A/N: Hey Guys, Thanks ubeeeerrrr much for the reviews! Love you guys! Your awesome! I didn't think you would like this story that much. Sorry the Chapter being so short. So I hope you like.

Beauty and the Tragedy

Chapter 3: Why Do You Care?

It was now 6pm and Gabriella sat on the beach with her shoes off and enjoying her toes in the sand. She watched as the sun was going down. She never realized how pretty the horizon was ahead of her. She just wished she never dated Sean, and never told him about her mother. She sighed. Her Mother. Manny Montez. Or should Gabriella say Manny Sanchez? After all her mother left without a word, and Caleb guessed it was because she wanted a divorce or something. Gabriella hated her mother now more than ever. She looked out into the water as she sat and felt the breeze come across her features of her body. She loved the feeling.

"I've never seen someone look that peaceful."an unfamiliar voice said startling Gabriella. Gabriella looked up and brown met blue.

"What do you want...ummm..."she said trying to remember his name.

"Troy. And I saw what happened today at School. You shouldn't let him talk to you like that."he said and sat beside Gabriella, looking at the sun settling down.

"And why would you care what he does?"she asked him. He shrugged.

"Men...or in this case...Jerks aren't suppose to treat woman like that. My dad taught me that."he said picking up sand and feeling the softness of it.

"Well...Sean's...Sean. Jackass of the century."she said and got a chuckle from the boy next to her.

"Yeah, I could agree to the way he treated you. But you missed some show after you left the room."he said and gained a confused look from the girl beside him.

"That chick Leslie, that he had an arm wrapped around, she screamed at him, slapped him in the face, said it was over and Sean stormed out the room from embarrassment."Troy said and got a giggle out of Gabriella.

"Well he deserves it. Now I know why my dad never like him."she said going soft.

"Gabriella, right?"he asked and she simply nodded.."Don't let him win you down. Be strong."Troy said and she looked up into him eyes.

"That's thing...I'm not strong. I haven't been strong since..."she trailed off knowing she wasn't strong since her family was torn apart.

"Since your mom?"he asked.

"Maybe."she replied.

"I may not know what it feels like to see someone walk out, but I do know what it feels like to lose someone very important. I lost my Grandpa. And he was my best friend. I drew for him. And only him. He thought I could make it into the world with my liking of Art and Music."he said and Gabriella gave him a soft look.

"I'm sorry about your Grandpa."she said sincerely.

"I'm ok with it now. But my life...isn't as great as you think. I mean yeah, little brother who drives you insane, a pregnant mom, and a basketball coach of a dad, that's the life!"he said not in a happy way," I just feel like a tragedy."

"And I'm the beauty."she said softly.

"Yeah I heard about that. Gabriella Montez, Beauty of East High...I don't understand. You shouldn't have to live up to what other people think of you."he said.

"Well...When you've know everyone and they know you...it's kinda hard."

"Be strong. Start living and stop being who people want you to be and be yourself."Troy said looking at the sun going down once more.

"Why am I talking to you? I barely know you and I'm here giving you information on my life, why would you care?"she asked wanting to know why he would talk to her.

"I don't know why...you just seemed like you needed to be talked too."he said standing up.

"Gabriella...I don't let people in. But neither do you. I can sense that. But maybe you should tell someone how you feel. I put my feelings into my music and drawing. Maybe you should do something similar."he said backing up and walking towards his Range Rover.

"Why do you Care!?"she yelled towards him and stood up.

"That's the point. I don't care. I don't really care about anything any more. I'm just the tragedy."he said getting in and driving off, leaving a confused Gabriella standing on the beach.

The Next Day

Being Saturday, Gabriella got out of bed, went towards the shower and stripped her clothes off and got in. She stood under the water and then got her shampoo. Toasted Vanilla and Sugar(A/N:Actually that's my brand of shampoo!OMG it smells uber uber uber good!lol.)... After her shower she got out and put on her strapless bra and etc. Then moved towards her closet and chose a White Ruby Rox Floral Eyelet Strapless Dress. She then put on black ballet flats. She left her hair down in curls and went downstairs, and to be greeted by her dad.

"So the school called yesterday,"he said and she shrugged. "Principle Matsui said that you were yelling in homeroom and stormed out. And then missed all your classes." Caleb said. Gabriella sighed. She was going to have to tell him sometime.

"Sean said something cruel, I blew up and left, big deal." She said. Caleb looked at her knowing there was more to the story. She looked into her father's eyes and her tears started to come. "He said I was going to end up like my whore of a mother, that left us and that I'm running away just like her!"she screamed. Caleb rushed to his daughter's side and comforted her.

"Awww, baby Ella, Don't listen to that jerk. Your not like her. Your not. I love you just the way you are. Your not going to turn out like your mom. I promise you that."Caleb said sweet talking her. Gabriella nodded her head into his chest and Caleb picked her up and put her on the couch. "Ella, get some sleep. You don't have to go to school Monday if you don't want to. Live free on your weekend."Caleb said, kissed her on her forehead and walked to the front door.

"Daddy?Where are you going?"she asked.

"I'm going to visit, my friend Natalie. She just had her baby."Caleb replied.

"Oh, I like her. She's nice and didn't like her boyfriend leave her because she found out she was pregnant?"I asked.

"Yep. I help her as much as possible. I believe she's getting kicked out of her apartment in a few days. Her landlord doesn't like children."

"Well...she can stay with us. I mean come on daddy. We have 4 bedroom's in this house. And I'm suggesting it. And I can help out with Natalie. Please?And I know you and her like each other!"I smiled.

"Ok, I'll ask her and we do not like each other!"Caleb said in defense and walked out the front door. I followed him and shouted, "You do too!!"

"Do not!"he said getting in his car and pulling out of the drive way. Gabriella laughed to herself. She looked next door and saw Troy looking at her weirdly. He then shook his head and laughed and continued to work on his art. Gabriella stood there on her porch and watched him draw. The way his hand moved back in forth and then he erased the black mark he drew. He took out a pastel color. From the looks of it, it was gray. He began to color in something then run his finger across the gray spot. She looked at him some more.

"He must be really good."I said to myself and walked into my house and ran upstairs. I flung myself onto my bed. I looked up at the ceiling and closed my eyes. I don't even remember how good this felt. I thought of everything that went down in the past few days. Sean cheating on me, Sean telling me I'm like my mother, meeting the new neighbors, meeting Troy, Sharpay helping me out, Dad being supportive and comforting me...and more. I just lied here and fell into a deep sleep.

What'd ya think? I liked it. I like all my writing. And my dad today he's laughing and stuff. That's the medicine that's helping him. Thanks for all your concern on him. lol. It helps out. Thanks:)

-Ashley