IMPORTANT A/N: Hey guys! Firstly, thanks a lot to all of you who have reviewed or added the story to their story alert list or to their favourite story list. Seriously, it's amazing! Each time a new mail arrives telling me Review Alert or Favourite Story + or Story alert +…woaaaaah! I feel incredibly happy :D

Now, another thing I wanted to say is that: I know that I said the chapter wouldn't be up until the weekend or so, and I was planning on to follow my initial plan, but…well, I've had some personal problems and I needed distraction, so I began to write, write, write and write (this chapter is way longer than the others) trying to distract my mind. Having the chapter ready, I don't see the point in to have it in my computer but not updated, so here it is! A warning: maybe you'll get emotional while reading that chapter…I know it's happened to me, but I'd love to know your opinions. I think you'll understand a lot of that story with that chapter, but have in mind that the story is far from finished so…more things have to come yet! :D

By the way, I want to remind you that I am Spanish so if you have questions about the story…well, PM me or tell me that in your review and I'll answer back answering those same questions. Also, forgive my grammar or vocabulary mistakes; I am trying my best I swear! But you've to understand that some things will escape from my knowledge and so I won't know if I am writing them okay or not, though I hope you can understand everything :blush:

Anyway, I am going to let you read so…shutting up ;)

Here is chapter 8. Enjoy! :)

After a tense homeroom, Troy pulled Gabriella behind everyone so they could be the lasts to go out. He wanted to be sure Gabriella was okay before they faced the school, and so he wanted a moment alone with her.

"Gabi," Taylor said picking her things, "are you coming?"

Gabriella looked at Troy confusedly, who had her arm grabbed. "In a minute Tay, wait for me outside please!"

"Sure," Taylor said intertwining her fingers with Chad's. "We'll be at my locker!"

"Okay," Gabriella nodded and turned to look at Troy when they were alone. "What's up?"

"I want to be sure you are okay before we go outside…" Troy murmured.

Gabriella sighed. She knew he knew she was freaking out because of the little show they'd pulled in front of all their classmates, but what could she say to calm him down? Because the truth was that she wanted to go to her house, lock the door and hide…but she knew that if she told him that, he would be more worried about her, and she didn't want that. "I am okay Troy…"

"You sure?" He asked worriedly trying to search the truth in her eyes.

"Yeah," Gabriella sighed again and rubbed her face tiredly. "I just…Look, I wanted to apologize…"

Troy looked at her dumbfounded. "What for?"

"I've just made…well, by now everyone knows I've kissed you…" Gabriella said shyly. "People are going to talk and well…maybe you'll be uncomfortable thanks to me…"

"I am not uncomfortable baby," he whispered pulling her body into his chest. "Maybe we hadn't thought things could turn out the way they did but…like I've told you this morning, we've followed the flow." Her soft giggle, music for his ears, made him smile. "Don't worry okay? We'll deal with everything together."

"Together." Gabriella said from his chest.

Troy pulled apart and kissed her lips sweetly. "Let's go," he said reaching for her hand when they pulled apart.

"Are you sure?" Gabriella said hesitantly.

Troy winked at her and grabbed her hand intertwining their fingers together. "I am not planning on to let them know how I am, but they already know you are with me so…yep, I am sure."

Gabriella giggled again and squeezing his hand. "Wait!" She said when he was about to cross the doorframe.

"What?" Troy asked confused.

Smirking, Gabriella kissed him but this time she introduced her tongue into his mouth without hesitation. Tory responded into the kiss automatically and, dropping her hand, wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her body closer and deepening the kiss. When the need of air was too hard to resist they pulled apart. "Woah!" Troy chuckled. "What was that? Not that I am complaining…"

His goofy smile made Gabriella laugh. "Well, we won't be able to do that until later…"

"With this intensity that's true," Troy explained, "but who knows? Maybe your lips scream my name so loudly that I have to do something trying to protect the student body's ears."

"You are such a dork!" Gabriella said slapping his chest.

"Maybe that's true," Troy said casually. "But I am the dork you love," he whispered into her curls making her smile.

"Sure I do." Gabriella winked at him. "Let's go dorky, we have classes to attend!"

Troy laughed and grabbed her hand again. "Call me that in public and you've to run and hide." He said in a mock serious voice.

She didn't say anything but laughed. "Ok, you ready?" She asked with a shivering voice when both calmed their laugh.

Troy took a deep breath and then his face turned cold again; you wouldn't have been able to say he had been laughing until a few seconds ago. Gabriella saw that and frowned a little but didn't say anything. However, Troy saw and, intertwining their fingers together, lowered his head to kiss her temple. "We are fine."

His whispered words brought a feeling of warmness to Gabriella who realized he had seen through her act. "Thank you," she whispered letting him pull her out of the classroom with their hands still intertwined.

When Troy opened the door, it seemed all the school was outside the classroom waiting for them; sceptical faces, jealous faces, mad faces…Gabriella only could see all the female population glaring at her and she pulled her body closer to Troy's unconsciously.

Troy didn't lower his head; it was as if he was daring with his eyes for someone to say something, but no one said anything. More gasps could be listened but he acted nonchalantly, pulling Gabriella with him sensing she was having difficulties to do so, and ignoring everyone. Gabriella, on her part, lowered her head trying to avoid the stares, but she could feel them; if looks could kill, Gabriella knew she would be dead by now. It was incredible the hate with which some girls were looking at her, but she was the one who had Troy; she was the one who had his fingers intertwined with her, she was the only one who kissed him…and that gave her the strength she needed to at least walk.

Arriving at Taylor's locker, where both Chad and Taylor were waiting for them with both grins in their faces, Gabriella relaxed. "Gosh, what's their problem?" She whispered hiding herself from everyone but her friends.

Taylor rubbed her arm knowing how much her best friend hated the attention. "They'll get tired at some point, don't worry."

"We've talked about that baby," Troy whispered. "Don't let them get to you okay? Ignore everyone…"

Both Taylor and Chad smiled when they heard the pet name Troy had used but didn't comment anything about it. Gabriella looked at Troy with fear written over her face but nodded nonetheless. "Gabi," Taylor said after she looked at her watch, "we have to go."

"Okay," Gabriella said turning to look at her. "We'll see you later…"

Troy squeezed her hand and pecked her lips softly. "Love you," he muttered with his lips touching hers.

"I love you too…" Gabriella whispered dropping his hand.

When Taylor and Gabriella turned to go to their next class, they realized all the corridor was still looking at them. Gabriella gulped aloud and Taylor heard her so she grabbed her arm comfortingly and pulled Gabriella to their next class quickly, ignoring everyone.

When both girls were out of side, Troy and Chad interchanged a look; Troy was getting fed up with the stares and Chad saw that, so he grabbed his arm and pulled Troy with him, while he walked along the school. Troy, however, glared at everyone. "Move!" His tone was so harsh, people turned around afraid of what Troy could do to them.

Both boys walked along the school avoiding everyone, but seeing people were still whispering and staring, Troy pulled Chad to the farthest corridor of the school, the one which led to the rooftop garden, taking advantage that both had free period then. It was empty, and when they reached it both sighed. "Fuck, people are sick here!" Troy said with disgust. "They need to get a life of their own…"

"Troy, where are we going?" Chad asked hesitantly from behind him.

"You'll see," Troy said mischievously opening a metallic door.

Climbing up the stairs, Chad found himself in the rooftop garden. "Woah!" He exclaimed in awe. "What's that place?"

"Gabriella found it for me," Troy said quietly sitting on the bench. "She said that would be a good escape when school was too much…"

Chad was shocked; he thought Troy and Gabriella didn't meet at school nor talked. "So…here is where you and Gabriella meet?"

"No," Troy answered. "She found it but she gave it up for me."

"Why?" Chad asked confused.

Troy game him a sincere smile. "Because she loves me."

And Chad didn't say anything more knowing that there was nothing he could add to that.

With Taylor and Gabriella

When Taylor reached their next class, they couldn't help but thank God because they were the firsts and so the class was empty. Going to their desks, which were one beside the other, both girls let out a breath. "Are you okay?" Taylor asked sweetly seeing Gabriella was having a hard time.

"I guess," Gabriella hesitated, "I don't know…I mean…"

Taylor smiled at her. "Don't worry; I know what you mean."

Gabriella gave her a thankful smile. "I just want for people to forget about Troy and I…"

"They'll get used to that Gabi," Taylor gave her a sympathetic smile. "But now it's been a shock for everyone! Heck…it's been a shock even for me!"

Gabriella giggled softly. "I suppose you have a lot of questions for me, right?"

"Only a thousand or two," Taylor giggled. "But later we will be able to talk about everything. Right now it's neither the place nor the moment." She said when she heard some people entering in the class chatting but shutting up just when they saw them there.

"Shit," Gabriella complained quietly only for Taylor to hear burying her head into her arms. "Today will be a long long day…"

Taylor patted her back comfortingly; she didn't know which the right thing to say was because she knew that what Gabriella had said was purely the truth.

When the bell rang after fifth period, both Troy and Gabriella let out a breath of relief; though their contact while being at school had been minimal after homeroom because they only had homeroom, PE and maths together, the stares, whispers and glares in Gabriella's case hadn't stopped. Even Taylor and Chad, who had the exact same timetable that Gabriella and Troy had respectively, were fed up with all the attention drawn to them.

Gabriella and Taylor were gathering their things when the class finished, waiting for the people to get out so they could be more themselves though only for five minutes, Gabriella's pocket vibrated.

Smiling when she saw the remittent of the new text message she just had received, she opened and read it.

'You okay? I swear I am going to break some faces… :( we're at your locker waiting 4 you. Love you. T"

"The guys are at my locker waiting for us," Gabriella said going to the door. "Let's go…"

Taylor nodded and both girls began the long walk first to Taylor's locker and then to Gabriella's. Luckily for them, their day had already ended and so they would be able to relax far away from the school, but the boys still had one period more and then basketball practice.

When the girls reached Gabi's locker, Taylor threw her arms around Chad's neck. "People are not stopping with the stares…that's insane…"

Chad rubbed her back. "The same goes for us," he sighed and kissed her temple.

Gabriella, on her part, didn't do anything when she was standing in front of Troy. She didn't know what to do or what he wanted for her to do, and so she thought that what was best was to wait for him to whatever he wanted. She didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable; she wanted to make things easier for him. "Hey," she said quietly.

"Hey," he whispered with a neutral face. "Tell me you are okay…" He demanded quietly when he pulled her for a hug.

"I am okay, tired but okay." Gabriella murmured from his shoulder with her face turned to his neck. "You?" She asked kissing his skin.

"Been better," he said softly taking advantage of her mass of curls to kiss the hollow under her ear. "I need you so bad…"

Gabriella tightened her arms around Troy forgetting her own worries and fears. "Only a few hours more and then we'll be all alone outside this creepy and damned place," she rubbed his abs and stomach under his shirt surreptitiously so no one could see, trying to sooth him.

Troy released her but her hand after he took a deep breath. "Call me later," he demanded softly but with his face stone-ish.

Gabriella nodded. "See you guys later," she said when Taylor grabbed her arm. Turning to her friend, Gabriella whispered. "Ready?"

"It's the first time in my life I can't wait to be out of the school." Taylor muttered under her breath making Gabriella giggle. "Let's go, come on. Buy guys!"

"Bye," Chad said dropping a kiss to her lips. "I'll call you later."

Troy and Gabriella interchanged a long look which didn't go unnoticed for anyone; no one could understand it, but both Troy and Gabriella knew what the other wanted to say but couldn't say. It was a look full of love, lust, passion, understanding, relief, strength…if you knew them and their relationship well enough, you would have guessed that, in one word, that look spoke "love", but no one but them knew that.

And both were thankful for that.

When both girls were at the parking lot, away from the stares and the whispers, Gabriella spoke. "Do you have your car here?"

"No," Taylor said. "I've come with Chad."

"Perfect," Gabriella said pulling her friend with her towards her car. "Starbucks?"

"Yeah," Taylor said when they reached Gabi's car. "But we could pick the drinks and go to my house. My parents are working and so we'll be alone…"

"Good idea," Gabriella grinned. "Let's go!" She said turning the radio on and driving to the nearest Starbucks.

When Gabriella parked in Taylor's driveway, both girls exited from the car and went to Tay's bedroom. Putting a chilling CD, so it helped them to relax their sore bodies from the tension of the day, both girls laid on Taylor's bed. "Has Susan called you?"

"No," Gabriella said. "And that reminds me I better have the phone near me so I'll hear when she calls…" She said standing up and going to her bag to grab her phone.

Resuming her position beside Taylor, Gabriella hesitated. She wanted to explain the whole story to Taylor, but she didn't know how much Chad had shared with her. "So…what do you prefer? Me talking or you asking?"

Taylor grinned. "Well, it's up to you how much you explain," she began diplomatically. "I know some bits because Chad has explained me some things…and others I've come up with them alone…"

"Okay," Gabriella nodded sipping from her Frapuccino. "Tell me what you know and then I'll explain the whole story…"

"I don't know so much," Taylor shrugged. "You and Troy have been best friends all your life. Some time ago you became a couple and then, when Troy's grandma died, you broke up or something happened and since then, you've been together in a weird way."

"Wow," Gabriella giggled. "You are more or less right but…there are more things in the middle…"

Taylor nodded and waited patiently for Gabriella, who stayed silent for a moment remembering every fact and detail of her story with Troy.

"Well, we moved here when I was two, and I met Troy one day while I was in the park with my mom, and he was there with Jack and Mike, his father and his brother. His mother had already died hours later of Troy's birth because she was ill; she had cancer and her death had been something expected at any time. Troy and I clicked since the very beginning; he defended me from another boy who pushed me out of the swing and since then, we were like glued on the hip."

Gabriella smiled at the memory and Taylor smiled with her. "So, he was your knight in shining armour since the very beginning uh?"

"I suppose you could say that," Gabriella conceded joking. "Anyway…"

"When I was four, you know my mother left us and…well, I leaned on Troy a lot because I was too little to comprehend what was happening. You see? I saw myself without a mother and that was something I couldn't understand. Troy, on his part, knew what that was and well…we were 4, but he helped me to accept that my mother had left."

Taylor saw Gabriella shiver but didn't say anything knowing Gabriella's mom was a soft topic for Gabriella; a topic which still hurt her, a topic which still affected her.

"It was weird because I was four but still I remember clearly her face when she crossed the door; I remember I didn't cry that time, it was as if I was still waiting for my mum to come again, but later I fell into hysterics. My father brought me to Troy's so he could arrange some things, and Jack had to work so he took us to Lucy's, Troy's grandma, and well, I don't remember clearly what happened, I only know that at some point, Lucy hugged me and so I broke down. Troy never left my side; though only hugging me, he never stopped to show me his care for me. Even Mark, who was older than us, also stood by me at that time…"

Gabriella's eyes began to get wet and Taylor became worried. "Gabi," she whispered hoping to not startle her too much, "you don't need to explain…"

"I know," Gabriella gave Taylor a small smile. "But I think I need to say it aloud; I think I need to talk about it…"

"As you wish," Taylor whispered hugging Gabriella for a moment.

When they pulled apart, Gabriella took a sip of her drink and took a deep breath. "Well…"

"I stayed with the Bolton's one week; when I returned at home all my mother's things weren't there. Neither her clothes, nor her books …not event pictures where she appeared. Nothing. It was as if she hadn't lived there ever. My father barely talked about her though I asked about her non stop at first; I wanted my mum, I wanted for her to hug me, to kiss me, to read me to bed…but I haven't known anything about her since the moment she left the house. She has never called or sent a letter…nothing. The only thing I have which doesn't let me think she was a dream is a picture taken at the hospital: I am in my mother's arms sleeping, my father is behind my mother hugging her and my mother is kissing my temple. No one knows about that picture; I found it years ago in a box in the garage and it's like my only tie with my mother, so it's like my treasure so to speak. Neither my father nor Troy know I have this picture…my father wouldn't understand, and Troy…well, he can't remember his mother because she died hours after his birth, and I don't want to talk about how bad is that my mum left me when he didn't even meet his."

Taylor was speechless; she hadn't realized how hurt Gabriella was for her mother's departure. She always seemed so strong…but she was human after all, and Taylor could see Gabriella had been holding back a lot for Troy's sake.

She was curious about their relationship; even being 4 years old their relationship was the deepest…so she couldn't imagine when they changed their status how powerful their relationship was.

"So well, in the end, I got used to not having my mum with me. I leaned in Troy and Troy in me; we helped each other unconditionally. No one could understand us better than each other; we usually avoid that topic now, but at the moment, being so fresh…well, it was different. I suppose I can say I didn't meet my mother, and neither did him, and the only motherly figure we had was his grandma Lucy.

My father began to be out of the house more and more, and well, Jack also worked so while we were little we stayed at her house until our fathers, or mostly Jack, could come and pick us up. While we were at Lucy's…woah, we were the happiest; her house had a huge garden, a pool…even a tree house! It was an amazing place; Troy, Mike and I played a lot…me and Troy had a special relationship, a deep friendship but at the same time it was like we were each other's half. With Mike, however, it was different…it was as if he was my big brother. He called me "Brie"; he said he was the only one who could call me that because it was a privilege he had because he was the bigbro; not even Troy was allowed to call me that…"

Gabriella was crying by then, but also smiling a little remembering those times. Taylor, on the other side, was curious about what happened to Mike; she already knew Troy had one brother because one day that bit of information escaped from Chad's mouth, but she didn't ask anything more when she saw how bothered he had been after that.

Clearing her throat, and gaining Gabi's attention, Taylor spoke quietly. "What happened to Mike, Gabi?"

A sob escaped from Gabriella and Taylor hugged her with all her might. "Gabi you don't have to continue…"

"I know," Gabriella gasped, "but I need to let it out Tay…" Taylor sighed but tried to comfort the girl nonetheless. "Mike…he was 4 years older than us and…he died when he was 14 years old…"

"He was an athlete; instead of basketball his passion was rugby and he was the best. Everyone always talked about how much potential he had, about how amazing professional player he could be in the future…but then…"

Fighting another sob, Gabriella took a deep breath. "We all were at one of his games…"

"It was the most important game of the season and he had been practicing, training and working out non stop. He always said that game would make history for him…"

Gabriella winced remembering that; she couldn't believe how prophetical his words had been at that time.

"He had been playing amazingly and all the bleachers were full of people cheering for him. In his hands was the victory; he was the one who could make the school the winner. We were all dressed with shirts with his name and his number cheering for him with all our might; I had been sick the week before, and so I hardly had voice, but we all wanted to be there for him, and I lost all the voice there, but seeing him so happy…well, it was worth to loose all my voice to see his smile while he played.

However, in the last second of the game he passed out in the middle of the grass. No one had touched him but he fell to the ground all of a sudden.

I have blurred memories about what happened next because everything was too fast; I remember Jack leaving us with Lucy and rushing to the field to be with Mike's coach and just to be with his older son.

Seeing Mike didn't wake up, someone called an ambulance. It arrived at the same moment my father was arriving to the school, and so Jack went in the ambulance with Mike and Troy, Lucy and I went to the hospital with my father's car.

Once we were there, we rushed to the Emergency Room, where we found Jack crying. Troy ran to him and hugged him crying too; Lucy embraced me when I began to cry seeing Troy so broken and my father went to talk with the doctors.

Mike passed away two hours later because of an internal injury in his brain. He had been so full of health all his life so no one could have ever suspected something was wrong in his brain. It was a huge shock for everyone…but mostly for Troy. Not having his mother with them, and with Jack working all the time (though also being a real father for both Troy and Mike playing with them, always having dinner with them…), Troy only had Mike…and with Mike gone…well, it was almost if Troy was left alone."

Taylor gasped. She had never imagined that Troy's life had been so complicated; though she knew that more things had to be explained, only with that information she understood Troy a little more.

"He changed after that; we've already met Chad three or four years ago, and so we were always us three, together, but Troy and I still had the "plus" in our friendship; it was like we were more than best friends, while Chad was his best friend. But when Mike died, Troy changed a lot…

We were ten, and so we understood what had happened with Mike, you know? We were conscious that he was dead, but Troy shielded himself and, though he was aware that his brother wasn't there, I think he never assumed his death.

Chad and I tried to help him to accept his brother's death, but we had no luck. He got angry when we tried to speak to him about that and so we, being little, stopped. However, one day I went to Troy's and I found him lying in his bed crying; he was babbling some nonsense about Mike being gone, about how unfair life was to him…and so I went to look for Jack. When I explained him what was happening with Troy, Jack went and talk to him.

Troy seemed better after that; he still was moody but he let us remember how amazing kid Mike was. He allowed himself to think about his brother in past sense…always remembering the good things. He even made me promise him that I wouldn't allow anyone to call me Brie; of course I agreed. That was Mike's pet name for me, and that will remain like that forever."

Taylor was touched; she saw how meaningful Mike had been in her three best friends, how deep the relationship between those 4 kids had been at the moment. She felt jealousy, but a good and healthy jealousy; she would have loved to know this kid so full of life and so caring with his brother and his brother's best friends.

"When we were 15…well, things had been more or less good till then. Troy still had his moments of rage, doubt, hate…but when those moods didn't appear he was still a soft, sweet and caring guy. But when we were 15 everything changed again…"

Another sob escaped from Gabriella and Taylor rushed to hug her; Taylor didn't speak, she only let Gabriella cry into her chest. She realized Gabriella had a lot bottled inside of her; she realized Gabriella hadn't let it go ever! She had been keeping for herself all these memories, these fears, these thoughts…and Taylor couldn't understand how Gabriella had been able to continue with her life in a normal way with all of those things inside.

"Gabi," Taylor whispered. "How come you haven't talked about that ever? How come you've kept if for yourself?"

"Because Troy would have been more worried about me and…" Gabriella took a deep breath. "Tay, he was a mess! I couldn't put on him more pressure; I had to help him, not bring him down with me…"

"What?" Taylor widened her eyes in shock. "Do you really think that sharing your fears and thoughts with him would have been worse for him?"

Gabriella nodded. "He had been always the one worrying for me Tay; not even my father knows half the things Troy had done for me when he was absent. Troy and Lucy were the ones who kept me sane Tay…and Troy had enough dealing with his mother and brother's deaths! I couldn't do that to him Taylor…"

Taylor nodded unsure; of course what Gabriella was explaining her made sense, but she felt bad her best friend had been the strong one for others' sake when she only wanted to curl herself in her bed and cry. It destroyed her; Gabriella was always putting others in front of her; Gabriella always thought about the others before she even remembered her own name. You had to love her for that, but there were times, like at that moment, that Taylor wanted to strangle her.

"But you can't be always Superwoman Gabi," Taylor sighed but talk vehemently. "Sometimes you have to let the others to come and save you…"

Gabriella didn't say anything more and continued with the story. "But Troy needed me; he had been beside me when my mum left…and I had to do the same; I had to be unconditionally beside him whenever he needed me."

Sighing, Taylor let it go, knowing that she couldn't win over that with Gabriella. "What happened when you were 15 Gabi?"

"We, as in Troy, Chad and I, were at Chad's pool; it was a summer day, and so Diandra had insisted that we, kids, went to her house to a barbeque. My father was in a trip, and Troy's was working…and she didn't want for us to be alone, so she made us go to her house and spend the afternoon there.

Troy and I were a couple by then; he never asked me out in an official way, but I suppose you can say it was written in the stars; it was the only normal thing to do: we were together all day and everyday. He spent nights at mine when my father was on a trip. Jack knew, of course, and he, like Diandra, didn't like for me to be all alone either, so I alternate my house and Troy's each time my father was away. And during one of those nights…well, Troy and I kissed…and then everything went from there.

I remember that Troy had grabbed me by the waist from the grass, where I was working in my tan, and he was threatening me about to throw me to the pool if I didn't say God-knows-what-cocky-line. Chad was laughing hard from inside the pool, cheering for Troy, and so I was too busy arguing with both guys to think that I was actually suspended in the air only by Troy's arms; Troy, who was laughing as hard as Chad! I should have known that it was only a matter of time for me to touch the water…"

Taylor smiled at Chad; she didn't know Troy, but sure what Gabriella was explaining was something you could see Chad doing.

"I ended in the water with Troy's arms around me. His arms had been shaking because of the peels of laughter that were erupting from him and well, he thought that it would be better for me to fall in a controlled way in his arms that in a crazy way, maybe even hurting me, if he didn't come to the water with me.

We decided to play with a plastic ball Chad had there, and so the afternoon passed in a blur. We had been so distracted from everything that we didn't realize about what time was. However, Diandra realized, and she tried to call Jack seeing how late it was. But Jack didn't pick up his phone…who answered was a police man.

Jack had been in an accident; a drunk driver didn't stop at his red light and so he crashed his car into Jack's. He died instantly; at least we know now he didn't suffer…but you should have seen how his car ended! It was horrible…"

Taylor gulped when Gabriella's voice broke in emotion; reaching for her best friend's hand, she squeezed it and Gabriella gave her a sad shrug.

"Dylan, Chad's father, went to the place where Jack had had the accident while we stayed with Diandra; she sat us in the sofa and explained what had happened.

While I and Chad cried, Troy stood up and went to his house; afraid for him, I followed him. I didn't want for him to shut me out, I didn't want for him to be alone…and so I went there, preparing myself for his rage and refuse, but nothing came.

When I arrived at his house, I opened the door and let myself in without waiting for Troy to say or do anything. I arrived at the living room, and Troy was stood up in front of the Memorial Wall, which was a wall full of pictures of the Bolton's. It was like a little sanctuary for them…

Slowly, I approached to Troy…but when I'd only taken 2 steps he turned around. His face was the coldest I've ever seen, colder than now, his blue eyes were shining in rage…it was as if a demon had possessed him. I only gasped; I didn't have time for anything more, because Troy beat me and I suddenly found myself with his lips on mine.

I am not going to enter into details but…his passion that day was something huge. I don't know, it kinda reminded me to a goodbye…and, though at that moment I didn't know that, was indeed a goodbye."

"What do you mean?" Taylor asked shocked.

Gabriella turned around to look at her best friend's face. "Troy began to push me away after Jack's burial…"

Her words, though whispered, were loud enough for Taylor to hear them. "What? How?"

Taylor was bewildered; she didn't understand why Troy would have wanted to push Gabriella away just when he needed her more. It just didn't make sense for her.

"He never broke up with me; we didn't fight. We still were together and we still were happy, but there were moments when I saw him going away from me. There were moments when he shut me out completely…but others…well, we were still inseparable.

I swear I don't know how we could keep our relationship that way; it was a mixture of emotions every day. Sadness, angriness, happiness...and everything in between, but all in the same day.

What is ironic is that we never fought; like I've said, we never broke up, but he turned colder towards everything, even me sometimes. He would put his cold mask and he would use his iced voice and there you had Troy. However, only when we were totally alone he usually was the same old Troy.

It was weird; when we were alone, it was like always between us, but if we were with more people, then maybe he would have my hand grabbed or he would kiss my forehead…but his attitude was cold. I think I am the only one who saw the real him those days…"

Taylor was amazed by Gabriella; she was sure she would have gone crazy if Chad did with her the same Troy did with Gabriella. She understood that Troy wasn't acting in a bad way intentionally but still; she didn't know if she would have ever been capable to forget and forgive.

"Troy went to live with Lucy, his grandmother. She was the only member of his family alive and she was the mother of his father. His mother's parents and his father's father died way before he was born, and so he had to go and live with her.

She was like my mother too; she was kinda young, and she was so funny! Her house was huge, and she was the most beautiful place you can imagine. We would be there making cookies, or baking, or doing nothing but be there with her but really, those moments are treasures for me.

Lucy was the one who explained me everything about being a woman; I couldn't go to my father and talk him about my first period! It would have been embarrassing and well, he was never at home so it was kinda stupid to think about him for advice. She explained me everything I had to know about tampons and other stuff…like a mother would have done.

She also knew about my first time with Troy; she took me to the doctor so I could be on the pill…and really, she was so natural about those topics, that though at first I was embarrassed, then she was like my best friend too. She was like my mother, my grandmother and my friend all at once."

Taylor had to smile at that; she couldn't imagine her own grandmother talking to her about those topics. She would freak out for sure! Lucy Bolton seemed to be one of a kind; she seemed to be the perfect granny.

"You know my father was never at home, and Lucy would let Troy to sleep at my house with me so I wasn't alone. Can you imagine a grandmother letting her grandson to spend almost every night at his girlfriend's house? Well, she did, and I'll be always grateful for that. Usually, we had dinner at her house, and then Troy and I went to my house to spend the night…she told us she trusted us with being together and alone in a house but not with cooking and eating properly…"

A soft giggle escaped from Gabriella's mouth and Taylor added hers too seeing her friend more relaxed.

"It seems she was an incredible person," Taylor whispered.

"She was." Gabriella nodded. "She was the best; I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't had her in my life…"

"I understand;" Taylor sighed. "I don't know what I'd do without my mother in mine…"

Gabriella and Taylor shared a smile, and after a while, Gabriella spoke again. "However, things turned out wrong again…"

"What do you mean?" Taylor asked fearing the worst.

"She died too; it happened two years ago more or less. Troy and I were at the park only enjoying some alone time you know? And well, when we walked from the park to Lucy's house we found there Chad's parents car, with Chad leaning on it, and an ambulance in the driveway.

Troy and I freaked out when we saw the ambulance and when Chad explained us what had happened…fff…it was horrible. Troy exploded in sobs and I don't know, I knew it was his grandmother who had passed away, but I felt like if my own grandmother had died too. We sobbed all over each other, trying to find enough strength in each other's embrace.

After that…well, I don't remember what happened. I only know that Troy stayed with the Danforth's for a while. Troy was always closed in his bedroom; he barely ate, he didn't talk…it was as if he wanted only to be left alone.

I couldn't stand that; I needed to be with him, but he shut me out. He told me he couldn't love me and that I couldn't love him. It was crazy because I couldn't, and can't, see my life without him in it; we had been together forever, and like a real couple two years, and then he told me those things…

It hurt…a lot, and more when he told me he was the one to blame for all his family's deaths."

"What?!" Taylor shrieked. "How come?"

"He felt responsible because each death happened after he was born; he thought about himself like a damned person…like…I don't know, everyone who was closer to him ended dead, and so he pushed me farther away. However that didn't happen with Chad; I don't know the details…but my guess is that Chad argued with Troy and in the end Troy caved. I think the main worry for Troy was to protect me…like…I was the closest person to him, and so I was the one in danger…I don't know.

Like with Jack's death, we never broke up…but he wouldn't hold my hand or kiss me. He became the Troy you know; the statuesque Troy, the stone-ish Troy. But…"

"But who took care of him then?" Taylor asked softly seeing Gabriella's pain written all over her face.

"When Jack died, Lucy took Troy to a therapist seeing he needed extra help; this therapist was Susan…"

"The same Susan you are going to meet later?" Taylor asked surprised.

Gabriella nodded. "She was his therapist and when Lucy died…"

"Well, when Lucy died Troy was 16, so…he couldn't be alone and so Social Services entered in action. Susan was a social agent too, and when she saw Troy's file, she insisted in to be the one assigned to his case. Her boss allowed that because he knew she had been Troy's therapist, and he thought it would be easier for Troy if they didn't add another strange person into his life…

Diandra and Dylan insisted in Troy staying with them, but Troy didn't want that. He wanted to be left alone; he needed to be left alone…and after a lot of talks with Susan, they agreed for Troy to sell Lucy's house and to buy a small apartment, which by the way is still the same where he is living now.

Susan put Troy two conditions; the first one was that he had to spend at least one night at the Danforth's having dinner with them, so they could "control" a little how things were going, and the second one…that she would go to his apartment once per week. Though those conditions were hated with passion by Troy, he knew they were the only way he had to be able to live alone, and so he accepted them."

"Wow," Taylor gasped, "I…I…I couldn't even imagine all of that…I…I don't know what to say…this is like…I don't know, poor Troy…"

"I know," Gabriella whispered wiping the tears which were falling from her eyes.

Both girls remained silent for a while; Gabriella remembering all those times and moments…and Taylor trying to understand Gabriella's relationship wit Troy until one day ago. They seemed to be so close by then…but Gabriella had just told her that he said she couldn't love him and that he had pushed her away.

She realized some details were missing, but she didn't know if to point them at Gabriella was a good or a bad idea. Turning her head to look at her friend, she saw Gabriella was absorbed by her memories. She had a peaceful face; even with the tears, you could see she swallowed everything life threw at her without questions or second thoughts.

"Gabi," she said quietly snapping Gabriella out of her daydreaming state. "There is something I don't understand…"

Gabriella frowned. "What?" She asked softly.

"You say Troy pushed you away but…" Taylor was hesitantly. She hoped she wouldn't be hurting Gabriella more with her question. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "Those two years, from what I've seen and heard…well, you and Troy seemed to be still close…it was as if you two had a parallel life somewhere where you were together…"

Gabriella understood Taylor; she would be wondering the same if she was in her place.

"I've told you that, after Lucy's death, Troy have been blaming himself for all his family's deaths and…well, all this blaming has been accentuated because he had been having nightmares.

It's something like crazy, I know but…in those moments, when he woke up from his nightmares, his main worry was that I was okay. He was afraid that loving me the way he loved me…well, he was putting me in danger, and so every time he has a nightmare, though I wasn't the one dying in that nightmare, he came to my house and slip in my bed with me…

We haven't been in a proper relationship Tay, but our love is so powerful…when we've been alone, you could see the relationship was still there. We've been kissing, making love, talking about things, sleeping together…but only at night…during the day you've already seen him: he barely directed a word to me…he almost ignored me…but from the corner of his eye he had been always on alert in case I wasn't feeling good or I was hurt.

He was the one who stopped the bully when we arrived at East High; I, being the nerd I am, was picked from the very beginning, and he, being the basketball star, was chosen "The King" since the very beginning too, and he draw a line around me. He and Chad always were sure that no one was bothering me and if they knew about someone, Troy would "tell" him or her off. I don't know what they've done to protect me, but I know that the bully lasted barely a day."

Taylor understood a lot of things now; she understood why Troy and Gabriella always locked their eyes at some point during the day, she understood why Gabriella knew so so much about Troy, she understood why Chad was like Gabi's big brother…he had been the bridge between Troy and Gabriella those years; easy as that.

However, there was something Taylor still wasn't able to understand. "Then," she began hesitantly, "why the change happened yesterday? Why you two are acting differently?"

"Yesterday Troy met with Susan and well, you know I was ignoring him. I wanted to talk with her first but she called me in hysterics telling me that Troy has let out the bomb of him blaming himself for his family's deaths and well, then he had run away from her.

When Susan called me, I knew right there and then that Troy needed me. And I am not going to lie, I needed him too…and well, I called him and he came to my house.

We talked, we argued…and then he told me he was the one who had killed his mother. At first I didn't understand him but…then he explained that she died giving him birth and so that meant that he was the one who had killed her…

No one had ever explained to him that Troy's mother was ill; she had cancer way before she knew she was pregnant with Troy. I suppose that's because neither Jack nor Lucy knew he blamed himself…or maybe because the number of deaths was smaller…I don't know, but the thing is that Troy didn't know anything about what happened 18 years ago with his mother.

I explained him the truth; Lucy explained it to me one day when Troy was being extremely difficult. I was upset and well, I don't know how but we ended talking about Troy's family, and so she explained to me Troy's mother had cancer and that she was tired of to fight against it…until she knew she was pregnant with Troy. Lucy told me that fact was the reason because of she began to fight to live again…

When I explained everything to Troy…well…at first he didn't believe me, but he knows how to read my face; he can tell you when I am lying or when I am saying the truth. Neither my face, nor my voice nor my eyes can keep something like that from him. He can read me like an open book, and I can read him the same way.

Realizing that, in fact, he wasn't the one to blame for his mother death…well, I suppose he understood his fears had no real base. We still have to talk a lot about everything…but I guess he has realized that I am in his life for good, like he is in mine for good, and that I am not going to die if I am closer to him.

I know it seems crazy and confusing and…I don't know, surreal; but what's important is that now he knows he didn't kill his mother, now he knows he was the reason because of she lived a little more…"

Taylor was speechless; in truth she had never thought she knew Troy, but she thought she had an accurate vision of him. However, after Gabi's revelations, she realized she didn't know anything at all. She had been believing in the lie Troy had put up all these years; she had been believing in the façade both Gabriella and Troy had perfected.

Deceived with herself, Taylor couldn't believe she hadn't seen anything at all; what bothered her the most was that she hadn't been for Gabriella when she had needed her. Though she hadn't known the truth, she could see Gabriella had been hurting all these years…she had been in need of a shoulder and she hadn't been there. Chad had been the one for Gabriella, and that thought brought tears to her eyes. She couldn't believe how selfish she had been; she had never questioned Gabriella and Chad's friendship, she had never tried to understand it. She knew they were like brother and sister…but Taylor had been seeing everything from afar; she hadn't implicated herself more into her best friend's life assuming she was okay.

Gabriella sensed Taylor was like too distracted; frowning, she put a hand on her arm and squeezed it. "Hey," she waited until Taylor looked at her, "you okay?"

Taylor looked at Gabriella with sorrow written on her face. With her eyes, she tried to apologize to Gabriella, to let her know she was willing to be there for her though she hadn't been until now. She needed for Gabriella to know that she was her friend and that she could always count with her. "Sorry Gabi," she whispered with a few silent tears running down her cheeks.

Gabriella widened her eyes in shock when she saw Taylor was crying. "What for?" She asked wiping Taylor's tears with her thumbs.

"I haven't been a good friend for you," Taylor whispered, her voice breaking twice.

"What are you saying?" Gabriella asked bewildered. "You are my best friend Taylor…"

"I don't deserve it." She murmured avoiding Gabriella's eyes.

Gabriella, however, had a lot of practice making people talk to her and listen her; she had a lot of practice with Troy. Placing a hand in either side of Taylor's face, she directed a question into her eyes. "What has brought that in? Why do you think that way?"

"You've needed me and I haven't been there," Taylor whispered. "You needed a shoulder or someone and I didn't realize…"

"Hey, listen to me," Gabriella said tightening her hands. "You've been there for me Tay; I couldn't ask for a better friend. You couldn't be more for me because you had no idea about what was happening…you didn't know anything at all! You've been blind because I hadn't let you see the truth; I've hided everything from you Tay, it's not your fault…and though you didn't know what was happening with me, you have helped me a lot of times."

"Are you sure?" Taylor asked in a petite voice. "Aren't you saying that so I stop with the sobbing?"

"Of course not," Gabriella said firmly. "You have helped me as much as you could knowing as less as you knew about what was happening with me…you've been there, giving me your support unconditionally. So I don't want to hear you talk about yourself that way, ok?"

"Promise me you are saying that because that's what you really think," Taylor demanded quietly.

"I promise." Gabriella said with her eyes locked with Taylor's, trying to convince her.

Taylor nodded and then Gabriella hugged her. Both girls remained embraced together, feeling how their friendship was reaching a whole different level; their bond had increased, and both could feel the other closer now. Neither of them moved but until when Gabriella's phone beeped.

Frowning, she disentangled from the hug and went to grab her phone. She saw she had a new text message and so she opened it.

'This is hell. What are you doing? I need you. Can't wait for later… ;) lots of love, T PS: Chad says, and I quote: "tell Taylor I want her sexy and hot butt in my house by seven"'

Giggling, Gabriella showed the message to Taylor who laughed with her. "This guy is impossible!" Taylor whined with her face all brightly red.

Gabriella laughed. "Oh come on now, are you embarrassed by that little quote? Chad has told me a lot of things waaaaaaay kinky than that…"

"What?" Taylor shrieked. "Oh please…" She moaned. "He needs to learn how to shut up his big mouth."

Taylor's pout brought a smile in Gabi's face. "I am going to answer the message; should I say something to Chad from you?"

"Let me think," Taylor smirked.

"Why is that smirk for?" Gabriella narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

Taylor's smirk widened. "Because I am going to teach a lesson to that horny boy…"

Gabriella giggled and typed her answer for Troy.

'Come on dorky, you love bball! ;) We're having a girl talk…you know, heart-to-heart talk. We needed some girl time :P later? I don't know what you are talking about ;) I love you too baby! G'

"Tay," Gabriella said lifting her head from her phone, "what should I write for Chad?"

"Type that: 'I don't know if my butt will be hot because I am feeling like commando today and so maybe it'll be cold…'" Taylor smirked. "What do you think?"

A very giggling Gabriella typed what Taylor had said and sent the message. "This is going to kill him," she said between giggles.

"Very true," Taylor smirked again when Gabriella put her phone in the nightstand. "But it'll teach him a lesson…" And then both girls exploded in laugh.

When the laughter died down, Gabriella sighed. "Taylor, thank you for letting me explain myself; you don't know how much I needed to talk about everything…"

"Hey," Taylor said hugging Gabriella, "that's what friends do. If you need me, you know where I am…"

The beeping of Gabriella's phone made the girls to break the hug. It seemed the boys were really bored at practice that afternoon.

'You are lucky I haven't let Chad to look at the message ¬¬ don't worry, I'll SHOW you what I am talking about ;) Chad says, and I quote: ":groan: Taylor is the vixen most dangerous known to man :groan:" :D see you later babe!'

The girls laughed at Troy's message; oh yeah, it seemed Chad had learned the lesson. Seeing that the boys still had two more hours until they ended their practice, and Susan hadn't called either, the girls decided to work in their homework together, chatting from time to time about unimportant things, simply having fun with each other.

One hour later, Gabriella's phone rang again and when Gabriella saw who was calling her, she gulped. "Hey Susan," she greeted into the phone making Taylor to stop her homework and to hear the conversation.

"Hey Gabriella," Susan said hesitantly. "I've just finished my work; could you meet me in half an hour or so?"

"Sure," Gabriella said more relaxed seeing Susan was still up for them to meet and talk. "And don't worry; I talked with Troy and…well, he is way better now…"

"Really?" Susan said sighing in relief. "I was so worried…"

"I understand," Gabriella said sympathetically. "But now that I've talked with him…well, everything is in the open now and…well, I know where we've to work…"

"Oh that's wonderful!" Susan's voice was laced with hope by then. "Do you have a car? Or do you want me to pick you up from where you are now?"

"Don't worry," Gabriella said beginning to gather her things. "I have my car with me. Do you think we could meet at your office? I don't want for Troy to see us…"

"No problem." Susan answered. "Wherever you feel comfortable enough to talk to me. Do you have the address?"

"Yeah," Gabriella said hugging Taylor goodbye and mouthing a "bye" while still speaking into the phone and going to her car. "I'll be there in half an hour or so. I'll call you, ok?"

"Perfect," Susan said professionally now again. "See you in a few!"

"Bye!" Gabriella said hanging up her phone and turning on the engine of her car.

She hoped she was doing the right thing talking with Susan; she knew Troy would freak out...maybe even get mad at her, but what was important was his wellbeing, and she knew she alone, or even she and Chad, wouldn't be able to help Troy the way he needed. Some adult and professional supervision was needed, and so Gabriella pushed her fears and worries to the bottom of her head, focusing only in that, in the future, Troy will be okay.

And that's what she wanted and needed: her love being in peace with himself. After a nod mostly for herself, Gabriella sped up her car and went to meet the person who, she hoped, would help her to help Troy.