Wow guys, some amazing reviews! I'm glad you're all supportive of my story so this entire story is dedicated to all those who want to read it! You know who you are.
Anyway, I don't own High School Musical but if I did Troy and Gabriella would totally be married by now lol.
Chapter 1 – Richard's Approval
THE snow was falling gently on the small lodges of Sampoe Ski Lodge (just make it up, it's where Troy and Gabi go in HSM) just miles outside of the village of Albuquerque.
It was 2nd of December 2007 and twenty four year old Gabriella Montez stood looking longingly out at the snow as it fell to the floor. She was standing in the window of the lodge she was sharing with her partner until the beginning of January. She had been washing the dishes but when it had begun to snow it had captured her immediately and her hands sat in the sink clasping a plate, forgotten.
Her tabby cat Lupin who was coincidently her best friend sat purring beside her, his tail swishing back and fore elegantly.
"Oh my, isn't it beautiful Lupin." Gabriella crooned.
Sometimes Gabriella felt truly foolish talking to Lupin but she had always been lonely since she had started dating Richard Sullivan, aged twenty seven years old.
Richard and Gabriella had arrived only today at the lodge and Richard had gone out drinking already. Gabriella was left in the house, to clean up and make sure there was a meal on the table when he came back. She couldn't believe above all that four years ago she had agreed to marry him…what had she even been thinking?
"What are you doing lazing about?" A harsh voice snarled from behind her, she was brought out of reverie by Richard's hand colliding with her head.
Gabriella whimpered, she obviously hadn't heard the door go. Richard walked towards her and looked at her coldly, he smelt heavily of alcohol.
"Why aren't you washing the plates and where's my dinner?" Richard snapped.
"Oh…I'm…I've made you dinner. It's nearly done." Gabriella exclaimed, she was always so nervous around Richard.
"And get that damn cat off the counter." He said batting at Lupin who hissed at him before jumping onto his Mistress's shoulder and laying there.
"One day I'll wring that cat's neck, 'Richard said going to the fridge and pulling out a beer, "I want my dinner done in ten minutes. No longer." He walked over to Gabriella and kissed her head before walking into the living room leaving her shaking.
"Don't worry Lupin; I won't let him get you." Gabriella said stroking her cat's ears gently.
GABRIELLA was pleased that Richard's meal was finished in just under ten minutes; he had been timing her and had been just about ready to come out and tell her off.
She set his meal in front of him and he nodded pleased, "Good girl." He said tapping her backside before she walked off.
She was about to go out to the kitchen to make a coffee when Richard called her, "Aren't you going to watch some TV?" He asked coldly.
"Oh, I was just going to make some coffee." She explained timidly.
"Yeah well I'm not thirsty! If I want a coffee you'll make me one. So get your fat arse over here and sit with me!" He ordered and Gabriella nodded and moved to sit beside him.
As Lupin jumped onto her lap Gabriella mused, had he not thought that she might've wanted a coffee? She absent mindedly stroked Lupin behind the ears as Richard flickered through channels, she didn't dare say it annoyed her; it would only earn her a slap.
"Don't they ever put anything decent on? When we get back to Albuquerque I'm paying for the porn channels! There's no action around her and there's definitely not anything good on." Richard said looking at Gabriella disgusted.
Gabriella felt herself blush embarrassed. If there was one thing she hated more than Richard's beatings it was his vicious sexual appetite. He would often come and throw Gabriella on the bed and rip her clothes off. He would take her without her consent and without sympathy! It hurt and Gabriella never really liked to take part in such activities, she just didn't feel loved with him. Another one of his favourites was grabbing her when she was doing something; the worst was when they went shopping. He had the urge to 'do something naughty' he said and he had dragged her into the women's toilets locked the door and had his way with her. That had been embarrassing and painful! Furthermore, what had hurt the most was that he never praised her or complimented her; he just got off her and would go to the window for a cigarette, leaving her feeling worthless and womanless.
"I'm done with this, get rid of it." Richard ordered and Gabriella stood and took the plate from him and began to wash the plates again.
She smiled looking out at the snow; it really did fascinate her, it fell in a sort of gentle dance and it was wonderful how no two snowflakes were the same.
"OI, Gabriella, what are you doing?" She heard Richard call.
"Nothing, I'm just cleaning the plates." She replied back timorously.
"Put the cat out! I don't want him in the lodge." Richard said moving to the door holding Lupin by the scruff of his neck.
The cat hissed and swiped at Richard and Gabriella removed him from her fiancé immediately. The feline calmed in her arms and began to purr. Lupin hated Richard and Gabriella saw it as a good judge of character.
"I don't know what he see's in you." Richard said distastefully.
"I love him, 'Gabriella whispered, "And he loves me." She said and Lupin licked her palm with his rough tongue as if to say 'too true'
"Love doesn't exist Gabriella. Get used to it." Richard said harshly.
They were silent for a moment, Gabriella didn't like the silence, it meant Richard was thinking.
"So…have you come unwell yet?" He suddenly asked referring to her monthlies.
She nodded timidly and he frowned and sighed, "There must be something wrong with you then! You don't seem to enjoy sex and you haven't got pregnant once. It isn't me, it's you." He said looking at her sickened by the sight of her.
"I'm sorry Richard." Gabriella whispered looking at her feet in shame; the more Richard knocked her down, the more her confidence lowered with her.
"We'll just have to up the sex after Christmas then shan't we. Perhaps, three to four times a day." He mused more to himself than to Gabriella.
Richard was desperate to have a child though Gabriella knew that he just wanted a child as another prop, to add to his perfect life! He would never care for it; he never even bothered with his little nephews or nieces. They didn't even get birthday or Christmas cards. Gabriella didn't tell Richard she was on the pill, she hid that from him. If there was one thing Gabriella didn't want it was a child, it was bad enough she got pushed around, she'd never forgive herself if her baby did too. Richard was not a patient man.
His cell phone began to ring bringing Gabriella out of her trance.
"Hello, Sullivan here." He said.
Gabriella rolled her eyes, despite anything, Richard was wealthy. He owned a large amount of car companies in the area's and two nightclubs. In Richard's opinion Gabriella was someone to look pretty on his arm when they went to important dinner parties.
"What do you mean? Well can't you ordered more. Can't you do anything without me! Right, I'm on my way." He said and he turned off his phone.
Lupin jumped out of Gabriella's arms as Richard brought her into his arms and held her, very rarely did he show such affection.
"I'm going to have to run back home. I'll be back in at least in two days. I'll phone you…so just stay in the house." He ordered and he grabbed his coat and his car keys.
"Um…actually, I was wondering Richard if I could go ice-skating on that lake tomorrow, 'She stammered, "You did say…if I got the entire house cleaned I could go. Oh please let me go Richard, I'd be back in half hour, whatever time you want me home."
Richard looked at the beautiful young woman in front of him, she had innocence to her that he liked, that he found highly desirable. He supposed that was what he had liked about her in the first place. He had seen Gabriella out with her father shopping, just a year before the old coot passed away, and he had seen the meekness there and then and immediately liked it. He had spoken to Mr Montez first of course, it was only right and Gabriella had simply looked at her feet blushing bashfully. They had been dating ever since. Gabriella never complained and she never argued back, he liked being dominant. That was probably why he had put up with her for so long.
"I suppose so! You did clean up the house though it still needs improvement." He said looking around.
"Really!" Gabriella said sounding shocked and delighted.
"Don't act like I don't do anything for you! I'll be phoning you tomorrow night to make sure you haven't taking advantage of my permission. Do you understand?" Richard demanded.
"Yes, of course. Thank you, thank you so much." Gabriella said joyfully watching Richard walk to the door, despite the fact that he had been drinking Gabriella wouldn't dare tell Richard not to drink drive. She would only get the beating of her life if she did.
Richard snaked his arms around her waist and brought his mouth down on hers kissing her roughly, Gabriella flinched and whimpered a little, she hadn't expected that. When Richard pulled away he smacked her across the face a little enjoying her gasp of shock.
"That's for your cheek earlier!" He said and he walked off not looking back once.
Gabriella touched her cheek, what cheek? Had cheeked him? Had she disrespected him?
She felt Lupin weave his way around her elegant legs and she picked the tabby up and stroked him gently trying to think of what she had done to upset Richard. She was going ice skating tomorrow and she could hardly contain her excitement…little did she know that fate would be bringing her an early Christmas present…in the form of TROY BOLTON!
Okay, so really, this chapter was about Gabriella but I just wanted to show you guys what she puts up with! She had a pretty bad life, it will get better I promise you all! The next chapter will be better! Just bear with me!
Stay tuned for chapter 2 'The Hero and The Damsel In Distress'