Returning Nightmare

A/N: So here's the 3rd chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 3

The next morning Gabriella woke up with tear stains on her face. She couldn't stop thinking about Jake: the worst living nightmare. He was just about the only person that she hated. She regretted ever befriending him and letting him into her life. Gabriella's thoughts were interrupted by her mom calling her down for breakfast.

"Gabi! Time for breakfast! I made your favorite, bacon, eggs, and French toast!" yelled Ms. Montez.

"Ok, I'll be down in 20 minutes." Great. Maybe this will help me get my mind off a certain someone.

Gabriella soon got ready for school. She took a 12 minute shower and put on dark washed jeans, a white cami, and a blue cropped long sleeved hoodie and tied her hair up into a ponytail. She grabbed her book bag and cell phone and walked down the stairs.

"Morning mom." said Gabriella.

"Good morning sweetie." Ms. Montez replied. "How was your first day of school?"

Gabriella looked down at her feet and walked over to the stool beside their kitchen counter to sit down. Tears started to form in her eyes and Gabriella looked up at her mom.

Ms. Montez spotted Gabriella's glossy eyes right away. "Gabi! What's the matter?" asked Ms. Montez while walking towards Gabriella.

"He's…he's…here." Gabriella choked out.

"You don't mean…" Gabriella nodded. "Oh my god! My poor baby! What happened? What did he do to you?" Ms. Montez said while wrapping her arms around her daughter's fragile body to give her a comforting hug. "Do I need to call the police?"

"No mom. He didn't do anything to me. But mom, he scares me. I'm afraid what he might do to me. Why did I ever meet him?" Gabriella shouted shakily. Ms. Montez wiped away Gabriella's tears that were running down her cheeks.

"I know sweetie. I know. Does Troy know about him yet?" Ms. Montez asked.

"No…I'm not ready to tell him yet. Talking to him about it will make it even more real. " Gabriella responded.

"I understand Gabi, but you should tell him soon."

"I know mom." Gabriella answered. Ms. Montez let go of Gabriella and started to gather her belongings.

"Troy called earlier today to say that he was going to pick you up for school." Ms. Montez said. "I need to get to work but promise me that if you ever need me, you'll call right away." Gabriella nodded.

"Bye mom." Gabriella said.

"Bye sweetie. Just be careful ok? I love you too much to let anything happen." said Ms. Montez with a reassuring smile.

Gabriella brought a small smile to her face. "I love you too mom." With that Ms. Montez left. Gabriella waited patiently for her boyfriend to come. When the doorbell rang, she got up to open the door.

"What are you doing here?" Gabriella asked her blond friend in confusion.

"Well! What away to greet your best friend, Gabi!" Sharpay exclaimed gasping as Gabriella giggled. "Troy had to get to school early to have basketball practice with the Wildcats, so he couldn't pick you up. I guess you're stuck with Taylor and me now!" she joked.

"That's awful! I guess riding to school with you guys will have to do." Gabriella said smiling.

"Come on!" Sharpay said motioning her arm towards the car. Gabriella quickly grabbed her cell phone and book bag. "So anyways, what do you think of that new guy, Jake?"Gabriella frowned hearing his name.

"He seems nice." Gabriella lied getting into Taylor's car. "Hey Taylor."

"Hey Gabi. Who are you guys talking about?" their best friend questioned while starting to drive.

"The new guy Jake. Gabi thinks he's nice. All that stuff he said in front of the class was crap." Sharpay pointed out. "I should know." Taylor nodded remembering what she witnessed in class yesterday.

"Gabriella, I saw what happened between you, Troy and Jake in class yesterday." Taylor said as Gabriella opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. "Why are you all of a sudden calling Jake nice after that?"

Gabriella was scared to tell her friends what happened two years ago, so she started out with something minor. "Jake knew me back before I moved to Albuquerque, and he wasn't the greatest guy ever." Gabriella confessed.

Taylor was unconvinced with Gabriella's answer. "Gabi, I don't think you would lie about something that small. There must be more to the story." Sharpay nodded to show she agreed.

"Well, there is, but I'm not sure if I want to talk about it yet." Gabriella answered biting her lower lip.

"Ok. But Gabriella, just know that we are always here for you." Sharpay said looking straight at Gabriella's dark brown eyes. Gabriella could tell Sharpay was being serious because she never called her Gabriella.

"I know." Gabriella said smiling. "You guys are the best."

"We know!" Taylor and Sharpay answered together. The three best friends broke out laughing.

After arriving at the school, Gabriella ran out of the car to find Troy.

"Wait, Gabi! Why are you in such a hurry?" Sharpay called.

"I'm going to look for Troy!" Gabriella called back.

"We'll go with you!" Taylor said but it was too late because Gabriella was already in the school.

"That girl has got it bad for Troy." Taylor commented.

"Yea, she does." Sharpay responded smiling.

Gabriella went to her locker before starting her search for Troy. She walked over to Troy's locking but nothing. Then she remembered that Troy was supposed to be in the gym. She ran to the gym and opened the door only to find it empty.

"Where is he?" Gabriella asked herself out loud while scratching her head. All of a sudden she felt some type of presence behind her. Before she could turn around to see who it was, someone already wrapped their arms around her.

Gabriella shrieked in horror.

"Were you looking for me?" the voice asked smiling.

Gabriella recognized the voice immediately. "Oh God, it's just you Troy!" Gabriella said relieved.

"Hey yourself!" Troy greeted his girlfriend turning her around to give her a kiss. Gabriella returned the kiss before pushing him away to hit his arm.

"Ow! What was that for?" Troy asked rubbing his arm.

"That was for scaring me half to death! For a second there I thought you were Ja…I mean just some kidnapper." Gabriella replied mentally cursing herself for almost saying Jake.

"A kidnapper? Huh. You don't have to worry about any kidnappers while I'm here to protect you." Troy said. Hmm. Seemed like Gabi was about to say Jake. Nah, maybe I'm just imaging things.

It's about time I tell Troy my secret, I mean he's my boyfriend and he should know. Plus he just told me here's always here to protect me. "That's good to know. Listen, I have something important to tell you Troy." Gabriella said nervously. "Can you come over tonight to my house?" Gabriella asked.

Maybe I will find out what has been bothering her lately. "Sure." Troy said smiling. "But for now let's get to homeroom first. We wouldn't want to get detention with Ms. Darbus right?"

"Right." Gabriella giggled. Troy and Gabriella intertwined their fingers together and walked to class smiling.

A/N: I hope you all liked it. It's not the best chapter ever I have to admit. Not much going on except for the fact that Gabriella is finally ready to reveal her secret. Tune in next chapter to find out what it is and how Troy reacts! Any guesses to what the secret is? And oh yea, if you haven't read What Happened to True Friends? my new Hannah Montana fanfiction, it would be great if you checked it out. Thanks!