The next week Gabriella and Taylor were at her locker. "I still can't believe you're with Troy Bolton."

Gabriella blushed. "You better believe it Taylor because it's not changing any time soon."

"That's fine with me. I'll admit I was hesitant at first but after seeing the two of you these past few days, I can see why you're together. He's perfect for you."

Gabriella smiled, "yeah he is, I know the reputation he has, but he's not like that with me. He's really sweet and gentle and affectionate. I know this is sappy but I really love him Taylor."

"I know you do Gabs, you're normally pretty closed off, especially with your emotions so for you to openly admit your feelings proves that."

She was about to respond but froze at the voice that had been haunting her for as long as she could remember. "So this is East High?"

"Gabriella?" Taylor was shaking her shoulder but she couldn't respond. She was silent, shaking and her breathing was getting heavy. Taylor called Jack over and Gabriella vaguely heard him instruct Taylor to find Troy.

"Ella, Sweetie, what's wrong?"

Her eyes snapped to Jack. "He - he - here, re -strai -ning - or -"

Jack looked around, bypassing the family getting a tour by the principal. "Who Sweetie?"

"Hurt - me. Please - Dad - Dad - help me."

"Ella I -"

"Gabi?"

Jack watched her shudder at the voice and felt her grip his arm as the man from the family walked over. Instinctively, he put Gabriella behind him.

"Gabs, I haven't seen you in years. Excuse me sir, I'd like to see my daughter."

Jack felt Gabriella's grip on his arm tightened and she shook her head. "Sorry, she doesn't want to see you."

Carlos huffed. "Gabi, stop being an ignorant brat and get here now."

She shook even more, whimpering, "no."

"Why you little -"

He was interrupted as Troy came up. "Dad, what's going on? Taylor said that Brie -" his gaze hardened as he saw Carlos. "What the hell are you going here?"

Carlos narrowed his eyes."Who the hell are you?"

"That's none of your concern, you shouldn't be here, you shouldn't even be in the same state as her."

"You better watch your mouth boy."

Jack interrupted. "That's enough." He passed Gabriella to Troy, the girl immediately burying herself in his chest as his arms wrapped tightly and protectively around her. "You are not to come in here, mess with my children and disrespect my son."

Carlos scoffed. "Your children? Listen here, that is my daughter, I don't care who you think you are, she belongs to me."

"Gabriella is a person, she doesn't belong to anyone. You -"

They were interrupted by a whimper - Gabriella's whimper. "Dad."

Carlos pulled an arrogant expression. "See, she even calls me Dad."

"You're not my father, you never were."

"Shut it you worthless -"

Troy interrupted, furious. "Enough, you don't get to talk to her that way."

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Someone who's not going to sit back and let you treat her like crap."

Principal Matsui intervened. "Troy Bolton, this is a guest to our school."

"This guest, Principal Matsui, has a restraining order against him for abusing Gabriella, he shouldn't even be in the same state as her, let alone in the same room."

A high male voice of an eighth-grader was heard behind them. "So this is the little brat that put my dad in jail."

Gabriella looked at the 14-year-old boy, with red-brown hair and brown eyes. "You cheated on Mom."

Carlos scoffed. "So what, you were both useless."

Principal Matsui had heard enough. "Mr Lopez, you and your family are to leave the premises immediately. You are tormenting students, disrespecting staff and violating a restraining order." Carlos and his family grudgingly left and Principal Matsui turned to Troy, Jack and Gabriella. "I'm extremely sorry Miss Montez, I was not aware of the restraining order and I'm sorry to have put you in that position. Jack, thank you for handling the situation. And Troy, I apologise for the reprimanding, you did the right thing."

Troy nodded respectfully. "Thank you Principal Matsui."

The principal walked away, leaving the three there. Jack turned to Troy. "Take her up to the roof Troy, I know you go up there. Talk to her and calm her down."

"Thanks Dad, and thanks for being there for her when I couldn't be."

"No problem Bud."

Gabriella timidly spoke up. "Dad?"

"Yeah Sweetie?"

She left Troy's arms and hugged him. "Thank you."

He hugged the girl who he viewed as his daughter. "You don't have to say thank you Ella, I love you Sweetie."

"I love you too Dad."

Troy took Gabriella back into his arms and up to the roof. He sat on the bench, setting her in his lap. "Are you ok Angel?"

"He was meant to stay away. I wasn't supposed to see him again and he cheated on my mom."

"You shouldn't have had to go through that Baby."

She looked up at Troy with tear-filled eyes. "What did I do wrong? Why am I never good enough? My own dad didn't love me enough, he abused me."

His heart broke at the statement and he crushed her to his chest. "Brie, listen to me, you have done nothing wrong, absolutely nothing. It was Carlos's fault, you can't blame yourself. And you are more than enough, you are perfect Baby, you have to believe me."

She nodded slightly and buried her face in the crook of his neck, releasing her tears. When she looked up, he wiped the remaining tears. "Thanks Troy, for always being there for me and telling me what I need to hear. You're my hero. I love you so much."

"I love you too Baby Girl, you're my world, my everything and I can't live without you."

They shared a love-filled kiss and he twisted her on his lap so that she was straddling him, never breaking their kiss. He held his hands around her waist as hers were around his neck. When air was needed, they broke apart but Troy continued kissing down to her neck. Between kisses, he whispered, "you know you can stop me any time if you feel uncomfortable."

She tightened her arms around his neck as he continued his ministrations, she whispered a breathy 'uh-huh.'

After a few minutes, they were interrupted by the bell. He trailed kisses back up to her lips before giving her one final kiss. He leant their foreheads together. "I guess that's our cue."

She nodded and they rose from their position. As he walked to the door, Gabriella pulled him back into an embrace. "Thanks for the distraction, I'm glad that I've become comfortable enough for it,"

"No problem Baby, enjoy your classes and I'll meet you at your locker after class."

She nodded, "ok, you enjoy your classes too. I love you Wildcat."

He smiled at the nickname that still made him melt after all these years. "I love you too Beautiful."

With one final kiss, they went off to their classes for the rest of the day.