"What?" Troy asked, hurriedly. "What happened?"

"Troy…" Gabriella replied.

"What is it?" Troy asked, following her gaze.

"I saw someone out there."

"Gabby, I told you. No one's here. I booked the gazebo all night." Troy told her.

"No! Troy, you don't understand! I saw it with my own eyes!" She said, in hysterics.

"Shh, sweetie. I promise you. Let's go, okay?" Troy said, picking up the picnic basket and the now folded up blanket. Then, he kneeled down and allowed Gabriella to climb onto his back.

"You okay up there?" Troy asked, looking up.

"Yeah…" Gabriella said, clinging to him tightly.

"Hold on," Troy said, and with that, he began to run as fast as his legs would carry him. THWACK!!

"Troy, what was that?!" Gabriella squeaked.

"I just probably stepped on a twig." Troy replied.

"Are you sure?" Gabriella asked, looking around wildly. Click. Click. "Troy, stop walking." Troy did as she said.

"What?" He asked.

"Shh," she hushed him. Click. Click. "I hear someone walking."

"Me too," Troy whispered, holding tighter onto Gabriella's legs. She whimpered.

"I'm so scared, Troy." Gabriella said in a small voice.

"I know, baby girl, I know," Troy said, gripping onto her.

"Don't let me go," Gabriella whispered.

"I won't," he promised, running again. She held on as tight as she could and the footsteps got louder and faster.

"Run, Troy!" She encouraged him. Finally, he got to the truck. He opened his side and allowed Gabriella to get in first. Then, he followed. He quickly started the engine and backed out as fast as he could.

"It's okay, 'Brie," he promised. "You can open your eyes now." He placed his hand on her thigh. "It's just me and you, now."

"Troy," she whimpered.

"It's okay." Troy cooed, rubbing her leg.

"Are we going to back to yours?" Gabriella asked, looking up, her eyes filled with tears.

"Do you want to go back to Taylor's?"

"No, I want to be with you."

"But my parents aren't home. I don't know if that's the safest place to be…"

"Okay, let's both go back to Taylor's. We're both sure there was someone following us back there, right?"

"Yes," Troy nodded, not taking his eyes off the road. He was sure he was speeding, but he had to get Gabriella out of there. "Do you really think that was your dad?"

"Almost positive…Just…The way he always looked at me. Like I was a piece of meat or something…"

"Did he ever…do anything to you? Like, besides the abuse?" Troy asked, uneasily.

Gabriella shifted uncomfortably. "I wouldn't know. I'm just a home school girl. That's what he used to tell me."

"Did he…ever touch you…inappropriately?" Troy tried. "Like somewhere you didn't like?"

Gabriella's throat got dry. Her eyes blurred from tears as she nodded slowly.

"Where?" Troy choked out, watching her intently, glancing at the road every once in a while.

Gabriella shook her head. "I don't…" She bit her lip, so hard that she tasted blood. She took one of his hands from the steering wheel and placed it over the area where her father had touched her. "Right there." She whimpered, looking away.

Troy pulled his hand away. "Oh, 'Brie, I'm so sorry. He better not let me ever get my hands on him!"

"Troy…" Gabriella whispered, tears flowing down her face.

"What?" He asked, softly.

"One night, he was really drunk…"

"No," Troy shook his head, knowing what she was getting at. "He didn't!"

"He did." Gabriella hung her head. "It was my fault."

"He…r-raped you?" Troy asked.

"No." Gabriella shook her head, furiously. "He was close, but my auntie came over."

"I'm sorry, sweetie," Troy whispered, wrapping one arm around her and pulling her close.

"My dad! My very own dad!"

"I know, baby," Troy whispered, kissing her forehead and turning back to the road. Then, he pulled into the McKessie's driveway. "Ready to get out?" Gabriella nodded, weakly.

Troy jumped out of his side and carried Gabriella bridal style up to the McKessie's door. He knocked softly. Taylor opened the door. "Hey, guys, what-?"

Troy pushed past her and went up to Gabriella's room. He layed her down gently on her bed and lay next to her. "Hey, you okay?" He asked. Gabriella shook her head. Troy kissed her hair as her bedroom door opened.

"What happened?" Jessi McKessie asked, walking in with Taylor.

Gabriella looked up at Troy. "Her dad…" Troy said. "We're pretty sure he's…"

"He's what?" Taylor asked.

"Here." Gabriella replied, looking at Taylor and Jessi.

"Do you mind if I stay here?" Troy asked. Jessi gave him a stern look.

"Please, Jess, I need him to be with me," Gabriella pleaded, clinging to Troy.

"Mom," Taylor said, turning to her. "I'll stay in here with them, okay? We'll watch a couple movies and go to sleep. Nothing else."

"Okay," Jessi said.

"Thank you," Troy and Gabriella said, in unison. Jessi nodded toward them and shut the door.

"What do you guys want to watch?" Taylor asked. Troy shrugged.

"It's up to you and Gabby," he said.

"Olay, Gabs, what do you wanna watch?" Taylor asked, looking at Gabriella.

"I don't care…how about Twilight?" Gabriella suggested.

"Oh em gee, yes!! Edward's jus a sexy beast!!" Taylor squealed, jumping up and down. Troy rolled his eyes. "Do you guys mind if Chad comes over?" Both shook their heads.

"Knock, knock!"

"AAH!" Gabriella shrieked. Everyone's head snapped toward the door. Taylor marched over to the balcony and yanked the glass door open.

"Chad! Why didn't you use the front door?" Taylor demanded. "You scared the shit out of me!"

"Sorry," Chad chuckled. "Well, you said you guys were all in Gabs room, so…"

"We're watching Twilight," Taylor said, as she put it in the DVD player. Chad groaned.