I'm really glad I didn't disappoint anyone with my last chapter; I was quite pleased with the response from it so that really made me smile.

Anyway, none of you want to hear me babbling on but first I have something to say, to all you Harry Potter lovers out there, don't worry, I'm also a Harry Potter, so much that I'm going to a Harry Potter launch party on the 20th which I'm so excited for! Just wanting to run that by you all!

Chapter 7 – I Can't Help Falling In Love With You

THE horrifying incident that had happened last week had only seemed to bring Troy and Gabriella closer. Troy still refused to acknowledge Gabriella in school, he was a little selfish but somehow that was suddenly disappearing and the only thing that ran through his mind was Gabriella, his Gabriella.

He also tried to avoid her in school so that he and his friends wouldn't bully her as much…sometimes it was difficult.

GABRIELLA found herself in sitting at the side of the indoor pool of the school reading her book. She wasn't feeling very well so she was excused from swimming that day. Troy and his friends were in the pool swimming. Sharpay walked over to him and bent down to talk to him. Gabriella kept her eyes on them trying to ignore the covetousness she was feeling…she didn't own Troy!

Troy looked like he was about to disagree with Sharpay over something but soon he nodded and Sharpay leaned down and captured his lips in a long desirable kiss. Everyone cat called and suddenly Sharpay stood and her friends followed her over to Gabriella.

"Hey Geeky Gabi, why aren't you swimming today?" Sharpay snarled.

"I'm…not feeling…to…too well." Gabriella replied not meeting Sharpay's cold blue eyes.

"Oh I see, I see, what have you got in that bag then?" The blonde cheerleader asked.

"Nothing, just…b...b…books." The terrified teen answered.

"Oh, well mind if I b…b…borrow them for a moment." Sharpay laughed imitating Gabriella cruelly.

Before Gabriella could even attempt to grab her bag Stacy and another Cheerleader by the name of Sloane had grabbed her bag and started to empty its contents onto the wet floor.

The girls bent down and scrambled around in Gabriella's belongings, Gabriella stood immobilised watching them. Sharpay picked some of her things up, there was a hairbrush, a fresh bag of clean clothes just encase she got bullied again and they wrecked her clothesher history homework, her purse and a shabby old book with bits of mud inside it.

"What trash but I think the boys will like it!" Sharpay chuckled ramming all the contents back into the bag.

She walked over to the boys and threw it to them in them. Gabriella dashed to the side of the pool; they were all in the deep side and she couldn't swim.

"Don't please." She begged as the boys began to toss her bag back and fore to one another laughing callously.

"Tell her Troy, if she wants her bag she's going to have to come in." Zeke said smiling with pride as the bag came his way.

"Yeah Geeky Gabi, 'Troy said, he turned so they were the only ones looking at each other, he had a desperate look on his face as if to say 'please bear with me' and he wasn't sure she was reading it, "Come and join us if you want your bag."

Gabriella looked back to her bag which was being emptied into the pool, she didn't see Troy getting out of the water and standing behind her.

"Push her Troy." One of the cheerleaders screamed and Troy afraid they'd all think that something was going on between did as he was told.

Gabriella screamed, "No Troy." And one of the cheerleaders jumped into the water and continued to dunk her head under, Gabriella came back up spluttering and coughing for breath.

"Say I'm a naughty whore." Stacy demanded.

Gabriella couldn't breathe properly let alone talk.

"Say it!" Sharpay screamed.

"I'm…a…I'm an n…naughty whore." Gabriella spluttered.

They all started to laugh except Troy who was watching feeling his heart being ripped to pieces.

The cheerleader left Gabriella go and they all stepped back a little as Gabriella went under the water and then back up again, she was clawing at the water trying her hardest to keep up above the water. The others laughed around her not knowing that she couldn't swim, they thought she was being dramatic.

They watched as she finally sunk below and when she didn't come back up panic rose inside them.

"Where is she?" Sharpay screamed, she couldn't get kicked out of the school.

"I don't know, she hasn't come back up." Jason said shrugging his shoulders, confused.

"Someone help her, she's going to drown." Stacy bellowed and Troy jumped into the water and swam down to get her, it felt like he was swimming in slow motion, like he'd never get down to her.

He clutched her when he grabbed her and slowly pulled her up, he could feel himself starting to go dizzy, she was heavy under the water and it panicked him, what if she died on him? He'd never live with himself!

He flung her out of the water and pushed her up against the cold floor, he jumped out of the water and came and sat beside her. He knelt down, she wasn't breathing.

"What's wrong?" Chad asked coming up beside Troy with Zeke at his side, everyone else stayed back.

"She's not breathing, get back." Troy said, he lowered his lips to hers and breathed in deeply.

He started to push down on her chest, trying to resuscitate her. He listened for a moment, still no breath. Once again his lips met hers and he breathed. Chad knelt down and started to resuscitate her.

"One, two, three, four, five." Chad said.

Troy breathed into her again but it was no hope.

"Do something Troy." Zeke ordered.

Troy leant across and punched Zeke in the face who fell on his face, some of the jocks and cheerleaders surrounded him checking if he was alright.

"Come on baby, breathe." Troy said as his lips found hers again; he had no idea that Chad had heard him.

"Troy, she's gone." Chad said softly, guilt had overcome him, he liked to bully her but never wanted it to go this far.

"No, she's not!" Troy snarled, he pushed Chad out of the way and started to resuscitate her himself again. He breathed into her mouth and suddenly he felt something, in her chest, she gasped and water spluttered from her mouth, she was gasping and breathing deeply, her alarmed eyes sought Troy's and he noticed they were cold and reluctant.

Chad strained to hear what Troy was saying without looking too suspicious.

"Oh baby, I thought I'd lost you." Troy whispered holding her close to him, no – one seemed to notice he was hugging her, just thinking he was keeping her warm, all except Chad, he knew something was going on between them.

"Don't touch me." Gabriella growled pushing Troy away from her.

"Brie?" Troy asked looking hurt.

"Oh don't pull that kind of face Bolton, just stay away from me." Gabriella cried and she ran off leaving the jocks and cheerleaders alone looking puzzled.

"THANK you dear, you're a sweetheart." An old lady said to Gabriella that afternoon as she waved goodbye, Gabriella had helped her with her shopping, something she often did.

"Your welcome." She called to her; school was over for another day, another day, another afternoon where Gabriella was free from torment.

She heard a car pull up beside her and when she looked to the drivers seat there was Troy smiling at her hopefully.

"I don't want to talk to you." She said stubbornly.

"Brie, just get in." Troy said impatiently.

"No!" She said turning away from him in a huff.

She heard Troy get out of the car and walk over to her, he grabbed her gently by the arm as she struggled, she was no match for him, and he pulled her into his car. Then he got in beside her.

She noted that he locked the car doors and she looked across at him nastily as they drove off, "Are you abducting me?" She asked.

"No, just taking you for a cup of hot chocolate." Troy said simply.

They drove down the road, going out of Albuquerque, Gabriella realised that she couldn't get out of the car now so she phoned her mother.

"Hello, hey Mom, look I'm going to a café with Troy. Its just outside of Albuquerque, we won't be long, is that okay? Yeah, of course, see you later." She said cheerfully and when she put the phone in her pocket she found herself glaring at him again.

"Hey don't worry, I'm not kidnapping you." Troy laughed trying to make light of the situations.

"No but you did try and kill me this morning." She spat back quickly.

He winced at that comment and Gabriella found great delight in that, he looked across at her and tried to take her hand but she snatched it away from him, he blushed foolishly.

"Are you feeling okay? I'm sorry about what I did." Troy said.

"Yeah, that's what confuses me Troy, you say you like me but you never talk to me in school, you hide whatever we have away from your friends and you bully me and then expect me to be all lovey dovey with you when we're alone! And another question, what are we exactly, friends with benefits?" She said, Troy had never seen her so angry, it was very hot but also quite frightening, he didn't like this side of Gabriella.

"I don't know what we are Gabriella, 'Troy said, she knew he was serious as he didn't call her 'Brie' like he usually did, "and I'm sorry about the way I've been treating you. I'm going to make a promise to you; I will never bully you in school again! Never!" Troy said sincerely.

Gabriella folded her arms across her chest and looked away from him, then she nodded and Troy breathed deeply, it felt like a load had been lifted.

"So, where are we going?" Gabriella asked, her voice wasn't as cold as it was before but he could sense the great distrust behind it.

"I told you already, we're going to get a hot chocolate. Its one of my favourite Café's, its called Ebony Inn, it makes the best brownies too. Do you want one?"

"I suppose." Gabriella mumbled looking out the window.

Troy chuckled, "See, we're good like this Brie, you know it."

"Yeah it would be even better if you weren't so violent." Gabriella snarled, she turned herself on her side and looked out the window, Troy could see that she was still very angry with him so he left her alone in silence.

WHEN they got inside Ebony Inn, it had started to rain. Gabriella slid into one of the chairs and Troy sat beside her, yes not opposite her but beside her. A waiter came over and looked at them smiling.

"Ah Troy, What will it be?" He asked them, he obviously knew Troy.

Troy looked at Gabriella whose eyes were on her hands in her lap. She really wasn't in the mood.

"Two hot chocolates and two bowls of brownies and ice-cream." Troy said smiling.

"A new lady friend huh Troy, it's a change isn't, you're normally ordering them alcohol, trying to get them drunk." Gabriella looked up and the mention of this, her eyes flashing harshly at Troy.

"Oh, don't worry little Lady, he must really like you if he's not trying to get you drunk." The waiter laughed before he walked off leaving them alone.

"You really are a player aren't you Troy?" Gabriella exclaimed looking out the window.

"Hey, I didn't want to bring you here to drink, I want to spend some time with you, alone." He said reassuringly though reassured she didn't look.

"Whatever." Gabriella said rolling her eyes.

Troy sighed and touched her chin making her look at him; he saw such intensity behind her eyes that he was sure his heart was going to snap in two.

"I'm trying baby, I really am." He said.

"Hmm, you don't try hard enough." Gabriella said pushing away his hand.

A moment later the waiter returned with a two large bowls of hot fudge brownies smothered in creamy ice-cream. He set down their hot chocolates and smiled at them both.

"Enjoy." He said to them.

Gabriella picked up her spoon and took a small spoonful and slipped it into her mouth. She sighed, contented, it was absolutely delicious.

"It's nice isn't it?" Troy laughed seeing the delighted look on his…um…friends face.

Gabriella nodded looking over at him smiling, Troy also began to eat his brownies and ice-cream, he had a bowl at least every month and he always looked forward to it. Gabriella seemed to be a little happier so he lifted his arm and pretended to yawn before he placed it over Gabriella's shoulder. She looked across at him, puzzled, though he was pleased that she didn't pull away.

"How did you even find this place Troy?" Gabriella asked, she was looking out the window again but Troy could see a faint smile playing on her soft looking lips.

"I don't know, I found it last year, my grandfather passed away and I was really angry, my cousin took me out for a while but he went over to the pub to get a drink, see it across the road. Well…I was left outside and I saw Ebony Inn and decided to come in. They just make the best brownies and ice-cream ever!" Troy told her.

"I love it here." Gabriella said pushing her bowl away and picking up her hot chocolate. She was nestled into his arm, she looked comfortable and he couldn't help but smile triumphantly, he had won her over again.

He felt her rest her head against his strong chest and he smiled and kissed her softly making her giggle, he looked out the window and felt worry pass over him, she was too forgiving, always forgiving.

ON the way home was quiet, though Gabriella was a lot more pleasant she was tired, it was half past ten when they were leaving and now at eleven they were nearly home.

The car suddenly made a strange banging noise and it just stopped. Troy and Gabriella looked at each other startled, Troy tried to restart the engine but there was no hope.

"What's the matter?" Gabriella asked sitting up straighter as she realised that the car wasn't going to stop.

"I think we're going to have to call to get this fixed, I'm just going to check the car and phone." Troy said getting out of the car, he opened the front of the car while he had the phone in his hand, Gabriella was scared, it was dark out and it made her nervous.

She picked up her phone and began to phone her mother again.

"Hey, um Mom, I'm not going to be home for a lot longer than I thought." She said.

"Oh why?" Mrs Montez asked.

"The cars broke down, someone's going to come and fix it. Is that okay?" Gabriella queried.

"That's fine; do you want me to come and pick you up or something?" Her mother asked.

"No Mom, that's fine. I'm going to wait with Troy." The youngster explained.

"Okay, well please don't mention this to your father honey, he'll be testing you for any pregnancies or STD's." Mrs Montez chuckled.

"Sure thing Mom, 'Gabriella laughed, "I'll see you later."

She put down her phone and saw Troy come back in.

"We're going to be waiting a few hours." The young man told her.

"What do you mean?"

"Well…this storms preventing anyone from coming out, we're going to be here a while." Troy said.

"But…I'm a tired." Gabriella moaned.

"Its okay, I've got blankets and a pillow in the boot, we can sleep a while." Troy told her gently.

Gabriella nodded and got out of the car. Troy came back with a large thick woolly blanket and a thick white pillow. He placed the pillow on the back seat and the two teenagers looked at each other blushing.

"How are we going to do this?" Troy asked awkwardly.

"I've got an idea, how do you lie down?" Gabriella asked.

"On my back." Troy said looking a little embarrassed.

"Well…get in." Gabriella said, Troy crawled in and lay on his back, then he was surprised when Gabriella climbed in too and lay directly on top of Troy, her stomach resting against his, her head lying on his torso. She had asked him if he was okay with their position and he said he was.

"Um…Brie, are you comfortable with this?" He asked as she pulled the blankets over them, he was trembling underneath her, he liked it like this but it made him nervous to think that when he breathed out, she breathed in and that she was balanced on top of him. They were so close!

She lifted her head as if sensing his awkwardness, she kissed him squarely on the mouth and then lay her head back down.

"Brie?" Troy said.

"Yes Troy." Gabriella replied yawning.

"Um…do…do you want to…go out with me?" He asked her.

He felt her tense up and he thought that for a moment he had done the wrong thing but she suddenly stroked her hand down his muscular arm and said, "I'd love to."

"Really?" He asked brightly.

"Yeah, I would." Gabriella replied kissing his chest.

They lay there for at least ten minutes before Troy bucked up all his courage and said, "I can't help it, I can't help falling in love with you."

He thought she had heard him but she was sleeping and he smiled and pecked her cheek.

"Good night Brie, I promise, I won't hurt you anymore."

Aww, so their finally boyfriend and girlfriend! Sweet huh, I know the beginning was kind of sad but hey, you couldn't beat the ending! xoxMusicalxox

Stay tuned for the next chapter!