She couldn't get her mind off their kiss, couldn't stop reliving it. The way his lips had felt, the way his tongue had played with hers in such a tantalizing fashion. The way his hands had cupped her face in such a gentle way and yet the explosive power of his kiss had sent an earthquake through her senses. She had no idea what was happening between them but she knew it wouldn't end well.

Her adorable, rumpled friend had vanished, and some hard, silent, sexy stranger had taken his place.

Her feelings for Troy weren't going away, and she knew better than to think he would ever be a settling down type of man. People who open bars don't think about little houses with picket fences and children running around chasing after a dog. Her keys unlocked the door and she made her way into the house.

"I'm home," she called out, the sounds of laughter caught her off guard and she felt a smile tug at her lips.

"In the living room honey," her mother voice called back to her and Gabriella dropped her keys in the dish as she made her way to the living room.

"Right, I was telling Michelle it's easier than it looks," Jason's voice filtered through the air before she had a chance to round the corner and Gabriella's smile fell as she came into the living room.

There they were. Jason and Michelle.

Gabriella paused in the doorway the site right before her eyes. Her parents were sitting opposite of them on the other sofa. All of them gather around the living room talking. Laughing. Having a grand old time. As if she were holding a big target Gabriella's eyes narrowed at Michelle who was holding his hand, they were sitting close, looking just as cozy as lovebirds out in the open and proud.

The nausea rolled through her stomach as the truth hit her like a ton of bricks. Her parents knew about them. And they were alright with it. What in the world had happened while she was gone?

"Gabriella, I cooked food it's in the kitchen," Her mother smiled, "Help yourself honey."

"Oh come on she can skip a meal." Michelle looked back at Gabriella and smiled. "Come in here and be social for once."

"Jason was telling us about how he wants to go to school and be a mechanic," her father smiled. "He already has a garage can you believe it."

Jason smiled and looked over at Michelle placing a small kiss on her nose. Gabriella's stomach flipped, it dropped, and just when she thought she might be able to force a smile, she felt herself spin and had to reach out for the door frame just to steady herself.

Seven years ago, her parents hated Jason. They hated him because he was one her good for nothing friends. In fact when she'd first brought him to the house, they told her he was a bum, someone who was going to drag her down. For her he was a "bad influence."

"You know what, I am a little starved. I am going to get some food."

"Fat ass," Michelle teased.

The sound of Jason's laughter made her flinch as she turned around and headed into the kitchen. Coming to the table she placed her palms down flat on the surface. This wasn't happening. But it was. Her former best friend was dating her underage little sister and her parents were fine with it.

"How was work?" her mother voice cut into her thoughts and she turned to look at her.

"Fine."

"Just fine, you seem upset, you didn't get fired did you?" her mother made her way to the strove and picked up an empty plate. "Do you want rice?"

"No, and no I didn't get fired." Gabriella was quiet as she thought about the situation. "Mom he's 10 years older than her," She kept her voice at a whisper.

Her mother sighed, "You know your sister," she filled her plate with a spoon full of rice, despite Gabriella request. "Besides she's more experience with boys and it really isn't that big a deal." She said handing her the full plate. "It's gonna be over before you know it."

"But he's my friend?"

"Gabriella," her mother brows furrowed. "Really I'm surprise that you're acting this way. He's a boy. A nice boy at that."

"No, he's an adult, an adult who shouldn't be with a 17 year old." Gabriella countered.

Her mother expression shifted. The silence stretched for a beat or two. "Look, why don't you just be you and you let me and your father be the parents." Her mother took down a glass and placed it on the table. "When you're done here, you will go back into that room and socialize, that's your sister."

Gabriella rolled her eyes as her mother left the room. Letting her hands settle on the counter she let out a long sigh.

"Troy Bolton you have some explaining to do," Troy jerked away from the opened fridge and let the door shut. He tired to be as quiet as possible coming in so late. Apparently he hadn't done such a good job. He twisted the cap off the beer bottle and set it down on the counter.

"Momma, you really shouldn't sneak up on me."

"And why not, if you're going to sneak into my house, I think I deserve the right to sneak up on you with whatever it is that you're doing."

Troy shook his head, "Momma it's not like that. I just didn't want to wake you up."

"Your father tells me you've got a ring in your pocket?"

"Well, I…I." Troy looked at the open beer and then at his mother. "I've been waiting for the right time to ask her."

"And when were you going to tell me you went and decided to be someone's husband," her hands flew up. "It's not every day my only child makes a decision of this magnitude." She came over to where he was reached out to wipe some drywall dust off his brow. "Let me make you something to eat."

"I'm fine momma," Troy smirked and moved to the side and watched her opened the fridge. There was no arguing with her now. She began pulling out items to make him a sandwich.

"I just hope Gabriella understands how stubborn you are," she said retrieving the bread. "I'm also gonna have to give her my pot roast recipe."

Troy filled with a warmness he couldn't even begin to describe at the idea of Gabriella making him pot roast. Just the idea of her moving around in the kitchen, clinking pots and pans her long and dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. He enjoyed the way it slithered over her shoulder and cascaded down her back. It was sexy as hell and while it was politically incorrect, it invoked the caveman in him- not to mention several other primal urges he'd had to forcibly tramp down.

She had a kind, open face with high cheekbones, a pair of warm brown eyes that glinted with equal amounts of humor and intelligence, and a ripe mouth the color of a dusty pink rose. And the voice that came out of that mouth.

Mercy.

Troy straightened, "How did you know it was Gabriella?"

"Please a mother knows these things," she said as she began building his sandwich. "You think you'll be giving me grandchildren anytime soon?" she stilled for a moment and smiled, "I miss having little ones to spoil around Christmas."

"Well you can always spoil me momma," Troy bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling.

"Don't you get wise with me," she pointed her finger at him. "I want lots of grandbabies."

Troy let out a chuckle "Just a thought. Maybe I should ask her first. You know, before you start naming the children."

"As if she'll say no to you," his mother let out a laugh, "That girl has been in love with you forever."

Troy shrugged and sat down on one of the stools, "I don't know about that," Troy's eyes landed on a figure in their backyard. His senses heighten and he zeroed in on the figure sneaking across his parent's yard.

"I think you should just come on out and say it, from what your father tells me, she's in need of some good news."

Troy squinted as he watched the figure begin to climb up the ladder of the old tree house. "I'm not all too sure this is good news for her just yet?"

"A proposal from my son is always good news," His mother handed him the sandwich.

"Thanks momma," Troy stood up and picked up his plate as he began walking towards the back door.

"And just where do you think you're going?"

Troy smiled, "I'm just going to check something out in back."

"Alright, don't stay up to late."

Troy closed the back door behind him shaking his head. He missed his mom. The way she always gave him advice even when he didn't think he needed it. Walking towards the tree house he listened to the sound of someone rummaging through things. Troy smiled and put the sandwich and beer into the basket hanging from the tree before he began to climb up the tree and into the house.

She was sitting there silently as she looked up through one of the windows from the tree house. She'd been crying. A surprisingly strong feeling flooded his chest. Gabriella didn't seem like the type to cry. Ever. Even growing up she'd always been the strong one. The we-can-do-anything one. She wore pajama bottoms and a tank top and there was a smear of brown on her cheek. In her hand was a gaint bag of skittles and on the floor beside her was a piece of chocolate cake.

"What do we have here?"

She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. "I could use some alone time Troy."

"I think you've had plenty of alone time." Troy began pulling up the basket from below. "Have you been crying?"

"No."

"Liar," he picked up the basket and removed the sandwich and beer. "What are you doing up here?"

Gabriella let out a sigh, "I'm eating my emotions. Show some respect."

"And what emotions are those Miss. Montez?"

Gabriella watched him take a seat on the floor beside her. "Irritation, embarrassment, frustration, jealousy, envy, gluttony… How many do you need?"

Troy offered her the beer and she took it bringing it to her lips and taking a long swig.

"What are you jealous about?" he took a bite of his sandwich and offered it to her.

She took it and took a bite. After a moment of chewing she shrugged her shoulder. "I feel like Michelle has it easy. I mean, she has choices I never had and my parent's approval." Gabriella gave him the sandwich back.

"What choices?"

"When college came around for me my parents told me it was college or I could move out and consider myself disowned. Now they're telling Michelle that she doesn't have to go to college."

"Well, you don't regret college, do you?"

"Yes…and no." Gabriella took the beer and lifted it to her lips. "I feel like there was so much pressure to go to the best college, to get the best education no matter the cost. Now that I'm back here I just feel like I got chummed. I mean they have a daughter who went to college. What do I have? Forty-three thousand dollars of college debt and no actual career?"

"Gabriella you just got back," Troy said after taking another bite. "Nothing happens over night."

"I wouldn't say that," Gabriella said handing him the beer. "I never saw Michelle and Jason happening."

"None of us did." Troy took the beer and traded her the sandwich "Have you talked to your parents about that."

"Yeah, and they're fine with it."

Troy brows shot up. "Seriously?"

"Yes, apparently Michelle has more experience with boys… which probably wouldn't bug me so much if I didn't think it was back hand comment to my love life."

"Baby, you're experienced," Troy smirk as he lifted his beer.

Gabriella made a face, "I never expected myself to wait for marriage," she said quietly. "I just also never expected to wait until I was twenty-eight either. Or that I'd lose it in a bar, to my childhood best friend on a desk in his back office."

"Best damn night of my life."

"You would see it that way," Gabriella reached for the beer and took another swig.

"How do you see it?"

"I feel like I let everyone down," Gabriella sighed, "Everyone expects me to have everything together. They want me to do well and get married and I couldn't be further from it. I even feel like I let my future husband down."

Troy smiled. "Trust me, he'll be fine with it."

"If we don't tell him," Gabriella trucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Troy how on earth are we going to be just friends after we did what we did?"

"Does this feel awkward to you?" Troy grinned.

"No," Gabriella said shyly. "It feels natural."

Troy smiled, "I think it feels natural too."

"Shut up." But she smiled as she said it. "You think anything you can put your penis in feels natural."

Her foot was propped up on the floorboard next to him, and he put his hand on it. Cute foot. Very clean and nice. Smooth skin.

"What are you frustrated about?"

"This secret sister nonsense," Gabriella shook her head, "I'm someone's little sister. I'm someone's middle child. I'm someone's aunt and if you want it take it further." She said with a wince, "I have a brother-in-law."

"That is a lot to wrap your brain around."

"My head hasn't stopped spinning since I got here."

Troy put the beer bottle down and began rubbing her foot gently. Kneading out whatever knots he could find. "I know how you feel."

"I just don't get it," she said letting out a little sigh of pleasure from his hands. "I went through hell just because Jason was my friend. My parents fought with me tooth and nail because I wanted to hang out with you all the time and now Michelle just says I'm going to date him and he becomes the son they never had?"

Troy took a deep breath. "Part of me thinks she's just rebelling."

Gabriella didn't say anything for a moment. "Is it just me that everyone has a problem with?" she said looking up at Troy. "Michelle gets everything she wants when she wants it, I work for everything I have and put up with everyone's judgment?"

"It's not fair; I don't think it ever will be, your sister has always been in the fast lane and dependant on others. But Brie, you're far more intelligent and independent then she'll ever be." His finger hooked on her chin and he brought her eyes up to meet his own. "You have done so much, you got the grades, you got the opportunity and you went to college, you got out a year early in the top five percent. This tiny insignificant bump in the road is not going to be the thing that stops you."

Gabriella took a deep breath and smiled a small grin as she stared back at him. "You always know what to say."

"Part of being the best friend," he shrugged and looked back at the house. "Besides I'm trained to help damsels in distress."

"Troy Bolton, if you ever call me that again and I'll kick you in the soft parts."

She had no idea how appealing she was.

"God, I've missed you," he said quietly.

"I've missed you too."

Troy placed her foot beside him and leaned forward crawling almost right up until his lips pressed against hers. She was beautiful, and the longer he looked at her the more beautiful she became. Her neck was long and smooth, her shoulders strong and firm, her breast were, well they were breasts and a very nice set at that. There was also the very appealing fullness to her hips that drove him absolutely crazy.

"Why do you keep staring at me?"

Troy shrugged his shoulders, "because you're too gorgeous not to look at."

"That's ridiculous. I'm not gorgeous."

"I beg to differ," pulling away he smiled, "Your eyes are-"

"Normal. There is nothing special about brown eyes."

Troy smiled as he brought a hand up to her face and wiped away at the chocolate smudge. "Don't be so grumpy about taking a compliment."

"Don't be so cheesy about handing them out," she countered. "Honestly how many women do you use these lines on?"

He made a low growl as he tugged her hips and shifted her so she was underneath him. "Damn it woman, your eyes are very pretty." Troy placed a kiss on her jaw. "Your nose is perfect and adorable."

"Yeah. Perfect noses are so hot." Gabriella let out a huff as she tilted her head back.

"Shush," he said lowering his kiss to her neck, "Beautiful skin. Made for kissing."

"These lines," she said a little out of breath. "You don't have to romance me Troy."

"You know you suck at taking a compliment," Troy nipped the skin on her neck making her flinch. Another kiss, this one closer to the base of her neck.

Gabriella let out a small giggle and Troy smiled as he pulled the tang top sleeve down exposing her bare shoulder.

"You should… I should… we probably shouldn't be doing this," she breathed, but then his hand was up her shirt wandering over her ribs to the fullness of her breast, was soft and perfect.

Troy smiled as he brought his lips back to hers. "Just tell me to stop," he said slipping his hand down the front of her pants.

A small sound came from Gabriella's throat and Troy took it as an invitation, his hand finding her panties and slipping his hand under those as well. She was wet, warm and he bet she's was already throbbing with the same need he had in his own body.

"I love it when you lose yourself in me."

"Troy," her whisper ignited a fire deep down inside him as her hands came up to his shoulders. God he wanted her. He didn't care about all the crap happening around them, he didn't want to think about her feeling bad for wanting him. He just wanted her to want him. He wanted her to need him. Just as much as he needed her.