Title: Learning to trust, learning to love

Rating: M

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot.

A/N: Well, hello there!! :)

I know I said I didn't know if I should post the new story at the same time I had "The Whims of Fate" still going on, but…I've begun this thinking about it as a one-shot…but then…I've fallen trapped by its influence…writing and writing and realizing that the plot maybe wasn't original but appealed me. I warn you from something from the very beginning – the next story I had in mind had NOTHING to do with that new story, I swear, but…well, sometimes things didn't turn out as you planned them :D

Either way, I hope you'll enjoy this story. If you like it, please, let me know pressing this cute purple button, and if you don't like it, press the button anyway, because I want to know what you do think for real, so I can correct whatever you think I am doing wrong. Remember that I am Spanish so if you have doubts about the plot or something because of the way I write, PM me and I'll answer right away trying to solve your questions the best way I can.

I can't tell you now how often I'll update this story; now that I'll have two stories out…I guess the updates will arrive depending on my mood, on my muse, on my inspiration…so…I ask you to be patient with me. If I see I can't keep up with two stories, I'll leave this one in stand by until I end "The Whims of Fate", okay? I'll warn you about it if that happens, of course! :)

Oh! And a warning – this first chapter is written, mostly, in italics. I've done that on purpose because the story will be like a huge flashback. You'll see how the first paragraphs are written normally (present time) and then you'll read "Ten years later"; after then, everything is in italics because that's already the flashback…and all the story will be like that, though I write the chapters in a normal way. When the story is in the present time again, I'll write something to warn you about it.

Does this make sense? Gosh, I'm not sure about what I've written…but in my head it makes sense, so try to understand it, please! ;)

That's it for now, so…well, ENJOY! :)

"What are you thinking about?" The man whispered moving softly his hands, rubbing softly the inches of olive skin her lifted top left at sight.

His husky voice still melted her insides; the tingling sensation his breath left in her skin each time it caressed her face was still untouched; the pride her heart felt every time their eyes connected because they were still together, because their love not only was still there but had increased with the years; the flip flop her heart made when the three most amazing words left his mouth when he declared his love for her…and everything after 10 years of being together.

Snuggling closer into his chest, she looked up to him. "The past," she answered smiling.

"What about it?" He said tightening his arms around her, giving her the smile he showed only to her, leaning down to kiss her temple afterwards.

She closed her eyes when she felt his lips against her skin. "How we got together, how we're here still in love, how much you mean to me, how much you helped me…"

Understanding fell upon him when he heard her words; they had walked a long path full of barriers and difficulties together, facing everything that wanted to break the bubble of happiness they shared. "I love you," he tilted her head upwards, leaning down to press his lips softly against hers. "So much Gabriella, so fucking much…"

The emotion that still laced his voice when he spoke her favourite words brought salty and fresh tears to her eyes, tears that he wiped away with his lips, and she couldn't help but turn around to lock her eyes with his. "I love you too…," she whispered softly with a shivering voice. "You brought me to life again when I'd lost all the hope and…" She struggled for words and had to take a deep breathe, trying to fill her lungs with the air the turmoil of feelings she was feeling evaporated. "And you're still the only one that can keep me alive, Troy…"

He couldn't say anything back knowing his voice would break at her words so he crushed her body into his chest in a hug that meant all the words he couldn't speak instead; the special connection they felt while being in high school was still present, and it only had increased and deepened with the years, making their relationship, what they had, the most incredible fountain of happiness known to men.

Ten years ago

"I can't do that, mom," 16 years old Gabriella told her mother when they left the principal's office.

"Gabriella," Maria said softly rubbing her daughter's back comfortingly. "I know you're scared, afraid, worried…but you can do that. You only need to trust in yourself…"

"I don't know if I can," Gabriella looked at her mother with fear written in her face. "What if…"

"No more what ifs, sweetie," Maria kissed Gabriella's temple and talked against her skin. "You've gotten over the worst now…and I'm very proud of you, okay? You are stronger than what you think; trust in yourself and you'll see how things go smoothly…"

Gabriella couldn't help but replay in her mind the nightmare her life at school was since her father died three years ago; she'd always been the one without friends, the one alone, the one at home when everyone was in a party, the one that was afraid of people…

"Sorry," Principal Matsui sounded from behind. "But Gabriella needs to go to homeroom…"

"Okay," Maria lifted Gabriella's head so she could convey her pride, her confidence and her trust in Gabriella into her eyes. "I'll see you tonight. Good luck…"

Gulping aloud, Gabriella closed her eyes. "Bye mom…"

Principal Matsui gave Gabriella all the papers she would need her first day of school, along with a map of the school so she knew where she had to go. Patting her back awkwardly, the old man spoke his last words and disappeared around the corner. "Good luck, young lady…"

Gabriella took a deep breathe and looked the map intently, trying to find the fastest way to arrive at her homeroom…craving the safety of to be in a closed place, craving the safety of four walls around her that would shield her from the rest of the people.

Walking hesitantly through the empty corridors, she was more than thankful at her mother because of her insistence of them arriving early at the school, knowing Gabriella's fear when she saw herself surrounded by unknown people. Turning around a corner with her eyes still glued to the map Matsui had given her, Gabriella gasped when she bumped into something strong and hard. "Owch…"

Two strong arms prevented her fall. "Sorry, I was distracted…"

"No it's okay, it's been my fault," Gabriella answered in a very low voice without lifting her eyes from the ground; her heart was craving to look at the owner of the sweetest voice she'd heard ever, but her mind was preventing her to do so, afraid of what would happen if she dared to look at him.

"You sure?" The boy asked narrowing his eyes at the girl's weird behaviour.

"Yeah," Gabriella gulped. "I need to go…" She said already backing away from his grasp and walking away from him.

"Wait!" The boy turned around looking for the girl whose body had brought to him a warmness he'd never felt before at the minimal touch…realizing she'd already disappeared from the corridor they were in.

What the fuck?

But the girl was nowhere to be seen and he'd, finally, let it go not thinking twice about the weird stranger that had evoked unknown feelings in him, feelings that he'd realized made him feel the best; he'd been always a heartless guy very careful to not show his feelings to anyone. But this girl, only with her sweet voice, only with the way his body had felt when had touched hers, made him realize that he wanted more of that but, at the same time, his mind was well aware that he couldn't allow his heart to feel anything.

He had popularity and a status created with the mystery that surrounded him; being so careful about his feelings and his emotions, he was sure as hell that no one but his mother and his father knew the real him – he could fuck with a lot of girls, he could make out with five girls one night, he could go out with his friends and laugh, joke or whatever…but his heart always had shielded the deepest part of him so no one could discover it.

And even though that girl seemed to have penetrated into his heart somehow, things would remain the same way they'd been all those years – his mysterious, and even dangerous, aura would be untouched.

----------

Gabriella had her back pressed at the bathroom's door, keeping her eyes closed forcefully and taking deep breaths trying to regulate her breathing and the fast beating of her heart.

How the fuck that stranger had made her skin tingle when they had touched?

How the fuck that stranger had filled her heart with something that reminded her, vaguely, of the safeness she felt when she was in her father's arms?

Shaking her head, Gabriella pushed herself away from the wooden door and went to splash cold water to her face; just when the first cold drops touched her skin she felt relief ran through her system. She couldn't let this weird emotions overcome her because every time she'd let someone in, she'd ended hurt and humiliated…and she had promised herself that she wouldn't let anyone to put her down again.

Exiting from the bathroom, Gabriella sighed in relief when she realized the stranger wasn't there; grabbing the map again, Gabriella resumed her walking to her homeroom, praying that no more unwanted encounters would occur.

----------

"Troy, my man!" A dark skinned guy with a big afro shouted from the other side of the corridor. "What are you doing here so early?"

Troy shrugged. "My car won't start and I've come with my father," he explained.

"Aww man," Chad whined. "You've got to be shitting me…"

"We're talking about my car here, not yours," Troy said flatly.

"But your car is cooler than mine," Chad answered. "And chicks fall sooner if we're in your car than in mine…"

Rolling his eyes, Troy turned his back and went to their homeroom. "Whatever man…"

He was well aware that how many fake people were around him; guys would praise him because he'd fucked the highest number of girls and girls would fall under his charm assuring him easy and hot fucks that brought some physical relief to his body.

But that was it.

And he was fed up with that; he wanted some reality around him, he wanted something real beside him…but his feelings were in a safe place; this place was unknown for everyone, and he'd worked a lot in order to reach his goal (keep his real self secret for everyone) and things would remain like that.

----------

Arriving at his homeroom, Troy's heart skipped a beat when he saw the girl sitting in the desk that was supposed to be his; he knew what his friends were waiting from him – to kick her out of the desk – but he couldn't, and didn't want, to do that.

However, his friends didn't realize about his frozen state, and soon a hand slapped his arm. "Hey man, there's some weird chick sitting in your desk…"

"I know," Troy shrugged his shoulders.

"And…" The other guy prompted waiting for Troy to continue. "Aren't you planning on to kick her out?" Chad asked confusedly when Troy remained silent.

"No," Troy answered flatly shrugging his shoulders carelessly, already going to sit in the desk behind the one the girl was sitting in, realizing her eyes were glued to the table, ignoring everyone and avoiding to look to anyone.

He could feel his friends sitting around him but his eyes never left the girl's back, intrigued by the secrecy that seemed to surround the girl; so focused as he was, he didn't notice Chad clearing his throat standing up beside the girl's desk.

However, the girl did so and gasped lowly. "Can I help you?" She asked politely to the big and tall guy that stood up beside the desk she was sitting in.

Troy's eyes moved to her profile once the girl turned her head to look at Chad, but still he didn't pay attention to the words that were leaving neither her mouth nor Chad's; he had to admit that the girl had an extraordinaire beauty that had him mesmerized. Her eyes, however, also showed sadness; he didn't know why he was noticing all those details because he, usually, would look a girl only to know if she was hot enough or not so he could have some random sex, but this time, with Gabriella, he was noticing things that he'd always ignored…things that had to do with feelings, with HER feelings.

"This seat is taken," Chad said menacingly in a very low, but still scary, voice.

"But when I've come here it was unoccupied…" Gabriella's soft voice shivered again afraid of the dark look that adorned Chad's features.

"I want to sit here," Chad hissed between his teeth. "Get the fuck out before I get mad," he threatened.

Gabriella did a loud intake of breathe, snapping Troy out of his reverie; moving his eyes through her face, Troy couldn't help but notice the fear she was feeling…almost feeling it himself, an action that made him to look up to what had put her in this shaking state. Realizing that Chad was the one she was afraid of, his insides burned with pity, knowing how dangerous Chad could sound, even though he was all words but no actions. "Chad," he said from his seat not looking at the girl, who gasped turning around to look at him when his voice arrived at her ears…recognizing the strange she'd met in the corridor. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"I want to sit here," Chad hissed. "And this nerd doesn't let me sit…"

Nerd.

Again with the fatidic word; why couldn't people respect her interest in school? The passion she felt when she had a new book between her hands? Her enthusiasm when she learned something new?

Were those things really so bad?

Fresh tears invaded her eyes, and Troy could see her struggling to keep them there and not letting them fall; feeling sympathy for her, and something deeper he didn't want to analyze, Troy spoke in what he hoped was a strong, cold and dark voice. "Leave her alone…"

"What the fuck Troy?" Chad said slapping the table with his hand making Gabriella whimper in fear, something Troy realized about looking at her from the corner of his eye.

"Darbus will be here shortly," Troy spoke clearly. "And she'll get you a detention. I guess you don't want that, do you? Because if that's the case, go ahead but if not, if you want to play against West this Friday, I suggest you to sit and leave the nerd alone…" He threatened knowing Chad would back off at his words and would leave the poor girl alone.

The bad name escaped from his mouth without a second thought, keeping the cold and stone-ish façade that was his signature, but his insides burned in regret when he saw Gabriella close her eyes as if she was in pain after the word abandoned his mouth.

"Yeah man," Chad sighed. "You're right…but that doesn't end here sweetie; watch your back…" Chad whispered into Gabriella's ear making her whimper again.

Troy saw, and heard, everything, but he didn't intervene again; Chad was leaving the girl alone for the moment being and that was enough for him.

----------

When homeroom ended, Troy had to thank all the heavens when the annoying sound of the bell, this time like his favourite sound of the world, interrupted Darbus rambling about theatre. His eyes had been glued to Gabriella's frame, and he'd seen how her body had never stopped the shivering, how her eyes had travelled along the classroom with fear, how her hands had been closed in fists, how her breathing had been irregular and almost panting for all the time they'd been there – a picture that had brought pain to his heart, pain for her…again.

He continued observing her, still sat in her desk, again with her eyes glued to the table while crazy noises entered in his mind, warning him that people were abandoning the classroom; daring to glance at his right to where his friends were supposed to be, he was more than glad when he discovered that they had been the firsts ones in to abandon the classroom and so the room was emptier each second by.

He didn't know why, but he wanted to talk to her; he wanted to understand the reason behind her weird and confusing behaviour.

Soon they were left alone in the classroom, and he realized that, only then, she dared to lift her eyes from the table, sighing in relief; Troy realized she thought she was alone, and that made him to narrow his eyes.

Which the fuck was her problem?

He didn't want to dig more into what he was feeling, because there was no doubt that the strange girl was making him feel something, something foreign to him...something that scared the living lights of him.

The sound her chair made when she was about to stand up snapped him out of his reverie; he needed to talk to her. "Wait," he commanded still sitting in his desk, sighing when he saw her body freezing in what he knew was fear. "Relax, I won't do anything to you…" His assurance didn't relax her body; her muscles were still tense and he knew it. "I won't touch you, I swear. I only want to talk to you…"

"What do you want?" Gabriella asked in a low voice pressing her books into her chest, turning around slowly but carefully avoiding his blue orbs that she could feel digging a hole into her soul.

"Which is your name?" Troy asked flatly standing up slowly.

Gabriella took a step back and gulped; panic was all over her face now. "Ga…Gab…Gabriella…"

"Gabriella what?" Troy asked feeling a nice warm feeling in the pit of his stomach when her name rolled out of his mouth.

"Montez," Gabriella sighed taking another step back when Troy took another one in her direction.

"I'm Troy Bolton," the guy said taking another tentative step. It was as if they were playing cat and mouse, and a new excitement grew in him at that – he still had to see a girl refusing him, a girl not falling under his charm…and he was sure as hell Gabriella wouldn't be the first one, but that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy the dare.

"Nice to meet you," Gabriella stuttered moving her eyes to the door, wishing her legs weren't as short as they were, knowing that the guy would catch her before she had time to make a step. "Can I go now?"

Troy shook his head silently and simply observed her. "Why were you afraid of Chad before?" He asked bluntly after some minutes in silence.

"What do you mean?" Gabriella gulped snapping her eyes to him, afraid that he could use her fear against her. "I wasn't afraid…"

"Sure you weren't," Troy said sarcastically taking another step to her. "Tell me the truth…" He commanded lowly in what he hoped was a soft way…even though his words sounded more menacing this way.

Gabriella took another step back and gasped when her back touched the wall. "Leave me alone," she whispered.

Trapping her body with his arms so it was between the wall and his chest, Troy shook his head. "Tell me the truth and I'll leave you alone…"

"I'm…I'm…" Gabriella had to close her eyes when he pressed his body to hers, forcing her to look at him – his eyes were too tempting, too beautiful, too special…that she knew she would cave, and she didn't want her past known by everyone in her first day at a new school. "I'm telling you the truth…"

"You know that's not true," Troy sighed abandoning his menacing pose, backing away from her a little, giving her more space. He could see fear in her face, and he felt bad for her; it was as if her pain was his too, as if what was haunting her was haunting him too as well…and he couldn't help but want to be the one freeing her of that fear. "Trust me, please…"

The new tenderness she noticed in his voice that time made her to lock her eyes with his, trying to find what the hell was wrong with that guy – Had she in front of her a case of double personality? Was he mental? Was he a stalker?

No.

His eyes were everything but the eyes of someone who had bad intentions towards her.

Troy moved his eyes along her face, trying to find what was what was tormenting her so he could delete it from her mind, her heart, her soul – he needed to help her; he didn't know or understand why, but the barriers and walls he'd built around his heart were melting as if they were ice and Gabriella was the sun, melting them irremediably, letting him feel…feel something warm, feel something precious, feel something that he was already craving, feel something that brought a tingling sensation to his core.

"Trust me," he begged desperately. He didn't know where that was coming from, but he realized that he didn't care – he didn't mind to show feelings around Gabriella, he didn't mind Gabriella knowing him, because the only thing that mattered to him, seeing her tormented eyes, seeing the thunderstorm her eyes held, was to push the pain away from her. "Please…"

Electricity was invading her body at the new closeness with the stranger; Gabriella could notice the hairs of her arms standing up, Gabriella could notice cold sweat covering her hands, Gabriella could notice her breath coming out almost like in pants…Gabriella could notice the rhythm of her heartbeat increasing…coming back to life again.

She'd never felt anything like that since her father died three years ago, the moment when her life became hell, and she didn't know if she was more scared of the man she had in front of her…or of what she was feeling because of this same man.

The guy had his eyes glued to her face; Gabriella could notice how he was trying to read her face, to know something more about her…but she couldn't let him in.

Even though she wanted to.

Even though she knew, in the deepest part of her core, she needed to.

A new determination broke its path to her face; her past was hers, and that would remain like that.

With Troy having his eyes glued to her face, he didn't miss the moment, the second, when a new coldness appeared there, making him shiver…making him press his chest to hers again, relieving in the feeling of to have her this close made him feel. "Don't…" He warned her, clenching one of his hands in a strong fist that had his knuckles turning white; he knew she wanted to escape away from him, he knew she wanted to tell him to go to hell, he knew she wanted for him to disappear…but he couldn't let her do that.

The feelings she'd awaken in him, the ones he'd had asleep almost all his life, had possessed his body, his mind, his heart, and he knew that they were at a point where no return was possible. He could read the determination in her face…but he also could read the confusion in her eyes, a confusion he knew he had to grab onto if he wanted to be around her, if he wanted to feel the perfect sensations she was making him feel…and he would do so.

"Let me go," she whispered turning her head to the right so his handsome face, so his questioning eyes, so his sweet breathe didn't affect her senses…but letting out a loud gasp when she noticed one of his hands on her hip, making her body shiver and goose bumps cover every inch of her skin.

"I can't," he whispered moving his other hand so he had it tangled with her hair. "Look at me…"

His softly command made her insides melt, and then she made a mistake; she obliged and looked at him, lifting her eyes to his, and her knees became jelly. Troy's reflects entered in action and he steadied her, while Gabriella placed her hands in his strong biceps, gasping when her breasts touched his chest fully.

Their mouths were a breathe away by then…and never breaking eye contact, Troy leaned down and connected their lips together in the softest of the caresses, simply drinking in her sweet taste, in her petite body pressed against his, in the magic feeling that invaded his body when their lips connected.

Gabriella struggled to pull away, only to feel Troy's hold on her hips tightening at her efforts…but then, when she realized she couldn't stop him, she also realized about how alive she felt, about how her heart was screaming in pleasure, about how the big grey cloud that had been covering her for ages melted and disappeared…and she realized that she was feeling life entering in her body again, only because Troy's lips were on hers.

Slowly and tentatively, Gabriella wrapped her thin arms around his neck, returning the kiss with a tender sweetness and a slowness that prevented him from going further.

He didn't need anything more from her; the feeling of her lips moving along with his, the feeling of her petite hands playing with his hair, the feeling of her breasts rubbing against his chest, the feeling of their heartbeats totally in sync…was more than enough.

Gabriella couldn't believe her first kiss was being this passionate but still so soft at the same time; she'd never been kissed or in a relationship, so she didn't know what she was doing…but she decided against to let her brain to control her and simply let herself go, acting simply by instinct.

Troy pulled away when the lack of air became a problem but still kept his arms around her waist; leaning down, he touched her forehead with his, closing his eyes in pure rapture at the new incredible and phenomenal sensation overcoming him. "What have you done to me?" He whispered opening his eyes and locking them with hers passionately.

She didn't know what to answer because she was as lost as he was.

Troy saw the confusion and the new fear she was feeling; but this time he didn't panicked because he knew, even though he didn't know how, that she wasn't afraid of him…but of what he had made her feel. Leaning down slowly, warning her with his eyes – that were still locked with hers – about his intentions, Troy's lips touched hers again and he sighed in relief when her magic did miracles in him again.

Gabriella was the one pulling away this time totally breathless; her chest heaved up and down from the lack of air and pressed her forehead into his shoulder, freeing them both of the invisible magic rope that had them joined in a so deep way, and closed her eyes trying to regulate her breathe.

Something touched her hair and she knew, even though she didn't know how, that he'd pressed his lips to her hair, moving his hands softly up and down the sides of her body, making her shiver uncontrollably.

"Be mine," he begged whispering into her hair.

Gabriella didn't say anything back but simply pushed her body further into his, moving her arms from his neck to his torso, taking a deep breathe when his pure, masculine, sweet and perfect scent arrived at her nostrils and she took a couple of seconds to actually and really discover it.

Turning her head to her left so her face was buried in the crock of his neck, Gabriella pressed a soft kiss, lingering her lips tenderly when she noticed his hold tightening again…only to relax completely when she did so.

Neither of them understood anything.

Neither of them knew what was happening.

But neither of them wanted to think more about it.

Troy – because the walls built around his heart long time ago had disappeared, filling his soul with perfection, with perfect emotions that had his heart almost burning in an unknown feeling…filling his whole self with care for that strange girl.

Gabriella – because the safety he'd made her feel, the one only his father was capable to give her, had penetrated so fully and deeply in her heart, that she realized she couldn't let him go…because that would mean to put the ugly and fatidic cloud over her again.