The Hottest Couple

The Cover Story

Rating: T

"One of your former classmates spilled everything," Stacy said.

"What is everything?" Troy asked as Gabi plopped down and looked at the magazine.

"How you guys were obsessed with each other, inseparable, then when you went to college she heard that you were hooking up with other girls so she broke up with you, and that you guys didn't speak for three years," she said.

"Does it mention the musical?" Gabriella asked.

"Nope," she replied. "I think it said that it was shocking that the start basketball player would date a girl on the scholastic decathlon team." Troy was sitting next to Gabi rubbing her back.

"Well at least we know it wasn't one of our friends who spilled," Gabi said.

"Now we can't deny our relationship," Troy said.

"Yeah no shit," Gabi said.

"Everybody thought Gabriella was using Troy to become popular," Gabi read off the page, "but then we realized that she really did love him and he loved her. That was why

we were so surprised when we heard the rumors about him cheating on her."

"Uhhh," he groaned, "what else does it say?"

"Talks about Chad and Taylor trying to split us up," she replied.

"Yeah for like a day," he said.

"Yeah but he says they did for like a month," she replied. "Oh this is just great, right after Gabriella and Troy broke up, she was not sweet and innocent, she turned into a party girl."

"Can I see it," Troy asked and she handed it to him.

"Oh this is good, Troy would frequently get in fights with other guys because of Gabriella, if they would look at her he would flip out," he read, and scanned through the rest of the article, "I am really not surprised they got back together, from what I have heard they have still been in love with each other ever since they split." Troy just looked at Gabi.

"Are we meeting with the publicists?" Gabi asked Stacy.

"Tomorrow at 10," she replied.

"Is there anything we can do until then," Troy asked.

"Not leave the house," she replied.

"Yeah that won't be a problem," Troy replied.

"Well I am gonna head out," Stacy said.

"Thanks Stace," Gabi said and hugged her.

"Of course," she replied and walked out.

Gabi buried her head in her hands and sighed.

"Come on babe, lets get some sleep," he said. He grabbed her hand and they went to their bedroom.

THE NEXT DAY

At the meeting, Troy and Gabriella decided that they would admit to their relationship but still keep it relatively on the down-low. Or try at least.

"So what are your plans for this afternoon?" Troy asked sitting down to lunch with her.

"I think I am going to go do some cash-therapy, with Stacy," Gabi replied.

"Well it is good that I have practice, because then I might have to come," he said and she laughed.

"Yeah well I have to get going," she said getting up. She bent down and kissed him.

"Love you," she said.

"Love you too," he replied.

"Don't worry," Max said once she walked out.

"Yeah, but I do," Troy sighed, "these people they wont stop until they bring you down."

"Ahh, it doesn't matter, I see the way you two look at each other, you are in love. And if things just get bad, you have to be strong for her," he replied.

"Yeah, thanks Max," Troy got up and put his plate in the sink.

"How are you babe, with everything," Stacy asked Gabi as they were shopping at Kitson.

"Ok, I guess," she shrugged, "I think it will be fine though."

"Yeah, he really loves you Gab," Stacy said.

"Yeah," she smiled. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah," Stacy replied and they started to walk out.

"Ohh! Ms. Montez!" a employee said running to the door, but it was too late. Stacy opened the door and there were photographers everywhere.

"Gabi!"

"Gabriella!"

"What is going on with you and Troy?"

"Did he really cheat on you?" They all screamed at once.

Are you kidding me. Uhhh, I hate my life. Gabi just walked out and moved her way through everyone. They all followed still screaming. Gabi and Stacy tried to make it to her car as fast as they possibly could once they did she sped off. The car ride was silent and once they got home Gabi broke down.

"What the hell do I do?" she asked Stacy in tears. "Everybody thinks I am with a guy that cheated on me!"

"It's just rumors Gabi, you have dealt with it before," she said rubbing her friends back, "you can do it again. I know how strong you are."

"Yeah but this is different," she cried. Just then Troy walked into the room.

"Hey whats wrong," he said rushing to the table.

"We had a little run-in with some photographers today," Stacy said. Gabi hadn't looked up yet.

"Its okay baby," he said rubbing her back. She still hadn't looked up yet.

'They asked if you cheated on her' Stacy mouthed to him. He just shook his head.

"Gabs come here," he said. He pulled her into his arms and she didn't say a word.

"I a gonna go," Stacy said getting up, "Love you gabs feel better."

"Love you too," she said quietly.

"Come on Gabi, what happened," he said looking at the girl in his lap.

"I dunno, we walked out of the store and there were a bunch of photographers," she cried.

"But you are used to that," he said.

"I know but…" she cried again.

"But what?"

"They asked me if you cheated on me," she said.

"Aww Gabs," he said rubbing the back of her head.

"You know I just wanna be alone right now," she got up and walked outside.

Troy just groaned and buried his head in his hands. He went upstairs and picked up the phone.

"Hey Chad," Troy said into the phone.

"Hey man what's up?"

"Attack of the media," he groaned.

"Really what happened?"

"Gabi had a run in with some photographers and they asked her if I cheated on her."

"Wow, how is she?"

"Not good, I came home she was crying and Stacy was comforting her then Stacy left, she was crying in my arms and when I asked her what happened after she told me she said she just wanted to be alone."

"Damn."

"Yeah."

"Hey you think I could come over and talk to her?"

"Yeah sure."

"Thanks, see you soon," he said and they both hung up. Ten minutes later Chad rang the doorbell.

"Hey man," Troy said opening the door.

"Hey, where is she?" Chad asked walking in.

"Out by the pool," he responded.

"Okay," Chad said walking through the house. He walked outside to see Gabi sitting on the edge of a lawn chair with her head in her hands.

"Hey Gabs," Chad said walking towards her.

"Chad? What are you doing here," she asked looking up.

"Troy told me what happened, I thought you could use a friend, can I sit," he asked and she nodded.

"You know he never cheated on you Gabi," Chad said reassuringly.

"Yeah I know," she sighed. "It just…" she started then paused.

"Just what?"

"Brings back bad memories," she sighed.

"What did you exactly hear?" he asked.

"I heard he was hooking up with the captain of the volleyball team," she said.

"Ahh, I remember that one," he said, "who did you hear it from?"

"Multiple people, if I had heard it from one person I probably wouldn't have believed it," Gabi said.

"Yeah."

"How did it start anyways?" she asked.

"The rumor?" he asked and she nodded.

"They were pretty good friends, you couldn't come down for formal so he took her as a friend and the next thing we knew everyone thought they were dating," Chad said.

"Did they hook up when we broke up?"

"Nope," Chad responded. "When you broke up Gabs he was a mess."

"Yeah okay," she scoffed.

"Gabi you guys dated for four years do you seriously think he wasn't depressed?"

"Hooking up with every girl in school is an odd way of showing depression."

"It is when you are in a state of drunken misery."

"What happened when he found out that I was engaged?"

Chad sighed, "Lets just say there were some broken pieces of furniture."

"Ugh," Gabi groaned.

"My point is Gabs, people have been trying to break you up since you two met, even me and Taylor," he said and they both laughed, "but you guys have always found your way back together. When you and Troy got back together, Gabs I don't know if I have ever seen him so happy in my life. He loves you Gabi, and you love him, so you have to talk to him."

"And tell him what?"

"That you are scared of getting hurt again. He will understand."

"How do you know that?"

"Because he is more scared than you are."

"Yeah," she sighed. "Thanks Chad, it means a lot that you came here."

"Well what are best friends for," he said and she giggled.

"I miss East High," she said.

"Yeah, me too," he sighed.

"Everything was easier."

"It definitely was. So you ready to go back inside?"

"Yeah I think I am."

They both got up and she walked him to the door.

"Thanks Chad, for everything."

"Your welcome, Gabs. It will be okay."

"Thanks, bye Chad."

"Bye Gabi." With that he walked out and left. She sighed and closed the door. Gabi walked upstairs to see Troy in bed watching TV.

"Hey," he said turning off the TV when she walked in, he got up and walked over towards her.

"I am scared," she said looking into his eyes, "that is why I flipped. Those questions reminded me of how hurt I was before and I just got scared that I am going to get hurt again." He pulled her into his arms.

"I am scared to Gabs, but we can do this. It isn't going to be easy, but we can do it."

She just nodded into his chest.

"We love each other, that is all that matters," he said and she kissed him. He deepened the kiss and they walked back towards the bed.

Please R&R…I know this is turning into more drama but it will come to be humor…Next chapter…Eric's reaction!