AuthorsNote: So I know it's been a while but I do have a chapter for everyone. Life is well…life. Thanks for everyone who reviewed, and though there is like a 1 in 6000000000 chance that she will ever read this giving a shout out to Baby V(Vanessa Hudgens) I still love you after the whole pics and don't think you're a bad role model or anything negative that people are saying about you. So yeah…definitely still support her. Alright now onto the chapter…hopefully I get my mojo up and some time to finish writing the next one.

Props to my beta xxKaitlynnMariexx

Disclaimer: You know the things that don't belong to me…come on…



Chapter 24

Gabriella's eyes crept open, and she stared into darkness. Sighing heavily she flipped on her back, kicking the blankets off of her. Her hand made it to her throbbing head. Staring up at the dark ceiling for a few minutes she lifted herself up. Her head was killing her. Reaching out her hand she felt the pain killers that Troy had placed there. Popping two in her mouth she took the semi warm water next to them and swallowed.

Gabriella took a deep breath and leaned against the headboard glancing over at the person that was still tucked deep under the blankets. She frowned as she thought about the past day. It had not gone the way that she had wanted it to. Yes it started out well. But now she was getting upset.

Stupid bitch. She couldn't get it past her head that Madison actually tried to kill her. What else could she be doing? No one had never tried to murder her before, and that was very distressing. Who knew what else that girl would do or come up with it. And not only did Madison try to kill her, Troy had automatically defended her. That's what he did and him trying to say anything else was bullshit. He defended his ex-girlfriend who tried to kill his current girlfriend. Troy was suppose to jump right up and scream at her. Tell her that he never wanted to see her again, and even though she's a female, that he would throw her across the room next time she stepped foot around them.

She groaned softly and reached over to grab her jeans that were on the floor. She searched her the pockets for her cell. She needed to talk and vent. Though it was the middle of the night, friends were suppose to be there at anytime. She dialed the number.

As it rung she slowly got out of the bed and made her way towards the large window away from Troy. She didn't want to wake him up.

"You do know it's three in the morning right?" Came a sleepy voice.

"I was almost murdered." she whispered fiercely.

"What! Oh…sorry babe…"

Gabriella frowned. "Chad's there with you? In you're room? With your parents--"

"No. I'm at the hotel with him. I'm suppose to be staying the night with Sharpay. Surprisingly she agreed with the idea." Gabriella heard her sigh. "Now you almost were murdered?"

She glanced over at Troy to see that he was still sleeping and launched into her story whispering heatedly.

"Are you sure she--" Taylor started.

"Please not you too. I know she did this Taylor. I don't know where she got it from, but she held up three needles and said have a nice trip. She did that shit on purpose."

"Alright I believe you. I thought you said that Troy believed you." Taylor asked with a yawn.

"After the fact. After I had to convince him. God I'm so pissed at him." She seethed.

"Yeah I would be also."

"I mean. She almost killed me and he took her side. I mean he didn't defend me or yell at her or anything. He just took me home. I mean--if someone tried to kill him I would defend him. You know how dangerous horses are. I mean I was on back of a dangerous beast!" She glanced over at Troy making sure her ramblings didn't wake him before she continued. "I swear if I see her again, you might have to come and visit me in prison, because I will kill her myself." She sighed. "It's like I don't even feel safe with her around anymore. She has been trailing us since I've been here."

"Listen Gabriella maybe you should tell Troy you're real feelings, I'm sure he'd want to know."

"No. No…I just…I'm too frustrated at him at this moment. Just the whole him not defending me thing. I mean if I could I would defend him against Kade."

"I'm telling you, tell him. It'll be better. You both need to just let it all go, and tell both of you let go of any secrets or--"

"Secrets?" Gabriella mouth dropped open as she looked out the window. "What secrets. Did Troy tell you a secret or something."

"No. no. no. Um…No. I'm just…saying." Taylor mumbled. "You know girl…I'm seriously so tired can I call you later."

"Don't you dare hang up on me!" She whispered harshly. "I swear--"

Click.

Gabriella looked down on her phone mouth open in shocked. That…bitch. In a nice way. She looked over at Troy and saw him turn in his sleep. Was he keeping a secret from her? Maybe Taylor really was tired and didn't know what she was talking about.

Looking out in the dark night once more before sighing, she made her way back to the bed. Her hand reached out and ran her fingers softly through Troy's locks. She was so pissed. She seriously thought that he didn't care enough about her life, to defend her. Could she stay with someone like that? Especially when he defended that stupid, criminal bitch.

Her mind was baffled, and her eyes drooped as she continue to think about that question as she fell into a deep slumber.

****

Christmas. It wasn't that she dreaded it. It was because it was another day. Another day of acting like everything was alright. Another day pretending to be happy, when in reality she felt the most depressed she had felt in a while. Yesterday felt like the slowest day of her life. Even when they had broken up she hadn't felt like this. All day yesterday she was trying to prove to herself and to Troy that everything was alright. When in reality everything wasn't. She had pretended most of the day to finish putting the touches on his Christmas present just to stay away from him.

She had actually been thinking about his gift for a while and she knew that he would love it, especially since he didn't have one in his apartment. She had spent a pretty penny on his gift but truly did not mind. She had the money, not to mention she loved him, even though she was pissed at him.

Opening her eyes she took a deep breath, inhaling the delicious smelling food. She felt a hand creep around her stomach and she sighed.

"Merry Christmas."

She turned around, only to be kissed softly. Closing her eyes tightly she kissed him back. "Merry Christmas."

"Did you have a good night sleep?" He asked sleep still in his voice.

"Yeah." She lied easily. "What about you?"

He shook his head. "Not really, I was worrying a lot."

She frowned and sat up. "About what? What do you have to worry about?"

"Lots of things." He mumbled, before giving her a tight smile and kissing her again. "Mom is probably has breakfast all ready for us. Big Christmas breakfast."

Gabriella smiled and stood up. Her back was still a little sore but she knew that everything was alright body wise. Getting dressed in a long white skirt, and a red blouse, she followed Troy out of the room and downstairs towards the kitchen.

Usually Christmas morning with her family consisted of getting up, getting her presents, and then going to visit family. There was no sit down family time or anything like that. She had to visit rich, stuck up people drinking champagne. Yes, this was actually much better.

"Wow mom, you really out did yourself." Troy said sitting next to his father, while she sat next down to him.

There was so much food on the table, Gabriella knew that it was almost impossible for them to eat it all. With wide eyes she looked at Mrs. Bolton.

"What we don't finish we give to the shelters." Mrs. Bolton answered her unspoken question.

Shelters? She had never gave anything to a shelter before. Biting her lip, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Her family hadn't even thought about giving left over food to shelters.

"That's nice." She said.

During breakfast, the Bolton's spoke of the past Christmases, and the funny things that went on during the day. Gabriella laughed genuinely at the stories told.

"Okay…time to open presents!" His mother squealed. "We'll clean up later."

They were soon in the living room sitting under the huge white Christmas tree that was in the corner. She remembered putting up the tree with Mrs. Bolton and being surprise that they didn't go out and get a real one like her own household usually had. Mrs. Bolton declared that she hated cleaning up the needles once Christmas was over and not only that White Christmas trees were just better all around.

There were tons of presences under the tree. She was pretty sure that they weren't all for her or the Bolton's. She sat next to Troy, his arm around her. She relaxed against him as his mother started handing out presents.

"Gabriella. This is from Jack and myself." She said handing her a small wrapped box.

Gabriella shook her head. "You uh…you didn't have to get me anything. Really."

"Nonsense. You're Troy's girlfriend and a friend of the family's open it."

Gabriella looked over at Troy and he nodded his head to her to continue. Opening the gift she smiled softly at the present inside. Gasping, she touched the gold jewelry lightly. Smooth and hard, Gabriella could tell just by looking at it that it was very much real. She looked up with wide eyes.

"I can't take this…this looks very expensive." She stuttered. She looked back at the gold bracelet and the small charms that hung from it. She sighed.

"Please accept it Gabriella." Jack said sincerely.

"I picked out the charms. Not a lot but I figured that you could always add more. See this one is of a little bone…cause you know you teach health, and this one right here is of a little Christmas Tree, for spending your first Christmas with us."

Gabriella sighed deeply looking up at them. She really felt very uncomfortable accepting the gift. It wasn't like her and Troy had been dating for years…hell it wasn't even been a whole year itself. Not even that she hadn't even known the Bolton's long enough to get a present like this. She would have been happy with socks.

"This is a lot. I mean I didn't get anything like this for you guys. Seriously my gift is almost nothing compared to--"

"Gabriella. If you don't take it it'll be inconsiderate so please." Mrs. Bolton said. "I'm sure whatever you gave us we'll like."

Gabriella fought the urge to roll her eyes and instead nodded her head with a thanks, and placed the bracelet on her arm with the help of Troy.

"Well I guess I might as well hand out the presents I got you guys." She said handing the selected gifts to the parents.

They were very thankful for the personalized golf balls, and bread maker that she had given. Seriously as grateful as she was for them having her stay with them, she didn't want to get anything too personal.

She knew that they were saving the exchange between her and Troy last. Troy gave his mother a weekend trip to a spa while giving his father a weekend trip to a exclusive golf course. His parents in turn gave him a new stereo for his car.

"Okay so Gabriella would you like to give Troy his gift?" His mother practically squealed. She laughed softly and picked up the small box before handing it to Troy.

"Merry Christmas." She said smiling.

He glanced up at her with a smirk on his lips before his hand unwrapped the small box. She held her breath as he picked up the flimsy piece of paper.

"A picture of a piano?" He said giving her a questioning look.

Gabriella nodded her head. "Yeah, well it would probably be difficult to get it here, and then transport it back to Albuquerque."

His eyes widen with shock "How…how--"

"Well I know you're really into music, and how much you love it so I got you a piano. It's only a baby grand, and I had to have it delivered in the school in your classroom since the apartment is a bit to small, but when you move or get a bigger place, they'll transport it there."

He gasped again with a shake of his head. "You got me a piano?"

Gabriella nodded again with a laugh. "Yeah. I mean that one at school is so old, and always needs tuning, it's hard learning--" Gabriella breath caught as she looked over at his parents who both had smiles on their face. "I mean, your students probably have a hard time learning when you're always turning that old thing so, I decided to get you a knew one."

"It must have cost you a pretty penny. It's absolutely beautiful." He said looking down at the white baby grand piano.

Gabriella shrugged. She felt relived that he liked her very first Christmas present. She watched as he leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips. Gabriella closed her eyes briefly enjoying the feel.

"Thank you." He whispered against her lips.

Gabriella smiled. "You're welcome."

Troy showed his mother and father the picture, each agreeing that it was a beautiful instrument. She watched with a quickly beating heart as Troy bent down by the tree and handed her a somewhat heavy square gift, before sitting back down beside her. She sighed deeply, and pushed her hair behind her ear before unwrapping the gift.

She had gotten plenty of presents before for guys. Even a few from Kade, and she had never been this nervous. Probably because she had so much going in her mind about the whole Madison thing. She wasn't trying to be superficial by any means, it was just this gift would show her if he was serious or…well…not.

Once the paper was lifted from the gift her eyes fell on a dark, shiny mahogany box. There was a small lock in the front and she looked at Troy with questioning eyes.

"Open it. Just push that button right there."

She placed her thumb on the button and opened it with a pop. Her breath caught as she looked down at the most gorgeous comb/mirror/ brush set. There were four compartments holding a beautiful object. A hand held mirror, a wide tooth comb, and a small brush, as well as a beautiful butterfly hair barrette. He could tell that it wasn't brand new. There was a bit of a wear on the beautiful silver, but everything was clean and shiny. She look up at Troy with a open mouth.

"These are…where did you get these…"

"There were my grandmothers." He said softly.

"What?" She asked breathless.

"My grandmothers." he repeated.

She shook her head in amazement. He had given her, his grandmothers property. She could feel her heart drop into her stomach.

"I can't take this…I mean this is--" She started.

"I want you to have it." He said. "My uh…she actually left it for me. My mother just told me she gave it to her to give to me when I met…you. When I met the person that was meant for me."

She felt tears come to her eyes while she stare at him. "I--this is…wow…" She couldn't help but to wipe those tears. "Thank you…this is the most thoughtful gift Troy. I promise I'll take perfect care of them. Thank you."

She gently closed the box and put it aside before throwing herself into his arms, hugging him as tightly as she could.

"I love you." He whispered in her ear.

"I love you too." she whispered back. A huge smile formed on her face. She had no reason to be suspicious or upset at him anymore. The gift was so thoughtful and so beautiful that she was speechless and did the next best thing by kissing him.

"I'll go get that."

She heard Mrs. Bolton call out. She didn't hear anything as she continued to kiss Troy deeply, she didn't even see his father get up and leave the room also. She wanted so much to drag him back to his childhood room and have her way with him. She knew she was going to have to back off soon though, she didn't want his parents to become uncomfortable but when Troy pulled her even tighter against him, she moaned loudly.

"I--uh…I don't think--" She heard Mrs. Bolton mumble.

Gabriella sighed, not wanting to disrespect her in her home and she pulled back from Troy, who looked highly disappointed.

"What wrong?" He whispered huskily.

She smiled and looked up at his mother, pointing at her before my smile fell off her face. What the hell!

"Merry Christmas!"

Troy sat up suddenly, making Gabriella fall against the other side of the couch.

"What are you doing here?" Gabriella asked Madison, sitting up from the couch.

The blonde looked pretty ridicules in her slutty Santa outfit. The short furry skirt, with the small shirt that showed basically everything. And those thigh high boots, well, at least she's not cold, Gabriella thought sarcastically.

"I came to bring presents." She said as though nothing had happen two days ago.

"Madison." Mrs. Bolton said. "I told you that I could take the gifts, but I don't think--"

"Don't be ridiculous. We're all friends here."

She scoffed at her interrupting Mrs. Bolton. Troy sighed and shook his head before standing up. "Mom…can you uh…give us some privacy. Just for a second."

Mrs. Bolton nodded her head. "I'll go see what your father is up to."

She glanced around the room. She didn't even notice that he had left. Turning back to Troy, she watched with a frown on her face as he placed his hands on his hips with his head down.

Gabriella looked at Madison and couldn't help the hate that rose in her. She tried her hardest to continue to sit down and not throw her hands around Madison's neck.

"What are you doing here Madison?" Troy asked in a low voice.

"I came to bring presents." She said before setting the gifts on the table.

"I don't think you should be here. Not now…not uh…not ever."

Madison smiled. "Well why ever not." She asked sweetly.

"Because you tried to kill me!" Gabriella yelled, not being able to keep it in anymore.

Madison rolled her eyes. "No I didn't. I can't help it if the horse went crazy while you were on it, but don't blame me."

I looked at Troy who looked at me with raised eyebrows. I scoffed again. He wasn't going to believe me again!

"Madison. I don't want to see you again." He said. "I don't want you around me, Gabriella, or my parents. I swear we'll press charges against you."

"Charges?" She asked surprised. "I am the one that should be pressing charges against her. That bitch was the one that attacked me."

Troy grabbed her arm and pulled her against him. "Watch your fucking mouth when you're talking about my girlfriend. I want nothing to do with you Madison. We broke up, the end."

Madison's eyes filled with tears, and Gabriella scoffed. "But…I apologized, and I--"

"And I thank you for that apology, but I don't want to see you anymore."

Gabriella breath hitched as she looked between Madison and Troy. Was he really not going to see her anymore?

"But--"

"No buts Madison. You need to leave."

Madison stomped her foot in irritation. "No! Troy you can't do this. I'm still in love with you and there is no way it's going to go away. What I did was stupid, I know, but the love we shared, the things we went through can't compare to what you and…her" Madison pointed at Gabriella. "Went through. What we have is real."

Gabriella bit her lip, wondering how Troy would react to that.

"Madison, you broke up with me and you know what." He sighed deeply. "It was one of the best things you did for me because I wouldn't have found Gabi. I love her more than anything in the world, and I would do anything for her." Troy smiled at Gabriella and moved to stand next to her. "I'm so sorry Gabi. I know I've already said it but I'm sorry for not believing you. You have no reason to lie, and I guess I was just a bit…"

Gabriella shook her head seeing the conflict in his eyes. "Don't beat yourself up Troy. As long as you believe me. I can forgive you."

"Are you fucking crazy. She is manipulating you!" Madison screeched. "Do you actually believe that I would try and kill her!"

Troy's hands fell off of Gabriella as he turned around.

"Maybe not try and kill her but I believe that you tried to hurt her. Hurt her bad, just to get your way. You've always done anything to get what you wanted Madison and you know at first I thought it was just ambition, but your vindictive, and I want nothing else to do with you. Get out."

Madison took a deep breath before nodding her head. She smiled sweetly and made her way over to Gabriella.

Gabriella stared at the girl with a smile of her own on her face. Troy had finally stood up for her. He Finally told this ridiculous female to take a hike, and get out of his life for good. Life definitely could not get any better.

"I'm going to get you Gabriella. You just wait. You haven't heard the last of me, and next time we do meet, you're going down."

Gabriella smirked as she saw Troy grab Madison by the arm and pulled her away.

"Like I said before. You come anywhere near Gabriella and I'll make you pay personally. Now I am not going to tell you again. Get out."

Madison snatched her arm away from his before glaring at Gabriella once more. She turned around on her high heels and stomped out of the house slamming the door on her way out.

Gabriella took a deep breath and smiled at Troy.

"Thank you."

Troy shook his head. "There is nothing to thank me for."

Gabriella walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I know. Especially how you pissed me off."

"Yeah, I know I apologized before but I am sorry, for you know…for not believing you. I really do ya know." He sighed deeply and had a far off look in his eye before he focused back on her.

She nodded her head. As much as a part of her wanted to continue being mad at him she wasn't going to dwell on it. He was with her, and not Madison. And he was going to continue to be with her.

She stood on her toes and pressed her lips against his. His hands reached down and cupped her butt making her feet leave the ground and Gabriella took the opportunity to wrap her legs around his waste.

"You know…I'd really like to have another Christmas present." he said his lips on her jaw and traveling down her neck.

"I liked to also." she moaned.

Troy held her against him as he traveled back up the stairs with Gabriella locked around him.

"What about your parents.?" She asked her lips all over his face, and they entered his bedroom.

"I'm sure they are pretty occupied." He ran his hands up her skirt and thighs.

"Ew…don't bring that up right now." She laughed into his neck.

"You brought them up first." he laughed back at her.

She felt herself being put on the bed, but he didn't follow. She watched as he looked down at her with a smirk on his face as he took his shirt off. Her eyes ran over his warm hard chest. Her eyes trailed down to his defined muscles. His profound pectorals. She slowly and seductively trailed her moist tongue over her lips. Her gaze dropped lower to his abs. Each muscle was so toned and defined. He worked out hard, and it showed by the look of his six pack. Then came the golden brown hair that continued into his boxers, she so badly wanted to trace her tongue down that very path. She felt liquid pool at her core as she watched his hands settle on the button of his jeans. He slowly unbuttoned them, in a teasing way, then pulled them down with ease, showing his sculpted legs. He was so beautiful, she thought as she looked over his entire body.

She trembled as he placed a knee on the bed and towered over her, kissing her. Gabriella ran a hand through his hair pressing herself tightly towards him. Their tongues fought a war neither one would win. For they were both trying to out do the other. His hands ran down her body pulling the white skirt and panties down in one take.

Whether it was from the chill of the morning or his hands on her upper thighs, she felt goosebumps cover her body. His hands skillfully made their way up and Gabriella sat up so he could remove the shirt that covered the one of the things he loved so much. His hand cupped each globe, pinching the taunt hard nipple through the bra. Gabriella moaned, with her eyes tight as she felt his lips on her stomach. Those firm lips, she could not help but wish he would kiss her somewhere else. Her hands continued to play with his hair and her eyes snapped open when she felt his lips make their way up and cover a hard nipple in his mouth, taking the fabric of the bra with it.

He spent a good amount of time teasing her, going from one breast to the other. Gabriella tried many times to take her bra off so she could feel the skin on skin contact but he always swiped her hands away and continued on with his teasing.

"Troy, come on!" She mumbled trying to catch her breath. "Touch me. I want to feel your lips...please…"

"I'm working you up." he said against her bra. "I want to love you right."

Gabriella groaned as he bit down on her softly. "GOD!" she tightened her hands around his head. "Babe…you know how much I love making love to you, but I just want you to fuck me!"

He looked up and raised an eyebrow. "Fuck you? We just got out of a huge fight and make-up sex is suppose to be…ya know."

Gabriella hands dropped form his hair and went to her own in frustration. "Troy. I love you. I do…I love everything about you, but…I want you to fuck me. We can make love after you give me a nice hard fuck."

She looked steadily into his eyes until he smiled.

A gasp escaped her lips when his hands reached up and actually tore the thin bra from her. His lips attack her breast sucking, biting, and pinching, each feeling wonderful for Gabriella.

Her hands went towards his boxers and she pulled them off. She felt his lips making their way down kissing hard but passionately. She arched her back and couldn't hold in a howl as he kissed her between her legs. He pressed his tongue inside, and up and down in long fast strokes. She knew that if she hadn't talked to him he would be taking his time…and she didn't want that.

She felt Troy's hand reach under her ass and pull her even closer to him, his face digging into him. She moaned again, forgetting about everything else: Madison, Troy's parents in the house, the whole teacher student thing. All of those things that she was worried about…just went out the door. She ground herself into his face and screamed as her body started to shake as the first tingling of her orgasm came forth. Her muscles contracted around his tongue and Gabriella practically heaved.

Her body felt like jello. She could barely moved and when Troy's hands ran up her back and lifted from the bed she gasped.

"Condom?" he mumbled his mouth still on her body. His hand reached out to find one, but Gabriella pulled her hand back.

"I'll take care of it…" She said breathlessly. She wanted all of him, nothing between them. She really needed to get on the pill again.

He glanced at her and nodded before he plunged himself into her, harder and faster than he ever had before. Gabriella wrapped her arms around his neck so she would not fall from him as he stood, still in her, still moving.

With her eyes closed she didn't notice when Troy placed her against the wall until she felt the cool solid behind her. Her eyes widen as he pushed into her harder and faster with each thrust. She could barely could hold herself up and her arms fell from his neck and down beside her as he rammed into her. Her moans filled the room joining Troy's as she felt him tense, pushing her body and milking it for all that it was worth, the light behind her eyes exploded as she felt him groan into her neck.

Her legs were still wrapped around him when he placed an arm on the wall behind her and leaned down. His lips brushed past her ear and they stood against the wall for a few more seconds trying to catch their breath.

Gabriella had never felt so satisfied and closed her eyes. She felt herself being pulled from the wall and being placed in the bed. Troy's arm around her.

"Merry Christmas, babe." he whispered in her ear.

Gabriella smiled softly and turned in his arms to look at him. Her hand reached up and pushed his damp hair from his eye. "Merry Christmas, Troy."


AuthorsNote: So how did you like it. I couldn't have Gabi break up with Troy I just couldn't…so I had him try and make it right. So review for me…get me to keep writing, and tell me how you like it.