A/N: I should've uploaded this ages ago and I totally forgot about it, tbh. I'm starting the next chapter tomorrow afternoon (I have a free period) but I'm not sure how long it'll take. I'm so sorry. This could've been uploaded ages ago. Sorry. Don't own HSM x

Chapter 5 - Home

I ran.

I ran as far as I could before I collapsed against the elementary school playground. These kids wouldn't have recess until noon, so I had a good four or so hours until I had to leave.

I cried, and cried, and thought about Troy and my parents, and his parents. I didn't want to impose. I had had enough of imposing on people. I had depended on my parents for seventeen years and I didn't want to depend on Troy's parents now.

It was a sweet offer, but I didn't even know him. He probably wanted something in return – sex? money? – and I couldn't give him either.

I think I fell asleep for a while after that, because when I woke up, the first students were opening the gate to the playground. I made my way back to Troy's house, intent on staying until he returned from school and I had a chance to apologize before I left.

He deserved that much, no matter what he expected of me in return.

When I arrived back and rang the doorbell, Troy's mom answered. She frowned at me, obviously wondering what kind of girl I was to be skipping school and taking advantage of her son all in the same breath, so I smiled my sweetest smile and widened my eyes, blinking up at her.

Lucille soon recovered from her shock and gestured for me to go inside. "Gabriella, what on Earth are you doing here?"

I bit my lip and leant back against the wall. "I promise I never skip school. I just couldn't face Troy right now."

"Honey, what are you talking about? I thought you were going to stay here until the end of finals?" She asked in confusion.

I nodded and finally lifted my head. "I was going to. But, then I thought everything through. It's taken near enough six years for Troy to notice me. I don't see how or why I can get close to someone right now."

"Do you want some coffee or ice cream or something?" Lucille asked helplessly.

I nodded and gave her a weak smile. "Some coffee would be amazing right about now. If you don't mind, of course." I added hurriedly.

Lucille shook her head. "Nonsense. Come on." She took my hand and led me through to the kitchen. "Take a seat."

I climbed up onto the island which Demi had occupied earlier this morning. "Thank you for this, Mrs. Bolton."

Lucille flicked the kettle on and took down two mugs. "Don't worry about it. So, what's up?"

I sigh and rest my hands on the counter. "Mrs. Bolton, you and your family were amazing to me this morning and I'm very grateful, I am. I just don't think it's a good idea."

Lucille brought over two steaming mugs of coffee and I accepted mine. She took a sip and then eyed me curiously. "Because…"

I take a long gulp of the soothing liquid and sighed. "Mrs. Bolton, Troy is a very kind, sweet boy but I just don't think I should intrude."

"Gabriella, you are in no way intruding. You're always welcome here. Always." She pressed.

I nodded silently as I looked down at my coffee. "But, you don't understand. As much as I fear Troy hurting me, I'm much more scared of me hurting Troy."

Lucille furrowed her brow and ran her pinkie around the rim of her mug. "Okay, um, how would Troy hurt you, and why would you hurt Troy?"

It's just a reputation.

Troy's words rang through my mind and I remembered how Troy's parents were completely oblivious to how Troy acted in school. "Well," I struggled to cover up, "what I meant was that college is coming up and I really don't want to get close to someone and then have to leave."

Lucille nodded slowly. "Okay…So, what are you hiding from me?"

"Not just you." I whispered. "From Troy, my parents…my sister. Mrs. Bolton, you have to understand that it's very hard for me to come to terms with what's happening. Can I safely assume that Troy's told you so I don't have to relive it all?"

Lucille touched my hand and took a small sip from her mug. "Yeah. He did."

"Well, it's just hard. I don't want to hurt Troy. And, even with everything going on, he is the last person I want to see hurt. You know how I said that I'd stay until after finals and then I'd be out?" I asked quietly, staring intently at my mug.

"Yeah…What about it?" She asked quietly.

I lifted my head and sighed. "I'm leaving."

"Excuse me?" Lucille asked in shock, taking her hand away from mine.

"Please, don't tell Troy. I beg you. He doesn't need to know." I exclaimed.

"But, what do you mean you're leaving? I mean, what about graduation and finishing your senior year?"

I took a deep breath and gripped the counter edges tightly. "I got accepted for Stanford's freshman honours' programme." I whispered.

* * *

Troy parked his car in the garage, and savagely crushed the keys into his pocket. He hadn't been able to get his mind off of Gabriella for the entire day, and even Jason (who was notoriously oblivious) had noticed.

Troy ruthlessly kicked the front door open and then frowned. He couldn't hear his mom making his favorite quesadilla snack in the kitchen, and Gabriella's red bag was neatly resting on the first step.

Troy skipped a breath, dropped his backpack to the floor and took to the stairs four a time. (That had to be a new record.) When he slammed his bedroom door opened, there she was, sitting on his bed with her hands clasped neatly in front of her.

"Gabriella!" He beamed wildly, forgetting to be mad at her. He sat next to her on his bed and wrapped his arms around you. "I missed you so much, Gabby! Where were you?"

She cracked a tiny smile and then removed his arms from her body. "Troy, it was so sweet of you to take me in last night and I don't think I can repay you. But I can't stay, really."

Troy's elated expression changed into one of shock. "What?"

"I'm sorry, Troy."

Troy blinked, and Gabriella was gone.

* * *

Troy wandered through the park and shook his head to himself as he approached a familiar bench. He stood behind it, facing the lake and then crouched down so that his mouth was parallel to the person's ear. "Do you have any idea how predictable you are?"

Gabriella jumped visibly and twisted around to face Troy's smirk. "Maybe I wanted you to find me, Troy." She mumbled, turning back to the lake.

"Why would you want that? You're avoiding me, remember?"

"I left too soon, there were so many things that I needed to say that I didn't get a chance to say."

Troy walked around the bench and sighed as he sat next to her. "Any reason you left?"

She stared out at the lake and sighed. "Quite a few." She whispered. She turned to face him. "I am grateful, I promise I am. But, I mean…"

Troy put his basketball down on the ground, took her hand and looked at the side of her face. "But, what?"

She turned to him and then averted her gaze to their interlocked hands. "I can't do it." She whispered.

"Can't do what? Gabby, you're scaring me." He whispered, sliding closer to her. "Please, Gabby, tell me what's on your mind."

"Troy, I don't know how to be a friend." She whimpered.

Troy wrapped his arms around her and breathed out in relief when she didn't push him away, but instead rested her head on his chest. "You don't know how to be a friend?" He asked slowly.

She shook her head with a sigh. "I haven't had one for so long and I don't know what to do."

Troy rubbed her arm and he closed his eyes in relaxation. "Gabby…"

"Hmmm…" She muttered.

"Please come back." He whispered. "I don't want you to be somewhere where you're so depressed that you feel that you're not important." He sat them both up and he stroked her cheek. "Because you are. And if you gave your parents half a chance, they'd say the same."

She sighed and looked away. "I thought you said I wasn't just some girl that you'd leave hanging." She whimpered.

"What? I promised you that you're not and never will be. I'm not leaving you." Troy exclaimed.

She lifted her head and glared. "I told you not to bloody mess with my emotions."

Troy ran his hand through his hair. "What on Earth are you talking about?"

She rolled her eyes and folded her arms as she leaned back into the bench. "You know for the freaky genius girl, I'm so stupid."

"Gabby…Please, tell me what I've done. Or not done." Troy rested a hand on her knee. "Please."

Gabriella pushed his hand away and sighed. "I actually believed you cared about me. I should've stuck with my instinct and stayed away from you. You just wanted me to tutor you."

"What?" Troy gasped. "That's the last thing on my mind. I mean, it would be nice to pass and graduate but I'm not friends with you for that. I'm sorry that you're thinking that!"

"Friends? Oh, yeah. Real good friends, aren't we?" She mumbled, looking away again.

* * *

Friends? Is he serious? No wonder he's failing English. Interpretation for him is an impossibility. Is he as stupid as he is arrogant? Oh, my gosh. I'm going to cry. I'm going to cry and be a homeless street girl until I leave for Stanford after finals. What to do… What to do… Should I go back home where it's impossible to hear myself think because of my parents' fights? Or should I go back with Troy and risk hurting the both of us?

I smiled slightly and hesitantly kissed his cheek. "I don't know why you're apologizing. It's not like we're together. But, I can't get close to you and then just leave. Besides, I should get home. I think we should pretend last night never happened."

"Why?" Troy exclaimed indignantly. "You actually expect me to forget about you?"

I shrugged. "It wasn't that difficult before, was it?"

Troy winced visibly at the question. "But, I mean . . .what? I can't forget you. I tried all day to forget you and look where it got me!"

"Where did it get you, Troy? You're in the park again, practising basketball. You probably won't even need those English credits because you'll get a sports scholarship to Duke, and you'll go on to your NBA and-"

I was rambling. "I had sex with Shannon O'Mallory today," He admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.

"See? That's what I mean! You had a great day without me, Troy. I don't even know why I'm trying to convince you because you'll realize it anyway when I leave."

"No, Gabby, that's not a good thing. I was trying so hard to forget you that I had sex with Shannon O'Mallory and it was awful."

"Shannon O'Mallory." I spoke slowly, staring at my hands in my lap.

"What?" Troy whispered.

"I'm sorry if I ever threatened your popularity in any way." I whispered. "You know, I didn't need your charity. I never wanted it from anyone."

"Who said anything about charity? Look, I couldn't skip school to find you. I wanted to but my parents are already on my back about failing English and I couldn't. Shannon was just there and it didn't mean anything." Troy pleaded, holding my hand.

I lifted my heard and slowly shut my eyes. "I told you. It's been so long since I've had a friend that I don't know what I'm doing, really. And I don't want this to be a temporary thing. College is coming and I'm leaving this place behind." I paused slightly. "If we become friends, you're going to be a part of it."

Troy frowned worriedly. "Look, college is coming, I know. But, we're not going to stop being friends because of it. And don't worry about not knowing how to be a friend. I like it and I'm not letting you go. Like I've been saying all along, you're different."

"Different." I whispered. "Yeah. I'm definitely…different." If only he knew. Stanford is in California. A thousand miles away…

"Please come back. I can make you happy." He whispered, kissing my cheek.

To go back with Troy would mean possible hurt for the both of us.

Going back home would mean the possibility of bursting my ear drums.

To go back with Troy would mean leaving him behind.

Going back home would mean hurting him anyway.

I knew where I had to go.