The next day, Gabriella walked to her locker after the bell beginning lunch and found Troy leaning against it. "Hey Baby." He said as he greeted her with a chaste kiss, not wanting to put on a show for their classmates.
"Hey Wildcat." She opened her locker and placed her bag down before turning to him and wrapping her arms around his waist. "I had something that I wanted to ask you." He nodded for her to continue. "Well I was talking to Imi and Jas last night and Imi asked if she'd see you soon."
"She did?"
Gabriella grinned. "Yeah she likes being around you and we wanted to know if we could do something on the weekend. The girls really wanna see you and I know -"
He interrupted her with a kiss, not that she was complaining. "You don't have to justify Baby, I'd love to spend some time with you guys this weekend and I'm glad that Imi likes me, I want her to feel comfortable around me."
"She does, normally Jas is the one to ask those sort of questions and she was excited that she'd get to see you as well but Imi asked first this time and it was amazing, she's so shy and she usually just follows Jas so for her to want to see you -" She didn't know how to finish but she still had a smile on her face.
"That's amazing, I can see how proud you are Brie and I'm glad that she does want to see me."
Their moment was interrupted by sobbing, but not of a teenager, no it was sobbing of a little girl. Their heads whipped around and their eyes widened as they saw Imogen running towards them with tears streaming down her face. She rushed into Gabriella's legs and the junior immediately pulled her younger sister into her arms. She had so many questions but it was more important to calm the little girl first. "Imi, look at me Baby." Their eyes met. "You're ok Baby Girl, you're ok. You've gotta breathe for me."
"Ella." Imogen whimpered and buried her face into her sister's neck.
"Shh Im, it's ok." She rubbed the little girl's back only for her to look up. "How did you get here Baby Girl? Where's Jas?" The tears immediately filled Imogen's eyes and Gabriella felt her stomach drop. She looked at Troy helplessly. "Text Chad and Locky, something's wrong."
Just as the message had sent, another cry filled the halls and Gabriella simultaneously saw red and felt petrified. Austin and Casey walked in with Jasmine crying and struggling against the former's grip. "What are you doing?! Let her go!"
"Not a chance b**ch." Casey laughed dryly.
Gabriella gave Imogen to Troy, the little girl gripping the junior tightly and he tried to offer comfort by rubbing her back. Gabriella's heart broke as she watched her sister struggle. "She's just a kid, if you have a problem, take it up with me but leave Jas out of it."
Casey was about to speak, but Austin interrupted her. "That's not a bad idea actually. Here's the deal, we'll leave the brat alone if you come with us."
Troy immediately started protesting. "She's not going anywhere with you."
Gabriella glared at Troy. "Stay out of this." She saw he was about to protest. "No Troy, the deal was you let us handle it, just take care of Imi, please." He saw the desperation in her eyes, as much as he wanted to defy her, he had to do what she asked. She turned back to Austin. "Ok fine, I will come with you, as long as nothing happens to any of my siblings. You hand her over to Troy right now and I'll go with you."
"Alright fine, just hurry before those other brats get here." He all but shoved Jasmine into Gabriella's arms, the little girl holding her tightly and whimpering her name.
"Just give me one minute to calm her down, I'll do whatever you want, just please let me calm her down."
"Thirty seconds." Austin growled.
Gabriella turned her attention to Jasmine. "It's ok Angel, just breathe, I've got you and I promised I'd always protect you." She could feel the little girl's heart rate returning to normal. "That's good Baby, you're ok. I'm gonna give you to Troy now and you guys can find Chad and Locky, you'll be ok. I love you Jas."
When Gabriella handed the oldest twin to Troy, the girl immediately reached for her sister, whimpering. "Ella."
"I'm sorry Jas, but I gotta keep you and Imi safe, I love you my girls."
Austin noticed Chad and Lachlan running towards them and gripped Gabriella's arm. "Time's up." As she was pulled away, Gabriella locked eyes with Troy, mouthing 'I love you.'
Chad and Lachlan slid to a stop beside Troy and by this time, Gabriella was out of sight. Chad growled at the boy. "WHERE THE HELL IS MY SISTER?"
Tears slid down Troy's face and he couldn't respond. Lachlan seeing this, pulled on Chad's shirt, dragging him back. "Chad, that's enough. This is not the time to lose your crap, there are more important things going on and the last thing any of us need is you going off, now give me a minute, Troy would we be able to go to your dad's office to figure this out?" Troy nodded mutely, hugging the twins tightly.
Lachlan pulled out his phone and dialled 911. "My sister has just been kidnapped from East High School by our mother and her new boyfriend. Their names are Casey Montez and Austin - I don't know his last name."
"We only have one Austin in our system: Austin Brooks." The operator began giving a description of a man, it was Austin for sure.
"Yes that's him." The operator continued talking and Lachlan went white. "Umm o - ok, thank you. Please let me know as soon as you find something." Chad was about to question but Lachlan put his hand up. "Let's go to Coach's office before we discuss any of this, we can't let everyone hear." The juniors followed him mutely to Jack's office.