Hey guys!

READ PLEASE!


I'm in a happy mood today, although I think I screwed up my Math test. So I decided to give you something to read. But before hand:

Please check out the oneshot/songfic "Ain't No Smoke Without Fire", which I've written during my X-Mas holidays and reviews. I need some opinions.
Also please check out the trailer to the story I'm going to write and update when I'm not able to update this story and which is going to be my next big story. It's called "Life's What You Make It" and it's my first real romance story and a Troyella of course. So please read the trailer as well and review, I want four more reviews telling me to continue and I will.

I also want to tell you that it will be more difficult to frequently update this story, 'cause my beta-reader is really busy and I don't want to pressure her and she should take her time to correct my chapters. - So I'm sorry if it takes a bit long. BUT: I have another beta-reader for "Life's What You Make It" and I will try to update this one frequently so you guys have a shortened waiting for this story. (:

I hope you understand that life isn't easy and it's kind of busy at times.

So now to this story, I don't know how many chapters exactly I'm going to write for this story, maybe 6 or even 12...like I said, I don't know. I have many ideas I want to bring in and I have to see then.
And I promise I'll update this story IF:

1.) I get at least 15 reviews on this chapter.
2.) My beta-reader is finished with correcting.

That means even if I get the reviews, I have to wait for the chapter.

So now to the chapter. I'm sorry for this long note but I think I had to write it.

Mitchi

Disclaimer: I don't owe anything but my ideas.

"Hello Troy, I think we have to talk…" I knew this person's voice. I deleted this person's number, thinking that they'd disappear from my life forever, out of sight, and out of mind. Obviously, it hadn't…

Troy

Sarah's voice rang through my head. I was numb and didn't know what to think. I could practically hear the smirk in her voice.

"So, I just wanted to make sure we agree. You won't tell that whore of your mother to do anything against me giving my sweet angels to my family. You know my sister? She lives two blocks from you…. And since I have the right to visit my daughters, maybe I'll come around."

I could still hear the smirk in her voice, and I knew that it didn't mean any good. "I… I," I stuttered, trying to come up with something to say.

"I know you understand, otherwise, I'll make sure later. You tell your mother to stay out of my business and shut up!"

I was about to say something when her shrill voice rang through my ears. "DO YOU GET IT?!"

I closed my mouth and just nodded. Although she couldn't see me nod, she knew. "Good boy…"

She hung up and the phone fell out of my hand. I just sat there, leaning against the bed and tried to breathe. I didn't expect her to call me, not after all that happened, and especially after the police told her to leave me alone. Soon after, my phone vibrated again. With my hands shaking, I picked it up and flipped it open.

The screen read, "One new text message." My eyes narrowed as I pressed "Read." My eyes went wide again.

"Don't think that I won't realize if you tell. Remember…"

I swallowed and let my phone drop onto the carpet. Without thinking, I showered quickly and crawled under the sheets, instantly falling asleep.

The Next Day

I woke up and immediately looked at the clock – it was time to get up and get ready for school. Once I was fully dressed, I turned my cell phone on to see if Gabby had texted me, telling me if she could come over and walk to school with me. Instead, I froze. "Seven new text messages"

I opened them – all of them, save for the last one, were from Sarah:

"Don't you dare."

"Shut up!"

"I know where you are."

The last one was from Gabby:

"Are you okay? Normally, you don't turn your phone off if I'm getting you for school…"

I sighed. No, I wasn't okay with my stepmom blackmailing me so that she'd avoid a harsh punishment. I sighed and texted back:

"I'm okay, I just ran out of battery… see you later."

I got all my school supplies together, put my phone in my pocket, and walked downstairs. Mom was already in the kitchen, preparing breakfast, and Nick was already eating. I greeted them both and sat down, feeling my phone vibrate again. I sighed, pulled it out of my pocket, and quickly read it.

"Keep your mouth shut while you're at school today."

I swallowed again. "Great," I thought, "She can't stop bugging me." I quickly put my phone back in my pocket before Nick could see the message. Mom placed a plate of breakfast in front of me and sat down while I began eating.

"Troy, I've been thinking… and I'm sure I found a solution we could all live with concerning Jack and Sarah's twins." I stopped chewing and looked down. Sarah had told me to shut up and had threatened me. "Should I tell Mom?" I wondered.

"I called Margaret, you remember your dad's sister? They were never close after he had that new girlfriend, but she said she would take the twins… and since she and Sarah don't get along, that Sarah wouldn't have visitation rights."

I nodded slightly. If Sarah or my dad found it, it wouldn't be good.

"You seem so quiet, Troy. Is everything okay?" Mom asked worriedly. I hesitated for a moment and then nodded. She didn't need to know.

"Well, I'll let Mr. Doer know our conclusion soon. Margaret and I plan to tell him this afternoon" She smiled as I stood up and put my plate in the sink. I grabbed my bag and ran to the door, knowing it was Gabby who'd just rung the doorbell.

"Hey," she said. She was about to hug me, but didn't, and instead just looked at me worriedly. Nick understood the look on her face and began walking in front of us. "What's up? Something's bothering you." She placed her hand on my cheek and began caressing it lightly, her eyes intently searching for answers.

I sighed and closed my eyes for a split second before answering. "It's nothing big." I couldn't let her know about the texts from my stepmom… they would stop; surely they'd have to eventually.

She narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure? You know you can tell me anything," she whispered while brushing my hair out of my eyes.

I nodded hesitantly and watched as she removed her hand from my forehead and sighed. "Alright then, let's go to school." She started walking, but I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

"Don't I get a good morning kiss?" I smiled. Gabby gave me a small smile tiptoed toward me, and gently pressed her lips against mine. After I let her pull back, we held hands and began walking towards East High. As soon as we entered the door, I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her close to me, ignoring the stares we received from the rest of the student body. When the bell rang, signaling everyone to go to class, I took Gabby's hand and pulled her close. I needed to tell her.

"Troy? What's up?" she asked. I was about to open my mouth when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I excused myself, got my phone out, and read the one new text message I'd received:

"Don't you dare think that school is a safe place to tell!"

I swallowed. How did Sarah know I was about to tell Gabby? "Troy?" Gabriella laid her hand on my upper arm. "Are you okay?"

I cleared my throat. "Yes…let's – let's get to class." I took her hand and we walked together to Homeroom, managing to sit down without being late. Sadly, I sat in the front of class and Gabby sat in the back, which meant we'd be separated, but luckily, Chad sat directly behind me. Class started, and once again, just like in Math the day before, everyone had their eyes fixed on me, and were ignoring what the teacher was saying. Once again, I tried ignoring the comments and little paper sheets that were thrown on my desk once or twice. Fortunately, school was better than yesterday, because Mr. Matsui didn't show up. I still remembered the advice he gave me, which was to tell the entire student body as soon as possible about my predicament. I'd thought about it all night, but didn't think I could go through with it after Sarah's text messages, but I knew I needed to do so. No one would have to know everything right away – I could tell everyone in small steps what had happened. I chose to start with the basketball team, since I wanted to keep playing.

But who would I tell next after I told the team? I had no idea how I'd go on, but I had to figure out something soon. As I was contemplating this, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.

"Keep your mouth shut, like you did until now. Stay sitting in your homeroom seat and shut up."

My heart skipped a beat – how did she know which class I was in? I put my phone back in my pocket quickly and looked up to see Ms. Darbus at the front of the class, going on about the Drama program as usual. She looked at me briefly, and I knew that she noticed that I'd been looking at my phone. She hadn't said anything about it, but I didn't want that extra treatment just because of what I'd been through.

Gabriella

Lunch

The entire morning, I watched Troy reading text messages on his phone with a frightened, paranoid expression on his face. I didn't know who texted him, but I knew it couldn't be his dad because he was already in jail. There was no way it could be Sarah, either – what would she want of him? The babies were going to be placed for adoption or placed in custody with someone Sarah didn't know. The only other thing I noticed was that Troy ate his lunch as usual, but instead of eating food that would help him gain weight, he ate an apple and noodles, even giving his chocolate cake to me even though I didn't ask for it. Something was up and I was determined to ask him after school while we walked home. Then, Chad came to our table and sat down next to Troy, sliding his piece of chocolate cake onto my tray and immediately beginning a conversation with Troy that didn't involve me.

"What's going on?" I asked the two of them.

Troy didn't say anything and got his phone out again, his eyes widening. He put it back in his pocket hastily, thinking that I wouldn't notice.

"Gabs, it's not that we don't like it, but we can't eat it while we're trying to get in shape for the games," he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Troy has to gain weight first," I said sternly.

"I already gained like nine pounds," he mumbled as he finished off the last of his noodles.

I rolled my eyes. True, nine pounds was a huge improvement for Troy, but he still looked rather thin. I rolled my eyes and said, "Troy, you're not going to practice this soon, are you?"

"Well, actually… I – I figured that I'll start soon," he said. When he saw me glaring at him, he immediately added, "But I won't be practicing as much and I won't push myself too far." We exchanged smiles – Troy was just too cute to say no.

Troy

Later

After school had finally ended, along with a whole slew of text messages from Sarah threatening me, I was glad to be home, having survived another day of constant glares and stupid comments, which came mostly from the football team. Gabby had come with me straight after school and was staying until the evening, just to hang out. I stood outside the house on the basketball court, practicing free throws and jump shots while Gabby sat in a chair on the veranda watching me, fortunately, not looking too worried.

I stopped when I heard my cell phone vibrating and beeping. It was lying on the table next to Gabby and she just looked at me, expecting me to come over and read the message. I was too lazy to get my cell phone, and wanted to stay on the basketball court practicing, so I scored another basket and told Gabriella to read the new text message out loud.

Gabriella

I flipped Troy's cell phone open and pressed the "read" button. When the text message flashed on the screen, I started reading it quietly to myself before I planned on reading it out aloud for Troy to hear it as well. My eyes scanned the message and I gasped.

"I'm glad to hear you didn't tell by now and I know it'll stay that way. You know what'll happen if you disobey."

My eyes wandered over to where it listed the person who sent the message. I narrowed my eyes, anger flashing through them – it was Sarah!

"TROY! I shouted. He turned around, a smile playing on his lips.

"Yes?" He asked. His smile fell when I raised my arm and showed him the text message. He narrowed his eyes and walked closer – once he was able to read the message, his eyes went wide and he swallowed.

"How long has this been going on?" I demanded.

Troy dropped the basketball he'd been holding and gulped.

That's it for now.

Like I said I want 15 reviews and when I get the chapter and have that amount of reviews, I'll update.

Mitchi