A/N: Hey there! Thanks so much to those of you who have reviewed or added that story to your lists or added me to your lists. Seriously, each time a new mail arrives at my mail account is like it's Christmas again :D

I hope you'll like that chapter! Tell me your thoughts about it please, because I am quite nervous about it. I hope I've known how to express the feelings and emotions here…because I've been fighting with myself for it! hahaha! ;) It's the shortest one apart from the first one; in my mind I have more things planned, and I wanted to add them here, but I think the chapter is more well finished if I finished where I've ended it.

Here goes chapter 13. Enjoy! :)

He was an idiot.

He was a jerk.

He was selfish.

And…he felt guilty.

He couldn't believe he had been so focused in to protect Gabriella from his ghosts that he had neglected her problems; Gabriella had been in pain all these years and yet she had been beside him unconditionally. He, instead, hadn't seen her sadness, her pain, her sorrow…or better, he hadn't wanted to even aknowledge them.

Though he knew Gabriella hadn't hided the truth from him on purpose, that didn't erase his guilt; he always had thought he knew Gabriella but boy, he was wrong. He knew the only side of Gabriella that she wanted for him and everyone to see. He thought he could read her like a book, and he was right, but only when it came to him. Because he hadn't realized Peter's absences hurt Gabriella so much; because he hadn't realized she questioned herself trying to find a reason behind her mother's departure; and because he hadn't realized that, with his attitude towards her, she had been thinking her hold on him wasn't as strong as it actually was because she didn't deserve him.

Troy didn't know Gabriella thought so little about herself; all these years their conversations had been about him and his fears and worries, but not even once he had asked her about her problems. Gabriella was there and that was the only thing that mattered; the fact that she was beside him giving him all her support but grieving inside had been totally unknown for Troy…simply because he had been a very selfish person and he hadn't want to see farther.

And this was the first stab to his heart.

He hadn't event thought for a minute that Gabriella could blame herself for her mother's departure; she said it was the only explanation she knew for her father to be always away from her. Troy had tried to convince her otherwise but without luck; Gabriella was stubborn and Troy knew he would have to work a lot on that topic, because he couldn't stand for Gabriella to think that her father blamed her for her mother's departure.

The pain he felt when Gabriella confessed to him, in a very low voice, that probably her father hated her because she was the reason for her mother to leave them, was immense. It was as if Gabriella's brain wasn't registering the fact that she had gone away with her gym trainer; it's like Gabriella was blaming herself only because her mother had been unhappy, not even thinking that maybe it was Peter the one to blame, if there was someone to blame, that is.

And this was the second stab to his heart.

But that wasn't the worst.

The worst part was that Gabriella had confessed to him that she felt alone. Her words had been whispered, as if she was afraid of his reaction to them, but he had heard them loudly and clearly…and he had felt as if someone had broken his heart in a million pieces. Because when they were a normal couple, Gabriella only had him and his grandmother; she had told him that both, he and his granny were her only family. But still when Lucy died Troy abandoned her, at least in a way; he felt guilty because he had been the one pushing her away, he had been the one that had made her to feel alone.

If he would have been with her all these years, Gabriella maybe would have been sad because of her parents, but at least she wouldn't have been feeling alone, because he would have been beside her; the world around them would still be full of shit, but at least they would have had the other.

Troy realized that, actually, he had been having Gabriella beside him all these years…but she, instead, hadn't had anyone. Of course Chad and Taylor had been with her, and Troy thanked all the heavens for that, but he, the one who would have been with her, wasn't. He felt miserable thinking that his attitude, his intention of protect her from his ghosts, had been the one that had made Gabriella unhappy.

And this was the thirst stab to his heart.

The only thing in what he found comfort was that, at least, now he knew all the problems and he would be able to comfort her when she needed someone there, because he wanted, and needed, to be beside her. Gabriella wouldn't feel alone ever, because he would be beside her the same way she had been beside him all these years; he would pay attention to her, he would listen to her, he would be interested in her…because to make Gabriella happy was the new goal of his life.

He would be the shoulder where she could cry on; he would be the ears that would listen whatever she needed to say; he would be the mouth that would whisper soothing words into her ears whenever she needed reassurance; he would be the cocoon that would surround her whenever she needed to be shielded from everything; and he would be the heartbeat she would hear whenever she felt alone so she knew that she wasn't alone anymore.

Turning his head to the left to look at the time, Troy realized he should sleep; after their talk the couple had done homework together, had cooked the dinner together, had fed each other and had watched a movie laughing and joking around. When they were talking, Gabriella had let out some tears and so Troy had tried to distract her mind, to make her smile, to make her happy; it seemed he had been successful though he knew they had a long journey in front of them.

The odds would be waiting for them to fail, but Troy knew that, being with Gabriella, with the love of his life beside him, wouldn't be that fail. People would think they would have failed, but Troy would knew better, because he would have the prize with him; what was important for him was to have her beside him, to love her the same way she loved him…the rest was secondary. He didn't care if his popularity at school vanished because he was with Gabriella, he didn't care if people at school stopped to worship the ground where he walked by…because he would be with Gabriella, because he would be loved immensely and he would love immensely too.

Thinking about how different things were now, with him knowing her deepest thoughts and Gabriella knowing his biggest fear, he realized that he and Gabriella were connected in all the imaginable ways: they were lovers, they were friends, they were family. It was as if a new rope had been created between them, pulling their hearts even closer.

Now that everything was in the open, he knew that being together everything would be okay.

Together.

Because they were together, right? Troy frowned; they'd never broken up but…were they together? For him, Gabriella not only was his girlfriend but also the love of his life and Gabriella said the same about him but…maybe he should make things official. Maybe he should try to rebuild the relationship from the very beginning…dates, movies, romantic dinners…

He needed to talk with Susan; not only he needed her help to go and buy what he wanted to buy for Gabriella but also because he needed some feminine advice. To trust Susan this way wasn't something he was looking for but since the day he and Gabriella fought, he felt Susan closer than before. Maybe that was because, while not knowing where Gabriella was, when Susan's arms were around him he felt something new growing inside of him. A relief, an escape, a feeling long time ago forgotten…

Now, cuddling together in her bed, Troy was leaning onto his elbow observing his angel; his beautiful angel. Troy was mesmerized by her beauty bathed in moonlight. Her features had a magical aura around them; her olive skin in the moonlight was like silver, her dark and long black hair shone as if it had diamonds tangled in it. Too bad he couldn't see her eyes because her brown eyes were the pools of her soul; he could get lost there and he wouldn't mind. Gabriella was perfect. The perfect girl. His perfect girl.

Tightening his hold on her when Gabriella murmured incoherently, Troy kissed her shoulder softly and rested his head on the pillows, taking a deep breath trying to absorb the maximum of her unique scent and listening intently her heartbeat as if it was his lullaby, which it was in a way, and so letting his eyelids fell and sleep overcame him.

The next morning, Gabriella awoke and soon images of the evening before invaded her mind. She couldn't believe she had been able to empty everything she had inside; she had talked about every worry, about every fear and about every thought she had. She hadn't left anything inside of her and the sensation of peace she was feeling was incredible; she still was sad, she still was hurt, but after sharing everything with Troy she felt accompanied. It was as if now her fears and worries were his too, and that made her connection with him increase.

It was amazing how in three days things had changed so so much; first Troy confessing the reason behind his behaviour and now she confessing her feelings. It was as if now everything was in the open; Gabriella felt their bond more powerful, more important…more perfect. She was aware that both she and Troy would still feel bad, sad, hurt at some point…but what was important was that now they were actually together in everything. His problems were hers too; her problems were his too.

A sloppy kiss in her shoulder alerted her that she wasn't the only one awake. "Good morning," Troy whispered leaning up on his elbow to kiss her cheek.

"Morning," Gabriella whispered as quietly as Troy, turning around in the circle of his arms and wrapping hers around his torso, kissing the first inch of skin her lips reached. "How are you feeling?" She asked locking her eyes with his.

"Amazing," Troy said leaning down to connect their lips in the softest of the kisses. "You?"

"Perfect," Gabriella answered smiling at him and caressing the small of his back.

"I am glad," Troy murmured with his lips inches apart from hers making inevitable for him to kiss her deeply, plunging his tongue into her mouth and rolling her body until her back touched the mattress, hovering her body with his.

Gabriella welcomed him opening her legs so he could rest more comfortably in between them, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling her body closer to his. Their tongues danced sensually together, both teens trying to convey their love in the kiss and being successful in their task.

When the need of air became a problem they pulled apart, only to rub their noses together with their eyes locked and with smiles drawn in their faces. "Love you," Troy murmured softly.

"I love you too," Gabriella answered tightening her arms around him and crushing his body into hers, hugging him with all her might; Troy returned the gesture burying his face into her curls, kissing the hollow under her ear softly randomly.

The alarm of his phone beeped startling the couple. Gabriella groaned and Troy winced. "Baby?" He asked when he pulled away from her to reach for his phone and turn the alarm off.

"Uh?" Gabriella responded absently turning her face to look at Troy.

"Do you want to skip?" He asked sweetly thinking about the events of the day before and wanting nothing more than made things for Gabriella easier. Maybe a day without stress would help her to feel better.

"Yes," she whispered and Troy nodded; he wasn't about to force her to anything because he wanted to make sure Gabriella was okay before she faced the school again. However, Gabriella's voice sounded again. "But we are going to the school."

The firmness of her voice shocked him. "You sure?" He asked lying again and caressing her hair from her cheek. "I don't want for you to feel pressured baby," he whispered.

"I know," Gabriella said softly locking her eyes with his. "But I need to show Sharpay and all the whores at school that I am not afraid of them; I need to prove myself that I am not a loser, that they are wrong when they tell me that I don't deserve you."

"I am the one who doesn't deserve you," Troy whispered quietly. "I am sorry…" He said with his face buried into her hair again.

"Don't be," Gabriella whispered. "What it's important is that now both you and I know the other's nightmares baby. Now we both know what we are facing; we know the enemy now…and we are going to fight against it together."

"Together," Troy confirmed looking into her eyes. "I love you so fucking much Gabriella, you don't have any idea…you are what keep me going…"

"The feeling is mutual," Gabriella said smiling.

Troy needed to be sure Gabriella was okay enough to go to the school and face Sharpay and her crew. "Are you sure you want to go to the school?" He insisted needing the reassurance she was acting this way because she wanted to act this way.

Gabriella nodded. "I am sure," she said taking a deep breath. "I can go to the school with my head high because I haven't done anything but love you…and I'm proud of it; I trust you babe, I know you love me and that you aren't going to dump me for any of them…"

"Never," Troy interrupted her seriously. "You are my life."

"With you by my side," Gabriella continued softly, "I know I can face all the sharpays in this world. She can say whatever she wants because, in the end, who is with you, who has your love and who knows and loves the real you it's me."

Troy was looking at her amazed; the strength their talk had brought to her was something incredible. He could see in her eyes she felt powerful, she felt strong enough to face whatever fate brought them and he felt proud. Proud because he'd never seen Gabriella this way and he concluded it was because Gabriella hadn't feel so sure about herself in her life. "I am so proud of you," Troy said firmly and with emotion laced in his voice.

Her sweet giggle made him smile. "You know what?"

"What?" He asked curiously and smiling down at her.

"Don't laugh, uh?" She warned sternly but blushing furiously. Suddenly it didn't seem as good idea as she had thought in the beginning.

"Laugh?" Troy asked shocked. "Why should I laugh?"

"You see…" She muttered embarrassedly. "Okay, here it goes…I…I…think that…well now…"

"Baby," he cut her stopping her rambling. "What do you want to say?"

Gabriella took a deep breath. "Only that I'm feeling closer to you now…I don't know, it's like we are one person only…" She whispered with emotion laced in her voice.

Burying her face in his chest waiting for his laughter to come, Gabriella was startled when Troy pulled her face away from its place and looked at her with a serious face. "Yesterday I was thinking the same…"

Gabriella gasped; she knew the emotion and love she was seeing into Troy's eyes were the same she was feeling towards him. A lonely tear escaped from her eyes and Troy kissed it away, rolling onto his back and crushing her body into his. "Come on," Gabriella said with a watery smile after some minutes. "We have to go to school…"

She wanted nothing more than to loose herself into his arms, but she needed to prove herself that she could win over Sharpay; she needed to prove herself that what she had with Troy was powerful enough to give her the strength needed for her to face everything. She needed to prove him that he was her best friend, and that with his support, she was okay.

When she began to pull away, Troy tightened his hold. "In a minute; but promise me something first…"

"What?" Gabriella asked bewildered.

"If either of us is feeling sad, depressed, hurt or whatever," Troy began softly, "we are going to talk with each other. Not more secrets between us."

Seeing the seriousness in his face Gabriella couldn't help but nod. She was shocked that this idea had come from Troy, but she couldn't agree more with it; it would be like in the very beginning when they were like each other's diary. "I promise."

"Good." Troy said pecking her lips softly. "Do you want to shower first?"

Gabriella stood up from the bed and looked at him tilting her head to her right as if she was thinking. "And what about if we share the shower?" She said winking and going to the bathroom not waiting for him to answer.

When her words were registered by Troy's brain, he jumped out of the bed and ran into the bathroom, grabbing Gabriella's waist and spinning her around between chuckles and giggles.

However, soon all the teasing disappeared; Troy undressed Gabriella carefully and with deliberately slowness, and then was Gabriella who undressed him, caressing his torso with her fingertips while they waiting for the water to turn hot.

Embracing her, Troy stepped into the shower never breaking skin contact with her; the couple kissed deeply and passionately and soon they became one.

Gabriella was looking herself in the mirror, applying some make up to her specially glowing face while Troy was shaving himself without being able to whip the smile of his face. The couple lock eyes for a moment and both smiled; both were feeling pure happiness, pure bliss, and both knew that everything would be okay. Both were feeling high; not only because the sex had been amazing, which it had been, but because both were feeling like they were at the first stage of their relationship again. It was as if they were rediscovering each other's minds and bodies all over again...and falling in love again in the process.

"Starbucks?" Troy asked putting on his jeans when the couple was getting dressed in her room.

"Yay!" Gabriella squealed. "Really?" She asked throwing her arms around his neck excitedly.

Troy laughed. "Of course. Are you ready?"

"Sure," Gabriella said impatiently. "Come on Troy!"

Putting his shirt on, Troy took a look to the room checking that he wasn't forgetting anything. When he was sure he had all he needed with him, Troy grabbed her hand and pulled her downstairs. "Do you have everything with you?"

She nodded. "Come on, you can go and unlock the car while I lock the door."

Her businesslike voice made him chuckle. "A little eager are we, uh baby…"

Gabriella turned around after she had locked the house and saw that Troy was still walking to his car. Smirking, she began to run after him jumping onto his back without warning. "You know you love me…" She said nonchalantly kissing his cheek.

He tightened his hold on her legs and nodded. "That I do…"

Arriving at his car, he left Gabriella in the passenger's side, opening the door for her and closing it softly behind her. Troy went to the driver's seat and drove to the nearest Starbucks, where he bought their breakfast after a little argument about who had to pay it. He, of course, had won, but only because he had been faster than her in to take the money out of his wallet. Gabriella had pouted after that, and Troy almost fell for it, but he had chosen to close his eyes to avoid the temptation and had kissed her pout away.

Parking in his assigned spot when they arrived at the school, Troy killed the engine and turned to look at her. "Ready baby?"

"More than ready," Gabriella said sternly. "Let's go."

They stepped outside the car and Troy went to her side, which was more out of sight from curious stares so they had more privacy and kissed her with all his might. "I love you so fucking much, ok? Don't doubt about that…and don't let anyone tell you the opposite."

"Thanks," Gabriella smiled when they pulled away. "I love you too…"

Troy reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers together. They walked to the doors of East High with their faces cold, serious and ignoring the whispers, glares and stares. Gabriella didn't hide her face; she remained with her head high, looking directly into the girls' eyes as if daring them to say something. Troy was squeezing her fingers randomly when he noticed some of the glares; it was the least he could do…give her support through that hell that East High's corridors were.

Gabriella and Troy only parted ways when they reached their homeroom class; Troy remained outside talking with Chad and some players of the basketball team while Gabriella went inside the classroom with Taylor, talking about the next Decathlon Team's meeting. Neither Taylor nor Gabriella paid attention to anyone; they knew people were observing them and were whispering about them, but they were acting as if nothing was happening, as if they were alone.

However, the air in the classroom suddenly became denser, colder…and Gabriella turned her face to look at the door.

Sharpay and her posse were there, looking at her with pure hate. "What the fuck are you doing here Montez?"

Taylor looked at Gabriella afraid of her reaction; she only hoped Gabriella wouldn't run away like she did the day before. What consoled her, though, was that Troy and Chad were outside the classroom. However, she wasn't prepared for Gabriella's reaction.

Gabriella began to laugh. "You are really dumb…"

"Uh?" Sharpay asked confused. "Are you trying to imply something?"

"No," Gabriella asked amusedly. "I'm not implying anything. I'm saying you are dumb."

Sharpay shrieked. "At least I'm not a nerd."

"That's the best you can say?" Gabriella asked in a "duh" way. "Call me a nerd again if you want…I prefer to be clever than an idiot…"

"At least I don't escape crying my eyes out because I can't stand the truth." Sharpay stated in a mockery baby voice.

Gabriella's hand became fists and she closed her eyes, willing for her worries and fear to not overcome her. Opening her eyes slowly, Taylor was startled when she saw the furiousness that was inside of them; gulping, she backed away a little from Gabriella, while Gabriella took a step into Sharpay's direction. "The truth?"

Her hiss didn't startle Sharpay. "Oh yeah, the truth about you not deserving him; about you being a loser…you know…about him being mine…"

"You are wrong," Gabriella stated. "I'm fed up with you bitch. But you know what? I'm not going to waste my time here discussing with you something that doesn't depend of you or even of me. I think we should ask Troy…in the end, you are claiming him as yours, so maybe Troy has something to say…"

Troy and Chad had been observing the scene from the doorframe when Taylor had texted Chad alerting them about a new confrontation between Gabriella and Sharpay; Chad had wanted to intervene but Troy had stopped him. That was Gabriella's moment; she had to do that alone…but he would be closer to her only if she needed him. He would be her shadow, alert, in case Gabriella was about to break.

Stepping inside the classroom, Troy's voice sounded loud, firm and clear. "Troy has something to say about what?" He asked placing himself beside Gabriella, leaning down to kiss her lips.

"Sharpay here wanted to tell you something…" Gabriella said amused.

"What?" Troy asked flatly looking at Sharpay.

Sharpay stood there dumbfounded but recovered quickly. "Tell her you are with me Troy," Sharpay demanded in a pitchy voice. "Confess to her that you are pretending to be with her because someone dared you to do so…tell her the truth and so you and I can be together without burdens interfering."

Her last words had been directed to Gabriella who flinched a little but recovered when Troy placed one hand in the small of her back and rubbed her skin softly. "Yes Troy," she said turning to look at him. "Tell me…please…"

Troy was fighting the smile which was trying to escape from him when he was looking at Gabriella; Gabriella mocking Sharpay was something priceless. Snickers could be listened around the classroom, and the louder came from Chad, who was placed beside Taylor watching the show. "Kiss her already!"

Taylor laughed at her boyfriend's antics, slapping his chest playfully and Gabriella giggled.

"I think Chad is right." Troy stated coldly but with an edge in his voice that Gabriella recognized at once. He leaned down to devour Gabriella's mouth, wrapping his arms around her waist tightly and plunging his tongue into her mouth, savouring her mint taste and loving the sensation his tongue intertwined with hers made him feel while Gabriella embraced his neck with her arms, playing with the little hairs of his nape and smiling into the kiss.

Pulling away when the need of air became too much, Gabriella whispered with her lips inches apart from his. "Too clever dorky…avoiding the laughter with a kiss…"

Troy buried his face into her curls hiding the smile of his face and Gabriella turned to look at Sharpay. "Does that answer your questions bitch? Troy and I are together, deal with it."

When Troy recovered and his face became cold again he spoke directly to Sharpay and everyone that was around them. "I'm with Gabriella Sharpay; if you annoy her again, your life will be a living fucking hell, is that clear? Touch her and you'll have to pay." And looking to everyone he continued his speech. "That goes to all of you. If either of you hurts Gabriella, I'll hunt him or her down until the end of the world if that's needed. Got it?"

His words were low, but that was what made them more threatening; his cold face, the ice placed in his eyes…Troy was really frightening when he wanted to be, and in that moment he needed to be frightening, because he wanted to make a point; he wanted to protect Gabriella and he wanted for all the fucking whores of the school to know that Gabriella was untouchable for them to hurt her...and for all the guys of the school to know that Gabriella was taken.

People were staring at him dumbfounded, a lot with fear in their faces, but no one said anything. "Got it?" Troy hissed again between his teeth.

People nodded, too afraid to talk. "Good." Reaching for Gabriella's hand, he pulled her body onto his lap when he sat in his desk, and turned around to talk with Taylor and Chad, who were smiling as if nothing had just happened.

Gabriella looked behind her only to see Sharpay fuming and glaring at her. She couldn't help herself, she winked at Sharpay smirking playfully and then Sharpay screamed, making everyone to look at her, and then she shouted. "Girls!"

She stepped outside the classroom with her posse following behind her and Gabriella giggled with Taylor, while Chad snickered and Troy buried his face in her chest, so no one saw him laugh.

"Well done sis!" Chad exclaimed giving a high five to Gabriella who returned the gesture and laughed with her friends, feeling her heart really full for the very first time in years.

"You know," she stated softly so only her friends and Troy hear her, "to be able to defend me by myself feels good."

Chad and Taylor nodded giving her a small smile and Troy leaned up to whisper into her ear. "You've been fucking amazing. I am very proud of you."

His serious statement made fireworks explode in Gabriella's heart, and she couldn't help but lean in and peck his lips softly. "Love you…"

"I love you too."