Thanks so much for everyone who reads my stories and for those of you who review. I really appreciate it. Well, here is the next chapter. So sorry guys. Life has been hectic crazy for me. So sorry.

Dear Diary

I have been in the Bolton residence for officially 1 week now. I've gotten slightly more confident to moving around but I've barely said ten words to Lucille and Jack. Troy is never here anymore. After that one night and morning that he made effort with me, I haven't seen him. He is constantly at friends, camping out or playing video games till late at night. When he comes home, he crashes immediately and then is gone again the next day before I can manage to drag myself out of bed. It's really lonely. I miss Alex so badly some days. But for his sake, I just try and make it through one day at a time. I can do this… I hope.

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

"Ooo! Bullseye!" Troy crowed.

"Yadda, yadda, yadda," Chad mocked his friend before returning his attention to the screen where they were playing Medal of Honour the death match, "You talk much to Gabriella?"

Troy's concentration flipped immediately, "What the…." He stared in dismay at the screen as Chad promptly shot him.

"Boom!" Chad yelped as Troy punched his arm, "Ow! What was that for?"

"For distracting me," Troy grinned, "Actually no. I haven't' talked to her in a week. I mean I'm out with guys most of the days and I go to bed as soon as I get home. I haven't even spoken to mom or dad in a week."

"Man that is bad…" Chad paused the game and set down his controller, "You seriously need to spend a few hours with your folks."

"I am," Troy unpaused the game and continued on causing Chad to yelp and grab his controller, "I'm not allowed to sleep over here tonight. Mom wants me home by six. Family dinner and movie… and I'm banned from coming over to you until I've spent at least a full day at home," Chad smiled and shook his head and then groaned as Troy shot him with the bazooka, "Mom says she hasn't seen me all summer which is true. So I'm gonna do chores at home tomorrow, and mom said you can sleep over at us for a change."

"Cool,' Chad grimaced and then dropped his controller with dismay, "Man! How do you always know where I am?"

"You aren't very good at hiding," Troy grinned cheekily before shooting Chad down once more with his pistol…

HSMHSMHSMHSM

"Thanks, mom," Troy smiled at his mom over his heaped plate of mash, vegetables, sausage and gravy, "It looks really good."

Lucille smiled and nodded, "We haven't had you home in a while…" she murmured digging into her food.

"I've been hiding from Gabriella," Troy teased and laughed as the young girl blushed and looked embarrassed, "I'm joking, Gabs…" once again she flinched at the use of his nickname and Troy frowned. Note to self: Don't call Gabriella Gabs. Try and find out why it bothers her…

"Troy!" Jack bellowed from across the table.

"Huh… uh, sorry dad I didn't hear you," Troy stammered being rudely awakened.

"I see so…" Jack shook his head, "I was saying we took out X-men Days of Future past to watch tonight."

"Awesome!" Troy said enthusiastically, "I've been wanting to see that movie ever since it came out. You a fan of X-men?" He turned to Gabriella his blue eyes pleading her to be one.

"Uh," she stammered slightly, "Sure… I mean it isn't my first choice for a movie to watch but the action is cool."

Troy beamed at her.

"I think you just became Troy's new favourite girl," Lucille teased, "Most girls he knows prefer chick flicks."

Gabriella shrugged and turned back to her food, "I have a younger brother who is into action. After you get used to it, it gets interesting…."

"I think I like your brother," Troy said confidently, "When is he coming here?"

"I don't know…" Gabriella clamped up.

"Troy, uh… you know you'll need to share your room with Alex, right?" Lucille said nervously.

Troy shrugged, "No biggie. If he gets too overbearing I'll go sleep in the Hideout. Alex… That's a cool name. You know, when I was smaller I always wanted to be called Alex… I thought it was like the coolest name on the planet…" Lucille and Jack laughed as Troy finished his plate and carried it to the kitchen; "I'll wait in the den!" he called back.

Lucille smiled and stood up to gather the plates, gesturing for them to get up and enter the den so long. Within seconds she was in the den and Lucille curled up on the one seater under a blanket. Jack stretched out on the three seater which left the loveseat for Gabriella and Troy.

"Er…" Troy groaned realising that his parents were not going to relinquish their seats, "I'll sit on the floor," he said with a sigh.

"No…" Gabriella blushed, "It's fine. We can both sit on the couch if it's fine with you…"

"Oki dokes…" said the ever cheerful Troy and plopped onto the couch and patted the seat next to him, "Atta girl," he teased her as she gently sank down onto the couch.

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I blushed wildly as Troy praised me for simply being brave enough to sit down next to him. He spread the blanket over us both and then leaned back, staring intently at the TV screen as the movie came on. Within the first few minutes I was intrigued at the plot and was watching intently. Half way through the movie I jumped in fright as I felt a warm breath just behind my ear.

"You want some popcorn?" he whispered. I turned around and he moved his eyebrows up and down conspirately. I stifled a giggle and nodded.

With a victorious smile he turned to his parents, "Mum, dad, me and Gabriella would like some popcorn. Can I put a batch in the microwave?"

Jack groaned dramatically and nodded, pausing the movie.

"C'mon, Gabriella," he gestured to me, "Come help me please?" he pulled a very convincing puppy face and I laughed, swallowing my laugh almost immediately. It was the first time since my mom's death that I had laughed. I swallowed heavily and followed him into the kitchen.

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Troy whistled cheerfully as he pulled out packets of microwave popcorn from their larder, "Here you go," he tossed them to Gabriella. She missed them and the splattered onto the floor. Her face turned red as she bent to pick them up, "Oops," Troy said guiltily bending down to help her, "Sorry, I should have checked if you were ready."

"It's ok," she said quietly and popped them into the microwave. Quickly she pressed the buttons and then the microwave hummed quietly as it heated up the packets. Troy busily got out four bowls for the popcorn and then perched staring at Gabriella.

She felt his blue eyes staring at her and turned with a blush, "What?"

"Nothing" Troy said quietly, "It's just… do you mind if I ask why you always seem upset if I call you Gabs?"

"I…" she started and stopped, turning away, "I do mind…"

"Ok…" he said shrugging and turned to the microwave as it beeped, "Let's get the popcorn.

HSMHSMHSMHSM

Troy groaned as he felt someone shaking him awake. Blearily he pulled his eyes open and rolled around looking into his dad's face, "Go away." He mumbled and buried his head back into his pillow.

"Troy!" Jack shook his son harder, "Sit up and listen," with a sigh Troy rolled over again and slowly dragged himself up, "Your mom and I got an email late last night. I'm needed at some or other basketball conference and the wives of the coaches need to go with. Some sort of thing for exchanging techniques, getting in famous coaches and stuff to do talks. I got a flight for us. We are just on the way to the airport…"

"Wha…" Troy said startled waking up completely, "How long are you going to be gone?"

"A couple of days," Jack said smiling, "I want you to stay at home mostly, while we are gone. Chad is welcome to come over, but stay at home for Gabriella, you hear me?"

"Yeah, dad," Troy sighed and lay down again, "Don't miss your flight. See you in a few days."

Jack grinned at his son and turned away. Carefully he closed Troy's door and walked to the kitchen where his wife was waiting for him, "Let's go," he smiled kissing his wife softly. Lucille blushed and pushed him away.

"We're going to be late," she chided her husband.

Jack laughed and led the way out of the door.

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Troy groaned as he woke up four hours later. With a sigh he stood up and regarded the bland world outside that was pouring with rain.

"Perfect day for hot chocolate, pancakes and a movie," he murmured smiling to himself as he tugged on a form-fitting white t-shirt. He smirked as he caught sight of himself in the mirror. Troy was totally in shape and he knew how well, he looked. It didn't make him stuck-up but he was known to scrutinise himself in the mirror here and there, "Looking good, Bolton," he smiled and gave himself a thumbs up before heading out of the door.

"Gabriella?" he stopped in front of her door knocking slightly, "Gabrie…" he froze as the door swung open on silent hinges, "Hello?" he whispered softly peering a head into her dark room. There was no sign of her in her room and he shrugged before heading downstairs. He hummed happily to himself on the way to the kitchen to get some cereal when he saw that the patio was open. Troy stopped and looked all around the house. He hadn't seen any… Troy's heart started to hammer as he saw a small dark splotch next to the large oak in their garden.

"Gabriella?" he whispered to himself, "What the hell are you doing in this rain?" he gasped as he strode into the rain, shivering. It was absolutely freezing. And Gabriella had been out in it who knows how long. Troy sprang and reached the girl's side within seconds, "Dammit, Gabriella!" he yelled as he saw her eyes closed, shivering. Her normal tan skin deathly pale, her lips blue and her teeth chattering.

He swung her up into his arms and started at a fast trot back to the house, "Dammit," he swore again, shaking his hair viciously to get it out of his eyes. Sopping wet, he stormed into the house, closing the glass door with his foot. He walked upstairs, wincing as he accidently bumped her head against the wall. He shivered as the cold air chilled his soaked clothes. Quickly he walked into the bathroom and started to run a warm bath.

She was still out cold so he grimaced as he started to apply some of the first-aid that he had been taught. Carefully he stripped her of her jacket and then, pulled of her jersey, leaving her in her long t. He unabashedly stripped her of her shoes and jeans.

Troy's eyes widened with horror as he saw the long jagged scar that ran up her right leg, "Oh, Brie," he murmured sympathetically, "What did you go through?" He left her in the boxers that she had been wearing and gently sank her into the bathtub. He propped up her head and let her soak in the heat from the warm water.

Quickly he turned his back on her and grabbed a dry pair of boxers and a hoodie from his pile of dirty washing. He wrinkled his nose, but quickly stripped of his wet clothes, towelled himself dry and dressed into the dry clothes. When he turned back he saw that her eyelids had just started to flutter as the heat permeated her skin and warmed her back up.

"Hey," he said gently as she looked around confused, "You feeling warmer?"

She gasped and gather her knees to her chest trying to make herself as small as possible, "What… what am I doing here?"

"Well," Troy said, "You were trying to catch pneumonia and I just saved your life. I'm not sure if you are in the clear though. You might get a cold. What the hell were you thinking Gabriella?"

Softly her shoulders began to shake as she cried into her hands, hiding her face from the boy who had rescued her, "I want out…" she sobbed, "I can't do this anymore."

With a sigh Troy left the bathroom and quickly grabbed a clean pair of boxers from his drawer and a clean t-shirt and his night robe which he never used. He was too scared to venture into her room and try to find clothes that would fit her.

"Here,": he put the clothes down on the toilet lid, "Get out of the bath and change into some dry clothes. When you are ready, get into bed. I'll bring you up some soup." His kind words seemed to make it worse as she started to cry harder, "C'mon, Brie," he pleaded, "Don't do this to me…"

"I'm sorry," she sobbed, "I'm so very sorry…"