A/N I DON'T OWN ANYTHING! Sorry for the late update.

Just as Gabriella was about to go back to sleep there was a knock at the door. She jumped startled by the noise.

"It's all right baby. You're safe." Troy soothed.

"What if it's your dad?"

"I don't think it is."

"It might be."

"I'm sure the police found him already."

The person knocked again.

"Troy you there? It's Chad and Taylor we really need to speak to you,"

Troy and Gabriella opened the door.

"What's going on?"

Chad and Taylor walked in and sat down at the table. Troy closed the door and he and Gabriella joined them.

"What's going on?" Troy asked again.

"Your father was arrested today."

"Ok…."

"During practice in front of the other guys."

"So everyone knows?" Gabriella whimpered.

"They know that you and Troy's father had some big blow out but no one knows the details. "Everyone thinks you and Troy skipped today because you knew what was going to happen."

"So rumors are already starting. By Monday everything is going to be crazy. Troy wha-what are we going to do?"

Troy heard her voice shaking and pulled her onto his lap holding her tight.

"We'll face it together baby. Together we will make it through this. I promise."

"I'm scared Troy."

"I know baby. I promise I'll stick by your side the whole time."

Gabriella buried her face in Troy's shoulder. How was she going to survive this?

"Chad and I will do what we can to stop them and keep you updated on the rumors but I can't make any promises that I can end it."

"That's ok Taylor. Anything you can do would be great." Troy said.

"Even the guys are making rumors. Some are about you."

"Great. What are they saying about us?" Troy asked.

"They think you knew about what was going on between your father and Gabriella and you're taking Gabriella on the run to get away from the drama and picked Gabriella over your own father."

"Well I did pick Gabriella over my father but we aren't running."

"Why running sounds like a good idea." Gabriella whimpered.

Troy gave a small smile and kissed her cheek.

"Because if we run then they win but if we go to school and hold our heads high we will prove that none of the rumors are true."

"I would rather run."

"I know sweetie but you will get through I promise you."

Gabriella sighed. The others did the same. Monday was going to be a hard, hard day.

Later on that night Maria Montez was sleeping soundly in her bed when she heard her daughter scream. Troy had told her about what was going to happen at school and she knew her daughter was worried. She jumped from bed and ran into Gabriella's room. She was tossing and turning while she screamed on top of her lungs. Maria shook her.

"Gabriella wake up Wake up Gabriella!"

"TROY! TROY! TROY!" Gabriella screamed in her sleep.

"Gabriella Montez you wake this minute! Maria yelled.

Gabriella shot up in bed panting and looking around.

"It's all right sweetie. It was just a bad dream."

"Nightmare is more like it." She muttered.

"It's all over now. Try and get some rest. Would you like me to stay with you?"

Gabriella nodded. "Could you sing to me like you used to when I was a little girl?"

"Sure sweetie."

Gabriella laid back down and rolled onto her stomach. When she was younger and she had a scary dream her mother always rubbed her back and sang to her. It always made Gabriella feel better. Maria started to rub her daughters back and softly sing…Three songs later Gabriella was still awake.

"Want to try counting sheep?"

Gabriella shrugged. She didn't honestly want to go back to sleep. If she did she would only be haunted by nightmares.

"Try it close your eyes." Maria said.

Gabriella closed her eyes. 100 counted sheep later and Gabriella was still awake.

"Let's go into the kitchen and get you some warm milk that always helped you sleep as a baby."

Gabriella nodded and climbed out of bed and followed her mother in the kitchen. Her mother heated some milk and poured it into a glass. They both went and sat on the couch. Maria was getting really tired but was forcing herself to stay awake for her daughter.

After five glasses of warm milk Gabriella was still awake. Maria sighed. There was only one other option. Maria got off the couch leaving Gabriella just sitting there staring out the window. She went into the kitchen and grabbed the phone. She dialed the number she wanted and waited while it rang.

"Ello?" a tired voice answered.

"Troy I'm sorry to call so late it's Maria and I need your help."

Now Troy was wide awake.

"What's wrong?"

"Gabriella woke up screaming from a nightmare and I can't get her back to sleep. I've tried everything. I know it's late and I know it's a lot to ask but could you please come over and see what you can do?"

"It's not a lot to ask Maria. I love Gabriella and I'll do anything for her no matter what time is it."

"Thank you Troy. Please drive safe."

"I will. I'll be there soon."

Maria hung up. She went back into the living room and Gabriella was the same as she left her.

"Gabi, I called Troy he is on his way over. Do you want to go lay back down in bed?"

Gabriella shook her head. Maria sighed. She was wiped out and had work early the next morning she needed sleep but she would not bail on her daughter. She went and sat next to her.

"Can you tell me what your dream was about?"

"It was awful. Everyone was pointing and laughing."

"None of what those kids are going to say is true. As long as you know that, that's all that matters."

Gabriella just nodded. Her mother didn't understand, partly because Gabriella would never admit to it but Gabriella was so scared of what people would say as she was of what Troy would think of her after they had their say.

There was a knock at the door. Maria got up and answered the door.

"Thank you for coming Troy."

"Anytime. Where is she?"

"In the living room."

Troy walked to the living room Gabriella was sitting on the couch with a glass of warm milk in her hands just staring into space. He turned to Maria.

"If you want to go to sleep I'll take care of her. Go on you look like you need it."

Maria sighed and nodded. She did all she could do and now it was up to Troy.

"Don't be scared to wake me if she needs me."

"Ok, good night,"

"Good night Troy and thank you."

Maria walked back to her room. Troy went into the living room and grabbed a blanket off the chair and went over to Gabriella wrapping it around her shoulders. He then pulled her into his arms letting her head rest against his chest. Her hands clung to his shirt and he knew she knew he was there. Troy rubbed her back and kissed her head. He softly started to sing their song. Gabriella clung tighter and tighter to him as he sang. Troy was confused by her actions.

"Baby please talk to me. Why are you so clingy to me?"

"I don't want to lose you."

"What makes you think you'll lose me?"

"I saw it in my dream."

"Why did I leave you in your dream? What was my reason?"

"Because the kids were saying bad stuff about me and you believed them."

"What kind of stuff?"

"Mean stuff."

"Was any of it true?"

"No."

"Did I know none of what was said is true?"

"No."

"Ok now let me ask you question about real life."

"Why would I leave? What reason would I have for leaving?"

"You'll hear what mean things those kids are saying and believe them."

"What kind of things do you think they will say?"

"Mean things."

"Will any of it be true?"

"No."

"Do I know you well enough to know when something is a rumor or true?"

"Yes."

"Ok so here is what I think. I think you are just worried about Monday and your fears are effecting your sleep."

"What if my dreams are a sign?"

"Gabriella I will not leave you. I don't care what those people say I will not leave you. I know the truth about what happen and I will not let anyone tell me otherwise. I will stick by you 100% baby no matter what happens."

"I'm scared Troy. I'm so, so, so scared."

Gabriella burst into tears. Troy pulled her closer and rubbed her back.

"Don't be scared baby I'm here. I'll protect you I promise."

Troy rubbed her back and whispered soothing words into her ear as she cried. Finally she cried herself to sleep. Troy lifted her and carried back into her room. He laid her back down and cuddled in next to her.

"I love you Troy." She muttered in her sleep.

"I love you to baby. Nothing will make me stop."

He gave her one last kiss and went back to sleep. His only hope was that Gabriella made it through all this madness.

A/N next chapter is back to school. I know I said that last time but I decided to add the nightmare instead. Sorry for the late update as well.