Disclaimer I do not own High School Musical or any of its characters.

A/N: WOW!! Thank you so much for all the reviews! I was so surprised when I opened the e-mail to see all the reviews, favorites and alerts. Sorry this is so late, I've had a crazy week. Enjoy…

Last Time…

Jumping out of bed she had to steady herself as the dizzy feeling came over her again. She turned on the light so that she could where she was going. Frantically she ripped open the door and dashed down the hall. Arriving in the living room she stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of Troy, Lily and Lucas sitting around the coffee table playing cards and laughing.

Troy looked up from his cards and froze once he saw Gabriella's dumbfounded face.

Chapter Nine – Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Both Troy and Gabriella were paralyzed in their positions, neither knowing what should be said. Gabriella was terrified that Troy had figured out her secret and Troy was afraid Gabriella might still resent him. The pair was thankful when Lily broke the tension.

"Gabi! You're awake!" She exclaimed, making her way over to Gabriella for a hug. Lucas got up from his position on the floor to make his own way over to his older sister.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Fine" Gabriella answered. Her answer was generic and expressed in such a manner that left a tone of confusion in her voice.

"You sure?" Lucas asked. "because you still look kinda tired and pale." He commented.

"But that's only natural, I mean you did faint in school and you've been getting, what like 4 hours of sleep a night since school started" Lily added quickly.

Gabriella tried to process the information being thrown at her.

"Wait, back up, I fainted in school?" she asked. She remembered being tired and being in the library but after that everything else was a blur.

"Yeah, Troy said your head just kind of fell forward while you were sitting in the library. He said that Kelsi checked you over and she said you were alright, but you should probably go to the nurse. But Troy said if you went to the nurse you wouldn't get any sleep, so he brought you home." Lucas explained. As her brother explained the story she vaguely began to remember being in Troy's car and then telling him where she lived. She remembered just being so exhausted that her mind obviously hadn't been functioning properly. She glanced at Troy, who looked up at her sheepishly as he continued to clean up the playing cards scattered on the table.

"But what about-" Gabriella began, but she was cut off by Lily, who had some idea what her next question would be.

"Your cell phone must have fallen out of your pocket while you were in Troy's car, because when Luc and I called you from the school Troy picked up your phone. We were going to walk home, but Troy brought us here, he said he was on his way anyway." Lily explained.

Gabriella smiled at Troy gratefully, who by this time had finished picking up the cards,

"Thank you" she said softly.

Troy was grateful to hear those words instead of her asking him to leave. "It was my pleasure. Lucas and Lily are great"

Gabriella grinned, her eyes softening as she gazed at Troy intently. Troy's blue eyes studied her carefully, watching for any sign of weakness, any sign that she wasn't ok. Her eyes still held a sadness that he hoped she would be willing to talk about soon.

Lily smiled at the way Troy and Gabriella were looking at each other. She decided that the two needed to be alone right now.

"Luc wasn't there something you wanted to show me?" Lily asked Lucas, hoping he would get the hint, however she had no such luck.

"You know, the thing you were telling me about in school. The thing that I'm really excited to see" Lily said, trying at the same to make some sort of gesture toward Gabriella to try to get her idea across. Finally Lucas seemed to understand,

"Oh! That thing! Yeah I was going to show it to you as soon as we got home. Right. Let's go then" Lucas said awkwardly. Gabriella looked at the pair skeptically. Lucas and Lily flashed her innocent smiles before dashing off.

After the twins had disappeared into their room, Gabriella turned back to face Troy. As Troy's blue eyes bore into her brown ones Gabriella couldn't take his gaze, no matter how gentle it was. She looked to the ground, trying to figure out what the hell she was supposed to say to him.

Little did Gabriella know that Troy was thinking the exact same thing. Every possibly that ran through his mind sounded completely ridiculous.

Finally Gabriella managed to compile her thoughts and she looked back up at Troy,

"Thank you Troy. I know I said it before but I can't tell you how much it means to me. Lucas and Lily mean everything to me" Gabriella spoke with a sincerity in her voice that Troy could only marvel at it.

"Don't worry about it Brie" Troy smiled. "I should probably give you back these though" Troy said as he remembered the key and her phone. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out her cell and the key. Gabriella smiled slightly and she took the two items from Troy's hand.

"Thanks"

Gabriella pushed her phone into the back pocket of her jeans and placed the key on the kitchen table. Just as was turning back to face Troy he blurted out,

"Brie, I'm sorry"

Gabriella exhaled as she furrowed her eyebrows; she wasn't quite sure what he was apologizing for.

"I shouldn't have told the girls those things. I guess I was just worried about you. You know?" Troy babbled quickly. Gabriella couldn't help but falter at the honesty in his voice. There was one phrase especially that seemed to stick out in her mind I was just worried about you. Those simple words meant so much to Gabriella. And yet she couldn't quite let her wall down.

"Troy I know I've said this before but you don't have to worry about me. Please I'm sure you have more important things to do" Gabriella whispered dejectedly, looking to the ground. Troy gently placed two of his fingers under Gabriella's chin and brought it up, so he was looking directly at her.

"Right now there's nothing more important than you." He whispered, studying her carefully. He silently debated whether or not he should bring it up. Her eyes looks so sad, he needed to know what really happened to her mother. He wanted to make it better. "Brie what happened that day?" Troy asked softly, taking Gabriella's hand. As he rubbed his thumb gently in a circle a sense of calm came over Gabriella. A feeling she had never experienced shot through her body. She felt a sense of security she'd never felt with anyone, especially a man.

Gabriella closed her eyes. How could Troy possibly be so kind to her? Why her? Of all the beautiful girls at East High, why Gabriella? "Please Brie, what happened?" Troy's voice seemed desperate and yet it was so gentle and kind. Gabriella saw a truth in his eyes that she only saw in the eyes of her siblings.

She led him to the sofa, and took a seat beside him, her small hand still being held by his. Taking a deep breath, Gabriella started to explain the story.

"September 19th. I was 10 years old, Lucas and Lily were only 3…"

Flashback

It had just gone dark in Connecticut and Gabriella Montez had just gotten ready for bed. She was currently sitting on her bed, waiting for her parents to say goodnight to her.

Growing impatient she silently jumped off her bed and made her way into the hall. Upon reaching the top of the stairs she could hear arguing coming from downstairs.

Gabriella winced slightly upon hearing the heated argument that was going on downstairs. This wasn't the first time that the arguing had taken place. Over the past few months the arguments had gotten louder, more heated and more frequent. Gabriella also wasn't stupid, she knew that most of, if not all of them were about her.

Both her parents worked and they both wanted to keep their jobs, but Tomas wanted Maria to quit her job and stay at home with the children while Maria would have no such thing. And little 10 year old Gabriella believed it was all her fault.

"What the hell are you doing Maria?" Tomas yelled.

"I'm leaving" Maria stated boldly.

Her father paused, "What?"

"I'm moving out. I want to work full time."

"What about the kids?" Tomas asked angrily.

"You're their father. I'm sure you can take care of them" Maria retorted.

"Why are you being so selfish?"

"Selfish?" Maria said coldly. "I've given up my life for these children. I got pregnant with Gabriella at 18. And I had to go to night school so you could go to school full time. Then just after I got my degree, which by the way took longer than it should have, I got pregnant with twins, so I couldn't work! Now you want me to quit the job I just got. I am 27 years old. I do not want to live my life like this!"

Gabriella felt tears sting her eyes as she listened to her mother yell. The sounds that proceeded broke Gabriella's heart. She heard her mother stomp down the hallway and then slam the front door behind her.

Gabriella ran back into her room and pulled up the blinds. She watched in horror as her mother opened the boot to place her suitcase in and then walk to the front of the car, get into the driver's seat and pull out of the driveway.

Downstairs her father was cursing loudly and just before she collapsed on her bed in hysterics she heard her father punch one of the walls downstairs.

End Flashback

"…and we never saw her again" Gabriella finished.

"Oh Brie, I'm so so sorry" Troy whispered. Gabriella shook her head,

"No, no. It's not your fault. It's…" Gabriella paused as her voice cracked. "It's mine" she whispered meekly, tears bursting out of her eyes. She collapsed onto Troy's chest. Troy cautiously wrapped his arms around Gabriella's petite body. Once he realized that she wasn't going to push him away he tightened his hold slightly and ran his hand soothingly through her hair and down her back.

"Brie" he whispered "Shh, it's not your fault"

"Then why did she go? Why? Did she not love me? Was I not good enough?" Gabriella croaked, a heavy undertone of pain in her voice.

"She just wasn't ready to step up to the mom Brie." Troy whispered. "And I promise you that it was not your fault in any way, shape or form. I don't want you to believe that you aren't good enough Brie, because I know you are more than good enough"

Gabriella looked up, teary eyed, "But…" she began softly.

"But nothing. She made a selfish decision and it is not fair to you to have to carry that around with you." Troy said.

"But if I hadn't been born, she wouldn't have been miserable" Gabriella said heartbreakingly. Troy shook his head,

"If you hadn't been born I wouldn't know you. If you hadn't been born you wouldn't know Lucas or Lily. If you hadn't been born there are a lot of people who would have missed out. So don't you think that you being born was a mistake" He continued with conviction.

"Now I think that's enough tears, don't you?" Troy said, trying to lighten the mood. Gabriella smiled half-heartedly as she nodded, sniffling and wiping her tears off her face.

"Thank you again" Gabriella whispered. "I've never told anyone all that before"

Troy smiled kindly, "Well if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."

Gabriella thought for a second, what she had just told Troy wasn't even the half of it, but was she really ready to tell him the rest? Her insecurities about the whole situation got the best of her and she decided against it. She would tell him, just not right now. Her fragile heart couldn't take anymore tonight.

"I'll remember that" Gabriella said softly, nodding. Troy grinned.

"Now, Miss Montez if I remember correctly you asked me a bit of a hypocritical question a while back."

Gabriella looked at Troy strangely while still managing to smile at the tone he was using.

"You asked me why nobody knew I could sing, when I believe very few people know you can sing." Troy reminded her. Gabriella looked down sheepishly,

"Oh jeez, well it's a good thing very few people know" She said softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Oh stop being modest. Sharpay says you're amazing, and I don't think Sharpay has ever said anyone besides herself was amazing."

Gabriella's lips curved into a small smile. Troy grinned,

"I think someone knows they're good." Troy countered his pitch raising as he reached the end of the sentence. "You'll have to prove it to me sometime"

"I'll prove it to you when you prove to me that you can sing" Gabriella responded grinning, almost proud of herself for turning the tables on Troy, who seemed slightly surprised at her response.

"Deal"

It was then that Gabriella's stomach let out an embarrassingly loud rumble. Gabriella quickly looked down and grabbed her stomach as if by some miracle the noise would stop because of her hands. When it finally stopped she looked up,

"Sorry. I guess I'm just hungry" Gabriella stood up from the couch and as she adjusted her shirt she asked Troy if he was hungry.

"I'm a guy, guys are always hungry" he laughed. Gabriella giggled as she walked into the kitchen. Troy couldn't help but stare at the way Gabriella scrunched her nose as she pondered what the two of them should eat.

He was brought out his trance when Gabriella held up a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

"I hope you don't mind having breakfast for dinner. I do it all the time" Gabriella confessed. "It's just an easy way out when you don't feel like cooking"

"Sounds perfect"

Grinning, Gabriella found two bowls, two spoons and grabbed the milk. The pair sat across from each other at the table. Somehow Gabriella managed to pour some of the sugary cereal into the bowls while Troy grabbed the milk and poured it on top.

"God, I haven't done this in such a long time" Troy stated, after taking his first spoonful.

"What? Eat cereal?" Gabriella joked. Troy laughed sarcastically,

"Ha funny"

"I know what you mean. But seriously? I do this at least once a week" Gabriella explained. "What can I say I'm a big fan of Cinnamon Toast Crunch" she shrugged sweetly as she took another spoonful of the cereal.

Troy smiled, he couldn't help it though, the girl sitting across from him was simply amazing, to say the least.

--

Troy and Gabriella lost track of time completely, many hours later they were still sitting at the table. Currently they were discussing music.

"OK, so you won't listen to Taylor Swift, please at least tell me you listen to Kate Voegele – she is amazing!" Gabriella exclaimed.

"Kate Voeg-who?" Troy began trying to pronounce Kate's last name. Gabriella looked disgusted,

"Kate Voegele" Gabriella stressed, but Troy started at her blankly, "Oh come on, she was on One Tree Hill last season"

"Brie. One Tree Hill? Seriously I'm a guy, I don't watch that. What about Lifehouse or Kanye or-" Troy was cut off by the loud ringing of his cell phone. Pulling it out, he winced silently seeing it was his parents calling and also noting he had 5 text messages, all from his parents that he had apparently not heard.

"Hello"

"Troy Bolton! Where on earth have you been?" his mother screeched over the phone.

"I was just at a friend's house" Troy tried to explain calmly.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"Uh…" Troy began realizing he had absolutely no idea, last time he checked it just past 8pm.

"10:45" his mother hissed. "And not even a phone call. In this weather Troy of all days"

His parents weren't particularly strict, but the rules they did lay down were strongly enforced. If he wasn't going to be home by 10:30 they needed a phone call that included where he was, when he was going to be home and what he was doing.

"Sorry" Troy mumbled.

"You have ten minutes. I want to see you in ten minutes" his mother told him before she hung up.

Troy closed his phone and shoved his phone back into his pocket.

"I'm sorry I kept you" Gabriella said immediately "I completely lost track of time"

Troy shook his head, "It is in no way your fault, I lost track of time just like you did."

Gabriella nodded gratefully just as a yawn managed to slip out of her mouth.

"I guess I should get to bed anyway, I have to get up to work in the morning." She said.

"Woah, you mean at the diner?"

"Yeah"

"I think you should take the day off. You know, have a nice relaxing, good night's sleep" Troy suggested.

"Troy, I really can't, I don't want to get into trouble" Gabriella explained nervously. Troy shook his head,

"Brie I think it would be a lot better if you took tomorrow off. You, me, Lucas and Lily can hang out. What do you say?"

"I don't know…" Gabriella frowned.

"I know the manager, he's a family friend. I promise you won't lose your job" Troy explained hopefully in a final attempt to convince Gabriella.

Gabriella pondered Troy's offer for a moment. If she wouldn't get in trouble then maybe it wasn't such a bad thing. Lucas and Lily would have fun - she knew Troy would make sure of that.

"Ok" Gabriella nodded as the pair made their way to the door

Troy grinned widely, "Great I'll be here at 10" He opened the door and raised his hand as sort of a goodbye. Gabriella smiled and did the same.

"See you tomorrow"

Gabriella closed the door carefully, before locking it. For the first time in a long time she felt so elated. She and Troy had talked for hours and yet it had only seemed like a few minutes. The conversation had flowed so easily, and Gabriella felt safe in his presence, like she could be herself with him.

As Troy walked down the stairs of Yorkshire Apartments he couldn't wipe the smile off his face. Words couldn't describe how much he had enjoyed tonight. It had been simple, basically two friends chatting and yet he had learned so much about Gabriella. He'd seen the bubbly side of her tonight, which he loved.

He was so thankful that she'd opened up to him. He knew it had been difficult for her, the pain had been clearly evident in her voice and eyes, but he finally felt as if he was getting close to her, somewhere he definitely wanted to be.

A/N: Phew! I didn't think it would get to be that long, but I guess I couldn't help myself :) This chapter was important and I know some of you are going to be ready to kill me since Gabriella didn't reveal all of her secret, but give it time…

Just thought I would make a little note that, AHHH HSM3 comes out tomorrow!! This whole week I've totally been spazzing out! Funny story actually, in my history class on Wednesday, we were doing power point presentations and at my school the teacher's laptop can be hooked up to the TV in the corner of the room, so we can all see the power point. So anyway, my teacher turns on the TV and it was on the cable setting instead of laptop and you'll never guess who was on the screen….Zac Efron! It made my morning. Seriously, I was getting ready to die of boredom. Lol, now that I reread that it was kind of random. Anyway…I'll stop babbling . Please review! Thanks for reading!