Hey! Another chapter up! I think it's weird and I am not sure about it, but I hope you'll like it anyway :D Tell me your thoughts…if that's not much to ask for! ;)

Here goes chapter 4; enjoy! :)

Since Troy had left Gabriella's house, his brain hadn't stopped to replace the events occurred that night.

He was mad at himself because of a lot of reasons; the main one was that he was the one hurting Gabriella, though he wanted to protect her. He wanted to leave her alone so she could find someone right for her, but he couldn't. The simple thought of not have Gabriella in his life was enough to kill him; he needed her, and he was sure about that. She was his oxygen; she was the reason because of his heart was still beating, she was the reason because of he hadn't ended his own life.

Sighing, he tossed and rolled onto his back. When he arrived at his apartment he had gone directly to bed but he couldn't sleep. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Gabriella's broken face begging him for to not leave her. It had been painful but he knew it was needed; Gabriella deserved much better than him, she deserved to be happy with someone who could love her for real, but still he was the one running to her and making her impossible to forget about him and move on.

If only he could live through a day without her…but no, he was not that strong. He was incapable to do that; he needed at least to see her to see she was fine.

Groaning, he decided to take a shower trying to clear his mind. Letting the hot water to fall over him, he closed his eyes and another memory of that night entered into his mind: Gabriella doubting about his love for her. He had to laugh at that; actually, he probably would doubt about his love for Gabriella too if he wasn't the one loving her because of the way he treated her. But he hoped that Gabriella knew better than that; he hoped Gabriella could see him through all his own messed up self; he needed for Gabriella to know he loved her with all his heart…and he hoped Susan could help him with that.

Stepping out of the shower, he got dressed not paying attention to what he was putting on and he went to the kitchen to grab some breakfast. He had plenty of time until homeroom but still he decided to go to the school. He knew some alone time in the gym would make him some good.

When he arrived to the school, he realized that only a few cars were parked there, and he observed that all of them were in the teacher's parking lot. Locking his car, he went directly to the gym, grabbed a basketball and began to practice by himself trying to ease his sore body and letting the adrenaline to "clean" his fucked brain.

"Beep, beep"

Chad awoke by the sound of his phone alerting him about a new message. Groaning, he searched for the item and grabbed it. Squeezing his eyes shut trying to adjust them to the light which came with the phone, he read the new message.

'Chad I am skipping school. Troy doesn't know and you won't say anything. I'll explain everything later. Gabi xx'

Chad re-read the message; Gabi skipping school? That was so not like her. Instantly, he became worried and his first reaction was to call Troy but then he recalled the message Gabi had just sent him. He didn't know what Gabriella was up to, but if she had told him to not tell Troy, then she knew what she was doing; Gabriella knew better than that with Troy. Chad knew everything she did or said when it came to Troy had one purpose, and he also knew Gabi's intentions always were the best for Troy, so he forgot about Troy and typed an answer.

'Sure, but you are going to explain everything later. You know Troy is going to freak out right? ;) Chad x'

Turning his head to his right, he saw it was almost time for him to wake up so he turned off his alarm clock and went to the bathroom grabbing his clothes for the day. Once he stepped out of the bathroom refreshed, he saw he had one new message. Opening his phone he read it and had to smile.

'I know :D don't worry, I know what I am doing. I'll explain everything later but remember that: I want my Troy back, and I am going to get him ;) Please, don't tell him I am skipping school. If he asks, you don't know anything, ok? Thanks bigbro! xxxxx'

Sighing, Chad went to the kitchen to grab some breakfast before he went to his car and drove to Taylor's house. Once there, he honked and waited for his girlfriend to appear.

"Hey there!" She greeted him stepping into his car and leaning to peck his lips.

"Hey beautiful!" He answered pecking her lips once more. "Look, Gabi is skipping school today, but if Troy asks, we don't know anything, ok?"

"Sure," Taylor said. She had learned to not ask when it came to Troy and Gabi's relationship and so she knew she would do whatever her boyfriend told her to do. "How come she is skipping school though? It's so not like her to do that…"

"I know," Chad answered intertwining his fingers with hers. "But she said she knows what she is doing so I am going to shut up and let her do whatever she wants to do. It has to do with Troy and when it's about him, I trust Gabs 100%."

"So we don't know anything at all about her then?" Taylor asked trying to have the story straight.

Chad nodded. "Exactly."

"No worries," Taylor replied smiling.

After a while they arrived to the school and Chad parked his car beside Troy's. "Is he here already?" Chad asked to no one. "Wow…"

"Well let's go to homeroom," Taylor said grabbing his hand. "We'll see him there…"

Going to the classroom, they encountered with some team mates of the Decathlon Team and so Taylor told Chad to go without her because she needed to discuss something with them; the guy agreed and he went to the classroom, only to find Troy sitting there by himself with his earphones on, avoiding everyone he guessed. Chad sighed and went to his desk and that's when Troy noticed movement beside him and turned his head.

"Hey man!" Chad greeted trying to act nonchalantly. "What's up?"

"Nothing," Troy answered absently. "Trying to avoid the Ice Queen, I don't want to kill her but she is pushing my buttons…" Troy had to stop and took a deep breath trying to not let his angriness got the best of him.

Chad realized about that and knew that had to do with Gabriella. "Calm down man…" He placed one comforting hand on Troy's shoulder and the boy nodded. "She is not worthy and Gabriella knows better than that, ok?"

"You think?" Troy asked bitterly thinking in Gabriella's words that night.

"I know it." Chad said trying to convince him also with his eyes. He couldn't understand why Troy was so bitter that morning but he guessed it had to do with Gabriella having in mind her text. He decided to drop the subject knowing that it would make things worse in the end.

When Mrs. Darbus entered in the classroom, Troy lifted his head from Chad's to look at the door. He saw Taylor entering in the classroom along with her team mates but Gabriella wasn't with them. Thinking that maybe she was late, he shrugged and continued talking with Chad until Mrs. Darbus asked for Gabriella.

"Where's Miss Montez, Miss McKessie?" The teacher asked narrowing her eyes.

Chad turned to look at his girlfriend and hoped she remembered what they had talked in the car. "I don't know Mrs.," Taylor answered innocently. "I haven't spoken with her since yesterday."

Troy couldn't help but worry. He knew he had been the last one to see Gabriella, and he flinched when he remember her state when he left her house. A pain stabbed his heart when he remembered her words, her tears, her shaking body, her blank face…

Groaning inwardly, he hoped he wasn't the reason for Gabriella to not being in the school and that she was only late. However, his instincts kicked in and he knew something wasn't right.

"Oh," the teacher said. "Well okay. As I was saying…"

Mrs. Darbus continued with her lecture while Chad winked at Taylor and gave her a smile, looking at Troy surreptitiously and seeing how his best friend was lost in his thoughts. Chad knew Troy was thinking about Gabriella, and he also knew Troy was worrying about her not being in the school. He wanted to tell him that everything was okay, but he knew he had to trust Gabriella. She knew what she was doing, and he would know later, when Gabriella explained her plans to him.

"Have you talked to her?" Troy's voice cut his thoughts and he turned to look at him.

Chad shook his head. "Why?"

"Because she is not here Chad," Troy growled. "Something is not right…"

Chad flinched at his harsh tone but tried to compose his face before Troy realized. "She is probably late man, don't worry…"

"Whatever," Troy hissed. "Something is not right…"

Chad saw how Troy pulled out his phone hiding it under his desk so Mrs. Darbus couldn't see it and then he saw how Troy closed it madly. Taylor was seeing everything from behind the boys and pulled out her phone to write a text message to Gabriella.

'I am in with Chad. I hope you know what you are doing because Troy is mad right now. He is worried as hell… :S Mwah! T'

Gabriella was cleaning her house when her phone vibrated on her pocket. Grabbing the item, she saw the message Taylor had sent to her and smirked. Stopping for a moment her duties, she answered her friend.

'I've supposed as much. Don't worry, I know what I am doing. I am going to turn off my phone in case he tries to call me or something, but I'll call you back later. Thanks hun! Love G'

Taylor received the message when the ball rang. She wanted to show the message to Chad but she didn't want for Troy to know about the message and so she tried to act nonchalantly. "Chad babe, come here for a minute…"

Chad, who was looking at Troy worriedly, turned his head to his girlfriend. "What?"

She rolled her eyes. "Come here for a minute please…"

Chad nodded. "Troy, are you okay?" He asked concernedly.

"I am going to call her." Troy answered mechanically. "See you later."

With that, he stood up and exited from the classroom not even looking at anyone nor paying attention to anything and Chad went to his girlfriend. "I hope Gabi knows what she is doing. He's going crazy…"

"Look at that," Taylor said giving him her phone with Gabi's message on the screen and waiting for his reaction.

"Woah," Chad said widening his eyes, "she is really serious about that. Troy is going to be angry…"

Taylor nodded. "Hey Chad," she began hesitantly; "do you know what is happening between them?"

Chad knew why she was asking; if he wasn't in he also would be curious about their weird relationship. He even was surprised Taylor hadn't asked anything sooner. "They have a story longer than you can think. I can't explain anything because it's not my place but…well, what they have is special, but some things happened in the past and so they messed up everything between them."

"Oh!" Taylor didn't know what to say after that. She respected Chad when he told her he couldn't explain anything, and though she knew that whatever what was going between Troy and Gabriella was nothing to do with her, she couldn't help but feel curious. "Don't worry, I'll ask Gabriella when I see her…"

Chad nodded grateful for her understanding and, grabbing her hand, he pulled her out of the classroom. "Let's go…"

Troy was walking through the school to his secret place: the rooftop garden. Not one of his friends, but Gabriella, knew about that place and he was thankful for that. There were times when he needed to escape from everything and everyone and so this place was perfect. Gabriella talked him about it when she discovered it; she told him she thought that could be a good place for him to be apart from everyone.

Thinking about Gabriella made him smile a little inwardly; even though Gabriella knew about this place she was never there. She found it and she gave it up so Troy could escape.

He was walking not paying attention to anyone; his brain was hardly registering some people greeting him but he was ignoring everyone because he needed to talk with Gabriella and he couldn't do that with his classmates eavesdropping; he needed privacy and he was going to look for it. However, he stopped when a soft hand grabbed his hand, making him to turn around.

His first thought had been that the hand was one of Gabriella's, but soon he realized the hand which was holding his was too cold to be hers and he pulled away. Glaring, he lifted his head and came face to face with Sharpay.

"Hey Troysie," she said in her nasal voice. "You have free period now, right? Do you want to hang out? I have the key to that janitor's office…"

Her words ended with a wink and, though Sharpay was trying to seduce him, he couldn't help but think that was disgusting. "Leave me alone." He said walking again.

"Oh don't be like that," she pouted pathetically. "When will you realize you and I are meant to be?" She asked as if that was the most obvious thing in the world.

Troy looked at her with a blank face. Meant to be? Yeah right. He was meant to be with Gabriella and Sharpay was not Gabriella, thank God for that. Sighing, Troy ignored Sharpay and continued to the rooftop garden. However, her nasal voice pursued him. "Call me later!" Rolling his eyes, he didn't even acknowledge her.

Arriving at the rooftop garden he pulled his phone out of the back pocket of his jeans and dialled Gabriella's cell…only to reach her phone voice mail.

'Hey leave me a message and I'll call back ASAP. Mwah!'

"Baby it's me. Where are you? I am so worried. Are you not feeling okay? Call me as soon as possible to let me know you are okay please…" Troy said closing his eyes and sighing. "I love you…"

He went to the bench and sat there. He couldn't go back to class now; he was worried as hell and he only wanted to loose himself in Gabriella's arms. He knew it was selfish, but he couldn't help it. He was fed up with being the supposed "God" of the school; he was fed up with his life. Gabriella was the one who was keeping him sane and without her he was lost. Why he couldn't be with her? Maybe they were right and he was a good person, but still…he couldn't put Gabriella through that; the simple thought of something happening to Gabriella was too much for him.

Though Troy wanted nothing more than to be with Gabriella, he knew he couldn't skip class. Susan would make his life a living hell if he skipped without a reason, and he didn't want to give her reasons to be more on him. Standing up, he took a deep breath and went downstairs thinking only about how long would be his day if Gabriella was not in the school.

Gabriella was at her house with her laptop on her lap. Deciding that she needed help to be able to help Troy, she decided to contact with the woman who had been his therapist. Troy would throw a fit if he ever knew about that, but she couldn't care less at the moment. She wanted her Troy back; she wanted for him to be able to be happy, she wanted for him to stop blaming himself for his family's deaths. It was a soft topic for him, she was aware of that, and she also knew that once Troy knew about that, he would be super mad with her, but it was worthy if that meant that Troy could be happy again.

Seeing that the internet wasn't being helpful she decided to call Chad's mother, Diandra. She knew for a fact that she was the closest thing to a mother Troy had, and she also knew Troy had to go once per week to the Danforth's so they could check on him. She didn't know if Diandra would give her the name and the address of Troy's social agent but it was worthy a try.

Dialling her number, she waited for someone to pick up the phone.

"Hello?" Diandra's sweet voice asked.

"Diandra! I am Gabi," Gabriella said sweetly. "How are you?"

"Gabriella dear!" The woman exclaimed clearly surprised. "Good thanks, and you?"

"Good, good, thank you." Gabriella hesitated; she wanted to go straight to the point but she knew Diandra would be curious. "Look, I am calling because I needed to ask you a favour…"

"Is everything okay?" Diandra asked worriedly knowing how Peter was never at home and that Gabriella was most of the time only by herself in her big house.

Gabriella sighed. "Well, with me yes, but I need the number of Troy's social agent."

"What?" Diandra asked bewildered. "Is everything okay with Troy?"

"Look, I can't go into details and I would prefer to talk only with Susan." Gabriella said softly but also firmly. "Troy is fine, but I need to talk to her…"

"I don't know if I can give you her number Gabi," Diandra continued worriedly. "She won't talk with you about Troy dear, she can't do that. It's against the rules, and you know that."

"Oh," Gabriella said sighing. "I know that; I want her number because I need to talk to her, I won't ask anything about Troy and I don't mind if she doesn't say anything and only hears what I have to say."

"You sure?" Diandra asked.

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Look Diandra, I know what I am doing, ok? I need to talk with her..."

Diandra was aware that Troy and Gabriella's relationship was weird somehow; she knew they had been dating in the past, but she didn't know how things were going at the moment. Also, she was curious about what Gabriella wanted to talk about with Susan; she knew for a fact that Troy was a private person, she knew he had become a cold and stone-ish person, and though she cared for him as if he was her son, she also knew he was a difficult person now. But if she knew all of that, she also knew that Gabriella had a special place in Troy's heart.

Sighing, she gave in. "Ok, I am going to give you her number, but Gabriella, listen to me, I don't want a call from Susan complaining about you being noisy, ok?" Diandra asked severely.

"You won't, don't worry." Gabriella assured her. "You can call her and ask her if I have bothered her or not."

Diandra nodded though Gabriella couldn't see her. "Ok, take a pen. Susan's number is 555-98-76"

"Thank you Diandra," Gabriella said softly. "Don't worry okay? I know what I am doing and think that I only want to help Troy…"

Gabriella hoped her words would be enough for Diandra to stay calm. "Ok, thank you dear."

"Bye Diandra," Gabriella greeted the woman. "Talk to you soon!"

"Bye honey." Diandra said. "Ah, Gabriella, you know you can come over whenever you want right? I feel bad knowing you are all alone at your place…"

"I know," Gabriella smiled. "I'll be there some day this week, ok?"

"Perfect," Diandra answered and Gabriella could know she had a smile on her face. "Bye!"

Gabriella closed her phone and called Susan; she didn't want to waste time, she needed to meet with her and talk about Troy. She knew Susan would be at least surprised, but she hoped the woman would, at least, hear what Gabriella had to say. Of course she was aware that Susan wouldn't share personal information about Troy, but she didn't need information from a stranger; Gabriella knew Troy much better than anyone.

Unluckily for her, Susan didn't pick up her phone but Gabriella didn't want to leave a message. Closing her phone, she continued cleaning her house trying to not think about what she was about to do. Troy would freak out, but she knew it was for the best.

Back at the school, Troy didn't know where to hide. His body was aching for Gabriella; he needed to see her, he needed to be sure she was okay, but Gabriella hadn't come to school at all and she wasn't answering his calls. He had left four messages at her phone and still he didn't know anything back from her. To say he was worried was the understatement of the century; he had even thought about to go to her house and see personally that she was okay, but he knew he couldn't being school time.

Punching his locker with frustration, he groaned aloud, making the people who were in the corridor turn to look at him with curiosity written in their faces. Groaning, he realized he was showing his emotions and he knew it had to end. "Mind your own business!"

Everybody turned their faces away from him and the corridor became empty in seconds. Chad and Taylor, who had been observing Troy, waited until the last person was out of sight and went to stand by him. "Hey man," Chad said.

"Tell me you know something about her," Troy begged not caring that Taylor was there. "Tell me you've talked with her…"

Taylor saw Chad was about to give in and she talked in behalf of them both. "No Troy, sorry. I've tried to reach her at her phone but I've reached her voice mail…"

Chad knew Taylor was lying but still he doubted because of the firm voice with which she had spoken. "Look Troy, maybe she had something to do, or maybe she wasn't feeling well. Don't worry…"

Troy punched his locker again. "I can't not worry Chad, damn it!"

"Troy," Taylor began hesitantly from beside Chad. "I am sure she is okay…maybe she needed some alone time or maybe her father was at home and they are having some father-daughter day…"

She had come up with that excuse knowing that Troy hardly would have thought about that. Though Gabriella's father was never at home, from time to time he would take Gabriella away for the day trying to make up for all his absences.

"She would have told me…" Troy answered right away though he knew that maybe Taylor was right.

Chad chose that moment to interrupt. "Are you sure she would have told you Troy?"

Troy locked his eyes with Chad and knew why he was asking that question; after the Sharpay's incident of the day before, Chad guessed he had spent the night at Gabriella's. Though Troy didn't know anything about Gabi's message, he guessed what Chad was thinking. Chad, on his part knew, thanks to Gabi's message, things hadn't gone smoothly between Gabi and Troy this time. He, of course, was pretending he didn't know anything, but he knew better.

"Maybe not," Troy answered surrendering and closing his locker with a bang without another look at his friends and going away from them.

"You think Gabi is doing the correct thing baby?" Chad asked in a dubious tone. "I haven't seen him so broken before…"

"You know that when it comes to Troy Gabi knows what she is doing Chad," Taylor said rubbing his arm soothingly. "I know you're suffering for him, but Gabriella is a wise woman Chad. If she thinks Troy can't handle that she wouldn't be avoiding him. She'll explain everything later, don't worry, ok?"

Chad nodded and put one of his arms around her shoulders. "You are right," he pecked her forehead. "Let's go…"

Gabriella was in her room reading a book when her father arrived at home. "What are you doing here so early?"

"I've been vomiting all night and I didn't feel well enough to go to school this morning," Gabriella answered softly knowing her father would believe in her words because it was so not like her to skip school.

Peter touched his daughter's forehead. "Are you feeling better? Have you eaten something at all?"

"I've eaten some boiled rice and an apple." Gabriella answered knowing her father was believing in her words. Looking surreptitiously at her nightstand to see what time was, she realized the school was almost over, and if she knew Troy the way she thought she knew him, Troy would come to her house to check on her, and she didn't want to see him, but she couldn't explain that to her father. "Are you going to sleep here tonight?"

"No sweetie," Peter asked already walking to the door. "I've come home to prepare my luggage; I have to go to Seattle for a week. Will you be okay here?"

Gabriella felt like crying but not even one tear fell from her eyes; she was so used to be alone that what would have been strange was for her father to be at home for more than one hour. "Sure daddy; if I need anything I'll call Diandra, don't worry."

Peter nodded; he was glad Chad's parents, his friends for so long, were there for Gabriella. Though it was not as if he had forgotten he had a daughter, the truth was that Gabriella looked like her mother, and he couldn't stand to be for long in her presence because that would remind him about the woman who abandon him and their daughter fourteen years ago. "Ok, I am going to my room. I'll come back before I leave, ok?"

"Sure," Gabriella nodded absently trying to not think about the pain she was feeling when her own father almost didn't look at her face. She wanted to add I love you daddy, but she wasn't sure anymore if that was true or not. Sure, he was her father and he gave her whatever he thought she needed, but he failed: she wanted a father at home, not an almost a strange, but it was too late for them now. Gabriella knew on whom she could lean on when things were bad for her, and sadly, neither of her parents was on her list.

After fifteen minutes, her father came into her room again. "I am going, I'll call you when I land, ok?"

"Ok," Gabriella said softly. "See you…"

Peter leaned down to kiss her forehead and Gabriella closed her eyes when all his scent enveloped her. She missed her father; she missed to play with him, to joke with him…to live with him, but it wasn't up to her to be with him or not. "Take care of you sweetie…I…" Peter hesitated; he usually didn't show affection to Gabriella, but something in her face made his stomach burn with a foreign feeling. "I love you…"

His words, though whispered, arrived to Gabriella who was too shocked to even answer him. She remained frozen in the same spot, replaying her father's words again and again. She heard his car leaving the driveway and she went to enter her car in the garage of the house, in case Troy decided to come over. Once the car was in the garage, she decided to lock both doors, the windows and some curtains, so the house seemed to be empty.

Sure, when the last bell rang through East High Troy jumped from his seat and ran to his locker to grab his things. Gabriella hadn't told him anything back and his worries were eating him alive.

Rushing to the parking lot, he unlocked his car and jumped in, turning on the engine in a breath and driving to Gabriella's house barely paying any attention to the traffic. He didn't care for anything but to see that Gabriella was okay, the rest of the world was insignificant.

He arrived to Gabriella's house in half the time it was usually needed; he had broken the law for sure, but he didn't have time to think about that. Jumping out of the car just he cut the engine he ran to the door and rang the bell.

Gabriella was at her room and she had seen Troy arrive; well, she had heard the noise the brakes of his car made when he parked his car in her driveway and, curious, she went to the window to see if her guess was right. It had been.

Trying to be as noiseless as possible she waited for him to go to the backdoor knowing he would go there if no one opened the front door. Sure, within seconds, the other bell rang through the house, but she remained still knowing he would go to her backyard and try to climb up the tree.

However she knew she was doing the right thing she winced when Troy began to scream her name desperately. That made her to drop some tears, and trying to control her sobs, she went to the bathroom, closing the door behind her so Troy couldn't see any shadow or something. Trying to cry silently, she heard how Troy tried to open her balcony doors, knocking when he found they were locked. The screams of her name increased its volume and Gabriella flinched.

Troy, on his part, was agonizing in desperation. He had hoped to find Gabriella at home with the flu or something like that but it seemed no one was at home; all the lights were off, her car was not in the driveway, both doors were locked and even her balcony doors had been locked too. He tried to look through her windows but he saw nothing out of the ordinary, so he decided to sit there and wait for her.

Gabriella was still hided in the bathroom and when she didn't hear anything, and was about to go out thinking Troy had gone home, she heard him singing softly, a thing she knew he did when he was about to loose it, and she remained locked inside her temporary refuge.

Troy waited there two hours until he realized he was supposed to be meeting Susan at the mall. Sighing, he climbed down the tree and went to his car. Gabriella heard him jumping from the tree and went out of the bathroom. Carefully, she went to the window which was in the corridor, which let her see her driveway, and observed at Troy grabbing a notebook from his bag and writing something. Then, she saw him going to the front door again but no noise came from it this time.

She waited until Troy entered in his car again and pulled off her driveway so she was safe. Curiosity took the best of her; what had done Troy in her door? Climbing down the stairs, she went to stand in front of the front door and saw a note on the ground; he had slipped a note under the door, and she couldn't help but grab it as if it was a lifesaver.

His messy handwriting adorned the part of the note which was visible. 'Gabi' he had written, and so Gabriella unfolded the note and read it.

'Baby, I've come here to see if you were okay. How come you haven't gone to school today? I've been dead worried all day. I need to know if you are okay or not. Please baby, I understand if you are mad at me but please, only let me know that you are okay. Talk to Chad if you don't want anything with me, but please, let me know you are safe.

I've called you a few times, and Taylor has told me she had called you too but you haven't answered any of our calls. That's not like you babe, at least contact them so I know you are okay.

I have to go now, but I'll come back later to see if you are at home. If you read that before I come here again, PLEASE, call me.

I love you with all my heart Gabi, don't ever doubt that. You are my life and what keeps me alive.

Troy xx'

Gabriella sniffed when she ended her reading. She believed in every one of his words, and though she wanted to call him and tell him to come over, she knew she couldn't do that. If she wanted to help him to be happy again she had to wait until her talking with Susan to contact Troy; she maybe was being cruel with him at the moment, but her intention was not to hurt him or make his life miserable. She only wanted his happiness, she only wanted her Troy back, and if she had to be cruel with him so her Troy was back then so be it.

Sighing, she went to her bathroom to take a shower, trying to clear her head. The hot water did some good at her aching muscles, and so she put some pj's and went to her room again. She wasn't planning on to leave the house that day; she needed time to think about everything she was doing. She decided that, at that point, she was grateful at her father because of his work trip; she needed time alone, away from everyone so, laying on her bed, she put a blanket over her and drifted to sleep, adjusting the alarm of her phone to sound in a hour, knowing Troy wouldn't be already at her house by then.

In the meantime, Troy arrived at the mall five minutes later. Locking his car, he went to the restaurant Susan had told him and sure, she was there. "Troy!"

"Hey," he said quietly.

Susan looked at him bewildered; no sarcastic remarks? No comments? Weird. "Are you okay?"

"No, but let's go." Troy said trying to recompose his cold face.

Susan grabbed his arm. "Not so fast," she said sternly. "What's wrong?"

Troy sighed knowing he had to behave if he wanted the money he needed to buy something for Gabriella. "Look, I've had a bad day and I don't want to talk about it. Can we go now?"

"Bad day?" Susan asked pushing him. "Are you in trouble?"

Troy laughed harshly. "No, I am not in trouble. Can we go already?"

"If you don't explain to me what's happening I am off." She said carelessly.

"What?" Troy asked, her words broken his cold façade. "You can't!"

Susan inspected her nails acting coolly. "Well, the thing is that I can. You know my rules Troy; I accept you have your privacy and your personal matters, but when it comes to your wellbeing I don't care about your privacy. So suit yourself…trust me or you won't be able to buy anything."

She knew she was crossing the line, but she was curious about that Gabriella Montez girl and the weird relationship she seemed to have with Troy. Also, his reaction when she asked him if Gabriella was his girlfriend had her shocked. He had gone literally crazy! Something was up, that was sure.

"Look," Troy answered after a while and glaring at her. "And listen to me because I won't repeat that. Okay?"

Susan nodded her head acting if what he was explaining wasn't really important, knowing that if she showed her real curiosity Troy would close himself more. "Of course, go on."

"Gabriella is super important to me, and…" Troy hesitated. He wasn't used to show any kind of affection but towards Gabriella and in front of Chad, but at the moment, and with the pressure Susan was putting on him, he knew he needed to empty a little his hear. "Well, we dated for two years before Lucy's dead. After that, you know…I've pulled myself away from everyone…but her. Well, in a weird way anyway, and…I need to know she is okay and she hasn't come to school today, and I've gone to her house after school and no one was there, and our friends haven't talked with her either and…and…"

Susan realized Troy was about to loose it; though he had begun like hesitantly, in the end his words had been rushed, frantic, desperate…it was as if the walls which surrounded him had broken when Gabriella's name had been said. "Troy, calm down!" She said grabbing his arms and trying to lock her eyes with his.

Susan's action stopped his rambling and though he tried to recompose his cold façade he couldn't; he was so worried about Gabriella that he needed some support now. "I am sorry…" He whispered lowering his eyes.

"Don't be," Susan sighed astonished about how Troy could change when Gabriella was in the middle. "Let's sit and then you can explain whatever you want to explain me, ok?" She lowered her voice until it was soft and, grabbing his arm, she pulled him to the bench and sat there.

She let him be for a while when she saw Troy had a blank look on his face. She had the feeling he would open at her, but she didn't want to push her luck. She wasn't going to pressure him; if he needed some time to recompose himself, to think about what he was going to explain she would let him alone with his thoughts.

Gabriella's alarm sounded and awoke her from her nap. She was feeling better and somehow refreshed; she didn't know why but she had the feeling Troy was okay at the moment and so she let her body to relax a little.

However, she still had in mind to call Susan Meyer so she could meet her and talk to her about Troy and her plan to help him. She hoped the woman would help her, but she knew she had to be careful about the way to approach the subject. Grabbing her phone from her nightstand, she dialled the number Diandra Danforth had given to her earlier and waited.

Susan was still sitting beside Troy at the mall; neither of them had spoken and she wasn't sure if that was good or bad. Troy had more colour in his face and so that let her know he was somehow better now. His eyes weren't so sad now; it was as if he was becoming more in peace with himself, and she was glad for that.

The piercing noise of her phone startled them. Searching into her bag for the item, she found it and saw it was an unknown number. "Sorry Troy, I have to answer that. It'll be a moment."

"Go ahead," Troy said in a neutral voice.

Susan nodded and pressed the answer button. "Susan Meyers," she greeted into the phone.

"Hi Susan, I am Gabriella Montez, the best friend of Troy Bolton and I need to speak with you about him."