I am furious! Some reviewer comes onto my story 'I am Yours?' And 'Falling For The Enemy' and totally has a go because its not Medieval enough! Tells me I should frigging do more frigging research next time. I'm all open for criticism but it was darn right mean! I can't believe it, we all come on here to read and enjoy ourselves, this isn't a sight for world class authors! It's for amateurs looking for a bit of fun and trying to improve their writing. It really hurt. I mean, I've wrote a 148 page fantasy novel before, it wasn't great but it wasn't bad either. Maybe I should just give up writing all together. I'm all for criticism, it makes your work better but it was down right nasty!

Sorry guys, I'm not trying to be spiteful, it just upset me a little. Anyway, here's the next chapter.

Also this chapter is dedicated to Nattou, hope you and your puppy did well in the dog show!

Chapter 15 – What's Happening To Me?

GABRIELLA gave another gasp of pain as Richard dabbed the large slash on her bare back. He never usually tried to help heal her wounds and it had shocked her a little when he had ordered her to remove her top and he sat beside her with pain balm.

"You know you brought this on yourself." Richard said firmly.

"I know." Gabriella muttered robotically.

"It would never have happened if you had been dutiful and had stayed home." Richard said as if he were trying to reassure himself that what he had done was for the greater good.

"I'm sorry." Gabriella replied.

"There's a dinner on Saturday, some very important business men are coming to the Lodge. I'm taking them out to dinner. I'll expect you to be exceedingly chipper for the occasion." Richard said, changing the subject.

Gabriella sighed, that's what it was, he wasn't doing it because he was guilty or because he cared about her, he was doing it because he needed her to be in top form on Saturday.

"I'll try my best." Gabriella said nodding.

"No! You'll do your best!" Richard said firmly, giving Gabriella an involuntary shove.

She cried a little and he threw the bottle to the floor and it smashed at her feet. He stepped towards her, his face mere inches from her. He held in his hand a trembling cigarette and he took a deep long drag as if he were stressed.

"Quit the chitty chat or I'll scorch your cheek until its black." He threatened.

Gabriella nodded and he stormed out of the room, she sighed in relief a little and pulled her shirt back over her head. She gave a little gasp as it grazed the slices on her body.

"Where is Lupin?" She queried suddenly missing her pesky felines affectionate purring.

She started to pick up the glass on the floor and prepared herself to get the mop out to mop up the balm. If there was anything she wanted more than anything at that entire moment, it was Troy.

"LOOK, can't you just convince her!" Chad Danforth snapped at Troy as he and his friend fed the Danforth's Labrador, Missy.

"I can't. She hates me now, she just ran." Troy said patting Missy softly as nuzzled past them both, trying to get at her food.

"Did you tell her how you felt?" Taylor asked from the sofa, looking like she was fit to burst.

"Of course I did. She just ran, I called after her but she never stopped or anything. I'm hoping she'll come back, if only for her cat." Troy said dejectedly.

"Cat?" Chad queried.

"Her cat Lupin tried to go after her but I grabbed him so he couldn't. Part of me hopes she'll come, even if it's just for him." He said.

"Troy, 'Chad said slapping his friend on the back and looking at him smugly, "Let me tell you how to handle the ladies."

Taylor snorted in disbelief.

"You see with –"

Taylor stood (with a lot of effort) and smacked Chad across the head. He frowned at her and Taylor put her arm around Troy softly.

"Listen Troy; just tell her how you feel. Send her a gift. Let her know you care." Taylor smiled.

"I was about to say that Troy! That's how I win over all the girls." Chad said.

Taylor gave him a reproachful look and his smiled dropped.

"I was kidding baby. I live only to serve you." Chad said quickly.

"You'd better." Taylor said sternly and Chad smiled and watched her walk back to the sofa where she settled, exhausted.

Taylor was so big now that she found it difficult to move. Chad did his best and he showered her with love and adoration. He ignored Taylor's terrible cold moods and answered to her every whim. If Taylor wanted chocolate ice-cream and there was no ice cream in the house, Chad would go out and could drive to the furthest store to get her some. If Taylor wanted to go and sit outside in the sun and couldn't be bothered to move, Chad with all his manliness would carry her outside, even if he struggled and would massage her shoulders lovingly.

"What should I get her?" Troy asked Taylor.

"Get her anything, maybe clothes?" Taylor suggested.

"I've already done that." Troy said.

"Can't you take her out for dinner?" Chad asked.

"I've done that too. I need something new." Troy said, busy thinking.

"Well, you've left us no choice; you'll have to buy her the ultimate gift that a man can give to a woman. Jewellery." Taylor told him.

"Like what? She's engaged, I can't get her a ring." Troy exclaimed shaking his head.

"Then buy her something, earrings or something. Just make sure it something wonderful, something that can blend in so that thing won't suspect anything but something that really makes her stands out." Taylor answered.

"How do you know all of this?" Chad asked.

"I've desired it for such a long time, you never buy me anything." Taylor said poking her tongue out at him.

"Oh and I'm sure I didn't buy you that nice pair of rollerblades the other day?" Chad asked.

"What man buys his wife rollerblades?" Taylor chuckled.

"Hey! How was I to know you wouldn't like them?" Chad protested.

Taylor shook her head and lay back on the sofa. Troy came and sat beside her and she patted his hand giving him a gentle smile.

"Don't give up on her yet Troy. There is much to Gabriella, you just have to be there for her when she needs you most and trust me, she's going to come back." Taylor said smartly and Troy sighed, he hoped to high heavens that she was right.

IT had been two days since Gabriella had seen Troy and gosh did she miss him. She had grown sick of the house, cleaning the house, cooking food, preparing Richard's Christmas presents, scraping the snow from the garden and every other pathetic job she had to do around the place.

She knew she didn't have any right to even attempt to talk to Troy. He had offered her the world and she could've taken it and he would've been thrilled but Richard sat there, imprinted in her tainted mind and he prevented her from saying yes.

She kept touching her mobile, Troy's number was inside and she kept getting the urge to pick it up and phone him but in the end she turned it off and put it in her bed side drawer.

"What are you doing?" Richard asked conceitedly, Gabriella turned; she was sitting on the edge of the bed and looking out the window. Her book was sprawled out on her legs and she looked up at him, terrified. He was leaning against the wall looking at her with a bemused expression on his face.

"Nothing." Gabriella said putting her bookmark in her book and standing quickly to face Richard.

"Are you dawdling again?" Richard sneered.

"No, I'm not." Gabriella said hastily.

Richard came and wrapped his arms around her, "Good, Daddies in a mood to play." He said sucking at her neck.

"Plea…please, don't." Gabriella stammered nervously, she didn't dare move her neck though she absolutely detested his lips against her.

He was already trying to unbutton her shirt, lately the thought of having Richard even metres away from her made her feel sick. She pushed herself back a little, feeling her stomach churn with that familiar disgust.

"What's wrong with you? You've grown terribly argumentative!" Richard said and he slapped her across the face.

"I'm just…I'm not…feeling very well." Gabriella stammered.

"There's something fishy going on with you!" Richard said coldly.

"I'm not…I just…I –"

CRACK! His hand went colliding quickly to her soft cheek and she went crashing to the floor. She gasped and held onto her cheek; Richard bent down and faced her, so his face was crushed up against hers.

"You disgust me sometimes, there's no woman in you!" Richard said spitefully.

Gabriella closed her eyes tight and sighed; once again he was putting her down. Once again he was criticising her and snarling at her and feeding her terrible compliments.

Richard stood and he caught sight of the postman walking down their path. He looked down on Gabriella sickeningly and kicked her in the leg.

"Go get the post." He ordered and she nodded, wiping her tears away and made her way downstairs.

She opened the door and the postman handed her two letters and a small box. She looked around for a moment to check Richard wasn't around. She looked down on the small parcel and was shocked to see the name 'Gabriella Montez'

She shoved the parcel in her pocket and handed Richard the letters as he came down the stairs.

She made her way to the bathroom, eager to open her parcel; she was behaving like a sneaky little child.

"Where are you going?" Richard demanded.

"Nowhere, I just need the bathroom." Gabriella said and she went inside and locked the door behind her.

Gabriella sat on the side of the bath and pulled out the tiny parcel. The parcel was trembling in her hands as she opened it slowly. She pulled the final piece of paper off and revealed a black box. She opened it slowly and gasped when she saw the soft diamond studded heart. It was pure gold and looked terribly expensive. She took it out of the box and examined the necklace with extreme interest.

A small note dropped out of the box and Gabriella picked it up and read it.

Gabriella,

I'm not giving up on you yet!

I love you

Troy.

She nearly cried there and then and she slipped the necklace around her neck and kissed it softly. She stowed the box back in her pocket and decided she would have to get rid of it. She couldn't risk Richard finding it.

She moved into the kitchen and Richard was talking at the table. He slapped his hand on the surface and she flinched.

"Breakfast!" He demanded.

Gabriella nodded and went to the fridge and pulled out some eggs. A gentle smile played on her lips, she was wanted.

"What's happening to me?" She muttered to herself, she had utterly, completely, indefinitely fallen for Troy and she wanted to be with him…she wanted to be with him more than ever!

There you go! I know it's not the longest chapter but I'm in a kind of terrible mood so I can't write anymore for you yet. If you liked or hated the chapter, tell me!

The next chapter is called 'Piano Passions' so keep your eyes open for it! xoxMusicalxox