I think the end of the last chapter probably confused some people, I'm expecting some comments on it. And I know some of you are confused with the age differences and dynamics of the friendships seeing as Gabi is a little older but I guess that's life, my best friend is 7 years younger than me so age doesn't always have to make sense :O)
Thank you, ALL, for your comments. Tell me if you want me to say more to you, or maybe less ;) It's difficult to address everyone individually and if a review stands out I don't want others to feel down that I didn't mention them so…let me know what you think.
Chapter 8
Gabi trapped her giggle in her chest and swallowed it; causing her eyes to water as Troy gave her an unimpressed stare.
He was paired with Mrs. Tangle, thankfully by name and not by nature- but she had to be the oldest member of the group. And the best. Madame Brunelle wanted him to be with the best for his first dances and then she would let him and Gabi dance together later. She insisted that Gabi should not suffer his clumsy learning feet which he had agreed with considering the state of her toes already.
And she was partnered with Donnie; the young, exceptionally handsome man she had come to know quite well in previous classes.
"You finally got a boyfriend, then," Donnie commented as they came up close and danced the tango.
She smirked. "He's not my boyfriend…"
"Well he's looking over here like he wants to kill me so I just assumed…" Donnie commented and Gabi flicked a look to her charge; catching his somewhat wistful stare towards them.
"He's not," she denied.
"You're in denial," he accused.
"He's just new to this, that's all. He probably feels a little uncomfortable…"
"He's glaring at me;" he repeated as he supported her lower back so she could arch back over his thigh, snapping back up again, having shot another look at Troy while he danced with Mrs. Tangle.
"I've never seen him glare at anyone…" Gabi argued. "He's not about to start now."
"He thinks we're doing it…"
"Are you reading his mind?" She came up straight and demanded.
"No, mine," he curled her a grin and she gave him a flat stare.
"We're not having sex, Donnie…" she reminded him.
"Why not?" he bent her over his thigh again, bringing her back up as they marched across the floor.
"Because I already told you I don't like you that way," she reminded him.
"Who said anything about liking each other? We're hot together, let's bang…"
Gabi ovalled her mouth at his suggestion and was immediately made aware of Troy's presence beside them as he cleared his throat.
"We have to change partners," he told Donnie as the tall, tanned man stared at him.
"Hmm, sadness," he professed to Gabi, and then brushed by Troy to take another partner, leaving Troy to look over his shoulder at the man with a frown.
Had he really just caught him asking Gabi to bang him? After everything she had told him about wanting her buttons pushed and wanting to connect with someone on a deeper level? Then the guy couldn't know her that well or he wouldn't have suggested it.
"Hey, you ok?" She frowned, assuming position by standing before him and cupping the back of his neck.
He nodded vacantly; really not sure of anything as he used his practised moves to march her around the dance floor. The one move he'd seen Donnie execute he'd not been able to try with Mrs. Tangle so he faltered as they stopped at the end of a march and he swallowed nervously.
"Hand at my lower back," she instructed and he gingerly laid his hand in the lower curve of her spine.
She rolled her eyes. "Hold me," she demanded. "You have to take my weight…"
He pressed firmer, allowing her to split her thighs across his and lean back in a perfect arch; suggestively arranged over his thigh as she grasped his arm and flung her other out to pose.
When she came up; he noticed the same glow in her eyes that he felt in his belly and his throat was tight with the sudden knowledge he wanted to make love to her.
Not here, not now; not with all these people watching and sweating like crazy; but one day- somehow- he wanted to stop faking this friendship and make it real. He wanted to make it more. And the tell-tale flush of arousal on her cheeks told him she wanted it just as much; except both of them held back and he didn't truly understand why.
As they remained there, staring at each other, she ran her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck and came up close, her breath on his face.
He looked into her impossibly coloured eyes and tilted his head just a fraction, almost nuzzling her nose, unable to control the magnetic urge he had to press his lips to hers.
"Troy…" she all but panted his name and he didn't wait for the rest of her sentence before he brushed his lips against hers, taking a stronger, longer hold as she succumbed to him; willingly and beyond his wildest dreams he hadn't expected a reaction like that.
"Excuse me, lady and gentleman," Madame Brunelle shocked them apart. "This is not a dirty hotel…" she chastised and they both blushed guiltily; breaking apart with the same dazed expression.
Where the hell am I? Gabi touched her swollen, tingling lips and wondered where reality had dropped her from that amazing place she had just disappeared to while kissing Troy. Kissing Troy! Shit! That wasn't part of the plan!
She cupped her hand to her forehead and postured a hand on her hip; wondering when the hell everything got so complicated and where the hell he had learned to kiss like that. She took a few steadying breaths while Madame Brunelle spoke and then she ventured him a look.
'You ok?' he mouthed, noting her headache and she smiled thinly and nodded.
Of course she wasn't okay! She'd just been kissed like she had never been kissed before and it was addling her brain! Why couldn't they have just stayed friends, with that stupid, awkward flirting thing they did and where she only imagined kissing him and what it would be like- not actually kissing him and giving herself an aneurism?
"Ok, partners," Madame Brunelle called and Gabi smirked as Todd, the resident old man grasped her close.
'Sorry," she mouthed to Troy as his forlorn look was melted away by Tina- the divorcee- grabbing him for the next dance.
"Nice boy," Todd told her simply and she smiled softly at the dance class getting involved in her love-life.
"Hmm, he doesn't kiss like a nice boy," she grumbled, still perturbed that a guy who pretended to be a geek gave out knee-melting kisses like the one he had just given her.
Todd chuckled. "He's a keeper."
"I'm supposed to be helping him find a girlfriend," she explained.
"Well, you did!" he laughed. "You!"
"Oh no, I'm not his-"
"You wouldn't know it," Todd interrupted. "I don't see the harm…"
Gabi frowned, running out of excuses herself.
"He's three years younger, he doesn't want the same things…" she pathetically dragged out.
"How do you know?" Todd raised a brow and she sighed.
"Just dance, Todd," she admonished and he chuckled again.
/
"How are your feet doing?"
Gabi closed her eyes at his caring words and instantly felt light-headed.
"Whoa, you okay?" Troy quickly stopped and supported her with his arm.
She popped her eyes open. You kissed me until my knees went weak, what do you think?
Instead, she sighed. "Just tired."
"Do your feet hurt?"
"Only a little…"
"I could carry you…"
"Don't you dare," she warned and put a hand out to keep him at bay.
He looked to her and then pocketed his hands. "I had fun tonight."
"Mm, me too," she couldn't help her sarcasm.
"Are you grumpy because Todd dipped you?" he wondered.
"No…no I'm not grumpy at all…" she denied lightly.
"You kinda are…" he argued.
"Really? Oh well…" she licked her lips and walked faster toward her appearing home. "Thanks for walking me."
He looked around them for a few seconds, and then focused on her. "Are we okay? About earlier I mean?"
Gabi lifted her brows and swallowed her initial reaction to scream 'no', and proceed to facilitate all the reasons why she was most definitely not ok.
"Hm? Yeah, of course why wouldn't we be?"
"Well I just…thought because…"
"It was just a kiss right?" she asked not meeting his gaze. Then, when he didn't reply she forced her chin up and met his soulful eyes, the connection between them almost crumbling her resolve. "Right?" she forced.
He blinked and his face sagged in disappointment but she knew it was best they didn't tread that dangerous ground.
"Right." He agreed and bid her a good night; walking away with his hands tucked away; a sight she was getting used to seeing.
/
"There's a party on Friday…"
Gabi was at work when her cell phone rang and she didn't recognise the number until the caller explained it was the Uni communal phone and Troy was using it.
"You want me to help you find an outfit?" she kept her tone professional and light, or so she hoped.
A pause.
"I want you to come," he admitted.
"Troy, how are you ever going to find girls if I'm tagging along?" she enquired and when the line went silent again; she realised he was actually asking her along; as his date. Not as a stylist, not as a life coach, but as his date. Shit, she winced.
"You can tell me what to say," he quickly invented and she lifted her brows. He was nothing if not insistent.
"Is this the Jooce Bar thing?" she checked and he confirmed it was. "I'm already planning on going with Chad and the boys so I'll see you there," she assured, struggling not to admit her desire to go with him, on his arm.
She tried to remember why she was denying herself again and came up blanks.
"I'll see you Friday, then?" he checked and she confirmed before hanging up; followed by planting her face in her arms- on her desk.
"Hey what's up, Gabi?" Elaine scooted her chair over and placed a soft hand on her back.
"Why did I agree to make this guy cool?" she asked randomly and Elaine lifted her brows.
"Because it makes a good article?"
Gabi moaned and planted her face back down.
"Why what's happened?"
She looked up again and winced. "I can't think of one single reason why I shouldn't be dating him…"
"Then why aren't you?" Elaine puzzled.
"Because we both have baggage, and god knows mine's in the past now but I am so afraid of hurting him when I know so much about his past and how he got hurt…"
"But he's old enough to make his own choices…" Elaine suggested gently. "Who is this guy anyway?"
"His name is Troy Bolton. He goes to Uni here and he's friends with my flat-mate. I was only ever meant to help him find a girlfriend…nothing more…"
"Why does it matter if it you found something more?" Elaine pushed.
"Because he's an amazing guy and he deserves someone who can be amazing, too. I'm just a workaholic who has beaten up feet and nothing to offer him."
"Well you must have something or he wouldn't feel the same, would he?"
"How do you know he does feel the same?" She shot.
"He just called you and asked you out didn't he?" Elaine stated pointedly and Gabi let her huge eyes meet with the older woman's.
"I turned him down."
"Well, good luck on Friday. I wish I could come along and see the sparks fly…" she smiled gently.
"Can you help me find a dress?" Gabi ventured, needing the support her boss was offering.
"Leave it to me;" she winked.
