Under & Over

7. Our Song

Don't speak, I can't believe

This is here happening

Our situation isn't right…

Get real, who you playing with

I'd never thought he'd be like this

You were supposed to be there by my side

When you say that you want me

I just don't believe it

You're always ready to give up but never turn around

But what if I need you baby?

Would you even try to save me?
or would you find some lame excuse to never be true?

What if I said I loved you?

Would you be the one to run to?

Or would you watch me walk away…

Without a fight

Gabriella shut off the radio, playing Ashley Tisdale's "What if" with a pained expression…the lyrics echoing throughout her-Troy's room were just too ironic. She sighed and sat on the bed, burying her face into her hands and refusing to shed another tear.

During her last periods of the school day Troy had tried to get Gabriella's attention in class, but she would pretend she didn't notice…even though it hurt her knowing she very well had. In the hallways he would try and catch up with her, but she would swerve through all the people and find it easy to hide from him. At the end of the day, when she had no ride home, well to the home she knew, Sharpay had so kindly offered her one. Thankfully she had gotten home before Troy, mere seconds before him, leaving her that little time to sprint up to her current bedroom and lock the door behind her.

What hurt most was that Gabriella still loved Troy...even if she had questioned it in front of him. She was just angry, and wanted Troy to feel just as bad as she had. When you love someone, as much as you wish you didn't, you simply can't just stop.

Her head jerked up at the soft sound of knocking. It was the fourth time Troy had come to the door. She looked down at her lap and kept the door locked, ignoring him, but finding it hard to. She turned the radio back on, but not before changing the station.

Troy sighed as he leaned against the door after knocking for the fourth time that day. He raised his eyebrows with an idea. He quickly retrieved a piece of paper and a pencil before scribbling down something and sliding it under the door.

Gabriella watched as the white lined paper slid under the door smoothly, landing a couple feet away from the foot of the bed. She hesitantly picked it up and opened it, sighing again at what was written.

I'm sorry

Troy watched with wide eyes as the paper came back at him through the slit under his bedroom door. Honestly, he didn't think she would write back. He opened the note and his shoulders slumped in disappointment. Other than his two mere words, the paper was blank. He bit his lip knowing he would have to do the writing. He gulped in preparation before starting to write.

Gabriella had been watching the ceiling for a while now, the small note Troy had sent to her from under his door hadn't changed anything. She closed her eyes in sadness. After sliding the note back Gabriella had thought Troy had left, or given up, but that was before she heard the faint sound of paper being folded, and the sliding of it on the hardwood floor. Gabriella frowned and trudged out of the bed to get the note. She sat back down on the black bed spread and started to read.

I know you probably don't want to talk to me. I was stupid and immature. I let Matt get to me, exactly what I didn't want. I took it out on you, when you were just trying to be the nice person that you are. I'm sorry I yelled at you and called you a smart ass…because you aren't, you're just smart. Please, please forgive me, and open the door so I can properly talk to you and tell you how I feel, even if now you probably don't feel that way about me because I was such a fucking jerk…

Gabriella re-read the note for the second time before looking up to gaze in disbelief at the door that stood between her and Troy. She took a deep breath before walking slowly towards the locked door. She placed her finger tips on the wood, and pressed her face to it. She could hear him breathing and moving, which made her smile.

Troy sighed for the fifth time, acting impatient as he waited for Gabriella to show a sign that she had read his note. Suddenly he heard the click of the door being unlocked. Before he could get up from his position sitting against the door, it swung open and he fell back. He groaned and opened his eyes to find Gabriella standing above him with a humorous smile.

"You shouldn't have been sitting there." She said softly.

Troy groaned and stumbled to his feet, brushing off his jeans and standing in front of Gabriella, who refused to make eye contact with him. "I-…uh hey." He greeted rubbing the back of his neck as he watched Gabriella shift timidly.

"I'm sorry too…" She whispered, still staring at the ground beneath her.

"What?" He asked, barely hearing her.

"I'm sorry..." Gabriella repeated. "I didn't mean what I said…about you being as bad as Matt…" She continued to speak in a whisper. She sniffled.

Troy didn't know what to do, or say for that matter. "Gabriella?" He took a small step towards her.

"Hmm?"

"Can you please look at me?" He asked softly, placing his finger beneath her chin and lifting her head so that she could look at him. He moved his hand to cup her cheek and moved his thumb to caress it. "You have nothing to be sorry for." He whispered as he moved closer to her. "Did you mean what you said about-about not even liking me anymore...?"

She clenched her eyes shut with guilt. She repeated what she had before realized. "When you love someone...you can't really stop..."

Suddenly, Gabriella lost her breath as she felt his soft but big hand move from her cheek to tangle into her hair. She felt helpless as he moved closer to her, their bodies an inch away from touching. She couldn't help but feel her body connecting with his as if it were a magnet. She gulped with butterflies in her stomach as Troy's body carved perfectly around hers, his other arm looping around her waist.

"I love you too." He whispered into her ear as the side of his face pressed against hers. She could feel his warm breath on her ear. When he pulled back slightly to look into her eyes, their faces so close to touching, she felt a lovely burning sensation on her cheek, where his face previously touched hers. Gabriella smiled softly as his face moved closer towards her.

"…Thank god." Gabriella whispered, slowly wrapping her arms around his neck and unconsciously running her hands through his hair.

She peacefully closed her eyes, wanting to remember this. She felt as Troy's hand unwove from her hair and his thumb ran over the side of her face before moving his hand down to wrap around her waist as did the other one. In a little less than five seconds Troy's lips touched hers, making her breathe in deeply through her nose and tighten her grip around his neck.

Their kiss was so passionate, so memorable, so loving, that Gabriella knew in real life it would only last about a minute…but to her it would feel like forever.

Maria came home from work and sighed as she slipped off her shoes. She had been working for almost over a week now at the Albuquerque weather control center. Maria loved her new job, it had better pay than her previous one, and it was also very interesting. She had gotten lucky finding such a great occupation. Now that she had found a paying job she and Gabriella could move into their own house in less than a month, depending on which house they would move into and how much it would cost. However Maria was still a little uneasy about just staying in New Mexico permanently, after leaving Sitka under such brutal circumstances. She still had friends there, and she felt awful for just leaving it all behind.

The widower raised an eyebrow as she heard laughing and the sound of the TV in the living room. She walked down the hall and smiled as she found Troy sitting on the floor against the couch with Gabriella sitting in between his legs. Her head rested against his chest as his laid back against the couch with his arm slung casually around her stomach. Gabriella giggled as Troy whispered something Maria could not quite make out into her daughters ear. The single mother placed her hand on her hip and coughed to get the youth's attention.

Troy and Gabriella both looked up at the same time and their eyes widened. Gabriella moved out of Troy's embrace and they both stumbled to their feet. "Hi um, m-mom, you're home early." She stuttered glancing at Troy who looked down at the floor sheepishly.

"Yes well it was a productive day down at the center…" Maria replied eyeing the two teenagers who looked extremely uncomfortable.

"That's good." Gabriella said quietly.

Maria cracked a smile feeling pity for the two. They probably thought she disapproved when it was indeed the opposite. Gabriella should've remembered when Maria was encouraging her at the mall to go for Troy, which her daughter obviously completely forgot. "Kids, you don't have to hide anything, if you two are well…dating, then I'm happy for you." Maria said kindly. Troy looked up in surprise and relaxed. Gabriella grinned and sighed with relief. She walked over and hugged her mother tightly.

"Thanks mom." She said.

"Mhm, carry on. I'll be upstairs." Maria chuckled lightly before retreating to her bedroom. She quickly got out her cell phone and dialed Lucille's work number.

"Hello?"

"Lucille, you'll never guess what I just found out about my daughter and your son…"

Lucille got comfortable in her chair. "I'm all ears."

Troy sat down on the couch and laughed. "That was so awkward." He chuckled.

Gabriella sat down next to him and giggled. "I know right, my mom looked like she was about to kill us."

"Tell me about it." Troy said smiling at Gabriella as she giggled. He placed his head in her lap and sprawled himself on the couch comfortably. "At least she approved and didn't slap me." He sighed looking up at her as she stroked his hair and watched the TV. They had been watching the Hangover when Maria had walked in and interrupted them.

"I think she always wanted us together…I remember when we went to the mall she kept saying how we would look cute together." Gabriella giggled.

"Everyone says we look good together, it's gotta be true." He said grimacing and turning his head to watch the television.

Gabriella looked down at him and smiled whilst stroking his hair. He was so cute.

Jack walked into the kitchen to find Maria and his wife sitting at the table and giggling. He quickly kissed Lucille on the head and set his gym bag down. "What are we laughing about?" Jack raised an eyebrow and sat next to his wife.

"Well you'll never believe it…but Troy and Gabriella are together." Lucille informed him.

"Yeah, so? They're always together. Where did they go?" Jack grabbed an apple and took a large bite from it.

"No Jack, they're together…" Maria said. Jack looked at the women obliviously. "…as in they are dating."

Jack coughed violently and looked at the two women with surprise. He pulled himself together before continuing to speak. "What? When did this happen?" He asked.

"I don't know." Maria laughed.

"And do we approve of this?" Jack asked.

"Yes, of course honey. What are we going to do? Tell them not to like each other." Lucille said.

Jack sighed and shook his head. "Alright whatever, I don't care, you females can handle them." He grabbed his bag and stood up. "I need a shower." He chuckled lightly before shaking his head again. "Dating, my son…" He mumbled under his breath as he exited the kitchen. "At least it's Gabriella and not some girl from East High." He told himself. He'd been coaching at the high school for years now and he had seen first hand the type of girls that walked around that school throwing themselves at his son. None of them were good enough for Troy, but now Gabriella had come along, and for the first time Jack actually approved and didn't mind. Well at least if it didn't interfere with basketball.

REVIEW for next chapter (: Omg, you guys have reviewed so much! probably cause it gets you chapters...but i hope you guys realize, and if you're a fellow author then you should already know, that reviewing takes less than a minute, but actually writing new chapters takes a verrrrrry long time. Unfortunately since you guys have reviewed so much, i had to keep my promise and update, but now i'm out of pre written chapters...so it may take a litttle bit longer for the next chapter, but reviews just might make me write faster...(: