Here's Chapter Eighteen! More Troyella fluffiness!

Monday came quickly for Troy and Gabriella. During lunch, Gabriella walked down the hall, clutching her notebook, heading for the music room. She had asked Troy to meet her there earlier. Troy had to go to practice during free period, so they agreed to meet up at lunch. As Gabriella was walking down towards the music room, three guys came up to her. She recognized them from the basketball team.

Tyler looked at Gabriella, wondering what Troy saw in her.

"She isn't too hard to look at."

Vince spoke up.

"You're Gabriella, right?"

Gabriella nodded, not knowing what to say to the three tall guys in front of her.

Charles came toward her, scaring her slightly, causing her to take a step back away from him.

"We've been looking for you, Gabriella."

He took a sudden step forward and grabbed the book from Gabriella's hands.

"Hey! Give that back!"

Tyler, Vince and Charles laughed at her while she tried to reach for the book. They passed it back and forth, playing a game of Monkey in the Middle. Gabriella, however, did not want to play. She could feel the tears start to well in her eyes. They boys stopped throwing the book around and Gabriella looked to see where they were facing. She saw Sharpay and the smirk that graced her face.

"Hello, Gabriella. Thank you, boys."

Tyler handed Sharpay the notebook, and grinned at her. She gave him a fake grin back.

"When can I have that date?"

Sharpay kept herself from snorting and gave him a fake, sweet smile.

"I'll call you later. Right now, I've got some business to tend to."

Sharpay turned to Gabriella and opened the notebook. Gabriella gasped as Sharpay's eyes scanned the pages that were filled with her inner emotions.

"Let's see. Oh, this looks good."

Sharpay looked up at Gabriella and smirked, clearing her throat.

"'I don't know what I'll do if she dies. I need her. If she doesn't get past this, I might not be able to live anymore."

Sharpay stopped and turned to Gabriella, who had tears running down her face.

"Oh, Gabriella! You're not turning suicidal are you? That'd be a shame!"

The three boys laughed with Sharpay, stopping when they noticed a fuming Troy standing behind Gabriella. He wrapped his arms around Gabriella, calming her. He moved his head to her ear, and whispered calming words to her.

"Shh. It's okay, Gabi. Don't cry. That's the reaction they want from you."

Troy felt his heart breaking as he felt her shake from the sobs. He let go of her and turned to face a now angry Sharpay. He stalked over to the blonde and grabbed the book from her hands. He glared at her and turned to his fellow teammates.

"I can't believe you would go along and do something like this. Sharpay I can understand. She's always been like this. But you guys! You're supposed to be my friends!"

Sharpay glared at Troy for his comment, while the three basketball players looked at their captain with shock written all over their faces. Tyler stepped forward.

"You've been different when you started hanging out with that girl. You're not the same anymore, Troy! We had to keep you from making a huge mistake!"

Troy heard Gabriella sob and turned back to look at her. She was sitting against a locker, her head buried in her hands. Troy walked to her and wrapped his arms around her shaking body. He set the book in her lap and rubbed her back, trying to calm her down.

"Being with you has not been a mistake, Gabriella."

Gabriella looked at Troy and saw the truth in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Troy."

Troy shook his head and squeezed her tighter.

"Don't be. You've done nothing wrong."

Vince shook his head at the sight.

"This is what we're talking about, Troy! You've gotten soft. Does this bitch really have that much power over you? What does she do for you to make you stay with her, huh? You're head isn't in the game because of some slut!"

Troy let go of Gabriella and quickly stood up, stalking over to Vince. Troy punched him in the face, breaking his nose and sending him to the floor.

"Never call her that again!"

Troy continued to punch Vince until Tyler and Charles grabbed him, throwing him off their friend. Troy turned and punched Tyler, knocking him to the ground. He turned to Charles and was about to punch him.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Troy and Charles turned to see Principal Matsui, his face red with anger. Troy quickly stood up and looked at his former friends. Charles helped Tyler up, and the two pulled Vince to his feet.

"Tell me what is going on!"

When no one answered his question, Principal Matsui glared at all four boys.

"All four of you are suspended from the next game.

Tyler, Vince and Charles all started to protest, but Troy spoke up first.

"It doesn't matter, because I quit."

He turned and walked over to Gabriella, who was still sitting against the locker, crying. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her up. Troy looked back and saw the shocked looks on everyone's face. He ignored them and led Gabriella out the front doors to his truck.

Sharpay watched in shock and anger; Shock that Troy just gave up on basketball and anger because her plan failed, again. The three basketball players watched with regret as their ex-captain walked out of the school. Principal Matsui felt proud of Troy for sticking up for a friend. He inwardly smiled; glad that "Troy the bad boy" was being replaced with a man that had a heart.

♪

Troy helped a sobbing Gabriella into his truck, shutting the passenger door and walking around to the driver's side. Instead of starting the truck, Troy leaned over and wrapped his arms around Gabriella's petite frame.

"Shh. It's okay, Gabriella. You're nothing like he said. You're not a slut. You're a beautiful, smart, talented woman. Don't let him get to you. He doesn't know you."

"I'm sorry, Troy."

"Shh. You have nothing to be sorry for."

Gabriella whimpered.

"But you quit the team because of me! You love basketball!"

"Sure I love basketball, but some things are more important to me."

"Like you."

Gabriella stayed in Troy's arms for another half and hour. Troy just held her and rubbed her back, trying to calm her. It hurt him a lot to see her in so much pain. He had done all he could for her. Finally, she pulled away and gave Troy a small, forced, smile.

"Thanks, Troy."

"It's not a problem. I've said it before: I'm here for you."

Gabriella nodded and buried her head into his chest, feeling safe and protected.

"Can you drive me home, Troy?"

Troy nodded and pulled away from Gabriella, pulling his keys from his pocket.

"Sure, Gabi."

Troy drove in silence, glancing occasionally at Gabriella. He felt his heart breaking more and more as she looked out the window, tears still sliding down her cheeks. Troy took one hand off the wheel and took one of her hands. She turned to look at him, surprised. Troy gave her a smile and she gave him a small one back. Troy turned back to the road and drove the rest of the way to Gabriella's house, still holding onto her hand.

♪

Sharpay was a bitch! She'll be back, but not in the way that ya'll think.

Jay