Okay guys I'm back with a new chapter. I apologise for not uploading in over a month but I had a ton of work to do and all my deadlines were april/may but now thats out the way I can concentrate on my stories again. I hope you enjoy the chapter and please review...I'd be eternally greatful for some more reviews and I'm always open to new ideas. Thanks for reading :) AnythingButOrdinaryGirl x

Harsh Realities

Previously:

When the whole school found out at least they could shrug disapproval off as they meant nothing to them but their friends were their life and they so desperately wanted their support and help through the coming months and eventually the coming years, were they would want them as Aunts and Uncles to their child. They were terrified of disapproval, judgement, harshness but most of all they were afraid that the coming Monday would hold rejection from their friends.

Chapter Five – Friends

Monday morning had arrived once again in New Mexico as the sun shone brightly in the early morning sky. Gabriella was standing in front of the mirror looking at her slender figure which held no trace of the changes happening inside of her – it held no trace of her pregnancy. It was funny she thought, so much was happening inside her right now – a baby was starting to grow and develop yet no one would be able to tell. She gently pressed her small hands to her stomach where her baby was currently positioned and smiled slightly, she and Troy's little miracle would be well cared for and she already loved him/her more than she could have ever thought. The family were adjusting to the news too now and although they would have been happier if they had waited several years, there was nothing that could be done to change what had happened and they chose to be excited about the prospect of a grandchild. Gabriella's mind turned to school and knew that sooner or later people were going to find out and she didn't want to imagine what they would say about her or think about her at least. She frowned at this thought and her heart raced as she remembered that today they would tell their friends.

As Troy made his way over to his girlfriend's house he thought about what today would hold for the pair and how they would tell their friends. They had a great group friends and he was pretty sure they would support them in any way they could but still there was a niggling doubt that they would be disappointed with them or shun them. Still all that mattered right now was Gabriella and their baby and keeping them safe for now and forever.

Arriving at the Montez household he let himself in as usual. "Ella, I'm here. You ready to go yet?" He shouted out.

Smiling at her boyfriend's voice she grabbed her school bag before replying "Yeah I'm ready, I'll be down in a second"

Realising she was upstairs and hearing footsteps descending the steps he made his way to the bottom of the wooden stairs to wait for the beautiful Latina.

Greeting one another with a sweet kiss the pair smiled broadly at each other before locking hands and making their way out to the car. The drive to school started off quietly as the pair were lost in their own thoughts but seeing the worried look on the love of his young life's face, Troy broke silence.

"Baby you know it's going to be okay today right?" He queried with a worried tone.

She sighed "I don't know Troy. We have good friends but what if they can't accept our situation? What if they don't want to be friends anymore?"

Troy watched his girlfriend as she fought with her emotions; she looked so vulnerable and young at that moment, like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. Neither of them should have to feel like this, if their friends didn't accept them then they weren't really their friends he concluded as he thought about the situation. The same thing could have happened to anyone.

"Ella it's all going to work out fine in the end; the guys will accept it or they're not really our friends" Troy spoke softly as he grabbed his girlfriends hand and stroked it softly.

Gabriella simply nodded and turned her attention back to the passing scenery as they continued their drive to school. Troy was right and she knew it but still it would hurt if her friends didn't support them because they were so close. Their friend's parents were already informed of the situation thanks to their own parents but they had left it up to them to tell their friends.

Arriving at school the duo walked hand in hand across the parking lot and towards the red doors of East High which had never looked more frightening than they did right now. Inside there, behind them red doors their friends were waiting for them by their lockers and the future of their friendship was about to be determined. Gabriella felt faint and stopped abruptly as the doors loomed closer into view.

Troy was concerned, Gabriella didn't look too good. "Ella, what's wrong?" His voice was laced with panic as he looked at his girlfriend's face which had turned as white as a sheet.

"I can't do it Troy; I can't go in there and tell them. They're going to hate me" Her voice trembled slightly as she took a deep breath trying to compose the swell of emotions battling inside her young body.

"Ella we have to tell them they need to know before everyone finds out. We're in this together and no matter what happens - you still have me; I'm never going to leave you Ella, never"

Taking another deep breath Gabriella nodded mutely and they resumed their journey into the school their hands entwined tightly as they sought support and comfort from each other. Their friends came in to view quickly; they were in the quiet hallway laughing and joking about something or other and completely oblivious to their friends troubles.

"Oh here come the lovebirds as loved up as ever" A bushy haired Chad said jokingly with a roll of the eyes.

The group of friends laughed lightly as they greeted their friends and favourite couple.

"Um hey guys" Gabriella offered hesitantly.

"Hey guys" Troy said as he looked at his friends nervously.

Sharpay watched the pair closely and knew something was going on instantly. "Okay guys what's up? You look kind of shifty and Troy looks nervous"

Troy and Gabriella looked at each other and nodded their heads slightly, silently agreeing it was time to tell them.

"We need to tell you guys something but can we go somewhere a little quieter?"

The friends looked on confused and puzzled as to what was going on but silently followed Troy and Gabriella to the rooftop garden which was usually restricted to use by Gabriella and Troy. Approaching the lone bench, Troy and Gabriella sat down and looked up at their awaiting friends who were standing expectantly in front of them, all of them curious to know what was so bad that they were using the secret garden.

Troy started. "We have something we need to tell you guys. You have to understand that we're telling you not only because we have to but because you're our best friends and we trust you" His words came out slowly and carefully as he held on to Gabriella's hand tightly.

"Now I'm worried. What's going on?" Taylor was the first to speak since entering the rooftop and the others nodded slightly agreeing that they too were becoming worried.

"You have to understand this isn't easy for us..." Troy started but was cut off.

"Dude just tell us what's going on already" Chad interrupted ever the blunt one.

"I'm pregnant" Gabriella blurted out suddenly shocking not only their friends but herself and Troy.

As the words spoken reached their friends ears, time froze and mouths dropped open in shock. Gabriella clung onto Troy as she watched the confusion turn to shock on their friend's faces and she prayed that they wouldn't hate her.

"I, um – what?" Sharpay tried to speak.

"You're pregnant? When, how, I mean – what?" Taylor chipped in as the words registered in her mind.

"This is a shock I know, believe me everyone was shocked including ourselves but we need you to understand that although this wasn't planned, it's happening and we've grown to be happy about it" Troy spoke with confidence.

"Wow. I'm definitely shocked but if you're happy about it then I'll support you all the way" Was the reply from Sharpay as she moved to hug Gabriella.

A surge of agreements could be heard by both Taylor and Zeke too as they too moved to congratulate and hug the couple who were feeling slightly relieved. Chad looked on and frowned.

"Dude you didn't even tell your best friend about this before now?" Chad shook his head slightly "You knocked up my little sister and you act as though we should all be happy for you!"

Chad stormed off as he thought about what was happening – how dare they just assume they should all support them. He couldn't actually believe that Troy had been so careless as to end up getting the girl he had thought of as his little sister for so long, pregnant. Then he had left it to tell him until the whole group were together – he hadn't even told him when he found out like best friends were supposed to. To say he was infuriated was putting it lightly as he stormed to the gym and launched the orange ball into the net.

Back on the rooftop the friends were standing shocked at Chad's actions and were staring after him bewildered.

Taylor sighed. "I'll go and talk to him, I think this is hard for him" The dark skinned girl said as she threw a sympathetic smile at Troy and Gabriella.

Gabriella sobbed "I knew this wouldn't end well. He hates us, he hates me"

"No he doesn't Ella, it's me he's mad at not you. He could never hate you, how could he? He loves you like a sister" Troy insisted as he scooped his girlfriend into his arms.

"Chad will come around, you'll see" Zeke offered, always the man with words of wisdom and reason.

Chad threw the ball at the net again with force as he released his anger and Taylor winced slightly at the force in which the ball hit the rim of the net before bouncing off and hitting the hard polished floor.

"Chad, you want to talk about what just happened?" Taylor offered as she picked up the orange ball and threw it back to him.

"Talk about what? How my best knocked up my little sister? Because there's not much to say"

"Chad snap out of it will you. You have no idea how they must be feeling right now – they just found out they're having a baby" She snapped as she listened to his selfishness.

"What about me, huh? I'm supposed to be his best friend and her brother. They didn't even tell me when they found out" He shouted now as his anger rose.

"Enough is enough Chad. I understand Troy is your best friend and Gabriella is like your sister but do you not think they had other things to think about before telling you? They had to tell their parents and figure out what they wanted to do. Their lives don't revolve around you Chad and I know your upset that Troy got Gabriella pregnant but it takes two, it's not just Troy's fault" Taylor said simply before she turned around and headed to class at the sound of the bell.

Chad sighed before throwing the ball into the net one more time and heading to homeroom. He thought about Taylor's words over and over as the morning passed by slowly and concluded that he had acted childish and stupid. Taylor had been right – their friends lives didn't revolve around him and they were about to have a baby – he should be supporting them but he was shocked.

Lunch time finally arrived and for once in his life Chad wasn't hungry; Troy had ignored him in their last two lessons together and it was killing him. He needed to apologise to both him and Gabriella before they hated him completely. Seeing Troy ahead with Gabriella he knew this was his chance and caught them up.

"Can I help you Chad?" Troy said coldly as he looked at his friend.

Chad cringed slightly at the coldness of his friends words. "Look I wanted to apologise for earlier. I'm sorry, really I am. I was so shocked and I guess this was just the one time that I wasn't one of the first to know about something and it was hard you know? I hated that you had got my little sister knocked up too but I realise now that it takes two and that these things can happen to any of us"

Gabriella smiled slightly as she heard the genuineness in Chad's voice and she stepped towards him, placing her hand on his arm. "Chad I'm happy you like to protect me like an older brother but I'm not a little girl anymore and I make my own decisions. I and Troy never meant for this to happen but it did and we needed time for ourselves before we told anyone" She explained quietly as she locked her brown orbs with his.

Chad nodded before turning to Troy "I'm sorry man, really I am. I didn't mean to be so harsh on you two and I'll support you whatever happens if you still want me around" He explained as he looked hopeful at his best friend.

Troy smiled "Of course I still want you around man, our baby needs his uncle Chad after all" He stated as he pulled his best friend in for a man hug.

Gabriella looked on and smiled at the best friends and sighed in relief that her friends had all understood about her and Troy's situation. Knowing she had her friends to get her through the next few months along with Troy and their families was more than enough to reassure her everything would be okay. However for that brief moment the teen forgot that the school would find out about it sooner or later and not everyone would as understanding as she had found her friends to be.

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