So, I legitimately forgot that it was the weekend and that I had to update. School has it's way of doing that though, which I resent most definitly. Anyways, sorry that I didn't update over the weekend, I'll update twice this week in return! Enjoy!

Protecting Miss Montez

Chapter three

Unexpected

Troy nodded as he saw Charles walking down the hallway towards him. He was laughing softly to himself as he stopped to talk to Troy. The door to Gabriella's room was still closed, but Rosy had just gone in to wake her up and her annoyed groan could be heard through the small crack under the door.

"There's a visitor for Miss Montez and she refuses to be searched by anyone. We think she might let you… search her." Charles chuckled with a shake of his head.

"What makes you say that?" Troy asked with a laugh.

"She ordered me to get you." Charles explained to him.

Troy's eyebrows scrunched in confusion as he left his post to go to the front door of the white house, wondering who even knew he worked there and as he approached, seeing a few amused security guards standing away from the blonde in the center of the foyer, he laughed, shaking his head.

"Shar, what are you doing here?" He asked, causing the group to look over at him as he approached his friend.

"I'm here to give the President's daughter a needed make over. I saw those clothes she was wearing yesterday and decided to extend my business trip. This is a federal emergency."

"It's just clothing." One of the security guards said with a laugh, causing Troy to shot him a look that meant he had went too far.

"I've made my fortune on clothing, thank you very much and those shoes you are wearing, mister, are way nineteen seventies and anything from later than the eighties is a crime." She spat, causing the man to take a step back, not wanting to see her become any angrier.

"Miss, we need to search you before you come any further into the house." One of the other security guards said.

"Bolton, search me already before I decide not to help the young woman in need of serious fashion help." Sharpay said to Troy, waving to her crew that had come with her, so that they'd be searched by the other members of the security staff.

Troy laughed as Sharpay slapped him on the chest when he was done and she blushed deeply as he took a step away from her, done with what he had to do. She rolled her eyes, seeing her assistance waiting for her for directions.

"Don't tell your brother about that." Sharpay said seriously.

"Don't worry, that'd be the last thing I tell him." Troy told her with a smile, leading her and her assistances with suitcases of clothing to Gabriella's room.

Troy shushed the group of perfectly tanned and manicured group of women as he knocked on Gabriella's door and he waited with a sigh for her to open her door. When she did, her eyes widened and she looked at Troy evilly. She was currently dressed like she was about to make an important speech at some kind of old folks home, but truthfully, she was just dressed for her regular day. Sharpay gasped. She needed serious help.

"Hey, girl, I'm Sharpay Evans, and I'm here to save you." She smiled.

"Save me from what?" Gabriella asked in awe of the fact that Sharpay had just called her girl.

"From yourself." Sharpay answered, pushing her way into the room as Troy shook his head, staying in his spot next to her door as the team of people disappeared behind the closed door.

"No offense or anything…" Gabriella started as Sharpay told her people to set up a wall that would give Gabriella some privacy while changing. "But why are you here… besides the fact that my clothing is disastrous."

"Well, I'm glad you just admitted that. That's the first step to this process." Sharpay said with a smile as she pulled open the chest of drawers that Gabriella kept some of her clothes in. "I'm here primarily for the fact that the President's daughter must look as good as she feels and because I wanted to check out the place that captivated my good friend Troy Bolton." She explained as she pulled out all of Gabriella's clothing, shoving them into a black bag that one of her assistance was holding open.

"Okay, well, I have to admit, that I feel as bad as my clothes look… and what are you doing with all of my clothes?" She asked her, eyeing the now full garbage bag.

"I'm donating them to charity and the good news is that the clothes that I'm donating to you will make you feel a lot better than you feel now." She smiled. "I'm here to help the needy."

"I'm not poor… so I don't really need help." Gabriella said unsurely because Sharpay Evans was starting to talk about her as if she just walked off the street with her.

"Oh, but you do. Anyone who wears that outfit just for fun has to be somewhat mentally unstable."

"Excuse me?" Gabriella said in an offended tone.

"Oh, shit. I forgot I was talking to the President's daughter, my bad!" Sharpay said with a nod.

"No problem…" Gabriella said quietly. "My name's Gabriella… so you can stop calling me the President's daughter." She nodded, watching as more of her clothes made their way out of the room in plastic bags to be piled up in the hallway.

"Will do, Gabs." Sharpay said with a smile, pulling out a silky hot pink robe, which she threw to Gabriella. "Change into this and hand me over that outfit. It'll be the last time you'll see it."

Gabriella smiled softly and walked over to the make-shift changing room and tossed her clothes over the top of the divider to Sharpay. As she did, she couldn't help but feel like her new wardrobe would make a new her, and at least make her feel normal for once.

"So, your hair is adorably fabulous already, but you need to stop wearing it up. Wearing your hair down naturally is in now, so take advantage of the trends." Sharpay started to explain. "Also, you need outfits that don't make you look like you are the President's daughter because to be honest with you, that alone is prison, so you don't need outfits that make you look like you're in it, got it?"

"Is this your way of being nice?" Gabriella asked.

"No, this is my way of doing business. I'm generally a nice person; I just can't stand clothing like this on a beautiful girl like you." She answered her with a smile.

Sharpay looked over at the brunette woman who was putting more clothes in a black bag and she stopped her quickly when she saw a piece of clothing that was suitable and she plucked it from the pile of t-shirts, holding it up so Gabriella could see it.

"This is the only thing you are keeping." Sharpay said as she held up the Lakers basketball t-shirt.

"Why? Because it's the most normal shirt I have?" She asked her in confusion.

"No, because my future brother-in-law plays for the Lakers." She said with a smile. "And you need to support him."

"You're engaged?" Gabriella asked with a smile forming on her face, thinking it was romantic.

"No." Sharpay said dully. "But I will be." She cheered up with that thought and smiled again, letting all of the old clothing leave the room before she started her job.

"Who's your future brother-in-law?" Gabriella asked her.

"Chad Danforth. I've known him since kindergarten." Sharpay explained, going over to a large wardrobe chest that she- more like her crew- had lugged up to the room.

"You know Chad Danforth? He's like amazing at playing basketball!" Gabriella exclaimed in shock. "But… I guess since you're you, you would know people like him."

"Yeah, well, I guess I got pretty lucky then." Sharpay replied with a nod. "Ready to get started?" She asked with a smile.

"Do I have a choice?"

"Absolutely not."

After what felt like hours, Gabriella was officially in heaven. No, Sharpay didn't hit her over the head with a sparkly pair of boots, causing her to die painfully, but she did give her jeans and jeans were exactly what Gabriella always wanted and finally, someone gave her a pair… even if they were an extremely expensive pair of designer jeans.

"I love them." Gabriella said with a smile, looking at the pair of pants longingly as she did a little dance because they fit her perfectly.

"Girl, I gave you fifty designer dresses and you nearly cry over a pair of jeans?" Sharpay said with a shake of her head.

"You don't understand, I don't even remember the last time I wore jeans. I've been wearing all of those my whole life." Gabriella said, pointing to the black bags that were full of her old wardrobe.

"I'd be crying too." Sharpay laughed.

"Thank you, Sharpay." Gabriella said sincerely as she looked at her closet that was now full of brand new fashionable clothing. "I needed this."

"You're welcome. I know when someone needs my help and you definitely did. But I kind of need something in return." Sharpay told her.

"Name it and you got it… unless it's something that will destroy the country… I can't help you with that and I'd have to report you to the FBI or something."

"People don't ask you for favors often, do they?" Sharpay asked with a laugh.

"Not exactly."

"I just want you to make sure Troy's okay." Sharpay said quietly. "I don't want him to be lonely or anything because he's a long ways away from home… and he's had a rough time lately."

"What do you mean?" Gabriella asked her in a whisper, watching as everything extra that Sharpay had brought with her was being packed up.

"I don't really think I should tell you. It's personal." Sharpay explained.

"You know… Troy doesn't exactly talk to me. He's very standoffish, but that's basically his job, so I don't know how much I can do." Gabriella told her with a nod.

"If I tell you his secret, do you promise to make it your top priority to make sure he's okay?" Sharpay asked quietly, her happy face becoming serious as she thought of her friend.

Gabriella nodded, swallowing roughly because it had been ages since someone told her a secret or anything that would cause her any kind of stress. People around this house kept things from her like it was their job to do so.

"Troy's dad adopted his two best friend's sons about four years ago when they were sixteen. They're Chad Danforth and Zeke Baylor, the guy I'm seriously dating, and they're also Troy's best friends." Sharpay started quietly.

"What happened?" Gabriella asked worriedly, feeling her heart sink into her stomach as she listened to the story about her body guard. She'd never known anything this personal about anyone who worked at the White House.

"Well, Chad's parents, along with Zeke's parents and Troy's mom, went out for a night to get caught up with one another since it had been a while since they'd all been together… and when they were coming home, they got hit by a drunk driver and were all killed. The boys were out playing basketball when they got the news. It changed them for forever."

"Why wasn't Troy's dad with them?" Gabriella asked her.

"He had to work. He was a police officer and he had weird shifts that week." Sharpay explained to her.

"I'd feel so bad." Gabriella said to her with a shake of her head.

"I know." Sharpay said quietly. "And that's why I need you to keep an eye on Troy… I know this is weird since he's hired to take of you, but even he needs some taking care of." Sharpay nodded.

"I'll take care of him." Gabriella said with a nod. "I promise."

"Oh, and if you wear that Lakers t-shirt, I can guarantee that he will have a major crush on you. He loves a girl in sports wear." She laughed softly, changing the mood to a happier one.

"I have a boyfriend… so that probably wouldn't be a good idea." Gabriella nodded.

"That's too bad." Sharpay said with a smirk. "I think it's time for me to go. I wouldn't want to keep the President's daughter tied up."

"And for a second there I thought I was normal." Gabriella joked; liking that for the entire time she was with Sharpay she was called Gabs, not 'President's daughter' or 'Miss Montez'.

"It was nice meeting you, Gabs." Sharpay said as she stood up, walking to the door since her staff was already gone, probably packing up their things.

"You too. I'll walk you out, if you want me to."

"That would be fabulous." Sharpay said with a smile as she opened the heavy door of Gabriella's room, stepping out to find Troy still in the same spot. "God, Troy, aren't you tired of just standing there?" Sharpay asked.

"I took a lunch break, no." He replied simply as Gabriella walked out the door in jeans and a t-shirt with her hair let down.

"Come walk me out, Bolton." Sharpay said with a smile, linking her arm with his as Gabriella walked in front of them with a giggle, leading them to the front garage of the White House, where she knew Sharpay's car must have been taken.

As they were walking, Sharpay couldn't help but notice that Troy was watching Gabriella intently, only it wasn't the kind of watching that someone would do if they had to protect them, it was more of a you're-hot-it-sucks-that-you-have-a-boyfriend look. She nudged him with a laugh, causing him to look away from her.

"What?" He asked in a whisper.

"Nothing." Sharpay smiled.

Gabriella waved at Sharpay as she took off in her pink car and she smiled as she watched her disappear behind the gates of the White House quickly. She turned towards the entrance of the garage, stepping up the few stairs to go back into the house, and she eyed Troy as he let her get a few feet ahead of him before starting to walk. Gabriella made her way towards the kitchen and inhaled the smell of the cooking food.

Her parents were gone to some third world country, one she couldn't remember the name of now, and she smiled at the chef who set her plate down on the island of the kitchen. She was used to this eating alone thing because her parents were often in places she wasn't, and she usually would talk to Charles while she ate, but unfortunately, Charles wasn't with her anymore and she was stuck with the stone cold Troy.

Gabriella plopped a cooked carrot in her mouth, looking out the window of the kitchen into the backyard where it was now dark out, the fountain in the back lighting up the area around it.

"You can sit down if you want." Gabriella said when she noticed that Troy was shifting his weight from one leg to the other.

The cooks cleaning up the kitchen looked over at Troy, seeing the new body guard for the first time today. They smiled at him when he looked over at them, wondering if he was even allowed to sit down on the job.

"I won't tell." Gabriella told him as she continued to eat.

Troy hesitated at first, but then took a seat on the bar stool across from her, keeping his attention mainly on the cooks walking around the kitchen and also on the view from the kitchen window instead of on her.

"Are you hungry?" Gabriella asked him after a while of silence.

"No. I'm fine." He said with a small nod.

"When's your shift done? You look kind of tired." Gabriella told him as she took a sip from the glass of milk that was set in front of her.

"It won't be done until you're sleeping, Miss Montez." He informed her quietly.

Gabriella nodded slowly as she finished her meal, feeling the silence of the room become more and more awkward as it took longer for her to finally stand up, only when she did, she took the back door, venturing outside instead of going back to her room.

Troy sighed to himself as he stood by the door of the kitchen while Gabriella started to go on a mini walk. She turned when she noticed that he wasn't following her.

"Aren't you going to follow me?" She asked him. "You always do inside."

Troy shrugged.

"There's more security out here." Troy told her. "Besides, you need some air."

"So do you. Come on." She said as she gestured for him to come with her. "And you don't have to follow me. We can actually walk side by side." She informed him.

Troy unsurely walked next to her, scanning the large garden of tall bushes as they walked quietly. He nodded as he passed a member of the security team and he slowed as Gabriella did by the large fountain. The glow of the lights underneath the water caused a shimmering glitter to reflect against them and Gabriella smiled as she inhaled the cool air.

"Who's your favorite basketball team?" Gabriella asked Troy as they started to walk again, wanting to start a conversation.

"Does it matter?" Troy asked her with a sigh.

"Yeah, it does." Gabriella said with an eye roll, annoyed that he always made talking difficult.

"Lakers."

"Me too."

"Yeah?" Troy asked surprised as he glanced over at her.

"Before my dad was President we would go to tons of games." Gabriella explained. "We haven't though lately for obvious reasons. Who's you favorite player?" She asked.

"Probably Chad Danforth." Troy answered, causing her to smile softly as she looked over at him.

"Why's that?" She asked him curiously.

Troy shrugged and looked away from Gabriella when she caught his gaze.

"He seems like a cool guy, I guess." Troy answered, causing another smile to form on Gabriella's face.

"His hair's funny too." Gabriella giggled as she thought of his unruly hair.

Troy smiled to himself, surprising Gabriella as she saw it and she had a feeling Troy noticed that she was surprised.

"Yeah, it is." Troy nodded, sticking his hands in his pockets as they continued their walk, only now they weren't saying anything more. The wind picked up somewhat and the smell of an approaching winter hung in the air.

Gabriella's attention was drawn to the tall bush that was in front of them when she heard a rustling sound coming from behind it. Her heart started to pound slightly and she stopped quickly, causing Troy to do the same.

"Was that just me, or did it sound like there's something behind that bush?" She asked Troy, noticing the way Troy moved closer to her as he heard her question.

"I didn't hear anything." Troy said quietly.

"It must have been my imagin-"

Gabriella's sentence didn't continue as she scream, seeing a man dressed in all black jump up from behind the bush, being blinded by a bright flash coming from his expensive looking camera. Within seconds, Troy was already lunging towards him, punching him so hard that he was knocked to the ground and as Gabriella started to run in the opposite direction, four more security members patrolling the back yard were already coming to assist Troy with the trespassing danger.

When Gabriella looked behind her as she got closer to the kitchen, she saw Troy running after her, so fast in fact that by the time she got to the door, he was already there, pushing her inside as the kitchen staff closed the door behind them, locking it quickly while the two disappeared into the hallway, running all the way into Gabriella's room.

Gabriella was dizzy as Troy closed the door behind them and she put her hand to her head as she tried to control her breathing. Troy was now looking under her bed, making sure no one had gotten in the room while they were gone. He closed the curtains after checking behind them and then walked into her bathroom, looking in the shower and behind the doors, going over to the closet, where the smell of Sharpay hit him, shaking his head, he looked in the closet, closing it when he found nothing but a new wardrobe.

When he turned to face Gabriella she was fanning her face, breathing oddly as she kept her feet planted on the ground. He stopped in his spot, catching his breath too as he felt his hand throbbing because of the hard punch he had given the camera man and he pushed a loose piece of hair out of his eyes.

"Are you having a panic attack?" He asked her quickly when she sounded like she was hyperventilating.

"I think so." She squeaked, fanning her face quicker as he began to worry.

"I'm not trained to handle this kind of stuff!" He said quickly.

"You're not trained to handle burglars?!" She asked in shock as she looked up at him worriedly.

"No! Women!" He explained as she began to breathe even more quickly. "Maybe I should get a doctor or something, are you okay?"

"I can't feel my legs." Gabriella said as she coughed, trying to calm herself down as her knees gave out from under her.

Troy noticed Gabriella's pale face and within seconds she was falling and he caught her quickly before she could hit the floor. She grabbed onto his arm when she felt him near her and her heart beat quickened even more when he scooped her up in his arms, walking over to her bed to set her down.

The comfort of her bed made her calm down some as she looked up at the ceiling that was barely visible because of the darkness of the room. Her hand was still clenched around his arm as he caught his breath next to her bed.

"I'm going to go get someone." He decided, knowing that he was the last person that could help her.

"No." Gabriella said quickly. "Just… stay here until we know he's gone."

Troy's stomach churned as he pulled the comfy chair next to her bathroom door over to him without even moving from his spot by Gabriella. He sat down in it, feeling Gabriella's hand still on him as the darkness of the room became greater. He could tell that Gabriella was still panicking because he could still hear her deep breathing, but as she put her arm over her eyes and let go of Troy slowly, she started to relax, trying not to let any tears fall from her eyes because today was unexpected… in more ways than one.

Like it? Review! This is basically where the story starts... the last few chapters just introduced the story.

Much love,

unknownbyhim22