Troy led Gabriella into the gym where his dad was waiting for his arrival for practice. "Troy! Where the hell have you been?!" Jack Bolton asked angrily.
"I had somewhere else to be. But I'm here now. I'll just work on some free throws. But first, I want you to meet my girlfriend. This is Gabriella Montez."
Jack looked at her. "Ah. Yes. Your detention buddy."
Gabriella's smile faded and she looked at Troy. "Dad, detention was my fault. Not hers."
"I'll see you later, Troy. It was nice meeting you, Coach Bolton." Gabby said and ran off.
"You as well, Miss Montez." Jack replied then turned to his son. "Troy, you haven't had a detention in three years. That GIRL shows up..."
Troy cut him off. "THAT GIRL is named Gabriella. And she's very nice."
"Helping you miss practice doesn't make her very nice."
"Hey! That's my girlfriend you're insulting. You need to stop." Troy replied and went to find Gabriella.
Troy looked up and down the halls for her until he found her five minutes later crying against her locker on the floor. He walked up to her and sat down beside her. Picking her up to sit her in his lap, he started talking. "Hey. Hey. Shhhhh. It's ok. I'm here."
Gabriella cuddled into him and cried harder. "I...I don't... understand. Why doesn't he like me?"
"Shhhhh. I don't know, Baby. I don't know. All I can say is he's being an asshole. You didn't deserve that from him."
"What am I going to do? He's supposed to come with you and your mom to dinner on Friday."
"I'll ask my mom if she can just tell him it's our new neighbors wanting us for dinner. That way he doesn't know it's you."
"But what about once you get there?" She asked wiping her tears.
"I'll take care of it. He has something mean to say to you or about you, then you have me to protect you. I won't let him hurt you like that."
"I just don't want to lose you. I love you so much."
"Shhhhh. I know, Baby." He replied and kissed the top of her head. "I love you too."