More reviews and great comments! Don't worry, for you who don't enjoy Chaylor, its not going to play a really big part in the story. Also, don't worry, more is to come and for those who are a little confused about Taylor and Chad's plan. All will be revealed soon!

Anyway, you know I don't own High School Musical, so don't ask lol.

Chapter 13 – Afraid

AFTER tea Gabriella and Troy retired to Troy's room, sitting on the edge of the book trying to work out a complicated poem.

"But the poem has…well it's um…oh Brie I don't know it!" Troy said looking furious.

"Its okay, we can fix it. You're just having a little trouble interpreting it; it's quite simple when you know how." Gabriella giggled.

Troy looked down on it and tried again, "Well, I can see that it's…I just don't know."

Gabriella took the book from him and smiled, "Look, try it like this, simply –"

"Look, 'Troy snarled batting the book from her hands, her smile fell, flashes of him bullying her ripped through her mind, "I don't want to do this anymore, what a load of crap!"

She bent down on the floor to pick up the book while Troy went downstairs to get a drink and cool down a little.

Gabriella sat down on the edge of the bed, she was trembling, it had been so long since Troy had shown such violence. Well, it wasn't really violence, just a little anger but it had frightened her a lot.

A few minutes later Troy was returning with a bowl of popcorn and two cans of coke, he placed them on the side of the bed and looked down uncomfortably on his girlfriend.

"I'm…sorry." He said.

Gabriella turned a little, so she was no longer facing him, but Troy continued, "It's just, I was so frustrated and it was the first thing that came to my mind. I didn't mean to make you angry."

"I'm not angry Troy." Gabriella replied resolutely.

Troy sat beside her looking at her hopefully, he touched Gabriella's hand but she jerked away as if she had been scolded.

"Brie, please, don't do that." Troy said, he looked sorrowful and he moved a little closer to her but she only shifted away.

"Just, don't!" Gabriella said firmly.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Troy didn't like the silence, he loved to hear Gabriella's warm voice, he loved her in his arms and what her lips felt like against his.

He inched closer to her and was about to kiss her nose, like he always did when she was upset when she jumped up her back pressed against the wall, Troy looked confused.

"Brie, 'He whispered holding out to her, "Don't be upset please."

"Don't hurt me Troy." She cried.

He felt his heart clench, she thought he was going to hurt her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him, he felt her body relax in his arms and she pulled her arms around him. He felt her nose bury into his chest and he peppered kisses into her soft brown hair.

"I'd never hurt you baby, I'm sorry. I just got a little annoyed. I'm not smart like you." Troy said leading her over to the bed and sitting her down, he sat beside her and they looked at each other lovingly.

The fear that Gabriella was feeling was gone, it was replaced with a great overpowering desire, something she had felt so often around Troy. She smiled coyly and looked across at him; she leaned across and kissed his cheek.

"Don't be silly, you're ever so smart." Gabriella exclaimed, and Troy beamed, taking in her praise happily.

"And you're so beautiful." He said truthfully and he pushed her down onto her back and began to kiss her softly.

She allowed him to do so, responding as much as she could, she felt his hand rise gently up her shirt and his hand brush her bra, she shivered and felt his tongue graze her neck, she pushed him away quickly, feeling distressed.

"Did…did I hurt you?" He asked her sensing her body tense and her eyes shift from his.

"No, I'm…I'm fine." She replied.

"Do you want to stop?" He asked her.

He looked at her for a moment but Gabriella shook her head, they couldn't do much, Mr and Mrs Bolton were in the house but that couldn't stop them from getting closer. Troy was about to bring himself closer to her again when the sound of Mrs Bolton's voice called to them.

"Gabriella, your mother called, she wants you to come home now." She called.

Troy and Gabriella looked at each other for a moment but Gabriella got off the bed and looked down on her boyfriend smiling.

She leaned down and pointed to her cheek and he kissed her, she giggled smiling.

"I'll see you tomorrow, we're having Sunday dinner remember." Troy said.

"Yeah, 'Gabriella said, "I'll see you tomorrow."

AS Gabriella walked home that night she thought of how much she cared for Troy and why she thought she loved him! She wasn't sure why she feared getting just a little too close, maybe it was their past experiences but she just felt like there was a barrier standing between them and only he wanted to break it down.

Just when it's getting good
I slowly start to freeze
Just when it's feeling real I put my heart to sleep
It's the memory I can see
Then this fear comes over me
Understand that I don't mean
To push you away from me

She held her arms around herself as it started to rain, she walled home slowly allowing the rain to pour over her, she really wanted to show Troy how much she loved him but she was so stupid, to scared to let him get to close. It frightened her in a way, she knew that soon if she didn't show him some commitment, then Troy would grow bored with her and find some other girl, someone else to show love to.

Why am I so afraid to crash down and lose my heart again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me
Why am I so afraid to break down and lose my mind again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me

When she got home Mrs Montez greeted her with chocolate chip cookies but Gabriella refused, she made her way to her bedroom and picked up the book Troy had given her. She treasure the book, just as she did her grandmothers, she knew that Troy had given it to her as a symbol of his love for her but she still didn't know why she couldn't tell him she loved him too.

You got a way of easing me out of myself
I can't stay but I can't leave, I am my worst enemy
Please understand that its not you it's what I do
Just when I'm about to run I realize what I've become

Maria at that moment stepped into Gabriella's bedroom; she sat down beside her and smiled tenderly.

"What's the matter Ella?" She asked her.

"Nothing, just thinking." Gabriella answered.

Maria came and lay beside her sister, they looked quite alike except Maria's eyes were green and she looked more mature than Gabriella.

"About what?" Maria queried.

"About…Troy." Gabriella said.

"Are you having second thoughts about him?" Maria asked.

Gabriella sat up quickly, "No, no, I'd never think that. I care about him so much and he's a great boyfriend."

"Are you sure? I mean, you've been kind of distant lately, from all of us." Maria exclaimed, she touched Gabriella's hand.

"No, I'm just thinking, Troy always tells me he loves me but I can never say it back." Gabriella whispered.

"You're afraid!" Maria replied.

Gabriella shook her head quickly, "Not afraid…just…scared." She muttered.

"It's the same thing Ella!" Maria chuckled.

"Hmm." She replied.

Maria sat up to look at her sister, "Do you love him?"

"Yes."

"Do you want him?"

"Yes." Gabriella replied firmly.

"Then tell him and show him. Be his girlfriend and don't be afraid to show him you love him." Maria said helpfully.

She stood up and kissed her daughters head, she walked out of Gabriella's bedroom leaving Gabriella alone with her thoughts.

Why am I so afraid to crash down and lose my heart again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me
Why am I so afraid to break down and lose my mind again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me

"I love him." Gabriella said breathlessly.

That's it, that chapter was mostly about Gabriella's loyalties and also Troy's. Gabriella is unaware that Troy really does love her but Troy wants them to be closer than before. Hmm, review; it wasn't my favourite chapter ever! I didn't like it.

Also, the song that was featured in this chapter is 'Afraid' By Vanessa Hudgens! xoxMusicalxox