Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter 20: They're Back
If anyone reads an authors note this is the one. All my readers owe this chapter and the coming ones to I-fizz. She gave me a bunch of ideas and I sort of mixed a couple of them together and now ta-da! You have an update that's actually decent (unlike the last one)! So enjoy! And thanks again to I-fizz.
He was chasing her. She ran as fast as she could, but it didn't seem to be fast enough It didn't matter if her legs took her miles away, he was always right behind her. Her heart was racing as his breath hit the back of her neck. His arm jutted out, he'd caught her. She tried to scream, but nothing came out with the exception of a whimper. A little pitiful sound as she was forcefully turned around to face the monster. Her eyes growing wide at the maniacal look in his brown orbs. She could smell the alcohol on his breath, mingling with her own.
"Hey Princess." A fist connected with her stomach, forcing her to double over in pain. She gasped for air as a foot landed in her stomach. Over and over again. The actions never seeming to cease. Her breathing became shorter until it was almost non-existent. Blackness clouded her vision as a hand wrapped around her hair, picking her up and dangling her in the air.
"Miss me?" The voice was insane, just as the look in his eyes. She began to slip out of consciousness as her breathing became even sparser.
Gabriella shot up in bed, her hand over her heart, as she willed it to calm down. It wasn't listening. Her breathing was ragged. She closed her eyes for a split second, but the nightmare seemed to come back to life. Her eyes flew open as she looked at the clock. 1:30 am. That was the fourth night in the row.
Realizing that sleep in her own bed was futile, she pushed the covers back and swung her legs over. Walking into the adjacent bathroom she turned the lights on, looking at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes had deep bags from lack of sleep. Sighing she washed her face and brushed her teeth, busing herself in hopes of the distant memory disappearing for a moment.
Five minutes later she was sitting in her bed again. The darkness creeping around her. She let out a small whimper as his face flew back into her mind's eye. Groaning as her eyes shot open yet again she decided that leaving the room was the only option.
Quietly opening the door, she crept down the hall to Troy's bedroom. Opening the door, she could just make out his sleeping figure. He looked so peaceful. Sighing contentedly at the sight, she made her way over to his bed. Lightly pulling the covers back, she slid into bed with him.
Troy immediately adjusted his position to accompany her added weight to the bed. She snuggled deep into his chest as his arm slung lazily over her torso, bringing her closer to him. He placed a lingering kiss to her bare shoulder. Gabriella let out another small sigh as she shoved her head into his chest. Breathing in his delicious scent, she hoped to block out the now distant memories of the nightmare, ready for a decent night's sleep.
Jack woke up to the sound of water running. He looked over at his wife. She was peacefully sleeping, her arm over his stomach. He smiled as he gently rolled her over to "her side" of the bed. Getting up, he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes to see what was going on. He opened the door just in time to see Gabriella opening her room door.
He was going to make his presence known when he saw the terrified and determined look in her mocha eyes. He watched as she quietly opened the door to Troy's room, stopping to stare into the room for a minute. As she entered the room, Jack made his way slowly down the long hallway and watched from the opened door as Gabriella slid gently into the bed. He smiled as Troy shifted to allow her to bury herself deep into his toned chest. Nodding his head, Jack quietly closed the door to Troy's room and made his way back to his own room.
Sliding back into bed he chuckled silently as Lucille immediately shifted back over to him, digging her petite body into his side. Yes, boundaries and his and hers sides in a bed never did exist.
Troy woke the next morning to a gentle even breathing on his chest. He opened his eyes and smiled down at Gabriella's sleeping figure. He vaguely remembered her joining her in his bed the previous night, but couldn't remember when it happened. It had to be around 1 or 2 though.
Troy shifted slightly, preparing to wake her. She snuggled deeper into his chest. Her face screwed up slightly as she felt him shift more. Chuckling, Troy leaned down, "Baby, we've got to get up." She groaned "Time for school…"
She shook her head, "No, bed, all day, bed and sleep."
Troy laughed, "You get to see Shar?" It was more of a question. She sighed and rolled over. Sitting up she lightly rubbed her eyes.
"Fine only for you and Pay though."
"I'll be sure to tell Chad you feel that way." Troy leaned over and kissed her nose. She giggled a little and yawned. Stretching, she got up and made her way out of bed and to her own room.
Jack and Lucille were sitting downstairs waiting on Troy and Gabriella to come down for breakfast, "I felt you get up last night." Lucille commented, breaking the silence.
"I heard water running." Jack looked up, "It was Gabi, she went down to Troy's room last night."
"Who went to Troy's room last night?" Troy asked, coming to sit next to him mom.
"Gabi." Jack and Lucille responded together.
Troy nodded, "Yeah I have no idea what time, but she was there when I woke up."
Jack chuckled, "Around 1:30." Troy and Lucille nodded, the discussion ending as Gabi came into the room. A few minutes later the teens were out the door to go to school.
The girls and Ryan quietly watched as the boys held their morning practice. Taylor, Kelsi, Martha, and Ryan were quietly talking as Gabi stared out and into space. Sharpay pretended to be interested in what her friends were saying, but she was really watching Gabi intently.
The boys all cleared out to go shower and change, but Gabi didn't notice, she was too busy thinking about the now reoccurring nightmares about her father and the abuse she was dealing with. When had he become such a monster? Why did he drive her away from her home and out here to Albuquerque? She loved it out here, but still, why did he have to change? She wasn't going to lie, she desperately missed her dad, not the man he had become, but the man he was. She had been a daddy's girl, worshipping the ground he walked on. Now she had nothing. Well that wasn't entirely true, she had her friends, Pay, Troy, the Bolton's, she had so much to be grateful for. But she wanted her dad and her mom back. She sighed, coming out of her thoughts. The boys were re-entering the gym. Standing up she walked down the bleachers and laced her fingers with Troy's.
Leaning into him, she allowed him to silently guide her out of the gym and towards homeroom with Darbus. Gabi was quiet during all of her morning lessons, ready for free period to come. She knew she needed to talk to someone, and that someone was Sharpay. Troy would be way too concerned and he'd lose his focus. He needed to prepare for the game against West. According to Amy, who was now one of her good friends, Alex and the rest of the Knights were logging the man hours to try and beat East High.
Everyone was standing around her locker when she and Troy arrived right before the bell for free period rang, "Hoops?" Chad asked.
Troy nodded, "Definitely we've got to kick it up a notch." Troy commented, scratching the back of his neck.
Taylor rolled her eyes slightly, "Well I've got to study so I'm hitting the library."
"I'll come with. Big history test." Martha commented dryly.
"Well I need to go over this new song, Ryan? Sharpay? Anyone? Please sing for me?" Kelsi looked at all her friends hoping for a positive response.
Sharpay would've usually jumped at the chance to preview a song this early, but instead was carefully watching Gabi's nervous and quiet movements. "Nah, I'm gonna watch the boys today." She casually responded.
"Ryan…" Kelsi drug his named out, "Pretty please with a billion cherries on top?" She pouted a little, the gang laughed lightly.
"Sure Kels. Let's go." Ryan agreed. Everyone nodded and began heading off in their respective directions.
Sharpay and Gabriella were quietly sitting on the bleachers, watching as the guys practiced intensely. "Pay can we talk?" Gabi asked, turning towards her best friend.
Sharpay nodded and stood, holding her hand out, Gabi gladly took it and linked arms with her, the two girls walked out of the gym, trying to go unnoticed by the guys.
"Captain?" Zeke caught Troy's attention. "What's going on with Brie?" He jogged over to him to whisper the question.
Troy frowned slightly, "I have no idea, I'll tell you what I do know later." Zeke nodded and Troy motioned for the game to continue.
"What's up Boo?" Sharpay asked, sitting down on the ground next to their lockers.
Gabi slid down the wall, brushing a stray tear off of her cheek. "They're back." She whispered.
"Who?" Sharpay asked, gently rubbing her arm.
"The nightmares." Gabi whispered again.
"About your dad?"
"Yeah, he keeps chasing me and every time, no matter how fast I run, he catches me and beats me. Just like he used to do before he went to prison." Gabi put her head in her hands, trying to shake the feeling. "I miss him. The man he used to be before he became this monster. I miss being a daddy's girl. I miss my momma. I just miss it all." She whispered, leaning her head on Sharpay's shoulder. "What did I do to make him change so much?"
"Boo, you didn't do anything." Sharpay consoled her best friend, "Don't ever think it was your fault." Sharpay smiled a little, "Just think about all the good things you've got now though."
Gabi smiled as she thought of Troy, "I guess you're right, just please don't tell Troy." Sharpay frowned, "I'll tell him after we kick West High's ass, I just don't want him to lose focus. Then we'll lose and things will go topsy turvey here." Sharpay laughed at Gabi's baby voice.
"I promise Boo." The girls giggled. The bell rang and they groaned, "Fuck science." Sharpay moaned.
"Fuck school." Gabi corrected her. Laughing they stood up just as the rest of the group headed over to them.
As they walked off, Meredith came from around the corner with her "friends". "Perfect." She mumbled.
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Credit goes to I-fizz for ideas!!
Mollie XOXO