A/N: Hey guys! Thanks so much to those of you who have reviewed, added this story to your lists or even added me to those lists! I feel honoured :) I really hope you'll like that chapter...I would hate to disappoint you after all your good words! :S

By the way, last night I dreamed about something...and it gave me an idea for my next story. I hope you all will read it too! :D

Here is chapter 12. Enjoy! :)

HELL. Troy's day was being hell.

Since he had received the text message from Gabriella asking him for some time alone he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her; he needed to know where she was and if she was okay. He supposed she was worse than she had wanted for him to know, and that thought was killing him because he wanted to be the one comforting her, he wanted to be the one hugging her and telling her everything would be okay. But no; he was trapped in the school…and he had to be there for 3 hours more at the least.

He would kill Sharpay. He would cut her body in very small pieces and he would burn those pieces so Sharpay Evans wouldn't exist anymore. Only thinking about what she had done to Gabriella was enough to have his blood boiling. The stupid girl was pushing his buttons big time; the bitch not only was ilusional when it came to him but also one of the cruellest people he knew, and he couldn't stand people like her.

Clenching his hands in fists, Troy hissed lowly when he though about Gabriella crying; if he usually couldn't stand to see Gabriella cry, the fact that she was away from him and alone made it worst.

Beside him, Chad was observing his behaviour. Chad was also mad with Sharpay, he also wanted to kill her, but he knew that wouldn't help Gabriella; his main concern here was Gabriella, and so he wanted for Troy to calm down so, when he saw her again, he would be able to help her. "Calm down Troy…"

His whispered words arrived at Troy's brain, who turned his face to look at him. "I know but…"

"I understand," Chad cut him. "But Gabriella is like that; she needs some time alone to think about everything, to register everything, and then she's okay. Don't worry…"

Troy nodded. Sighing, he looked at his watch; only five minutes more and then they would have free period. "Gym after this?"

"Sure," Chad nodded, knowing that Troy needed some time off people at school and also knowing that they had to talk.

Those five minutes were the longest of his life; he couldn't believe how slowly the time was passing and when the bell finally rang, it seemed he had been waiting a lifetime for it. Gathering their things slowly, our two guys waited until they were alone; only then, Troy relaxed his face and Chad sighed.

"Are you okay?" Chad asked softly knowing that probably "okay" was the worst way to describe Troy's state at the moment.

Troy shook his head. "I need to know she's okay…"

Stepping closer to Troy, Chad put a hand on his upper arm. "Gabriella is like that Troy; she needs some time alone to think over things. Don't blame yourself; she's been like that always and you know that…"

"I know," Troy murmured, "but what bothers me is that she's been crying. I can't stand to see her cry, but knowing that she has been alone…makes things worse."

"I understand," Chad said comfortingly. "But Gabriella is strong man. I get you are worried, but you've to trust her…"

Troy nodded and sighed. "You are right." Rubbing his face tiredly with his hands, he placed his cold mask again and spoke. "Let's go."

Chad nodded and followed Troy outside the classroom; again, all the people who were in the corridor stared at them and Troy wanted to snap at them. Chad realized about that when he heard Troy hiss between his teeth, and talked lowly. "Easy Troy…"

Ignoring everyone and walking fast, both guys went to the gym when they would be able to talk in peace because they would be totally alone.

Reaching the huge red doors, Troy grabbed a basketball and threw it to the basket, missing the throw pathetically. Groaning, he threw the ball to the wall and went to sit on the bleachers. "Fuck!"

"Troy stop," Chad said sitting beside his friend. "You need to relax."

"Damn it Chad!" Troy shouted standing up and pacing up and forth nervously in front of Chad. "I can't relax because I don't know if Gabi is okay or not!"

Chad remained silent; Troy needed to empty everything he had inside and he wasn't willing to be the one who stopped him.

"That fucking whore had made Gabriella cry!" Troy continued with his rambling. "And now I don't know where Gabriella is…if something bad happens to her I swear I am going to kill Sharpay."

After his tirade, Troy let his body fell to the ground in defeat, and Chad chose that moment to speak. "Troy," he began tentatively.

"What?" Troy asked in a flat voice.

Chad cleared his throat; he hoped Troy wouldn't close himself up now. "Explain to me everything that has happened between you and Gabriella lately because I am a bit lost, being sincere here…"

Troy avoided Chad's eyes for a moment; of course Chad would want to know what had happened. Explain to him the truth was the least he could do after all the times Chad had been there for him. "I went to her house after my meeting with Susan and we…fought…"

Chad was listening Troy with all his attention. Though he had talked a little with Gabriella, he wanted to hear the story from Troy.

"I don't know man, it was super intense." Troy was struggling trying to find the perfect words, and Chad picked that up.

"What was the fight about Troy?" Chad asked realizing that if he wanted to hear the story he had to be the one asking the questions.

"The same as always," Troy breathed. "But this time…worse…"

"What do you mean?" Chad asked surprised by Troy's choice of words.

Troy closed his eyes forcefully. "Gabriella told me she had been avoiding me that day…"

His low voice was heard by Chad who gasped; of course he knew Gabriella had been avoiding Troy that day, but he couldn't believe Gabriella had actually admitted that to Troy. "And?" He prompted.

"Well, at first I got mad," Troy laid again on the ground with his eyes closed and trying to sooth his muscles. "But…then I understood why she had done that. It was weird; both went from mad to hurt to happy in seconds dude, seriously…"

"What do you mean?" Chad prompted again seeing Troy lost in his thoughts reliving the day.

"We argued about why I couldn't be with her and…well, then I told her something that made her snap." Troy said lowly. "I told her I was the one who had killed my mother…"

Chad already knew that, but wanting to add more weight to Gabriella's words, he decided to share with Troy that he already knew the truth. "But your mother died because she was ill Troy…"

"You knew too?" Troy asked lifting his head from the ground shocked.

"Yeah," Chad admitted quietly. "I thought you knew too…"

"No," Troy breathed again, placing his head on the ground again. "I though she had died because of me…because she died hours later from my birth…"

Chad remained silent, mostly because he didn't know what he was supposed to say, and so he waited for Troy to continue with the story. "Gabriella explained to me that my mother had cancer and that I was the one who made her to fight against the cancer for a few more months…"

Troy took a deep breath again. It was hard for him to remember everything but he also felt like a weight being lifted from his shoulders. "I don't know, I felt relieved at once when I knew the truth…but also…it's like I let myself to love her again, I let myself to receive all her love again…I simply let myself to fall in love with her again…"

Chad smiled for the first time; seeing Troy talk about Gabriella and the love they shared this way was something shocking, new…but mostly beautiful. About time both Troy and Gabriella could find the happiness they deserved together.

"Then, when we were dinning together, Peter called to tell Gabriella he had landed in Seattle, and I don't know, I saw Gabriella so broken by that, that I offered her to come to my apartment this week." Troy continued snapping Chad out of his reverie. "However, Gabriella refused because Peter would call her from time to time and so she needed to be at home; she asked me to stay with her and I accepted."

"Woah!" Chad said. "I see a lot of things have happened lately…and which is your situation now?"

"Well, I am staying at her house all week; we are kinda together again, and if not thanks to Sharpay, everything would still be perfect." Troy answered bitterly.

But something was still bothering Chad. "So you decided to come to school all couple-y as if nothing had happened then?"

"No," Troy answered flatly. "You were right that day; Gabriella was on the phone with Taylor. She thought I was avoiding her and I don't know…when we were talking about that in class…I don't know Chad, we only kissed because it was what both wanted to do, and then you know how things have gone from there…"

"Troy," Chad began tentatively again. "I get you know you didn't kill your mother now but…what about your brother and your father? Do you still blame yourself?"

Chad knew it was a harsh question, but Troy had avoided the topic and that alerted Chad that something wasn't right.

"I don't know," Troy whispered. "I mean, I guess not but…I still have doubts. I don't know Chad, it's weird…for one I don't see myself as a killer now, but on the other side…well, everything is confusing now…"

Chad nodded once; his suspicions had been right. "Hear me Troy, you are not the one to blame ok? You've to stop with that shit because in the end, that's going to kill you…"

"I don't know Chad," Troy sighed. "Now I don't want to talk about that. I am not in the mood for a deep talk now…"

Chad nodded once. With Troy accepting that still there was something that wasn't right yet everything was good, because that meant Troy was aware of that; that meant that Troy wasn't escaping from the problem. He was putting the problem aside because of Gabriella's situation, but both guys knew that talk would take place at some point.

Trying to break the tension, Chad stood up and grabbed the ball. "We still have more than half an hour to play. Come on Hoops, one on one!"

Troy smiled sharing a look with Chad; no more words were needed because both knew that Troy was thanking Chad and that Chad was replying with a "you are welcome". Standing from the ground, Troy joined Chad in the court and then both guys let their minds drift away of the problems, trying to enjoy their time away from gossip, problems and drama.

With Gabriella and Susan

Susan reached the park and stepped out of her car locking it quickly. Rushing inside, Susan ran her eyes along the park, stopping in every person she saw, trying to find Gabriella. Her eyes stopped in a bench where a girl was sitting with her head resting on her knees; she couldn't see the girl's face, but she had a feeling that was Gabriella.

Walking slowly towards the bench, she saw the girl stiff when her heels clicking closer to her. Tentatively and softly, Susan stopped a few feet away from the bench. "Gabriella?"

Gabriella lifted her head and Susan gasped; Gabi's face was stained with tears, her eyes were puffy red and her lips were trembling in what she guessed was an attempt to control the sobs that were fighting its way to the outside of her body. "Susan…" Gabriella whispered in a broken voice snapping Susan out of her reverie and making her to rush to Gabriella's side, embracing the sobbing girl tightly towards her chest.

Only when Gabriella's face touched Susan's chest she let the control slip out of her, making her whole body to tremble with the power of her sobs. Wrapping her arms around Susan's waist, Gabriella cried while Susan whispered comforting words into her ears, trying to pacify her.

After a while, Gabriella pulled away and wiped her cheeks. "I am sorry," she said in a throaty voice giving Susan a watery smile.

"Don't be," Susan whispered rubbing Gabriella's back. "What happened?"

Gabriella let her head rest on Susan's shoulder, who welcomed the gesture wrapping one of her arms around Gabriella's shoulders and moving her hair softly away from her face in a motherly gesture. "I don't know, a girl from the school has told me some stuff and I've frozen…and then I've run outside of the classroom."

"What has said that girl?" Susan continued rubbing her hair sweetly.

"She has told me that Troy would be hers by the end of the week…" Gabriella said weakly. "She usually makes smart comments about that, and I know Troy loves me but this time…"

"What's different about this time?" Susan asked trying to find the truth and everything Gabriella was mentally avoiding.

"The school knows about us now," Gabriella whispered closing her eyes. "The other day I kinda freaked out…and…when Troy and I were talking about it…I kissed him…in front of everyone…"

"And what happened then?" Susan proved again. "What did Troy do?"

"He kissed me back and then the same girl today has attacked me today began to yell asking Troy how come he was kissing 'that'," Gabriella explained putting air quotes when she said that. "Troy told her to back off and he claimed himself as mine when Sharpay, the girl, told me he was hers."

Susan smiled. "Go Troy," Susan whispered making a giggle escape from Gabriella's lips.

"I know," Gabriella sighed. "He has kissed me and grabbed my hand in front of everyone; but today…I don't know, everything has become too much."

"Gabi," Susan began softly. "Well, can I call you Gabi?"

"Sure," Gabriella smiled sweetly.

"Gabi," Susan began again. "Do you realize that what had happened with that girl is not the problem, right?"

Gabriella stiffened and lifted her head from Susan's shoulder. "What do you mean?"

Susan cleared her throat. "You have told me that girl is always making smart comments about Troy, so nothing new here…"

"But I wasn't with Troy then," Gabriella interjected confusedly.

"You've always been with Troy Gabi," Susan smiled caressing her cheek again. "What has changed is that now, Troy is better and you can focus on you."

"You…lost…me…" Gabriella stuttered completely dumbfounded.

"Look," Susan explained softly. "You've gone through a lot Gabi, and…my guess is that you haven't grieved when you had to…and that you have had everything bottled inside of you."

"But what has that to do with Sharpay?" Gabriella asked trying to understand Susan.

"While Troy and you were in your weird relationship, your mind was completely absorbed by that." Susan was talking in a professional way and Gabriella was listening intently. "When Troy has been better, and your relationship with him is not so weird anymore, then you've begun to analyze your life…and everything you've had inside of you has exploded."

"Are you talking about my parents?" Gabriella asked quietly.

Susan nodded. "I think you've been so focused in to help Troy that you've forgotten to help yourself…"

Gabriella remained quietly trying to think about what Susan was telling her. Had she really been so oblivious to her own needs? Probably. "But…I barely remember my mother Susan…how can I miss her when I don't know her? When I can't remember what it is to be held by your mother?"

"Because you've to add your problem with your father here sweetie," Susan answered slowly. "The fact that you've been without a mother and with your father always away…is something that hurts; you don't need to be superwoman here Gabi; everyone would be hurting too."

"But why now?" Gabriella whispered with a few tears running down her cheeks.

Placing her thumbs on Gabriella's cheeks and wiping the tears away, Susan gave her a sad smile. "Gabi, when you've stopped to be so focused in Troy, you've analyzed your life, though maybe you've done in unconsciously…and what you've seen is something you don't like. How many times have you cried over your mother or father?"

"I don't know…but…I think I've never cried for them…" Gabriella whispered stunned by the recent discovery. "Do you think I haven't accepted my parents have left me?"

"I think you've accepted they are not in your life," Susan said diplomatically. "But you haven't tried to find the answers for the questions you have…you've accepted the fact as it has come, but you haven't tried to understand why it has happened."

Gabriella realized Susan was talking the truth; like with Troy, she had never put up a fight with her father so he was more at home with her. With her mother she couldn't talk because she didn't know where she was, but she had never asked her father about what happened in the past, either.

"Gosh…" Gabriella said in awe when the truth fell over her head. "But…but…what is bothering me is that thing about Sharpay…not my parents…"

"Sincerely," Susan said, "I think that thing with Sharpay has made the bomb explode…but it was a matter of time Gabriella; you've been keeping only for you things that hurt bad, and you haven't talked about it with anyone…"

"I was worried about Troy," Gabriella said softly.

Susan nodded. "You worrying about the others is something good Gabi, don't misunderstand me; but there are times in life that you've to look for yourself…and when something hurts you, when you need help, you've to ask for it. You can't be always superwoman; sometimes you've to let yourself to be Lois Lane." After a moment in silence letting Gabriella's brain register her words, Susan spoke again. "Have you talked with Troy about that?"

"No," Gabriella answered avoiding Susan's eyes. "He knows my father is never at home and that my mother left me…but…I don't think he knows how I feel…how alone I feel…but…"

Susan could see something wasn't right here. "But what Gabi?"

"He has enough shit going on," Gabriella said flatly. "I can't add more problems to the ones he already has…"

"But Troy loves you," Susan protested. "If he knew how you feel he would try to help you…and I think it would help him too."

"Why?" Gabriella asked curiously.

"Because, like you've done all these years, sometimes you need something that keeps your mind out of your own problems." Susan explained. "Of course you've to worry about your problems, but you don't have to be obsessed about them. If Troy helps you, his mind will drift away from the nonsense he lives in about him being a killer…"

"Do you really think he "helping" me will help him?" Gabriella asked doubtfully.

"I am sure," Susan answered in a very serious voice. "You can't continue keeping everything that hurts you inside, and I am sure he'll love to be able to help you, to be able to stay beside you when you need him. Think about it this way, you've been his supporting wall all this time…and now that he has taken the first step to get over his fears, I am sure he is aware of that. Troy can be a lot of things, but he is not selfish Gabriella; he loves you with all his heart, and I am sure that your pain is also his pain. If he knew you are suffering, he would try and do anything to make you happy…"

"But he has a lot going on right now…" Gabriella said softly. "I am not sure if he really needs more problems now…"

"You are not a problem Gabriella," Susan said sternly. "You've to stop thinking about yourself as a burden; Troy loves you and you love him. A relationship is not only made of good things…there are also bad things, and you both have to fight together against them. Trust him Gabriella…"

"Maybe you are right," Gabriella admitted. "But I am not sure if now is the right time…"

"I think so," Susan stopped her mid sentence. "Troy has a lot going on right now, and something that keeps him out of these obsessions will help him for sure. Now he has taken the first step, now he has his mind clearer…and now is the moment to share with him your worries. He has to see that you trust him; he has to see that you trust him enough and lean on him as to know that he can be beside you, as to know that you trust him enough only because you share with him what bothers you. He has been blind somehow when it has come to you Gabriella; you two haven't shared your worries and problems and, in order to return to the normality, you both need to show the other that you are in each other's life for good."

Gabriella was about to talk but Susan stopped her again. "I know you say you are together again but, Gabriella, you've to think a relationship is not something like a "bang" and then you are in a relationship. Yours, mostly, is one of the weirdest I've ever seen; you were best friends, then lovers and then…what you were…" Gabriella giggled softly at that and Susan smiled. "But you've to rebuild the relationship now; you have to be best friends with him again…and then the relationship will grow without you two working at it. And…really, which better way you know to show to another person that he or she is your friend than trusting him or her? Than sharing your worries about everything with him or her? Than being beside that person showing your care? Than simply letting the other completely in your life?"

Gabriella thought about that slowly; did Troy know Gabriella trusted him? When they were a proper couple of course but…after everything that had happened between them? He apologized for everything but maybe he still thought he had been hurting Gabriella a lot and that she couldn't forgive him.

She was sure about Troy, but maybe Susan was right; they had been sharing, only, his fears and worries about her and her need for him, but they hadn't talked about life's problems…about those normal problems people had.

Now Troy was better; he now had his mind opener and his fears and worries weren't clouding his life and behaviour, his fears and worries weren't hovering over them like sharks waiting for the meat. Maybe Susan was right and now was the moment; maybe now he needed to know that she needed him not only because she loved him but also because he was her best friend again.

"I think you are right," Gabriella admitted with a smile and leaning up to hug the woman. "Thank you," she whispered into her ear with a voice laced with emotion.

"It's been my pleasure sweetie," Susan replied smiling. "Talk to him about your mother and your father Gabi; maybe he won't be able to help, but he'll try to make you feel better…he'll be beside you supporting you…and you won't feel alone because he'll be there, right beside you holding you hand or hugging you when you need to cry."

Gabriella nodded. "I have to go now," she grabbed her bag and placed it over her shoulder. "The school is almost over and I want to call Troy…"

"Go ahead," Susan said hugging Gabriella again. "And know that I am here if you need me, okay?"

Gabriella nodded again. "Thank you so much; really, you've made me realize about a lot of things…and now I've seen what I was doing wrong."

"I am glad you see things this way," Susan giggled. "And remember, your secrets are safe with me."

Gabriella giggled. "Thank you! Bye!"

"Bye!" Susan watched Gabriella's figure exiting from the west side of the park and, smiling to herself, she went to the door situated at the east side, which was nearer to her car.

Gabriella decided to walk to her house; she needed some fresh air now that she was feeling better and calmer. Susan was good, that was for sure; she had guessed which her problem was only with one talk. Now that she knew the problem, it was easy for her to look for it; everything was clearer now and, surely, her main problem had been ignore what she was feeling about herself, bottling everything inside. Susan was right; it was a bomb about to explode.

Another thing she was grateful for was that she understood that what Sharpay had said wasn't her main problem; it hurt, of course, but Gabriella was strong and with Troy's love with her Gabriella could win over every shit Sharpay decided to throw to her. She had gotten worried when she had remained silent in front of Sharpay; she was afraid that her fears when it came to Troy made her loose all her common sense and faith in Troy. Luckily for her, though, now she understood that what Sharpay had said had been only the last drop to make the glass fall.

Smiling contently, Gabriella reached her house, going directly to the shower to clear her mind and relax and sooth her tense muscles. Changing into her pyjamas, Gabriella grabbed her phone and dialled Troy's number, knowing that school had just ended a few minutes ago.

Dialling his number, Gabriella waited for him to pick up the phone. "Baby?"

"Hey," Gabriella said quietly wincing at the tension and worry of his voice. "I am okay Troy…"

"I'll believe that when I see you;" Troy said sternly. "Where are you now?"

"I am at home," Gabriella answered. "Are you coming now?"

"Of course," Troy answered and Gabriella could hear him turning the engine of his car on. "I'll be there in ten, ok?"

"I'll be here," Gabriella said softly. "I love you, so so much…"

In the other side of the line, Troy took a deep breath trying to contain the tears of relief that were about to fall from his eyes. "I love you too baby."

"See you," Gabriella greeted softly hanging up the phone when Troy greeted her back.

Surely, ten minutes later she heard the click of the front door; going downstairs, she met with Troy in the middle of the staircase and without any more words, Troy put her into a tight embrace.

"Are you really okay?" He asked frantically searching for any signs of harm in her body.

"I am okay," Gabriella said softly placing her hands in either side of his face. "And I love you a lot…"

She didn't wait for him to say it back because just when he opened his mouth to do that, Gabriella's mouth was covering his and he only could tighten his arms around her, pulling her body closer to his and caress her lower lip with his tongue searching for entrance, while their tears of relief mixed together.

When the need of air became too much, they pulled apart but remained with their foreheads touching. "I love you," he panted trying to regulate his breath and kissing her forehead.

Gabriella pulled away and locker her eyes with his. "Can we talk?"

"Sure," Troy said confusedly. "Are we okay, right?"

Gabriella gave him a small smile when she realized he was thinking the worst. "We are okay, but I need to explain you something that's been bothering me…"

"And why haven't you said anything before?" Troy said pulling her body closer to his and climbing the stairs to her room.

"Because you had a lot going on…" She answered softly.

"And because I was only thinking about me, right?" Troy asked shyly and in a broken voice, realizing how much he had "ignored" Gabriella's life those years.

"No," Gabriella said in a firm tone. "Because I've just realized about it…"

Entering in her room, Troy lead the way to her bed and lay there, pulling her body closer to his while Gabriella cuddled into him, placing her head on his chest and rubbing his stomach softly, while Troy massaged her wet hair, playing randomly with her curls. "What's been bothering you baby?"

His sweet voice made her insides melt; Susan was right, Troy wanted to help her…or at least, he wanted to share her problems and worries with her. "My parents…"

She felt Troy stiffen and closed her eyes waiting for the snap, but nothing bad came; Troy crushed her more into his chest so she was lying on him, locked his eyes with hers and talked with a velvety voice. "What about them?"

Taking a deep breath, Gabriella closed her eyes for a minute and then opened them, only to see concern and love in Troy's.

That was it; she had to trust him because she wanted for Troy to be not only the love of her life, which he already was...but also her best friend.