Thanks guys for the supporting reviews, they all really made me smile and some of the advice was awesome so I'll try and follow as much as I can. Also, I'll try and add Taylor in, I never really thought about it until one of you mentioned it!

Anyway, let's get on with it.

Chapter 6 – A Makeover, Big Trouble And A Revelation

THE besotted pair found themselves lying on Gabriella's bedroom floor the next day with many books sprawled out in front of them. Troy found himself comfortable just feeling Gabriella beside him and every now and then he look across at her smiling.

He had also noticed that Gabriella had bought herself a daintier pair of glasses, not big that they made her look horrendous but a petite pair that she only put on to read something. When she had finished she took the glasses off and put them back in the draw. Then she came and sat back beside him.

"Are you feeling a little better after meeting my father?" Gabriella giggled as Troy laid his head on her lap.

"I'm still traumatized." Troy joked; it had been quite scary meeting Mr Montez.

Gabriella smiled and started to play with his hair, "He just wanted to see whether he could frighten you a little."

"Well, he succeeded!" he replied shaking his head and burying his head into Gabriella's stomach. She screamed for a moment and Troy looked a little startled.

"Brie, are you alright?" he asked, he could see her shaking.

"Yeah." she answered though she was as pale as a ghost.

Then Troy realised immediately why she had jumped, he tried to lift her top a little and he shushed her gently with warm words, he gasped when he saw the bruise that had been on her stomach last week. It was a little smaller but it still looked very painful.

"Oh Brie, I'm sorry, I didn't know." he said to her.

"It's okay." Gabriella said giving him a weak smile.

Troy pushed her down onto her back and she flinched for a moment thinking he was about to try something. He kept her top raised and slowly lowered his head to her stomach. He kissed the bruise tenderly whispering sweet nothings as he did so. She looked up at him an unfathomable look on her beautiful face.

"I know you hurt Brie, I do know." he said to her before kissing her solemnly on her stomach once more before sitting up feeling angry and confused.

What was he doing? He couldn't understand? He was the boy, she should be comforting him, showing him love…but then again…did any of the girls he sleep with him show him love? No, it was just lust, with all of them. He didn't even feel love! He didn't know whether he loved Gabriella but what he was feeling was…spectacular!

He felt Gabriella shift beside him and nuzzle her head into the crook of his neck, they sat like that for ages, in silence. Troy wanted to be alone with his thoughts and somehow he had the feeling that Gabriella did too.

GABRIELLA watched Troy leave that night, she was quite excited to see him go, not because she wanted him to leave or anything, she just couldn't wait to have her makeover. She was truly excited and eager to see what Maria could do with her looks. She could feel her mind working telling her that she was doing it for herself but in truth she was doing it for him.

Maria came into her room and stood with amusement watching Gabriella's eyes on the young man that came every day for a tutor lesson.

"He's quite a catch I must say." Maria said making Gabriella jump.

"Um…he's good looking." Her little sister replied looking mortified.

"Uh huh, anyway, come sit down, this might take a while." Maria chuckled.

"What? How long, it's just I've got Maths to do and it's going to –" she was cut off by Maria's hard stare.

"I can wait." the youngster exclaimed quickly.

"Let's get started then." Maria chuckled pulling out a loud of things Gabriella had never seen before and never wanted to see again, they locked so painful.

WHEN Gabriella arrived in school the next days a lot of eyes followed her. She was shocked to find a lot of the boys looking at her in a way she had only seen once, the other night from Troy.

Her hair was swept up in a mass of bouncy curls; she had a little mascara on, but no other makeup. Maria had borrowed her a nice skirt that was quite short but not short enough to expose any knickers. She wore a pair of black high heels and a nice simple white t – shirt. She didn't look to glamorous in her opinion but some of the guys around her seemed to be thinking quite the opposite…

MEANWHILE, Troy found himself in a spot of trouble with Chad.

"Look I saw what I saw. Dude you totally kissed Geeky Gabi!" Chad protested but Troy feigned confusion.

"No Dude, you saw me whispering to her. I threatened her." Troy lied.

"But she kissed your cheek later on, I saw it. I know I did and you swung her around and everything, you looked like you'd been out on a date." Chad said stomping his foot like a spoilt brat who couldn't get their own way.

Troy laughed and shook his head, despite anything he was a good actor and knew how to pull of awkward situations.

"Have you been drinking again Chad, you know it's wrong!" Troy said who hated drink, couldn't stand the taste.

"Look I swear it, I've never seen you dressed so smart before and she was wearing some sexy kind of dress." Chad said and Troy tried to push away the feeling of hatred in his stomach when he heard Chad say that.

"Well…I wasn't. Gosh, she's a freak, I've been having lessons off the girl and as soon as I get better at it I'm out for good." he lied again.

Suddenly Jason came rushing up to them giggling.

"You've got to see Geeky Gabi!" he laughed; Chad and looked perplexed and followed him.

"What do you mean?" Troy heard Chad ask next to him.

"Look just comes, you're never going to believe it dudes." the overexcited teenager told them.

They arrived in the corridors and Troy gasped when his eyes fell on Gabriella looking incredibly different.

Troy watched Gabriella walk past him, they didn't talk in school, Troy had made up that rule, he didn't want his popularity spoiled. He looked across at the boys all looking truly delighted; Troy also noticed that their eyes, even when Gabriella had passed then, had not been on her face.

He also couldn't help but hear Malcolm Densen talking to the boys, he turned and looked at him and he saw red when he heard Malcolm whisper, "During French I'm getting some of that."

Troy felt his teeth clench and his fist crunch together in fury. He'd be there to make sure Malcolm didn't have anything!

THE bell had rung ready for fourth lesson and in truth Gabriella couldn't wait for lunch next. She was on her way to French, everyone else had already gone and she was left alone. She was pleased to see that Troy hadn't stopped looking at her all day; yes this pleased her very much.

She could hear footsteps behind her and she looked to find one of the young boys, someone who bullied her a lot, Malcolm Densen following her.

"Hey Geeky Gabi!" he called to her

She walked a little faster, the heels made it hard for her to run but she tried. She felt his pace quicken behind her and she darted turned the corner quickly before darting behind a locker. Hopefully he wouldn't find her.

She heard his footsteps stop at the end of the hall and she tried to hold in her breath hoping he wouldn't hear her. She heard him walk around a little and thought that he was leaving but suddenly a hand snaked around her waist and she screamed and found herself looking into the cold emerald eyes of Malcolm.

"Well…this looks comfy." he chuckled.

She struggled in his arms and cried, he placed a hand over her mouth and laughed, "We've got a whole hour, what shall I do with you?"

He started to kiss at her neck and she struggled even more, he seemed to find pleasure in this however as he only kissed her more forcefully.

"If you don't shut up your dead woman." he spat angrily.

She felt his hand move up her skirt and feel for his knickers, he looked incredibly pleased with himself and kissed her roughly on the lips trying to push her mouth open with his tongue.

"I've always wanted to take a virgin." He growled heatedly.

"Please…d…don't hu…hu…hurt me." She pleaded but she felt him rip at her t – shirt and it was off ripped almost in half on the floor.

Malcolm took in her chest, her breasts hidden behind her bra and he laughed, this would be enjoyable.

Gabriella's eyes saw a figure running up to them as Malcolm's hand reached for her knickers again.

"Troy!" She managed to scream and Malcolm turned smiling.

"Hey dude, you can have her after me if you wa –" but he was cut off by Troy's fist colliding with his nose.

He stumbled backwards shocked; he and Troy had always gotten on.

Gabriella sunk down against the wall sobbing into her arms, trying to hide away her almost tainted body. She lifted her head and saw through her tears Troy punching Malcolm over and over again.

"Troy stop." she said to him, Malcolm was getting seriously hurt and Troy was getting seriously violent.

She watched as an incensed Troy lifted Malcolm up and rammed him up against the locker, he was coughing up blood obviously in great pain.

He held him up against the locker by the neck squeezing it tighter and tighter, Gabriella watched as Malcolm's face started to turn blue.

"Troy don't, you're going to kill him." she wailed.

"I intend to." Troy bellowed red in the face with fury.

"Please Troy, don't." she said softly and Troy looked across and saw the sorrow in her milky brown eyes, he left Malcolm drop to the floor gasping for breath.

He grabbed Malcolm by the scruff of his shirt and made sure they were face to face.

"Now I'm sure you remember Rhys Hillon?" he spat.

Malcolm nodded for Rhys Hillon had been the boy in their year that Troy had put into a coma, Malcolm feared Troy.

"Well…if I find out that you have so much as touched or even looked at her again you'll be as good as dead. There'll be no need for comas." Troy screamed into his face.

"Got it." Malcolm managed to gasp.

"Good now lay back for a while; I don't want anyone finding you stumbling around." Troy said pushing him against the lockers.

Troy stood and walked over to Gabriella who lay trembling, her arms covered her exposed body and he took off his jacket and slipped it around her. She did the zip up with shaking hands and then looked up at him. He knelt down and she leapt into his arms sobbing to him.

"Shush, baby, baby, its okay." he told her lovingly stroking her hair.

"I was so scared…I tho…thought…he…he was going…to ra…rape me for sure." she cried hiccupping and coughing in exhaustion.

"Never, not when I'm around." Troy told her comfortingly.

"I feel sick now." Gabriella whispered.

"I know Brie, I'm taking you home. You're not staying here today." Troy said looking over to Malcolm and glaring.

"But Mom and Papa, their not…home." Gabriella cried.

"Do you have a key?" he asked her.

She shook her head and he smiled warmly, "I'll take you to my house then, I'll take care of you." He told her and she nodded.

He supported her as she stood and put a finger to her lips for a moment; he walked over to Malcolm who had heard all of their conversation, Troy's soft words, their embrace of affection everything.

"Listen now Malcolm, if you want to keep every limb on your body you'll do as I say." he ordered cruelly.

Malcolm nodded quickly, too frightened to argue.

"No – one is going to find out what happened today are they? Especially between me and Gabriella?" Troy said in a cold babyish voice.

"No." Malcolm moaned.

"And if word does leak out I'll know who to come to won't I? And you know me Malcolm; it won't be a pleasant visit will it?" Troy snarled.

"I…I won't say anything." He said spluttering up blood.

"And when someone finds you, you tell them you were attacked. My name is never mentioned." Troy ordered and Malcolm shook his head.

"Good boy." Troy laughed nastily and he walked back over to Gabriella and helped her down the corridor, there'd be half hour of the lesson left.

He saw the pain in her eyes and he tightened his hold around her, he wanted her safe now!

"HERE we go baby, home." Troy whispered to Gabriella as he helped her into his house.

He felt quite lucky that his parents weren't home either; they were visiting family members and would be back at least by Midnight. He helped Gabriella up to his bedroom and sat her down on the edge of his bed. She sat looking lifeless and her eyes were dull and empty.

He went into his cupboard and pulled out a pair of pyjama's that he hardly ever worse. He turned to her and began to unzip the jacket.

"No!" Gabriella screamed, thinking he was going to hurt her.

He touched her cheek and looked at her softly, "I'm not going to hurt you, I promise you. I'm not like him." Troy told her.

She pushed his hands away when he tried to unzip her jacket again.

"Brie, don't you trust me?" he asked her lovingly.

She looked at him for a long while, her eyes boring into him before she nodded and she allowed him to take the jacket off.

Troy tried not to look to much as he slipped the pyjama top over her head, and when he stood her up and pulled down her skirt he felt her flinch.

"Shush Brie, its okay." he said to her, he felt anger burn up inside him when he saw the scratches and bruises up her legs where Malcolm had been clawing at her.

He helped her into the pyjama bottoms and pulled the covers up.

"Get in Brie." he ordered but gently.

She climbed into his large double bed and laid back tears in her brown eyes. He sat beside her and looked down on her stroking her hair.

"Why did you go and wear things like that?" He queried tenderly.

"I…I thought maybe…maybe you'd like me more." She cried burying her head into his blankets.

Troy felt his heart break, "Oh Brie, you don't need to change to make me like you, I think you're beautiful the way you are. Please, don't…change, I like the way you are. Your hair is perfect with its natural curls not the girls you've got now and I don't need to see you in skirts that the cheerleaders wear to find you attractive. I like the way you are." he exclaimed.

"Really?" she asked beaming.

"Yeah, 'he said standing, "Now get some sleep."

"No Troy, please don't leave. I'm frightened." Gabriella said softly.

Troy smiled, "Its okay, you're safe here."

"But can't you just hold me for a little while?" Gabriella asked innocently.

Troy didn't say anything he just walked over to her and climbed in beside her. He placed his hand gently around her stomach, making sure not to catch her bruise or startle her in any way.

"Are you okay with this?" he asked her.

She nodded and he felt her body relax, he could smell his own scent on her, the pyjamas obviously and as he heard her drop off into a deep sleep he felt panic rise over him.

He realised that he could only show Gabriella affection when they were alone and yet he'd do anything to show it to her constantly, he'd never felt like this with anyone before but when she lay in his arms he felt complete and whole, like a piece in his jigsaw puzzled life was now slotted in and he was looking at a beautiful picture, his life.

He leaned across and nuzzled her neck, he could see a faint mark where Malcolm had kissed her hard and he snarled, no man would brand her, no man but him! He tightened his grip on her and felt her shift a little, it was there that Troy Botlon realised that he was in love with Gabriella Montez.

I'm quite disappointed with the way I described Gabriella, I wanted her to come across as almost like a goddess when she had her makeover but the more I tried the more it wouldn't work. I hope I haven't disappointed! Anyway, that was quite a dramatic and emotional chapter.

Also, we can see that Troy now knows that he is in love with Gabriella, but I'm sorry to say that Troy is a little mean in the next chapter…so be prepared!

Anyway, keep reading! xoxMusicalxox