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.


Friday afternoon Gabriella was by herself getting her books from her locker. Just as she grabbed her last book the locker was slammed shut making her jump. Then she saw Sharpay.

Gabriella mentally groaned. Sharpay has been verbally bullying her since the start of the school year. She was getting really tired of it. They still hadn't found out who told Sharpay about last summer, but the whole school still enjoyed tormenting her with it.

"What do you want, Sharpay?" Gabriella asked.

"Why did they do it?" Sharpay asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Your mom and dad, why did they abandon you and abuse you?"

"Why would I tell you that?" Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Why would I tell you anything about my past or my parents. I know you just want gossip."

"No. I truly care."

Gabriella laughed. "I'm not telling you anything."

"Is it because you don't know?"

"No. It's because I don't trust you. I know the second I tell you, you will tell the whole school."

"Well, I already know the reason. I just wanted to hear you say it."

"You don't know the reason. There is no way you know the reason. Not even the Wildcats know the reason. Troy, Steve, Connie, and Jack, are the only other people who know. None of them would tell you."

"They didn't have to tell me. It was pretty obvious."

"It was?" Gabriella asked.

"Of course. Anyone with two eyes could figure it out."

"What do you think the reason is?" Gabriella asked. She wanted to check if she was bluffing or not to get Gabriella to confess.

"I don't think I know."

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "What do you know?"

"You."

"I don't understand."

"You. You are the reason they did what they did."

"Wow, good one. Like I haven't heard that one before."

"No. I mean your mom abandon you because of how ugly you are. Your father beat you because you're just an awful person who deserved to be hit."

Tears filled Gabriella's eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She was more angry than hurt at the moment. "You're a liar. You shut your mouth right now."

"No. It's time you accepted the truth. Don't worry. I'm here for you."

"You know nothing about my past or my parents or why they did what they did."

"Oh, Gabriella. I'm sorry." Sharpay put her hand on her shoulder. "I know it's hard accepting the truth. But that's why it's important to have good friends like me by your side."

"You're not my friend," Gabriella said pushing Sharpay's hand off her shoulder.

"I'm just trying to help. You don't have to be so mean to me."

"You're the one who is telling me that I'm ugly, and a horrible person and I deserved to be beaten."

"I'm just helping you see the truth. That's what friends do."

"You're a terrible friend. Just leave me alone."

"Gabriella you need to accept it now. The sooner you accept it, the sooner we can start working on getting you help."

"Help?"

"You know the extreme makeover people edition. Once you change your parents will welcome you back with open arms."

"I don't want them back. I'm perfectly happy with my new parents."

"Oh, honey. They are only putting up with you out of pity."

"I'm done listening to you." Gabriella turned to walk away.

"Get back her!" Sharpay said and grabbed her shirt collar from behind and pulled her back.

"No! Let me go?" Gabriella screamed. Flashing back to Axel. She turned and attempted to defend herself threw a punch and hit Sharpay square in the face.

She let out a blood-curdling scream and the next thing Gabriella knew they were both in the Principal's office.


Steve arrived a few minutes later.

"What happen?" He asked.

Gabriella looked at the floor and didn't answer. She just sniffed back tears. Steve was going to beat her for sure.

"Your daughter punched me for no reason," Sharpay said.

"I was asking my daughter. I know my daughter would never hit someone without a reason."

"Gabriella, what happen?" Steve asked again.

Gabriella didn't answer.

"Do you want to talk about it at home?"

Gabriella nodded.

"Ok, let's go."

Gabriella stood up and left with Steve. She refused eye contact and stayed as far from him as possible.


At home, Steve went into the living room and sat down. "Gabriella, come sit down and tell me what happen. I promise I will not touch you. I promise I will believe whatever you say."

Gabriella walked over and sat down on the love seat. Then she broke down crying. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hit her. Please don't beat me. I'm really sorry! I'll never ever do it again."

"It's ok. I'm not going to beat you. Just tell me the truth. What happen?"

"I thought she was Axel." Gabriella whimpered. "She grabbed the back of my shirt by my collar, and that was something Axel did. I thought it was him and went to protect myself. I swear I didn't mean to hurt Sharpay!"

"Did something happen before that?"

Gabriella nodded. "She was saying such hurtful things to me. She's been bullying me since the start of the school year. I'm so tired of her hurting me. I got hurt and angry, and then I went to walk away, but that's when she grabbed me."

"So you went to walk away, and she grabbed you, and you thought it was Axel so you punched outward to get away and by mistake you hit Sharpay?"

"Yes."

"Ok. Here is what is going to happen, I will not beat you, I would never beat you. Even if you had punched her on purpose, I would never and will never beat you. I will not even punish you. But, Monday morning when you go back to school I want you to apologize to Sharpay."

"Do I have to do it alone?" Gabriella asked.

"Are you scared of being alone with her?" Steve asked.

Gabriella nodded.

"Then you may have one of your friends or Troy with you. Does that sounds like a fair deal?"

Gabriella nodded. "Thank you."

"I will also be calling your Principal and explaining what happen."

Gabriella nodded.

"Can I give you a hug?"

To her own surprise, she nodded. Steve wrapped her in a big hug. "No matter what Sharpay said to you, they are all lies. Every single one of them."

That caused Gabriella to start crying again and cling tightly to Steve. He just held her and rubbed her back. "Thank you, Daddy."

Steve smiled and placed a gentle kiss on her head. "I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you too."

Steve knew at that moment Gabriella trusted him. She was no longer scared of him. He was going to make sure the bullies at school were taken care of. Then things were actually starting to be ok again.


After a few minutes, Gabriella pulled back slightly. "Thank you. Axel and Maria would always take the bullies side and never believe me. They would always say that my punishment was that I had to let the bullies treat me any way they wanted, and I wasn't allowed to fight back."

"That's not true. I want you to fight back. If someone physically puts their hands on you and you don't want them to, fight back. Even if you get sent to the office, Connie and I will always believe your side of the story, always. Do you tell your teacher about the bullying?"

Gabriella nodded. "They just tell me to grow up and stop being a tattle tale. They say I'm 17 years old I should know how to handle bullies. I'm not a baby."

Steve exhaled a deep breath. "I want you to protect yourself anyway you can. But Gabriella promise me you won't ever throw the first punch?"

"I promise, Daddy."

Steve smiled. "That's my girl."

"Now how about we go out and get some lunch?"

"Yeah. Let's go."

Steve and Gabriella smiled as they left the house together. Gabriella wasn't even scared. Things were finally getting better.


A few hours later Connie and Mitchie came home from work and school. As the walked into the house, they heard a loud scream of giggles.

"Is that Gabriella?" Mitchie asked.

"I think so. Troy must have beat us here." Connie said.

"He has practice tonight. He wasn't supposed to be here till after." Mitchie said.

"Then who..."

"DADDY STOP PLEASE!"

Connie and Mitchie ran to Gabriella's room and stopped freezing at the doorway.

Inside Gabriella was laying in her bed as Steve tickled her. He wasn't pinning her down or restraining her in any way. He would tickle her until she said stop then he'd stop and wait for her to tell him she was ready to start again. She was continually calling him Daddy.

Connie and Mitchie smiled at the sight.

"I think she finally trusts him," Mitchie said.

"I think so too," Connie smiled. "Let's give them their space."

Mitchie and Connie left the room.


Gabriella laughed as she attacked Steve with tickles the same way he had done to her.

"Dinner!" Connie called.

Gabriella stopped and let Steve sit up. "I didn't realize she was home, Daddy."

"I didn't either. We were having so much fun."

"It was fun, Daddy. I wasn't scared at all."

"Good. I'm happy to hear that. Come on let's go to dinner."

"Ok, Daddy."

Steve chuckled. He knew her calling him Daddy was a big step, but it made him laugh how often she was using it. He put his hand out to her and she took it without question. Together they went to dinner.

During dinner, Connie spoke up. "I got a call from your Principal today."

Gabriella froze. "It was an accident I swear. I…" She looked frantically to Steve. "Daddy…"

"Connie, I've already talked to Gabriella about it. We don't need to bring it back up." Steve said.

"No, no, no, Honey, you're not in trouble. He called me after Steve had picked you up. He said he tried to reach your dad, but he wasn't answering. He told me some information about Sharpay. I have good news and bad news." Connie said.

"What's the good news?" Gabriella asked.

"Sharpay has been suspended."

"What's the bad news?"

Connie sighed. "She told the Principal who told her about what happen at Camp Rock."

"You know who it was?" Gabriella asked.

Connie nodded. "I'm so sorry Sweetie."

Gabriella frowned. "It was one of the Wildcats...wasn't it?"

"No, wasn't them. It was…."

"Don't say it," Gabriella said. "I want to wait and have the Wildcats here when I find out."

"Are you sure?"

Gabriella nodded. "Can I have them come over after dinner?"

"Of course."

Gabriella quickly sent a group text to all the Wildcats and told them to come over. Gabriella suddenly found that she couldn't eat. She has no idea how she was going to handle this.


A/N What do you think? Leave me your thoughts in a review. Those who review with an account will get a sneak peek at the next chapter so please review!

For updates, sneak peeks, and sometimes cool pictures FIND and LIKE me on Facebook at "hopelessromanticgurl"

For updates and information on my original novels FIND and LIKE ME ON Facebook at "S.M. Nicholas Romance Author"