JUST GETTING STARTED

Chapter 1: Right Here, Right Now

Summertime was looming. There was one month left of school, and then there were three glorious school-less months of freedom before the start of senior year, and Gabriella and Troy couldn't be happier. They were officially boyfriend and girlfriend, and all their friends were happy for them. Troy and Gabriella were falling more in love with each other every day, but neither of them were complaining. They had started dating at the beginning of their sophomore year, after that fateful day at the park when Gabriella ran into Troy. Literally, she ran into him. She was going for a run in the park and because she was listening to her iPod, she didn't notice Troy leaving the basketball court, and ran into him in the process. She had fallen down, and being the gentlemen that he was, Troy helped her up. It was like something out of a movie; their hands just touched, their eyes just met, and they both felt sparks. Their attraction was instantaneous, and they had been practically inseparable ever since.

As Troy and Gabriella were walking to Gabriella's house from school hand in hand, Troy would stop Gabriella every now and then to kiss her. Maria Montez watched the couple walk up the driveway from the kitchen window. They were such a cute couple, and so good for each other – Gabriella wasn't so shy anymore, and Troy's grades had gotten better due to Gabriella's tutoring sessions that she started once she had noticed his slipping grades due to the amount of time he was spending with her and not his homework.

The couple reached Gabriella's front door, and after she had opened it, Troy picked her up suddenly, making her squeal. He carried his love over the threshold before setting her down, and received a smack on the chest in response. He started laughing, and gave her a peck on the cheek.

"What was that for?" Gabriella questioned, while smiling up at him.

"I was just showing you what I'm going to do once we're married and we walk through the doorway of our dream house after the honeymoon." Troy responded sincerely, but with a grin on his lips.

"Oh, really? And where will this honeymoon take place?" Gabriella asked playfully with a smile.

"Um…I'm thinking Vegas. Can't go wrong with strippers and booze." Troy joked, raising his eyebrows up and down. He looked over at Gabriella, who was standing there with her arms folded, and a "look" on her face.

"I'm just kidding. I mean our honeymoon will be in Hawaii…or Greece. Wherever you prefer my darling." Troy said quickly, while taking Gabriella's hand and kissing it.

"That's what I thought." Gabriella said grinning, "C'mon we have studying to do Romeo."

"Yes, my love" Troy said while bowing. Gabriella just giggled and started walking up the stairs to her room.

Troy followed her and started to shut the door once they were there.

"Leave the door open, Troy. You know the rules." Gabriella said with a sigh.

"Ughhh," Troy complained. "That rule is so stupid. 'No boys allowed upstairs with the door shut.' I know, I know. But we've been dating for almost a year and a half and your mother still doesn't trust us!"

"She trusts me," Gabriella said with a laugh. "She just doesn't trust you and your boy hormones."

"I do not have boy hormones! I have gentlemen hormones. You're her baby girl which is why she can't see it yet, but don't you worry. I'll have her wrapped around my finger in no time." Troy said with a grin as he held up his pinkie.

"Good luck with that lover boy" Gabriella said with a slight chuckle. "C'mon we have to start our homework." She said.

"But whhhhyyyyyyy?" Troy whined. He never liked doing homework, because whenever he was with her, he had something else in mind.

"Because if you want to pass 11th grade and go on to 12th and graduate with your friends, then you…" Gabriella was cut short by Troy's lips connecting with hers.

"I know we have to do our homework but this is more fun" Troy said as he kissed her neck, momentarily distracting her.

"Troy what if my mother comes in and sees this? She will not be pleased with what she finds." Gabriella said, before kissing him back.

As if on cue Maria walked into the room with take-out menus in hand to ask them what they wanted for dinner. They quickly broke apart before she could look up and see what was happening.

"Do you guys want pizza or Chinese tonight?" Maria asked the duo.

"Umm, how about Chinese?" Gabriella said

"Sounds great," Troy said

"Alright Chinese it is. I'll go order that. Oh and by the way don't do anything you're not supposed to." Maria said then went downstairs to order.

"See I told you we shouldn't do that."Gabriella said with a smirk.

"Yeah yeah yeah…whatever." Troy mocked.

20 minutes later, the Chinese food was delivered and Maria took it up to Troy and Gabriella, who were still doing homework, chuckling as she overheard their conversation.

"I just don't understand why finding 'x' is that big of a deal. I don't need to know algebra to be a professional basketball player!" Troy exclaimed, frustrated.

"I understand, Troy, but actually, algebra would help you with basketball. You could determine the precise angle that would direct the ball straight into the basket." Gabriella stated.

"You're way too smart for your own good, and while you make an interesting point that we will discuss later, I still hate algebra!" Troy said as he threw his pencil down in frustration.

Maria took this as her cue to go in. "Food's here, guys. Eat up and make sure you clean up your mess when you're done." She turned to Gabriella, "Now Mija, I'm leaving for my meeting in about five minutes. I trust that you will be on your best behavior, and Troy, don't try any funny business." Troy gave a 'who me' look and put on his winning smile.

"I can assure you, Ms. Montez, that no funny business will occur." Troy stated matter-of-factly.

Gabriella looked embarrassed. "Mom, please. You know I'm a good girl and Troy is a good guy. Nothing is going to happen, so you can go to your meeting worry-free" Gabriella said as she pushed her mother out the door.

"If you say so…" Maria said, not entirely convinced.

Gabriella walked her mother out, and let out an exasperated sigh as she shut the door. Her mom was such a pain sometimes. Gabriella was almost 18, couldn't her mother just trust her? She knew that the constant embarrassment in front of Troy was just her mother's way of trying to keep her daughter chaste for as long as possible, but Gabriella wasn't sure how much longer she could hold off. Every time Troy looked at her with those piercing blue eyes, or kissed her by surprise, her knees turned into jelly and she felt as though all her breath had been knocked out of her. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her, but she wanted it to be special, not in her childish bedroom with her mother right downstairs. She wanted rose petals, and candles, and soft music playing in the background. She wanted romance and passion and…

"Gabi? Where are you?" Troy shouted from upstairs, interrupting her thoughts. Gabriella sighed and walked upstairs to her room, and then smiled as she saw Troy sitting in her desk chair, his hair a little messy from having just run his fingers through it, and his shirt hiked up a bit. God, how much she loved him. She went over to him and sat on his lap, put her arms around his neck and kissed him hard on the lips.

"What was that for?" Troy said with a goofy grin.

"That was for being the amazing guy that you are," Gabriella told him, smiling.

"A little weird, but I'll take it," Troy joked, before kissing her back. He loved kissing her. It was like their lips were made for each other. And the look that she got in her eyes right before the kiss? It took his breath away every single time. He still couldn't believe that this perfect angel was his. As he kissed her, he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to kiss not just her lips, but her neck, her collarbone, her breasts… He had to stop himself there before he got himself too worked up for something that they couldn't finish. He knew that she wanted their first time to be special, and he wanted to make the night that they would always remember perfect in every way. He started planning mentally, hoping it would happen sooner rather than later.

"Troy?" Gabriella asked, looking a little shy, "I uh, I think I'm…ready, to…you know…" She looked away, embarrassed, hoping he would take the hint.

He put his finger under her chin and gently pulled her face towards his. "Are you sure? I'll wait for as long as you need me to."

"No, I'm sure," she said. "I just don't want it to happen here. Do you think we could get a hotel over the weekend? I can tell my mom that I'm sleeping at Tay's."

"Gabi, I want to make it perfect for you. Let me plan something…the night of your dreams!" Troy said to her, while hugging her to him.

"Oh, Troy, you don't have to plan anything. As long as it's with you, I don't care if it happens in a crappy motel or a five star resort. I only need you."

"Nope, nuh-uh. I am going to make it perfect and there's nothing you can do or say that can stop me!" Troy exclaimed, standing up with her in his arms and setting her down on the floor.

"Really?" She said. "How about you rip these clothes off me right here, right now big boy." She said playfully, but just seductively enough to get his attention.

"Wait, what?" Troy didn't pick up on the playfulness, and for a second there he thought she was serious. "No way, I'm not playing your little game." He joked. "Now, I'm gonna go home, take a cold shower, and finish up my homework without distractions. Lord knows I can't concentrate when you look that cute." Troy winked at her and gathered up his books. Gabriella walked him to his truck, kissing him when they reached the truck.

"I meant what I said earlier Troy," Gabriella said seriously.

"I know, but I love you and I'm going to make it special for you." Troy said as he got into his truck.

"Thank you…I love you too," she said, kissing him once more before he drove off. Gabriella stood in her driveway until she could no longer see his truck. She was kind of nervous, but excited at the same time. She loved him so much, and there was nowhere she'd rather be than in his arms, and no one else that she'd rather be with in that way.

It was going to be a night that neither one of them would ever forget.