DISCLAIMER: I do not own High School Musical or any related characters.

A/N: Okay, I want to say something. Out of all my stories, 'Out Of My Element' is the one that is going to not be updated regularly. It's got nothing to do with the writer's block I endured with it, but with the fact that I'm really into 'Dangerous Fascination' and 'Cat and Mouse' at the moment. Also, I'm going away for five or so days and I won't be able to update 'Cat and Mouse' after this. So I hope you all forgive me for updating this one instead! Anyway, enjoy!

Dangerous Fascination

CHAPTER 8

GIVE

It was stupid. The way she felt about him was stupid, the fact that every time she saw him hurt her, was incredibly stupid and she didn't care at all. She didn't care that every time he walked into her room, her eyes would immediately seek him out and she'd bite her lip every time he decided to acknowledge her. She didn't care that Taylor would watch her with disapproval as soon as she looked away, fighting hurt and unfamiliar tears as she looked at her notebook. She didn't care that Taylor had a vague idea of what was going on with her and she really didn't care that every time she closed her eyes all she could feel was his lips on hers and she really hated the fact that it hurt her so much that she had to care. Closing her eyes, Gabriella leant against the closed door of the cubicle and took a deep breath. At the current moment, all those cares and that one hatred, couldn't compare to the fact that she really hated the fact that within the limited time she'd known Troy Bolton, she'd developed feelings for him. Feelings that ran deeper than she'd figured and she hated that. She hated the fact that she'd mistaken feelings for an attraction and she really hated the fact that those feelings were hurting her. Opening her eyes, Gabriella took a deep breath and rubbed a hand over her face as she heard the bathroom door open. Giggles filled the bathroom and hearing them Gabriella tensed, hoping that they didn't notice that one of three cubicles was occupied.

"I wonder what's up with him. I mean seriously, Troy's never this angry. Did you see him in the cafeteria? He looked like he wanted to hurt someone!" Gabriella bit her lip as one of the girls spoke, hoping that neither of them brought her up.

"I know! It's so weird seeing something bothering him like this; I mean the only time something's bothered him so…obviously was when those West High kids were on his back. Any idea what's up with him?" Another spoke and Gabriella suddenly realized that the girls talking were cheerleaders. She knew for a fact that no other girls saw Troy enough to see something was up with him.

"I think it's got something to do with Gabriella Montez. I saw them talking the other day. He seemed really…attentive to what she was saying and I think she's done something to get to him." The first girl spoke and another snorted, informing Gabriella that there were more than two cheerleaders.

"What could she do? Unless she tried to seduce him, which is completely idiotic. Have you seen how she dresses?" The third one sniped and Gabriella bit her lip at the comment.

"Oh be quiet Amber, Gabriella's really nice. I was partnered with her in English the other day and there's nothing wrong with her. You're just jealous that Troy seems to have an interest in her." Gabriella frowned as the first girl snapped at Amber, trying to place the voice of the girl that spoke.

"Of course I'm not! I just don't get why Troy's taken such an interest in her. How interesting can she be?" Amber said and Gabriella cringed at the spite in her voice.

"Interesting enough to hold his attention for the past couple of weeks." The second cheerleader spoke up and Gabriella swallowed slightly at the spite in her own voice, even though she knew that it wasn't aimed at her.

"Fine. It's just weird, you know? Troy rarely ever seems interested in anyone outside who he knows and suddenly she comes to school…" Amber trailed off, as if trying to figure out how to finish the sentence.

"And she's getting more attention than anyone else ever has?" The first cheerleader spoke and Gabriella frowned at the comment. She couldn't be getting more attention than anyone else, Troy paid about as much attention to her as he did to anyone else that he bothered to speak too.

"Exactly! It's so weird, don't you think? Out of all the girls that throw themselves at him, he goes for the one that doesn't really seem interested." Amber said and at the Gabriella closed her eyes again.

"I don't think it's weird; did you see the way she looked at him in World History? She looked like she was about to burst into tears, especially when he looked away. You can't not have feelings for someone who only has to look at you to hurt you." Gabriella bit her lip harder at the words; it couldn't have been that obvious. How could something like that be so obvious?

"I didn't see that. Though I did see the way Troy was looking at her during English, she was answering something and he was just watching her like there was something about her he couldn't take his eyes off. It was such a weird look; I've never seen it on him before." Gabriella suddenly recognized the first cheerleader's voice. It was Christy. She could only remember that because during the lesson were they were partnered together, she'd pointed out that Troy had been watching her.

"Right. Sure." Amber snorted and Gabriella winced at the cynicism that laced her words.

"Come on, we're going to be late for warm-up if we're not careful." The cheerleader Gabriella didn't know said and she sighed in relief when there were gasps of horror before all three girls exited the bathroom. Leaving Gabriella alone again as she tried to figure out exactly what had just happened.

An interest in her. That's all they'd pinned it down to. Troy had an interest in her that confused them. She let out a snort of laughter at the thought; if Troy's interest confused them then they really had no idea he mystified her completely. Especially the way he reacted after that one kiss, Gabriella let out a sigh as it entered her mind. She hadn't known he could kiss that softly, hadn't known his hand could have felt so wonderful against her cheek. For a moment, she wondered what those cheerleaders would say if they found out the reason Troy was so…aggravated was because that they had shared one simple kiss in the middle of the park. One kiss that was now hurting her more than anything else ever had. She didn't understand why he was so angry at her. She hadn't done anything except let him kiss her and she'd wanted it. She'd wanted him to kiss her. But she hadn't wanted the confusion or hurt that had followed it and she really hadn't wanted to be on the receiving end of Troy's temper. She hated that she'd allowed herself to be hurt by him and she really hated the fact that those cheerleaders had guessed that the reason he was so aggravated was because of her. But what she hated above everything else, above her feelings, above the cheerleaders knowing, above everything, was that she didn't know what she had done wrong. She didn't understand how he had gone from being mildly amused with her to on the edge of losing control around her.

Hearing the bell ring, Gabriella sighed as she heard the excited shouts that could be heard in the bathroom as everyone piled out the classroom headed for their lockers, chattering excitedly about the basketball game that was only minutes away. Leaning down, Gabriella picked up her bag and swung it over her shoulder. Opening the cubicle, she stepped out and pushed open the bathroom door. Allowing herself to get caught up in the swarm of students heading for the gym, Gabriella clutched her bag tightly as she entered the gym. Her eyes flicking to the bleachers were Troy had found out about her father. Taking a deep breath, she began to climb up them to settle herself halfway up. Sitting down, she smiled at the people that called out greetings to her, even though she barely knew most of them and turned her attention to the basketball court were Jefferson High was already warming up. Feeling someone sit down next to her, Gabriella turned her head and sighed when she saw Taylor's annoyed face.

"I thought you didn't come to basketball games." She said and Taylor glanced at her friend threw narrowed eyes.

"I don't usually. Unless someone tells me my friend has decided to attend them." Taylor replied with raised eyebrows that Gabriella just shrugged at.

"Oh. Who told you I was coming?" She asked turning her attention to the Jefferson High warm up. She felt Taylor shift beside her and ignored her.

"Doug. He's got a crush on you and knew you were going to be here." Taylor said offhandedly and Gabriella blinked at the information.

"Who's Doug?" She inquired just as the announcer began to speak. Taylor grinned slightly at her friend's question.

"He's in nearly all your classes. He's blonde and quite tall." She replied and Gabriella furrowed her brow as she tried to place the description. Shaking her head slightly, Gabriella jumped when the bleacher erupted into cheers as the East High Wildcats ran out onto the court. Immediately, her eyes found Troy who had been leading them. He was standing next to his father, his arms folded, listening intently to the instructions. Without warning, his eyes flicked up to the bleachers and locked onto hers. Biting her lip as his eyes darkened slightly, Gabriella continued to watch him when he tore his eyes away from hers and went out to join his teammates.

"What was that about?" Taylor asked suddenly, Gabriella turned to look at her, her eyes questioning.

"What was what about?" She asked and Taylor sighed in annoyance at Gabriella's question.

"Troy looking at you. Your biting your lip so hard its going to bleed in a minute and he's now so tense that he can't shoot properly." Taylor said, nodding in the direction of Troy who had just missed a basket. Gabriella shook her head at the comment.

"Nothing. Nothing at all." She replied quickly as the referee blew the whistle and the players from both side jogged over to their respective coaches as they stripped off their tracksuit. Troy's eyes flicked back up to her and Gabriella wanted to force a smile but couldn't as the moment his eyes met hers she saw something in them she didn't know what to make of. Tilting her head slightly, Gabriella bit her lip again as he turned his attention away from her, that look etched into her mind as they ran onto the court for the first quarter.

"I cannot believe I'm about to watch a basketball game." Taylor whispered into Gabriella's ear as soon as the game had started. Gabriella barely glanced at her, instead she watched as a game she knew she was never going to understand became hard and fast. To her, East High seemed unstoppable as they made basket after basket, even though she knew next to nothing about basketball, Gabriella could tell that Jefferson High had absolutely no chance of recovering from the beating they were being handed. She could tell that they knew it too as East High acquired another basket and their score rocketed to forty. Her eyes found Troy as he caught the ball, bouncing it lazily as he began to walk forward, towards the players set up around the basket. He barely made two movements and the ball was through the hoop. His eyes flicked to her and Gabriella offered him a small smile before he turned his attention back to the game.

The game was over before it had begun. It surprised Gabriella that forty minutes had passed since Troy had scored that first basket and then she realized that she'd allowed herself to become caught up in the game and the way every chance Troy received his eyes would automatically find her. Standing up, Gabriella stretched as Taylor sat and continued to stare at the court a look of complete disbelief on her face.

"I did not understand a single thing that just happened." She said when Gabriella sat back down next to her. Gabriella burst into giggles at her friend's blank tone and patted her arm.

"Neither did I. It was interesting though." Gabriella commented and Taylor turned her head to look at her.

"Sure it was. It was like watching paint dry. I'm never coming to one of these games again." She declared and Gabriella laughed again as she pushed some curls behind her ear.

"I know." She said and Taylor watched as her eyes flicked down to the Wildcats, who were jogging around the court slowly as a warm down, and locked on one player who had been continually looking up to her through out the game.

"Gabriella, was Troy the reason you decided to come to this game?" Taylor asked spitefully and Gabriella turned to look at her friend.

"No. Why?" She asked and Taylor shrugged, her eyes running over the team as they began to stretch.

"Because you haven't been able to take your eyes off him since he ran out onto the court and he hasn't been able to take his own off you since he saw you sitting in the bleachers." Taylor replied sarcastically and Gabriella winced at the tone, unsure why Taylor wasn't happy.

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about Taylor." She said, standing up again and tossing her bag onto her shoulder. Taylor rolled her eyes at her friend.

"Sure you don't. Gabriella, I heard you two yelling this morning outside of homeroom. Troy-" Gabriella cut Taylor off before she could launch into the lecture she'd been hearing since the science room.

"I know Taylor. Just leave it alone. Troy hates me and that's all there is at the moment." Gabriella said and Taylor bit her lip at the hurt in her friend's voice.

"Gabriella, if Troy hated you, he wouldn't have been looking at you the way he is." Taylor said softly and Gabriella glanced down at the team again. Rolling her eyes she looked back at her friend.

"Taylor, just leave it alone, please." She begged and Taylor nodded reluctantly. Unsure why her friend sounded so hurt at her comment.

"Alright, I'd better get going. I'll talk to you later okay?" She asked and Gabriella nodded at the words. Reaching out and hugging Taylor tightly before letting her go.

"Okay. We'll go see a movie or something on Sunday." She said and Taylor nodded.

"Sure, see ya Gabs." Taylor picked her way down the bleachers as Gabriella watched her go. Running a hand through her hair, her eyes swept down to were the Wildcats had been only moments before and froze when they connected with icy blue ones. Swallowing, she began to make her own way down the bleachers. Stepping onto the court, she looked up at Troy who had watched her walk down.

"Congratulations." She said quietly, glancing around as the few people left in the gym chattered excitedly about the game, ignoring her and Troy.

"What are you doing here?" He asked softly, his eyes glinting and Gabriella closed her eyes at the cool tone. Reopening them, she looked at him and shrugged.

"I came to watch the game. Isn't that allowed?" She asked and he took a swing from the water bottle in his hands and looked at her. His eyes flicking over her before finding her own again.

"Why are you here Gabriella?" He asked coldly and Gabriella flinched at his tone. Hating the fact that it hurt her as she looked at him.

"Because I wanted to be." She replied and he rolled his eyes, taking a step closer to her that had her freezing as she tilted her head slightly to see his face.

"Really?" He inquired as she stared up into his face, seeing something there that hadn't been there before and that spark of anger that had her wary.

"Why are you so mad at me?" She asked, echoing the question of the morning. Almost immediately his face and eyes hardened and Gabriella bit her lip as she watched him tense.

"Because I am. Does there have to be a reason?" He spat at her and Gabriella felt her own anger spark at the words.

"Yes! There has to be a reason! You can't just be mad at me for no reason! I didn't do anything wrong!" She nearly yelled at him and Troy's eyes darkened at the words, Gabriella stared at him, waiting for retaliation.

"Leave it alone Gabriella." His voice was dangerous and Gabriella barely trembled at it. She wanted the answers he hadn't wanted to give her that morning.

"No! You can't toy with my emotions Troy! Why didn't you kiss me again in the park? I know you wanted to! Why do you think I don't need answers to my questions? Why can't you just answer me? What the hell have I done for you to be so mad at me?" She yelled at him, her eyes blazing as he looked down at her, his own fury barely controlled as she glared up at him.

"Gabriella, leave. It. Alone." He said through gritted teeth and it only infuriated her more as she watched him try and control himself.

"I just said I wouldn't. For God's sake Troy, you kissed me, you wanted to kiss me again, why didn't you? That's all I want. I want to know why you didn't kiss me again!" She said and his eyes flashed furiously at her words.

"You want to know why? Fine, I'll show you why." Before Gabriella could react, he'd yanked her up by the waist and crushed her mouth with his. For a moment she immobilized as he forced her lips open and his tongue entered her mouth and then she was reacting to it. Her hands gripped his shoulders, which were slippery from sweat, as she tried to match his brutal pace. She found herself seated on the announcers table as his mouth tore away from hers and raced down her neck, her head began to spin as she felt his hand find its way under her skirt and up her thigh. She gasped in shock when she felt his teeth dig into the tender flesh of her neck and her hands gripped his playing jersey. His mouth moved back up her neck as his other hand found its way up her shirt and she found her mouth his captive again. The viciousness with which he ravaged it had her hands tightening as she felt for the first time since he'd started a jagged edge of need that seemed to flow from him to her. She whimpered slightly as his hand slipped beneath the barrier of her bra and suddenly understood why he was so mad. He wanted more than she was ready to give, he wanted to be the first one to touch her the way he was now and he'd known just from the one kiss that she wasn't ready to give what he wanted. Helplessly, Gabriella made a movement to pull away from him and found herself pulled closer, as his hand slipped from her thigh and his other slid from her breast to her waist as his eyes opened and he looked at her.

"Y-you…" Gabriella trailed off as he looked at her, his eyes dark and furious as she fought to hold onto tears.

"You wanted an answer." He said softly and Gabriella bit her lip and looked away. Nodding her head slightly, she looked back at him and ignored the faint throbbing in her neck as she met his eyes. Sighing, she leaned her head against his chest, feeling him tense as her hand relaxed and flattened out on his chest.

"How could you know?" She whispered against his chest, biting her lip when he was the one that sighed.

"From the kiss in the park." He replied and she pulled away to look up at him. Reaching up, she touched his face gently, wiping away some sweat that hadn't dried out.

"Why do you want more than I can give?" She asked softly and Troy sighed again, pulling away from her completely even though her hand stayed resolutely on his face.

"I don't know. But I'm not going to take more than your willing to give." He replied and her hand slipped from his face as he turned around and walked out of the gym. Leaving her sitting on the announcers table, wondering how much she was willing to give.

A/N: Ooooh and the plot thickens! I liked this chapter quite a lot actually, I'm not sure why. Maybe its because Gabriella's so confused about Troy and Troy's so…not in control of himself. Its quite unusual. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed and remember no updates until I get back! Which should be next Thursday!