The next morning, Gabriella was quiet. She was trying not to let Austin's words get to her but for some reason unknown to her, the words just kept repeating through her head. She spent the morning trying to figure out how Austin would be capable of those thoughts, how anyone would be capable of those thoughts. Who could voluntarily wish to hurt someone for their own amusement. What bothered her the most was that Austin's implications were extremely similar to that of Hayden's at the party, what worried her was whether he would actually do what he was implying. That thought made her sick to her stomach.

Chad and Lachlan tried to give her some space with her thoughts, knowing that she didn't like to be pressured to say what's on her mind and would come to them if she did need their help. But they weren't the only ones who had noticed her quietened state, it was also made apparent to Troy that morning when he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek that morning. He noticed the far off look in her eyes as she was deep in thought, the slight scrunch in between her eyebrows and the way her skin looked slightly more pale than when he'd seen her the previous day.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and leant down so his lips were near her ear before he whispered. "Are you ok Brie? Something's bothering you and you were a thousand miles away just now."

She responded with a small smile and leant into him. "It's fine."

Troy didn't really buy the answer but sighed. "If you're sure but if there is something bothering you, you know you can talk to me." She nodded in response and he kissed her forehead. "Roof top during free period?"

She smiled. "Sounds good Wildcat."

As Troy walked up to the roof top, he noticed that Gabriella was already there, looking out at the surrounding buildings. He smiled as he slowly made his way towards her, Gabriella still unaware of his presence. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and felt her jump. This reaction confused him, she wouldn't normally jump when he'd wrap his arms around her. This brought him to two conclusions: either she was very deep in thought and the feel of his arms shocked her or something happened to make her jump at the feel of anyone touching her with her having seen them. In a distant part of his mind, he was shocked at how he had learned to read his girlfriend so quickly. "Are you ok? I didn't mean to scare you."

She smiled and leant back into her arms. "I'm fine, I was just shocked, that's all. I didn't realise you were here."

He sighed. "Are you sure? I don't want to bug you about it, it's just, you never normally jump when I wrap my arms around you and you seem really distracted today, are you sure nothing's bothering you?"

It was Gabriella's turn to sigh and she turned in his arms. "Can I ask you something?" She didn't really like starting off a conversation with the question but so often she felt as if it was the only way to respond.

She smiled and closed her eyes as he trailed his fingers down her cheek softly. "Of course you can Baby."

"Is the only purpose for any girl or well me, is the only purpose for umm you know... sex." She felt so childish, she couldn't even say the word without being awkward and uncomfortable.

"What I - Brie, no of course not. Is that what you think? Have I made you feel like I'm only with you for a physical relationship or to have sex with you. Because if I have, that's not how it is at all, I promise. I really like you Brie, you are a beautiful girl but you're also incredibly kind and you're smart and I'm just overall comfortable around you. I love when we get to facetime or sit up here on the rooftop and just talk about whatever or when we play with the girls or hang with your brothers. I really like you Gabriella and I know that one day soon I will love you, for the whole you."

She smiled and cupped his cheek. "Shh Baby, it's ok. That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me." She stroked her thumb along his cheek. "And I never thought that you were with me for a physical relationship and I'm sorry if I gave you that impression."

"Baby, don't apologise, you did nothing wrong. And I respect you way too much for that kind of relationship, honestly it's disgusting that people are like that." Gabriella hugged him tight and buried her face into his chest. She felt beyond lucky to have found such a sweet guy with the same values and had the respect for her that he did. She kissed his covered chest where her head rested before meeting his eyes. She felt him move a strand of her hair and tuck it behind her ear. "What made you think of that Brie, did Hayden do something again?"

She shook her head. "No Hayden hasn't bothered me since last time. I don't know, just a guy yesterday when we were going home. I just feel uncomfortable that people think like that. That when guys see me, all they see is someone to... play with and satisfy their needs." She shivered at the end of her sentence and felt her boyfriend rub her back in hopes to soothe her.

"I know it's disgusting Brie but unfortunately that's the way some guys think. I wish I could change it but some guys are just terrible people. But you don't have to worry about that because I know that Chad, Locky and I won't let anything happen to you ok? No one gets a chance to hurt my beautiful girlfriend and get away with it."

She looked up adoringly and leant up to kiss him but decided at the last minute to kiss his cheek instead. Troy had told her that he wanted their first kiss to be meaningful since all of her firsts with him would be her firsts for everything. She didn't want the memory of their first kiss to be tainted with the discussions that had been caused by the worries Austin put in her head.

"Thanks Wildcat, I'm sorry to unload that all on you."

"You never have to apologise for telling me what's on your mind, I'm your boyfriend and I want you to be happy. I want you to feel that you can come to me whenever you want to talk or have something on your mind."

"You too Troy."

They spent the rest of the free period together discussing more light hearted topics. Troy had even asked Gabriella on a date, their first date, saying that he'd pick her up on Sunday. She blushed and agreed but asked if they could meet wherever they were going instead. He was confused by the request but agreed, saying that they'd meet at the park near East High.