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During P.E. on Friday, Troy watched from a quarter of the length of the track back as Gabriella made her way around the track, doing her fourth out of seven while Troy and Chad were on their fifth. 'Sad, I'm counting her laps for her. Not that hard to do since I can't take my eyes off her,' thought Troy, a smile coming on his face as he thought of their stolen kisses in his, well their spot, during lunch before they walked into the cafeteria. They had agreed to not be that flashy couple who showed affection everywhere while on East High grounds so there were lots of rumors around their status but many were still in disbelief that the two could be together since they did cross the boundaries of the normal social cliques at East.
"Dude, seriously? I don't know how you haven't tripped by now with all that staring you are doing. Although I will admit she's not bad on the eyes, especially," started Chad.
Troy tore his eyes away from his girlfriend to look at his best friend. "You continue on with that sentence and I will seriously hurt you, even mid-run," threatened Troy, laughter in his eyes as he saw Chad just grin back at him. "You know, only my best friend and close friends could ever pull off checking out my girl without getting real punishment, right?"
Chad chuckled. "Exactly why I do it, gotta keep you all flustered about her. It's so adorable."
"Whatever man," returned Troy, looking back at Gabriella, who had been staying off on her own during P.E. he noticed. Taylor and Sharpay both weren't in this class with her and the boys were not always mixed in with the girls every period. "Hey, she looks lonely. Would you mind if I go keep her company?"
"Instead of me? Of course! But I'll come with you," returned Chad, increasing his speed to match Troy's as both boys moved to catch up and then keep pace with the slower running Gabriella.
"Hey guys," got out Gabriella, giving them both smiles before she returned to concentrating on pacing herself.
"How's it going Gab?" asked Chad, finding himself able to talk a lot more at the slower pace at which they were running. "You feeling all right?"
Gabriella nodded her head. "Just pacing. I'm not used to running everyday like you guys are," returned Gabriella. "Maybe I should be though."
"You could always come with me for a run or we could run around the grounds of your place," offered Troy. "That is if you really want to just for being able to say you have exercised."
Gabriella turned her head and quizzically looked at her boyfriend. "Huh?"
"I'm just saying I don't think you have any reason to necessarily need to exercise, you're beautiful the way you are," replied Troy, a grin on his face.
Chad gagged as usual at this moment and picked up his pace, deciding he would rather run on his own than listen to the sweetness going on behind him.
"Was it something we said?" asked Gabriella as she and Troy laughed. "Well, I think it's time to pick it up and run."
Troy looked where they were running currently. "Still two and a half laps. Are you going to be able to run all the way?"
"Is that a challenge Wildcat?" questioned Gabriella.
"Just a caring question from a loving boyfriend," defended Troy. "You are the one that said you haven't run much in a while."
Without another word, Gabriella increased her speed and started running faster, Troy grinning at the silent challenge as he followed her, amazed at the speed she picked up. Soon, the two were passing Chad, who was now just jogging until then. All three kept running, losing ground to each other one minute and then picking it back up the next. Troy and Chad didn't even realize they had run an extra lap until they had finished, Gabriella a few yards behind them, stopping and breathing in deep, trying to regulate her breathing again with her hands on her knees while Chad and Troy walked it out a bit to cool off.
Before she knew it, Gabriella was face down on the grass of the inside part of the track after feeling a firm push between her shoulder blades a moment earlier. She whipped her head around and saw a not so innocent looking Alicia smirking down at her. "Oops, Gabriella fell. You really should be more careful and in shape to prevent wooziness like that," said Alicia in her high-toned baby voice she thought was so cute.
Paul was by Gabriella's side immediately and helped her up, glaring at the other girl. "You pushed her, I saw you," accused Paul. "What is your problem?"
"Shut up new person. This is between me and Gabriella," stated Alicia, glaring at the boy before turning that look onto Gabriella. "Trust me, that's only a small taste of what will happen to you if you continue ruining my life Gabriella."
Gabriella looked at Alicia in shock. "Me, ruin your life? Please, enlighten me," said Gabriella, curious as to what Alicia would say but knowing too well what it was.
"You stole Troy from me last winter, and now you are here at East trying to steal away my popularity. You tried to steal away my crush too. You try to steal everything from me Gabriella but I'm not going to let you win any longer," stated Alicia, just as Troy approached the small group.
"What's going on?" asked Troy, concerned over the silent tension between the two girls.
"Nothing, your ex is just a bit delusional when it comes to history and current affairs," said Gabriella. "Look Alicia, you are free to think whatever you want but I don't know half of what you were babbling about. If this spite is over Troy and his choices, you should bring it up with him, not me. I didn't do anything to actively steal him from you as you said. And trust me, I'm not trying to be popular here and replace you. I'm just here for the education. Also, as for your crush, you can have Riley Sutton if you really are that sick to really want that guy, I don't want anything to do with him."
Alicia blinked a few times, a bit taken back by the fact that Gabriella knew who Alicia's crush was but pushed it aside. "But by dating Troy, you are aiming for popularity, consciously or not. Do you really think East High will accept a lowly former West girl dating their star? Doubtful. Besides, from the stories that have floated around here, I am surprised you even have the courage to show your face. All the stories about you murdering someone, sleeping with the entire West basketball team, the list goes on," spat out Alicia, trying to mask the hurt she felt seeing Troy looking so protective over Gabriella.
"Covina, Montez!" yelled the girls' PE teacher. "Locker rooms now unless you really fancy being out here when the rest of East High pours out for their weekend to see you both standing in your PE clothes."
The two girls finally broke their stare, looking over at their teacher and nodding, Gabriella taking off and running towards the girls' locker room, ahead of Alicia. After getting a look from the teacher, Troy, Chad, and Paul decided it was time to change as they headed to the boys' locker room while Curtis followed Gabriella to wait for her outside the locker room. It had been arranged so that Curtis could watch from afar and be the one to stand guard outside the locker room in such a manner that no one really noticed the odd behavior except for those that knew the truth. Gabriela had argued this, saying it totally looked fishy but Curtis was always careful to stand a distance away from the locker room but within earshot and full view, pretending to read a book or something against the wall. Of course, this didn't do anything to help Gabriella against anything that happened in the locker room, like how Alicia was now shooting glares her way while changing, but Gabriella knew Curtis was close enough so that he could hear her if she screamed.
'Hopefully it will never come to that with this girl,' thought Gabriella as she pulled her shirt on and closed her locker, heading out of the locker room with her bag slung over her right shoulder. 'Those rumors are the real rumors going around but that's just it, they're rumors. No one knows the truth of me and that's what matters the most, not that everyone likes me, right?'
She walked towards her locker in the halls, conscious that Curtis was following her and stopped at her destination as she put in her combination, pulling out stuff she would need for her homework over the weekend. Gabriella visibly jumped when Troy placed a hand on her left upper arm, turning quickly to see who it was, panic in her eyes. This didn't escape Troy, who instantly got a worried look on his face. "You okay?" he asked.
Gabriella hesitantly nodded her head, consciously working to end the flashback that was playing in her head to the times Riley put his hand on her when she was at her locker last school year and what they usually resulted in, her getting hurt. She blinked a few times before being able to look back up at Troy, seeing the concern clear on his face once again. "It's all right, I just am a bit leery when things like that happen, grabbing me or touching me when it isn't expected just brings back some bad memories is all," stated Gabriella, seeing understanding in Troy's blue eyes.
"I'm sorry, I need to remember that," apologized Troy. "Sometimes I just get so excited to see you, touch you, I forget."
Gabriella gave him a small smile. "Don't worry, I just have to get over it is all. Just give it some time, please?"
Troy nodded. "I can definitely do that. So are you and Taylor going to come to the park still?"
"Yup, wouldn't miss it for the world," returned Gabriella, smiling just before Troy brushed a soft kiss against her lips before waving good-bye as he went down the hall towards his own locker.
Gabriella turned back to her locker and finished grabbing things she needed, closing her locker and looking around for Taylor, who was supposed to meet her there. After a few minutes of leaning against her closed locker and just watching people go by, Taylor arrived with another girl with her. "Hey Gabriella! I hope you don't mind but I invited Martha to come along. She's in most of our AP classes and I wanted you two to meet officially as Martha is also a good friend of mine. Martha Cox, this is Gabriella Montez. Gabriella, this is Martha."
The taller brunette genuinely smiled at Gabriella, which Gabriella felt herself return. "Nice to officially meet you Martha. I have noticed you in classes. You're pretty good, especially in Calculus."
Martha shrugged. "If you think that's good, you should see me dance sometime! That's my real passion. Book smarts is just something I got lucky with."
Taylor rolled her eyes. "Lucky with? Yeah right girl, I see you study just like the rest of us students."
"True but when I'm home by myself, dancing and listening to music like takes over me. It's an amazing feeling Taylor to just be in your own groove. You have to give it a try someday soon, then you'll know what I'm talking about," stated Martha, realizing she may be saying too much.
Luckily for her though, the two girls she was now standing with were a bit more open-minded. "Hey, I know what you are talking about," replied Gabriella with a smile. "I feel that every time I dance at a party or a school dance, just being able to leave everything behind. I totally get that!"
"Awesome!" exclaimed Martha, excited she had finally found someone like her, smart but also aware of the magic of music and dance. "So, are we really going to the park to watch the jocks play basketball? I thought that wasn't your thing Taylor."
Taylor directed a look at Gabriella. "It isn't really but Gabriella here is going to spend time with her boyfriend so I figured I could keep her company and that you could keep me company. Don't worry, they don't bite, well everyone except for Chad."
Gabriella laughed at this. "So, is that what got you that little hickey on your neck there? Chad's biting?" teased Gabriella, grinning as Taylor slapped a hand over her shoulder where her shirt that had covered the spot all day must have slipped. "If that's not proof of you and Chad at least fooling around together, I don't know what is."
"Hey, this isn't my fault! He begged to get some help in one of his classes and I am never one to turn away someone who wants academic help. I was over at Chad's house last night, going over the difference between formal and informal for his Spanish class and next thing I knew he kissed me, which led to me kissing back, and let's just say that he has a matching mark," revealed Taylor, blushing at her confession.
Gabriella and Martha looked at each other before they glanced back at Taylor, smiling at this. "Oooh, Chad and Taylor getting hot and heavy! Wait until the school finds out!" kidded Martha, happy for her good friend.
"You wouldn't dare, would you?" questioned Taylor, scared that it would get around the school that Taylor was dating a lunkhead basketball boy.
Martha shook her head. "Nah, just as you guys accept me for my quirks, I think I can accept you both for dating basketball boys. Troy's actually pretty nice this year so far, quite a bit less broody than freshman and sophomore years."
Taylor laughed. "That's in large part due to this young lady here. She has done wonders of taming Troy Bolton and he doesn't seem to mind it. And I'd like to point out, I am not dating Chad at that same level, we are definitely not in a relationship."
"Yet," said Gabriella. "Anyway, we have time to talk like this at the park. We gotta get going. You guys going to follow me to my house and then we can go in one car from there?"
"Sure," agreed Taylor before the three girls moved through the halls of East, making their way to the parking lot and officially starting their first weekend as seniors.
The boys were on their third two-on-two game when the girls' discussion turned towards the boys they were watching again. "So Taylor, do you really like Chad or was last night a one time thing?" asked Martha, intrigued that her good friend who always claimed to despise Chad seemed to have a soft spot for him.
"If you let her answer that, it'll be a 'of course not, he's a lunkhead basketball guy' when she really means that she's been crushing on him for quite some time now," stated Gabriella, giving Taylor a knowing smile.
"I am so insulted you think I would like that lunkhead!" exclaimed Taylor, forgetting her fake offense when Chad stopped playing long enough to give her a grin.
Gabriella and Martha both saw this and busted out in giggles. "BUSTED!" exclaimed both, laughing harder as Taylor blushed, Chad giving them a confused look before shrugging and going back to the game.
"All right, fine, so I like him and I think he likes me too. Yes, I dare to cross that imaginary line between jocks and honors students and I don't care what you think of me," declared Taylor.
Gabriella stared at her friend while she shook her head, a smile still on her face. "Like I have any right to say anything there Taylor. If you care for him and he likes you back, I say you two deserve nothing but happiness together. I'll even play my part to make it happen if you want," said Gabriella.
"You are so not pushing him to ask me out Gabriella," returned Taylor quickly.
"Who said anything about pushing? It just takes a little bit of a spark, well maybe a fire in Chad's case, to get him thinking the right direction. Trust me, I've had enough experience with the boy to know," stated Gabriella. "Give me some time and you will have a nice shiny new title of girlfriend within two weeks, guaranteed."
Martha grinned. "Let me know if you need any help there. I am all in for helping too."
Curtis and Paul, who were both standing together behind the girls began to roll their eyes at the conversation they were hearing. "Honestly, how can you listen to their giggling and girl talk all the time?" asked Curtis, still trying to adjust to pretending to be a high school student and be a teenager. "I mean, we're both easily in our late twenties. That may be only ten years or so difference but I haven't heard anyone talk the way they do in a while."
Paul chuckled. "Then you haven't been listening to your friends very much because I've hung out with you once or twice on our off days this summer and let me tell you, some of those women you hang around are not that much different from Gabriella and her friends."
"You aren't falling for the princess are you?" asked Curtis, getting the strange feeling that Paul very well could be.
Paul shook his head, denying it. "No, I just see her more as a friend and as a sweet young girl who has gone through quite a bit in her short life. Not many people I know would be able to bounce back the way she has after being assaulted and raped, on top of struggling with having to wear a heavy burden called a tiara of royalty. Gabriella has just been through a lot and I find myself really feeling for her. I mean come on Curtis, neither you or I could possibly know what she's going through or has gone through. We can imagine, yes, but do we really know?"
"Way too philosophical for me there man, totally," returned Curtis. "All I'm saying is that their little talks are starting to drive me insane."
"Then stop listening," reasoned Paul, a smile on his face. "Uh oh, heads up, I see trouble coming."
Curtis looked up and saw a group of five guys walking towards where the three girls were seated. As was custom, Curtis and Paul stood back but were ready for the slightest provocation to get mixed up in the little "discussion" that was just starting between the dark brown haired boy that was now talking to Gabriella.
"Gabriella Montez right?" asked the blonde boy standing in front of Gabriella, blocking her view of the guys back on the basketball court.
She eyed him a little before narrowing her eyes, recognizing him as being on the West High basketball team. 'Shit,' she cursed in her mind. "What do you want Mark Sanchez?"
"Still feisty as ever I see," commented Mark, a grin on his face. "I thought since I was captain now of the West team I'd come over and see how you are doing, see if I could get lucky like Riley did."
When Mark dared to reach out a hand and caress Gabriella's hand, she slapped it away and got up, feeling better at standing her height, even if she was a great deal shorter than Mark. "Don't touch me!"
"What's the matter Gabriella? Does it give you flashbacks to when you were in Riley's arms? See, you wouldn't be so much of an interest to me except that you are apparently still Bolton's girl and that makes you my business, especially because of the history you have with West now, having sent our former captain to jail for something he supposedly did when he conquered you. I don't mind so much since now I'm captain but these guys do, as does a lot of the team and the rest of West. If it wasn't my duty though, I'd still be interested in you. Dark beauty and bravery to even stand here without quivering in fear, knowing what you know, having experienced what you have. I have to hand it to you, you have my respect in that regards," said Mark, smirking a little as he saw Gabriella straighten her posture even more.
"Just get lost Mark," replied Gabriella. "Whatever you wanted to do by coming over here isn't going to happen so just back off."
"Actually, I beg to differ," returned Mark as he just heard one of his buddies murmur that Troy and the other three were heading their way. "I just needed an excuse to start something with your boyfriend. Thanks doll."
Mark had the audacity to lean in and try to kiss Gabriella for which she rewarded him with a hard slap that was unfortunately not hard enough to wipe the grin off his face. "You are such a jerk! Like I'll let Troy get hurt for some stupid reason like you."
"Oh, defending the boy in fights now are we? That's impressive," stated Mark. "Hey Bolton, your girlfriend just got done telling me how very whipped you are, that she can stop you from fighting me with just one word."
Troy listened to the words Mark spoke as the other boy turned around from looking at Gabriella to looking at Troy. He saw that Paul and Curtis had gotten involved, bringing Gabriella, Taylor, and Martha a good distance away from the sizzling fight, Curtis staying behind while Paul came back to aid Troy if needed.
"So, you're the new captain of West huh? I guess congratulations are in order Sanchez," said Troy, determined to try to keep the tension in the air to a small sizzle. Troy was not ready to involve Gabriella, Taylor, and Martha in a fight he knew they would get involved in if it happened, especially Gabriella and Taylor who had become rather close to the guys.
Mark smirked at Troy. "Congratulating me? Well thanks man, we should go hang out captain to captain… NOT! What is with you Bolton? I remember the last time we met like this you had far more fire in your belly than now. Oh… It is the girl, she's softened you. How sweet! Isn't that sweet boys?" called out Mark, earning laughter from his teammates and friends. "That always is so sad to see though, a man's boy turned wimpy over a girl. She can't be that wonderful in bed to lose your edge Bolton, no girl is."
"Who said anything about it having to do with a girl, let alone a bed? Maybe I decided it was time to grow up past this petty rivalry. True you want to be on the best and winning team but that doesn't mean obsess over your competition 24/7, especially when it gets into their personal lives. Trust me, I could care less who you are screwing Sanchez and what your one night stands think of you," returned Troy, staring Mark in the eyes. "Why don't you and your crew get lost? We'll take this up on the basketball court if you want but there isn't a real reason to duke it out here, right now."
"What a wimp," retorted Mark with a sneer. "She really does have you whipped Bolton and that is just so sad to see. Almost like she neutered you. If she did, I'd pay to see that sorry sight."
"Dude, why don't you just back off?" asked Chad, stepping up next to Troy. "We're not looking for a fight here guys. Your testosterone level may be at an all time high right now but all we came out here to do this evening was play some ball."
"Play some ball? You sound like you're in elementary school kid," joked Mark, earning more laughter from his friends behind him. "Maybe that's why I never hear about you with a girl. Maybe you're just too much of a little boy to properly handle a fine piece of meat of maturity."
Chad scoffed. "Like you are Mark! Rumor around East is that all you have are one-night stands and that isn't by your choice. Sounds to me like you are the one who can't 'properly handle' girls you date."
One of the guys standing behind Mark chose this moment to lunge directly at Chad, tackling him to the ground, throwing punches where he could as Chad returned them between trying to defend himself. Troy moved to try to get the guy off of Chad but felt a hard blow from a kick to his midsection, landing him on the ground before Mark started swinging. Soon, there was a wide spread fight between the two teams, including Paul who got nailed in the eye from a West guy, the odd guy out who wanted a fight and figured Paul would suit his needs.
Gabriella and Taylor instantly started to run to try to break up the fight but were held back by Curtis, who shook his head. "This is too dangerous for you to get in the middle of," stated Curtis, anxiously surveying the fight to keep tabs of what was going on. "We have to get you out of here princess."
'Princess?' wondered Martha who heard this. 'That's a strange pet name for a friend.'
"No!" refused Gabriella. "I am not leaving them to be out here without help! Someone needs to stop this!"
Curtis looked back at the fight and then back at Gabriella. "Fine, I'll do it but you stay here, got it?"
Gabriella reluctantly nodded, just glad that he didn't force her to leave like he had wanted. The three girls watched as Curtis tried to separate Mark and Troy but got shoved to the side for his efforts. Gabriella was so focused on the fight she didn't sense anyone approaching until it was too late.
"Hello again Gabriella," said a dark voice Gabriella wished she would never have to hear again.
She whipped around and screamed as she saw that Riley, looking tired and ragged, stood before her, a crazy yet menacing grin on his face. "What are you… how are you?"
"Out? Oh, some group who believes I was unjustly treated bailed me out after taking some time to raise enough. I was trying to be good, to wait until the trial to see you again but I couldn't wait any longer. I can still remember how good you felt Gabriella, how you moved under me," said Riley, advancing while Gabriella backed up, seeing in her peripheral Taylor and Martha running to the boys, hopefully for help.
"It's called RAPE Riley, RAPE! Get away from me!" screamed Gabriella, instantly starting to panic as images came rushing back into her mind, images she had controlled so well until then. She closed her eyes, trying to push them away, but opened them quickly as she felt Riley's harsh grip on her shoulders, pulling her roughly against him. Gabriella struggled, aching to get away from him but finding that he once again was too strong for her.
"LET GO OF HER NOW SUTTON!" demanded Troy, a few feet away, pure anger radiating from his body.
Riley roughly turned Gabriella in his arms so that she was facing Troy, giving Troy a clear view of how very frightened his girlfriend was. "Now why would I do that Bolton when I can remind Gabriella of how good it felt to have my hands running down her body, like this," sneered Riley, dropping one of his hands to run down Gabriella's side as tears began to flow more from Gabriella's eyes.
"Please stop," she begged, hating the feeling of having him touching her again. "Please Riley, stop, please stop."
The pleas to stop being unheard by Riley who kept going was enough reason for Troy to throw caution to the wind as he flew at the two, taking Gabriella down in the process but succeeding in separating her from Riley's clutches. Once Troy knew Gabriella was off to the side, Troy began to pummel Riley, wherever he could reach, until Riley started gaining momentum and ground, fighting back with as much force.
Gabriella sat there, on the ground where she had been shoved, crying as she watched with glassy eyes the two boys fighting, her mind trapped in an endless reel of Riley's attack a few months ago. The recent feel of his hands was more than enough to bring everything back and it wasn't going away, as much as Gabriella wanted it to. She didn't see her additional security team, who responded to Curtis' signal, separate the fighters, she didn't hear the police eventually come, arresting Riley after it was explained that he had violated the conditions of his bail by approaching and touching Gabriella, she didn't even feel Troy's arms as he wrapped her crying form in his embrace as he dropped down to the ground next to her. Gabriella had no knowledge of when the West High boys were escorted out of the park by the cops or when the rest of the gang got in their cars to go home, everyone except Taylor and Troy, who stayed with Gabriella, comforting her in whatever ways they could, never giving up as Gabriella continued to cry, looking at them with eyes that didn't truly see them. She just cried, cried as she remembered every vivid detail, recalled how Riley got off on her fear, relived every second he roughly touched her, now breaking down because she no longer had control, just as she had no control that night, wondering somewhere in her chaotic mind if she ever would again.