A/N I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING! I ONLY OWN THIS PLOT!

They two of them shared a hug and Mitchie couldn't help but smile widely. Since Gabriella trusted her, it would make the adoption process so much easier. But would she and her family be able to adopt Gabriella or would her Case Worker find something wrong with them?

Troy's cell phone rang. He checked the caller ID and saw it was his Dad. "Brie, I'll be right back."

He walked out of earshot and answered his phone. "Hey Dad, what's up?"

"Is Gabriella near you?" he asked.

"No. Does she need to be?" Troy asked.

"No. In fact, I'm going to leave it up to you if she even hears this information at all."

"Dad you're starting to scare me. What's going on?"

"Chad was over at Lava Springs the other day and he saw someone resting by the pool."

"Ok…" Troy said slowly.

"That person was Maria Montez."

"Dad, you've got to be kidding. I mean…maybe it was someone who looks like her. The whole reason Gabriella was sent here is because her mother had to travel for work."

"Yeah, that's what we thought too. Chad overheard her on the phone and found out there was more to the story than anyone else knew."

Troy sighed. "She knew about Axel."

"Yes. The two of them were planning this from the begging."

Troy growled angrily. "Why would she do this? Doesn't she know what kind of man Axel is?"

"Do you really want me to answer that? You won't like it."

"I know she knows about Axel, but why would she set her daughter up to be taken home by him?"

"College. She knows it's coming up and knows Gabriella will get into Stanford. She didn't want to deal with the stress of trying to pay for it. So she called Axel for help with the payment, and they came up with this idea."

"That's disgusting. How dare she."

"Yeah. But Troy, even after everything that has happen Gabriella is expecting her mom to show up on the last day. Chad heard her mother say point blank she was never coming back for Gabriella."

Troy sighed and looked behind him at Gabriella, who was laughing at something Mitchie had said.

"Dad, I can't keep this from her…but…I can't break her heart."

"I can tell her if you want. I'll tell Brown, and he can tell her."

"No. This is something she needs to hear from me."

"Ok, Bud. I'm sorry."

"Thanks for telling me. Has there been any news on the adoption?"

"All the Wildcats both the guys and girls failed the expectation. We can't even try because you're dating."

"No! Dad, are you kidding me? Who is left? Gabriella will have to be sent to foster care."

"Actually I don't think that's going to happen."

"Why? What do you know?"

"Nothing yet. Just trust me. I won't let that girl grow up in foster care."

"Ok, thanks, Dad."

"Not a problem Bud. I'll let you get back to your girl. I'll call you as soon as I have more information."

"Thanks, Dad." Troy hung up and slowly walked back over to the gang. Now he just had to figure out how to break his girlfriend's heart. This new about her mother was going to kill her.

He sat back down in his seat and pulled Gabriella into him and kissing her head.

"Everything ok, Wildcat? Who was on the phone?" She asked.

"My Dad," Troy answered.

"Is everything ok? Is this about my adoption?"

"No, still no news."

"Oh, then what did he want?"

Troy sighed. "Let's go for a walk along the water."

"Ok. We will be back guys." Gabriella said.

They both stood and locked hands and started to walk away.

Once they were out of earshot Troy stopped walking and turned Gabriella to face him. "Listen, Brie, what I have to say is not easy. You're not going to like hearing it any more than I like saying it, but you need to know the truth."

Gabriella gulped. "You're scaring me, Troy."

"I'm sorry, but you need to hear this." Troy inhaled and exhaled a deep breath. "Chad was at Lava Springs the other day and saw a woman relaxing by the pool."

"He cheated on Taylor?"

"No, no, nothing like that. The woman he saw…" Troy inhaled another deep breath and let it out. "Gabriella, the woman he saw, was your mom."

"Shut up!" Gabriella growled as tears filled her eyes. "You're lying!"

"Baby, why would I lie to you about this? Why would I hurt you like that?"

"I don't know. But you have to be lying. It can't be true."

"I'm sorry, Brie. I'm so, so, sorry!"

"No, no, no, no." Gabriella cried shaking her head.

Troy pulled her into his chest and hugged her tightly rubbing her back and kissing her hair.

"So she knew?" Gabriella whimpered. "About Axel?"

"Yes, Baby. They planned this whole thing."

"Am I really that horrible that she doesn't want to love me anymore?"

"Baby your mother is an idiot. She has to be because anyone who doesn't love you is one. You are NOT horrible. I'm sorry I had to hurt you like this, Baby. But you have to understand you will NOT be sent to a foster home. We will find a wonderful family for you to go with."

Gabriella didn't answer. She just cried into his chest and clung tightly to him.

"I love you, Gabriella Montez. I love you so much." Troy said hugging her tighter and kissing her hair.

He knew he did the right thing by telling her, but at the same time he felt so awful for having to hurt her.

After a few minutes, Gabriella had stopped crying but continued to cling to him tightly.

He kissed her head. "Baby, what do you want to do? Do you want to go back and join our friends or do you want to go back to the cabin I'll do whatever you want. You just have to tell me what that is."

Gabriella didn't answer him.

"Baby please talk to me. What do you want to do?"

"I want to go home," Gabriella answered.

Troy sighed. "I know, Baby Girl, but home is boring. Let's stay here and have fun. Don't you want to sing at the Final Jam and win the Trophy and show everyone how amazing you are?"

"No."

"You don't want to sing anymore? You were so excited to sing before."

"I want to sing a song written by Kelsi, especially for us and perform it with you and the rest of the Wildcats. I want to perform it at East High with Ms. Darbus watching."

Troy sighed. "Baby, you know I can't make that happen."

"I know." Gabriella sighed.

"Come on, let's join the others. We don't have to tell them anything you don't want."

Gabriella nodded. Together they re-joined their friends. Gabriella was quiet though, she didn't talk as much or laugh as much as she was before. Everyone asked, but Troy, and Gabriella didn't answer, they just changed the subject.

Later that night after Troy had helped Gabriella settle in for the night he went into his cabin and took out his phone. He dialed a number and smirked when he heard an answer.

"Kelsi, I need your help."

A/N OOOOOOOOOOOooooooo What is Troy planning? Any ideas? Leave me your thoughts in a review.

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