Author's Note: Hey readers. I wanted you all to know that the story is going to be ending soon. I'm thinking 4-5 chapters more...hopefully 4 to make it 40 chapters long.

I wanted to make this at least 40,000 words and I'm at 34,956. I also wanted at least half of the reviews I got for my first story, so I need less than 10 more reviews total. It would make my day if I got more than that though. I also wanted one more person to put me on their favorite list for favorite story. If I got all of these things, I'd be so happy. R&R please! Always, schoolgirl 101

Chapter 37- Shadow

Gabriella smiled her hand intertwined with Troy's and her head leaning against Troy's shoulders as the group walked over to lunch.

Troy looked down at Gabriella and grinned.

Gabriella smiled and squeezed Troy's hand. "You're the best boyfriend ever, you know that Troy?"

Troy grinned widely at Gabriella and was about to respond when he felt a shadow hover above the two. The gang stopped moving to stare at the shadow.

"Well if it isn't Troy Bolton...and miss hottie." Jake spat.

"Don't call me that you jerk!" Gabriella yelled squeezing onto Troy's hand tightly.

"Hmmm...you look even better then the last time I saw you..." Jake said placing his finger underneath her chin to bring Gabriella's face up to look at his.

"Don't lay a finger on her." Troy barked at Jake.

"Hmmm...well if it isn't Troy Bolton...junior varsity captain. Well if I'm mistaken, I'm varsity captain Troy...nothing you can do about that..." Jake smirked.

"Troy...let's just go." Chad said looking at his friend.

Troy looked at Chad breathing hard.

"Going to listen to your friends Bolton?" Jake said pushing his hands on Troy's chest. "I'm only here for one thing...her." Jake said pointing to Gabriella.

"Well that's too bad...cause your never going to get me." Gabriella said with confidence eyes burning.

"Well, you're such a sweet talker, I always knew I liked them fiesty." Jake said in a husky tone.

"You stay away from her!" Troy yelled settling Gabriella to stand behind me.

"What are you going to do about it Bolton?" Jake asked finally noticing the pair's hand intertwined. "Aww...how cute. Bolton got himself a girlfriend."

"Well, at least he's nice enough to get one." Sharpay said gripping Zeke's hand and staring angrily at Jake.

"Hmm...hottie...your friend here is speaking out of line...what to do...what to do..." Jake said grinning viciously at Sharpay.

"Leave her alone." Gabriella said voice shaking slightly.

"I could...but what good would that do?" Jake said slowly walking towards Sharpay.

Sharpay glared but tightened her grip on Zeke.

"What is with all of your basketball players? Got stuck with all the geeks?" Jake smirked looking at Zeke, Jason, and Chad. Jake's eyes landed back on Troy. "Bolton...I thought you said you didn't go for geeks."

Gabriella flinched.

"I'm sorry Gabi..." Troy said softly. "I didn't mean it."

Gabriella looked at Troy and nodded.

"Troy, trying to sweet talk with his girlfriend? Nuh uh. Not going to work...she only likes the sweet talk from me." Jake grinned.

"Ewww...jerk!" Gabriella yelled.

"Fiesty, I already told you hottie..I like them fiesty." Jake said coming as close as possible to Gabriella.

"Get off of her." Troy said pushing Jake aside.

"Oh...no you didn't Bolton." Jake said coming towards Troy.

"Oh...yes I just did Davis." Troy spat.

"Troy...he's not worth it man. Let's just go." Chad said looking at Troy closely.

"Not the time Troy..." Gabriella whispered softly to Troy, her voice now audible to shaking.

"Little hottie there is right...it so wasn't the time." Jake said ready to throw a punch at Troy.

"You're right Mr. Davis...this isn't going to be the time...it is never going to be the time. My office...now." Mr. Matsui came out speaking firmly.

Jake stood wide eyed. "Mr. Matsui...it's not what it looks like..."

"Lying is a sin Mr. Davis." Mr. Matsui said. "My office."

Jake nodded slowly. "When I get out...I'm coming back." Jake growled.

"Not possible Mr. Davis. When I'm through with you...you're going to be suspended... probably even worse...expelled."

Jake shot a look at Troy before walking towards the principal's office.

"Thank you Ms. Evans." Mr. Matsui said walking up to Sharpay. "You really helped me out a whole deal. I was wondering for some time who harassed Ms. Montez."

The gang's eyes widened for a moment.

"No problem Mr. Matsui." Sharpay said cautiously.

"We will need you all in the office after school to report what you saw, but for now, go to lunch." Mr. Matsui said kindly.

The gang nodded and went back on their way to lunch.

"Sharpay..." Gabriella said softly.

"Yeah Gabriella?" Sharpay said looking at Gabriella.

"Thanks."

"No problem." Sharpay smiled hugging her friend.

"Sharpay...how did Mr. Matsui find out about this?" Troy asked Sharpay.

"Easy..I texted him." Sharpay said pulling out her phone.

"Um..Sharpay...how did you get Mr. Matsui's phone number?" Taylor asked suspiciously.

"Oh. Daddy." Sharpay smiled.

The gang looked at Sharpay and laughed.

"Hey...not funny." Sharpay smiled. "I saved you from getting your face scarred up Troy."

"Yeah..you did. Thanks Sharpay." Troy smiled at Sharpay.

"Your welcome." Sharpay smiled happily.

"I think half of us have no idea what just happened between Jake, Troy, and Gabriella." Taylor spoke up. "Mind filling us in?" Taylor asked looking at Gabriella.

"Yeah..." Gabriella said softly. "At lunch."

The gang nodded at Gabriella and slowly walked into to the cafeteria.

The cafeteria went silent as they looked at the new arrivals arriving in pairs.

Gabriella shifted awkwardly once more hating all the attention she was getting that day.

Troy smiled at Gabriella gripping her hand with his tightly.

Chad looked at all the stares and stared back at everyone else. "Meet the new couple's of East High everyone! Chad said loudly.

"Chad!" Taylor gasped softly.

"Okay...everybody! Stop staring before I puke." Chad cried out.

Zeke, Jason, and Troy looked at Chad and stared cracking up. The girls gave soft smiles before grabbing their lunch and walking over to an empty table.

"So Gabriella...want to tell us anything?" Kelsi said softly.

"Yeah..." Gabriella said taking a deep breath. "No one interrupt...and don't judge."

The gang smiled sympathetically and Gabriella and nodded.

"Well...it all started with my run in with Jake..."

Flashback:

"I hope Troy is alone..." Gabriella thought as she walked over to the gym.

Gabriella was nearing the gym doors when she saw the same boy with green emerald eyes come out. The boy was smirking slightly, and it made Gabriella kind of have a weird feeling in her gut.

"I think that was Jake...the boy from cheerleading practice..." Gabriella thought.

The boy looked forward and saw Gabriella looking back at him.

"Checking me out hottie?" the boy grinned.

Gabriella surprised at his actions opened her mouth in an innocent smirk.

"What's your name hottie?" Jake asked her looking Gabriella up and down.

Gabriella looked at Jake and said, "Well it's not hottie."

"Don't run away baby..." Jake cooed. "I can see you're the confident type. No problem...I like them feisty."

Gabriella looked at Jake and gagged. "Leave me alone will you?" Gabriella said confidently and thought it was best to just ignore Jake and continue on walking home by herself.

Jake looked at Gabriella and smirked. "Don't tell me you're going to walk home alone baby..." Jake said. "C'mon...you can have a ride with the one and only varsity basketball captain...I won't bite...only if you want me too..." Jake smirked.

Gabriella looked at Jake before responding, "Not on my life."

Gabriella turned away from Jake and began walking towards her house again.

"Wait up baby..." Jake said as he touched Gabriella arm.

Gabriella jumped back in horror crashing into the lockers as she jumped.

"Oww..." Gabriella said a little teary looking down at the fresh slit in her arm.

"Aw...poor baby." Jake said. "Let me see." Jake said grabbing her arm.

Gabriella cried in pain and yelped.

"Shut up!" Jake said smacking her in the face. "Look..." Jake said his now stone green eyes looking straight into Gabriella's teary brown ones."You don't tell anyone what happened to you here...and I'll be glad."

"I don't care if you're glad or not you creep!" Gabriella shouted back at him.

"I'll see you later hottie..." Jake said as he shoved Gabriella into the lockers one more time and walked away.

Gabriella winced in pain as the impact against the locker became too much for her and she slowly fell onto the floor keeping her eyes open...she couldn't fall unconscious...this was too risky. Just hope that someone could find her in enough time...

End of Flashback

"I woke up in the hospital...and then I had a bad dream about Jake, which woke me up and I started to scream. That was when you Shar accused Troy of hurting me." Gabriella said softly.

Flashback:

"GET OUT TROY!" Sharpay screamed.

"I cannot believe you would do this to Gabriella?!?" Taylor said pointing to the door.

"I...I..." Troy said at a loss for words.

"Out Mr. Bolton...we will be calling the police on you..." the doctor said gently shaking her head.

Gabriella's head jerked up at the mention of Troy's name and watched as a sad pair of blue eyes got pushed out the door.

"Troy..." Gabriella whispered suddenly feeling terrible for pushing her friend away again, but this time in an unintentional way.

End of Flashback

"Troy and I talked for a bit...we talked some more during the pep rally, and we got together. End of story." Gabriella said softly looking up at Troy.

The gang looked at Gabriella at a loss for words.

"I'm so sorry Gabriella." Taylor said softly hugging her friend.

"It's all right Tay...I have Troy here for me." Gabriella said softly. "And right now...I think that's all I need for a while."

Troy looked at Gabriella and smiled.

"Lunch is going to end soon right?" Gabriella said forcing a smile on her face. "World Geography it is. C'mon, I don't want to be too late."

The gang looked at Gabriella and smiled.

They could get through the rough times, together.