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Gabriella sat in the courtroom, keeping her head down for the most part ever since she and her parents entered the courtroom that Monday morning a few hours ago, knowing if she looked up that she would see his brown eyes staring at her, just as she felt him staring at her now. 'God, I can still feel him without him being in the room, being here now is just making everything so much worse,' thought Gabriella, playing with her fingers as she listened to what was going on during this first day of the trial from the seat she had between Annette and Stephen in the front row, behind the wooden half wall on which the prosecution team sat on the other side of and to their left, Riley Sutton in the flesh with his lawyer.
It had been decided that the trial would be judge only ruled and that Riley would be tried as an adult considering the circumstances. On these conditions alone, there was a lot of media attention but it had gotten worse after the tabloid reporter reported on Gabriella's royal blood this past weekend. There were swarms of press and paparazzi alike waiting outside of the court house so the family had been driven around to use another entrance, one with considerably less photographers than the front.
"My client and his family are concerned that he is being vilified by the media and as a whole for something he has just 'supposedly' committed without a conclusion of this trial," stated Riley's lawyer, a man Gabriella heard referred to as Rick Sullomon.
'Supposedly?!' exclaimed Gabriella in her head as she snapped her head up, regretting it as her eyes locked with Riley's at the same moment. As brown eyes met brown eyes, memories began to slowly invade Gabriella's mind again, sneaking their way into her consciousness after so much time of successfully suppressing them.
Annette looked over concerned as she noticed Gabriella's breathing change to being more erratic, her hands turning white as they clutched onto each other tightly. She saw that Gabriella was looking at something as her daughter's eyes filled with tears and looked over to see Riley leering back at her daughter. Knowing she could not say anything without causing a stir in the courtroom, Annette slipped an arm around Gabriella and brought her daughter closer to her body, trying to soothe her the best she could without words or drawing attention.
Paul also noticed the little exchange and motioned to one of the court appointed security team members to break the contact. The woman walked over and stood directly between Riley and Gabriella so the eye contact was broken and neither were able to see the other. The judge noticed this and spoke up. "Mr. Sutton, please refrain from making contact with the witnesses. You are on trial and should be concerned about what is going on up here, not back there. And Mr. Sullomon, I understand your client's concerns and his family's so I am issuing a gag order on all present in this courtroom to not speak about this trial until after its conclusion. This is to not only protect Mr. Sutton and his family but also the witnesses."
Gabriella barely heard the judge's words but was grateful to hear that no one would be actually reporting on what was happening on a day to day basis on the trial. Her mind was still battling on keeping control of her emotions as she saw flashback after flashback of Riley's attack on her, getting those feelings again of Riley's weight crushing her as he went after what he wanted, ripping her apart in so many ways. 'Stop Gabriella, you have to stop this. Get control! Remember what Emma has said, go to your happy place! Go to a happy memory. Push this aside,' scolded Gabriella in her mind.
Gabriella shivered as the cold wind brushed by her again, making her wonder what she was really doing out here on the beach at the dead of night with Troy by her side. Tessa and Taylor had gone to bed an hour ago but Troy and Gabriella were still awake and fairly alert so they had decided to come down to the beach. Troy had snagged the spare blanket he spotted in one of the closets and together they walked down to the beach, Troy spreading the blanket out on a fairly flat portion of sand before he and Gabriella both sat, where they currently were now, just enjoying the atmosphere, each other, and talking.
She gazed up into the dark sky, admiring the way the stars twinkled, feeling as if there really was nothing wrong in the world. Gabriella couldn't help but shiver again, this time finding herself grin as she felt Troy wrap his East High letterman jacket around her shoulders without a word. Troy then moved so that he sitting behind Gabriella with her sitting between his legs, letting her lean back against him as she continued to star gaze.
They continued to talk about little things here and there while also sharing quiet time together as they just savored being in each other's arms, an opportunity both of them recognized that could go away one day in the near future.
"Are you really going to leave the United States for good to live in Copanvy soon?" ventured Troy after some time, having to know her answer.
Gabriella let out a small sigh. "I think that's the intent of my family, yes. That doesn't mean that I can't come and visit but that's not the same, I know. I don't know when the move will be though. If I know my dad, he is weighing his options and will make a decision based on the outcome of the trial and how things are for me."
"You know, I used to not think so highly of your dad because of how he was always gone from your life and how he seemed to discourage us dating but I have to admit, I respect the guy and even admire him to a point. It's clear how much he loves you Brie, and your mom too," admitted Troy. "Now your mom on the other hand has to be the coolest mom around."
"Cooler than yours?" teased Gabriella, knowing Troy was his mother's son deep at heart.
"Let's call it a tie," responded Troy, feeling himself grin.
"I know we are both very lucky Troy, to both have such loving and understanding parents. I could have been pulled out of school a long time ago and sent to a boarding school in Switzerland but I haven't been. As much as I may hate the decisions my parents make about my life, in hindsight, I usually do see that they were right to do it," commented Gabriella. "I guess as much as teenagers like to have their independence, we still do need our parents around to help guide our lives at our age."
"Well we are at a bit of a weird point between making our own choices in life but also having to accommodate our parents and their preferences or choices. I think that's why so many teenagers go through a rebellion stage, because their wants and needs conflict with their parents' desires," stated Troy.
Gabriella smiled hearing this, thinking about how very insightful that was. "You never cease to amaze me Troy Bolton," confessed Gabriella.
Troy blinked a few times. "What?"
"You just always talk about me playing myself down when I really think it's funny since you do it all the time too. Like how you say you're an average guy with average intelligence? I hate to tell you this but you are far from it, especially with that little insight you just shared with me. You don't give yourself enough credit Wildcat," expressed Gabriella, giggling a little as Troy tightened his hold around her waist while tickling her a little in the process.
"Brie, do you realize you are the only person in the world that could make myself feel this great about who I am? Well, besides my mom but she doesn't really count as she has to love me since I'm her making but you are capable of the same thing yet you have no obligation to me. When I'm with you, I don't know and this may sound crazy, but my world brightens and everything seems to turn out okay, no matter what's going on, what drama is happening. You are like this constant in my life that stabilizes me when everything else is going wrong. I don't know what I'll do when you leave," confessed Troy, burying his head into Gabriella's hair, breathing in her scent deeply.
This time Gabriella tightened her hold around his waist as they were lying side by side on the blanket now, running her hands up and down his lower back. "Shh, I'm not leaving tomorrow or the next day, I at least know that. And for the record, you mean just as much to me too but I think you already know that. Besides my parents, you are the only person that has taken the time to show me what real romantic love is and what it feels like to be safe in this chaotic world we live in. I know the role that I play in Copanvy's history and future makes things so much more complicated than if I wasn't for us, but you've stuck by me even after knowing and that speaks volumes to me Troy. I've said it before and I still wonder today what exactly I did to make you mine, to be so lucky in love."
He unwrapped an arm from around her so he could place his hand on her face, feeling her features, including her smile, in the dark where he could only really see shadows. Troy pulled Gabriella's face closer to his and leaned towards her to kiss her, smiling slightly as their lips finally connected. They kissed a few moments longer until Gabriella pulled away to snuggle into his embrace further as Troy rolled onto his back. Both fell asleep for a few hours, Troy waking as he felt something scurry across his leg. 'What was that?' he awoke thinking, spotting a dark shadow of something rushing to the ocean thanks to the light from the soon to be rising sun.
"Brie, wake up," whispered Troy, kissing her forehead. "The sun is going to rise soon."
"Mmm, okay," agreed Gabriella, opening her eyes and looking back at Troy before she looked at the sky that was no longer dark with stars.
Both sat up and Troy drew Gabriella onto his lap as she snuggled into his embrace and deeper into his letterman jacket she was still wearing. They watched as the sun peeked over the ocean, reflecting off the glassy surface of the water, revealing that there were many other little creatures running around on the sand like the one that woke Troy.
"What are they?" asked Troy.
Gabriella smiled. "Little crabs. They bury themselves in the sand at night and then return to the ocean during the day. I forgot their scientific name but that's what it is. Why?"
"Oh, just one of them evidently crawled over me in its process to go to the ocean and woke me up. Actually, I think I'm a bit freaked that I had a crab crawl over me like I was a random rock in its way," confessed Troy.
Gabriella giggled. "Aww, did the crab unnerve the big, bad Wildcat?" teased Gabriella.
Troy chuckled. "You could say that and if you ever tell anyone that, especially Chad, I'll…"
"You'll what?" prompted Gabriella, raising her right eyebrow.
"I'll do this," said Troy, kissing Gabriella's neck before tilting her head towards him to kiss her on her soft lips.
"Mmm, guess I will tell Chad if that's the punishment," joked Gabriella. "I love you Troy."
"I love you too Brie," returned Troy before kissing her again against the backdrop of the rising sun.
"Gabriella, sweetie, are you all right?" asked Stephen, giving his daughter a concerned look. He watched as Gabriella blinked her eyes a few times and refocused on the present, realizing that the first day of the trial had been completed and people were leaving.
Her eyes connected with Riley's brown ones but this time she sat up straighter, showing Riley that she had mastered his control over her. 'You may have taken something special away from me without my consent, you may have taught me that there is definite evil in this world, but you will no longer see me weak and in pain if I can help it Riley Sutton,' promised Gabriella silently in her head, finding sweet victory in the fact that Riley had a bit of a surprised look on his face before he was led away.
"Gabriella?" asked her mother.
"I'm sorry, I'm fine Mom, Dad," replied Gabriella.
"You kind of spaced there darling, are you okay?" pushed Annette, a bit confused at how tense and scared Gabriella looked before getting a gentle smile on her face for the rest of the trial. "Did the memories come back? We don't have to return again until you testify in a few weeks."
Gabriella nodded her head. "They came back all right but I think I've finally found the happy place Emma has been talking about needing. That's where I was."
"And that was where?" questioned Stephen, having a suspicion it involved a certain brown haired, blue eyed boyfriend of hers.
"With Troy, yesterday morning before we left Hawaii," explained Gabriella.
Annette held in her laughter as she saw the look of a little jealousy in her husband's face just then as he realized that Troy had seemingly replaced Stephen in Gabriella's life as her main man. "I'm sure that was a great memory, whatever it was, and I am happy it is so powerful to take you away from the negative ones. Aren't you Stephen?"
Stephen looked at his wife and saw that his emotions must be on his face by the look she gave him rather pointedly in addition to her words. "Yes, I'm happy too Gabriella. Just remember and hang onto that moment, all right? Whatever it is sure made things a lot better for you this morning."
Gabriella smiled back at her dad as they stood up and made their way out of the court room, surrounded by their security team until they were safely in their car and on their way home.
Troy anxiously got out of Chucky's car as Chucky parked in the circle outside of the main entrance of the Montez mansion, walking ahead of both Chad and Chucky who got out of the car after Chucky cut the engine. The butler immediately saw the concerned look on Troy's face and wordlessly led him to the library where Gabriella was found reading a book.
"Brie! Are you all right?" asked Troy, startling Gabriella a little who looked panicked before a grin graced her face as she saw him in the doorway. She put the book down, immediately getting up from the loveseat and running towards Troy. He gathered her into his arms, breathing in her familiar scent as Troy held her body close to him before kissing her soundly. "You're all right."
Gabriella giggled a little as she pulled farther away from him. "What did you think was going to happen at a court house full of people and security, our own and the court house's?"
"Don't ask Gab, he's been dreaming up horrible scenarios all day," interjected Chad, making it known to Gabriella that both Chad and Chucky were now standing in the doorway to the library.
"Chad, Chucky!" greeted Gabriella, stepping out of Troy's embrace to hug both. "What are you doing here?"
"Well Troy was at my house playing ball and Chucky came home, worried about you," explained Chad.
Chucky nodded his head. "Tom, you know Riley's older brother and my big brother in the fraternity, he called me up on my cell expressing his worry over you I guess as soon as he got in his car after the first day of the trial today ended. To be honest, Tom has wondered whether this was all made up or not but I think he saw the truth today. Were you up on the stand already?"
Gabriella shook her head. "No, I was just sitting with the other people in the courtroom to watch the proceedings today. I can't say more than that though."
"Well something must have happened because Tom said he saw the truth on your face and on his brother's. It was hard for him to even accept this realization, as I am sure it would be for me to recognize that Chad could do such a thing," admitted Chucky. "I came home to find Chad to see if anyone had heard from you and Troy said he didn't even know that the first day's session had let out already."
"Right, because I just wanted some down time, sorry Troy," said Gabriella. "It was emotional to see Riley in person again, seeing that familiar leer and presence again but I can at least say that I made a big step today."
"And what's that?" asked Chad.
"I found my very needed happy place. It saved me from the tormenting memories by letting me focus solely on the good," returned Gabriella.
"Something from your childhood?" questioned Troy.
"No, yesterday early morning," replied Gabriella, smiling more as she saw Troy's recognition of what memory she had focused on and grinned back at her. "Exactly, that is the perfect memory to erase all the bad, wouldn't you agree Wildcat?"
"I'd say so," agreed Troy, looking very intently into her eyes.
"All right, what happened yesterday morning? Did you two actually… do it in Hawaii?" asked Chad before getting smacked hard on one arm by Chucky and on the other by Troy, who glared at him. "What? Dude, it's just a question!"
Gabriella actually laughed at this, surprising all three. "No Chad, we didn't do 'it' but it was a special morning for us nonetheless."
"Good answer Gabriella," commented Chucky. "Excuse my little bro here, he apparently has no manners or grace. Either that or he's still a teenage boy."
"Hey! I want details," protested Chad.
"You know who you sound like right now? Tessa and Sharpay both," stated Troy, knowing that would be enough to shut Chad up as Chad immediately zipped his lips. "Yeah, I thought you wouldn't find that too good of a feeling to know you sound like a gossipy teenage girl."
"Did you just say my name and gossipy girl almost in the same breath?" demanded a high-pitched voice all four recognized immediately.
"Hey Sharpay, Ryan," greeted Gabriella, hugging both as they entered the library, Sharpay glaring at Chad and Troy both. "You two know Chucky?"
Sharpay turned her gaze to the older boy and narrowed her eyes thinking while Ryan nodded his head. "I do. You used to be the star player for the Wildcats a few years back right?"
"Yeah man, that was me," confirmed Chucky. "I remember you two, the Evans twins, the stars of the musicals since I don't know when. I've sat through quite a few actually, you sure do have a passion for theater."
"You could say that art imitates life in this case for sure," joked Chad. "After all, Sharpay always plays these dramatic characters which aren't a stretch from how she behaves in daily life."
"Oh be quiet lunkhead basketball man," returned Sharpay, smiling as she saw the shock on Chad's face.
"Did you just call me that?" asked Chad.
"Yup, I have learned a few things from Taylor and the rest of the girls as I think they've learned some things from me so you better watch it Chad. Taylor may be too good for you soon if you don't ask her out to be your girlfriend soon," threatened Sharpay. "After all, she is not the type of girl now to wait around forever for your snail speed movements."
Chucky chuckled at this. "Man, if she's right about changes in Taylor, you better act fast man. Ryan here may be interested and steal her away or some other guy."
Chad swallowed, still looking at Sharpay before turning his attention to Ryan. "Nah, Ryan wouldn't do that to me would he?"
Ryan smiled back. "I guess you'll never know if you hurry," replied Ryan, a smirk on his face.
Gabriella and Troy both laughed together as they saw the wheels working overtime in Chad's head as he became occupied on what he wanted to do in regards to Taylor. Seeing that Chad was distracted, Sharpay turned her attention to her friend. "So, how was today at the federal court house?"
"All right. Could have been better but I think things will work themselves out. How was school?" asked Gabriella.
"Oh, the same. Although, there is plenty of gossip going on about… oh, sorry," stated Sharpay, covering her mouth before Ryan had to stop her.
Gabriella gave Sharpay a suspicious look. "Gossip about me right? It's okay Sharpay, I expected as much."
Ryan nodded his head. "Yes, some things are going around but that's just the norm of high school. Something else will happen soon and you'll be let off the hook."
"But it's not every day a fellow classmate is revealed to be royalty Ry," argued Sharpay.
"Not helping Shar!" argued Ryan.
Realizing he was right, Sharpay shot Gabriella an apologetic look. "Sorry Gab."
"It's all right, really. Makes me a tad nervous about going back to school but that's all. You'll all be there though when everyone laughs at me tomorrow morning, right?" returned Gabriella.
"We'll always be here for you, all of us," assured Troy, wrapping an arm around Gabriella's waist and pulling her closer to him.
Everyone nodded their heads and gave Gabriella a smile. "Here, give me your cell phone," said Chucky. Gabriella reached for it from the side table next to the loveseat and handed it over. Chucky programmed his number in and handed it back. "In case you need to talk to a guy whose older than these knuckleheads and a bit more mature."
Gabriella smiled back at him and took the phone. "Thanks," replied Gabriella. "That means a lot."
"I may not know you as well as these guys here, and I definitely do not know you as well as Troy here, but I can tell from what I know of you through firsthand experience and by word of mouth that you certainly are special, and it's not because you have royalty in your blood either. Anyway, I know it is a school night so we should probably all go since we now know you're all right," stated Chucky.
"Oh, there's a quiz tomorrow in AP English, Taylor mentioned something about that," said Chad. "She was grumbling about it on the way home today."
"Thanks Chad," replied Gabriella. She walked through the mansion with them and stopped on the front steps so that Paul and Curtis wouldn't have to walk outside with her as was the pattern whenever she left the house.
"You better make sure you don't forget about talking to me tomorrow when all the rest of East tries to become your best friend all right?" demanded Sharpay, giving the other girl a smile to let her know that she was joking, sort of.
"I would never Shar," returned Gabriella, giving Sharpay a hug and then Ryan. Next she thanked both Chucky and Chad for coming over, giving them hugs before they went to Chucky's car to give Troy and Gabriella some privacy.
Troy pulled Gabriella into a tight hug, kissing her cheek as he pulled away. "Can I pick you up in the morning and take you home?"
"I'd love that," agreed Gabriella. "Thank you for coming over and again, I'm sorry for not calling right after we were done."
He nodded his head. "I understand, don't worry. I'm just glad you're good and that our shared moment yesterday morning was able to help you through the experience today when I couldn't be there."
"You're always here with me, right here," said Gabriella, placing Troy's hand right over her beating heart.
"Have I mentioned how very sweet you are?" asked Troy, leaning in for a kiss that was soon interrupted by teasing honking from Chucky's car. "Bet that was Chad. I'll see you in the morning all right?"
"Sounds good. Good night Troy," replied Gabriella.
"Night Brie," answered Troy, giving her one last kiss before getting into Chucky's car to head back to the Danforth's house where his car was before heading back home himself.