In tradition of my birthday here's an update. Also in warning the end is total influence from some Zanessa events from last night (;

"He doesn't get it," Gabriella started wiping her eyes as some tears fell. Chad frowned from his spot on the railing of his porch. He had never seen Gabriella cry, well not so openly at least. This was something new for him to see, he realized at this moment that she was figuring out who she was instead of being like her friends.

"Who doesn't get it?"

"My dad," She replied bitterly looking at her hands in frustration. Even expressing her anger for her father is harder than she thought it would be in the beginning.

"Oh," was Chad's soft reply. Gabriella looked over at her friend, her best friend. Chad isn't the one who likes to sit and have heart to hearts with you unless you're talking about the new drafts picks in basketball.

"He doesn't seem to think I'm a…girl. I'm simply the son he'll never have. He doesn't get it."

"Does he know about you and…" Gabriella shook her head softly,

"No he doesn't know about me and Troy, I want to tell him but I just…don't know how." Gabriella said wiping her eyes again since tears wouldn't stop falling.

"Well you are a girl, it's pretty obvious." Chad said giving her a smile.

"I know that, but – Chad will you be honest with me?" Gabriella looked up at Chad with big shinning brown eyes. He nodded giving her his full attention. Drawing a breath Gabriella asked hesitantly.

"I'm – I'm not Scabs anymore, am I?" she whispered as if scared to put the words out in the air. As if saying it and admitting it would make it official. Chad sighed and looked over at the basketball hoop that was over his garage. He thought back to how Gabriella was and how she is now, crying on his porch. But Gabriella hadn't been Scabs for a long time, though he was sure she didn't think he noticed things but he did.

Flashback

"If I had a quarter for every time a girl asked Troy for his number, I'd be a very wealthy man," Zeke said as they all walked towards Chad's house after basketball practice.

"I think we'd all be pretty wealthy." Chad said with a laugh shoving his best friend who was turning red from the attention.

"Crystal isn't my type how many times do I have to say this?" Troy defending looking back at his friends with a still red face.

"Oh sure, little Troyikins doesn't love his little Crystikins." Jason, Zeke and Chad said making kissing noises. Gabriella laughed from behind them catching Troy's attention but he quickly moved his eyes back to his friends.

"You are all assholes." They laughed clearly amused.

"Come on Troy just take the girl to the 8th grade dance." Chad said getting back to the subject at hand.

"That would mean I'd have to call her," Troy said making a face.

"Exactly man, maybe even get some lovin," Jason said with a nudge.

"I don't know, Gabriella is the only girls number I want, and I have it already so…" Troy said awkwardly not looking back at Gabriella though Chad did. Gabriella looked different, her arms were wrapped around her stomach and her face was turning pink. She was trying not to smile. Chad had seen that look a few times before mostly when girls were talking to Troy, but they were girls this is Scabs. Chad looked at Troy who was pushing Jason for something he had said as they turned into Chad's driveway. Looking back at Gabriella he noticed her looking at Troy as if admiring him. Though as quick as the look was there it was gone along with the blush and she looked like Scabs again.

"Yea you're going to need that number to call me everyday to remind me how I beat your butt in basketball." Gabriella said tossing her backpack on the lawn and taking the basketball in Chad's hands and running to make a perfect layup. Chad stood there stunned, but didn't think about it too much before joining in the game.

"You aren't but that's okay, I'll just call you something else."

"No," Gabriella said quickly shaking her head. "You should call me that, it's your name for me."

"No it's my name for the old you." Gabriella looked down defeated playing with her hands. Chad sighed figuring he must have said the wrong thing. "Look, you're changing Gabriella, you're becoming your own and that's a great thing. I think the new you needs a name too." She nodded softly "Until I think of one you'll be Scabs," Gabriella lit up smiling at her best friend.

"How are we going to convince my father of that though?"

"Just talk to him." Sighing Gabriella looked towards the basketball hoop.

"Easier said than done."

"I know Gabriella but if you talk something out with someone, you'll realize that there are two sides to every story."

"Like you and Taylor –"

"Gabriella –"

"No Chad you need to listen to her. She really didn't do anything that was that bad. Really she didn't. She loves you and you know it!" Chad scoffed rolling his eyes.

"She has a fucked up way of showing it."

"Chad don't be a dick,"

"I'm not! She's the one who fucked up," Chad snapped glaring at Gabriella.

"So what we all fuck up! Trust me Taylor loves you with everything she has. She's guarded you know that. She doesn't let people in you know that. She tries not to be attached to people because she knows she wants to go places that none of us are going to be able to follow with. But guess what you are the only exception."

"Oh please,"

"I'm serious! She could find another friend like me and Shar, seriously she can and she will. She'll write on our walls on Facebook every month and say how we need to catch up. But she'll make other friends. She won't find another you. She loves you more than you could possibly know Chad."

"I know that okay,"

"Then why are you being a fucking asshole?" Gabriella demanded glaring at her best friend who seemed to be fighting some inner demons of his own.

"Maybe this is better for us, to just quit now. I mean get used to not being together –"

"You sound like a tard Chad,"

"I'm serious. You don't think I don't think about what it'll be like when Taylor goes to one of those smart ass schools? I think about it every day. I'll miss her every day. I'll think about her every second. I know we're the last people that anyone would put together. But it works, everything that I'm not, she is." Chad looked down with a frown, Gabriella smiled softly.

"Maybe you should tell her that." Gabriella said.

"I don't know if she'll talk to me –"

"She's probably waiting by the phone." Gabriella said honestly, Chad looked over at Gabriella and smiled a chuckle coming from his lips.

"I'll call her later. But Brady said something else when he told me." Gabriella looked away becoming nervous of what was about to be said.

"Oh really?"

"Yea he said your secret was the money shot. What did he mean?" Gabriella bit her lip new tears coming to her eyes. She knew she'd have to address it sometime but never did she want to.

"Uh, the night of the party we were a little out of it. I left my phone on the kitchen counter." Chad frowned in confusion not understanding what his best friend was saying.

"Oooohhhkay," He said waiting for her to continue. She took in a sigh sitting sideways to pull her knees up resting her chin there and wrapping her arms around her legs.

"Brady found it and…told me to come get it the next day." Gabriella said her voice suddenly emotionless and hard.

"I don't understand –"

"It's what was on the phone Chad." Gabriella said tears coming down her cheeks faster than they had earlier. Chad looked down knowing whatever was coming next wasn't something he'd want to hear but she's his best friend, like his sister so he was there for her. He'd beat the living shit out of Brady later. Clearing his throat Chad replied

"What was on the phone exactly?" Gabriella didn't say anything for a while. She turned her head looking out at Chad's lawn and down the street some placing her left cheek on her knees. She didn't want to see his face when she told him. She can imagine it'd be the same as Taylor's.

"There was a picture," She started her voice failing her though she tried to stay strong. "They were from when I was 14…maybe 15. I was watching this show…How to Look Good Naked." Gabriella stopped and laughed bitterly at the memory. "I was getting boobs and my ass was larger than it had been before. And I thought I was hideous and I hated myself, I had no one to talk to or anything. I always felt awkward and didn't want to confess that to Lucille or Shar and Tay. I watched this episode, it was with some girl that I related to and I did like the show and I took a naked pic." Chad's eyes shot at Gabriella as she cried harder though trying to hold it in. "I didn't mean for him to see the pics I mean they were for my own reasons. I never sent them to anyone; Troy doesn't even know they exist. I did it for myself and no one was supposed to see those pictures. They were private." She finished in a whispered trying to catch her breath. Chad hopped off the railing and sat next to Gabriella getting her attention. Chad smiled sadly and opened his arms for her. She let a sob out and fell into his arms helplessly.

"Chad you have to believe me, I wouldn't do something like that for no reason. I mean I was young and stupid I didn't know any better. That picture if he leaks it will be out there forever and – and there would be nothing that I could do about it." Chad rubbed her arm and held her tighter.

"I'll beat his ass before he can even think of doing that." Chad said furious with Brady at the moment. "What's his secret anyway?" Chad asked very curious as to what was such a big deal. Gabriella sighed pulling away and wiping her eyes. Chad looked at her in concern but she shook her head.

"Two wrongs won't make a right. I'm not telling I'm sorry," Gabriella said looking at her hands. Chad looked at her a moment ready to say something but refrained and nodded.

"It's okay I probably wouldn't want to know right now. Wait til I tell Hoops."

"Don't Chad you know how Troy is." Gabriella said a light smile on her face as her tears dried up.

"Exactly why he should know, he won't even let Brady live if he knew –"

"Which is exactly why we won't tell him. I mean what fun would Troy be if he was behind bars?" Gabriella pointed out, Chad thought for a moment before nodding.

"You're right, orange was never his color," Gabriella giggled shaking her head.

"Seriously though, I don't want him to know,"

"Gabriella he's my best friend, he'd kill me after he killed Brady because I knew and didn't tell him."

"I know I just, this isn't one of those things you want to tell your boyfriend. I mean 'Hey babe listen there's this guy and he has a picture of my naked. I know you should be the only one seeing me naked but…oops." Gabriella gave Chad a look that said 'get-real'. Chad chuckled

"I get your point. I'd hate to have that conversation with Taylor." Chad said a smile on his face.

"She's going to be so happy when you call." Gabriella said knowing what he was thinking.

"I know, I am going to be happy when I call too." Chad said lightly. Gabriella wiped her eyes another time just to make sure all of the tears were gone.

"Tell me something," Gabriella said suddenly breaking the comfortable silence that had come over them.

"What?"

"Why is Jason being such a dick around me." Chad laughed instantly looking away with a smile on his face. Gabriella glared at him and punched his arm. "I'm serious I mean come on! He won't even look at me."

"Gabriella you're pretty smart right?" Gabriella looked at Chad with a blank expression not getting what he was saying.

"Uh sure I mean yea, but I don't get – "

"Jason's problem is pretty obvious if you just think about it."

"But Chad –"

"No Gabriella, if it's obvious enough for me to know then I think you should be able to get it." Gabriella frowned shifting position on the bench. Chad looked down at her with a smirk on his face but Gabriella ignored him. Sighing Gabriella leaned her head on his shoulder a sweet smile on her face.

"I am closer to meeting my mom."

"Oh really?"

"Yea I mean not really but we have her name. Taylor's had a lot of free time so she gave it to me."

"Really…what's her name?"

"Amelia Guillermo, but that's all we know." Gabriella said simply with a shrug. Chad nudged her getting her attention.

"That's more than you knew before." Gabriella smiled nodding just as her phone went off. Sighed she moved from Chad who watched her carefully and pulled out her phone.

"It's Troy," She said smiling at Chad who nodded before standing.

"I should go and call Tay anyways." Chad said smiling at Gabriella as she picked up her phone before he stepped back in the house.

"Hey," Gabriella said standing up and heading down the driveway of her best friend's house feeling … better.

"Hey babe, where are you? I just was at your house and your dad said you're out…" Gabriella giggled at the concern in his voice.

"I was at Chad's talking to him about Taylor and himself. Now I'm walking back home." Troy sighed on the other end of the phone and looked out the window of his bedroom and frowned.

"It's pretty dark, I'm coming to get you." Troy said jumping off his bed grabbing his keys and wallet before leaving his room.

"Troy it's not that dark…Chad doesn't live that far –"

"Gabriella by the time you reach Main it'll be pitch dark. You know they don't have street lights out there." Gabriella laughed at his concern but decided to backtrack to Chad's mailbox when she heard Troy's engine start.

"I think that's a bit of sarcasm, the sun has just started setting so it's still pretty light out."

"Gabriella."

"I know," She said with a laugh. "I'll be at the mailbox, so hurry up Bugs." Troy chuckled.

"Okay I will,"

-x-

"Well, well, well look what I found," Gabriella rolled her eyes getting into Troy's truck and closing the door before putting on her seat belt.

"Hardy har harrr," She said with a chuckle.

"Well don't you just look good enough to eat?"

"What's wrong with you?" Gabriella asked laughing clearly amused with Troy's behavior. Troy just smiled looking from the road to her.

"I'm just saying you look especially beautiful today." Gabriella rolled her eyes.

"Have you been eating pink jelly again?" Troy laughed shaking his head.

"No I haven't, but I've missed you, I really have missed you." He said with this twinkle in his eyes. Gabriella looked over at him slowly and smirked shaking her head slowly.

"You have no shame do you?" Gabriella said

"Nah, I don't. So are you going out tonight?"

"No I think I'm staying in, with this guy,"

"Oh really?"

"Yea he's pretty hot," Gabriella said nonchalantly.

"Well let's not keep him waiting."

-x-

Gabriella laid on Troy's bed as she waited for him to come from the kitchen. She pulled her shirt off and walked over to Troy's drawer in her bra and some jeans. She rummaged around until she found one of his white beaters and quickly put it over her head going back to lay on the bed. She cuddled into her pillow thinking over what had happened with her and Chad and simply smiled. He was her best friend no matter what, he had her back.

"Hey you," Troy said walking into the room and kicking the door closed. Gabriella smiled from her positon.

"Hi to you too," Gabriella replied softly.

"My parents just left," Troy said softly going and sitting on the edge of the bed looking down at her. She smiled shyly looking at him with big brown eyes.

"Good, they deserve a night to themselves."

"And so do we." Troy said leaning down ever so slowly. Gabriella tried not to smile as she wrinkled her nose. Troy let their noses touch for a moment before giving her a soft kiss. Nothing too forceful and over-barring just a sweet kiss that said everything he'd ever want to say, but couldn't think of a way to make it sound okay.

Gabriella smiled as they pulled apart. They looked at each other as if looking for some changes to have come. Reaching up Gabriella cupped Troy's face letting his stubble tickle her palms and fingertips giving her a thrill that made her shiver. She looked at his chin and his lips and his nose then his eyes. She kissed him again, this one lasting longer than the last one had but was just as powerful. Troy moaned putting a cage around her with his arms moving further onto the bed.

Straddling her waist Troy's hands moved down to the hem of her shirt and slowly pushed it up. He cupped her waist tracing the curve of her stomach carefully as if molding clay. When he reached her bra he wasted no time reaching back and snapping the hook letting her bra bounce out free. They pulled away for air and Gabriella pulled her top off along with her bra laying back down as Troy cupped her face this time letting his mouth meet hers.

Her hands wandered around getting under his gray tshirt rubbing up against the muscles of his back giving him shivers of pleasure. She pulled the shirt up and they pulled apart as to pull it off fully. Troy looked down at Gabriella's breast and smiled appreciatively before meeting her neck a sudden hunger there. He latched his mouth to her neck in a heartbeat making Gabriella moan in delight as she fought to get his belt buckle undone.

"Fuck it," Troy said jumping from Gabriella leaving her confused. He looking down at her jeans and quickly fiddled with the belt buckle before undoing the button and grabbed the bottom of the jeans and pulled the pants off throwing them to the side. He undid the button on his and let them drop stepping out of them easily as he pulled her underwear down hastily. They made eye contact for a moment before troy pulled down his boxers revealing how hard it was for him to just look at her naked.

He got on top straddling her again though a little lower than before. He kissed her lips, then chin, then throat, then the area in between her breast. While her attention was there his right hand moved down to a certain area of her body and pushed two of his fingers into her swiftly making her gasp in surprise. She cupped his face and moved her hands to run her fingers through his hair.

Troy's lips moved lower soon kissing the area of her pantyline and daringly letting his tongue touch the area.

"Troy," Gabriella said weakly

"Shhh," Troy said pulling his fingers out of her and moving his mouth down. Then Gabriella felt his tongue-

"TROYY!" She screamed in ecstasy

-x-

"You are evil," Gabriella said cuddling into Troy's side trying to stay warm.

"I know but you enjoyed it, we needed it. All of these finals and stuff we needed it." Troy said kissing her head and pulling her closer as he felt her shiver.

"We should do this kind of thing 3 times a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday." Troy chuckled rubbing her arm soothingly.

"Okay babe whatever you say." Troy said with a chuckle as Gabriella yawned at his side.

"I say a lot of things though."

"I know," He replied softly Gabriella tried to keep her eyes open.

"You know my favorite thing to say?"

"No, what?"

"I love you Troy,"

"I love you too Gabriella,"

Zac is a PIMP for if you all didn't know. I mean tipping his GF while she sang Out Tonight total pimp move.
Which is why i had the line in the chapter with Troy asking Gabriella if she's going out tonight? Hehe.

xoxo Zoe