We Love Pretending

Chapter 6 - We Gotta Start Somewhere.

Gabriella's feet pounded as her toes hit the carpeted surface of the stairs. Troy smiled at the sound; having Gabriella in his house was quite fun. Gabriella smiled as she entered the room.

"Good Morning!"

Troy chuckled, "You're happy this morning. What's to be happy about?"

Gabriella rolled her eyes as she reached over the table for the cornflakes. "Well, just life. We are on this Earth, only for a short time, so there is no need to be sad. We're only wasting time if we are. And why shouldn't I be happy. I'm in Albuquerque, pretending to be dating the American Hot-shot, and about 50 paparazzi are outside our door. The list is endless."

Troy laughed, "When you put it that way, I guess you are right. So, when you're happy, do you like to make others happy?" A cheeky look crept its way into Troy's eyes.

Gabriella squinted, marrowing her eyes in the process, "Yes…"

Troy smiled, "Great. Now show me that tattoo."

Gabriella mouth hung open, and she eventually burst out laughing. "Tha's one thing, Troy, I'm not going to do."

Troy pouted, "But that makes me sad." He put on his baby voice, which made Gabriella laugh and roll her eyes once more.

"Aww. Poor Troy. Well, here's one lesson in life. You don't always get what you want."

Troy grabbed Gabriella's spoon, grabbing some of the cornflakes in the bowl at the same time and emptied them into his mouth. Gabriella gasped in fake shock, trying to get the spoon back. But he would give it to her.

Grabbing the bowl and walking towards the living room, he turned to Gabriella, before mocking, "Here's a lesson in life, Gabriella. You don't always get what you want."

Gabriella rolled her eyes again, before chasing Troy throughout the house, desperate for her breakfast.

--

Gabriella tapped her fingers on the surface of the couch. She was… bored. Troy had insisted they didn't go out today, because of the un-normal amount of paps around his house. She fully understood. If she had that many, she would stay locked up for weeks.

But that tiny, adventurous part inside of her wanted to go outside. To partly see what would happen, and maybe play along. Sure, she had been really surprised at how the news of their hug had spread so fast yesterday, but playing with the paparazzi's minds couldn't hurt.

Wrong.

Yes, it could hurt, she reminded herself. She remembered what she had said yesterday, 'who's going to get the slap on the cheek when the press find out it's not real - NOT HIM!'. She had to remember that it was all Mr Letino's idea, and that after this had all happened, blown over, and the film had been made, things would go back to normal. No-one would no the difference.

But, oh, how she wanted to go outside.

She jumped when the phone rang, just as Troy walked into the room. She heard him chuckle, and she tucked her legs under her dress as she answered.

"Hello?"

"Honey, it's Mum."

Gabriella smiled. This was the first time she had talked to her mother since she left for Albuquerque. It was nice to hear her voice. For the first time since she left, she found herself missing home slightly. Sighing, she continued the conversation.

"Hi, how are you?"

Her mothers sweet, quiet voice came through, "Fine, dear. You?"

She smiled, "Fantastic."

Her mother giggled, "Great. Now, honey, I just wanted to check if you were ok?"

Gabriella lowered her phone, and put it on loudspeaker, so Troy could hear. He edged closer to the phone, and Gabriella laughed.

"I'm fine mum, don't worry. Troy's here too."

"Now, about that Troy boy. Are you sure he's ok. We don't want our little girl getting into trouble, or problems now."

Troy mocked hurt, as Gabriella replied, "Mother. Troy is fine. He wouldn't do anything to me, he couldn't hurt a fly. And I'm serious, I feel great. Everything is working out fine."

"I'm sure it is, dear', her mother persisted, 'but are you sure it's wise getting into another relationship so soon after Max--"

Gabriella grabbed the phone back, and quickly turned the loudspeaker off. Blushing madly, she exited the room, leaving a confused and irritated Troy behind.

After reassuring her mother she was fine, and Troy was good, she entered the room again. Troy sat on the sofa, facing her, with a quizzical expression on his usually soft features. His arms were crossed, and he meant business.

"Care to explain?" He muttered.

Gabriella sighed, "There's nothing really to explain, Troy."

Troy shook his head, "You should never have signed up for this when you are in a relationship. The poor man, he's sitting at home, probably thinking his girlfriend is cheating on him--"

"Troy - shut up!"

He stopped and stared at her, she explained, "Max… is my ex-boyfriend. I broke up with him a few days before I left. There is nothing between us now. No poor man, he broke my heart. He was arrogant, self obsessed, and hurt me. I have nothing more to do with him now."

Her words turned into sobbed as stray tears started to fall down her face. Troy mentally kicked himself for thinking such things. He walked over to Gabriella and enveloped her into a hug. Soon her sobs were no more.

"Thank you Troy, I'm sorry."

Troy smiled, You have nothing to be sorry for, I jumped to conclusions and made you cry. And I'm so dreadfully sorry for that. Please forgive me."

Gabriella giggled, before kissing his cheek gently, "It's ok."

Troy sighed in relief.

Gabriella looked up into his eyes, "Well, do you have any other relationships you would like to tell me about now, while we are going through this?" She stared at him, wanting answers.

He dropped his head, "Uh, no. Nothing. Anything you wanna do?"

She was aware he had changed the subject, but didn't push it. If it was important and she needed to hear it, she would. All in good time.

"I do have one request."

Troy's eyebrows raised and Gabriella couldn't help but put on her adorable pout and smile, which could malt the hardest hearts. He sighed, running one hand through his caramel hair and smiled. "Yes, Brie?"

"Can we… like, venture out this house today? I mean, we're supposed to be pretending to be a couple not pretending to live! It's sunny, and you need some decent food in that fridge!"

Troy rolled his eyes, "Ok, ok. But Brie, you don't know what you've let us in for. There are 50 paparazzi outside, just waiting to capture us. And, Mr Letino said we had to play it up next time."

Gabriella shrugged, "Sure. It's just acting, right?"

--

Gabriella slipped on her sunglasses as Troy grabbed his wallet and keys. He sighed when he reached the door, looking back at Gabriella. She looked beautiful, as usual. Her hair was slightly tied back at the top with an oversized hair clip, but the rest was hanging loosely off her shoulders. Her red floaty summer dress fit her perfectly hugging her body. She grabbed her bag, hooked it onto her arm, and said. "Come on, let's go!"

Troy laughed, "Yep, let's go. But hang on a second, what are we going to do. I mean, to like act couplishly."

Gabriella giggled, "Couplishly?!"

Troy blushed, "You know what I mean."

Gabriella smiled, "I don't know. Let just… see where the mood takes us."

"Great idea."

Troy opened the door and the sea of flashes started. It was hard to see the outside world. The flashes were so rapid, Gabriella had to keep blinking as she stepped out the door. She looked round and smirked at Troy, who now had his shades on. She kept walked, but suddenly felt a warm hand clasp around hers and her fingers melt, until they were laced together. Gabriella smiled up at Troy, who smiled back.

The shouts from the paparazzi became louder at the gesture, but they both ignored it, finally nearing the car. Gabriella relaxed slightly.

Troy leaned into Gabriella's hair and Gabriella giggled at the closeness and touch. She was in heaven. It felt like a dream.

But it wasn't; it was real.

And the last thing she heard from him before entering the car was him whispering into her ear.

"We gotta start somewhere."


Aww. Troyella Cuteness :)

That took me a while. Phew. The next chapter will be out next week. It might take me a bit longer to update this story now, since I have 3 stories on the go, but I'll try my hardest.

You'll see I have a new story started, which I had planned to do for a while now, "The Pregnancy Path". Please check out the trailer, and the first chapter will be written and posted in the next few days :D

Please review! x