(Troy and Gabriella's clothes: Start of Something New

Chad: The Boys are Back)

The weeks passed and it was now time for Jason's party. The five siblings arrived at the Boltons' door. They were greeted by Lucille who invited them in, calling out to Troy. "Troy, Chad and Gabriella are here." She turned back to the siblings. "Hey kids, how are you?"

Gabriella responded. "We're well Mrs Bolton, how are you?"

"Very well dear."

"Thank you for looking after Locky and the girls."

She waved the teen off. "No worries sweetheart, it's no trouble."

At that moment, Troy came into the room, he greeted Chad with a fist bump and Gabriella with a one armed hug. "Hey guys. Keen for the party?"

Gabriella nodded. "Yeah, can I stick with you guys though, I've never been to a real party before."

Chad gently bumped her. "Of course you can G."

Gabriella smiled before leaning down to her sisters, taking both girls into her arms and kissing their foreheads. "We love you girls, be good for Mrs Bolton and we'll be back later."

"Love you Ella." Both girls responded

She turned her attention to her brother. "We love you too Locky."

He kissed her cheek. "Love you too G."

Troy spoke up. "Alright we should probably get going."

They had been at the party for about an hour and Gabriella had been separated from Troy and Chad, instead she ended up with Taylor and Martha - two girls from her maths class. They were dancing and she felt someone grab her hand, she turned smiling, thinking it was Troy only for it to drop when she saw it was Hayden, the boy pulling her towards the stairs. "Hayden what are you doing, let go of me." She tried to pull her arm away but his grip was tight as he dragged her up the stairs into a room. Her heart dropped as she heard the lock of the door. "Hayden this isn't funny let me out."

He shook his head. "No way little miss Montez. You see you've been fooling everyone with this innocent act, but let's see what happens now that brother dearest is distracted."

Meanwhile Taylor had noticed that Gabriella was no longer with them, thinking it was weird she left without a word, the girl went looking for her. She walked up the stairs, calling out for her. "Gabriella? Are you up here?"

"Tay -" She heard the yell that was muffled before she could fully say the name. Taylor tried to open the door, but it was locked. She knew this wasn't good. She ran downstairs to find either Chad or Troy, knowing they'd be able to fix the situation, no one messed with Gabriella when they were around.

As she got down the stairs, she ran into Troy. "Oh hey Taylor, do you know where Gabriella is, I haven't been able to find her, I don't like the idea of her being here without Chad or I -"

"Upstairs... Hayden... locked."

Troy's eyes widened and he stormed upstairs, he heard a muffled cry and he pounded on the door. "HAYDEN. UNLOCK THE DOOR NOW."

He heard the boy growl. "Get lost Bolton, I'm busy."

"HAYDEN, UNLOCK THE DOOR NOW OR I'M CALLING THE COPS AND YOU'RE OFF THE TEAM."

The boy unlocked the door and Troy grabbed him by the collar, slamming him against the wall. "If you have done anything to the girl so help me god, you're a dead man. Never do that to a girl again, I don't care who the hell you think you are. Understand."

"Whatever Bolton."

Troy shoved him back forcefully, all the air leaving the boy's lungs making him winded. "Do you understand Johnson." The boy groaned out a yes and Troy dropped him to the floor.

He ran into the room to find Gabriella with her shirt pulled above her head, her hands being tied by the material. The sounds of her sobs broke his heart. He ran over to the girl and pulled her shirt back into place, only for the girl to collapse into his arms. He held her tight and whispered reassurances into her ear. "Tr-troy, can we leave, I wa-nna leave."

He kissed her forehead as he could still feel her racing heartbeat against his chest, her breathing still irregular. "Of course we can leave Brie, I'll find Chad and we can go back to my house or I can drop you at yours."

He felt her shake her head. "No let him have fun, I'll text him that we're leaving, he deserves to enjoy himself... can you just take me to your house?"

He hugged her to him. "Ok Brie, come on, I'll take you back home." Troy kept an arm around her shoulder as they walked out and he could feel her tight grip of his shirt. After they got out of the house, Gabriella sent a message to Chad:

Hey Chad,

Just letting you know that Troy's taking me back to his house, I didn't really want to stay at the party. But you stay and enjoy yourself Superstar, you deserve it.

I'll see you when you get back. Love you.

- G

As soon as they got into the house, they noticed that Lucille, Lachlan and the girls were all asleep. He guided her into the living room and sat her on the couch, only for the girl to pull him down and sit on his lap, burying herself into his chest. He held her tight and rested his head on top of hers. "Are you sure you don't want Chad to come back?"

She shook her head. "No I don't want to tell him, he doesn't need another thing to worry about or try to protect me from. I'm sorry you had to."

He tipped her chin up so their eyes locked. "Gabriella Montez, I don't ever want to hear you apologise for that again. Hayden was completely in the wrong and it's his fault. I'm sorry that you were put in the situation, I shouldn't have left you alone. But do not apologise for the way you reacted Brie, because it's completely valid."

She cuddled closer into his chest. "I guess."

"I know you probably don't really want to talk about it, but did Hayden -"

She shook her head. "No he didn't do much, he'd only just got my shirt up and was touching um... you know before you came."

"I'm sorry Brie."

"It's not your fault, I just - it was scary that a guy would do that."

He cupped her cheeks. "Brie remember you're allowed to say no, any guy well any decent guy will accept that and they won't push you."

"You wouldn't care?"

"Brie, you're 15, that stuff isn't exactly supposed to happen yet, regardless on what some people do. It's completely fine and no I wouldn't push you."

She sighed, "being 15 makes everyone think I'm innocent but those who don't know try and push me."

"Anyone who pushes you doesn't deserve you Baby." He didn't even register the name he called her.

But Gabriella did. "What did you call me?" His brain finally made the connection and his eyes widened. "Troy?" Her voice sounded pleadingly, silently begging for him to stand by his words, to not take them back.

He let out a breath. "I called you Baby. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable and I don't want you to feel like anything changes when I tell you this but... I like you Brie, I don't think I'm in love with you yet 'cause I've never been in love, I don't really know what it's like but I know I'm close. I just - I don't want you to feel like this changes anything I -"

"I like you Troy." She said timidly, "I have for a bit, I just didn't want to ruin my friendship with one of the only people I've felt comfortable around... So what happens now?"

"Well... I don't know if you'd be completely comfortable with it right now, but I'd probably ask you to be my girlfriend." She bit her lip and nodded so he asked. "Brie, will you be my girlfriend?"

"Yes Troy, I'd love to be your girlfriend." He grinned and kissed her cheek causing her to giggle. He leaned back so he was laying down and pulled her so she was resting at his side, his arms still wrapped around her.

"I hope this is ok, we're just going to talk."

She cupped his cheek. "Troy, I appreciate it but it's fine honestly, you don't have to be careful, I'll tell you when I'm not comfortable otherwise just act how you want." He smiled and kissed her forehead.

"I guess I'll have to ask your brothers for permission tomorrow."

She giggled. "Yeah but I think you'll be fine, Chad and Locky both like you, and I think they knew that we liked each other, well from my end at least." She blushed by the end of the sentence, causing him to smile.

"You're so pretty when you blush." She bit her lip before she yawned, he rubbed her back. "Close your eyes Brie, I'll take you up to the guest bedroom later on."

She nodded against his chest. "Good night Troy."

He kissed the top of her head. "Good night Brie."

Within 30 minutes, both teens were sound asleep in each other's arms