Chapter 7: Dinner at the Bolton's And a Close Encounter
Gabriella walked beside Troy. He told her he only lived a few blocks away so it was a short walk. She was walking slightly behind him, still thinking about being so close to him earlier on. She remembered the feeling she got when his breath hit her lips. She thought she was going to faint.
Troy looked back at Gabriella and saw her looking at the ground and smiling.
"Something funny?" he asked. Gabriella looked up from the ground and shook her head in confusion, "No, why?"
"Because you have this goofy smile on your face," he said, glancing back at her. Gabriella immediately blushed and looked down at the ground again. "Don't worry it was really cute," Troy said, grinning as Gabriella's head snapped up with her eyes wide. She couldn't believe he had called her cute.
"One question Montez," Troy said.
"Um...what's that?" she asked, quickly.
"Do I smell?" he asked.
"Do you smell? No of course not," she replied, raising her eyebrows.
"Good I just thought I did because you seem to not want to walk beside me so I thought maybe I smelled bad or something," he said, watching her closely. Gabriella rolled her eyes and began to walk beside him.
"Happy now Bolton?" she asked. Troy nodded and she giggled. After a few minutes Troy turned left and walked up to his house. Gabriella observed the house. It was a two storey red brick house. Well it looked more like a mansion but it wasn't exactly one. But close enough.
Troy walked up to the porch and unlocked the door with his key. He stepped aside and let Gabriella enter first. She smiled and walked quickly inside. Once inside the door she immediately got the smell of cooking. She felt her stomach rumble and hoped Troy didn't hear.
She looked around the hall and joint living room. On the mantelpiece were pictures of the family. Many of Troy with his basketball shirt on and then some of them on the beach and at Christmas. Gabriella smiled. They looked so happy. And Troy looked good in every single photo. Does this guy ever look bad?
"Mom, I'm home," Troy called out and he closed the door behind him and flung his bag down beside the stairs. Gabriella turned her attention away from the mantelpiece and towards the woman walking out of the kitchen.
Troy's mom had blue eyes to match her son's and medium length brown hair. She was short and was wearing a suit and a cooking apron.
"Hi honey. I see you brought a friend, who's this?" his mother asked, turning to Gabriella and smiling.
"Uh Mom, this is Gabriella Montez, a friend from school," Troy said.
Troy's mother shook Gabriella's hand, "A friend huh?" she asked, winking at Gabriella. Gabriella blushed and giggled slightly.
"Wait a minute. This is the Gabriella?" his mother asked. Gabriella looked at her confused.
"Gabriella I've heard so much about you- I feel like I already know you. Troy has talked about you non-stop since the start of this school assignment," she said.
Gabriella turned an embarrassing shade of red along with Troy. He threw daggers athis mother. She got the picture and returned to the kitchen announcing dinner would be ready in fifteen minutes.
Troy and Gabriella went up to Troy's room. His room was painted blue and had poster of basketball players and bands on the walls. A double bed sat over by the window. His desk and computer was on the opposite side of the room, beside the door to the bathroom and his closet.
"Well this is my room. Sorry it's kind of messy," Troy said, picking up some clothes off the ground and stuffing them into his closet.
Gabriella smiled and sat down on his bed, "It's really nice Troy. It's so lived in," she said, looking around. Troy sat down beside her and frowned, "Lived in?" he questioned.
Gabriella giggled, "I mean like it's obvious that you're settled here. I mean the longest I've been in the one bedroom has been about two months. Hardly enough time to settle in and make it comfortable. But I guess that's gonna change now," she said, looking at his posters.
Troy nodded, "Well I'm glad you're staying," he said, staring at her.
"You are?" she asked, turning to face him. She felt her stomach doing cartwheels as she saw he was already staring at her, "Why?" she whispered, barely-audible.
"Because I like you...you're different to other...people," Troy said, staring into her eyes. "Different in a good way?" she replied.
"Definitely in a good way. I've never met anyone like you. You're not afraid to disagree with me and I like that," Troy said, shifting closer to her so they were only a few inches apart.
"Well Mr. Bolton you have been wrong on occasion," she whispered.
Troy nodded and tilted his head to the right and moved closer to her slowly. Gabriella closed her eyes and gently tilted her head, preparing herself for what was about to happen. She could practically feel Troy's lips on hers and his breathing was shallow.
Suddenly there was a knock on Troy's door and Gabriella jumped away while Troy groaned. Troy's dad came in, "Troy, Gabriella dinner is ready," he announced and winked at them and exited the room.
"Um...I guess we better go down then," Troy said. Gabriella nodded and followed him downstairs her mind reeling from the close encounter. Troy couldn't believe it. If his dad had been one minute later he could have kissed Gabriella. He frowned as he entered the kitchen, trying not to think about the almost- kiss.
"So Gabriella what do you think of East High so far?" Troy's mom asked her. Gabriella finished chewing a piece of food, "I really like it. Some of the people are so nice there," she replied.
"Some of the people?" Coach Bolton questioned. Gabriella stopped eating and frowned slightly. She regretted saying that.
"Yes well not everyone's going to like everyone, especially not when I'm friends with Troy. I'm used to the looks from the girls now though," she said, blushing.
"Well don't mind them Gabriella. They are just jealous that Troy is going out with a prettier and smarter girl," his Mom said, taking a sip of water.
"Oh...um we're not going out," Gabriella corrected politely.
"You're not?" Coach Bolton said in surprise. Gabriella shook her head and didn't dare look at Troy who had stopped eating and was staring at his parents, trying to tell them to shut up. "Sorry Gabriella we just assumed since Troy talks so fondly of you all the time."
"Mom, Dad!" Troy warned. Gabriella blushed and smiled shyly, "No I'm just friends with your son," she said, sadly.
Troy immediately looked at her, sensing the sadness in her voice. Did Gabriella feel the same about him? Mr. and Mrs. Bolton glanced and each other knowingly.
"So how did you two become such good friends anyhow?" Troy's mother questioned, breaking the silence. Troy and Gabriella looked and each other and laughed. "It wasn't exactly a happy situation," Troy said.
"But don't forget the real first time we met in the grocery store," Gabriella piped up, "Troy and I bumped into each other when I was shopping for my Mom on my first day here. He was so sweet he took the blame for the spilled milk and paid for it and everything," Gabriella gushed.
"Nice to know we raised a gentleman," Coach Bolton said.
"Then we met in school and didn't really hit it off. I think we hated each other for the first few days but after being forced to work together we became friends. I realised that he's not that bad," Gabriella added, giggling.
"You're not to bad yourself Miss Montez," Troy replied, reaching over beside him and tickling her waist. Gabriella laughed and pushed his hand away.
"Well Jack, I think I'll get the desert. Would you help me so we can give these two 'friends' some privacy," Mrs. Bolton said as she cleared the table and walked from the dining room into the kitchen with her husband following.
Troy cleared his throat as they sat in silence, "Sorry about my parents. They can be a bit weird sometimes. I know it was uncomfortable," he said.
Gabriella shook her head, "Troy it is okay. It's funny how people seem to think we're going out. I don't mind. It could be worse, I could be paired with just a normal basketball player instead of the captain. Imagine how bad that would be for my reputation," Gabriella said, imitating one of the cheerleaders. Troy laughed, "Yeah well I really don't mind people saying it either."
"Good so we're cool," Gabriella said. Troy placed his hand under Gabriella's chin and turned her head to face his, "But what I do mind is having to deny it," he whispered. Gabriella's heart was thumping and she was breathing heavily.
Troy leaned in and closed the gap between them, pushing his lips against her gently. Gabriella closed her eyes and shivered as she felt Troy's hand on her cheek. Suddenly he pulled back and his parents entered the room.
"Desert is served," Jack announced placing a piece of cheese cake in front of Troy and Gabriella. Gabriella stared at her plate in shock, her fingers touching her lips slightly.
"Gabriella are you okay?" Mrs Bolton asked, looking at her worriedly. Gabriella looked at her and nodded quickly, "Yeah I'm fine, just daydreaming," she said.
She began eating and felt Troy's right hand brush against her left one underneath the table. He picked it up and interlaced their fingers. Gabriella smiled to herself. It felt so right.
The next day Gabriella walked into school nervously. She didn't know what was going on between her and Troy after last night. After the kiss and dinner they had just watched a movie and then Gabriella went home but nothing else had happened. He didn't try to kiss her or hug her and hold her hand. It was as if the whole thing had never happened and Gabriella was extremely confused.
She opened her locker and closed her eyes to try to clear her head. She had to stop thinking about Troy, at least until lunch time. That would be a big achievement.
"Hey Gabriella, I called your house last night but no one answered, where were you?" Taylor asked. Gabriella opened her eyes and turned to face Taylor. She blinked a few times before replying, "I got busy so I didn't want to answer the phone. Sorry," she lied and turned back to take books out of her locker.
Taylor raised her eyebrows and eyed Gabriella suspiciously, "Okay nice try at lying, and you're getting a bit better. Now spill where were you?" she asked. Gabriella sighed and closed her locker, "I told you Tay, I was busy."
"Busy doing what? We got like no homework and I'm not aware of any tests this week. So therefore the only other work you have to do is...," Taylor said and her eyes widened and she looked at Gabriella. Gabriella knew from her face that Taylor had worked it out and winced.
"So how is Troy?" Taylor asked, smirking, "Let me guess either he was at your house and you two are deaf and didn't hear the phone the three times I called because you were so engrossed in work or you were making out on the couch. Now which?"
Gabriella shook her head, "It was neither Taylor. I went to his house for dinner. End of story." Taylor stopped, "Hold up you were in his house? Girl there has to be something going on."
"Why what's the big deal. Friends have friends over all the time," Gabriella said, turning down a corridor. Taylor shook her head, "Not Troy Bolton. At least not friends that are girls. The only girls his age to ever, and I repeat EVER step foot inside Troy Bolton's house are his cousins," Taylor said.
Gabriella blushed as she listened to Taylor. She didn't know that going to Troy's house had been such a big deal. But the only reason he invited her was because she was home alone and he probably felt sorry for her nothing more.
"Taylor the reason he invited me was because I was home alone. He probably felt sorry for me," Gabriella said. "Gabriella just accept the fact that Troy's into you. It's not totally hard to believe. Okay trust me I've known Troy since kindergarten and I know the way he works even though I never speak to him. A guy that popular all you have to do is stand in the bathroom every lunch to hear some people gossiping about him. That's a big deal. Whether he pitied you or not, he still invited you home and judging but the way you're blushing now something happened," Taylor said.
Gabriella tried to hide her blush and looked to the ground, "Nothing happened. We had dinner, watched a movie. I went home," Gabriella said walking to her homeroom door, followed by Taylor.
"Gabriella do you like Troy?" Taylor asked, pulling her back from walking inside the classroom.
"He's a friend Taylor. Nothing more. And he'll never be anything more because he doesn't see me like thatokay? Now please let go," Gabriella said. Taylor sighed and let go of Gabriella's arm and followed her in the classroom door. Something had happened and she was determined to find out.
Troy and Chad were sitting in their math class doing homework as they had a substitute. Troy yawned as he opened his English book and flipped through the pages to find the homework. Chad nudged him and nodded his head towards Troy's desk. Troy looked down in confusion and saw a small piece of paper balled up sitting on his desk. He opened it.
(Chad/Troy)
Dude what was up with you at practise today?
Troy frowned as he read this and quickly replied.
Nothing was up.
Well then explain to me why you missed every single basket. You didn't even get one in and usually you get every one in. I know what the problem is…
Troy shifted. Troy's problem was that he couldn't get Gabriella out of his head. After he kissed her he suddenly felt unsure as to whether she felt the same and he was too afraid of rejection. He didn't know what to do. He tried to act normal after the kiss last night but it had been weird.
What problem?
The fact that you won't stop thinking about that Gabriella girl.
Not true.
Troy lied and decided to keep on lying to Chad. He didn't understand. No one did.
Well then explain to me why you're hanging out with her so much when we need you captain.
Because we have a project due and loads of work to do.
Sure that's all?
Chad, I'm sure. Gabriella is nothing okay? As soon as this project's over we won't be hanging out anyway so just chill. I'm just tired today that's my problem. And don't worry about Gabriella, she isn't affecting me at all and she won't be either. We're barely even friends.
Troy felt ashamed as he wrote this note. Not one word of it was the truth. He was crazy about Gabriella and they were nearly best friends. She was important to him. More important than basketball or anything else in his life. But he had to get Chad off his back and that meant lying through his teeth. But at least Gabriella would never hear this.
Cool man. As long as you've got you're head in the game and as far away from that chick as possible we'll do great at the big game.
Troy frowned. It was like he couldn't be with Gabriella. Chad did care about the game but he also cared about the fact that he was mixing with the brainy new girl which team members did not do. Troy sighed. It was nearly impossible for him to even consider asking Gabriella out because of the pressure from his friends. Suddenly the bell rang and Troy quickly stuffed the sheet of paper into his book and exited the classroom before Chad could ask him any more questions.
Sorry guys you're going to hate me but there's trouble brewin'! lol! but don't worry I'm 100 Troyella and always will be!!!
