A/N: This chapter is really cute in my opinion. Once again, I'm liking my work! It starts with a recap of the last chapter so that explains the italics.

I don't own:

HSM

The Grand

You are the music in me - HSM

I do own:

Derek

Storyline


Chapter 6 – You are the music in me

Gabriella cried into his shirt, her arms wrapped around his torso. "I want to love you but I can't."

Troy pulled back slightly, still holding her. "Can you try?"

"I don't know, Troy. I mean, it's normal for the girl to have a school girl crush but you love me? Why?" She asked in between hiccups.

Troy brushed some of her curls behind her ear. "Why not? You're beautiful, smart, funny, loving. Need I go on? It's okay if you don't want to because I know we'd have to keep it a secret but, I need you to know I love you." He whispered the last part in her ear.

She shook her head, pulling out of the embrace. "But what happens when you get bored of me or find someone older, prettier and probably smarter as well?"

Troy raised his eyebrows. "I swear, that will never happen. I've met a lot of girls in my life and you're the first one who hasn't gone crazy because of who I am. Even in high school girls were using me because I was the basketball captain so I was popular." He explained.

"But, how do I know?" Gabriella asked. "How do I know that it's true?"

Troy stepped forward, leaning down and kissed her sweetly before pulling back. "You'll have to trust me."

Gabriella took a deep breath, looking up into Troy's bright, blue eyes. She reached up with one hand, cupping his cheek. "I think I can try." She whispered, smiling weakly.

Troy's face brightened immediately. "Really?"

Gabriella shrugged. "Even though it's morally repugnant, and you could go to jail for it, I can tell you're telling the truth and I know that I love you too."

"Morally repugnant?" Troy repeated.

Gabriella rolled her eyes, her tears turning into ones of happiness. "It means wrong! And here I was thinking a smart, older guy was about to ask me out."

Troy smirked, pulling her closer by her hips. "Maybe he is. You never know."

Gabriella rolled her eyes again playfully. "Does he seriously love me?"

Troy nodded, leaning down and kissing her tears away. "He loves you with everything he is and he wants to know if you'd be his girlfriend?"

Gabriella smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Well, tell him that I will most definitely be his girlfriend."

Troy grinned as he lifted her up and spun her around. "You have no idea how happy you just made me!"

"Troy! Put me down!" Gabriella squealed.

"What happened?" A voice asked from the doorway.

Troy put her on her feet and they looked over to see Derek leaning against the door frame. "Oh, hi Derek." Gabriella said, straightening her shirt.

"What got you guys so excited?" Her brother asked.

"Uh..." She looked at Troy for help.

Troy caught her drift and turned back to Derek. "I just asked Gabriella if she'd record a duet with me and she just said yes." He grinned down at her.

"I did?" She asked in disbelief. "I mean I did!"

Derek smiled at her. "So she's going to be a star?"

"If she wanted. I just asked her for one song." Troy explained.

"Anyway, I came up here to tell you that mum and I have to go to New York." Derek explained.

Gabriella folded her arms and stared at him in confusion. "Why?"

"Well, we're going to New York to look at NYU for when I graduate. So, we'll be back Sunday." Derek explained. "She said you could invite someone over if you wanted."

"One second. Stay right here." Gabriella said, running out of her room.

"So, Troy, how do you like my sister?" Derek asked.

Troy leaned against Gabriella's bed post. "She's one of the coolest fourteen year old girls I've ever met."

"She's great, isn't she?" He was silent for a moment. "Troy, you mean a lot to her. She let you in after a few days of knowing you and you're special. At the same time, she's special too."

Troy smiled. "I know. Why are you telling me this?"

"I don't want you to hurt her." Derek said softly.

Troy nodded. "I don't want to either. And you're right. She is special."

"You like her, don't you?" Derek asked.


Gabriella ran into the where Eva was looking through her bag, checking she had everything. "Mama, is it true you're going to New York for the whole weekend?"

Eva nodded, looking up at her daughter. "Yeah. If you want, you can invite a friend to stay over."

Gabriella stood next to her mother by the island. "So, can Troy stay?"

Eva stared at her. "Um well, I don't know. I was thinking more along the lines of Sharpay."

"Please, mama? Or, if you want I can sleep over at his place." Gabriella offered.

Eva stared at Gabriella.

"Mama! I meant his parents' house. Besides, you know Troy and I are just friends." Gabriella explained.

Eva smiled softly. "I know. Which is why I'm letting you stay here and he can stay too."

"Really? Thank you!" Gabriella exclaimed, flinging her arms around Eva.

Eva laughed. "You're welcome. Now go and get your brother. We have to leave soon."


A look of shock washed over Troy's face. "Do I like her?" He repeated.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to sound angry or anything. I was just curious is all." Derek explained.

Gabriella bounced in. "Derek, mama wants you."

Derek nodded. "See you around, dude." He left the room.

"What was that about?" Gabriella asked.

"You have no idea how thankful I am that you just stepped through that door." Troy sighed in relief.

"Why?" Gabriella asked in confusion.

"He asked me if I liked you." Troy replied, taking her hand softly.

"I think we'll have to think up some excuses in case people ask us stuff." Gabriella reasoned. "Anyway, want to stay over this weekend?"

Troy frowned. "Why?"

"My mum doesn't want me to be alone and she thinks we're 'just friends'." Gabriella laughed.

Troy smiled, kissing her forehead. "I think I can stay."


Gabriella woke up the next morning to a soft melody coming from the basement where they had a piano. She stood up from the couch where she had fallen asleep with Troy after watching a movie. She walked down the stairs to the basement and went over to Troy, wrapping her arms around his neck from behind. "Good morning, superstar." She whispered, kissing his cheek.

Troy smiled and stopped playing, swivelling around on the stool and gazing over her. He had seen her last night, sure, but he still like looking at her. Troy had driven to the Grand to get some clothes so he didn't have to go in the morning. Gabriella was wearing one of his old wildcat shirts and a pair of white hot pants on. Her hair was slightly messy but it made her look more beautiful.

"God, I'm lucky." He muttered, pulling her onto his lap.

Gabriella smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck again. "I'm lucky. It's not everyday a hot twenty-year-old tells a fourteen year old girl he loves her."

Troy leaned in and kissed her softly. "My shirt suits you."

She giggled quietly. "What're you working on?" She asked, leaning over and taking the manuscript from the ledge. "You are the music in me?"

Troy blushed. "Well, this is the song I was hoping you'd sing with me."

Gabriella read over it. "And you mean it?"

Troy nodded. "Want to hear it?"

Gabriella smiled softly, placing the music back on the ledge and moving off of Troy's lap. "Go." She whispered softly.

Troy grinned, starting to play a few notes.

Bold – Troy

Italics – Gabriella

Underlined – Troyella

Na na na na
Na na na na yeah
You are the music in me
You know the words
"Once Upon A Time"
Make you listen?
There's a reason.

When you dream there's a chance you'll find
A little laughter
or happy ever after

your harmony to the melody
It's echoing inside my head
A single voice
(Single voice)
Above the noise
And like a common thread

Hmm, you're pulling me
When I hear my favourite song
I know that we belong

Oh, you are the music in me
Yeah it's living in all of us

And it's brought us here because
Because you are the music in me
Na na na na (Ohh)
Na na na na na
Yeah yeah yeah
(Na na na na)
You are the music in me

It's like I knew you before we met(Before we met)
Can't explain it(Ohh ohh)
There's no name for it(No name for it)
I'm saying words I never said
And it was easy
(So easy)
Because you see the real me(I see)
As I am You understand
And that's more than I've ever known

To hear your voice(Hear your voice)
Above the noise(Ohh ohh)
And no, I'm not alone
Oh you're singing to me
When I hear my favourite song
I know that we belong
You are the music in me
It's living in all of us
And it's brought us here because
You are the music in me

Troy smiled at Gabriella. "What do you think?"

Gabriella rested her forehead against Troy's. "I think it's perfect." She whispered.

"I'm glad." He leaned in and closed the gap between their lips, kissing her passionately. His arms snaked around her waist as he pulled her back onto his lap. Her arms wound around his neck and he smirked into the kiss when he heard an almost inaudible moan come from Gabriella. He pulled back, grinning down at her. "Am I too much for you, Miss Montez?"

"No." She said softly. "Never, Mr Bolton."