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Chapter 24: Thank You

Again I need to thank I-fizz (she's so humble and sweet oh my god she won't take any credit for getting my old wheels turning again!) and zanessafan4life reviewed like every chapter of this story yesterday! When I saw I had like 30 something reviews last night I was like you've got to be kidding me! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed the last chapters (I don't usually do this, but here it goes). Thanks to: Zannesafan4life, I-fizz, hsmhsm, itsi3, kro22, Persephone Lemonade, daddysprincess3488, and everyone else who reviews!!!!!!! Okay, onto the next chapter.

Troy's hands clenched together next to his side. He took a calming breath and repeated the question. "You had a brother?" Everyone was silent. Troy looked like he was about to lose it.

Chad put a hand on Troy's shoulder. "Dude calm down."

Troy shrugged him off. He sighed, running a hand through his hair, "Okay, let's just," he sighed again, something he was doing a lot of lately, "go home." Gabriella was shaking slightly, clearing trying to get her thoughts together. No one was supposed to know about him.

It was another silent car ride. A car ride filled with silent tears from Gabriella. A car ride filled with anger storming through Troy's veins. When they walked into the house they were silent. Jack and Lucy heard the door slam. Jack came in from the study, and Lucy from the living room.

The older couple looked warily at Troy and Gabriella. Gabriella went to head up to her room. At the last second, Troy blocked the staircase, "Move Troy." Gabi's voice was tired.

"No." Troy shook his head, "What's his name?"

Gabriella sighed; she ran a hand through her long ebony curls, "Michael. His name was Michael." Tears began streaming down her face.

"How old was he?" Gabriella hiccupped. Jack and Lucy made a move towards Gabriella. Troy shot them a warning look to back off. They reluctantly obeyed. Troy turned his attention back to back to Gabriella.

She sighed, "Eight." She took a calming breath, "He was eight."

Troy nodded. His face remained emotionless. It was all about the information. "How?" She didn't respond, "Gabriella." His tone was warning, "How?'

Her voice was barely above a whisper, "Cancer." Troy remained strong.

"When." Gabi sighed.

"Four years in April."

Troy nodded, "What's going on?" She opened her mouth to speak. "And don't lie to me." Gabriella's mouth shot closed with a click of her teeth. Troy sighed, "Why the fuck won't you talk to me?"

Gabriella looked away; she sat down against the wall. Her head was resting in her hands. She was battling with her inner-demons again. Troy came to sit beside her. "I want to know Gabriella. No secrets. Ever." He chuckled, "Unless you're planning a wicked cool surprised." He smirked at the look on her face.

She giggled and wiped away a tear. She shook her head, "No surprise."

Troy's face fell in mock depression, "Darn it."

Gabriella giggled again and went to push herself up to go to her room.

Troy grabbed her waist and pulled her onto his lap, "Not quite yet."

Gabriella sighed, "Did you ever think that it might not be quite yet for me?" she screamed.

"I think that you're making life more difficult on yourself." Troy yelled.

"Did you ever think that I'm trying to not hurt you? That I'm trying to make life easier on you all. Did you ever think that I'm attempting to make your life easier because I love you?" Tears cascaded down her face like a waterfall.

"Did you ever think that you're hurting me by not telling me? By not letting me in?" Troy had tears brimming in his own blue orbs, a storm brewing deep inside of him.

Gabriella's mouth hung opened, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Her voice was a whisper. "Talk to me now Gabriella."

She shook her head and bolted up the stairs. Slamming the door to her room, she locked it before sliding down to the ground.

Jack and Lucy came out of their hiding spots, "What in God's name is going on?" Jack asked, confusion lacing through his voice.

Troy shook his head, "No, I don't know what's going on. So don't ask."

He stood up and went to his room. He locked his door and sat on his bed. Everything was a mess. Life was a mess. What was going on? Why was Gabriella so upset?

Gabriella and Troy both didn't come down for dinner. They both stayed locked in their rooms, eventually falling into their own slumbers.

He ran. He ran so fast. So much faster than she did. Running. Running away. She ran away. She tried so hard to get away. But she couldn't. She couldn't escape him. He was just so fast. And so determined. And she was so tired. She just couldn't do it. Her breath was coming in short gasps. She couldn't breath. It was too late.

He caught her. He grabbed her by the waist. She was spun around. And he let loose in fits of rage. She sobbed. The tears wouldn't stop coming and her breath was coming in short gasps that she was choking on through her tears.

Gabriella shot up in bed. Her heart pounding. Her sobs wracking through her body. Breaths barely there. Grabbing her legs and pulling them up to her chest she began rocking back and forth. Letting the tears run over her face. Her make up streaming everywhere.

Pushing the covers back she unlocked her door and went running down the hall to Troy's room. She tried the door, it was locked. She sobbed and began banging on the door. "Troy…" her voice was so desolate.

Lucy and Jack were out of bed at the sound of feet pounding on the floor. The came out just in time to see and hear Gabriella banging wildly on Troy's door.

The door opened. Troy was in his clothes from earlier, wiping sleep out of his eyes, "El?"

Troy caught her as she sobbed, falling into his arms, her whole body shaking in a terrifying fashion. Troy didn't see his parents watching with concerned faces, all her could see was the sobbing teenage girl in his arms. Picking her up bridal style, he carried her into his room. He sat her on his bed and got between her legs.

"Baby? Baby what happened?" He was running his hands over her body, looking for injuries on her frail body.

"He was chasing me…he caught me…and he…oh God…Troy…it hurt…" she closed her eyes in pain. They flew opened and she lunged at him, "Make him go away. Please Troy, don't let him get me. Please. Don't let him take me." She whimpered.

Troy held her close, "He's not coming. He's never coming back El. He's in jail. I promise. He's never going to hurt you. You're going to stay with me." He whispered in her hair, "Forever and ever and ever."

He felt her nod into his chest. She kissed his shoulder. "Thank you Troy."

Troy nodded and kissed her hair, "This is what's been bothering you." He felt her nod again, "You could've told me earlier baby girl."

She shook her head again, "No, then you would've lost focus and we would've lost to West and the school would hate me." Her sobs had stopped. A weight was lifted from her shoulders. "And you would've dumped me."

Troy laughed, he pulled back. "That is some imagination you've got there." He tapped her nose, "I'm not going anywhere."

"Promise?" Her voice was small.

Troy nodded, "Oh yeah." He leaned in and captured her lips with his own. It was a sweet kiss. The two pulled back and looked at each other. Smiling they leaned their foreheads against each other.

"Thank you Troy." Gabriella's voice was almost child-like.

Troy laid back and brought Gabriella with him, "Thank you for opening up." He kissed her forehead. "And I'll make sure that Kyle doesn't bother you anymore."

Gabi nodded into his chest before drifting off into the first peaceful slumber in a good long while.

I hope this made sense. I wasn't so sure about this chapter. Anyways!

Review!

Mollie XOXO