Hello,

It seems like every time I get through one of these stories it takes me even longer to bounce back. Guess that's just age and adulthood blooming its ugly face. This time I have a good excuse for my leave of absence, I'm Pregnant. Yeah, you read that right! I am 20 weeks into my first pregnancy with my own little baby boy growing inside me. So I beg for forgiveness and offer up my latest work, The Trouble With Rock Stars.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the High School Musical world, which is trademarked by Disney. I do not claim any ownership over them or the world of High School Musical. The story I tell here about Troy and Gabriella is my own invention, and it is not supported or believed to be part of the Disney story canon. This story is for entertainment only and is not part of the official storyline.

She couldn't believe she was there, back after so many years away. In all that time, she liked to imagine what this day would feel like, the day she returned home. She had always imagined it being like a parade. Confetti, sparklers, cheap candy clipping the soft heads of children.

Hey, she was hopeful.

She could hear them downstairs waiting for her. She was the guest of honor, the subject of the HAPPILY ENGAGED sign taped over the fireplace. The party had started an hour ago, and her mother had been up to check on her twice since then.

Concerned. The first time she was spread out on her bed, prone, in a bathrobe she hadn't worn since high school.

"Better tie that belt at the waist before you come down, Gabriella. Your privates are trying to go public."

The second time, she was dressed, standing at her window and staring out at the two-story house next door. His house.

"If you're looking for Kelsi, she's already downstairs."

"Her brother isn't here, is he?"

She knew he wasn't. He was in California. Still, she needed to hear someone say it out loud.

"No. Of course not."

She turned to narrow her eyes at her mother until she was sure she was telling the truth. That's what he did to her—made her lose trust in her own mother. It was a side effect of being back in Albuquerque, their old battlefield. Every square of inch of this town was covered in memories of their past.

She closed her eyes as one memory came flooding back to her. Troy was a risk-taker and never thought about the consequences of tomorrow. He did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, without thinking about the future. And he was the only boy who held one of Gabriella's first outside of Thomas Grace.

She cringed.

He was the only part of Gabriella's life she couldn't share with her best friend. And that scared the shit out of her.

*Nine years earlier*

Gabriella adjusted the pillow behind her head, glancing up at the stars in her backyard. The sound of Kelsi's cough could be heard from her open bedroom window. She cringed at the wicked sound of it, certain the Bolton's would have to rush her to the hospital at any moment—but as soon as she began to shift from her position the coughing quieted.

So much for their last summer weekend as wild teenagers. She chewed on her bottom lips and lifted the book back up in her lap. She'd been reading all week, catching up on her ever-growing list. This was their last week before college, but poor Kelsi was stuck in bed with round of pneumonia. Fevers, body aches, and a prescription for antibiotics and rest.

Gabriella really hadn't minded that their last week at home had been uneventful. She was just happy to be alone. Away from the crowded beach, bustling strip malls and for the moment…Thomas.

Mostly Thomas.

The pressure to become his girlfriend was beginning to annoy her. He'd been at her house almost daily, hinting about needing an answer before they went off to college. It was no secret that he loved her. He had confessed to as much in front of their entire eighth-grade band class. Everyone knew how he felt, but until now they'd been just friends. The best of friends.

Gabriella loved Thomas with all her heart, but she didn't like him that way. He was her best friend outside of Kelsi and she was determined to keep it like that. Dating him would only mess things up. But how could she tell him no without hurting him?

To say no, and not have him push her away completely? It was a catch twenty-two in the worst kind of way. No matter which way she said it, her words would be a rejection. A rejection she wasn't sure their friendship could recover from.

She nestled down on to the patio sectional, determined to get lost in her book and not think about tomorrow, but bits of sun drained from the sky, reminding her that the day was almost over. That tomorrow she would be leaving home. And closing a chapter of her life forever. If she wanted to really run her own practice one day she was going to have to work hard. She was a college student now. Pre-med.

The back gate creaked open, and Troy strolled lazily into her yard. He'd just come back from a run and his hair was slightly damp, his shirt off—revealing his perfectly sculpted chest and abs. she swallowed. She didn't like him much, but she wasn't blind. He was hot. More than hot. Broad shoulders, washboard abs, with that bad boy messy vibe that everyone loved.

She glanced back at her book, ignoring him like she always did, but before she could read the first line, something heavy settled down at the other end of the patio sectional. She glanced up and found him sprawled at the other end, arms braced against the back cushions, legs out in front of him and crossed at the ankles. She cleared her throat, making herself smaller on the other end because this was odd.

Normally Troy didn't stick around for this long. Normally he had a crew of people vying for his attention that would pull him away. She knew for a fact there was a house full of senior girls having a sleepover this weekend just across the street who would volunteer for the job. She had seen them with her own eyes, sunbathing out on the lawn all day Saturday, practically naked, obvious in their attempts to grab Troy's attention.

Before she knew what he was doing, he leaned forward and snatched the book right out of her hands. "Why do you read these things?" he said thumbing through the pages. "We read this in my literature class this semester."

Troy was a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley. He'd earned full tuition on a basketball scholarship and played guitar whenever and as often as he could. And he was good at it. Really good.

She blinked a few times, not knowing what to say as he tossed her novel on the coffee table in front of her.

"You know it's okay not to be three steps ahead of everyone else occasionally. It's certainly a lot less exhausting," he said, leaving her mouth open and heart pounding.

She was so confused by his behavior she had a hard time breathing. "I'm not trying to be anything. I like reading, that book is on my list of summer reads."

"Shit. You have a list," he huffed. "Jesus."

"Is there a reason you're here?" she asked beginning to feel annoyed with his attitude.

"Let's go swimming."

She must have a miss heard him, but just in case she hadn't. "I'm not going anywhere," she replied, pushing herself to the edge of the couch to grab her book again.

He quickly blocked her. "You haven't done anything all weekend."

"So?" she replied, not attempting to hide her irritation. "Kelsi's sick if you haven't noticed."

"Oh, I noticed." He smiled before leaning back in his seat again. "Kelsi has been coughing like a chain smoker." A loud cough came bellowing down from the window above and Troy raised a brow in response. "See?"

Gabriella laughed, but then shook her head and hit his arm. "You're mean."

He shrugged. "Just because she's sick doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves. This is our last night of summer vacation. Monday morning, we leave home. I go back to college, you go off to college. Don't make me look like a loser splashing around in the pool by myself."

She grinned at the imagery, but couldn't help glancing over. "You won't be alone." She lifted her chin to the front of the house. "Those girls have been drying for your attention all weekend."

He set his feet to the ground, leaning forward and laughing under his breath. But it wasn't a laugh of happiness or humor. It was something else.

"What? Are half-naked women not your type?"

"It's not that."

"Then what?'

He glanced back at the house, as though contemplating ending this conversation, but he met her eyes again, offering the bluest storm she'd ever seen in her life. "I wanted to spend my last night with you."

Her heart squeezed. Like the air had been sucked from her body. She wasn't sure why, but for some reason, he sounded serious.

Gabriella forced herself to keep breathing, disgusted by the fact he affected her so easily. She didn't think it was possible, but she felt even more uncomfortable than before. Why would Troy want to spend his last night home with her? Why would he spend his last night with her alone? And why did the fact that he had said so cause a conflicted feeling to form in her stomach? A mixture of butterflies, adrenaline, and nausea.

She looked towards the pool, battling her wild heart and the parts of her that wanted to let it loose.

"Come on," he said, bumping her arm with his shoulder. "I promise to be a perfect gentleman."

She crossed her arms at her stomach, wondering if she was about to throw up.

"What you don't believe me?"

"It's not that. I'm just surprised the word 'gentlemen' is part of your vocabulary."

His blue eyes danced with amusement and he started laughing. "Go upstairs and change Ella. I'll meet you back out here in five minutes." He pushed himself off the sectional, not waiting for a response, and headed to his house, jumping over the small fence that divided the property.

*Present day*

"Gabriella?" her mom called from the doorway, pulling her mind back to the present. "Are you ready to come down? Everyone is so anxious to see you."

She took a step back from the window. Twisting the engagement ring on her finger. "I'm coming."

Downstairs, her mother had rounded up quite the crew of guest to welcome her back home. Neighbors, out-of-touch friends, a few familiar relatives, the little boy who delivered the newspaper. She knew about half of the guest present, but then again, she hadn't been back home since before she left for college. Nine years ago.

Everyone cheered as she came to the bottom step. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for him. But he wasn't there. Good. She didn't care. And before she could really give it another thought, a familiar hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her into a loving embrace.

"There you are gorgeous," Thomas said adoringly. He was freshly shaven, dressed in grey slacks and light mint green dress shirt. He looked perfect. Exactly the way you would picture a dotting fiancé. His eyes warm with love, his smile genuine, his touch just the perfect amount of possession and guidance. He was exactly the perfect height too. He towered over her by just a couple inches, allowing her to wear heels.

He twisted, bringing her along with him and dipping her in dramatic fashion for a kiss. His hands holding her safely, his lips pressed chastely against her own. Warm, secure and familiar.

Everyone went crazy for it. Whoops, and hollers erupted as Thomas claimed her lips with his own in a well-mannered public display of affection.

When he spun her back upright she felt light headed and reached for the railing of the stairs to anchor herself. "Hey," she said softly. "Nice to see you too."

Thomas smiled at her, reaching out to shift a strand of hair out of her face, tucking it neatly behind her ear. "I've been waiting for you, almost went up there myself. I know it's overwhelming to be back home again."

"You have no idea," she said, pointing at the dress she wore. "This dress is from my closet. Like from high school." She still hadn't fully unpacked her suitcase and when she saw the dress hanging her closet, it felt like a challenge.

Thomas grinned appreciatively at her cleavage, "It looks good on you."

Gabriella smiled a little wider. Yeah, it did. She finally had the boobs to fill it! She had always been left of center from other girls. Thin, medium height, bony wrist. She developed boobs after high school after everyone already had them and the novelty had worn off.

Just her luck.

"Welcome home, Doc!"

"Way to go, Ella!"

There were claps on her back and drinks plopped in her hands. She didn't usually drink at parties but tonight, she had something to celebrate. She was finally realizing her dream. Not only was she engaged but she was going to take over her own private practice. It was the reason she was back in Albuquerque, the reason she had put in so many years of demanding work during medical school and residency.

Even Thomas was coming into his own dreams. The night was filled with conversations, mostly about Thomas and his new position: the recognition, the honor. And like before he reminded her of how rare an opportunity his internship truly was.

Cross and Associates was the most prestigious Law Firm in New Mexico, representatives of the rich, famous and the top secret. The more he spoke about it, the brighter his eyes became, and Gabriella loved it. To watch his face glow. To see him actually giddy with excitement, like he'd gotten an autograph from his boyhood idol—or better yet, been asked to play in a game with his favorite team. It was awesome because she'd practically grown up with Thomas. Gabriella was proud and excited for him.

After many rounds of congratulations and answering as many wedding questions as she could handle she made her way to the kitchen to avoid doing a shot with her middle school PE teacher, and that's when she found Kelsi. As her oldest friend, she was not surprised to see that her mother had put her to work serving drinks.

"I was wondering when you were going to come down and face everyone."

Gabriella shrugged. "I don't like parties."

"Or being the center of attention," Kelsi said taking the beer out of Gabriella's hand. "Here try this instead. It will help take the edge off."

"Thanks," Gabriella grinned as she took the mixed drink. She hated beer. Couldn't stand the taste of it. "You should have come upstairs."

Kelsi pointed at the half-empty punch bowl. "Your mom grabbed me as soon as I walked in. called it my Maid of Honor duty."

"Oh my god look at the size of that rock?" Someone had reached for Gabriella's hand, pulling her just a little bit away from where she'd been standing. Two older women stood in front of her gushing about her engagement ring.

"Oh, hi." Gabriella politely pulled her hand back. "Sorry, I'm not sure we've met."

"Don't be silly, we know you." The woman with big red hair laughed as she offered a gentle pat to Gabriella's shoulder. "We used to babysit you when you were little. We're in your mother's book club."

"Right, of course." Gabriella turned to Kelsi who was smirking.

The blond ran her fingers through Gabriella's hair. "I used to change your diaper, don't you remember? My lord. You would just run around my house butt naked sometimes."

Kill me now.

"Oh, honey," the woman gasped. "You have to come into the salon to get your roots touched up, this is not a good look for a bride to be."

Seriously, lighting, an air strike. I'll take whatever you got.

"Selena is that you!" Someone yelled and the redhead spun around letting out a shriek as she ran over to hug someone.

The blond not as easily distracted continued her examination of Gabriella's hair. Picking at it and instructing her on the dos and don'ts of hair care for a bride. Gabriella had almost finished her drink when the woman gave her shoulder a squeeze and headed off. "Call me, and we'll set up an appointment for your hair and makeup trial." She said before running off to catch up with her friend.

Gabriella spun around towards Kelsi. "Leave the punch and let's take a bottle of wine out back. I bet we could down the whole thing before anyone finds us."

"You know we're adults now, right? We don't have to sneak alcohol anymore." Kelsi laughed.

Gabriella shrugged as she reached around for an unopened bottle of wine. "Yeah, but it's more fun to pretend that we do. Plus, I spotted Dr. Rhett here and if he corners me, we're done for. He'll want to talk shop all night."

"I'm in!" Kelsi grabbed a corkscrew and followed Gabriella outside through the sliding back door. The back of the house wasn't as crowded as inside. It was warm out. Just warm enough to make her sweat a little as she led Kelsi out by the pool.

"Finally, freedom!" Gabriella tossed out her arms as she did a twirl.

Kelsi laughed, "It can't be that bad." She said, taking the wine bottle from Gabriella and working at the cork.

Gabriella raised a brow. "Someone literally asked me if I was putting a crib on our registry."

Kelsi freed the bottle of its cork and offered it to Gabriella. "Brides first."

Gabriella took the bottle and lifted it to her lips. God, it felt good to do something a little rebellious. Even if it was hiding out from her engagement party and drinking wine straight from the bottle.

Kelsi took the bottle next, tossing it back in a long swig before looking up at the house next door that used to be home. She wiped her lips with the back of her hand. Kelsi's smile fell a little and Gabriella felt her own heart pinch with sadness.

"You okay?" Gabriella asked looking back at the house next store as well.

"Yeah," Kelsi nodded. "It just weird sometimes. It's like I expect the back door to open at any minute and see them walking through it."

Kelsi's parents had died in a car accident seven years ago. It had been an awful tragedy event, destroying everything in its wake and shaking them all to the core. It had changed everything. Forced everyone to rebuild their life from the ashes left behind. Troy dropped out of school, Kelsi moved out and in with Gabriella her mom while she completed college.

The house was left abandoned. Just empty. As if life would just pick and resume right where it had left off.

Gabriella nodded solemnly. "I love you."

"I love you too." Kelsi handed her the bottle, then reached down to remove her heels.

"Good idea," Gabriella removed hers as well. Following Kelsi's lead and coming to sit beside her on the edge of the concrete and dipping her feet into the water.

The feeling of her toes in the water sent ripples of little memories through her mind. She took a drink and passed Kelsi the bottle. "Mom hasn't been driving you insane with all the wedding stuff has she?"

"No," Kelsi shook her head as she took the bottle. "Your mom doesn't bother me. Besides it helps take my mind off things. Keeps me from killing my brother." She added the last part with a grunt.

After she moved away to college, all her information about Troy came from the gossip rags in the checkout lines or offered up by Kelsi. They had an unspoken rule wherein she never asked about him and Kelsi brought him up often as if she cared what he was doing with his life. When his first Song hit the charts, Kelsi had blasted the song through their dorm room and she'd been subjected to That Bra Strap. And damn him, if she didn't end up enjoying that song about the girl with the lime green strap.

It was still insane to think about it all. Troy, the annoying man-whore from across the yard was a country rock star. It made it even harder to pretend he didn't exist. If he wasn't on her television screen or the magazine covers at the grocery store, Kelsi would jump around the room squealing whenever he was coming home to visit. Gabriella always made sure she staggered her visits around him, letting Kelsi believe she didn't want to intrude on her and Troy's time together.

*Nine years ago*

It was almost eight thirty when Gabriella walked out into the yard to look for Troy. The night was warm, but the breeze off the water offered just enough relief to make the August evening pleasant. Her long brown hair was braided over one shoulder, and she stood clasping a green-stripped beach towel firmly at her chest.

She found him sitting on the at the edge of the pool, looking out to the water. His body was splayed out in gray swim shorts and a white t-shirt, but he didn't notice her right away. his focus was directed to the water, as if deep in thought, and the soft glow from the back-deck light allowed her to see his features.

She leaned against the fence at the pool entry from the deck and watched him. She had known him for as long as she could remember, but this was the first time she had ever seen him alone. Normally, he was surrounded by groupies, both the male and female variety, and it was odd to see his life this. Like a wolf away from his pack, or a white iris in a field of purple. Out of place, but beautiful nonetheless. It intrigued her.

"You came," he said, his voice quiet and contemplative. But he didn't look up at her. He continued to look out at the water as if he saw something in there that she couldn't. "I didn't think you would."

She pushed off the fence, wondering how long he'd noticed her there without saying a word. "Why not?"

He shrugged. "Just a hunch." A slow smile transformed his features as his gaze swept her up and down. "I'm glad I was wrong, Ella Bean."

The name from her childhood barely audible on his lips. Low and soft…but incredibly sexy. She didn't like it, didn't like it at all. Because for some reason, the way he said made her stomach flutter. She wasn't sure if it was the fact they were alone or something else, but he sounded honest. Like he really was happy to see her.

She cleared her throat and looked out at the water. "Why are we out here?"

"Just enjoying the night," he replied, jetting his chin out to the sky before looking back at her. "You okay with that?"

"Sure," she said, adjusting the towel at her chest before coming to stand beside where he sat. They were both quiet. Gabriella took the moment to reprimand herself for being so nervous. She wasn't quite sure the reason, because she knew nothing would ever eventuate between her and Troy. He could have any girl he wanted, literally, and she had no interest in him whatsoever. But Troy Bolton had a way about him. A presence so big the whole world would miss it the moment it was gone. And she was feeling it right now. All around her, over every inch of her skin.

"I head back for the dorms tomorrow."

It wasn't a question but a statement. She wasn't sure what to do with it. congratulate him, or high-five. Instead, she looked at him, wondering where all this was coming from. "Are you excited to be going back?"

He raised his shoulders but said nothing.

Nervous energy shot through her heart and she looked down at the space beside him. She decided to sit. She took a deep breath releasing the towel and coming to sit beside her. Her toes dipped into the water. "Well you should be," she said with a nod. "An acceptance to the University of California, Berkeley is an honor."

He remained quiet and she spoke. "They have a great basketball team-"

He pulled his shirt overhead and pushed himself off the edge, cutting off her last word as he went under the water.

Right. Personally, she'd always thought of college as some big, exciting experience. The beginning of the future, the first step toward adulthood. And she knew from Kelsi that Troy had a full scholarship—and like always, a whole plethora of new women were out there waiting for him to charm their panties off.

"I can't wait to go to college," she said to fill the awkward space. "I mean, I probably won't be participating in all that college girl gone wild foolishness. I plan on taking classes during summer as well, cut my time in half for all my general studies. That way I can put more focus into major."

Troy who had come out of the water, tilted his head to the right, one eye closed as the water fell from his head. "Don't you ever do anything foolish?"

She lifted her chin a little. "Not really. Not like you do."

He laughed. "You think I'm foolish?"

She shrugged. "You do foolish things."

"Like?"

"Like jumping off our roof and into the pool."

He grinned. "That was one time."

"And taking Leslie to the prom even though you knew her boyfriend was out to get you."

His grin widened. "I never thought you paid that much attention, Ella Bean."

She cleared her throat. "Well, you are kind of hard to miss. I mean, the stuff you do. It always causes so much drama, and everyone never stops talking about it. Even though it's been a year, you're still our local celebrity."

He swam up to where she was sitting. Looking up at her, "Do you miss me?" he asked. But it wasn't in that flirtatious sway he used with other girls. He was not even smiling when he looked up at her to meet her eyes. He was dead serious. His eyes held hers, his lips formed in a straight line as though he was holding his breath.

She looked into his clear blue eyes, her breath becoming shallow and uneven. She shook her head. she didn't know what was happening to her, but she didn't like it. 'No," she finally said. "How could I? I hardly know you."

He laughed, but it didn't seem like a happy one. Then, before she could recover from the whiplash conversation he smiled her at. "Maybe I can change your mind."

Without waiting for a reply, he drove under the water swimming a little bit away from her. When he came back up he spun around, the light of the moon reflecting off his wet hair, glistening down his bronzed skin and bare chest. "Come on Ella. Are you gonna swim with me or what?"

*Present Day*

"He texted me last week. He wants to sell mom and dad's house," Kelsi said before taking a sip. "Can you believe that?"

Honestly, from everything she knew about Troy. The news didn't shock her. Troy had always been a little disconnected from things. Always a little distant in a way that made him almost cold. "You own half of it, don't you?"

"Not anymore," Kelsi sighed. "I asked him to buy me out when Ryan and I decided to open The Music Box. If I had known he'd only want to sell the place, I never would have done it. That house is supposed to stay in our family."

Gabriella's eyes looked over at the house that had once been filled with so much love and compassion, where the yard used to have such beautiful flowers and the grass held a vibrant green she used to love laying in for hours as she and Kelsi talked about all kinds of things.

Now it was a jungle, completely overgrown. Kelsi lived in a small apartment across town with her boyfriend Ryan Evans. They had opened a music store together, where they sold instruments and held lessons. Troy wasn't the only musically gifted Bolton. Kelsi played piano like it was an extension of her soul.

"What does Ryan say about it?"

Kelsi handed the bottle back to Gabriella. "He keeps telling me it would be a good idea. That maybe I should try to make a deal with Troy and see if he would invest in The Music Box and we could rehab the back of the shop and make a small soundproof studio where we could record." She leaned back on her palms, quiet for a moment before spoke again. "He can't just sell it. It's mom and dad's you know. It's one of the last pieces we have of them."

Gabriella could understand Kelsi's emotional ties to the house. She had them herself. All the summers of hoping over the little fence and playing with Kelsi in the backyard. Of the water-gun fights and barbeques where Mr. Bolton whore his 'kiss the cook' apron and always made sure there was plenty of food to go around.

"Maybe you could convince him to just fix it up and rent it out instead?"

Kelsi was quite as she looked up at the house next door with a frown. "Sometimes I just wish he would come home. I know that he's out there living this rock star lifestyle with his band and groupies but, I need him too. It feels like I lost everything, maybe I'm selfish, maybe he's selfish…I don't know."

Gabriella placed a hand on Kelsi's shoulder her thumb gently rubbing her skin. "You're not selfish."

"God," Kelsi sighed as she brought her hands up to her face to swipe at a stray tear. "This is your engagement party and I'm ruining it."

"Stop that." Gabriella nudged her. "It's okay, we're out here to escape the wedding talk and crazy people who want to know want to pick and pull at my clothing."

"Being a bride is a big deal Ella," Kelsi teased knowingly. She knew Gabriella hated the spotlight. In high school, while Kelsi was on stage performing, Gabriella was more than happy painting the sets or helping with the crew out backstage.

"Thomas loves it." Gabriella bit her bottom lip. "It's like as soon as soon as we stepped off the plane he's been right at home here. He's excited about all the wedding stuff too. He has a bunch of venues he wants me to consider."

"And you?" Kelsi asked with a small smile. "How are you feeling?"

"A little overwhelmed I guess." She handed the bottle back to Kelsi. "Starting a new job, looking for houses, planning a wedding and just being back here." Gabriella shrugged as she looked down at her ring. "I wish I was excited, but I just feel...tired."

Kelsi laughed, "That's understandable. But worry no more. I'm here and ready for my maid of honor duties. Lay it on me, it's the big day, you look gorgeous…what do you see?"

Gabriella smiled thankful for Kelsi. She looked out into the water for a moment thinking about the day in question. "I've always wanted something small. Classic. Something outside. Lots of wildflowers and mason jars."

Kelsi let out a dreamy sigh, "perfect."

"Hey bitches!" the sound of Taylor's voice filled the quiet. Kelsi and Gabriella let out a squeal as they greeted their friend. "When I didn't see you inside I just knew you two would be back here passing a bottle around."

Gabriella stood up and reached out to hug her friend. It had been too long since she'd been back home. Back with the people who meant so much to her.

"Bridesmaids unite!" Sharpay hollered as she appeared from inside with another bottle in hand.

"Oh god," Gabriella murmured as she watched Sharpay make her way over. The old crew was back together again. She hadn't realized just how much she missed them until they were all squealing and giggling with excitement. It felt good to be home.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the shade from next door fall back into place. As if someone had just been standing there. Her entire body felt a cold sweat break out over her skin. Not possible. Gabriella's eyes shifted to Kelsi who hadn't noticed the movement next door. She was wrapped up in wedding plans and details with Taylor and Sharpay, getting them up to speed.

Gabriella's eyes shifted back to the window, just as she was about to say something hands came around her waist from behind.

"Hey gorgeous," Thomas whispered lovingly in her ear. "You know you can't hide out here all night. There's a house full of people just waiting to get a glimpse of my blushing bride."

Gabriella's hands settled over his hand on her waist. "I'll be in soon, I promise. I was just telling the girls about my ideas for the ceremony."

"Cool, my grandfather just offered to perform the service."

Gabriella smiled, "That's great. That should help with the budget."

"Don't worry about the budget so much," Thomas said wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her close to him. "We've saved for this. We're prepared."

Gabriella nodded, wishing the words did anything to calm the small storm of worry that knotted her stomach. But they didn't.

An eruption of awww's and audible swoons erupted from the girls causing Gabriella to blush fiercely. Laughter followed and she pulled away from Thomas promising again that she would be inside shortly.