Saving Her . . . . I own her Secret

The next day came and Gabriella woke up without Miley beside her. Now, Miley's off to school and she should be off to work but, like she said, her bruises are too visible for everyone's eyes. She went to take her shower and came out in fresh new clothes, a top with long sleeves of course. She went downstairs, greeting the family.

"Good morning everybody!"

"Good morning sweetheart," Mrs Cyrus greeted back with a plate of waffles in her hand. Then she went over to peck Gabriella's forehead.

All sat down at the table.

"I guess your taking the day off?" Mr Cyrus asked.

Gabriella nodded while sipping her orange juice.

"I'm not feeling that well either," she said.

After breakfast, Gabriella knows her father won't be at home. She thanked the Cyrus family and made an exit.

She went up her bedroom and lay flat on her bed, letting out a sigh. Then slowly, she took a nap.

School hours were over and Miley was heading to the smoothie shop. Then, she saw Troy already there.

"Hey Troy."

"Oh, hey Miley."

"Nice to see you here again," Miley went behind the counter, replacing the other worker who is now leaving.

"Say... Have you seen... You know.." he stuttered nervously.

Miley smiled, knowing what's he trying to tell her.

"Gabby's taking the day off today."

"What? Why?"

"She's not feeling well."

"Oh.. Well, see you."

Miley nodded. But then, Troy turned around again on his heel which made her jumped a little.

"May I know her address?"

Miley looked up at him awkwardly and then gave him the full address on a piece of paper. He then, ordered what the smoothie he had yesterday, two of them, and left after thanking her.

While walking along the pavement, he looked around for the address of Gabriella's house. He came across a house number that was identical to the number on the paper. He checked the street and double-checked to ensure it's the correct house.

He walked up to porch but just as he was about to knock on the door, he thought twice. Then, he sneaked himself into the backyard and noticed a tree at someone's balcony. He climbed it slowly and quietly and took a peek in the room.

"Whose there?" Gabriella woke up from her nap and faced her balcony in fear.

Troy slowly climbed the rest of the tree and hopped on her balcony.

"Troy?" Gabriella got up and frowned her eyebrows,"what are you doing here?"

She went to open the door.

"Just thought I'd drop by. And you told me I will see you again," he said innocently.

"Ever heard of front doors?"

He chuckled. Gabriella leaned on her balcony window frame admiring the view of him. Then she suddenly snapped out of it when she realised Troy returning the gaze.

"Well.." she said,"I'm fine, bye!"

Just when she wanted to close the door, Troy immediately blocked her from doing so.

"I brought some smoothies with me. Their getting warm."

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Come in," she sighed.

They sat on the carpet and took sips of their drinks.

"How are you feeling?" Troy asked.

"Erm, better I guess."

"How long is your leave?"

"I think I'll be up and ready tomorrow."

"Am I disturbing you?

"No, not at all," Gabriella shook her head with a smile. "Are we done with the 20 questions?" she smiled sarcastically.

Troy gazed at her.

"I like it when you smile," he said unconciously.

Gabriella stared at him like, WTH? But she was so shocked that she spilt her drink all over the floor.

"Oh my gosh!" she shouted.

"No let me," he offered to clean up the mess.

Both of them took the cup.

"Troy I'll do it!" she pulled the cup.

"I insist!" he pulled it back.

They did that for awhile and then suddenly stopped in each other's eyes. Gabriella looked away somewhere, breaking the eye contact as she felt like she's blushing. Troy looked down until something caught his eyes.

He looked back up to Gabriella and then back down to the cup. Wait.. Not the cup but Gabriella's hand. He took it and turned it over. There, he saw a long scar. [A/N: The bandages and plasters were taken off.]

"What happened to your wrists?" he asked, worried.

Gabriella went wide-eyed and took her hand away from him. She looked to the floor while pulling her sleeve down. But then he grabbed her arm again and rolled up her sleeve.

"Are this caning marks?" he examined them.

Again, Gabriella pulled her arm away, covering her arm.

Troy seemed shocked and confused.

"They were fine yesterday but I did notice some minor bruises though," Troy recalled.

Gabriella continued to keep shut but her eyes were filling with tears.

"Gabby who did this to you?"

She hesitated. Knowing that it's useless to keep it from him because he knows that someone did this to her, "My.. Dad." She stuttered and squinted her eyes when she's done.

She took in a deep, shaky breath as fresh tears escaped her eyes. Troy pulled her with him, without thinking twice. He caressed her back while she cried into his chest.

"But, you have to promise me something.." she pulled away from him.

"Anything. Anything at all," he stated.

"Don't tell anyone about this."

"What?"

"Please, don't," she was on the verge of crying again.

"Okay, okay!" he gave in to her. "Miley?"

"She's the first to know about this," she sniffed.

Troy nodded. Then he realised Gabriella releasing more tears. So he went to embrace her again.

Troy stayed in Gabriella's room pretty much until night time. They've been chatting and doing stuff together longer than you think. Each has been having this feeling towards one another ever since their hug earlier today. The hug was warm and loving and ensured them everything will be alright.

"Oh no," Gabriella gasped.

"What's wrong?"

"It's my dad. I hear him coming."

Troy stayed silent. He did hear some foot steps.

"Troy get out of here!"

"What?"

"Get out of here!"

Gabriella pushed him on the balcony and forced him to climb down the tree.

"Shh!" she whispered,"whatever you do, don't come back up!"

"Gabriella!"

"Shh!" she whispered.

She sighed when Troy gave her a look.

"I'll be fine.." she stated and went back inside.

Troy dropped his head down and rubbed his eyes with a sigh. He was caught off guard when he heard screaming and crying coming from Gabriella's room. He was about to climb the tree when he remembered something.

"Whatever you do, don't come back up!" That was what she said.

"But she's in danger," he whispered to himself. "But I can't go against her." "I have to go back up there." "But she told me not to!"

He felt like screaming with this feeling inside of him. He then heard a door banged and inferred it was Gabriella's bedroom door. Without thinking, he rushed up a tree just to capture a peek at what she's doing now. But somehow he failed and fell back with his head breaking the fall.

"OW!" he exclaimed but made it more of a statement.

Meanwhile, Gabriella stopped in her tracks of cutting herself when she heard that sound. She rushed on her balcony and looked around the balcony. No sign of anyone. When she turned around, she caught the sight of the shiny blade.

She hesitated and sighed. She placed the blade back into her drawer and tucked herself into bed. She needed rest before tomorrow. Another day of work.

To be honest, Troy was hiding from Gabriella's sight. He was actually on her balcony when she rushed there to look around in the backyard. He really needed to see how she's doing at that time. He cared so much for her, we can say, his lover. He also witnessed Gabriella not taking the wrong step to go and torture herself and he was proud and relief that she placed the blade away.

Slowly, he made his way down the tree after one last look at the Sleeping Beauty. He walked back home that was just a few blocks away.