Saving Her . . . . The Family she Never Had

Gabriella stirred and woke up by the sound of her alarm clock. She tapped it gently and sat up, rubbing her eyes. She yawned widely and looked at the time.

"Well.. Time for work," she said and got out of bed. She went into the shower and took about 10 minutes to refresh herself.

Don't think that a girl like her doesn't work for her own living.

She got out and opened her wardrobe. She browsed through her clothes until she found her uniform. After putting it on, she didn't bother to wear makeup or to doll herself up. After getting ready, she tiptoed out and peeked at her father's bedroom to see him sleeping. She slowly took silent steps on the staircase and then quickened her pace out of the front door.

She entered the Groovy Smoothie and was greeted by her wonderful colleagues and regular customers. All of them adored her. Gabriella flashed them a bright smile while walking behind the counter.

"Good morning Gabby," Miley said. Miley Ray Cyrus, the closest friend Gabriella has ever had.

"Good morning Miles."

Miley scanned Gabriella from head to toe. Then she suddenly grabbed Gabriella's arm.

"What is this?" Miley pointed to her friend's bruises.

"Nothing," Gabriella looked down, she hated to be approached about this matter.

"Your father abused you again didn't he? And.. What happened to your wrist?" Miley whispered, knowing that this was meant to be a secret between them. But she had no clue about Gabriella's wrist.

"Shh, let's not talk about this now. Get to work," she sighed.

Miley sighed along and started to serve a customer.

After work, which was five hours long, both of them left the smoothie shop.

"Wanna grab a bite?" Miley asked.

"Erm.. You go ahead. I'm broke."

"My treat. You're getting thinner again."

She grabbed her friend into a sandwich shop. After ordering, they sat at a table.

"Okay. This is the time we talk about the bruises on your arms."

"Miley.. You know I hate to talk about this.."

"But this has been going on for years Gabby."

"I know. I can handle it, it's okay."

"Okay? It's going on for too far. We need to do something! And.. Your wrists?"

Gabriella remained silent and and took a small bite of her sandwich.

"Gabby," Miley placed a hand on Gabriella's shoulder,"I'm just trying to help you. This is no life for someone like you. You're older than me, you should know that. We can't just sit around doing nothing!"

Gabriella's eyes looked up to Miley's. Miley sighed again and placed her hand down.

"How about you have dinner at my place tonight," Miley offered, changing the subject.

Gabriella just looked at her sadly.

"My mum's cooking steak. You can stay the night too," she said in a 'trying-to-cheer-someone-up' tone.

Gabriella cracked a smile along with a small chuckle and nodded her head.

That night after dinner, Miley and Gabriella slipped into their pyjamas and their in Miley's bedroom. Since Gabriella spent the night at Miley's often, she left some clothes there. She is blessed to have an 18-year-old caring for her.

Now they were watching a romance/comedy movie. Both were on the verge of tears when witnessing a really sweet and emotional scene in the movie, followed by a true love's kiss. After the show, they blowed their noses and giggled at how sensitive one another are.

"Your crying your eyes out," Miley giggled.

"I'm not the only one."

"True, true."

Miley sniffed. There was a moment of silence.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful to have someone that loves you so much that they will go to such great lengths just for your happiness and safety?" she continued.

Gabriella looked down for awhile and nodded, faking a smile.

"Well, let's hit the hay," Gabriella declared.

"That's my line."

They giggled while they tuck themselves in. They shared some random jokes and finally, closed their eyes and slept soundly on their puffed pillows.

The next morning, they woke up as early as 8am. Gabriella just felt that she wanted to leave.

"Thank you Mr and Mrs Cyrus for letting me spend the night."

"It's no problem. We'd love to have you here again," Mrs Cyrus answered,"you're like family to us."

The rest of the Cyrus family nodded at that. Gabriella, still with the smile on her face, looked down with sad eyes.

"Well, I have to go home now," she said.

"Are you sure you don't want some breakfast?" Mr Cyrus asked,"we don't want you passing out later."

Gabriella smiled and shook her head. Then Miley walked her to the front door leaving her parents at the dining table.

"I'll see you at work later," Gabriella turned around when she stepped out of the house.

"Isn't your dad still at home?"

Gabriella nodded.

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay?"

Gabriella nodded again and Miley sighed.

"I'll be fine. See you!"

They hugged and Gabriella left. Her heart thumping faster as she gets closer and closer to hell that was just 2 blocks away from Miley's heaven.

At last, she reached. She turned the doorknob and opened the door, popping her head in first. She looked from left to right and back again. No sign of the madman. She took one step inside and slowly took another. Her senses cautious to her surroundings. One of them felt something that was coming to the stairs.

She gasped and went to hide somewhere behind the flights of staircases. It was her dad and a lady, let's say, bitchy prostitute. Both of them went out the door and Gabriella could hear the roar of her dad's car engine. She sighed in relief. She went upstairs to get ready for another day of work.

What's Miley doing at the smoothie shop you might ask? Well, that's a job she took. She does go to high school, East High. Gabriella went to the same high school but she never got a chance to step into college after Senior year. What a pity. But with a life like this, she just wouldn't want to even though she's qualified to study at Stanford. Miley did begged her so many times but she wouldn't feel right.

[A/N: Review if you like this story~! READ ON FOR TROY BOLTON~!]