A/N Here are two chapters in this, too!
The next morning Troy woke up early. He smiled when he saw his beautiful girlfriend lying next to him. He was so proud of her. Through everything, she had been really strong. He stroked her hair lovingly and she opened her eyes.
"Oh, I didn't mean to wake you," Troy said quickly.
"It's okay," Gabriella said. "I'm glad you woke me, actually. I want to go home, that is, if you will stay with me for a couple of days, without Max finding out. Like, just at nights. I don't think I can stay alone at night, Troy. I mean, I'll probably be out all the day. I'll be at school or here. I just don't want to be alone at night. Please, stay with me."
"Of course, I will," Troy said, quickly. "When do you want to go?"
"We can just hang out today and go tonight," Gabriella said. "Would it be okay with your dad if we cut school?"
"Sure," Troy shrugged. "So what does 'hang out' consist of?"
"I don't know," she replied. "Let's make it up as we go along."
"Fine with me," he smiled. "Does 'making it up' include buying donuts?"
"Why?" she laughed.
"I've got a sudden craving for donuts," he grinned.
"Let's not keep you waiting, then," she smiled.
The two got up and Troy went to his room to get dressed. A few minutes later, they were both downstairs. Jack was not home. He had gone to school for a staff meeting, so, Troy left a note. Then, they left the house. Troy opened the door to his truck for Gabriella and the two headed to buy donuts. They got a box full of donuts. Gabriella only managed to eat two, but, Troy swallowed down five.
"I don't know how you can eat like that," Gabriella laughed as he finally set the box down on the back seat of the car.
"It's pretty easy when you're hungry," Troy smiled.
"You must have been really hungry," she smiled.
Troy leaned over and kissed her gently.
"Where do you want to go next?" he asked.
"I don't know," she shrugged.
Troy shrugged and stepped on the gas pedal.
"Where are we going?" Gabriella asked.
"I don't know yet," Troy said. "I'm just driving."
As Troy passed, Gabriella saw the coffee shop that her mother used to take her and Max out for breakfast every Saturday. Then, she saw the mall and remembered all the times her mother had taken her shopping. She could not stand it. She could not stand seeing all those places. She wanted to cry.
"Let's go home," Gabriella said. "I know I said that I wanted to hang out today, but, maybe we can hang out inside a house. Please, Troy."
Troy heard the pain in her voice. He looked at her and saw the pain stretched across her face. It was clear that she was upset.
"Please," she whispered.
"Whatever you want, Ella," Troy whispered taking her hand and kissing it gently as he took the turn that led to his house.
Troy did not let go of her hand till they reached the house. They got quite a surprise when they Max saw standing at the front door. Gabriella let go of Troy's hand hoping that Max had not noticed it. She got out of the car and ran straight into her brother's open arms. Troy got out of the car more slowly and just stared at the siblings taking in the bond between them.
"Max," Troy said, softly walking over to them. "I would never hurt Gabriella. I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impressions, but, I won't hurt her. I wouldn't do that. I couldn't bear to see her hurt."
"I know," Max said as Gabriella pulled away from him. "I'm sorry for losing my temper, too."
"You know, brothers fight," Troy said.
"And, they're still brothers," Max smiled giving Troy a brotherly hug.
"Finally!" Gabriella exclaimed. "I've been going crazy wondering when you two lovebirds will be back together."
"You're going to pay for that Gabriella!" Max yelled.
"Big time!" Troy added.
Max and Troy chased Gabriella to the back of the house. Troy was faster than Max and caught up with Gabriella within seconds. Max caught up a few seconds later. Troy threw Gabriella onto his shoulder and ran straight towards the pool and threw her in. the two boys grinned as they stared at Gabriella as she rose to the surface glaring at them angrily.
"Good job, buddy," Max grinned rapping knuckles with Troy.
"Thanks," Troy said before reaching out to help Gabriella. "Here, Gabs. Let me help."
"Thanks," Gabriella said taking his hand. "But, I'd prefer if I could help you!"
Before Troy could register what she had said, she had pulled him into the pool with quite some force. Max burst out laughing as Troy rose to the surface.
"Max!" Troy exclaimed. "You're supposed to be on my side. Help me up."
Max reached out to help Troy and Troy did the same thing Gabriella did and pulled Max into the pool.
"So, you two made up?" Jack asked walking out of the house towards the pool.
Max and Troy looked at each other and grinned. They got out of the pool together.
"Yeah," Troy said walking over to Jack while he pulled off his wet shirt. "We made up."
"That's good," Jack said as Troy tossed his shirt onto the grass.
"Now!" Troy exclaimed.
Together he and Max pushed Jack towards the pool. Jack did not go without a fight. He held onto Max's shirt making Max go into the pool with him. Troy stood at the edge grinning. Then, he jumped back into the pool.
"Troy," Gabriella said suddenly.
Troy swam over to Gabriella as Max and Jack began to race around the pool.
"What's up, pretty girl?" he asked softly so that neither Jack nor Max could hear him.
"Remember how you used to give me rides around the pool when we were younger?" Gabriella asked.
"Yeah," Troy nodded. "You want one, now, don't you?"
Gabriella nodded turning red. Troy chuckled. He took her hands and wrapped it around his neck. Gabriella wrapped her legs around Troy's waist.
"Hold on, tightly," Troy told Gabriella. "We're going to join the race."
Gabriella giggled like a little girl as Troy swam towards Jack and her brother.
"You better be careful, Troy," Max warned. "Or else, Gabriella will make you carry her into the house, too."
"She'll have to be my slave for life in that case," Troy smirked.
Gabriella gasped. She kicked his crotch with her leg from under the water. Neither Jack nor Max noticed as they were both getting out of the pool, but, Troy gritted his teeth to keep his mouth from saying any curse words in front of Jack.
"You're going to pay," Troy whispered to Gabriella who just laughed.
"You love me too much to do anything bad to me," Gabriella smirked.
"True," Troy sighed as he swam towards the edge of the pool.
He climbed out of the pool with Gabriella still clinging onto his back.
"Are you planning on getting off my back at any time soon?" Troy asked.
"Nope," Gabriella smirked.
Troy laughed and carried her into the house.
"Oh, get off Troy's back, Gabriella!" Max exclaimed pretending to be annoyed. "You two look like you're dating. You make me sick!"
Troy's cheeks grew hot as Gabriella got off his back.
"If we're dating, that would make you sick?" Gabriella asked.
"Yeah," Max laughed.
"Let's see if it really does make you sick," Gabriella grinned.
"Huh?' Max looked confused.
Gabriella turned to face Troy and without any warning, she kissed him. Troy was caught by surprise. No sooner had their lips met, Gabriella pulled away.
"Did that make you sick?" Gabriella asked before she went upstairs to change.
"What just happened?" Troy asked feeling slightly dazed.
"My sister kissed you," Max said feeling just as surprised as Troy was.
"Oh," Troy said.
He shook his head slightly and turned to go upstairs.
"Wait, dude," Max said.
"Yeah?" Troy turned to look at Max.
"You look like you like it when she kisses you," Max said and Troy felt his cheeks growing warm. "Do you?"
"You might not like the truth," Troy said.
"Which is?" Max asked already knowing the answer.
"Your sister is one hell of a kisser," Troy said.
Max's expression was unreadable.
"Dude, you aren't mad, are you?" Troy asked.
"I…uh…" Max's voice trailed away. Part of him wanted to kill Troy for saying that, but, he also knew that Troy had done nothing wrong.
"Dude, it's not my fault," Troy said holding up his hands.
"I know," Max said. "I'm not mad."
Troy did not say anything. He just turned and hurried upstairs before Jack came and yelled at him for dripping water onto the carpet.
