A/N: Okay, before you read the chapter! I went a totally different way here and I'm actually really nervous, dealing with all this heavy stuff because I never went through any of it. I'm really worried I haven't gotten it down right, but at the same time, hey, it's all fiction, right? God, I'm really nervous for this chapter. =S


Chapter 11

Troy stole a quick glance at Gabriella. The girl – no, woman – sitting across from him had became such an integral part of his life, an unexpected character when he first returned to New Mexico. And now, all he wanted to do was to give himself to her.

"What is it?" she asked, her eyes intent on his. He exhaled loudly, mustering up all his courage.

"I want to tell you how I got here," he said, quietly. Gabriella nodded, sitting up straighter. "I used to live in Albuquerque. You knew that. Sharpay's family and mine were really close, so we grew up together. My dad got a job in Boston when I turned ten, so we moved there. Once we got to Boston, things started to change. I guess my dad was stressed out with work or something, I never really knew the full extent of it. Anyway, he got fired,"

"Troy…we don't have to talk about this," Gabriella suddenly said, placing a comforting hand over his. She sensed he was agitated and tense about telling her the story and as much as she wanted to hear, she was a little afraid as to what might come.

"No, I want to. Okay. So, my dad got fired. And mom…she was working three jobs, just to make ends meet. He was pretty much pissed off most of the time and I guess my mom couldn't take it anymore, so she started drinking," Troy looked down at his jeans and wiped away a tear. He hated talking about his family, but in that moment, with Gabriella, it felt right. "It got really bad, with mom away all the time and dad staying at home. I threw myself into basketball and it was a big place, so nobody really knew what was going on back home. Things just came to a head and all of a sudden, I'd start coming home to my dad and mom, fighting all the time. At first he'd just throw glasses, plates, even the occasional table. But then he started throwing punches. To my mom," Troy exhaled loudly, wringing his hands. He cracked a smile, as Gabriella took one of his hands into hers and started rubbing it comfortingly. "Then the divorce papers came. And that took a while, with court dates, and they were fighting over who got custody of me. See, even when things weren't right between them, I still think they loved me,"

"I'm sure they did…I'm sure they do," Gabriella said, tears forming in her eyes.

"Anyway, the court said it wasn't fit for me to have an addict for a mom, so dad got custody. We moved out to New York and I guess my mom moved back to Albuquerque. Things in New York were good, you know? I played basketball, got on the varsity team, made captain, all that stuff. Anyway, it was after graduation and I got accepted to Columbia. I was pretty stoked, living with my dad, going to college in the city. Things were turning around. But then…" Troy trailed off.

"Then?" Gabriella prodded him.

"Then I came home from a two-on-two game with some of my friends. I went upstairs, opened the door…my dad was on top of this girl. She was struggling, she didn't want to be there, I could tell. I screamed, pulled him off of her, but he pushed me away," Troy blinked, tears falling down his cheeks.

"Oh. Troy, is that why…" Gabriella couldn't form the words. She was crying, her heart breaking for her boyfriend and what he had witnessed.

"He went right back to doing what he was doing before I got there. It was sick, Gabi. I pulled him off of her again, told her to get the fuck out of there, and I punched my dad. I punched my own father in the face," Troy ran a hand through his hair. He looked up at Gabriella, seeing tears fall down her cheeks and he brushed them away. "I packed my bags, left on the next flight to New Mexico. I turned down Columbia, enrolled in U of A. And that's how I ended up here," he said with a finality.

"Troy…" Gabriella stuttered. "With Chase…and you r dad…you've gone through…." she let out a nervous laugh at herself, unable to form coherent sentences.

"Look, I know I've been through a lot. But I don't want pity. I just wanted…I needed you to know the past. After what happened last night, I spent most of my time just thinking things over and I feel like, by telling you, I'm a step closer to solving these issues, you know?" Troy said calmly. Gabriella smiled, at her strong, courageous boyfriend. At the start of summer, she only wanted to let loose and have fun. She wanted to remember her summer, but she thought she would remember it by the parties and the hookups. Now, she knew, that the summer held something so much more.

"Troy, I think you're an amazing person. Inside and out. And I love that you could share that with me, I'm proud of you," Gabriella murmured. "I love you. And I'll never leave you," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I love you, too," Troy whispered, bringing his lips down to hers. Gabriella lost herself in the kiss, being brought back to the first time she had ever touched his lips. She was unsure then, unaware of the troubles that Troy had gone through. Troy and Gabriella had started through a game of cat and mouse, but over the past few weeks, they both knew it was something deeper than that. Somewhere along the way, unexpectedly, they had fallen in love.


A/N: OH MY GOD. Okay. I know it's a really short chapter to end this entire thing. But to be honest, I grew really bored of the plot, which is kind of bad, seeing as how I realize this put the entire fanfic to an abrupt stop. Yes, in case you haven't noticed, this is the last chapter. I could really use some reviewing and advice, as this is my first piece ever to be posted on FF. I'm working on something new (details are in my profile!), so we'll see how that goes. Honestly, I don't like the way Unexpected ended, but it had to, you guys! It was feeling played out. Lol. But read and review, please, I still want to know what the readers think.

Also, thank you so much to everybody who's put me on their favorite lists or have put me on their alerts! Also a huge thanks to everybody who has reviewed this. It really means a lot to me and it gives me motivation to continue writing fanfic! So thank you, thank you, thank you! Hugs and kisses to all. =)