A/N: This is my new story. lol. This starts off in 2006, okay? In chapter 1, it'll go into the present. cool? Got it? Read, review, enjoy! lol. Don't own HSM

Prologue

Gabriella walked along the Spanish street and smiled slightly. She had grown up in a town much like the one she was currently on vacation in during the first four years of her life and she felt her body sigh with happiness. Her thumbs were hooked into the belt loops of her denim skirt and she suddenly turned right into an ice cream parlour. As she joined the queue, she unzipped her purse and brought out her wallet. She stepped forward so she was second in line and giggled at the lack of Spanish knowledge the guy in front of her had.

"Uno hermano, por favor." (A/N: One brother, please) He said, stuttering slightly as he struggled to find the word.

She stepped beside him and smiled at the waiter behind the counter. "Perdóneme." (A/N: Excuse me) She turned to the guy and smiled. "What flavour?"

"Uh…Chocolate." He replied after a moment with his brow furrowed.

She turned back to the waiter and pointed at the tubs underneath the glass counter. "Dos coco, por favor." (A/N: Two chocolate, please.)

The waiter smiled and nodded. "Por supuesto. Cinco euros, por favor." He turned around and grabbed two bowls, starting to prepare the ice creams. (A/N: Of course. Five euros please)

Gabriella turned back to the guy and laughed as his shocked expression. "Close your mouth. You're not catching flies."

"Okay, you're obviously American but, how did you know that?" He asked in amazement.

"I grew up here when I was a little girl. I'm not directly Spanish but… Anyway, it's two fifty for yours and two fifty for mine." She started rummaging for the right change but felt a hand on hers, causing her to lift her head. "What?"

The boy smiled down on her and he dug his hand into the back pocket of his jeans, retrieving his wallet. "It's on me. You helped me. It's the least I can do."

She chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully before finally nodding. "Okay. But, next time it's on me."

He nodded and winked. "It's a deal."

The waiter placed two bowls of chocolate ice cream and two spoons onto a tray and took the money. "Gracias. Adiós." (A/N: Thank you. Good bye.)

"Muchas gracias." Gabriella said appreciatively. (A/N: Thank you very much.)

The waiter nodded, placing the money into the till. "De nada." (A/N: No problem)

The boy lifted the tray and turned to Gabriella. "Do you want to sit with me?"

Gabriella nodded. "I'd like that."

The boy smiled and started to lead her into a booth by the window. He placed the tray down and slid into one of the seats as Gabriella sat down opposite, setting her purse on the table. "I'm Troy, by the way." He held his hand out.

"Gabriella." She shook his hand but pulled away when she felt a spark. "Sorry, must've been static electricity."

Troy chuckled and reached for a spoon. "Right. So, you grew up here?"

Gabriella grabbed the other spoon and scooped some ice cream into her mouth. "Until I was four. Then I moved to America and that's where I've lived ever since. Well, I move around a lot but it's my home now."

"Where in America do you live?" Troy enquired, reaching up to brush his bangs away from his forehead.

"Well, next week when we go back, I'm going to be in Beaufort in North Carolina." She explained.

"Isn't that place practically invisible?" Troy raised an eyebrow.

Gabriella nodded, smiling slightly. "Yeah. But, that's okay. I like small towns. Hence why we're here on vacation." She waved her arms around slightly.

Troy sighed. "That's the complete opposite of me. I grew up in a small town and can't wait to leave."

"Well, I've lived in New York as well. I've learned to appreciate it more." She said softly, slipping the spoon into her mouth.

"Yeah?" Troy raised his eyebrows. "I can't believe you grew up here. My family comes to this town every year."

"Well, not here. But a town very similar. I grew up down south." She explained.

Troy nodded and he licked his lips, making Gabriella blush slightly. "So, where are you staying?"

Gabriella ducked her head and concentrated on clearing her face of the blush there. "This cottage complex a couple of streets away. We're staying in one of them."

"You mean Amado's place?" Troy asked with wide eyes, pointing his spoon at her.

She nodded excitedly. "Yeah. It is. You're staying there?"

Troy nodded. "Number fourteen."

"Fifteen." Gabriella said in disbelief.

"No kidding." Troy smiled across at her and let his eyes take in her features. She had long, black curls which was parted into two low bunches and framed her face. Her skin was slightly darker than the average American's – but not so dark that suggested she was black. Her chocolate eyes were glowing and her white tank top contrasted with her skin.

"Do I have something on my face?" Gabriella asked worriedly, lifting her fingers to brush over her cheeks.

Troy rushed to lean over the table and took her hand in his. "Don't." He whispered.

"What?" She asked in surprise.

"Don't." He got to his feet and shuffled around so he was sitting next to her in the booth, his upper body turned to face hers. "May I kiss you?"

"What?" She squeaked. "Why?"

"Please?" Troy breathed.

Gabriella swallowed. "We don't know each other."

"So?" Troy inched closer and held her chin between his forefinger and thumb as he softly pressed his lips against hers.

* * *

Troy kissed Gabriella's hair as they strolled around the cottage complex together the following Saturday. "I'll miss you."

She nodded, slightly dazed. "Me too." She rested her head on his shoulders as tears leaked from her eyes. "Will you miss my dad?" She giggled, trying to lighten the mood.

Troy shuddered. "Why didn't you warn me?"

"He was just trying to see if he could scare you." She stopped walking so he'd face her.

He brushed her tears away and smiled gently. "He succeeded." He murmured. "Do you think we know each other now?"

She nodded. "I didn't think we would but, we do. I need to thank you. For this week."

"Hey, it was as much you as it was me." He whispered, caressing her cheek.

She brought her hand up to take his off of her cheek. "I know. But, you're the first guy to truly see me and not get freaked out."

"Why would I get freaked out?" Troy asked in puzzlement.

"I read romance novels and watch noting but sci-fi. I live in America but speak nothing but Spanish at home. I dress like a girl but wrestle with my dad. People can't figure me out." She explained softly.

Troy kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I don't care if I can't figure you out. I was always a fan of rubix cubes." He chuckled. "But, I don't know if we'll see each other again so, here it goes: I love you." He whispered.

"I never thought I'd hear that from any guy but my dad." She whispered with glossy eyes.

Troy leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Well, I love you." He whispered again.

"I love you too." She breathed against his neck as she closed her eyes. "Troy, will you do me a favour, please?" She kissed the skin under his chin briefly before pulling back to look him in the eyes.

Troy kissed her nose and nodded. "Anything you want."

Gabriella bit her lip; something which Troy had figured meant that she was nervous. "You're sixteen, right?"

He nodded. "If not, my parents have the wrong birth certificate."

She giggled and nodded. "And I'm fifteen. And you're not a virgin, are you?"

"How the hell did you know that?" Troy mumbled in amazement. "I don't talk in my sleep, do I?"

"Well, yeah. Usually about me. But, I'm good at reading people. Besides, whenever we kiss or when we're alone, you know how to touch me to make me happy. Only a guy with experience knows that." She whispered.

"Is that bad?"

"It depends on how many girls you've slept with." She said nervously, avoiding his eyes.

Troy sighed. "One and we broke up last year. Is this conversation going somewhere?"

"Yeah. Just go around the back and climb the tree to my balcony, okay?" She whispered into his ear – of course, she needed to be on her tip toes to reach that height.

Troy pulled back and brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear. "We don't have to."

"I want to. But, you have to promise me something." She whispered.

"Okay."

"Promise me that when we make love, you won't think of it as the last time we'll see each other." She whimpered with glittering eyes.

Troy kissed her forehead and nodded. "I promise." He slowly let go of her hand as he watched her walk up the path towards the door of the cottage numbered 'fifteen'.

* * *

Troy pushed the familiar balcony doors open and smiled in amusement when he saw Gabriella padding around her bedroom in some pink fluffy slippers, some old, baggy shorts which came down to her knees and were decorated with little pink hearts. Then, he chuckled silently as his eyes wandered to her upper body and saw a very familiar red and white striped polo neck shirt. He shut the door silently and slipped his sneakers off before slowly walking over to Gabriella and wrapping his arms around her waist. "Good evening, Montez."

Gabriella placed a hand over her heart and shot a fake glare to the young man holding her in the tightest grip she'd ever known – not that it was hurting or that she was complaining. "Bolton, don't start. My parents are downstairs." She whispered as he released her and started wrestling his tie off which he had worn to the dinner they shared as their last night together. Of course, Gabriella had had to order, ask where the bathrooms were and stop on the walk back to ask a passing Spanish couple where the local park was in relation to the quiet restaurant they had just eaten at.

He chuckled and pulled his tie over his head and dropped it onto the floor. "You sure about this?" He asked as he brought her more gently into his arms.

"I've never been surer of anything." She whispered.

"But, you're a virgin, aren't you?" He asked as he held her body tightly against her own.

She nodded. "Am I that obvious?"

He nodded slightly. "Yeah. You're so innocent and you just kind of let me kiss you and hug you and I take it that's because you don't really know what to do, right?"

She blushed and shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sorry. No guys pay attention to me so I've got no experience."

Troy lifted her head and kissed her chastely. "I like it." He shrugged slightly. "But, I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't." She whispered as she moved her hands to the front of his body and started to unbutton his dress shirt for him. "Just trust me when I say I want this." She whispered.

* * *

Troy smiled softly as Gabriella walked up the path to number fourteen after helping her parents pack the car. "So, I guess this is it."

She raised her eyebrows. "Don't tell me you've broken your promise."

"From last night?" He asked before a sigh came out of his mouth. "No. I just don't want you to walk out of that gate and leave me standing here."

She nodded. "So, what now?"

He opened his arms and raised his eyebrows. "Pretty self-explanatory, don't you think?" He said softly.

Gabriella stepped forward and smiled when his arms slowly snaked around her waist and she felt every inch of his body touching every inch of hers. She reached up and had a concentrated look on her face as she reached up and touched his ear softly in her dainty hand. She moved her hand around and ran her fingers through his sandy blonde hair. "Get a haircut." She murmured.

He laughed and nodded. "Will do." He leaned down and softly brushed his lips against hers as he mumbled into her mouth. "I'll always love you."

She giggled and slowly trailed her other hand up his chest. "I love you too." Their lips pressed against each other's and tightened their hold on each other. She pulled away slightly but Troy's lips gently brushed hers again. She moaned against his lips and regretfully pulled back. "I have to go."

Troy nodded and kissed her quickly again. "I know."

"Thank you for everything. This week, last night…everything."

"You were amazing." He whispered.

She blushed and kissed his cheek. "Call me, okay?"