Gabriella was practically smothered by her Mother the second she got out of Troy's car. Rosa wasn't mad, she was just glad that her daughter was back.
"Let me look at what that man did to you," she said, looking Gabriella over. She was pretty beat up, but otherwise seemed to be better. "I'm so glad you're safe! Adam told me that you talked to him last night, and were worried about school! Don't worry about that at all, we'll talk to Principal Matsui, he'll make sure that everything's alright." Troy was next to fall victim to Rosa's hugs. "Thank you for figuring out where Gabi went!" she cried.
"Mamí, Mamí, you're hurting him!" Gabriella exclaimed.
"Sorry Troy."
"It's okay Ms. Montez," Troy replied. "I'll leave you two alone now. Gabi, I'll see you for school on Wednesday?"
"I'll be going back tomorrow. I don't want to be sitting around the house all day."
"You sure?" Rosa asked her daughter. Gabriella nodded.
"I don't want to be at home all day," she replied sternly. Troy gave Gabriella a quick kiss, and left her with her Mother to fight the battle out.
Troy stopped by Gabriella's house the next day to walk her to school. The second she walked into the building, people began to stare at her. how did Gabriella Montez, girlfriend of the star basketball player get so beat up? Nobody dared ask her to her face, but they asked all her friends who said that it wasn't any of their business. At lunch, though, Gabriella lost it. She could feel people's gaze bore into her back as she ate. Not being able to take it any longer, she stormed out of the cafeteria.
"Gabi!" Troy called after her, standing up.
"Go after her," Sharpay said, looking worried just like everyone else. "We'll take care of throwing your lunch away."
"Thanks you guys," Troy said before running off after his girlfriend.
Troy followed Gabriella as she ran up to the rooftop garden. This is where it all had begun. This was the first place she had seen Ian only a few days earlier. Gabriella was lying down on the green metal bench with her eyes closed. They immediately flew open when she heard Troy come up the stairs.
"Hey," he said quietly. "Are you okay?" Gabriella sat up, and nodded. Troy sat down next to her, and she rested her head on his shoulder.
"I'm fine. I couldn't stand people staring at me. They're talking about me behind my back, I know they are Troy, don't lie to me." Troy sighed. Gabriella was a sharp girl. "They want to know how star basketball star, Troy Bolton's girlfriend got so beat up, and nobody's telling them…right?"
"Of course baby. We're telling them to get a life. Some are concerned, and them we tell that it's a personal thing, but those who want something to gossip about, we tell them to get lost." Gabriella snuggled closer to Troy. She was so happy that she had such wonderful friends.
"Troy? Gabi?" Taylor called as she went to go check on them. They had been gone the majority of the lunch, and the gang was getting a little worried.
"Yeah, we're here Tay," Gabriella replied. Taylor mounted the last few steps, and saw the couple sitting on the green metal bench on the far side of the roof.
"Hey, you doin' alright, or do we have to sic Sharpay on some people?" she asked. Gabriella laughed.
"I'm good. What's up?"
"We were talking downstairs, and did Troy tell you how we want to do the finale from Rent in the talent show?" Gabriella nodded. "Well, we want you and Troy to take the main solos for the song." Gabriella stood up, and threw her arms around Taylor.
"You serious? That's so sweet of you all!" Taylor returned the warm hug. Gabriella was getting better again.
"We figured that you both deserved it. We're going to practice for at least half an hour during every movie night until the performance. Got it?"
"Yes ma'am!" Troy announced standing up.
"Gabi, I love you to death, but your boyfriend can be such a freak sometimes," Taylor said with a sigh. Gabriella giggled.
"But I love him. And looks whose talking! You have Chad!"
"Excellent point."
A/N: Short chapter, I know, and I'm sorry. People are asking me when this is going to end, because there's not much more left to do…WRONG! More twists in the next chapter (and an appearance by the SUPER SEXY….ADAM PASCAL!). Oh, and some drama I guess. It'll be a longer chapter too.
