Swept Off Her Feet
-Moving Fast-
"Out of bounds!" The referee called out while blowing his whistle, just as the East High Wildcats' basketball captain came crashing into a Union High Panthers' cheerleader.
Using the fast reflexes he developed during basketball practice, he twisted their bodies, so that he ended up landing flat on his back with her on top of him seemingly unharmed. His heart rate had increased ten fold for he some how ended up with the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, laying on top of him. He silently sent a prayer to God for that moment.
Raised to be a gentleman, he asked her if she was hurt anyways. "Shit, I am so sorry. Are you okay?" asked the basketball player underneath her. He scanned her body for any injuries, but also used the chance to check out the petite brunette.
"Oh...um yeah. What about you?" God, his eyes were gorgeous. She could stare at them all day. She had her hands on his chest and his arms were still wrapped securely around her waist, as they had their own miniature staring contest.
"Yo Bolton! We still got a game going on!" One of his teammates yelled from down the court.
"That's uh great. Well, I guess I better get back to the game." The blue eyed boy told her as he gently lifted her off of him and placed her on the floor sitting and pulled himself up before reaching back to help her. Offering his hand to her, she gladly accepted it and stood up smoothing her skirt down. Moving a piece of hair behind her ear, he whispered to her, "I'll see you around, beautiful." He smiled at her sweetly before running back onto the court. Just as he made it over to his team, he turned around and winked at the girl. Giggling, she gave him a small wave before he turned around.
"Damn, he's hot, Gabs. Oh god, and look at his a**" Lucy spoke out loud pretending to fan herself. The rest of the cheerleading team nodded their agreement that the blue eyed captain of the East High Wildcats was absolutely sexy.
"How come you always attract the hottest guys?" teased Victoria making all the girls laugh and their friend to blush.
Smirking, she told them, "Well, the next guy that falls on any of you ladies is yours to claim fair and square, but number fourteen over there well, he belongs to me." she pointed at the brown haired blue eyed boy across the room. Wow, I'm already feeling possessive of a boy I don't even know, she thought as the game had resumed.
Wildcats won 21-18
It was a close game and the two teams were actually tied at 18, but ended with a three pointer by the East High captain with only five second on the clock. It was the toughest game they'd played yet.
Soon people were exiting the gym, while the Wildcats made their way to the locker rooms, congratulating their captain on the win against their hardest competition yet.
"Thanks guys, but you guys did most of the work. I just got lucky at the end." He told them, always trying to give everyone equal credit.
"Dude, don't even go there. You were making shot after shot tonight, especially after you had that run in with that hottie of a cheerleader from Union." Chad waggled his eyebrows at his best friend.
"Whatever man." He jokingly shoved Chad away from him as his best friend made his way into the locker room and he was about to follow when a small hand suddenly grabbed his upper arm, stopping him in his tracks.
"Hey." He breathed out as his eyes fell upon the goddess before him.
"Hey yourself, Wildcat. Even though you beat my school, I gotta give it to you. You were really great tonight." The girl in the Panthers' cheerleading outfit told him smiling at him.
"Thanks." He responded shyly, never one to be receiving so many compliments at once.
"So again, sorry about earlier. You know running into you and stuff." He rubbed his neck and looked around at everyone leaving. He nervously flicked his hair out of his eyes.
He looks so cute nervous! She thought. "You should stop apologizing! Actually, I think I should be the one thanking you for taking the fall because I would've really hated to have a bruise on my butt! Every time I'd sit down it would be painful, " laughed the girl with brown eyes looking up into those blue pools.
He laughed at her attempt to break the ice. Damn, she was amazing! Kind, sweet and beautiful. She was definitely a triple threat. "Well, you and your fine a** are very welcome, although my back will be complaining tomorrow," he remarked with a playful smirk.
Two can play this game. "So you were checking out my a**?" She giggled at his shocked expression before leaning up and whispering huskily into his ear while massaging the back of his neck, "Maybe I can help you with your problem."
Not waiting for a reply, she grabbed his hand and lead him over to the nearest bench and stood behind him as he made himself as comfortable as possible on the piece of wood. Suddenly her hands were massaging his shoulders and back as he groaned in response to all of her touches. Her hands traveled all the way down his back before moving back up again to slowly repeat the process. She took this time to examine him and she felt all of his back muscles as she continued to massage him. Wow he works out a lot! She was surprised he had such an amazing body for a teenage boy, even her ex-boyfriend Will didn't have such defined muscles and he played football! Too soon for the boy though, the massage ended.
Turning to her, he smiled at her like a boy who'd just gotten his favorite toy from Santa. "That was just what I needed. I'm starting to feel better already" he told her as he patted the seat beside him for her to join him.
"Well, I'm glad I could help, but I really need to go. The girls are probably wondering where I am. See you around," she told him apologetically. She didn't want to leave, but it was getting late. She stood up and grabbed her cheer bag from the floor and swung it over her shoulder and began to head to the bus.
"Wait," he grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop. "I don't even know your name." he spoke frantically. He wanted to see her again, but he wouldn't be able to if he didn't at least know her name.
She smiled. Okay maybe it was a sign he wanted to see her again she thought. "Gabriella, and you are?" she quirked an eyebrow. She knew his last name was Bolton, but it would be silly to call him that.
"That's a pretty name, Ella. I'm Troy. Nice to meet you," Troy grinned as he reached a hand out and shook hers as if they were meeting for the first time and not the second. She laughed at his weird behavior, but shook his hand anyway.
"Ella...I like it," she comtemplated the nickname. No one's ever called me that before. Enjoying the thought that Troy gave her a special nickname. "Well Troy, it was nice meeting you, but now I've really gotta go." Gabriella liked the way his name rolled off of her tongue with ease. She smiled at him again before retreating behind the double doors.
As she walked out of the school, Gabriella couldn't help, but grin at the thought of the sweet and very cute Troy Bolton when she suddenly heard someone calling her name. By now she had already made it to her bus and was about to board.
"Ella!" Troy yelled as he ran full speed towards her. Finally he reached her panting and leaned over with his hands on his knees. "I couldn't...find...a pen...so I had to...get my...phone...from my car...on the other side...of the...school...I forgot...to...ask you...what your number...was" he paused every once in a while to take a breath. He looked up at her with hope written across his face. Aww...he ran all the way across campus just to get my number. She was touched by his sweet gesture because it meant he wanted them to talk and maybe even see each other again.
"Sorry, I have a boyfriend," Gabriella told him trying to use a serious tone to mess with him. She didn't think he would actually believe her, but apparently he did. Suddenly, Troy's shoulders drooped and he looked down in disappointment and embarrassment. Disappointment because he wouldn't get to see her again, and embarrassment because he'd just got rejected by a girl in front of a whole bus load of people. He really believes I have a boyfriend. I guess I can be an actress, she thought. Watch out Vanessa Hudgens, Gabriella Montez is headed to Hollywood. She shook her head at the silly thought. She was able to fool Troy, but that was probably because he wasn't exactly paying attention to her facial expression.
"Okay, so...um I'm just gonna go," Stupid, stupid, stupid, she's gorgeous of course she'd have a boyfriend, he mentally slapped himself. Troy took one step before Gabriella pulled him back.
"Hey, I was just kidding. I would love for you to text me," she confessed and reached her hand out to take the phone from his hand. Unlocking it, she took a picture of herself and typed her number in. "There ya go," she smiled at him, handing his iPhone back to him.
"Thanks," he told her sheepishly. "Anyways you better go. I've held you up long enough," he told her as he ushered her up the first steps of the bus. Backing up, he patiently waited for the bus to pull out of the parking lot completely before he headed back inside.
"So did he kiss you?"
"Oh my gosh, did he ask for your number?"
"On a scale of 1 to Zac Efron where would her be?
"What's his name?"
"Whose Ella?"
Once she sat down, Gabriella was bombarded with questions by the whole squad about Troy. She laughed to herself. Poor boy, he doesn't even realize that he's got a fan club in the making.
"Geez guys, we've got an hour to burn before we make it to the school, so chill," Once everyone was calmly back in there seats, she told them teasingly," Now ladies, one question at a time about my man."
"He technically isn't yours yet. He could be mine tomorrow." Avery muttered resentfully.
Suddenly the bus was silent. Everyone heard what Avery said and was waiting for a response from their captain.
She swiveled her body around to face the black haired co-captain. "What's your problem?" snapped Gabriella. The other cheerleaders continued to watch, moving their heads back and forth between the two girls.
"My problem is you! Oh, I'm Gabriella and I'm better than everyone else. You need to all listen to everything I do. If I like him, don't even think about talking to him. You can have the scraps, but he's mine," mocked Avery. Her voice laced thick with sarcasm.
"Listen here you wanna-be Barbie..." Lucy started up, but was interrupted by Gabriella.
"Thanks Luce, but I got it." She gave her friend a small smile before turning to her co-captain glaring at her. She was pissed. "How the hell do you get off mocking me? You think I'm some stuck up queen b****? Well look in the mirror honey, you're already doing it for me." Gabriella shot a smug look at Avery as everyone was laughing at her. "Oh and as for Troy, everyone knows all guys are free to claim unless someone already knows him, so stay out of my f*cking relationships. Thank you." With that being said, Gabriella plopped back into her seat and continued to answer questions about Troy with a smile gracing her lips at the thought of him.
Finally, I'm home, Gabriella thought contentedly stretching out on her queen bed. She laid there for a few more minutes before going to the bathroom to shower and brush her teeth.
An hour later, she fell down on to her bed, exhausted from cheering and the fight with Avery. Why today of all days does she decide to argue with me? She thought lazily before she began to doze off.
Suddenly before she could succumb into deep sleep, her phone vibrated on the table beside her. Rolling over, she blindly reached for her phone. Gabriella flipped it open without bothering to check the caller id. "Oh my god! Who the hell calls at..." she paused to check the time on her alarm clock. "two in the f*cking morning?" she growled into the phone. Most people knew Gabriella Montez despised being awakened at ungodly hours especially after an away game, unless for emergency reasons. Sadly the person on the other end was not most people.
"Sorry, Ella. I just wanted to make sure you got home okay," he told her surprised by the angry tone in her voice.
The anger and irritation immediately faded at the realization of who was on the phone and why this person was calling. "Troy? I am so sorry! I didn't realize it was you or I wouldn't have answered the phone like that." Gabriella, confessed to him, embarrassed by how rude she'd probably came off as. She mentally slapped herself for not checking caller id, but then again she didn't have his number, so it was really inevitable.
"Yeah, it's me, and it's no problem. I probably shouldn't have called so late anyways. It's just that I wanted to make sure you got home safely and I wanted to ask you something." Troy rushed at the end, part of him hoping she didn't hear it, but then again wanting her to badly. He was currently laying on his bed staring at the ceiling, while waiting for her to speak.
He's so sweet! I can't believe he called just to make sure I got home okay. Gabriella wanted to 'awwww' at how Troy was such a gentleman, but decided against it since he was still on the other end. "Thank you for making sure I made it home." She told him softly. "It was very sweet of you, so I'll let the fact that you woke me up at this ungodly hour slide this time, but you've been warned. I'm not very nice when I get woken up." joked Gabriella giggling as she rolled over to face her balcony, looking out at the stars while clutching the phone to her ear.
She could hear him chuckle through the phone. "Well, I guess I better let you go then huh Ella? I don't want you to be mad at me the next time we see each other just because I woke you up and kept you up all night long." Troy teased her before taking on a more serious tone. "I did want to ask you something though, Ella." He cleared his throat before asking her, "Would you like to go see a movie with me tomorrow night? Maybe dinner afterwards? Or before? Whatever you want. I just really want to see you again, Gabriella." He told her honestly.
He's asking me out! Oh my gosh, breathe Gabriella. She told herself repeatedly her heart racing at the thought of going on a date with him. Gabriella wanted to start jumping on her bed and squealing like a girl who just had her first crush, but no she couldn't do that. One, because her parents were sleeping down the hall and two, she wanted to sound cool and calm when she answered Troy or at least close to it. She didn't want to scare him away by screaming yes into the phone a million times. Taking deep breaths, Gabriella responded to his question. "I'd like that and honestly, it really doesn't matter whether we do dinner or the movie first." She told him truthfully. It really wouldn't have mattered if he asked her to take a walk in the park again or hang out with friends, the point was he'd just confessed he wanted to see her. She was floating on cloud nine. Every time she thought of his name or his face, a smile would spread on her face. Gabriella couldn't help it. Troy just had that effect over her.
Troy breathed a sigh of relief and even chuckled a bit. Who would've thought that she would be the girl to make him feel whipped? He wasn't the commitment type since Dani, but now all he wanted was to call Gabriella his girl. He thought as he felt the knots in his stomach tighten and the butterflies increase ten fold when she called his name.
"Troy?"
"Yeah, I'm still here. Sorry I was just thinking." He sat up and leaned against his headboard.
"About what?" Gabriella asked him curiously.
"You." The word slipped out of his mouth before he could even think about stopping.
"Really now? Well, I hope that those thoughts are not perverted ," she teased him although it made her smile to know he was thinking about her.
"Anyone ever tell you, you're a funny girl, Ella?" asked Troy laughing at her joke.
"Yep," she told him popping the 'p'. "You just did."
They talked some more asking random things of each other: favorite colors, friends' names, siblings, hobbies, etc. There conversation held no purpose, but was light and carefree as they discovered new things about each other. He is so easy to talk to, Gabriella thought.
Another hour later, Troy finally glance at his clock and realized it was four in the morning. Holy sh*t! He cursed silently under his breath. "Ella?"
"Yeah Troy?" she questioned him wondering why he cut her off mid sentence, but not really bothered by it.
"Have you checked the time?" He quietly chuckled as he heard her gasp as she finally noticed the time.
"We've been talking for the past two hours!" Gabriella told him shocked. She had never spoken to a guy that long on the phone. They never really had anything to say, and it was always awkward after the first ten minutes, but time just flew by when she was talking to Troy. He made her feel comfortable and there was never an awkward moment between them.
"I know. That's why I'm gonna be a gentleman and let you go back to your beauty sleep," he said before adding, "Not that you need it. Instead of doing what I want and talking to you until our date later."
"We can talk more at dinner tonight right?" Gabriella asked Troy hopefully. She really enjoyed talking to him.
"Of course. I wouldn't miss it for the world," he replied making her giggle. "Goodnight Ella."
"Night Troy." She whispered, yawning as she rubbed her tired eyes.
"Sweet dreams, beautiful." Troy told her softly before she heard a click and snapped her phone shut.
Still on her side, Gabriella held the phone in her small hands tightly as she finally fell asleep with a small smile, thinking about Troy.
"You look absolutely stunning, Ella," Troy told her as she opened the door.
"Troy, I'm only in jeans and a t-shirt. It's nothing special, but thank you for the compliment anyways," said Gabriella smiling at him. "Come on in." She stepped aside and allowed him to enter the house. Her parents were at one of her dad's business dinners.
"These are for you." Troy told her shyly as he pulled from behind his back a bouquet of white roses. "I hope you like them...I mean you just said last night your favorite flower was white roses. Right?" he asked her nervously flicking his hair out of his eyes. He rubbed the back of his neck and tugged at his collar continuously. Why am I so nervous? Every time she's around, I get all tongue-tied and act like a freaking dork, he thought to himself.
"They're beautiful," Gabriella breathed out, smiling softly at the fact that he remembered her favorite flowers. " Thank you." She kissed his cheek before heading to the kitchen in search of something to put the flowers in. "Let me put these in a vase first and then we can go." called Gabriella to Troy from the kitchen.
"What are we watching?" She asked Troy curiously as he opened the passenger door and offered his hand to assist her out of the car. She smiled at the act and allowed him to help her.
"Um, I got us tickets for this comedy movie called "Jack and Jill" with Adam Sandler. I know you don't like scary movies and there aren't any good action movies playing in theaters anyways, so I chose a comedy," informed Troy as they made their way inside the theater.
As they walked past a bunch of guys who were whistling and calling out vulgar things at Gabriella, his protective instinct and jealousy immediately kicked in and without much thought, Troy reached out and grabbed Gabriella's hand, holding it tight until they were far enough from the guys that he was able to relax. Realizing that Gabriella was blushing, he immediately moved to let go, thinking that she was uncomfortable only to have her squeeze his hand affectionately and intertwine their fingers. Gabriella swung their hands a little bit, giggling at the sight of her small hand in his bigger one, but loving it anyways.
"What are you laughing at?" He questioned her with a raised eyebrow.
Instead of answering his question, Gabriella just shook her head with a smile playing at her lips as he bought them snacks for the movie.
On the way into the dark theater she complained to him. "Oh my gosh, I can't believe they didn't have gummy bears! They're my favorite candy." she explained to Troy as they sat towards the middle. Troy didn't want it to seem like he was expecting for them to make out during the movie by sitting in the back, but he also didn't want to blind her by sitting in the front.
"It's okay, Ella. I'll get you some next time." He told her trying to comfort her, but also finding the situation quite amusing.
Gabriella saw his amused smile and slapped him lightly on the chest, exclaiming in a hushed tone as the movie started, "Troy! This isn't funny." She pouted looking up at him"
Troy rubbed his chest and laughed quietly as he wrapped an arm around her waist. "I'm sorry, baby. Can you forgive me?" He gave her the puppy dog face and pulled her as close as possible with the arm rest still between them.
"Baby?" It was her turn to raise an eyebrow at the new name.
Blushing, Troy looked down at his feet before whispering, "Yeah. Too soon?" He was embarrassed to say the least. The word just slipped out, but it seemed like the right thing to call her.
He's blushing! That's so freaking adorable, Gabriella thought as she looked at the pink color that had appeared on his cheeks and the way he was finding the floor very interesting.
"Not at all." she told him softly while lifting the arm rest in between them to snuggle up closer and moved her attention to the movie, but not before noticing the small smile he had on his face when she said that.
"Lucy told me that Candace heard from Tammy who heard from Alice who over heard Sarah telling Emily that Maria had spotted the extremely cute blue eyed basketball captain of East High and the head cheerleader of Union High making out on her porch when she was driving by. Care to explain?" Victoria asked, out of breath, not having taken a breath between trying to pass on this new bit of gossip to Gabriella.
"Oh hey Vic! What were you saying? I was thinking about something," she told her best friend sheepishly, flinching at the glare she was receiving.
"Gabi!" Victoria huffed out, upset that her best friend was ignoring her.
Gabriella gave Victoria her best puppy dog face "I'm really sorry."
Sighing in defeat, Victoria looped her arm through the other girl's as they made they're way to lunch from their lockers. "I can never stay mad at you. We're like sisters."
"I thought you were always mad at your sister, Chelsea?"
Victoria shrugged her shoulders and told her friend nonchalantly, "Those are two different things. I actually claim you." Both girls laughed at that while people walking by thought the girls were on drugs because they were too happy on a Monday nack to school.
"So what were you saying earlier?" asked Gabriella as she and Victoria sat down at the table with their trays. Sitting at the table already were Lucy, Ian, Tammy, Sarah, Jordan, Emily, and Dustin. There were only one couple at the table being Lucy and Ian and the possible couple Jordan and Emily, but technically they were still only at the flirting stage. The others were either single, had just gone through a break up, talking to someone, or their boyfriend/girlfriend sat at a different table.
"Well, I'm not gonna repeat the whole thing, but the point is someone saw you making out with a certain East High Wildcat and now what I want to know is if it's true or not Montez," Victoria told her. The table was silent waiting to hear what they knew would be either be confirmation or denial of the event. Most of them were hoping for the first choice.
"Is it a crime to kiss your boyfriend?" Gabriella smirked at them.
"Wait...did you just say boyfriend?" cried out Lucy. "You just met the guy Friday! Don't you think you guys are moving kinda fast?" She asked hesitantly not wanting to step on Gabriella's toes, figuratively speaking.
Gabriella shrugged her shoulders before explaining, "We've been on two dates and have talked and text all weekend. I know more about him in this past weekend than any other guy I've dated, so really we're actually moving a little slow." she joked before continuing, "For the record, Troy asked to be official yesterday, so really you guys haven't missed too much." Suddenly, her phone vibrated in her pocket. Looking at the caller id, she smiled at the name that appeared. Quickly finishing her fries, she got up and dumped her tray.
Finding her voice again, Victoria asked her, "Hey where are you going in such a hurry?"
Still walking, Gabriella turned back for a second and told the group happily, "Troy's calling! I haven't talked to him since this morning, so I'll catch up with you guys later. Okay?" Without waiting for a response she continued, "I'll be in the auditorium if you need me.
Please review! Constructive critism is appreciated! 4 reviews and I'll post the next chapter as soon as I get done with it:)