to talk to you."

"If that's Troy's doing…"

Gabriella interrupted him. "He doesn't know I'm talking to you, Chad, I swear he has no idea."

Something in Gabriella made Chad to trust her completely and he sighed. "I believe you. What do you want to talk about?"

"Troy, you, what happened…"

"He's a fucking liar," he growled into the phone. "He's kicked me out of his life…"

"Look, can we do that in person instead of by the phone?" Gabriella interrupted him again. "I know you feel betrayed and everything…and, to a certain point, I can understand you but…I'd like to talk to you, seriously. This…your friendship with Troy is super important for me and…and I feel responsible you both are like this now."

"How is that your responsibility?" Chad asked confusedly. "The one to blame is the fucking liar who ignored me and his friends because he was so busy with his new friends that we weren't important anymore…"

The bitterness in his voice told Gabriella that to talk to him would be difficult…but she didn't fear Chad, which was a first; she felt ready to speak her mind and to try and just help them both to sort out the mess both had inside. She just hoped she would be able to help them…

"Please Chad," she said softly. "Can we meet this afternoon and talk? I'm begging you…"

"Okay," he sighed after two more silent minutes. "I don't want Troy there though."

"We'll be alone," Gabriella nodded and try to convince her only with her tone of voice. "I promise you this is between you and me."

"Where do you want for us to meet?" Chad asked quietly again.

Gabriella thought about the options she had – where she wanted to go was the park but she knew there was a high chance for Troy to be there during the afternoon and so she tried to think about another place. "I don't know…where would you feel comfortable enough?"

"Can we meet at East High?"

The question startled Gabriella but soon the reason behind his request became clear – this was the place that held more memories with Troy than any other one.

"Of course," Gabriella answered. "At 4?"

"Perfect," Chad cleared his throat. "I'll be in the outdoor courts."

"See you there, then."

Chad sighed again. "See you."