A/N High School Musical Settings and Characters all belong to Kenny Ortega and Disney. Any original characters and this story are copyright © 2011-2018 to Hopelessromanticgurl, all rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

Camp Rock Settings and Characters all belong to Matthew Diamond and the Disney. Any original characters and this story are copyright © 2011-2018 to Hopelessromanticgurl, all rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

WOOHOO I'M BACK! Now that this story is finished I will try to post AT LEAST once a week, maybe more but never less. I'm so excited to be back! Anyway I'm sure you're all excited too so I'll let you get to reading. Enjoy and don't forget to leave a review!


Class went by slower than ever before. Gabriella refused to speak to any of their friends or even look at them.

When class was over Troy pulled all the Wildcats aside. "Meet me in the gym in 5 minutes we need to talk."

He took Gabriella and he, along with Mitchie went to the gym.

Once everyone arrived Troy spoke. "Sharpay knows about what happen to Gabriella last summer. I don't normally agree with Sharpay but one thing she said was true. Not many people know about what happen. So I'm going to ask this only once and I hope you are all honest with me. Did any of you tell her?"

The Wildcats looked to each other and back to Troy and answered. "No."

"How do you know it wasn't her?" Chad asked pointing to Mitchie.

"Mitchie didn't even know who Sharpay was until today." Troy said. "Someone told Sharpay, and we don't know who it was and until we figure it out Gabriella's trust in all of us has been destroyed."

"Troy, we'd never hurt Gabriella like that. My parents don't even know what happen." Taylor said.

"I know. I believe none of you did it, but someone did. We need to figure out who it was."

"Well besides us, who else knows?" Chad asked.

"Connie and Steve." Troy shrugged. "That's it."

"No, there were others at that Camp. What about those other girls we met?"

"Ella, Peggy, and Caitlyn would never do that. Besides they don't know Sharpay either." Mitchie said.

"Unless Connie told the Principal to protect Gabriella, and he told the teachers and Sharpay overheard?" Troy said.

"Troy, if my mom did tell the Principal it's not her fault." Mitchie said.

"I know. But until we know for sure Gabriella isn't going to trust anyone." Troy sighed and pulled Gabriella into his side.

"Wait, where is Zeke?" Troy asked.

"He said he'd be here. He class must be running late." Chad said. "It wasn't Zeke."

"How do you know?" Troy asked.

"He wouldn't hurt Gabriella like that."

"We all know he has a massive crush on Sharpay. Maybe she offered a kiss or date or something in return." Troy said.

"Dude, it wasn't Zeke." Chad said. "Wildcats don't betray other Wildcats."

Troy sighed. "Sharpay still knows and that means it won't take long for the whole school to know."

Gabriella whimpered.

"None of us did it, Troy. We will have Gabriella's back no matter what happens." Chad said.

"Thanks."

"I think the better question is going to be…does Gabriella believe us?" Taylor asked.

"I do. But I'm still scared." Gabriella said.

"We will figure this out." Troy said and kissed her head. "Until then we've got to get started with practice and you ladies need to get to your next class."

"Will you be ok?" Troy asked turning his attention to Gabriella. "You can stay with me."

Gabriella shook her head. "I'll be ok. It's Mitchie's first day, besides I trust Taylor."

"Ok. I'll see you at lunch."

They shared a kiss and the ladies headed off to their next class.


In math class Gabriella took a seat in the middle of Taylor and Mitchie. Just as she took out her book and notebook two girls came over. Taylor moved and stood in front of Gabriella.

"Taylor, relax we're not going to hurt her." One of them said.

"Taylor, it's ok. I want to talk to them." Gabriella said.

Taylor moved back to her seat.

"We just wanted to say we're sorry. Sharpay told us everything. But…we don't care." One of them said.

"Well we do care, we just don't…care…" the other said.

Gabriella giggled softly.

"I think what they are trying to say is that they aren't going to use what Sharpay said against you. But they are sorry that Sharpay was being a jerk in the first place." Mitchie said.

"Yeah, what she said."

"Thanks." Gabriella smiled.

"So is this your new sis…."

"You can call her my sister." Gabriella said. "Yes, this is Mitchie. Mitchie this is Jennifer and Shelby. Jennifer has the black hair and Shelby has the brown."

"Nice to meet you both." Mitchie said.

They all shook hands.

"Gabriella, can I talk to you privately for a second?" Shelby asked.

"I don't think so." Taylor said.

Gabriella giggled. "Thanks, Taylor but it's ok."

Gabriella and Shelby went over to another part of the classroom.

"What's up?" Gabriella asked.

"I just want you to know that….I know how you feel."

"You do?"

Shelby nodded. "I never told anyone this before and I would really appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone this, but…I was adopted too. My parents died when I was baby and I was switched from foster home to foster home. A lot of them treated me horribly. By the time I given to the one nice family I was so terrified and traumatized I didn't trust them."

"What happen?" Gabriella asked softly.

"It took time, Gabriella. It's going to take time. You can't just go into a new family and trust everyone with open arms. If they don't understand that, they aren't the right family."

"What about now, do you trust them?"

Shelby nodded. "I call them mom and dad and as far as I'm concerned that's who they are."

"How did you get to that stage?"

"Time." Shelby answered. "I had to see for myself that they weren't like everyone else. They were different and they weren't going to hurt me."

"It sounds so easy. So in a few months I'll just magically trust them?" Gabriella asked.

"No. Not even close. It might take years and it's not magic. They have earn your trust too Gabriella. You're not just going to give it to them for free."

"But how?"

Shelby shrugged. "That's up to you. But the most important thing to remember is to communicate with them. It's not easy, I know, but you have to do it if you want to trust them. Tell them what you like, tell them what you don't like. If they are doing something that reminds you of your mother or father you've got to tell them so they stop."

"What do you mean?" Gabriella asked softly, although she already had a pretty good idea.

"Well, for example, my father is very silly, and playful. He loves to chase my mom and I around and then catch us and tickle us. When I first met them I hated it when he would chase me around. He'd always taunt us and say he was going to catch us. It terrified me because that's what one of my foster father's would do before he'd catch me then hit me. One day he was chasing me and I just lost it. I stopped running and curled into a ball and I cried. I begged him not to hurt me and to please stop chasing me because I hated it. DO you know what he did next?"

Gabriella shook her head. "Hit you?" she squeaked out knowing her own father would have.

"Nope." Shelby shook her head. "He sat down next to me and he pulled me into a hug. He started to say how sorry he was and how he'd never hurt me. It was then he explained he was a playful silly guy and he liked to chase and have fun but then he promised me that if it hurt me and scared me he'd never do it again. Till this day he never chases me until I promise him that it's ok first. Now I like it. But Gabriella if there is something they are doing that is stopping you from trusting them, tell them. They don't know, they don't know what you went through or what might scare you. That's why it's so important that you communicate with them."

"It's not that simple" Gabriella mumbled.

"I know it's not. It's really hard, but it's so worth it in the end. Even if it's not something they are doing but a similar feature to someone else who had hurt you, tell them."

"Wha-what do you mean?" Gabriella asked nervously.

"Well, when I first met my mother she had long blond hair. One of my previous foster mothers had long blond hair as well. So I finally told her one day that she looked similar to one of my foster mothers."

"Did she get mad?"

"No. She went out that day and got her hair cut and changed her hair color to brown. Till this day she never lets her hair get passed her shoulders and she always make keeps up with the color change if she needs to."

"They both changed things just so you'd trust them?" Gabriella was shocked.

"If they really care about you, and really want you to trust them, they have to be willing to make changes to make you comfortable. If they aren't, they aren't right for you family. Just remember to communicate."

"Thanks, Shelby." Gabriella said.

"Not a problem. If you ever need someone to talk to you, or advice, or just an ear for listening I'm here."

"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you."

They shared a hug and went back to their seats.

"Are you ok? What did she say to you?" Taylor asked.

Gabriella giggled. "Taylor, if this is you way of proving that you didn't tell Sharpay, it's ok. I believe you didn't do it. You can calm down."

Taylor blushed. "Sorry, am I being over protective?"

"Just a little. I can't tell you what she said to me because she asked me to keep it private. It was more about her than me. She actually gave me some good advice."

"Good. Happy to hear that."

The teacher walked in and class started. But Gabriella couldn't focus. She was too focused on what Shelby had said. Was it really as easy as she made it sound? All she had to do was tell Connie and Steve what they did that scared her and then she would trust them? There was only one way to find out…then she quickly shook her head to rid herself of those thoughts. She could never do that. Steve would most likely beat her and Connie would give her back to child services. She had to stay quiet. It was the best way to protect herself.


After school Gabriella and Mitchie walked over to meet Troy at his locker.

"Hey, Beautiful. I thought you'd be on the bus by now. I think it just left."

Gabriella didn't speak.

Troy sighed. "You want to come over?"

"Yes please."

Troy nodded. He pulled her into a hug. He gave Mitchie a sad smile. She just gave one right back. Any hope of Gabriella trusting Steve was gone until they found out who really told Sharpay.

Troy led both girls down to the gym office where his dad was.

"Hey, Dad, can Gabriella and Mitchie come over?"

"Sure, they are always welcome." Jack smiled.

To Mitchie's surprise Gabriella pulled away from Troy and moved to give Jack a hug. "Hi Mr. Bolton."

"Hey, Sweetie. How are you?" Jack hugged her back and kissed her head.

Mitchie stood there shocked and also hurt. Gabriella couldn't even be in the same room as Steve without having a panic attack. But she and Jack were as close as could be. Why?

After hearing her sigh softly Troy looked to Mitchie. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "Don't let this discourage you. Let this give you hope that she will trust your dad someday. It's just going to take some time."

"She and your dad are so close." Mitchie whispered. "It's like she's got no fear."

"It wasn't always like that." Troy said. "When Gabriella first met my father she was terrified of him too. Any of our friend's fathers she's ever met she's been terrified of at first. But in time she learned to trust them."

"I've never seen her this way with any older man." Mitchie said.

"He was the first older man Gabriella learned to accept and trust. I can't go into details but he was there when Gabriella really needed an adults help and they've been close ever since."

"Lucky for you."

"Mitchie, I know it's hard. But just give her time. I promise she will learn to trust all of you."

Mitchie shook her head. "She can't even be in the same room as my dad without having a panic and she's been living with us for a few weeks now. She should at least be able to be in the same room as him without freaking out."

Troy sighed. He would never admit it to Mitchie but she was right, he had never seen Gabriella act the way she did around Steve. She was always shy and scared with other men but as long as she wasn't alone with them she was ok being in the same room as them. "Just give her time, Mitchie. She'll come around."

A loud squeal cut them both off. They looked to see Jack holding Gabriella over his shoulder and tickling the back of her knee making her laugh and squirm and kick.

"I really hope you're right, Troy." Mitchie said.

"Troy help!" Gabriella cried out.

Troy chuckled. "As much as I'd love to help my dad torture you I think we should be getting home."

Jack set Gabriella back on her feet. She giggled and went back over to Troy and Mitchie.

Mitchie couldn't help but wonder why she was so comfortable with Jack and so terrified of her father. There was much more going on then she was telling them, Mitchie knew it and she was going to find out what it was.


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