Chapter 10

After paying for the ice creams, Troy and Gabriella was about to walk out, but, Gabriella froze when she saw the person who she cams face to face with when Troy opened the door.

"Gabriella, what's wrong?" Troy asked seeing the look on Gabriella's face.

"Mom?" Gabriella gasped and Troy instantly understood what was happening.

"You are coming home, right now," Mrs. Montez declared. "Where is that stupid sister of yours?"

"I am not going home," Gabriella said. "You kicked me out and I'm not going back. I have a life here."

"You'll do as I say," Mrs. Montez screamed.

"NO!" Gabriella said, backing away from Mrs. Montez. "Leave me alone."

Mrs. Montez took a step towards Gabriella. Her hand was raised as if she was about to hit Gabriella, but, Troy stepped in between the mother and daughter.

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Mrs. Montez," Troy said.

"Who the hell are you?" Mrs. Montez asked, furiously.

"Troy Bolton," Troy replied.

"And, who are you to tell me what to do?" Mrs. Montez asked and spat at Troy.

At that moment, Jack Bolton walked into the coffee shop. He saw some strange woman spit at his son. Furious, he strode over to the woman.

"Who are you?" he asked stepping in front of Troy.

"Dad?" Troy looked kind of relieved.

"What's going on here, Troy?" Jack asked Troy.

Before Troy could answer, Mrs. Montez answered. "This boy here won't allow me to take my daughter home," she said.

Jack glanced at Troy with his eyebrows raised. Troy ignored his father and spoke directly to Mrs. Montez.

"You should have thought that you'd want her back before you kicked her out of the house," he said, angrily. "Gabriella is eighteen. She can make her own choices. If she doesn't want to go with you, she doesn't have to."

"Do not speak to me like that," Mrs. Montez said as Gabriella backed away again.

"Stop accusing me of things that I haven't done and then maybe I will," Troy snarled.

"Troy," Jack said, warningly. He turned to Mrs. Montez. "I'm afraid Gabriella can make her own choice in this condition."

"I'm staying here," Gabriella said, firmly, from near the counter. She had gotten a bit scared and had backed away from the scene.

Mrs. Montez chowled furiously and rushed towards Gabriella, but, Troy got there first. Troy pulled Gabriella out of the way and Mrs. Montez crashed to the counter.

"Troy, get out of here, now!" Jack said, urgently.

"Okay, dad," Troy nodded. He took Gabriella's hand and dragged her to the door. "Thanks."

Jack just nodded as he watched Mrs. Montez get up. Troy and Gabriella rushed out and got into Troy's car. Troy hit on the gas and they sped out of town towards the beach. Gabriella did not say anything. When they got to the beach, they got out of their shoes and walked along the shore in silence. Troy took Gabriella's hand and squeezed it.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I guess," Gabriella replied.

"Come on," Troy said pulling her to the shade of one of the palm trees. "Let's enjoy the sunset."

"Okay," Gabriella smiled.

"Your mom can't hurt you, Gabi," Troy said. "I'll make sure that she doesn't touch you."

"Thanks," Gabriella smiled, again.

Troy put his arm around her and pulled her closer to him as she leaned against his chest. Together, they watched the sunset. When the sun had disappeared completely and when it had gotten dark, Troy broke the silence – which was not awkward – between them.

"You want to grab something to eat, or should I take you home?" he asked.

"I wouldn't mind getting something to eat," Gabriella smiled, looking up at him.

Troy grinned. He could not help leaning down and capturing her lips in his. Gabriella kissed back and when she felt Troy's tongue against her lower lip asking for permission to enter, she allowed him immediately. They pulled apart a couple of moments later and Troy smiled at Gabriella again.

"I'm falling in love with you, Gabriella Montez," he whispered as Gabriella's eyes widened. "I'm sorry, but, I can't help it."

Gabriella stared at Troy for a moment. Then she flung his arms around his neck, kissing him, with such force that Troy fell onto the sand. Gabriella squealed in delight as Troy pulled her on top of him. After kissing him again, Troy pulled back slightly to look at him.

"I'm falling in love with you, too, Troy Bolton," Gabriella smiled. "And, unlike you, I'm not sorry."

Troy laughed and he kissed her again.

After grabbing some burgers at McDonalds, Troy drove Gabriella home. After kissing her one last time for the night, Troy allowed her to get out of the car. He watched as she walked into the house. Gabriella paused at the front door and turned back. She blew him a kiss and waved before entering the house.

A/N: Well, most of you guys had already guessed that it was Gabriella's mom and well, you were right. I didn't like this chapter much. I was thinking about skipping about four years so that they will be done with college and all. They can be like David and Victoria Beckham type of couple. Troy will be a famous basketball player, not football and Gabriella can be a famous singer. I can write some more chapters of high school if you guys want me to, but, that might take a while, because I don't have any ideas. Let me know what you think of this idea. Should I skip straight to the future or write about prom and stuff like that and include more of Gabriella's mom? Please review and tell me your ideas!!!!!!