Hello all

Thank you for your kind words, I am blushing, but I also take what you say and use it to motivate me to keep writing. I always worry that after writing a good chapter the next one falls a bit flat lol.

You may be pleased to know my new story is going to be a 2 parter and I have already written 23 chapters for the first part and am already working on the second, so I have a fair amount of material for you to read yet!

This story is 32 chapters so not long left…I will prob take a break over xmas and start posting the new one after xmas.

Enjoy…

Ang

CHAPTER 29

Gabi walked around school the next day feeling better about Troy. He wasn't out of the woods yet, but he was getting there.

She sat at the base of their tree at lunch, pulling out her phone to text him

Gabi: Chad's coming to see you today with your homework.

Troy:  I want you

Gabi: I can't come today, I'm sorry.

Troy: Are you ok?

Gabi: I have to do Math homework

Troy: Are you allowed out to play tomorrow?

Gabi: I'm allowed to stay over tomorrow night if you'd like 

Troy: I would like that VERY much.

Gabi could picture his sexy grin as she held her phone in her hand, grinning at his text.

Gabi: I'll see you after school Friday, Troy boy

Troy: ILY

Gabi: ILYT

---

Gabi got home from school, her many school books weighing her down physically as well as mentally. For the first time in her life, Gabriella Montez was struggling with schoolwork. She spent most of her time with Troy, or thinking about Troy, which meant she had little time to do homework and study.

It wasn't natural for her to fall behind. She liked everything in order and she liked it that she was good at school.

She sighed as she headed up to her room, feeling the weight on her shoulders again that she was hiding from Troy.

She pulled her books out, working studiously all through the night until her eyes were so tired that they drifted shut of their own accord.

**

Gabi woke the next morning, confused as to where she was. She realized quickly she had fallen asleep at her desk and her face was stuck to her notebook.

She got up slowly, her body aching and sore from the awkward position she was fixed in.

She looked at her calendar, and the pressing feeling that had been hovering around her for the last three days hit her again.

The mark on the calendar showed when she was due on her period. She'd stopped her pill on Monday and she was due on any day now. But it worried her that she was late. She really didn't want to think about the possibilities right now.

She took a long, hot shower to ease her muscles then went down to breakfast with her mother.

"Morning Gabriella" her mom greeted

"Morning Mom" she yawned

"Are you okay, you look tired?" she looked at her daughter's strained face

"I fell asleep studying" she admitted

"Oh, honey, that's not like you. Are you finding it hard to keep up with everything going on?" she asked with concern as Gabi munched on her cereal.

Gabi lifted her brown eyes from her cereal "If I say yes will you stop me from seeing Troy?" she asked quietly

Mrs. Montez almost cried. Had she really got that bad? That her daughter was afraid of being honest?

"Oh my baby, of course not" she rubbed Gabi's arm gently and watched as her lip quivered, pre-empting her tears.

She hugged her daughter to her "Everything will be ok, Gabriella" she promised

"I don't like being behind, mom. I know how much it means to you that I get good grades…" she took gulps of air as she tried to explain

"Gabriella, I will do everything I can to help you with your schoolwork. But please don't think that's more important to me than how you feel about Troy" she offered

Gabi looked at her "He's my focus right now" she admitted

"I know" she stroked Gabi's hair "And I hope you have a nice evening together tomorrow"

---

"How was Troy last night?" Gabi asked Chad the next day at lunch, resting her tired head in her hand.

"He was good. I've not seen him that happy since he got hurt" he smiled "Must be something to do with the love of a good woman"

Gabi blushed and Taylor smiled at her friend "What aren't you telling us Gabi?" she asked

"Nothing!" she denied

"Well he couldn't stop talking about you" Chad said then, happy to see his best friend settle down with Gabi

"Really?" she asked shyly

"Really. I think without you, he'd be in a really low place right now." Chad shook his head "I don't know how I would cope without the game"

Gabi sighed "I know, he's going to find it really hard"

"Honey, you have got way too much on your mind" Taylor said, taking her hand "Why don't we have a girly night tomorrow?" she suggested

Gabi smiled "I would love that, thanks Tay"

---

"Gabriella Montez!" Mrs. Brown called sharply from the front of the classroom

Gabi jolted, realizing she had fallen asleep at her desk.

A few students laughed around her and she blushed.

"Troy keeping you up is he?" Anne Marie called from behind her, giggles going round the classroom once again.

Gabi stared at her as Mrs. Brown told her off.

"Oh that's right, I forgot, he's not actually able to keep you up is he?" she added quietly as Mrs. Brown went back to the lesson.

Gabi blanked her, wondering why Anne-Marie had it in for her all of a sudden. Fiona had been her worst nightmare and how the tables had turned, that a girl who used to be her friend was now her bully.

After classes had ended, and Gabi was finally released from the hell that was East High.

---

Troy tidied up the living room carefully as he nervously waited for Gabi's arrival. He had so much to be grateful for, and for the first time this week, he wasn't in agonizing pain. Still in pain, but not overwhelming anymore. And his doctor's today had told him he could go back to school on Monday. He couldn't wait to tell Gabi the good news.

Just the thought of seeing her had his stomach fluttering like a giant butterfly.

He heard her knock on the door and moved as quickly as he could to open the door, leaning on his crutches, an excited smile covering his lips.

He took one look at the girl in front of him and wondered where his Gabi had gone.

She had dark circles under her eyes and she was hunched in exhaustion.

He didn't even speak; he just pulled her into his arms as she stepped into the house, his crutches hanging from his elbows.

"What's happened, babe?" he asked, his voice strained as he held her tightly against him.

She pulled away, a blank expression on her face.

"I'm so tired…" she said

"Come, sit on the sofa" he invited, taking her through to the lounge, a worried expression on his face as she curled up on the sofa.

He sat next to her, taking her into his lap and holding her to him once more. She wound her arms around his neck and he sighed with relief. She was in there somewhere.

"Oh babe" he husked, his hands going up her back, into her hair and stroking her hair gently, preciously.

He gently rubbed her back until he felt her go limp in his arms, knowing she had fallen asleep. She moved to get comfy, her head in his lap as she faced away from him and he wrapped his arm around her body to comfort her.

**

Troy rubbed Gabi's arm, wondering what was wrong with his amazing girlfriend. He had seen her angry, upset, wanton, but never like this.

Gabi stirred, looking up into his face as she turned in is lap. Her fingers went to trace his cheek. "Hi" she smiled weakly

"Hi" he answered, helping her sit up.

"I'm sorry…I didn't mean to just zonk out like that…" she looked confused

"What's up babe?" he asked, taking her face in his hands

Gabi wondered if she should tell him about her school work. He had enough to worry about without her adding to it.

"Gabi, please tell me. I promise, I can handle it, whatever it is." He swallowed

Her brown eyes turned on his, so deep and soulful; he felt a tug in his stomach from the emotion she evoked in him.

"I've had a shit week" she said bluntly and Troy thought, that's only the second time I've heard her swear in all the time I've known her.

"Is it us? Is everything ok?" he asked nervously

"I'm behind at school" she admitted softly, not wanting Troy to think for one moment that this was anything to do with him.

Troy looked at her, surprised by her answer, but knowing how much studying she did and how difficult it must be for her. "Because of me" he guessed

Gabi sighed "See, this is why I didn't tell you, because you just go and think it's all your fault and then you think up some crazy idea that I shouldn't see you and then I just get all upset and can't concentrate on anything…" she was interrupted by Troy's lips covering hers.

"Ignore me, I'm an idiot" he murmured "Talk to me" he insisted

She looked into his amazing blue eyes "I've had a lot going on. Right now, my priority is you. And I don't mind sacrificing my time for you. But I'm not sleeping and it's beginning to wear me down" she admitted

"How come you're not sleeping? Because of the nightmares?" he asked

"A little. And just worrying about everything. And then today Anne-Marie started getting bitchy with me" she sighed "I just feel like my whole universe has changed and I have no control over it" she said, exasperated.

He hugged her to him again "I'm here for you. Anytime you need me" he said "I don't care if I'm on my death bed, you better text me next time you're feeling like this" he scolded lightly

"You have enough to worry about" she pointed out

"Actually I have some good news" he smiled slowly, his eyes lighting up

"What is it?" she asked with a smile

"I am allowed back to school on Monday!" he announced

Gabi sat up sharply, throwing her arms around his neck "Oh my god!" she cried

He caught her, chuckling deep in his chest "I know, babe, I can't wait to get back to normal"

Gabi looked at him carefully "Do you think you'll find it hard, not being able to play?"

He sighed "Yeah. It's gonna be weird."

"You have us" she reminded him

"I do." He smiled "I'm starving, do you want some food?" he asked then

Gabi smiled. Her boyfriend, the human gannet.