(Sorry I've been kinda slow with the updates for The Power Of Love and Important Moments. After the next 4 / 5 weeks I'll be uploading more regularly)

The next morning, Gabriella woke up before their alarm. She could feel Troy's arms still wrapped tightly around her waist and she could hear his heart beat where her head was laid on his chest while her casted arm rested on his chest. The memories of the previous night flooded through her head and she looked up at him adoringly as she snuggled her face into his chest. She closed her eyes when she felt him shift.

Troy had felt her eyes on him and smiled. He rubbed her back and leant down to whisper to her. "I know you're awake Baby, you don't have to hide." She looked up at him cutely making him kiss her nose. "You're so cute. Are you feeling ok this morning?"

"I'm better."

"Are you sure you still wanted to go to school today because I know they'd be fine if -"

"No I'm going, I - I want to stay with you today."

He pulled her closer to him and kissed her forehead. "Whatever you want Sweetheart, I'll get Dad to talk to Principal Matsui so you can stay with me today."

"Do you think he'd let me stay with you for this week?"

"I'm sure he could get that arranged." He brushed the hair from her face before stroking her cheek. "We've still got a couple minutes before the alarm goes off so do you want to try and get some sleep?"

She shook her head, leaning on her elbows and in a bold move, connected their lips in a sweet kiss that had Troy shifting to bring her closer. He left his hand on her cheek while his other hand stayed on her waist. When they pulled apart, he pulled her onto his chest fully. "I'm glad you're getting more comfortable Brie."

"Me too."

Their conversation was interrupted by the alarm and they started getting ready for school. Jack agreed to talk to Principal Matsui about Gabriella attending Troy's classes for the week much to Troy and Gabriella's delight. They took the twins to kindergarten and arrived outside of East High. As soon as they walked through the door, Gabriella tensed as the students all stared and started whispering. She felt Troy's hand on her shoulder and looked at him fearfully, making him pull her into his arms. He took Gabriella to his dad's office with Lachlan and Chad following them. As soon as the door shut, Troy lifted Gabriella's chin. "I'm so sorry Baby, I didn't even think about the people at school."

She shook her head and buried her face in his chest, her response coming out muffled. "It's not your fault."

Chad spoke up. "Are you sure you want to stay? The school would understand and Troy or I could take you home."

"I'm already here, I may as well stay. If I go back home, it's only going to prolong everything."

Troy kissed her forehead. "Alright, but if it gets too much, tell me and I'll take you home, ok?" She nodded. "Good girl." She narrowed her eyes at him, making him laugh. "I'm sorry Baby, I love you."

She rolled her eyes. "I love you."

"Come on, we better get to homeroom, the bell's gonna ring."

At lunch that day, Gabriella sat a little closer to Troy, completely accepted by the boy who had his arm wrapped around her waist. She was giggling as Troy whispered in her ear, unaware of Sophie approaching their table. "Look who it is, the little sl*t who let mommy's boyfriend f**k her."

Gabriella whimpered at the comment. "That's not true."

Chad's gaze hardened at Sophie. "How the hell do you even know what happened?"

Sophie smirked. "News flash Montez, it's all over the news. Everyone in Albuquerque knows what happened to precious little Gabriella here." Troy pulled her into his side and held her tightly, she buried her face in the crook of his neck. "How does it feel Bolton? Your precious girlfriend cheated on you with her step dad."

He felt Gabriella squirm in his arms but held her tighter, narrowing his eyes. "Shut the hell up Sophie. Get lost."

"Come on Bolton, if she's letting her mom's boyfriend, you can only imagine who else gets a turn."

Before anyone else could respond, Hayden spoke, smirking at Troy. "I'd be more than happy to f**k her, willing or not."

His comment made Troy snap. He leaped from the table and his fist collided with Hayden's cheek before he gripped the collar of his shirt. "Don't you ever say that again. You don't ever look at, speak or even think about Gabriella again, got it? Because I swear -" His threat was interrupted by Gabriella's whimper. She looked at him fearfully and backed away slowly. His heart broke at the actions, he never wanted her to be scared of him. "Baby I'm sorry."

When Gabriella ran into Chad's arms, Troy looked down ashamed and sighed. He walked over to the siblings and rubbed her back. "I'm so sorry Baby, you know I'd never hurt you. I love you Brie." He kissed the back of her head before walking up to the rooftop, unaware that Hayden and Sophie walked out of the cafeteria.

Lachlan was walking to the cafeteria, having gotten a text from Chad when he overheard Sophie and Hayden talking around the corner. He was going to continue walking when he heard his sister's name. Hayden laughed. "That was so easy, he got so riled up and Gabriella was terrified of him. It's gonna be so much easier than I thought."

"I don't think this will be the breaking point, we need one more thing to break them up. I want Troy and you want to f**k her so we just have to do one more thing."

Lachlan couldn't listen anymore and walked into the cafeteria to find his brother and sister. "Gabi, are you ok?"

She nodded slowly but Chad responded. "Sophie brought up what happened, Hayden made a comment and Troy lost it at him. I think Troy's actions scared her the most."

"What happened though?"

"Sophie started going on about what Austin did and how Gabs has probably done it with other guys. Hayden said he'd f**k her whether she was willing or not so Troy punched him and started threatening him."

"And what did you expect him to do, I would've done the same thing. Hayden was threatening to hurt Gabi and Troy was only trying to protect her. You and I both know that he'd never lay a hand on her, he loves her too much to hurt her Chad." He sighed. "Besides, I overheard Sophie and Hayden in the hall, they planned it all. They wanted to provoke Troy because they are trying to break you two up." He took his sister's hand. "You can't let them win G, you and Troy belong together."

Gabriella nodded. "I know, I wasn't exactly scared of Troy, everything just got a bit too much. Maybe I wasn't as ready to come back to school as I thought I was. Anyway I'm going to go talk to Troy."

"Do you want me to come?" Chad offered.

"Thanks Chad but I can talk to my boyfriend on my own." Chad looked at her hesitantly. "Come on Chad, after everything we've been through, are you really going to start doubting him now?... Just trust me please."

Chad sighed. "Alright G, I'll see you after school. I love you Sis."

"See you after school, I love you both."

Gabriella walked up to the rooftop to find Troy with his head in his hands. She walked over to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. He surprised her by pulling her onto his lap and holding her tightly, repeating "I'm sorry."

She put her hand in his hair and scratched his scalp. "You don't have to apologise Baby, you didn't do anything wrong."

"But I scared you and I never wanted you to be scared of me."

"Troy look at me." She continued when his eyes were on hers. "I wasn't scared of you, I know you were only trying to protect me, especially since what Hayden said did scare me. I was hit with a flashback. I wasn't scared of you, if anything I was scared for you. I didn't want you to get in trouble for trying to protect me."

"I wasn't going to get in trouble, if I did, I'd just tell them what he said. Nothing would have happened to me but you know I'd never hurt you right?"

"Of course I do, you've been nothing but gentle and sweet to me our entire relationship."

Troy sighed. "Speaking of our relationship, Locky said that he overheard Sophie and Hayden talking. Apparently they planned the whole thing and are trying to break us up."

"Wh- It's not gonna happen, right?"

He pulled her closer and kissed her cheek. "Of course not, it's you and me always, until you tell me that you don't need me anymore." Gabriella shook her head. "I know you said that it will never happen but that's my point, as long as you want to be with me, we'll always be together."

"I love you so much Wildcat."

"I love you so much Baby."

They spent the rest of the lunchtime up on the rooftop in each other's arms.