(A.N. sorry for the delay in this chapter, I've been extremely busy with work and assignments/exams but here's the next chapter of Tomorrow's Another Day. I hope you enjoy and please feel free to let me know what you think :) )

The next morning, the juniors got ready as usual and went to say goodbye to the twins for Lucille to drop them off at school. When Gabriella bent down to hug her sister, she could see the cautiousness in the little girl's face. "Are you ok Sweet Girl?" She placed her hand on the girl's forehead. "Are you feeling alright? Do you not feel well?"

Lilliana shook her head. "Promise you're not going anywhere?"

The junior smiled sadly. "I promise Little One, I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right back here this afternoon when school's finished." She held the little girl's hands in her own. "I've never voluntarily broken a promise to you and I won't start now. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon, I promise."

Troy chimed in. "If it makes you feel better Lil, I'll be with Gabriella all day today, we have all our classes together. She's not going anywhere without me."

Lilliana nodded, turning back to her sister. "I'm sorry, it just feels like last time."

"I know it does but it's not like last time, nothing's going to happen." The girl nodded and Gabriella pulled her into a hug as she spoke. "Alright, well we have to get to school and so do you so have fun today and don't worry about me, I'll see you back here this afternoon. I love you."

"I love you too Bria, have a good day."

"You too Baby."

With that, Lucille took the twins to the primary school and Jack and the juniors headed to East High. When they walked into homeroom with the Wildcats, Ms Darbus had an announcement. "Your year group coordinator has decided to use this morning's free period to run a grade activity. You'll be heading to the gym right after homeroom to find out what you'll be doing."

Homeroom passed by and the juniors moved to the gym to meet the rest of the cohort. When the year group coordinator arrived, the cohort turned their attention to him to find out what they'd be doing for the free period. "Now, as you all know, it's not too long until the seniors graduate and you all move up to become the seniors of East High. However, the faculty have noticed that there are some clear divisions in this grade and what seems to be a strict adherence to the status quo. Because of this, we came up with today's activity and to show your leadership as you become seniors, we want you to fully engage and participate in the activity today. That will especially matter for leadership positions such as captains and valedictorian."

Chad rolled his eyes, quietly whispering. "When's he gonna hurry up and get to the point."

The quiet laughter he got in response caused the teacher to look pointedly at him. "As I was saying, it may feel silly at first but stick to it and give it a chance, you may actually enjoy it. So today you'll be getting to know some of your classmates that you may not engage with very often so we'll be doing an activity that's kinda like speed dating in hopes we can break the status quo in the cohort. So I'll get you to make two circles, one inside the other so that everyone is facing a partner and then I'll leave you in the capable hands of Ms Darbus, Coach Bolton and Mr Farnham to run the activity."

The juniors followed the instructions and got into the circles, Troy and Gabriella smiling at each other as they were partnered. Coach Bolton spoke up. "Alright guys, you get two minutes for each person then I want the inner circle to move to their right. Time starts now."

Troy chuckled quietly as he watched Gabriella look down, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks. "So Miss Montez, let's start this speed dating."

She rolled her eyes. "Well they're definitely trying to break the status quo, pairing the Wildcat captain and the most popular guy in school with a nerd."

"Baby." He said sternly - despite knowing the joking undertone - and she only shrugged. "I know you're kidding but I don't like it." He watched as she bit her lip, her eyes still downcast. "What's the matter? Why are you nervous all of a sudden?"

"I don't know, everything you're saying is just giving me butterflies this morning and -" She leant in close to whisper. "It's making it really hard not to kiss you right now."

That statement brought a grin to his face. "The feeling's mutual Brie and later, I promise."

"I'll hold you to that."

The timer sounded and the juniors moved to the next pair. Troy spoke with Kelsi, Taylor, a guy from the team and a girl from his english class while Gabriella moved on to speak with Zeke, Martha and two girls from her history class. When the timer next sounded, Troy had to stop himself from rolling his eyes as Ryan stood in front of him and Gabriella moved to talk to the football vice captain. He glared at the smirk on Ryan's face as he smugly greeted. "Bolton."

"Evans." They stood in silence for a few seconds and Troy couldn't help himself but to sneak glanced across at Gabriella's conversation. "This is a waste of time."

"You're only saying that 'cause you're jealous." Troy looked at him in disbelief. "You've been keeping an eye on Montez this whole time 'cause you're jealous that you haven't taken the opportunity. Now she's chattin' it up with Mack and there's nothing you can do about it."

Troy glared at the boy, his jaw ticking. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh yeah, everyone knows you've got the hots for Montez but obviously she shut you down 'cause you went to homecoming and nothing come of it. Now when nothing happens between her and Mack, which it won't, I'll be making my move on her and you'll be pissed that I got the girl you wanted." Troy's fists tightened and Ryan laughed. "Sure, go ahead Bolton, throw another cheap punch like at the party. It'll make it that much more satisfying when she sides with me."

Troy inhaled sharply and he looked up, his eyes connecting with his girlfriend's as she gave him a shy smile. He felt the anger wash away and looked at Ryan calmly. "You're that confident, huh Evans? Well you can try and make as many moves as you want but Gabriella is my girl."

"Oh bullshit."

"We've been together for months, just 'cause we haven't made it public, doesn't make it not true. You may be crushing on her but she's mine. I'm the one who loves her, I'm the one who kisses her, I'm the one that's with her so -"

He didn't get to finish before he felt Ryan's fist connect with his cheek. He stumbled back and saw the boy lunge to continue fighting, but he was pulled back by Chad as the teachers approached. He looked down when he felt a hand placed gently on his cheek and smiled down at his girlfriend, taking her hand. He looked back up at Ryan. "How 'bout we say that's even from the party and call it a day."

Jack spoke up. "What's going on here? Evans, under what circumstance do you think it's acceptable to strike another student?" When the boy didn't respond, he turned to his son. "Troy what happened?"

"I was defending my relationship, he was talking about Gabriella and wouldn't accept that we're together." He heard chatters of whispers amongst the cohort at his statement, so he turned to face them. "Yeah you all heard it right, Gabriella Montez is my girlfriend." He smiled when he felt her tuck herself closer to him whilst still having a tight grip on his hand. He knew that she wasn't entirely comfortable with this form of attention so the fact that she stood with him and didn't hide away meant a lot to him.

Jack exhaled audibly. "I see, well Evans, that's unacceptable behaviour and we'll be seeing you in detention this afternoon." He turned to the couple. "Gabi, can I get you to take Troy to my office and get some ice for his face. The rest of you, we'll be continuing the activity."

Gabriella kept hold of Troy's hand as they walked to Jack's office. As soon as they crossed the threshold and the door was shut, Troy lifted Gabriella and wrapped her legs around his waist as he placed a passionate kiss on her lips. He moved them over to Jack's desk, sitting Gabriella on the edge with him stood between her legs while they continued their ministrations. Gabriella felt his hands rubbing along her bare lower back under her shirt and she tightened her legs around his waist at the action. She ran her hands up into his hair, tugging gently before returning them to the back of his neck and pulling away. "Wow." Troy chuckled breathlessly in response. "Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?"

"I promised, didn't I?" She giggled quietly and placed a chaste kiss on his lips before she pulled back. A frown spread across her face as she gently rubbed her hand over his cheek before she jumped down and started rummaging around Jack's office. "Brie, what are you doing?" When she didn't respond, he moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and bringing her back to his chest. "Baby?"

"I need to find the first aid kit to help with your cheek."

Troy shook his head slowly. "It was one punch Brie, it's fine, Dad only said that to give us some time alone and some time for me to cool off."

Gabriella sighed, turning in his arms and wrapping her own around his neck. "How did this even happen? What made him hit you?"

"He was just starting his shit as usual, trying to make me jealous that you were talking to Mack and saying that he's gonna make a move on you and I'll be pissed he got you when you shut me down." He watched Gabriella's face contort at his statement. "So I said that you were my girl and we were together."

"So he hit you 'cause you said we were together?"

"Well not exactly, I may have provoked him a bit - not that anything I said wasn't true or that he wasn't doing the same thing to me."

Gabriella sighed, moving her hands to slide down his shoulders. "What am I gonna do with you." He went to speak but she cut him off. "I don't mean anything by it and I'm not angry but I know you're better than that Troy."

"You make me better."

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "That sweet talk's not gonna work with me Mister." She couldn't help but smile as he grinned. "We're probably gonna have to to out there and face it now."

"Are you unhappy about that?"

"No of course not, you know I love you and I'm glad that people can finally know we're in a relationship... but I know how this is gonna go. Everyone's gonna think you can do so much better and all the girls are gonna hate me 'cause they're in love with you."

Troy took her hands in his. "None of that matters Brie 'cause I love you and you love me. I chose you and there's no one better and we're not gonna let anyone give you any trouble, I promise." He watched her take a breath before nodding, making him smile. "Alright, I wanna do one last thing before we go out there." Gabriella went to question but didn't get a chance as Troy placed a lasting kiss on her lips. "I love you Baby."

"I love you too Troy."