A/N: Hey, thanks for you reviews! :D I hope you'll find that chapter clearer than the last one, but I warn you about something: it's still confusing :P I hoe you'll forgive me with uploading this new chapter so soon LOL

I would really like to know your opinions; that's my second story and it's very different from my first, so I am not sure about what I am doing or if I am writing it correctly, so a little help here would be amazing :)

Stop with my rambling and here goes chapter 2. Enjoy! :)

"Gabi has told me yesterday you went to her house," Chad asked quietly at Troy while they were in Chad's backyard practicing free rows.

Troy nodded his head but didn't say anything.

"Want to talk about it?" Chad asked softly knowing that, if not about his nightmares, Troy would want to talk with him about Gabriella.

"Not really." Troy shrugged though his eyes darkened. "What has she told you?"

"Nothing." Chad said throwing the ball to the net. "She has only told me you went to her house yesterday."

Troy nodded again. "How is she?"

Chad grabbed the ball and sighed. He knew Gabriella was a soft topic for Troy, and he knew that the game would be forgotten when they began to talk about her, so he let the ball fall and went to sit on the grass. "I think she is okay but…"

Troy picked up his best friend's hesitation at once. "But what?" He asked worriedly.

"What Sharpay said is bothering her Troy." Chad said after a minute or so silent, trying to find the best words to explain him Gabriella's feelings without hurting Troy in the process.

"Fuck," Troy hissed. "I am going to kill her…" Chad remained silent, letting him to get everything out of him. "But Gabriella knows I wouldn't, and won't, do anything with anyone right? I mean, she is sure about me, right?"

"She is sure about you," Chad answered sincerely, "but she is hurting Troy. She has to see how every fucking slut of the school throw herself at you. And…"

"I know," Troy sighed. "But you know why I can't be with her Chad."

Chad sighed again. "Look, I am not judging you, and neither is Gabriella for that matter. But maybe you could cut her some slack; you say you can't be with her but still you run to her every time your nightmares return. Maybe this is getting too big for her…"

Troy lifted his head to lock his eyes with Chad's. He saw he was speaking the truth, and Troy knew it was unfair for Gabriella to run to her every time he had a nightmare but then almost ignore her the rest of the time. But what could he do? Put her in danger? No. He wouldn't do that; he couldn't do that. Chad broke his thoughts. "Troy, Gabriella is not going anywhere; she loves you."

"Don't say that damn it!" Troy's eyes darkened. "She can't love me."

"But she does!" Chad yelled frustrated. "And you love her too, right?"

"Don't you dare to doubt about that!" Troy said standing up. "You know she is my life Chad!"

"And then again, you don't want to love her." Chad stood up too. "Am I wrong?" He threatened.

"No." Troy whispered.

"You can't control who you love Troy;" Chad said with tiredness in his voice. "Look, I know why you keep telling her she can't love you, and she does too, but both know that you are hurting her by trying to protect her because your feelings, hers and yours, are which they are. You both love each other."

"I know." Troy said grabbing his bag. "I am off; Susan is supposed to come over later."

"How are things going with her?" Chad asked walking with him to the front door.

Troy shrugged. "Same old, same old."

"Call me later, ok?" Chad asked when they were in front of Troy's car.

Troy nodded, got inside his car and then he was gone while Chad went inside his house.

Chad understood Troy, he really did, but he knew his best friend's behaviour was unfair for Gabriella. Gabriella was one of the sweetest girls he knew, and even then he had to see how Troy was hurting her trying to protect her. He understood from where Troy was coming from, but things were getting out of hand. Troy had had a very hard life; he had been living drama after drama, and though he wasn't the one to blame, Troy blamed himself for everything had happened in his life. Chad knew that, until Troy realized he wasn't responsible for anything, he wouldn't be able to be happy with Gabriella.

Arriving at his apartment, Troy parked the car and grabbed his bag. He knew Susan would yell at him because of how messy his house was, but he couldn't care less. Letting his body fall on the sofa, Troy thought about Gabriella's face when Sharpay had spoken to him. A low hiss escaped from his mouth when he remembered the watery sheet he saw in her eyes; the girls had nothing to do with Gabriella. She would be always his one; she would always be the one. The rest of the female population of the world could die and he wouldn't think twice about it. He had already lost two of the three more important women in his life; Gabriella was the only one who remained with him, and that would continue like that.

Gabriella. He knew she was hurting, he was well aware of that, but he couldn't do anything. He needed her alive and his only worry was to keep her safe from everything he thought he was.

Looking at his watch he sighed. Susan would be there at any time now, and he knew he had to tidy his apartment. That was another thing that annoy him; why she still had to be in his life even when he wanted for her to be in the other side of the world? He understood her presence when he was younger, but now? He was almost an adult, for God's sake! Groaning, he stood up and tried to clean a little the living room. She would have to live with that, and if not, that was her problem.

Sure, less than thirty minutes later the doorbell rang. He went to the door and pulled it open, finding the woman who for him seemed to live to make his life more miserable than it already was. "Troy," she greeted him softly. "How are you?"

"Good." He answered in an unfriendly voice.

Susan sighed. When the Social Services assigned her his case, he didn't think for a moment that Troy would be so difficult. She was aware that everything was a façade, but still it hurt her that he couldn't trust her with his problems. He never called her; she was the one who had to go to his house from time to time to see him and she was the one who had to call him to know how things went.

She had been her social agent for 2 years now, and still their relationship was cold. At first, when she was only his therapist things were easier between them, but since two years ago, when she began to be his social agent everything changed. She had tried multiple times to bond with him again, but he was stubborn.

However, she was stubborn to, and she wouldn't give him up; she cared for him, and she hoped that one day he would find the one who would hold his hand and would help him to escape from his past. He had never accepted what happened a few years ago, and that would remain like that if he didn't make an effort to get over it.

"How is school going?" The woman in her mid thirties asked sweetly sitting on the sofa.

"Good." He answered in a flat tone.

Susan groaned inwardly; he always answered her with one single word. "And what about basketball?"

"Good."

"Have you gone to the bank yet?" She asked knowing he wouldn't give her more answers about his personal life.

Troy nodded. "Mr. Cheemy has told me he has to talk with you."

"I know," the agent said quietly. "He has called me this morning."

"What did he want?" Troy asked sitting in the other sofa.

Susan looked at him. "Nothing special;" she shrugged. "He only wanted to tell me the state of your account and stuff like that."

"But I haven't done any scandalous movement!" Troy snapped. He really was fed up of all those babysitters.

"I know Troy, calm down." Susan said reaching her hand to touch him but stooping it in the air. "He has told me you are being very responsible with your family's money."

Troy nodded his head. "But I need money now, more money than the amount you allow me to use in a month."

Susan's eyes bulged. "What? And why do you need so much money?"

"Personal reasons." Troy answered. "I need the money and the money is mine, so you need to sign one of those damn papers."

"Troy," Susan said tiredly, "you know I won't sign anything if you don't tell me why and for what you need the money."

"Fuck Susan!" Troy shouted suddenly mad. "I say I need the money damn it!"

"Tell me why." She answered calmly. She was used to his outbursts and so she knew the quicker way to calm him was to act nonchalantly.

Groaning, Troy spoke. "Ok, I'll tell you. But I don't want questions, ok?"

"Ok." Susan said trying to understand why a young adult of 18 years old wanted more than $1000 at once.

"I need to buy something in a store and so I need the money to pay for it." Troy said flatly. "Now will you sign the damn paper?"

"What kind of store?" Susan narrowed her eyes. "And why you have to spend so much money in that store?"

"Please Susan," his aggressiveness gone. "Trust me just this once…"

"Troy," she said, "I trust you, but you know I have to follow the rules…"

"But I don't know what to buy yet! I only know I need to buy something…" Troy begged. "Please Susan…"

"What do you mean you don't know what do you have to buy yet?" Susan said confusedly. "That doesn't make sense…"

Susan was surprised; she had seen Troy mad, furious, frustrated, angry…but to see Troy Bolton pleading and begging her was something new. She was used to his rage, but not to his soft side. She knew that side existed, of course, but she also knew he always hided it at all cost. He didn't allow no one to see this side, and to see him so…desperate, was something shocking.

"Well," Troy began hesitantly, "I need to buy something very important, it's crucial. But I don't know what to buy yet…"

Susan remained silent thinking about what she was seeing and about what he was saying. "Why don't you know what you want to buy yet?"

"Because I know what I have to buy once I see it." Troy answered in a defeated voice. "Please Susan; you know I never ask anything, but this time it's important, please…"

Susan didn't know what to do. She could see that whatever he needed to buy was very important for Troy, important enough so he didn't mind for her to see this side of him, but then again, she was his social agent; she was the one who controlled his money, and he was talking about a huge amount of money. Another path of thought broke inside of her; maybe she could help him to find the perfect thing he wanted to buy, and if she was with him, she would be sure about where had gone the money, what amount of money they were talking about…and maybe he could use her help to choose the perfect thing.

"Troy," she cleared her throat and Troy lifted his head to look at her with begging eyes, "what would you say if I give you green light with only one condition?"

"Anything." Troy answered without thinking.

Susan nodded. "Ok, you know we are talking about a huge amount of money, right?"

"I know," Troy answered without any kind of rudeness in his voice.

"And though we both know money is not an issue here, you know I have to control what you do with your money until you are 21." Susan said hesitantly.

Troy nodded this time. "Ok. We are both in the same page then…"

"Susan please," Troy said, "tell me your condition."

"I am going with you to buy that thing." Susan said in a rushed way. "So this way I'll know in what you've spent the money, we avoid the bank here and, maybe, I can help you choose whatever you want to buy."

Troy was there dumbfounded, but then what she said clicked in his brain. "No way!" He yelled. "You are not coming, I am going alone."

"Then you are not allowed to use the money," Susan said angry this time. "I am offering you the easiest way out; you don't want it, fine. I'll see you next week. Bye."

Troy growled. "Susan wait!" He grabbed her arm. "Please Susan, that's really important…"

"No Troy," the agent said. "I am always putting up with your tantrums, with your yells, with your angriness. I've tried to make your life easier, but you always push me away, so sorry, but that's it. I don't have to hear and see your disrespect towards me. I'll see you next week."

Susan turned around to open the door but Troy's hand stopped her. "If I tell you why I need the money will you forget the idea of to come with me?"

Smirking inwardly, Susan turned around still with a cold face. "That depends."

"Fuck Susan," Troy whined but stopped when she slapped his arm. "Ouch! What was that for?"

"Language." She said. She knew him better than he thought, and her degree in physiology helped, of course.

Troy glared at her and she kept her eyes locked with his, defiantly. In the end, Troy was the one who pulled away. "Ok sorry."

"Troy, speak now or I am gone." Susan said inspecting her nails.

He glared at her narrowing his eyes. "You are diabolical…" He muttered.

"Thank you," Susan told him with a smile. "Now talk."

Troy didn't answer her but went to the living room again and sat on the sofa, where he closed his eyes and rested his head in his hands. "I need to buy something for Gabriella." He said in a low voice.

Gabriella. Susan remembered one Gabriella; at first, when she and Troy had a weekly talk when she was only his psychologist and not his social agent, he sometimes talked about a Gabriella. She had realized at that time that this girl had a special place on his heart; his eyes, usually cold turned soft; and he even had smiled in front of her speaking her name.

She only knew Gabriella was one of his longer friends. Troy's grandmother had told her Troy and Gabriella always had been together; their bond was special, and during Troy's grandmother funeral she remained behind to look for Troy.

He had been silent during all the service; he hadn't talked with anyone; he hadn't returned any hug. He only stood there, as if anything happened that day mattered to him. However, one little girl stood behind too. She saw the girl to walk towards him and put him in a tight embrace without a word. Though she thought he would shake the girl off, the truth was that not only Troy hugged her with all his might but he broke in sobs when both bodies touched.

She had been clearly shocked about that; she had never seen him to show any kind of affection but towards his grandmother, and to see him broken in the girl's arms, was something totally unexpected. She remembered she talked with the Danforth's that day; she knew for a fact Chad was like the brother Troy lost a few years ago, and so she supposed they would know who the girl was. Gabriella Montez, they had told her.

"Oh, I see." Susan said. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"No!" Troy yelled madly. "She is not my girlfriend!"

Susan's eyes were wide. She couldn't understand his reaction, and she guessed there was much more than she thought between them. However, in order to be able to speak with Troy, in order to be closer to him, she knew she had to put herself at his level. "Ok, there is no need to yell. I've told you that before, but I don't mind to repeat it for you seeing you are quite obtuse today. If you disrespect me, I am gone. Got it?"

Troy nodded in a defeated way. "Good. Ok, now you want to buy something which costs more than $1000 for Gabriella but she is not your girlfriend. Am I right?"

Troy nodded again. "Ok, when do you want to go and buy it?"

Her tone was crisping his nerves; he couldn't stand people patronizing him, and that was what Susan was doing now. Narrowing his eyes, he looked at her…but she keep her eyes locked with his again, defiantly, and he was the first to pull away. "What about now?"

"Now it's late." She answered him giving him a sympathetic smile. She could see it was really important for him if he was agreeing with everything she was saying. "We have to find the perfect thing, so what about tomorrow afternoon? Say after school? We'll still have 6 hours to find whatever you decide…"

Troy was shocked. She was okay with spend a whole afternoon with him? After his behaviour and his outbursts she was still there, trying to help him. He couldn't help it, but the corners of his mouth twitched up, touched by her care. Of course he controlled his mouth fast, and he hoped she hadn't seen him, but Susan saw him, though didn't say anything and acted as if nothing. "That's good."

"Ok then," Susan said, "I'll be here at four."

"Can we meet in the mall?" Troy asked in a petite voice.

Susan smiled inwardly. She knew they had taken a step approaching positions, and she was ecstatic, but she knew she couldn't show him that, and she also knew she didn't have to push his buttons. "Sure. I'll see you in front of La Bodeguita, ok?"

"Perfect." Troy said nodding. "I'll see you there and, Susan," he added when she had already turned her body towards the door, "thanks."

Though his face was cold again, though his voice was flat again, a new light was shining through his eyes, and she was happy enough with that. "No problem Troy." She smiled sweetly leaning up to kiss his cheek.

Troy didn't say nor do anything more.

And that had been a first time for both.

Gabriella was at her house doing homework when the phone of her house rang. "Hello?"

"Hey girl!" Taylor exclaimed happily. "What are you doing?"

"Math homework." Gabriella answered throwing her pencil away. "Have you finished it?"

"Yeah," the girl answered. "I have a date with Chad tonight, and so I won't have time later…"

"Oh it's true!" Gabriella giggled. "Chad has told me where you're going." She teased.

"And why can't I know it?" Taylor whined making Gabi laugh. "He only has told me to wear the red dress…"

"You'll look amazing!" Gabriella squealed. "You are going to explain me everything tomorrow!"

"Sure, sure…" Taylor said nonchalantly knowing that she would explain everything to Gabriella tomorrow but that tonight, when Chad dropped her from the restaurant, she would text Gabriella explaining her some details. "Crap! I still have to shower and he always is complaining about me being unpunctual. See you tomorrow!"

Gabriella laughed again. "Have fun," she chimed. "And good luck!"

Gabriella was still laughing when she pressed the end call button…but her mood changed when her brain registered that her friends were going to a date. She wanted to have a date with Troy so bad, but she knew it was impossible. Not when he was stubborn the way he was about having to protect her.

She understood him, but she couldn't understand his worries. Though Troy thought about himself almost as a killer, none of the deaths he blamed himself for were because of him. But though she had tried to help him see things the way they were, she hadn't been lucky; he hadn't wanted to hear her, and they'd always ended fighting. And she didn't want to fight with him over that.

She hoped that, at some point, Troy would realize about the truth, but until that moment, she would remain beside him in the weird way she was now. She loved him too much to give up on him; she loved him too much to try and forget him even though that was what he wanted. Troy would have to live with her by his side even if he didn't want it.

Sighing and letting her back to fall on the pillows of her bed, she remembered Sharpay's words. She was hurt about that; she knew Troy wouldn't ever do anything with any girl but her, but still. The hottest girls of the school threw themselves at him as if he was God-knows-what. She understood them because Troy was hot; his body was to die for, but she saw more than a good body in him. So she had to see how the girls offered him sex openly and as if it was nothing, and though she wasn't worried about that, that fact hurt her. No one would want to see the love of his or her life assaulted by girls or boys offering their bodies like someone could offer a candy to a little boy.

So there she was, in her huge house, alone. She was always alone; since her mother ran away with her gym trainer, her dad had been busying himself more and more, forgetting he had a daughter in the process. She couldn't remember when had been the last time they had had dinner together, but she was used to that. She had learned to live with that; it was sad, she was aware of it, but what could she do?

If she was having some contact with her mother, though her parents were divorced, it would be different, but it was as if her mother had disappeared from the world. She didn't know anything, and she doubted her father was better informed than her. She hadn't received any call, message, letter…anything. She only had the look her mother gave her when she crossed the doorway to not come back ever; and to tell you the truth, it hadn't been a tender or soft look, quite the opposite. But then again, what could she do?

Standing up from her bed, she put her long black hair in a messy bun and went to the kitchen to prepare herself something easy and quick to eat; her father never ate at home, so she knew she hadn't to worry about him. Making a turkey sandwich, she filled a glass with milk and went to sit in front of the TV, trying to forget her life for a while.

He was screaming for him; he needed him and he didn't was with him. He couldn't find him because everything was dark; he couldn't see two steps in front of him yet he needed to find him before it was too late.

"Mark!" He screamed with agony laced in his voice. "Where are you?"

He began to cry; he was begging for him to find him, but he just couldn't. "Troy!"

"Mark!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. "Keep talking so I know where to find you!"

"It hurts Troy!" He was desperate and his sobs were louder each second by.

Troy couldn't see anything; he didn't know where he was. He couldn't find him. He was loosing him. "Mark, keep talking damn it!" His cold eyes began to drop iced tears, burning his cheeks. "Mark!"

And then, he couldn't hear anything.

"Mark no!"

"Mark!"

Troy awoke from his nightmare screaming. His body was wet of sweat; his heart beat was frenetic, huge tears were falling from his eyes and his chest was panting hard, trying to refill his lungs.

Panic was running through his veins; it was as if Mark was still screaming for him, begging to him to find and help him. Closing his eyes with force, trying to stop the tears, he took a deep breath. He was shivering, partly because of the fear he was having and partly because the cold air of the night was touching his bare and wet skin.

He knew what he needed, but he also knew he couldn't need it. He knew where his remedy was, but yet he couldn't go there again. He couldn't use Gabriella that way…he couldn't make her life miserable too, though she always insisted it was fine with her for him to go there.

Troy was aware that he wouldn't be able to sleep again without check on Gabriella first. The burning sensation which came from his stomach alerted him about that; it was automatic: he wouldn't be in peace until he had seen Gabriella okay with his own eyes.

Putting on a pair of sweats and his sneakers, Troy grabbed his keys and went to his car, driving to Gabriella's house without second thoughts. He would deal later with his own sadness which took everything every time he had to leave her, but first things first, and Gabriella was the only thing that mattered to him.

When he arrived at the Montez's household, he realized that her father's car wasn't parked in the driveway. Narrowing his eyes he couldn't help but curs Peter Montez. How dared he to abandon Gabriella that way? It hadn't been enough for her to live how her mother left her in front of her eyes when she was a kid of four years old?

Turning off the engine, he got out of his car and locked it. He went directly to Gabi's backyard, where he had played a million times when he was a kid, and then he climbed the tree which leaded to Gabriella's room. Landing with a soft thud because of all the times he had done that, he took a moment to observe his love sleeping peacefully with her face shining in the moonlight, giving her a magic aura.

A sudden need to be in contact with her ran through him, and though he wanted to stay away, it was being difficult. However, when he saw Gabriella tossing around and mumbling something incoherently, the pain in his heart increased. She was having a nightmare, and so he knew he had to do something.

He didn't think twice; opening her balcony doors with the key Gabriella and he made years ago, so he could sneak in and out without parent's knowledge about that, he stepped in her room. Her sweet and floral scent, the most amazing smell in the world, was all over the room. He knew her scent would help him later; he had the scent memorized, but still he always tried to make the most of the times he was close with Gabriella.

However, a mumbling girl awoke him from his daydreaming state. Shaking his head, he discarded his sneakers, leaving them forgotten beside the bed and, pulling away the sheets, he slid into the bed behind Gabriella, placing one of his arms around her waist and pulling her body into his. Gabriella mumbled louder this time. "Shhh," Troy whispered kissing her forehead, "it's me baby…"

"Troy?" She asked sleepily.

"Yes baby, it's me…" Troy said kissing her neck this time. "Go to sleep…"

Gabriella's tossing stopped, and her incoherent mumbling too; with him, though unconsciously, she felt safer, she felt securer. She knew he was there and then everything was okay. It was amazing the effect he had on her, but then again, it was also amazing the effect she had on him.

He felt Gabriella pushing her body closer to his and couldn't help but smile. Leaning on his shoulder, he observer her; for him, she was the most magnificent creature without doubts. Everything about her was extraordinarily gorgeous. She was perfect, inside and outside.

With those thoughts in mind, a sudden pain stabbed his heart, but he tried to not think about it. She was there; she was okay, and that was all that mattered. He would deal with the rest tomorrow.

Kissing her temple again, Troy positioned himself to sleep, but Gabriella grabbed his arm. Troy didn't do anything, waiting for her to let him know what she wanted, and when she did, he smiled.

Gabriella intertwined her fingers with his which were flat on her stomach and then lifted her head a little. Troy put his arm where her head had been resting before and kissed her forehead again, and so Gabriella knew her pillow was ready. Lying again, Gabriella searched with her free hand his arm under the pillows, and once she found it, he pulled her body closer to his and embraced his arm, planting a kiss there.

He knew that was their little ritual; Gabriella, though sleepy, would know he was there and she would adjust both bodies until both were comfortable and as much closer as they could.

"I love you baby," Troy whispered tightening his arms around her.

"I love you too, Troy." She whispered in her sleep.

And he allowed himself to be happy just for once, letting sleep overcome him, with the love of his life in his arms.