DISCLAIMER: I do not own HSM or the Matchbox Twenty Lyrics

“So are you gonna stand there
Are you gonna help me out
You need to be together now - I need you now
Do you think you can cope
You figured me out - I'm lost and I'm hopeless
Bleeding and broken - though I've never spoken
I come undone - in this mad season”

Matchbox Twenty, MAD SEASON

MARCH 2003
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

The full force of his arm was behind the blow, his hand connecting to the side of her face, slamming her around. She thudded against the cream colored wall, her legs buckling beneath her as she slid to the wooden floor, the bright shock of pain blinding her. Black fog clouded the edges of her vision, a dull roaring filling her ears.

“You stupid bitch,” Derrick Gaines hissed as he towered over her, his fists clenching, his green eyes blazing in disgusted fury. “This could have been easy, maybe even quick, but no, no,” he leaned down wrapping his fingers through her long hair, twisting the curls around his wrist, using the leverage to jerk her back to her feet. “You just had to go and complicate it though.”

The pain made her gasp, tears burned behind her eyes, desperation driving her as she frantically clawed at his hands, attempting to free herself from his tight grasp.

Derrick harshly laughed at her vain efforts before slapping her across her face once more, anchoring her hands above her head with a fist, his body heavily pushing her down. Her face throbbed, her tongue thick as she wet her split, numb lip, tasting the coppery tang of blood.

“You’re a cock tease,” he whispered into her ear, dragging his tongue around the outer rim rim, running his free hand down her front, crudely caressing her breasts before slipping beneath her skirt. “Going around, taunting the boys, promising them things they’ll never have. How does it feel, Gabriella? How does it feel to get exactly what you deserve without your brother and boy wonder here to protect and save you?”

Derrick forced his hand between her clenched thighs, his fingers rough and probing, hurting her. She made an explosive sound of rage, twisting as she tried to sink her teeth into the arm holding her captive, but he jerked out of her reach without loosening his grip. He was too strong and she was still to numb to protect herself.

“No, no, no,” Gabriella Montez chanted the words that were difficult to form, clenching her eyes shut. He was toying with her she knew, enjoying her growing agitation, knowing he wouldn’t release her, even if she begged.

He began to undo his pants, shoving the jean material down his hips and thighs. “You’re going to scream.” he promised darkly, smelling the fear radiating from her.

She was going to be raped in her own living room with no one to stop him.

Derrick buried his blonde head into the curve between her neck and shoulder, his sharp teeth sinking deep into the tender flesh.

“No!” Gabriella screamed, her voice cracking in her terror. “Help –” The words were cut short as Derrick thrust his thick tongue into her open mouth, gagging her. Gabriella chocked on the vile taste, preparing to sink her teeth down, but he was yanked back from her.

Gabriella crumbled, her legs giving way her as she heard the sickening crack of Troy Bolton’s fist connecting with Derrick’s jaw. She shook her head, attempting to clear the gray fog clouding her mind, watching as the two men struggled against one another.

He’s going to kill him, she thought dazedly, wincing as Troy brought his fist down again, holding a nearly unconscious Derrick up by the front of his shirt, blood dripping down his curled hand.

“Stop,” she whispered. “Troy…quit!” she pushed forward to her feet, stumbling across the room, her hand gently closing over his wrist.

“I’m not nearly finished with him.” Troy said harshly, his bright blue eyes smoldering with fury and hurt, his hair tangled, his chest heaving. Realizing he was ready to shake off her arm, Gabriella stepped in front of him, blocking his source of rage.

“No more, you’re finished. He’s not worth the jail sentence.” Gabriella said softly cupping his face, focusing his attention on her as she ignored the blood trickling over fingers from the cut on his lip. “Promise me.”

He closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath, his chest expanding. He shook in anger, his knuckles torn and bruised, his heart pounding. She looked desolate, devastated and sensing her frailty he pulled her into his arms, reassuring himself that Derrick not succeeded, shivers racking her body as he slowly nodded his agreement.

“I want the words.”

Expelling a harsh breath, leaning his forehead against hers, their noses briefly nuzzled together.

“Troy, the words.”

“Fuck,” he groaned. “I promise, okay? I fucking promise.”

She stared into his eyes for a moment longer, searching for the truth, before she nodded and slowly released him.

“You touch her again and I will fucking kill you. You can’t hide from me.” Troy warned, leaning down, holding Derrick’s chin, bringing his swelling face level, the words low and forceful. “Don’t look at her, think of her, walk the other way when you see her coming. She’s mine, do you understand that?”

Gabriella stared blankly ahead, her tired gaze fixating on the night’s darkness before her, cloaking her in its comfort. She pulled her legs up, wrapping her arms around her knees, gently rocking back on the padded lounge, attempting to warm her petite frame clothed in the comfort of Troy’s old basketball shorts and white wife beater.

She drew in a deep shuddering breath, coolness surrounding her. She had showered, standing under the spray, allowing the hot water to wash over her, relaxing her tense muscles as she sank to her knees, tears rushing down her face.

She had cried, harsh sobs racking her body at the pain she felt. Not matter how hot she made the water or how harshly scrubbed her skin with the lathered cloth until it turned a dark pink, she still felt dirty, tainted by Derrick’s touch. She wasn’t sure if she would ever feel clean again.

Was Derrick right? Was she a cock tease? She was like any other sixteen year old girl, she liked to flirt, only to have her older stepbrother and his best friend threaten any boy that dared to come near her, to ask her for a date. She knew that Derrick was a player, the senior football captain, that no girl could resist. She had just wanted a date, a moment of freedom to defy the restrictions placed on her, and she had paid the price.

“Brie?” she felt Troy move behind her, sitting as his warmth surrounded her, his hands, his fingers locking together with hers. Her eyes narrowed with guilt and she drew in a sharp breath at the sight of his torn knuckles. “Baby, are you alright?” he asked pressing a gentle kiss against her bare shoulder.

She didn’t answer instead staring at the waters of the in-ground pool and Troy released her. He smoothed his hand down her back, catching and twirling her long curls in his fingers, a caress he had always used to soothe her since her mother’s death three years prior.

“What are you going to tell Chad?” Gabriella asked her voice small, hugging her knees close to her chest, shivering slightly at the thought of her stepbrother’s reaction.

“The truth,” Troy paused, his fingers tangled in her damp locks as her body stiffened at his answer.

“You can’t,” she pleaded, twisting towards his. “Please Troy, you know what he’ll do. He’ll send me to New York…please…”

“You were almost raped in your living room by a boy you were specifically ordered not to date. How can I not tell him?” he said, his voice hardening with the memory.

“But I wasn’t. You were there, you stopped him.”

“Christ, Brie,” Troy stood, shoving his fingers through his hair, tilting his head back in order to control his anger. “What if I wasn’t there? What if Chad had come home and found his baby sister bloody, naked and bruised on the ground. He would have killed Derrick.”

“Which is why he never needs to know. What can it help if he does?”

“Do think you really think you can hide this from him? The bruises on your face and wrists, the bite marks on your neck. Are you really that proficient with makeup yet? I warned you about fucking teasing a boy.”

“You think I asked for this?” Gabriella hissed, surging to her feet, raising her face towards the twenty-one year old. “That because I flirted with Derrick that I deserved to be punished.” She screamed slightly hysterical, maddened pain, lashing out, her fists pounding on his chest and shoulders.

It took all of Troy’s strength to hold her until her fury was finally spent and she collapsed her, her slim body raking with sobs. “I didn’t ask to be forced –” she wept brokenly. “- I didn’t want my first kiss to be that way.”

Troy sighed, her words tore at him, his eyes stung with remorse at his uncalled for attack. “I’m sorry.”

Gabriella heard the raw ache in his voice as he softly murmured reassurance in her ear, his hands moving up and down her back in a gesture of helpless comfort, spreading warmth wherever he touched.

He tilted her head, touching her cheek, tracing the elegant curve as she placed a soft kiss on his palm. Troy’s hand faltered for a moment before he gripped her chin, tilting her head back staring into her dark eyes pleading for him to hold her, to heal her.

Troy was still stunned that someone had been stupid enough to touch what was claimed as his. No other man had any right to touch her until they gained his approval and not one had succeeded in that area. Even though she was only sixteen he knew that no one deserved her. She was his.

Gabriella was silent as she became trapped in the blue animalistic possession she found forming in his gaze as he studied her wordlessly.

He lowered his mouth, his lips clinging to hers as he slanted his head to the side, his tongue gliding over hers. At the first touch she stiffened, beginning to push against his shoulders, the evening events quickly flashing through her mind. Troy drew back, resting his forehead against hers, pulling her body closer.

“I won’t hurt you. Trust me,” he whispered, running stroked his tongue across her lower lip, hot and damp. “Let me taste you, Brie.”

His breathing grew ragged as she relaxed, tentively twining her arms around his neck, her fingers weaving through and gripping the soft hair on the nape of his neck.

She felt the strength of his hands as his fingers spread through her dark hair, slowly exerting a gentle pressure and Gabriella parted her lips slightly, inviting him, his tongue gliding over her.

The fierce pressure, the rasp of his tongue and teeth, sent pure fire racing through her. This is what she had wanted. She had wanted Troy to be the first to touch her, taste her in any manner. That had been taken from her, but this moment, before his conscience reminded him he was never suppose to touch her, was hers.

A low growl sounded from Troy’s throat as he deeply plunged, and her tongue curled around his in a blatant manner, then she sucked daintily, holding his within her own mouth. He took her bottom lip between his teeth, sucking lightly on it before releasing her.

Troy nestled his head on her shoulder as Gabriella felt herself tremble slightly. Their rapid heartbeats slowed and their labored breathing calmed as Gabriella pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, silently thanking him when her reverie was broken by the sound of slamming car door.

Chad was home. He was going to want answers.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” Troy whispered, his body stiffening as he heard Chad call their names. “We have to tell him.”

“Tell what that I was mauled and then his best friend shoved his tongue down my throat? Yeah,” she let out a shaky laugh as Troy stepped back. “That would go over really well.”

‘Yes to the first. No to the second. He’s your brother, he needs to know.”

“Promise me!” Gabriella cried out, desperately pleading with her eyes, but Troy winced, shaking his head in disagreement. “Please don’t do this.”

“I can’t.”

JUNE 2008
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

The hot sun beat down on Troy Bolton, sweat forming at the base of his neck, streaking down his bare back. He squinted, tilting his head to the side, silently indicating to Chad Danforth his intention. Chad nodded slightly, catching the ball as Troy faked right, quickly breaking to the left, scoring the three point shot with the ease of a seasoned player, effectively ending the game.

It was their Thursday tradition at the park as it had been for the past sixteen years. The same time each week whether playing each other, their friends or competitors, it was one of the few things that had never changed even with the responsibilities of adulthood.

Troy collapsed on the payment, taking a deep drink of water, before dumping the ice cold liquid over his head, slicking his hair back. He heard Chad collect their winnings as he stretched his sore hamstring muscles.

“Gabriella’s coming home.”

Troy felt his hands falter at his best friend’s announcement. He drew in a breath, focusing his attention on his stretch as he raised a skeptical eyebrow.

“Really? Is this like the past four times she made the same decision, but at the last minute had other engagements that required her attention.”

I wonder if she’s forgiven me, Troy thought. Probably not. She still blames me. Even after five the ice still hasn’t faded slightly.

“She outlined a few terms that I had to agree to before she would return.”

“Really? And you actually agreed to them?”

“Well to the best of her knowledge I have. She wants a position at The Bronze.”

“That’s not really an issue. She is a silent partner. I figured one day she would want a piece of the business.”

“And her friend Sharpie…”

“Sharpie? As in the permanent marker?”

“Focus Troy. She is going to be staying at our place until she either leaves town or gets her own place with Gabriella.” Chad said, rolling his eyes. “And of course, I had to agree to stay out of her personal life. Its none of my concern apparently.”

“Really and she actually expects us to follow that order?”

“Apparently.”

Troy snorted, standing. There was no way in hell he would listen to that last request. He would be involved her personal life whether she wished it or not.

He tossed Chad the basketball only to have him not pay attention as it rolled across the cement until a foot came down on top of it, halting its motion. His eyebrows snapped together at the sight on the heeled clad foot.

Troy intense gaze darkened as he traced over the slender, shapely legs displayed in a pair of strappy leopard print-heeled sandals up over the silky, raspberry colored minidress that left her shoulders bare, offering a tantalizing view of the smooth, dusky gold flesh until he met an amused pair of amber colored eyes.

“Jesus…” he breathed. “Gabriella?”

She pushed her glossy hair back so it fell artlessly around her shoulders and midway down her back in a shimmering mass of incandescent midnight waves and curls before placing a hand on her cocked hip, a stance of utter carelessness.

Her mouth was full, wet, and curved slightly in appreciation of the flex of muscle beneath his tanned, supple skin.

“Hello Troy.”