Looking Back to Move Forward
SUMMARY: Troy and Gabriella have been friends for 11 years, best friends. They've even been more, but circumstances years ago led them to end their romance and revert back to just being friends. But will one special weekend of reminiscing about their lives and the memories they've shared remind them of the one thing that they're both missing? M for adult situations/subject matter and sexual references/depictions.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own these wonderful characters...I just love them like the rest of you. :-)
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This first chapter is pretty short, as it is just meant to be the lead in to the story. There will definitely be longer chapters and there is plenty of sappy, fluffy, lovey Troyella throughout the story, and later, more steamy Troyella. Much of this story is already written, so the chapters should come pretty steadily. Hope you will enjoy this story as I have enjoyed writing it. And, a very special thanks to Dee for encouraging me to write something and dealing with every annoying question I've asked her since. ;-) Dee (Dee31, that is) is awesome! Go read her stuff if you haven't. Okay, peace, all!
Chapter 1 – Happy Birthday!
Making their way out to their cars, the group of friends continued to laugh at the memory of their waiter's face when they announced that he would make a perfect addition to Gabriella's "list of conquests." It was all in good fun of course. The waiter had been eyeing her up inappropriately throughout the meal and the gang, Sharpay in particular, just thought it would serve him right to turn the tables on him. The uncomfortable look on his face and the abruptness with which he'd seen to their bill was priceless. Now, out in the parking lot, they began to say their goodnights.
"Don't get older before I see you again," Sharpay ribbed. "I don't want it to seem like I'm out shopping with my mother!"
"Oh, ha, ha, Sharpay. Your birthday's in three months, you just wait," Gabriella poked right back.
"Alright, ladies, hush. I'm older than both of you...and obviously more mature too," Taylor joined in. "Seriously, Gabs, Happy 25th!"
"Yeah, Gabs, here's to another year of you," Kelsi sweetly added.
"Thanks Kelsi and Taylor, my dear sweet friends..." Sharpay huffed at this. "And, you too Sharpay," Gabriella grinned. "Who else is going to make sure I'm still dressing fashionably in my old age?"
"Indeed," Sharpay quickly replied with a smirk.
All four women laughed and then shared hugs goodbye, making sincere promises to all get together again soon.
The men in the group just stood back observing the women in their lives before stepping up to give their own well wishes to Gabriella.
"Night Gabs. Hope you enjoy those special birthday cupcakes I baked just for you. Don't let Bolton over there eat 'em all," Zeke said with a grin.
"Hey! I would never eat them all...only whatever Gabi doesn't touch by midnight," Troy said with a chuckle.
This made Gabriella giggle and Zeke roll his eyes as she hugged him goodbye and thanked him sincerely for his thoughtfulness, before watching him head off to meet Sharpay at their car.
Chad approached Gabriella next and swooped her into his arms. "You are more of a joy to know each year, Gabs."
"What? Danforth, are you actually getting sappy?!" Gabriella teased.
"I blame you girls for making us watch all that 'I'll never let go, Jack' crap over the years," Chad defended before getting a smack on the arm from Taylor. "You lunkhead! You know you sniffled right along with us."
Troy and Jason looked pointedly at Chad and nodded, saying "It's true man...you pretty much did," enjoying their friend's discomfort, as they saw the crimson blush rising higher and higher on his face.
"Ahem...Taylor, we should go...night Gabs, traitors," Chad mumbled, shooting a glare towards Troy and Jason before pulling Taylor off toward their car and driving off.
Jason walked over to Gabriella next, with a slightly confused look on his face. "So, wait...today's your birthday? Didn't we just celebrate that?"
"Uh, yeah genious...last year," Kelsi deadpanned before shrugging and shooting an apologetic look at Gabriella, who just giggled.
"It's okay, Jason. I'm fine with not remembering this birthday occurred. We'll stick with what we celebrated last year...yeah, 24 sounds good," Gabriella joked.
"Don't be silly. Now, your car insurance rates will go down and you can more easily rent a car. Oh, and you can run for President," Troy stated matter-of-factly.
"Well, gee, thanks Troy. That makes it so much more appealing then," Gabriella said with a roll of her eyes, adding "and, you should've paid more attention back in Civics class. I'd have to be 35 to run for President, but thanks for the confidence anyway."
Troy just put his hands up in the air in surrender and grinned adorably at her.
Kelsi and Jason just watched this exchange with smiles on their faces, always enjoying the good-natured bantering that took place between their two friends. "Well, anyway, Gabs, Happy Birthday, again," Jason said quietly before giving Gabriella a quick hug before he and Kelsi also made their departure from the parking lot.
Troy looked over at Gabriella and gave her a quick wink before asking "so, would the birthday girl like a piggy back ride to the car?" This caused Gabriella to laugh and give him a look of disbelief. "What? You still weigh about the same thing you did when I used to give you piggy back rides back in junior high," Troy remarked. Gabriella still gave him an amused but not entirely convinced look. "Unless you really are just a crusty, old lady now..." Troy challenged. That did it. Gabriella narrowed her eyes at him before moving behind him and hopping up onto his back. "Mmmph...perhaps you do weigh a bit more," Troy teased, which earned him a smack on the chest from Gabriella which just made him chuckle. Then, the two happily made their way over to Troy's car, since he had driven them both there.
Once at the car, Troy let go of Gabriella's legs so that she could slide down off his back and then he opened the passenger side door for her, seeing her safely seated and shutting the door before making his way over to the driver's side. Troy pulled out of the parking lot and onto the highway and they drove in comfortable silence for a few minutes.
"Thanks for driving tonight, Troy."
"No problem. Thanks for letting me crash at the cabin."
"Sure. Anytime. Besides, I'm looking forward to catching up...it's been too long."
"I know. I've missed you."
"Well, naturally," Gabriella responded cheekily earning a good-natured eye roll from Troy.
"I still can't believe the cabin's actually yours now."
"Yeah...well, grandpa knew how much I always loved coming there to just get my mind off things and relax. He said he wanted to leave me not just a piece of real estate or a financial asset, but a gift of peace of mind for years to come," Gabriella smiled softly remembering her grandfather who had passed away earlier that year. She and he had always been close and he had always loved all of her friends, especially Troy.
"He was a great man, Ella," Troy said, using his special nickname for her that he mostly used when it was just the two of them. "And he was right to leave you the cabin. You have always been happiest there." Troy smiled over at Gabriella as he gently reached over and squeezed her left hand.
"Thanks, Troy. I know he'd be glad you were getting to come spend some time out there again too."
The conversation continued with funny and happy memories of times spent with Gabriella's grandfather over the years. Before they knew it, Troy was pulling into the unpaved driveway next to the cabin. He opened Gabriella's door for her and helped her gather the presents she'd received from their friends, including the container of cupcakes from Zeke, before following her to the door and entering the cabin. Troy took a moment from the doorway to just breathe in the fresh cedar scent of the cabin before shutting the door and joining Gabriella in the kitchen, where she was just opening the box of cupcakes and peeking inside. Troy grinned as she daintily picked one up that appeared to be chocolate with chocolate icing and licked a little bit of the icing before taking a bite of the cupcake itself. Gabriella caught him looking at her and gave a small, sheepish smile before holding out another chocolate cupcake and motioning for him to come take it. Giving her a mischievous look, he approached her and instead bent his head down taking a huge bite of the cupcake, while making a fake growling noise as though he were a ravenous animal planning to eat her fingers in the process.
"You never change, Bolton."
Troy raised an eyebrow slightly at this before Gabriella added "And, that's a good thing," before holding up the remainder of the cupcake to his mouth for him to take and smiling up at him softly.
They both finished chewing and Gabriella moved to grab a bottle of wine from the rack and two glasses. Troy saw the corkscrew sitting on the counter and picked it up, taking the bottle from Gabriella and opening it before pouring them each a glass. They headed into the living room, settling down onto the couch.
"So, Troy. How is my globe-trotting friend?"
"Good, Ella. Glad to be back home though. While I enjoy every new place I visit, I always enjoy coming back here."
"Have you spoken to Lindsay since you've been back?"
"Nah. I really think it was all for the best, us breaking things off. She never understood. You were right, Ella. I had to follow my dream or I'd never be happy...always wondering."
"So, it really was the dream experience you envisioned?"
"Yeah, definitely. Playing on the World Basketball Team and traveling through all those countries. It was amazing. And, it wasn't just the playing. The work the team did within the various villages we visited...seeing the kids get some joy from the simple game we all love...it was just...I don't know..."
"The experience of a lifetime?" Gabriella supplied, glad to witness the awed glaze of remembrance showing in Troy's eyes.
Troy nodded, blinking and re-focusing on his friend. "Anyway, I knew you'd understand, Ella. You've always understood my passion for basketball and for helping kids...you've always understood, well, me."
"Ditto, Bolton. I'm so glad it was all you hoped it would be."
"I did miss you though. So, what happened with Brent? I noticed his absence this evening."
"Ah, you're a sharp one there, Troy," Gabriella teased, taking a sip of her wine before continuing. "Ah, you know...I just have no luck. He spent more time getting ready than I did. He laughed really loudly at his own horrible jokes. And, most importantly, he didn't pass the mom test."
"Oh no, kiss of death," Troy chuckled thinking of how Gabriella's mom, Maria, measured your worth right away by arranging for a situation in which "a properly raised young gentleman", as she so eloquently put it, could not resist offering assistance to her or to her daughter. In Brent's case, neither a dropped carton of eggs nor a struggling Gabriella with a tough jar of pickles propelled Brent to offer his aide. In addition, Maria noted how he failed to open doors for her daughter or pay her any compliments or really even pay much attention whenever she was speaking. Essentially, not a mother's dream for her only child.
"Well, that is good luck then for the properly raised young gentleman you're meant to be with eventually," Troy said smoothly while putting air quotes around Maria's favorite phrase.
"Sure. Whatever you say, Troy."
Troy noted the slight frown on Gabriella's face even though she was trying to smile and shrug it off. He decided it was time to bring back her genuine smile and thus, got up, holding up his forefinger to signal that Gabriella should wait right there, to go grab the present he had left in the guest room. He returned carrying a flat square box, wrapped in a lavender foil paper with a purple ribbon.
"Wow, Bolton, went all out with the wrapping I see."
"But of course, Ella. I know your favorite color...and, um, how to coax my mom into wrapping things for me," Troy remarked with a smirk.
"At least you admit it," Gabriella replied, smirking back at him.
"Well, open it, Ella. I might not have done the wrapping, but surprisingly enough, I did do all the work on what's inside."
"Hmmm...I'm intrigued," said Gabriella, as she slowly peeled off the wrapping paper, her focus on unveiling her present only interrupted briefly as she glanced up to see the anticipation in Troy's bright blue eyes as he eagerly awaited her reaction to his present…