Chapter 14: The Aftermath

The next morning Gabriella woke up and found that her head was not on a pillow, it was a chest. Panicking Gabriella looked up to see Troy sleeping peacefully next to her and smiled. Not wanting to get out of bed or away from Troy's arms Gabriella snuggled deeper into his chest and felt his arms instantly wrap tighter around her waist. Smiling Gabriella drifted back to sleep.

When Troy woke up he found that his arms were still securely around Gabriella, her head lying on his chest. He took a deep breath, taking in her scent, not believing that he was in this position. Never would he have thought that he would wake up with such an angel in his arms. She's even beautiful when she's asleep. Thinking he should check on the others Troy tried to disentangle himself from Gabriella without waking her up. He was unsuccessful for whenever he moved Gabriella would tighten her grip around him and snuggle deeper into his chest. He found her sleepy protests to be quite amusing.

Troy figured that the only way he would be able to get out of bed was to wake Gabriella up and so he did. "Brie," he said nudging the sleeping brunette a little. "Brie, it's time to wake up."

Reluctantly Gabriella opened her eyes and blushed when she saw that Troy was staring at her. "Morning."

"Morning to you too sleepyhead. You know you really like to snuggle," Troy remarked rather amused.

If it was possible for her to get redder she did just that. Realizing that she was still holding onto Troy she let go and mumbled something about the bathroom. She quickly washed her face, brushed her teeth and combed out her hair. Returning to her room she was surprised to find Troy still on her bed. "I want to thank you again for last night. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't shown up when you did," Gabriella said looking at the floor.

Finally getting out of bed Troy closed the distance and wrapped Gabriella in his arms saying, "I would never let anything happen to you Brie, not if I could help it." They stayed like that for what seemed like ages, just holding onto one another until Troy spoke up again. "Want to get something to eat? You must be hungry and I think I smell pancakes."

The pair made their way downstairs to find their friends in the kitchen. While Chad and Jason were setting the table Taylor and Kelsi were sitting at the island talking to Sharpay and Zeke who were making breakfast. The room grew silent when Troy and Gabriella made their presence noticed, that is until Taylor spoke up. "Did you two sleep well?" she said with a knowing smirk on her face.

Trying to hide her blushing face Gabriella answered, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, just that you and Troy looked rather cozy from what I saw last night," Taylor replied while the others looked confused.

"What do you mean cozy? Is there something you didn't tell me Tay?!" Sharpay demanded wanting to know what had happened last night when Troy didn't return downstairs.

Taylor glanced at the ever embarrassed Gabriella once more before turning to Sharpay. "The cutest thing last night, they were snuggled under the comforter just holding each other."

Kelsi and Sharpay squealed at this new development before Sharpay exclaimed, "I knew it! I knew it! I knew you were going to get together!"

"Um, sorry to burst your bubble Shar but Troy and I aren't together."

"But whhhyyyyyyyyyyyyyy? It's obvious that you two have feelings for each other," Sharpay whined. That statement was met with a tense silence as no one spoke.

"Hey Zeke! You finished with those pancakes yet man? I'm starving here!" Chad said and all of the previous tension was forgotten when Zeke replied. "In a minute, I'm almost done with the bacon and eggs."

After breakfast Gabriella insisted that the boys go home because she was fine and that the girls would be spending another night with her. Troy reluctantly left, but not before giving Gabriella a hug that lasted a little too long to be friendly.

Gabriella stepped into the hallway with her three best friends to the whispers of what had happened on Saturday. Gabriella tried to pretend that it didn't bother her but the look in her eyes made it evident that it did. The girls linked arms and made their way to their lockers. When they saw Troy waiting at Gabriella's locker they knew it was safe to leave her and go to their own lockers.

"Hey Brie!" Troy greeted her enthusiastically. Gabriella laughed at his tone finally being able to relax since entering the hall. "Hey Troy, what's go you all buzzed up?"

"Sugar rush, Mom made her world famous French toast and cinnamon rolls this morning," Troy said showing her his jitteriness.

"Sugar in the morning should be illegal. You do realize that it wears off you're going to be tired as hell?" Gabriella remarked while gathering the necessary school supplies. Just then the first bell signaled.

"Whatever, let's go to homeroom before Darbus blows a gasket." Troy grabbed Gabriella's hand interlacing their fingers before dragging her towards homeroom.

"Troy! Slow down or you're going to pull my arm out of its socket," Gabriella said laughing at Troy's excitement to getting to class. Troy slowed down his pace and the two strolled to homeroom as a leisurely pace, hands still interlaced. The silence around them wasn't noticeable until they entered an oddly quiet classroom. Gabriella tilted her head to the side wondering why no one was saying anything. For a while she thought that it was because of Saturday again until she remembered that Troy was still holding her hand. She quickly slipped her hand out of his grip instantly regretting it when she felt the lost of his warmth. Troy gave her a sheepish grin before they made their way over to their desks.

The rest of the morning passed on fairly normal and Gabriella was relieved when she had yet to see Blake. After what had happen she wasn't very keen on running into the football player.

When the lunch bell rang Gabriella made her way toward her locker. Walking slower than usual the hallway was almost vacant by the time Gabriella arrived at her destination. Lost in her thoughts Gabriella didn't realize that someone was standing behind her until she closed her locker after placing her bag in there. Gabriella came face to face with the one person she wasn't looking forward to see.

"Hey guys, have you seen Brie?" Troy asked as he took his seat at the table. Sharpay, Kelsi, Taylor, Chad, Jason, and Zeke all shook their heads no.

"She's probably still at her locker or something. Don't worry Troy, she'll be here soon," Taylor said. For some reason Troy felt that something was wrong but pushed the feeling aside.

"Hey baby," Blake Simons said as he tried to close the distance between them just to have Gabriella back up. He kept advancing on her until Gabriella felt something cool hit her back. Shit! Stupid lockers!

"What do you want Blake?" Gabriella asked trying her best to keep her voice as even as possible. He was only a foot away from her and Gabriella looked at the corners of her eyes to find an escape, there was none.

"Just wanted to finish what we started," Blake said and lunged himself at Gabriella before she could comprehend what he had said. With his lips attached to hers Gabriella tried her best to keep hers locked shut, not wanting his disgusting tongue in her mouth. She tried beating him, kicking him; anything but he was too strong for her. Gabriella thought she was going to pass out from lack to air when Blake removed his lips.

Before she was able to sigh in relief she felt his mouth make its way down her neck. She tried to scream but Blake thought ahead and clamped his hand over her mouth, muffling her protests. Gabriella felt tears stinging her eyes thinking that no one was going to help her. She faintly heard someone shout, "Get Troy!" before Blake was pulled off of her. When she opened her eyes Gabriella saw a very pissed off Ryan.

Troy was getting worried, it was fifteen minutes into lunch and Gabriella had yet to show up. He was about to go search for her when he heard someone yell out, "Troy!"

He turned around and saw Martha running his way. "Martha, what's wrong?" Taylor asked, worry evident in her voice.

"Gabi – hallway – Blake," Martha said, trying to put together a sentence as she tried to catch her breath.

The moment Martha said 'Gabi' Troy knew something was seriously wrong and it became more factual when he heard Blake's name. Without a word to anyone Troy ran to help Gabriella, to help his Brie.

When Troy had left the cafeteria Chad decided to take charge. "Okay guys follow me so Troy won't kill the bastard. Tay, I need you and Martha to run and get Matsui; tell him what's going on. Shar and Kelsi come with us." With that everyone went to their tasks.

Gabriella stood there not knowing what to do as she watched Ryan try to hold his own against Blake but failing. Tears still following down her face she remembered this happening before.

Flashback

Gabriella made her way into school after the weekend she found out that Chris was cheating. She walked to her locker with Lucas, the best guy friend any girl could have. Lucas was the sweetest, most sincere guy she had ever met. Being two years older he was like her older brother, someone she could always rely on to be there for her. She had met him two years ago when she first moved to Granite Bay, California. It was Lucas who gave up his weekend to console Gabriella, Lucas who threatened to beat the crap out of Chris until Gabriella told him that it wasn't worth it.

She parted ways with Lucas so he could go to his locker and found Diane waiting at hers. "What's up best friend?"

"Ex-best friend," Gabriella said bitterly as her eyes narrowed. Frowning Diane asked, "Gabi? What are you talking about? What do you mean by 'ex-best friend'? Did I do something?"

Laughing dryly Gabriella answered, "You mean besides sleeping with my boyfriend? Oops, I guess it's ex-boyfriend now. How could you do this to me? I thought we were best friends but you go behind my back and fuckin' sleep with Chris! You know what? I don't give a damn anymore. I hope that you and that bastard have a happy life together."

Gabriella walked away from the silent hallway, implying that everyone had heard the conversation. Gabriella didn't care she wanted everyone to know that Chris Johnson was nothing more than a lying, cheating bastard.

By lunchtime the school was buzzing about how sweet, innocent Gabriella Montezhad blown up at her best friend. The biggest piece of gossip was how Chris had cheated on sweet, innocent Gabriella with her best friend. Gabriella tried her best to ignore the sympathized looks she received as she made her way down the hall to meet up with Lucas.

Her luck soon changed when she saw Chris coming her way. She tried to change directions and avoid him at all costs but he was too fast.

"Gabi, what's this I hear about you yelling out Diane?"

"You care about that backstabbing bitch that much?" Chris looked at his girlfriend in surprise. "If you do then you should've broken up with me sooner instead of forcing me to see you two in bed together!"

"Gabi, baby, let me explain I didn't sleep with her."

Gabriella scoffed, "Yeah, right then tell me what I really saw if it wasn't my boyfriend and best friend in bed together. Oops I keep making that mistake: ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend. Funny isn't it how two of the people I trusted the most could do this to me. I thought I knew you, I thought you loved me! Now, all I want is for you and that bitch to leave me the hell alone!"

"Gabi, please lower your voice. People are staring."

"Let them stare! I don't give a damn anymore. Let the whole damn school known what a lying, cheating bastard you are!"

Chris started to get angry. "Look, I know what I did was wrong but it was your fault as much as it as mine."

"My fault? Care to elaborate because I don't see how it was my fault that you hooked up with my best friend."

"Well, if you hadn't been such a prude and given it up I wouldn't have had to look for sex elsewhere."

That statement tore a hole in Gabriella's heart. She wanted to wait until marriage and she thought Chris of all people would understand but boy was she wrong. Before Gabriella could say another word Chris was punched in the jaw. It took her a minute to realize that it was Lucas that had hit him. "Stay the fuck away from her you asshole," Lucas gritted.

After regaining his balance Chris advanced the much larger boy. "Oh, yeah? What if I don't?" Lucas landed another punch onto Chris, and tackled him to the ground.

"You – punch – bastard – punch – you have no idea how lucky you were to have Gabi – punch – and you threw it – punch – all way just because – punch – she wouldn't – punch – sleep with you!" Gabriella quickly grabbed Lucas' arm before he could land another punch, possibly killing the boy.

"Lucas, please stop, he's not worth it. Let's just go," Gabriella said, pulling Lucas away from Chris' body. Lucas put a secure arm around Gabriella's shoulder and pointed at Chris one last time. "Come near her again and you're dead Johnson."

Gabriella couldn't deal with school anymore, she wanted to go home so Lucas left with her. They stayed at her house all day sitting on the couch with a large tub of Ben & Jerry's watching movies Gabriella requested. By the time her mom came home she was asleep on the couch.

"Hi Lucas. How's my baby today?" Ana asked the young man who became like a son to her, and a brother to her daughter.

"Not well, we had a run-in with Chris and it didn't end up well."

Ana looked distraught. "How could someone be so cruel to my baby? She never did anything to anyone. My company offered me a promotion today; it would be in San Diego and after all of this I think it would be best that I accept."

"As much as I hate to admit it Ana, I think you're right. I'll be gone at college soon and won't be there to protect Gabi. The two of you can start off new again."

Gabriella was heartbroken when she heard about the move, she didn't want to leave Lucas but he got her into thinking that it was for the best. He would be going off to college soon anyways and they would be separated sooner or later. They promised to stay in touch no matter what and that Lucas would come out to visit them whenever he could. Two weeks later Gabriella moved to San Diego with her mom for a fresh start.

End Flashback

"Brie!" Gabriella snapped out of her trance at the sound of Troy's voice.