Hey! I'm so glad you're all loving my story so far, I'm really shuft with it so keep reading and reviewing and I'll keep writing. Also, the song that featured in the last chapter was called 'Something Inside So Strong' and was sang by Labi Siffre. It's a great song!

Anyway, I don't High School Musical and sadly never will!

Chapter 3 – Choose Something That Inspires You

WHEN Gabriella got in from school she was clutching her stomach, she was in total agony, she hadn't been able to take a look at it in school. At break times and dinnertime she had hid herself away in the library where it was safe, in her opinion.

She got into her room and lifted her stomach, there on her stomach was a large black and blue bruise, large around rounded. She pulled down her T – Shirt and prepared for Troy's tutor session. He was coming over early to get some work ready and Gabriella was going to try and help him write a poem, to give him something to reach for. Like a goal.

She heard a knock at the door and in walked Maria smiling.

"Hey baby sis, how did everyone like your new hair?" She asked keenly.

Gabriella felt herself tense up but smiled all the same, "Sure, they loved it. They all said I should always wear my hair in this way."

"Oh no you don't, after our tutor session tonight I'm going to try out some more things. I've got plenty more to share." Maria giggled before closing the door behind her.

Gabriella sat down on the bed pulling a book towards her, it was her favourite book 'Romeo and Juliet' She was infatuated with it and often sat up for late hours reading it.

She heard her mother call her from downstairs and she put down her book and ran downstairs. She found her Mother and Troy talking, Troy was smiling warmly and Gabriella couldn't help but roll her eyes, he was so fake!

"Gabriella, what a charming young man." Mrs Montez said as she wiped her hands on her apron to shake Troy's hand.

Mrs Montez was a great housewife, Gabriella's father worked a lot and so Gabriella hardly saw him, he was definitely the man of the house and when he said something, it was done. Mr Montez's word was sacred.

"I was just asking whether Troy would like to stay for dinner. We're having my specialty, homemade beef lasagne." Mrs Montez said brightly.

"Oh I'm sorry Ma'am but I can't. Some relatives are coming over my house tonight and my Mother and father wouldn't be impressed if I didn't show up." Troy said laughing.

"I see, I see, well maybe another time yes?" Mrs Montez asked hopefully.

"Of course." Troy said.

Gabriella walked past them, and said to Troy, "Go on up, I need something to drink. Would you like something?"

"Sure, whatever you're having." Troy said smiling.

Mrs Montez followed her daughter out to the kitchen and Troy stayed behind the door, Gabriella didn't look herself and he wanted to know what was bothering her.

He strained to hear…

MRS MONTEZ smiled warmly.

"He seems such a lovely boy doesn't he Gabriella?" She questioned as she started to cut up some carrots.

Gabriella went into the fridge and pulled out some orange juice.

"Sure he is Mom." She replied coldly.

"What time would you like dinner sweetheart?" Mrs Montez asked, she had not noted the frigidness in her daughter's voice.

"I'm not hungry Mom; I had a big lunch in school." She said uneasily.

"Oh come on, you love my lasagne, 'She protested, "Are you okay?"

Gabriella turned when she had put the orange juice back in the fridge; she set down two glasses filled with orange juice.

"I'm fine Mom, just a little stomach ache." Gabriella exclaimed.

Mrs Montez walked over to her daughter and touched her stomach gently, attempting to rub it softly for her like she always did when Gabriella complained with a sore stomach.

Gabriella flinched and backed away and Mrs Montez looked puzzled. She saw the pain in her daughter's eyes and she reached across and touched her cheek.

"What's the matter sweetie?" She whispered.

"Nothing! Its just I'm so fed up with all this bullying, the kids in school, they think it doesn't affect me Mom and it does! There's day's I just want to die, just want everything to end! They all laugh at me and even when I change my appearance they do something cruel like hit me! I can't take it Mom! I just can't! Tomorrow I think I'll just go back to being poor pathetic Geeky Gabi! I'VE HAD ENOUGH!" Gabriella screamed and before her mother could comfort her she had grabbed the glasses of juice and had walked away, she had work to do.

She walked into the living room and set down the glasses on the window, Troy could see her from where he was standing; he had heard everything that Gabriella had said and felt a wave of guilt rush over him.

She slammed her fists on the table and tears ran down her soft cheeks. She turned quickly and found Troy looking at her with an enigmatic look on his face.

She wiped a stray tear from her cheek and made sure she composed herself before she picked up Troy's glass and handed it to him trembling.

"Let's go." She said picking her own glass up and leading him upstairs.

Troy watched her elegant figure in front of him and looked at his feet, if he hadn't heard her talking to her mother then he wouldn't have felt so bad about bullying her.

TROY and Gabriella sat on Gabriella's bed reading through a book of poems, they were simple things, children's poems mostly and Troy liked reading them. They gave him a boost of confidence. He smiled idiotically when Gabriella read something out or when he read something and she would giggle because it was funny.

"I like these poems." Troy laughed along with her.

Gabriella smiled dropped and their eyes met for a moment, they held each others gaze for a little while but Gabriella suddenly became aware of their eyes locked as one and she looked away. She leaned across him and opened a draw by her bedside, Troy took the opportunity to take a deep breath, and he could smell her soft violet shampoo. She opened the draw and pulled out her glasses. She was about to put the glasses on when Troy's snatched them away from her.

She looked startled but Troy shook his head, "You've got contact lenses Gabriella, you don't need them."

"Don't be like that! I want them." Gabriella snarled trying to grab them from him.

"No! Don't hide behind them." Troy said firmly.

Gabriella tried to grab them again, she weaned her way under his arm trying to grab it from him and suddenly Troy tripped over her and tumbled on top of her. They looked at each other taken aback and Gabriella was breathing heavily with nerves from under him. Troy felt very turned on by this and was about to lean down to her when the sounds of footsteps thumping up the stairs awoke their senses.

They sprang apart and moved away from each other as far as they could. They were both as red as beetroot and when they realised that it hadn't been a person at all but Gabriella's sheepdog 'Max' coming to sit in the bedroom with them they turned even redder. It was like they had been two naughty children being caught with their hands in the cookie jaws, they were so embarrassed.

"Um…so lets keep going…um…what…do…do…yo…you like to…write…about?" She stammered, it was suddenly very hot in her room and she looked everywhere but Troy, her glasses lay at the bottom of the bed, very much forgotten.

"I don't know, I've never really thought about it. I don't like writing very much." Troy answered truthfully.

"Well…um can I show you something?" Gabriella asked.

"Sure." Troy replied, he still didn't look at her.

Gabriella stood and climbed off the bed, Troy noted that she touched her stomach for a moment; he could tell she was in pain and he was curious to see what was hidden under that soft top…a top that hugged to her gentle sleek hips as they swayed tantalizingly as she walked. The cheerleader he was 'meeting' up with later was suddenly gone from his mind and the only thing that mattered was how close he could get to the tiny English nerd in front of him.

She opened up a cupboard and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. She handed it to him and he looked befuddled.

"Open it." She ordered gently.

He opened the paper and she said in a hushed voice, "Read it."

So Troy read it aloud and the minute he read it, he realised what it was and felt himself go red.

Poor Sad little Gabi, stupid little slut,

Cower on the floor you dirty smelly mutt,

After class we'll hurt you, we'll have so much fun,

So when the bell starts ringing you'd better bloody run!

"Who wrote that Troy?" She asked.

"I did." He muttered.

"Well despite the fact that it was very sickening and mean…it was a poem…a good poem too." Gabriella said, he could hear the sorrow in her tender voice.

"But it was just a –"

"It's good Troy, despite what was meant behind it, it's a good poem." Gabriella whispered.

"Thanks…I guess."

"Look all I'm saying Troy is choose something that inspires you. Make the poem come from the heart; it doesn't even have to rhyme. Look, this is my favourite book, 'She said picking up 'Romeo and Juliet' and handing it to him, "I love to write things like this. So, pick something you know you enjoy…even if it's…bul…bullying me."

"Holy Sh…sugar." Troy stammered.

Gabriella smiled and sat back down on the bed picking up the children's poems again and looking and Troy.

"I don't like this lesson much anymore, let's just keep reading." She said and Troy agreed, it had suddenly gotten very awkward.

So they sat and read, they must've been reading for a long time, it was getting dark outside but Troy wanted to stay longer. He didn't want to leave. He was reading out quite a long poem to Gabriella when he felt something fall onto his shoulder.

He looked down and found Gabriella sleeping peacefully. He smiled and put the book on the side of the table. He picked her up and pulled the blankets down and placed her gently in her bed.

His eyes moved to her stomach and his interest got the better of him and lifted her top slightly, making sure not to see anything that might make him blush deeply. He gasped and staggered back when he saw the large bruise on her thin stomach. It was so big that if you put a circle stencil around it, it was bigger that the stencil. (Sorry guys, it's the only way I can explain it, but if you don't understand, it's pretty big)

He very gently pulled her top back down and put the blankets over her. Guilt now coursed through every vein in his strong body and he touched her cheek tenderly.

He leaned down and kissed her cheek softly, "I'm so sorry Brie." He whispered, it was the first thing that came through his mind and he slowly turned off the light and allowed the young girl to sleep, he would make sure that he would do well in the assessment, for Gabriella!

There you go, there's a lot of sexual tension between the two right now, so slowly their gaining some feelings for one another.

The chapters will get better I swear, I hope you all liked it anyway, I'm praying you will! xoxMusicalxox