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.
A few minutes later all the Wildcats showed up. Gabriella took them right into the living room. They all sat down on the couch and the floor in front of the couch.
"I called everyone here for a reason," Gabriella said. "I'm just about to find out who told Sharpay about what happen at Camp Rock. My mom has the name that Sharpay gave the Principal. All I have to do is ask her, and I'll know the truth."
"Who is it?" Chad asked. "Just tell me their name and I swear I'll make them pay!"
"Yeah! We will make sure they are sorry for what they did to you." Taylor said.
"I don't have the name yet. I wanted you guys to be here in case…" Gabriella shrugged.
Troy stood and went over to her side and hugged her close. "We're right here. When you're ready."
"Mom, I'm ready," Gabriella said.
Connie inhaled and exhaled a deep breath. "It was your mother."
"No." Gabriella glared.
"Honey, I'm sorry but…"
"No." Gabriella shook her head. "Did you tell her?"
"Of course not. I said your mo…"
"You are my mother," Gabriella said. "You did not tell her."
Connie smiled that she was comfortable enough to call her mom. "You're right. I'm sorry. I meant Maria. She got close with Sharpay's mom over the summer, and so she told her everything. Then she told Sharpay."
Gabriella inhaled and exhaled a deep breath and didn't speak.
"You ok?" Troy asked.
"I'm just glad it was none of the Wildcats. But…"
"But what?"
"Is it bad that…that I'm not surprised?"
"No, we all knew it was possible. But just because you aren't surprised doesn't mean you can't be hurt. Are you?"
"A little. But I was more hurt last summer when it all set in, and I realized she wasn't coming back to get me. I'm more worried than anything else."
"What of?" Troy asked.
"She knows a lot of my secrets. What else will she tell Sharpay? Sharpay will soon know all my secrets and won't hesitate to use it against me."
"You can always just punch her again." Chad laughed. "I still wish I could have seen that."
Everyone laughed.
"I've already promised my dad I would never use my fist unless I were defending myself."
"Who?"
Gabriella smiled. "Steve. He and Connie are mom and dad."
Everyone just smiled. She had come such a long way, and everyone was so proud. But what was going to happen the next time Shelly showed up?
It was the weekend again. The gang was over, and everyone was hanging out. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Gabriella went to answer it. She gasped. "Shelly?"
"Hello, Gabriella. May I come in please?"
Gabriella nodded and moved out of the way allowing her in. She greeted the others but Gabriella stood there frozen in shock. The last two meetings hadn't gone as she hoped and this was her last chance to get it right. Otherwise, she'd be taken away with Shelly and never see anyone she loved ever again.
"I'm going to have a look around then we can talk," Shelly said.
Gabriella just nodded. She gulped back the fear and inhaled a deep breath and let it go. She forced her fear back as far as she could and decided to act braver than she felt.
After a quick look around Shelly and Gabriella went to talk.
In the other room, Gabriella was sitting in the living room with Shelly.
"So Gabriella, what's been going on? How has your life been since the last time we spoke?"
"Busy but good. I love living here. Mom and dad are the best. It's just so..."
"Hang on, did you say Mom and Dad?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Are Maria and Axel giving you trouble?"
Gabriella shook her head. "Not at all. I'm not talking about them. Connie and Steve are my mom and dad. That's who I was talking about."
"So you trust them now? Enough to call them mom and dad?"
Gabriella nodded. "Steve took a little longer, but I really love him, like a father."
"Why did Steve take so long? The first time I was here you couldn't stand the sight of him. Not only that but you couldn't stand having him touch you unless he asked ."
"I was scared of him because he reminded me of a man my father used to be friends with. He would help my father hurt me. As soon as I told Steve that he did everything in his power to change his looks, so he didn't remind me so much of that other man."
"So that's all? The guy shaves and gets a hair cut and all of a sudden you're buddy, buddy with him?"
"It wasn't that easy, but that was the starting point."
"So you trust him now?"
Gabriella nodded. "100%."
"Not even a hint of fear or doubt?"
"Nope."
"Are you lying?"
"Why would I lie?"
"Sometimes we have parents who force the children to say these things even when it's not true."
"I'm telling the truth."
"So if I called him in here and left you alone with him?"
Gabriella shrugged. "Go ahead."
"Mr. Torress could you come in here please."
"Daddy!" Gabriella called out.
Steve walked in. He went over to Gabriella. "Hey, Princess." He kissed her head.
"What's going on?"
"She thinks I'm lying about trusting you. She thinks you're forcing me to say these things."
"She's just being cautious. She wants you to be safe."
"But I am! I am safe. You protect me and love me."
"Of course, I love you."
"I love you too."
Steve gave her one last kiss and left the room.
"Happy?"
"I don't know. Are you?"
"Very!"
"Well, I guess that's it then."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, it's time to say goodbye. Pack your bags and come with me."
"What! Why?"
"I don't like the way Steve was kissing your head. It's clear to me you're not safe here. So now you're coming with me."
"No! Mommy, DADDY HELP!" Gabriella ran out of the room and to her parents.
"Don't let her take me!" Gabriella cried as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"They can't stop me. I'll just have them arrested for kidnapping if they even try."
"Kidnapping? Gabriella is our daughter!" Steve said. "You're not taking her away from us?"
"I can and I will. Gabriella isn't safe here. It's my job to make sure Gabriella is safe!" She grabbed Gabriella by the arm and started to pull her away.
"NO! NO! NO! HELP! MOMMY DADDY HELP!" Gabriella screamed.
The last thing she saw was Connie and Steve hugging and crying together completely helpless.
"No! No! No!" Gabriella cried. Her life was never going to be the same.
"NO!" Gabriella shot up in bed covered in sweat; her pj's stuck to her like glue. She was panting hard as tears streamed down her cheeks."MOMMY! DADDY HELP!" She cried.
Seconds later Steve and Connie burst into the room and flipped on the light.
"DADDY!" Gabriella cried reaching her arms out to him.
Steve went over and hugged her close. "Shhhh," he soothed rubbing her back. "It's ok. You're safe. It was just a bad dream."
"I don't want to leave! I don't want to leave!"
"You're not leaving. Why would you leave?"
"Sh-Sh-Shelly...wa- wa- was...he- he- here." She gasped out fearfully.
"Breathe, Baby breathe. You're safe. Shelly isn't going to take you away. I promise."
"Really?"
"Really. It was just a bad dream." Steve said.
Gabriella calmed down and snuggled in Steve's chest. "I love you, Daddy."
"I love you so much." Steve kissed her head and rubbed her back. He softly sang to her until she fell back to sleep. She was safe in her father's arms.
Little did they know, it wasn't the last nightmare that Gabriella was going to have. In fact, they were about to get a whole lot worse.
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