Author's Note: Hello, all! Sorry I've been incognito lately. 1) I've had some "personal issues" going on the past couple of months. 2) Because of these "personal issues", I kinda lost my interest in writing and in fanfiction in general. I had started this story a while before these "personal issues" started, then got in the midst of all that stuff, and lost my mojo. But guess what? I've gotten past these "personal issues" and have now gotten my mojo back!
Of course, I own nothing- just the plot line. Enjoy and, as always, all reviews are very much appreciated!
Chapter 1
The young couple sat in the living room of their two bedroom apartment- located halfway between the campuses of their opposing colleges. The mood that Thursday evening was a mix between exhaustion and excitement. One half exhausted from a long day of classes and basketball practice, the other excited because her best friend was coming all the way from Yale University in Connecticut during her Spring Break for a six day long visit. The two girls hadn't seen each other since Christmas break and for both, that had been way too long. The male half of the couple gave out a frustrated sigh as his girlfriend of just over five years- five years and one and a half months to be exact- readjusted in her seat for the twelfth time in a half hour, forcing him to also readjust his comfortable position.
"Gabriella-" he started with an annoyed sigh.
"What?" she asked, batting her eyelashes at him in cuteness, knowing exactly what he was going to say.
"Will you just sit still please? I can't concentrate on Phineas and Ferb," he stated, pointing the remote control in the direction of the television set.
"Troy, I've seen this episode five times and if I've seen it that many, I know you have seen at least that plus five more. Besides, I can't sit still. I'm excited! Do you realize that in fifteen hours we will be-"
"-at the airport, picking Taylor up for her Spring Break visit? Yeah, you may have mentioned that a time or two." His tone was picking, but she was too involved in her excitement to really care.
"Troy! I can't help it! It's been almost three whole months since Taylor and I have seen each other. You and Chad have seen each other way more than we have; you don't understand what it's like and you were making fun of me, weren't you?" she finished accusingly- pointing a finger in his direction- noticing the smirk forming on his face.
"You're cute when you start defending yourself. Is that something you've learned in your fancy pre-law classes?"
"Troy! Stop picking on me! You're excited to see Taylor, too, and you know it. Quit trying to be macho; it's not a good look for you. Why don't you just man up and admit it?"
"I'm sorry, Baby," he said leaning in to place a gentle kiss to her temple. "You're right. I am excited to see her. I just wish I could be here for her whole visit. I hate that I'm leaving Saturday morning."
"I'm sure you and the Bears will do great in the tournament. This is an amazing opportunity for you guys. I wish I could be there for at least one of the games."
"You're always with me at my games," he told her, lovingly running a finger through her dark curls. "Besides, these won't even be real games, so it's no big deal."
"Why does the tournament have to be held all the way across the country at the University of Georgia? Are they even in the same conference?"
"No, but the tournament is kind of a showcase for all the conferences to see what the others have. Every conference is sending their top six teams and we're all playing against each other, double elimination, for no reason other than bragging rights, basically. It's just a fun tournament basically set up for experience, if nothing else."
"So this tournament has nothing to do with the playoffs and such?"
He shook his head before responding. "That's why it's being held at the very end of the season, so none of the games will count for or against the teams."
"It sounds like fun," she said, as she rearranged herself on the couch so she was sitting behind him with her legs on either side of his body so she could gently massage the back of his neck.
"I think it will be. No stress in feeling like we have to prove anything. I almost forgot what playing for fun feels like," he said as he allowed himself to get lost in the ministrations of his girlfriend's hands and let his mind begin to wander to the days of high school when he and his best friends used to get together for a pick-up game of two-on-two in his backyard.
Gabriella could tell that he'd gone back in time, and leaned down to place a comforting kiss to his cheek. Not wanting to bring something up that had caused him so much stress this past year, she tentatively asked the one question that had been plaguing her mind since he came home and announced the tournament.
"Um, Troy?" She waited until she had his attention again before continuing. "Will your knee be okay during the tournament?" She was of course referring to his left knee that he had twisted during the early days of his senior year season.
"Yeah, it'll be fine I think. As long as I keep the brace on it. I mean, it never gave me any trouble through the rest of the season after the two game break the trainers insisted on."
"Troy, they didn't insist on it," she told him pointedly. "If you didn't take the break, your knee could have been much worse and the surgery would have been inevitable and not just a probability. If it had come to that, you wouldn't have been able to play at all during the rest of your senior season and thereby lost your scholarship for the rest of the year."
"I hate it when you turn all attorney on me and make good points," he pouted. "I don't like it when I'm not right."
"I thought you loved it when I turned all attorney on you," she whispered seductively as she leaned closer to trace the shell of his ear with her tongue. There were a few secrets spots that Troy had- Gabriella had many more and he knew every one and took advantage of them every chance he could- his ears being number one. Gabriella took his earlobe between her teeth and grinned when he let out a moan.
"I love it when you turn anything on me," he said as he turned his head and caught her lips with his and initiated a heated kiss, gently pushing so she laid back on the comfy couch and he laid on top of her. He reached down to find the hem of her tee shirt and pushed it up slightly. She moaned in pleasure when his warm hands met her now bare skin and began roaming, working their way further up her body. She was sometimes convinced that his hands had a mind of their own.
The two of them took their physical relationship to the next level only a few months prior, but had already known almost everything about each other's body. They had come close on several occasions, but due to either interruptions from their friends or their parents, or the distance between the two schools, or their schedules in general, their first time making love didn't take place until after they'd moved in with each other.
Their parents understandably had reservations when the two first sat down with them during the summer break prior to their senior year to discuss getting an off campus apartment together. The fact that it was a two bedroom was some what of a comfort, and it worked out fine at first. Maria even took Gabriella for her first gynecologist appointment after the initial discussion between the five and once the awkward exam was over, the three sat in the doctor's office and discussed the several options of birth control. The female doctor was very aware of Gabriella's discomfort and did what she could to make sure all of her patient's questions were answered.
Maria and Gabriella had talked and her mom had faith in the fact that her only daughter was telling the truth when she admitted that she and her long-time boyfriend had yet to take that step fully. Maria did feel better about them moving in together knowing that even if they did decide they were ready, Gabriella would be protected and she wasn't afraid to talk about that with the young couple. She made sure that Troy's parents were involved in the conversation, as well. Even though Troy and Gabriella were embarrassed by the talk, they also knew that they would have to endure said embarrassment if their parents were going to agree to them getting an apartment.
Three weeks later, Troy and Gabriella had found an apartment that they agreed upon and their parents came to see it in person- another clause the couple had to follow. The young adults had assured their parents that one room would be Troy's while the other would be Gabriella's. After gaining the approval of the three parents, the decision was made, the papers were signed, and they moved in one and a half weeks before classes started after the summer break.
After about one month of suffering through the sexual tension, the young couple finally threw caution to the wind and allowed themselves to get lost in the moment. At first, Gabriella was shy and reserved, but she eventually realized that the phrase "practice makes perfect" actually held some truth. The decision was soon made that Gabriella's room would be the "guest room" and Troy's would be "their room"- only because he had a bigger bed and it was more comfortable for them to sleep in together- unless their parents were visiting. Good thing for the pull out couch that Gabriella's aunt and uncle had given them…
Without thinking and acting purely from experience, Troy scooped Gabriella up into his arms and carried her into "their" bedroom and continued their practice session. Groans and moans and other pleasure sounds filled the room. The two had enough experience with each other's bodies by this point in time that they knew the exact movements, the exact spots, to make their love making sessions last. Troy's hands moved to her breasts, squeezing and kneading through her lacy bra, while her hands worked their way under his shirt and she dug her nails into his back, expressing her satisfaction. As his hands reached around her back and unhooked her bra, she reached down to unbutton his jeans. His mouth moved southward and took the place of his hands, as his tongue circled around her aureola before settling over her nipple. The faint beard that was growing through the skin of his face tickled her, but Gabriella managed to keep her giggles under control. As she arched her back in pleasure and reached for his zipper, the mood was interrupted by the ringing of the phone out in the living room.
"Are you serious?" she cried in frustration, slamming her hands down on the mattress. "I thought we got passed all the interruptions."
Troy chuckled, knowing all too well how right she was. "Don't move. I'll go get it." Troy gave Gabriella a brief kiss and stood from his spot on the bed. He walked into the other room and answered the phone as he heard her voice call out behind him.
"If it's Chad, tell him his number of death threats has increased significantly!" As Gabriella tried to listen to what she could hear of his end of the conversation, she stood from the bed and walked into the closet, changing from her leggings and tunic top that she wore to class that day and put on her pajamas. She then walked down the hall and into the kitchen with the purpose of finding something to fix for dinner. Settling on spaghetti, she pulled a pot from the cabinet and put some water in it, setting it on the stove to boil before walking back into the living room and sitting on the couch next to Troy.
"So we need to be at the athletic center at 8:00 on Saturday morning?… Where specifically?… Okay. And we're taking the team bus to the airport, right?… Alright, Man, thanks for calling. I'll see you then… Okay, thanks. Bye." As Troy hit the 'end' button on the cordless phone, he turned and took in Gabriella's appearance. "I thought I told you not to move?" It was at that exact moment that his stomach decided to noisily make its presence known.
"And that is the reason I did!" Gabriella told him as she poked him in the stomach and rolled her eyes. She stood from the couch and walked into the kitchen to check on the water and Troy followed suit. He walked in just in time to see her pulling another pot from the cabinet, place it on the stove, and walk to the pantry closet to get a jar of sauce.
"Spaghetti?" he asked, excited.
"Yeah, I figured it's quick and easy. Especially since we have to get up early tomorrow to go to the airport. Do you want to get one of the garlic breads out of the freezer?" she asked with her back to him. When she turned back around, she took notice of the two loaves he pulled out.
"Two, Troy? Really?"
"I'm hungry?" He shrugged his shoulders, hoping it sounded convincing to her. Instead she just shook her head and held up one finger. "Aw, man!" he said, defeated.
"And if you keep that up, you can go to bed with no dessert tonight," she told him, scolding him as if he were a little child. "I swear, how did your mother keep you fed growing up? You and your dad are bad enough, but throw her other three pseudo sons in the mix…" she let her voice trail off as a smile made its way to her lips as she of course referred to Troy's friends since childhood: Chad, Jason, and Zeke.
"Yeah, trips to the grocery store were pretty much a daily activity for poor Mom. I think they knew her by name at the Food Lion!"
The two of them finished their dinner preparations and then settled on the couch with their plates. They participated in their usual Thursday night activity of arguing over what movie to watch, and finally decided on Up in the Air. When it was over, they cleaned the kitchen and made their way into the bedroom. Once Troy finished in the bathroom and settled under the covers, Gabriella took her turn getting ready for bed- washing the day's makeup off her face, taking out her contacts, and brushing her teeth. While he waited, Troy grabbed the remote control off the bedside table and turned on the television set his parents bought for "his" bedroom when they moved into the apartment, quickly changing the channel from Gabriella's beloved E! Network to his ESPN. As she came from the bathroom with her glasses on and was greeted by the familiar sight, she shook her head.
"What was that look for?" he asked, as he held the covers back for her to climb under and then adjusted his position so she could get comfortable, tightening his arm around her shoulders as he leaned down to place a kiss against her temple.
"We're not even married and yet I'm already an ESPN widow," she commented in jest, as she snuggled closer into him, leaning up to place soft kisses along his jaw line.
"Get used to it, Baby. This is what the future holds for you."
"Yeah, I'll believe that when the ring finally appears on my finger," she responded- half joking, half serious.
Troy looked down into her brown eyes lovingly. "Gabriella, we've talked about this. We're okay with waiting until we graduate and both have decent jobs before we really get engaged. Right?"
Gabriella gave a half smile in return. Biting back the words that had been rolling around in her mind for a while, she said the only thing she could say without causing a full blown discussion on the topic. "Yeah."
"Good. Because I love you and I can't wait until the day that I can put a ring on your finger and we can spend the rest of our lives together," he said, as he leaned down and gave her a deep kiss- one that he hoped would invite her to pick up where they left off earlier before they were interrupted. As she brought her leg over his and intertwined their bodies, he knew it wouldn't take long for them to tire each other out.
It was nights like this when the two slept their best- after a much enjoyable session of loving each other, especially when their all too hectic schedules made it very difficult for them to find even five minutes alone. They both knew that going into the final semester of their college years, their sanity would be stretched to the limit- Troy with his senior season of basketball and the demanding courses that came with his psychology major, including his research assistant position that the department required, and Gabriella with her applications to law school, which for her included studying for the LSAT that she was scheduled to take later in the month.
As Gabriella arched her back at the pleasured strokes of Troy's fingers and took his thrusts the way she loved them- loving and gentle, yet almost animalistic at the same time- she rolled her hips to one side the way she knew would cause him to roll his eyes back in ecstasy. Just seeing the satisfied look come across his face caused her to reach down and stroke him, the way he was her. She smiled slyly as she watched his mouth open with in a silent cry of ecstasy.
"Come on, Wildcat. Let it all out," she whispered breathily in his ear as she bit down on his earlobe before lapping it into her mouth. She felt him throb inside her in response and she tightened her inner muscles around him, bringing her knees as close against his back as she could, causing him to penetrate deeper. Troy increased his speed of his thrusts and strokes, while letting her deep sighs of gratification and his moans of pleasure bounce off the walls of the bedroom. The two quickly reached their peaks together and Gabriella gripped onto the sheets beneath her, writhing as the familiar fireworks exploded within her body. Troy let the exhaustion overtake his body and he gently lowered himself on top of her, peppering her face, neck, and collarbone with gentle kisses, causing her to release her giggles as he purposefully tickled her body with his beard.
"Do you know how much I love you?" he asked her as he rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow, looking down at her lovingly. "I know this semester has been crazy already and it won't get better until we graduate, but I just want you to know that I love you."
"I know you do, Troy. I love you, too," she reassured him as she brushed a sweaty lock of hair from his eyebrow. "I know that no matter how crazy things get for us, we're going to make it. It's going to be stressful, but we just need to promise that we won't let it get to us. We'll be okay through everything."
"Yeah, we will be," Troy promised her as he settled under the covers and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as she let a small yawn escape, covering her mouth as she tried to hide it. He chuckled when he saw this. "Get some sleep, Babe. We've got an early day tomorrow because-"
"-we're going to the airport to pick up Taylor!" she exclaimed as she found the energy to bounce in excitement.
Troy just shook his head at his girlfriend's actions. "You're so cute when you're excited," he said as he reached over to make sure the alarm was set and turned the light off, cozying up next to her once more. He placed a kiss on her cheek as he told her "Good night, Babe," followed by another sweet kiss, this time to her lips.
"Good night, Troy," she responded, as she stifled another yawn before letting her body be overtaken by sleep.
As he watched her drift off to sleep, all he could think about was their future and how badly he wished he could propose. They had discussed that option in full detail and while Gabriella had her own opinions, she kept those opinions to herself. She was afraid of coming across as being "one of those girls" who came to college to find a husband, and didn't want Troy to see her that way- never mind they had been together since their junior year of high school. She did however know that she loved him with all her heart and wanted nothing more than to take on his name as her own and be the loving, supportive wife that she knew he deserved. The kind of wife that Lucille was to Jack and that she remembered Maria being to her own father years before. She wanted nothing more than to be engaged to Troy and planning a wedding with him. Convincing him of that was the hard part and she didn't want to scare him away. For that reason, she decided to push those thoughts to the back of her mind and reassure him that she was fully happy with their current situation, so she reluctantly went along with his feelings when he suggested that the timing was just not right.
He however, knew that they were in a very stressful time in school and it would only get worse before it got better. He didn't want to be one of those couples who were engaged for two years if not longer. He knew he was in no position to take on the adult role of being solely responsible for Gabriella and her well-being, both emotionally and financially. Troy wasn't stupid. He saw it as trying to prove to her mother that he was responsible; he wanted to show her he was stable before even announcing to her her that she would be helping her only child plan a wedding.
If only there was some way each half of the couple could make the other see their side of things without upsetting each other…
These are the thoughts that plagued both of their minds every night as they fell asleep, wrapped in each other's arms, and tonight was certainly no different.