Hey everyone! Im so so sorry for the late upload. I've been super busy with school, with exams coming up it's hard to focus on my stories right now. Don't worry once sumnmer comes i'll be writing frequently! Hopefully you guys are still intrested! Thanks so much for the support! Here's the next chapter xo.

CHAPTER 2

Currently sitting at the large picnic table under the massive gazebo, Gabriella learned more interesting things about Sharpay in the last two hours than in the past 10 years of their friendship.

Audrey, Sharpay's stepsister loves to talk. If Gabriella didn't interrupt, she probably would have gone on about her recent dreams about the latest Kim Possible episodes till the early morning. Turns out Gabriella didn't get to meet Greg's children at the wedding. Audrey had said something about their mother sending them to Europe for 2 weeks. Gabriella found it entertaining to talk to the 9 year old girl. She had so many stories to tell and reminded Gabriella of the little sister she never had.

"Oh My Gosh, Gabriella you should have seen Sharpay last year at the cottage. We were all playing manhunt in the forest over there" Audrey pointed toward the high distant mountains surrounded by trees. "And Troy was it and ended up catching me and Ry near the rocks, so we went to look for Shar but couldn't find her. We got back to the house and saw she was covered in leaves and twigs!" She laughed.

Ryan and Troy joined in on the laughter, remembering the memory, sipping out of their Pepsi cans while Gabriella tried to cover her chuckles by the angry look displayed on Sharpay's face.

"HEY! It wasn't funny; I could have gotten seriously hurt okay." Sharpay exclaimed folding her arms over her chest.

As they continued to laugh, Sharpay just screamed in frustrating making her way back into the house.

"Hey Shar, you know we love you!" Ryan called after her, receiving a carless wave and groan in return.

"Do you think she's actually mad?" Gabriella questioned.

Rolling her eyes, Audrey said "Oh, C'mon! It's Sharpay, biggest drama queen in the United States. It's even worse when were here at the cottage; she has no access to a computer. Her patience is limited"

"Oh, she's fine. Knowing from experience, she will get over it soon" Ryan reassured.

Gabriella just nodded knowing they were right. Deciding she would go down to the lake, Gabriella got up and threw the remaining's of her lunch in the garbage can rested against the door. Making her way down the path she heard a voice calling.

"Gabriella, wait up!"

Gabriella turned around to be faced with the blonde haired boy running towards her. She stopped and waited.

"Hey, where you going?" he asked slightly out of breath.

"I was just going to check out the lake" she replied.

"By yourself? You just got here" Troy stated.

"Well, I don't really know where Sharpay went. I'm fine with going by myself" she spoke softly.

"Here, let me join you. I don't want you to be alone" he said, motioning Gabriella to follow.

With Troy leading, they walked down the path toward the lake. Once reaching the bottom, they walked along the sands, the water occasionally hitting their feet. They stood relatively close, listening to the water. Gabriella took a seat on the sand away from the water, soaking in the warm sun. Smiling, she rested on her elbows letting her head hang back, closing her eyes. Feeling a presence among her minutes later, she opened her eyes to see Troy sitting next to her, his arms wrapped around his knees in a comfortable stance.

"It's amazing huh? I love it down here. I remember the first time I came a few years ago, I didn't want to leave I'd stay out here all day" Troy said looking out among the lake.

"Yeah, it's a great relief from the Seattle weather. It's relaxing" she smiled.

"Have you lived in Seattle your whole life?" he asked curiously.

"Nah, we moved to Seattle when I was eight. I use to live in Florida actually. You see, my dad moves around a lot due to his job. I'm surprised we stayed in Seattle for so long" she explained.

"Florida huh? That explains why you love the sun so much" he laughed. "I'm surprised I haven't seen you around town. I have lived in Seattle all my life, yet your face does not seem familiar"

"A lot of people around town have not seen me. My mother loves to keep me indoors, to make sure I am safe, as she puts it" Gabriella rolled her eyes continuing. "When we moved, my mother put me in so many activities from swimming to running, soccer and dance. I'd have no time to just go out and walk around town"

"You must be talented. You still do all those activities?"

"No not anymore. I quit last year; I just couldn't take it. It became too hard and exhausting. My mom lost her job a few weeks after, so it seemed like it turned out alright" she muttered turning to look at the sand, embarrassed.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked" he said shaking his head.

"No don't worry. It was a valid question. The only problem now is my mom watches me non-stop. Since my brothers went to college in California and my dad's always working, it's just my mom and I. She gets bored and likes to spend her time watching my every move. So this is my 3 weeks in paradise" she laughed brightening the mood.

"Well then, let's make it the best!" Troy smiled, glad that she was happy.

"Hey Troy, want to go jet skiing?" Ryan yelled running towards the two from the house.

"Sure bro, let's go before it gets dark" Troy said getting up. "You coming Gabriella?"

"Uhm… I think I'll pass" she said unsure.

"C'mon, it'll be fun" Troy exclaimed extending his hand towards her.

Taking his hand, she got up and spoke "Just to let you know, I've never done this before"

"Don't worry, if we tip over at least you know how to swim" he said walking with Ryan toward the docks.

"Hey, you're joking right?" she said walking side by side with them scared of the idea.

Troy just laughed and received a slap in the arm from Gabriella. The teenagers walked down to the docks. Gabriella saw 3 jet skis tied against the dock. After emptying their pockets they made their way towards them.

"I'll take the green one, Troy you got the blue one and Gabi you can use Shar's" Ryan instructed getting on his green and white motor device.

Gabriella looked at the pink sparkly vehicle and figured it was Sharpay's, confused she spoke "But I don't know how to use it"

"Ry, we will teach her tomorrow. I'll just let her ride with me today" Troy suggested motioning for Gabriella to follow.

"Alright, whatever works for you man" Ryan agreed turning the key starting up the engine.

Troy got into the black and blue Jet Ski and adjusted the seat. Lending a hand, he helped Gabriella get on to the vehicle. She took a seat behind him, feeling awkward with the close proximity.

"You alright?" he asked turning his head to look at her.

Gabriella nodded resting her hands on her thighs.

"So this thing is simple; just hang on" Troy explained simply turning on the engine and untying the rope.

"That's it?" Gabriella yelled over the engine.

And with that Troy jerked the handlebars to the left and pressed on the peddle, moving fast along the rough waters. Gabriella screamed his name to stop but he just kept going laughing. She grabbed his shoulders holding him but the hem of t-shirt tightly to make her steady. She closed her eyes scared. Feeling the vehicle slow she slowly opened her eyes to see Troy's blue orbs staring at her.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine" she spoke softly, taking a breath her eyes transfixed on his.

"Then can you let go of my shirt?" he said glaring at her hands squeezed tightly on his shoulders.

"Oh, sorry" Gabriella said embarrassed, releasing her hold noticing the redness on her hands.

Adjusting his shirt, Troy turned to look at her "You know, if you wanted my shirt off you could've have just told me. I would have gladly taken it off for you" he joked sending her a wink and smirk. Gabriella looked away her face turning a crimson colour.

"Here, hold on like this" Troy instructed grabbing a hold of her hands, placing them around his midsection. "This way, my shoulders don't hurt and you have a better grip" he laughed.

Gabriella nodded looking into his eyes. As he stared at her lips he leaned forward -

"HEADS UP!"

Gabriella shrieked feeling the cold water hit her skin. They both looked up to see Ryan laughing beside them.

"You should have seen your faces… PRICELESS" Ryan laughed smacking his knee a few times to emphasize.

"RYAAN! You are so dead!" Gabriella screamed as Ryan pressed the pedal heading back to the dock.

"Hold on Brie" Troy spoke softly pressing on the pedal moving rapidly through the waters back to shore.

Gabriella tightened her grip and smiled at the nicknamed Troy had given her. Resting her chin on his right shoulder which his now wet green t-shirt covered, she watched the water and laughed at the cursing phrases coming out of his mouth directed to Ryan.

Troy had caught up to Ryan, both tying there Jet Ski's to the wooden dock. Ryan had gotten out of the vehicle first running as fast as he can away from the dock. Gabriella was close behind him abandoning Troy who was safely checking over the Jet Ski. Gabriella eventually caught up to Ryan jumping on his back, tickling him until they eventually landed on the ground. Troy ran back to where the two were lying on the ground laughing.

"But seriously guys, your faces were hilarious. If only I had a camera" Ryan chuckled staring at Troy and Gabriella.

Noticing the sun going down, Gabriella shivered from the wind that was approaching. "Well I'm going to go inside and dry off, thanks to you," she pointed at Ryan "I'm soaking wet!"

"Welcome to the cottage Gabi" Ryan exclaimed.

Gabriella got up from her lying down position on the grass "I'll see you guys later". She gave a small wave to the boys and made her way towards the house.

"Hey Shar! What are you doing?" Gabriella asked entering Sharpay's room.

"Oh my gosh! Gabi you should see this!" Sharpay explained sprawled on her bed with a magazine in hand. "You cannot believe what I just found out!"

Gabriella leaned over Sharpay's shoulder to see a picture of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez on a rooftop scene sitting close together.

"What about them?" Gabriella muttered.

"Gabi! It says they are dating. JBiebs is dating her. It's so upsetting. We all know I was supposed to be Mrs. Bieber!" Sharpay cried out clearly depressed about the situation.

"Shar, I don't even know why you like this guy. Yeah, I'll admit it his voice is good and his songs are catchy but he seems like the ultimate jerk. He sings about getting his heart broken but he's probably the one breaking hearts" Gabriella explained annoyed.

"Woah Gabs, what happened? Why are you soaking wet? Sharpay noticed taking her eyes off the magazine.

"We went Jet Skiing and Ryan soaked us" Gabriella commented picking out a dark jean skirt and a teal dressy tank top.

Sharpay laughed "That's something he would do"

Gabriella walked into the bathroom placing her clothes on the counter. She closed the door and got changed. Quickly she applied soft make up and let her hair loose. Walking out of the bathroom she noticed Sharpay already dressed in a new outfit.

"Wow Shar, that was quick"

"Yeah, let's go I think they already started the fire"

They made their way down the stairs out the back doors to see the family gathered around the fire roasting marshmallows.

"Girls, come on over and grab some marshmallows" Greg greeted holding his BBQ stick over the fire.

They walked over to the log which held chocolate, marshmallows and BBQ sticks. Each taking a few they walked over to the chairs where Ryan and Troy were playing with a camera. They sat down putting together their marshmallow "kabobs" as Sharpay called it.

"What are you guys doing?" Gabriella asked curiously.

"We are just fooling around with the camera" Ryan shrugged passing it to Troy.

Troy took the camera and turned the power on "Smile girls"

Sharpay and Gabriella both turned to look at him before seeing a flash. Troy laughed showing the picture to Ryan.

"No Troy! I wasn't ready, take it again" Sharpay said fixing her hair.

Troy snapped the picture when Gabriella and Sharpay were both smiling.

"Alright your turn!" Gabriella exclaimed grabbing the camera from Troy's hands.

Gabriella focused the camera on Troy and Ryan snapping the picture and looking back on it. She felt a smile creeping up when looking at Troy to see him smiling right back at her.

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