LAST TIME-

"Troy, this is bad," she whispered to him as she leaned her head against his chest. He looked down into her eyes, his heart threatening to explode as he let a sigh escape his lips. She was in his arms; she was safe, for the moment. He tightened his hold around her as she closed her eyes.

"I know," he breathed out, resting his chin on the top of her head. "It's bigger than these two."

Chad was smiling as his car speed down the highway, Taylor in the seat next to him. He shook the wet curls out of his face as he looked to her, his smile widening. Her eyes annoyed and cold—she was still glaring at him.

"Why won't you tell me your plan?" she demanded, wrapping the seat belt under her arm as she shifted in the seat to face him.

"You'll find out in a second," he paused. "I would, on occasion, like to feel like the smart person." He looked back to the road; the rain was still falling heavily, the sky flashing with lightening as thunder shook the car.

"Chad!" she yelled. "You've had your moment, now spill!"

He sighed as he reached into his packet, pulling out his silver flip phone. He dialed the number and placed the phone to his ear as it started to ring, all the while, Taylor eyeing suspiciously, arms crossed.

"Hey, Ryan," he glanced to Taylor as her eyes grew wide. "I think I'm in a little bit of a bind—I need your help," he laughed. "No, not drugs, can me and Taylor come to your house? I'm gonna call Jason and Kelsi too, is that alright?" he paused, his voice getting serious. "I can't tell you over the phone man, its something you need to hear in person," he smiled. "Thanks, I'm gonna own you big. We'll be there in ten."

He flipped the phone shut and returned it to his jean pocket. He looked over to Taylor and smiled, shock was still evident on her face, something that made her look adorable. He relished in the silence, his smiled widening every second. After about two minutes he sighed and turned to her, afraid that the shock of him outsmarting her was too much. He was surprised to feel a rather strong fist connect with his arm, making the steering wheel turn and the car swerve. His eyes flashed to hers, the frown on his face turning into a smile.

"Jerk," she grinned with a shrug. "That was my plan."

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Ryan watched from his seat on the stairs as his sister paced back and forth in front of the door, her blond hair whipping around with every change of direction. He searched his mind as he recalled the tone in Chad's voice when he asked what was wrong, he had never heard Chad sound so, serious. That wasn't what was bothering him, though. The tone was, in fact, serious, but there was something else there as well. His brows furrowed together—was it—worry?

"Tell me again, Ryan, why they're coming, here?" Sharpay barked, coming to a stop in front of the white door.

"Chad didn't tell me why," he replied, looking up. "Just said he needed help," he paused. "You don't mind helping them, do you?"

"No, I don't mind helping them," she threw back, resuming her fast pacing. "I just want to know what's up. I've been board all year; these Wildcats always seem to bring excitement."

"I don't think excitement is quite the right word," he said, standing up and going to the door.

"What do you mean?" she asked, taking a step away from her pacing, giving him a questioning look.

He sighed as he opened the door, catching the four on the other side off guard. "Chad didn't sound excited," he replied, as she eyed the four bodies rushing into their house, then glancing to him. "I heard their cars."

Ryan and Sharpay turned to the four soaking wet bodies of their friends.

"Thanks for letting us come," Chad said, advancing forward. "Is their somewhere we could go to talk?"

Ryan glanced to Sharpay. "Your room, or mine?"

She glared at him, the response he was expecting. He turned to the four, walking past them and up the stairs. He turned right at the top and led them into his bedroom, which was furnished with red wallpaper and a wildcat logo above his bed. His curtains were drawn making the room seem darker and smaller than it really was. He assumed the dark room was better than staring out into the pouring rain of a thunderstorm. It would defiantly change the mood of the situation, he thought to himself.

"So," he locked his door and turned to Chad. "What's up?"

"Yeah, Chad," Kelsi asked from the edge of Ryan's bed. "What's with the sudden meeting?"

Chad exhaled, and looked around the room. His eyes finding every one of his friends before he explained. He took a deep breath and stopped, he had no idea where to start. The whole situation wasn't necessarily a kidnapping, but he didn't know what else to call it. He rubbed the back of his neck before explaining.

"You know how Gabriella wasn't in school this morning," he paused to swallow furiously. "There was a reason for that."

"Was she sick?" Jason cut in. He was leaning against the far wall, his arms crossed over his chest.

"No." Taylor replied, stepping next to Chad, her throat tight. "It's something worse, a lot worse."

"She never made it out of her house, someone attacked her and sent a picture text of her condition to Troy after basketball practice," Chad paused. "Telling him to come and get her and not call the cops."

"You're joking," Sharpay stated, crossing her arms.

"No," Taylor assured. "I wish we were, but were not," she closed her eyes before continuing, recalling Gabriella's painful scream. "They sent a video text just to prove their point."

"You're not joking." Sharpay confirmed; her face paling as she sat next to Kelsi on the bed.

"So, we have a damsel in incredibly big distress and a very pissed off prince." Jason thought out loud as he looked around. "So that makes us, like what, the Calvary?"

Sharpay stood up from the bed and walked forward. "No. That would make the cops the Calvary. Which, I still don't understand why we haven't called them?"

"Remember the part where they said not to call the cops?" Ryan stated, eyebrows raised. "I really don't think we want to piss them off. They have nothing to lose and we have everything to lose."

"They can't do anything more, Ryan, they've already kidnapped them," Sharpay rounded.

Taylor took a step forward. "You don't understand Sharpay, they've already done more damage, things can get worse," her voice was rising. "What do you think the video was? We watched Gabriella get beaten down, her screams of pain playing over and over in our heads! They knew just what they needed to do to get Troy to come and get her. Chances are he's so worried about her that he doesn't even think his plan through. For all we know, they have both of them already, and were sitting her arguing!"

She sucked in air as she fought to control her breathing, her fury dropping with every intake of breath. She was sorry that he had yelled, but the point of the matter was that they weren't doing anything! For the past two hours they had done nothing to better their situation, for the past two hours, her best friend could have gone through hell.

"How bad is it?" Ryan asked in a low voice from his seat in front of his computer.

Chad looked to Taylor, who inclined her head, telling him he could say it.

"Gabriella's down for the count, from what we saw," his heart sank as he spoke the words. "And Troy's—well, very pissed off—not thinking straight—he went to go get her."

"Taylor," Sharpay's voice was soft, caring even, as she placed a hand on Taylor's shoulder. "What do you need us to do?"

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Troy looked down as he felt Gabriella shift in his arms. "How are you feeling? Any better?"

She smiled, but it turned into a grimace as she sent a hand to her ribs. His eyes softened as her closed in pain, her deep breathing making his heart break.

"In my pocket," she whispered out to him.

His eyes widened as he tilted his head closer to her mouth. Her breath in his ear made him shiver, her voice sounded like the best music on the planet, the only music he would ever listen to, ever again.

"What?" he asked softly.

"Phones, in my pocket," she breathed out again. "Didn't charge it last night, not sure if it will even work," she paused, a sigh mixed with a whimper escaped her lips. "But it's worth a try."

He glanced to the two driving. They were submerged in their own conversation—argument? His head shifted back down to his hand, Gabriella's silver blackberry taking up the space. His eyes found her face, the blood drying on the side of her head made his eyes water. She smiled, holding it for a long time before her eyes closed and she slipped into unconsciousness. He panicked for only a second, long enough for him to register the small rise and fall of her chest. It was shallow, but she was breathing. He looked back up to the two men driving as he pressed the send button on Gabriella's phone. He had to get the two bastards talking!

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Taylor glanced down as she felt her jeans vibrate, her hand winding into her pocket. Her sharp intake of breath made the room silent.

"Taylor?" Chad asked, taking a step towards her.

She shook her head and opened her phone, pressing the speaker button and placing it on Ryan's computer desk. The six crowded around the phone. They could hear the rain pounding down on a surface—car roof? The group's eyes widened as a familiar voice rang out.

"Where are you taking us?" Troy demanded, anger apparent in his voice.

A laugh was heard, male laugh, then. "Jesus, you don't quite, do you? Stop asking, it's getting annoying."

Another voice, male to. "No, wait, the kid has a point. He should have the right to know where there going to spend the last two or three hours of their life at."

There was a pause. "True," it was the first mans voice. "Makes the whole situation more real, don't you think?"

"I do agree, my friend," there was shifting, a squeaky passenger seat. "Where meeting our supervisor at Red Wolf La—

The line went dead. The call had ended.

"What happened?" Ryan demanded, pulling away from the group. Jason cursed out loud as Kelsi wrapped herself around his chest, her tears wetting his grey shirt. Taylor was frozen, her eyes locked onto the cell phones screen. She was vaguely aware of Chad's arms around her shoulders.

"I don't know," Sharpay said, pulling away as well and taking a breath as she sent a hand through her long blonde hair. "Power line's could have gone out in this storm, the phone's battery could have died, or—" she stopped, finding her friends eyes. "—They could have been caught."

"Oh, that's all," Jason sarcastically bit out.

"There is one thing we do know," Taylor choked out.

"What?" Kelsi asked, pulling her face away from Jason's chest.

"Were running out of time." Chad finished, his heart falling to his knees.

Author's Notes: Not one of my favorite chapters to write, for some reason, it was hard. Took me like four hours to write. Blah. But the point is still there. Yes, the Wildcats are going to help. Yes, things are getting intense, and yes, there is someone who wants a high school kid. Lol. You'll see, I hope you guys like how it turns out! Soccer tournament this weekend, WISH ME LUCK!

This chapter was brought to you by Williamsburg free wireless hotel internet.