Absolute Perfection

Many things made Troy Bolton nervous. Girls, performing live, performing on camera, and many more. But he had never been nervous to meet with his publicists. Until today. He knew that he always had final word, and they needed him more than he needed them, but his heart was still pounding in fear that they were going to do everything in their power to take the girl he had fallen so hard for, away from him.

As soon as he approached the office he went through his plan for what he was going to say when they told him to end it. He took a deep breath before walking in.

"Hey guys," he greeted with a nervous smile and Gina and Mark looked up. They both smiled, leading Troy to freeze in confusion.

"Troy! There you are! Thanks for coming!" Gina, his publicist who dealt with bookings and interviews, exclaimed.

"Umm yeah sure it was no problem."

"Anyway, let's talk about this new girl of yours," Mark, the public perception expert, said in his feminine and gossipy tone.

"Umm...yeah...okay."

"She's perfect!" Troy's eyes widened in shock and lit up with delight all at once.

"Really?! I thought..."

"Are you kidding Troy? She's not a celebrity, which gives your fans the perception that they have a chance with you. And even though she is technically a normal high school girl, it is still clear that you have high standards considering she is an award winning dancer, not to mention gorgeous. Then in addition the fact that her father is one of the most powerful people in the business it makes it clear that she is not using you."

"Wait how the hell did you know all of that?"

"Come on Troy you really think we didn't do research on her?" Gina asked and although not shocked he rolled his eyes.

"Also by dating a normal girl it shows that he isn't trying to piss of Lena," Mark said looking at Gina and Troy popped up in shock.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Come on Troy, if you step out with a supermodel it will look like you are trying to spite her and piss her off." Troy's eyes narrowed at his two publicists.

"Are you calling Gabriella a downgrade?! What? You think I'm slumming it?"

"Troy…" Gina started in a calming tone. "We're just saying." Troy rolled his eyes an scoffed.

"Look. Even though Gabriella is twice the person Lena will ever be, and if you actually met her, you would see that, I really don't care what you think. Or what anyone else thinks. So here's the deal. There won't be a press release. I won't be talking about her in interviews. I am keeping everything on the down low. I'm not thrusting her into the spotlight. I care way too much about her. If you have a problem with that…well you'll just have to deal with it." With that, Troy got up and stormed out. Gina and Mark looked at each other blankly.

"I think he really likes her," Mark said in shock and Gina scoffed.

"Please. She's a rebound girl. It will be over before you know it."

"So how did it go?" Chad asked as soon as Troy walked into his house.

"They think she is perfect…" Chad looked at him in shock, however his expression quickly changed to one of confusion as Troy threw his keys across the table.

"Then why are you so pissed?"

"They think she is the perfect rebound girl."

'Ohhh' Chad mouthed as Troy plopped down onto a stool. "Well is she?" As soon as Troy looked at Chad like he was insane, he raised his hands in surrender. "Just asking dude. I mean let's be realistic, you broke up with your girlfriend of almost 4 years like a month ago. Are you really ready for another relationship?"

"Truthfully…" he began to admit with a sigh, "if you had asked me that 2 days ago, I probably would have had said no, but after being with her…I don't even know if this makes sense…but it's kinda like things with Lena ended a year ago."

"Ok well that answers that question. So when is your date?" Troy couldn't help but smile at the thought of his date with the brunette beauty.

"Tonight."

Troy wrapped his arm around Gabriella as they laid down on the hood of his car, side by side. After a casual but romantic dinner, he had taken her to a secluded place in the hills of Los Angeles, that looked over the San Fernando Valley. She smiled and wrapped her arm around his waist and placed her head on his chest. Chills ran through her body as he ran his fingers up and down her arm.

"Gabi," Troy started and she smiled at the nickname.

"Yeah," she replied.

"I feel really bad about all the fans interrupting are date tonight. I wish I could tell you it wont happen again, but it will," he said.

"What usually happens when seven teenage girls are staring at you and whispering?" Gabriella asked as the two walked out of the resturant, hand in hand. Troy looked over and sure enough was a group of giddy teenage girls. He groaned.

"Shit what do I do," he sighed, running his hand through his hair.

"Umm I don't know if you have noticed but I don't get stuck in these situations to often," she replied and he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Ugh I don't want to do this right now," he replied, but before either of them knew it. knew it the girls had surrounded him, practically shoving Gabriella away. He gave her an apologetic look and she mouthed 'don't worry about it.' He couldn't help but smile at how chill she was about the whole situation. However, then 7 girls turned to 15, leading him to get annoyed, for he wanted to spend time with Gabriella. He turned to her and shot her a 'help me' look. She smiled mischeviously, before pushing the girls out of the way.

"Honey," she said in a whining tone as soon as she approached him, while tugging on his hand. "Are you almost done?" The girl's jaws dropped to the floor.

"One second babe," he replied, so he wouldn't look like a complete asshole to his fans.

"Didn't you ask me out so you can be with me?" she whined again, tugging harder on his hand.

"Of course. You are right. Sorry girls." Gabriella smiled successfully, before leading him away from the girls.

"How did I do?" she asked once they were out of earshot.

"Pretty damn good."

"It's okay, it isn't really your fault," she replied. "I understand."

"Good, but you handled it perfectly anyway," he replied pulling her closer to him. "I promise though next time we will do something where it is less likely to happen."

"So there is going to be a next time?" she asked smiling up at him.

"If you would like there to be next time," he smiled back flirtatiously.

"I would love there to be a next time," she replied. They smiled at each other, looking into each other's eyes. Their smiles faded and they gazed at each other longingly. Knowing what they both wanted, Gabriella reached up and Troy bent down and their lips met in a soft chaste kiss. Sparks and chills rushed through their veins as their lips touched. They pulled away briefly before leaning in again. Gabriella's hand moved from his chest to his cheek as her tongue entered his mouth. Troy wrapped his other arm around her and maneuvered her so she was completely on top of him. They kissed passionately, not pulling away until they needed air. They smiled at each other and he reached up and kissed her forehead. She smiled and he pulled her back down so her cheek was on his chest. He placed on hand on her lower back and one on the back of her head, massaging it lightly. Although it wasn't their first, they couldn't help but be amazed at how thrilling kiss was and how neither of them wanted to move.

"You're on Perez Hilton, People, Just Jared, E! Online, TMZ…" Gabriella glared at her best friend.

"Yes, Taylor, I am aware of that. I'm also aware of the fact that they are all calling me the rebound girl." Taylor sighed and spun around in the desk chair to see Gabriella lying down on her bed, clearly annoyed.

"You're not a rebound girl babe. You said your date went amazing!" Gabriella sat up and looked at her best friend like she was crazy.

"It did, but that doesn't change the fact that he broke up with his girlfriend of 4 years a month ago!"

"Ok you have a point there."

"Yeah."

"Well…" Taylor started, popping up and smiling. "You don't have to be!" Gabriella's eyes narrowed in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean be the girl of his dreams and he'll fall in love with you and he'll kick himself for ever thinking of you as rebound!" Gabriella smiled for a moment, thinking of what Troy Bolton loving her would be like, however, it quickly faded and she sighed.

"Are you saying that I be someone I'm not? I hate fake people."

"No! I would never to tell you not be yourself! But just make sure he doesn't find out things like the fact that you were coked out the first time you met him." Gabriella's eyes immediately narrowed at her friend.

"I wasn't coked out." Taylor raised her eyebrows.

"You told me you did it in the bathroom after…"

"It was one line and I did it to calm myself down!" Taylor rolled her eyes at her friend's defensive outburst.

"Whatever you say babe."

Please Review!!! So now you know what Gabriella's secret that doesn't make her so perfect is! So if you didn't get it, it was cocaine in the little bag that Taylor gave Gabriella in Chapter 1. I hope you are okay with the fact that I didn't do the whole date, but first dates always end up so cliché and I really want to move on with the story. I also hope I got the point that Troy truly does adore her across. Anyway, I hope you liked it! Please review!!!