Chapter 15: It's Happening Again
"Brie!" She heard Troy shout out again before he came to a halt in front of her. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"
Shaking her head Gabriella responded, "No, but please help Ryan. I don't think he can hold up against Blake any longer."
Without another word Troy pulled Blake away from Ryan and began punching the football player. Gabriella rushed to her blonde-haired savior, who was still sprawled on the hallway floor, and lifted his head onto her lap. She looked over to see Troy still senselessly beat Blake into a pulp. Then, in a fraction of a minute Chad, Zeke and Jason rushed over to Troy to pull him off the bleeding jock. Sharpay and Kelsi ran over to Gabriella to see if she was okay and Sharpay let out a scream when she saw her twin brother.
"Ryan!" Sharpay screamed out, pulling her brother into a hug as tears flowed down her face. "Ryan, wake up, please wake up."
"Gabi, what happened?" Kelsi asked Gabriella, who was still shaken up. "Um, Blake he lunged himself at me, saying he wanted to finish what he started. Ryan came and pulled him off of me. I'm so sorry Shar, if it wasn't for me Ryan couldn't have gotten injured."
"It's okay Gabi, you would've done the same thing if it was one of us who needed help," Sharpay relpied still holding onto her brother.
On the other side the boys had managed to pull the angry basketball captain away, but not before Troy could kick Blake once more in the gut. "Stay away from her or I swear next time I will kill you."
Leaving Blake on the floor they rushed over to the girls and the unconscious Ryan. Zeke, Jason and Chad went to check on Ryan while Troy pulled Gabriella into a hug. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Brie. I said I would protect you and I failed again."
"Troy, it's okay. Please help Ryan." They turned to see Sharpay refusing to let go of her brother.
"Shar, you have to let me go. I can't breathe," Ryan said weakly while slowly opening his eyes.
"Oh my god! Ryan! Do you have any idea how much you scared me," Sharpay cried out while tightening her grip on her brother.
"Okay, Shar, let go of Ryan so we can see how much damage was done," Zeke instructed the hysterical girl. She reluctantly let Ryan go. "Ryan, are you okay? How you feeling man?"
"I'm okay just a few bumps and bruises. I'll be better in no time," Ryan reassured everyone. He turned to Gabriella and asked, "Are you okay Gabi?"
Laughing through her tears Gabriella asked, "Ryan, you're the one who was unconscious. Don't worry about me, I'm fine. Thank you for coming to my rescue."
"Yeah, Ryan, thanks. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't helped Brie out," Troy said.
"What happened here?!" a loud demanded. The eight teens turned to the voice and saw Principal Matsui with Taylor and Martha. The two girls rushed over to there friends while Principal Matsui asked again. "I said what happened."
"He started it," Troy said pointing over the still unconscious football player.
Calming down a little Mr. Matsui said, "We need to escort Mr. Simons to the nurse -"
"And Ryan," Sharpay chirped in.
"And Mr. Evans to the nurse then I want the rest of you to follow me to my office." Chad and Jason went over to pick Blake up while Zeke and Sharpay helped to support Ryan on his feet; Troy put his arm securely around Gabriella shoulders and pulled her close. Then, the teenagers made their way to the nurse's office. After dropping Blake and Ryan off they made their way to Mr. Matsui's office minus Sharpay and Zeke who insisted on staying with Ryan. They all gathered around Mr. Matsui's office, the girls sitting in the chairs while the boys stood protectively behind them.
"Now," Mr. Matsui started. "Can someone tell me what happened?"
"Blake lunged at Gabriella, I was just protecting her sir," Troy answered.
"Can anyone here prove that Mr. Simons did indeed lung himself at Ms. Montez?"
"I can sir," Martha spoke out. "Ryan and I saw him forcing himself onto Gabi. Ryan told me to get Troy while he went to pull Blake off of her."
"And when I got there Blake was beating Ryan. I pulled him off and started hitting him," Troy said nonchalantly.
"Is this true Ms. Montez?" Mr. Matsui asked turning to the scared girl.
Gabriella nodded, "Yes sir. Blake forced himself onto me and Ryan and Troy were just protecting me."
Sighing Mr. Matsui added, "Well, this isn't surprising considering Mr. Simons' track record. I will make sure that is expelled for sexual harassment."
The teenagers breathed out a sigh of relief before Mr. Matsui added, "Now Troy, you and Mr. Evans should be suspended for on-campus fighting -"
"Sir, they were only protecting me!" Gabriella interrupted while the others nodded in agreement.
"I know that Ms. Montez. As I was saying before you interrupted me; Mr. Bolton and Mr. Evans should be suspended for on-campus fighting but seeing that it was to help you out, Ms. Montez I will let it slide. You are all dismissed; you may go check on your friends." As they made their way out of the office Mr. Matsui stopped them. "Considering the circumstances I will excuse the seven of you along with Mr. Baylor and Mr. and Ms. Evans for the rest of the day; you may go home. I do expect to see you all at school tomorrow, do I make myself clear."
"Crystal clear sir," Chad said as they made their over to the nurse's office. They were told that Ryan would be okay, just a few bumps and bruises, nothing serious. The ten teenagers made their way to the parking lot and went into their respective rides. They all left school and made their way to the Evans' estate. They made their way into the living room. Sharpay was fussing over whether or not Ryan was comfortable on the couch while the others sat in silence. Taylor looked over at the Gabriella and nudged Kelsi and Martha to do the same.
"Gabi, are you okay?" Taylor asked tentatively, not sure whether she should ask or not.
Shaking her head Gabriella whispered, "It happened again."
"What happened, Brie?" Troy said concern evident in his voice.
Resting her head on Troy's shoulder and holding onto his tightly she replied, "Because of me the people I care about got into a fight."
"This happened before? Will you tell me, tell us what happened Brie?" Nodding her head Gabriella retold the story of Chris, Diane and Lucas. By the end of the story new tears had formed and Gabriella was crying in Troy's arms. As the girls made their way over to their crying friend, Troy moved back knowing that she needed the girls more right now. The boys sat back watching them hugging and crying with each other. Now that Gabriella had been able to open up things can only get better.
The rest of the week had gone by smoothly, Ryan was getting better and Blake had been expelled. Gabriella, Sharpay, Kelsi and Taylor were sitting in Gabriella's living room watching a movie with the Zeke, Jason, Chad and Troy. The boys had at first complained about having to watch what they dubbed a chick flick but soon gave in once they saw the pouts. Troy and Gabriella went into the kitchen once more snacks were needed. After Gabriella put a new bag of popcorn into the microwave she went to get a bowl for it. She opened the top cupboard and tried to reach it but was unsuccessful.
Hearing Troy laugh Gabriella turned around to glare at him, it wasn't her fault she wasn't tall enough. Troy approached Gabriella and she felt her breathing stop. When Troy was standing right in front of her Gabriella thought he would try to kiss her like he did many weeks ago. Much to her disappointment Troy merely reached up to get the bowl from the cupboard behind her. Handing the bowl over Troy realized how close they were. If he wanted to kiss her he could.
What if she doesn't want me to? What if this ruins our friendship? I don't know what I would do if I lose her. Even if I'm only her friend it's good enough. God, she's so beautiful.Troy thought while Gabriella also had thoughts running through her mind.
Wow, he smells good today. Wait, he always smells good. God, he's so close. I want to kiss him but does he want to kiss me? No, I'm just a friend, but he did kiss me a couple of weeks ago. But that was so long ago, maybe he's changed his mind, maybe he doesn't like me like that anymore.
Despite their thoughts Troy and Gabriella found themselves leaning in. Just as they were about to close in the small gap between them the microwave beeper came on, signaling that the popcorn was done. They both pulled away, blushing furiously. Gabriella quickly grabbed the bowl and made her way to the microwave while Troy got another bowl to fill with more chips. When they had finished they made their way back to the living room.
Their friends sat watching the movie, completely oblivious to what had happened, or about to happen, in the kitchen just moments ago. Chad grabbed the new bowl of popcorn and started stuffing handfuls into his mouth.
"Chad! Stop that and share," Taylor said annoyed. Chad gave a sheepish grin and handed Taylor the bowl of popcorn. Everyone laughed as Gabriella and Troy went back to their previous seats on the couch. As the movie progresses Gabriella began fidgeting from her uncomfortable position. She lifted her legs up to her chest and leaned against Troy's shoulder. Troy turned when he felt someone's head on him. Seeing that it was Gabriella he carefully pushed her off to wrap that arm around her before pulling her back against him.
Sharpay lifted her head from Zeke's shoulder and saw Troy and Gabriella in their present position. Smiling she nudged Taylor lightly with her foot. Taylor looked annoyed when she turned to Sharpay, the movie was getting good. Sharpay signaled to her left and Taylor's annoyance quickly disappeared and she nudged Kelsi to look at the couple on the couch. All three girls grinned happily as the same thought entered their minds: They are so going to get together.
By this time Chad, Zeke and Jason knew that the girls had their attention somewhere else and followed their gazes. They had to suppress a laugh when they saw Troy protectively holding onto Gabriella. They quietly told the girls to leave the couple alone and return their attention to the movie. When the movie ended about an hour later everyone got up to stretch out their limbs, everyone but Troy and Gabriella.
"Aawwwwwwwwwwww," Sharpay sighed. They turned their attention to where Sharpay was looking and saw Gabriella and Troy fast asleep. They looked so peaceful and cute, leaving no sign off letting the other one go.
Taylor went to her bag as Kelsi asked, "What are you doing Taylor?" Taylor found what she was looking for and pulled out her cell phone. Smiling as she knew what Taylor was thinking Sharpay went to get her phone as well, while Kelsi pulled hers out of her pant pocket. The three quietly approached the sleeping couple and began taking pictures. The sounds must have been a little loud as they saw Troy begin to stir.
They quickly hid their phones behind their backs as Troy asked, "What happened?"
As he rubbed sleep from his eyes Chad answered, "Nothing, man. The movie just ended, we were stretching, and you and Gabi were asleep. Oh and the girls were taking pictures of the two of you."
"Chad!" Kelsi, Taylor and Sharpay screeched as they all smacked him upside the head. At the sound of the screeches Gabriella began to stir. "What's going on?"
Cutting Troy off before her could say anything Sharpay, Kelsi and Taylor said, "Nothing." Gabriella was going to say something when the doorbell rang. Opening the door Gabriella came face to face with the one person she didn't expect to see.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't little Gabriella Montez."