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.
A/N 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.
I'm so sorry this is late from my regular updates. I was having trouble uploading. But here is the next chapter. Please enjoy!
Later that night as Troy was getting ready for bed, Gabriella was sitting on his bed waiting for him deep in thought. There was a lot of things she expected to happen when Steve showed up today. But defending her, protecting her, taking her right to Troy and not trying to help her himself...that's wasn't one of them. Maybe everyone was right...maybe she should give him a chance to gain her trust. But how did she get over that one thing that was making her fear him the very most? Unless...maybe it was time she told everyone the truth? Maybe it was time to tell Connie and Steve the truth?
She smiled when the bathroom door opened and Troy walked out. "You're so quiet I thought you fell asleep."
She shook her head. "Nope. Just thinking."
"What about?"
Gabriella shook her head. "Nothing important. How was your time with the guys?"
"Good. We're ready for the game this week. We are super pumped."
"That's great."
"Yeah. We were thinking about starting a contest to see who can grow the longest and fastest beard."
Gabriella froze. "What do you mean? The game is Friday how much longer can your beard get by then?"
"That's the point. We want to see whose grows the fastest."
"So by Friday all of the guys are going to have beards, not just your stubble?"
"Yep."
Gabriella's reaction shocked Troy.
"NO WAY! YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT! YOU CANT DO THAT! NONE OF YOU CAN! IF YOU DO ILL NEVER SPEAK TO ANY OF YOU EVER AGAIN!" Gabriella screamed loudly as tears filled her eyes.
Troy stood there shocked. "Gabriella where did that come from?"
She inhaled and exhaled a deep breath. It was now or never. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok. But Brie where did that come from? Why did that news upset you so much?"
Gabriella didn't speak. Troy sighed and went over to the bed and sat down pulling her into his arms. "Please talk to me. What's going on with you?"
"You and the others can't grow out your beards. I'll never be able to look at you again?"
"Would we really look that bad?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"He had a beard. A very long one." Gabriella whispered.
"Who? Axel? Steve?"
Gabriella shook her head. "You never met him. He was a friend of my dads...of Axel's."
"Brie, what did he do to you?" Troy asked a sinking feeling in his stomach.
Gabriella stayed silent.
"Did he touch you?"
"Not in the way you're thinking."
"Then how?"
"He used to help him.. He would hold me down so I wasn't able to fight back against my dad. I was never allowed to cry or tear up. If I did the beatings would get worse so he used to have his friend check sometimes while he was holding me down to see if I was crying. His beard was so long that when he looked down on me to see if I was crying it would tickle my face and not in a good way." Gabriella exhaled a deep breath trying not to break down. "I can't handle long beards, Troy. I just can't. Every time I see a man with a long beard I see him and I can't..."
"Shhhh." Troy soothed as he rubbed her back. He could feel her heart start racing and her breathing was getting heavier. "You don't have to say anymore. I understand. It all makes sense now."
"It does?"
Troy nodded. "Steve has a long beard too."
Gabriella sighed. "I never see him. I try, Troy. I really do try. But I can't help it. I see him in Steve."
"That's why you can't trust him? You don't see Steve as Steve you see him as the man who used to help your dad hurt you?"
Gabriella nodded. She lost the battle with her tears and broke down crying. Troy hugged her tightly. "I'm so proud of you for telling me the truth. I know it wasn't easy." He went to kiss her head but then stopped and frowned.
"What's wrong?" Gabriella asked.
"The other day when I tickled you...I rubbed my beard on your stomach...and that other time I did it too. Gabriella why didn't you tell me it scared you. Were you scared? Did I upset you? Did you think I was him? Did you..." He was cut off when Gabriella kissed him on the lips.
She pulled away and smiled. "You don't have a beard. It's only stubble. Your beard isn't long like his was. I was never scared or upset when you tickled me with your stubble. I knew it was you and I knew you'd never do anything to hurt me. Between you and me I like when you tickle me with your chin."
Troy sighed in relief. "I'm so proud of you. I promise I'll never grow my beard out real long. Just enough to tickle you when needed." He gently rubbed his chin on her cheeks and she giggled and shrugged.
She turned in his arms and kissed him. "I love you."
They shared a hug and kiss. "I love you too. Now that you've told me the truth we can get to work on fixing it."
"How?"
"Tell Connie and Steve."
Gabriella pulled away. "No! I told you that in private nobody else needs to know."
"Connie and Steve need to know so they can cut his beard and make you comfortable again. So you can start trusting him."
"No." Gabriella shook her head and whimpered.
"We won't give them details just enough information so they know how to fix it."
Gabriella laid back against his chest. He hugged her close.
"I can't talk about it again, Troy."
"I'll do the talking. I'll tell them as a little possible but enough so they understand."
"Promise?"
"Of course."
"I'm scared."
"I know. But I'll be right by your side the entire time. You won't have to say a word. Just agree with me."
Gabriella nodded. The truth was out...but now the question was would Connie and Steve really changes their ways just to make her comfortable? She really hoped so.
The next morning Troy and Gabriella sat at a small coffee shop waiting for Connie. They had ordered a hot chocolate and a muffin to share but Gabriella couldn't eat or drink anything. She was too nervous.
"It's going to be fine, Brie. I'm going to do all the talking." Troy said.
"What if she gets mad and doesn't want me anymore?" Gabriella asked.
"I doubt she will. But IF she does than its fine because then you will stay with me."
Gabriella sighed. "What if Steve isn't willing to change?"
"Then he's not a guy you should worry about trusting."
"What if..."
"Brie, you're going to drive yourself crazy if you keep thinking about the what ifs. Just take a deep breath and trust me. I wouldn't have called Connie if I didn't think it was a good idea."
Gabriella nodded and let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in.
Then Connie came and sat down in front of them. "I'm glad you called."
"Well there is something you need to know about Gabriella. It explains why her fear of Steve is so much stronger than with most men. I felt that was important for you to know." Troy said.
"Ok, so...what's going on?"
"There is a lot I can't say but I'll just say this...Steve looks like a friend of Axel's. His friend used to help Axel when he would hit her. So whenever she saw Steve she wasn't seeing Steve."
"She was seeing the man who helped hurt her?"
Troy nodded. "Gabriella is willing to give him a chance, BUT he HAS to shave his beard and never let it get too long."
"I'll let him know tonight. Thank you so much for letting me know. Gabriella I am so proud of you. Thank you for being honest."
Gabriella just nodded.
"Why don't you two finish out the weekend at Troy's. Monday after school you can come over for dinner. If Gabriella wants to stay you can and Troy can stay too. If you're still not comfortable you can go back to Troy's."
"Sounds good to me."
Gabriella nodded. "Ok."
"Thanks again for telling me. I'll see you two on Monday."
Connie stood and left. Gabriella let out another deep breath. "She didn't get mad."
"I knew she wouldn't. Are you ok?"
Gabriella nodded. "Better."
"Good.
"Will you be ok to go to their house on Monday?"
Gabriella shrugged. "If you're there I don't mind. But don't leave me."
"I won't leave until you tell me I can. Even after that I'll stick by your side like glue."
"Good." She giggled softly.
They shared a kiss on the lips. She just hoped Steve was willing to make a change so she could start to trust him. She really wanted to, especially after he saved her from her mother, but if he didn't cut his beard would she ever be able to fully trust him?
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