My last chapter for today, had a hard day at work and my bed is calling. For those that don't already know I own nothing to do with HSM except the DVDs and soundtrack. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, it makes this all worthwhile, so thank you, thank you, thank you. Ps I'm English and don't really get all that first and second base stuff, so I have taken an educated guess in later chapters, sorry if I've got it wrong. TinkT.xx

The next morning Gabriella met up with Taylor at the mall, to discuss their dates from the night before. Gabriella also wanted something new to wear when she went over to Troy's house.

Taylor told Gabriella all about going parking with Chad and how much she liked him.

"For a jerk, he's actually a pretty nice guy and so talented" she sighed

Gabriella looked at her in confusion "Talented?"

"The guy sure can kiss Gabi" she giggled "and his hands . . . oh boy!"

"Taylor!" Gabriella exclaimed smacking her friend before giggling too.

When the laughter stopped Gabriella looked at her friend shyly "Taylor can I ask you something personal?"

Taylor shrugged "Sure Gabs, what is it?"

"Its about you and Chad" she paused looking for the right words "How are things going with the, er, you know, making out "she whispered.

Taylor laughed out loud at the mortified expression on Gabriella's face.

"Fine thanks"

Gabriella shook her head "No what I mean is-"

"I know what you mean, its okay we're having fun"

"How much fun?"

Taylor rolled her eyes "Just the normal first base stuff and maybe second base if he's lucky"

Gabriella dropped her voice "What is first base and how do you get them to find it?"

Taylor laughed aloud again thinking she was joking and then realized she wasn't.

"Gabi is everything ok? I mean I thought with you and Troy hanging out, you'd know all this stuff by now"
Gabriella shook her head "He doesn't seem to want to "

Taylor pulled a face "Troy doesn't want to? We are talking about the same Troy Bolton, the stud of East High?"

"He's only kissed me three times and he seems to be holding himself back, away from me"

"Away from you? Maybe he has something to hide, if you know what I mean" she giggled and laughed louder when Gabi looked even more confused.

"Gabriella for a smart girl you sure can be dumb! You remember biology class right? And what happens when a guy likes a girl?"

Gabi nodded and Taylor continued "Well maybe that's what he's hiding from you"

She shook her head "I don't think I could have that effect on him Tay"

"Gabi all you would have to do is breathe near him to have that effect . . . so imagine what would happen if you were kissing him and getting all snuggly"

Gabriella flushed bright red, could that really be why Troy was avoiding getting close to her?

"But how can I tell if that's what it is?"

"Well does he pull up right up close to him? Like Chad does with me" she sighed and Gabi shook her head.

"Look Gabs the only way you're gonna find out is to do a little experimenting. Tease him a little, flirt a little"

"How?"

"Sit on his lap, hold his hand, get into a tickle fight, get him to carry you, dumb shit like that" she laughed "But most of all when you're alone let your hands do the walking"

Gab blushed but nodded, thinking how useful it would be if they taught these sort of things in class, although she doubted most of the students would get any work done if their were practical sessions involved.

Gabriella was embarrassed she had to ask for advice on how to seduce a guy, but Troy Bolton really was out of her league and she hadn't the first clue what to do with him. She had an idea but that was all.

The girls shopped a while longer and then said goodbye, promising to call each other later in the evening. Gabriella went home and changed her clothes ready to go round to Troy's place. She chose a pair of cropped white linen trousers and a red and white smock top matched with white ballet pumps. Deciding to leave her hair down she pulled a brush through her tangled curls and clipped a few strands away from her face, giving her a soft look. And just in case Troy was serious about studying she threw a copy of Pride and Prejudice and a biology text book into her bag

As she rounded the corner to Troy's house she could hear giggles and shrieks of laughter coming from the back yard. Intrigued she crept silently around the side of the house and followed the noise. She was surprised to find Troy playing horsy with a tiny girl of about three or four.

"Faster horsy, faster!" she commanded with a giggle, holding Troy tightly around the back as he charged about the yard making horse noises.

Gabriella tried to hold in a giggle and failed miserably, laughing aloud. Troy stopped dead in his tracks realizing he had been spotted and tightened his hold on the little girl on his back.

"Hey Troy" Gabriella managed to say through her laughter, as the little girl peered over his shoulder at her.

"Um hi Gabriella" he was obviously embarrassed at being caught horsing around.

"Who's your friend?"

Troy set the little girl down and she immediately stood behind him, peeking at Gabriella around his legs,

"Gabriella this is my cousin Emilie . . . Ems you wanna come and say hello to my friend Gabi?" he directed his question to the little girl.

She shook her head, staring at Gabi with wide green eyes, so Gabriella knelt down at Troy's feet and smiled at the little girl.

"Hello Emilie . . . Is Troy being a good horsy?" she asked very softly and quietly so as not to scare her.

Emilie nodded shyly and Gabriella smiled.

"How about we all go inside and get an ice cream?" Troy suggested looking down at Gabriella on her knees before him and trying to shake the images in his head.

He took Emilie's hand and lead her back inside the house, Gabriella followed behind nervously. What if his father saw, and then what would he say? How was he going to explain her presence?

Troy sat Emilie at the table and dished up a bowl of ice cream whilst Gabriella sat and chatted with the little girl, who she soon had laughing and chatting. She told Gabriella that she was three years old and when she got to be a big girl she was going to marry Troy because he was her prince and she was a princess and that's what princesses do, they marry princes. Gabriella smirked at Troy as he rolled his eyes and ruffled Emilie's curls.

"I'm sorry about this Gabriella" he said "My Mom was supposed to be watching her today but got called into work, so I said I would take her for a while. You don't mind do you?"

"No she's adorable Troy and very smart for her age, did you know she can county to nearly thirty?"

Troy laughed "Trust you to spot another geek. Do you have like, radar?"

"She's not a geek she's just smart, there's a difference you know"

He nodded "I know . . . Ems how about a trip to the playground?" he asked suddenly.

"Yay" she said jumping up and down "The playground"

They spent the afternoon in the playground with Emilie, pushing her on the swings, helping her down the slide and pushing her on the roundabout. Troy pushed Gabriella on the swings as Emilie watched laughing and clapping. Gabriella and Emilie chased Troy before pushing him onto the ground and tickling him, Emilie sitting on his chest to pin him in place. They had so much fun that when it came time to take Emilie home she wanted to stay with Troy and Gabriella. Troy promised that he would bring Gabriella to see her again soon. Gabriella couldn't help wondering if that meant she would be around for a while.

"Woo am I beat!" Troy exclaimed collapsing on his sofa after Emilie left.

"She's quite a little dynamo" Gabriella agreed standing awkwardly next to him, unsure if she should sit next to him. He made the decision for her and grabbed her hand pulling her down onto his lap.

"Hey" he said softly as blue eyes met brown.

"Hey" she replied looking at his mouth seconds before it covered hers.

It wasn't a gentle kiss like she was used to from Troy, it was hard and deep and hot and wet. His tongue found hers and meshed with it inside her mouth, as he ran his hands up and down her back. Gabriella wrapped her arms around his neck attempting to get as close as possible to him. She heard a moan and realized it came from her. His mouth was driving her crazy, making her head spin and her body tremble as it moved away from hers and he kissed a path along her cheek and behind her ear. She gasped as he nibbled on her ear lobe and she felt out of control, not recognizing the feelings coursing through her body as he licked and kissed her neck.

Troy could feel her panting in his arms as placed hot, wet, open mouthed kisses to the skin on her neck. He groaned as she shifted in his lap, trying to get closer to him, making him instantly hard. He could feel his heartbeat as a separate surge of blood roaring in his ears. Kissing his way down her neck onto the exposed skin above her chest he attempted to control his body, needing to relieve the tension coursing through it, by moving his hips against hers.

Gabriella was in heaven, the feel of Troy under her, moving against her made her ache in places she had never ached before. She could fell tension building inside her body and knew she had to find a way to release the coil of pressure inside her or she'd go mad. As Troy took her mouth again Gabriella shifted position so she knelt over him, her knees either side of his hips as she settled herself back into his lap. She felt a surge of triumph when he groaned against her lips, at the contact of their bodies and she smiled, moving slightly again, hearing him pant, his hands tangling in her hair and holding her closer to his mouth.

Her head span and she saw fireworks as Troy continued kissing her and she felt him hard between her legs. She moved again and again, enjoying the delicious friction that built between them, enjoying the noises Troy made as she slowly tried to drive him wild. She wanted to make him feel half of what she felt. Her pulse raced, she couldn't catch her breath and her head swam, all because Troy was kissing her the way she wanted to be kissed.

Troy moved his hands onto her shoulders and along her arms and back up again. He stroked his way along her collar bone and she shivered, wanting him to touch her inside her shirt, to ease the ache that built over her heart. She arched her back slightly trying to tell him what she wanted, without saying the words, hoping he'd understand what she needed. Suddenly Gabriella heard a voice from the other room,

"Hey Troy, champ? You in yet?" it was his father.

Gabriella tore her mouth from Troy's and jumped to her feet so fast she stumbled falling backwards onto the floor. Troy looked down at her, she looked thoroughly kissed, her face was flushed, her hair was untidy and her breath came in heavy pants. He didn't look much different he supposed and he cursed under his breath as his father came into the room.

"Troy there you –"he broke off his eyes widening comically as he took in Gabriella on the floor.

Gabriella wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. Troy stood up and rubbed the back of his neck blushing.

"Dad this is –"

"Gabriella Montez" she said dazedly as she got to her feet.

"I know who you are. So are you two?" Coach Bolton trailed off, his implication clear.

"No!" they both said together, and then looked at each other.

"We're just friends Dad" Troy explained "Gabriella came over to study but we had to take Emilie to the park so . . ."

Coach Bolton nodded hiding a smile, studying was a new one for Troy.

"Well I guess I had better be going my mom will be waiting for me. It was nice to see you again Coach Bolton" she said politely wanting to escape as quickly as possible.

"I'll walk you home" Troy offered and the pair rushed from the room, leaving a chuckling Coach Bolton. Troy had never brought another girl home, especially not to "study", perhaps this one was going to be around for a while, and after all she wasn't his usual type.

"OhmyGod! I am so embarrassed! I am so sorry Troy" she muttered as they walked home.

Troy laughed "Don't worry about it, I'm not."

Gabriella groaned "But he almost caught us making out on his couch!"

"Gabi its okay I promise, he'll be cool. He probably knows what we were up to anyway"

"Oh no! Troy don't say that I'll never be able to look him in the face again"

Troy looked at her and couldn't help smiling, she looked soo cute when she was nervous and flustered as she was now. He reached out and took her hand pulling her to a stop.

"Gabi, its fine I promise you" he said looking deep into her eyes and she felt herself go weak at the knees and smile back

"Okay" she said softly and expected him to drop her hand; instead he pulled her closer to his side and carried on walking.

"Troy! Somebody could see us" she said trying to pull her hand away.

"So? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?" he joked

"NO! But you have your rep remember?" she said softly

He shrugged but said nothing, leaving Gabriella more than a little confused. He had been quick to point out to his father that there was nothing between them but then so had she. Now he was saying he didn't care about his reputation. Did that mean he thought there was something between them?

"Wonder if you're rep could take hearing about Troy the horse" she giggled deciding not to dwell on it for now.

"You wouldn't dare Montez" he said "I know things about you too"

Gabi face him and they stopped walking "Like what Bolton?"

He reached his free hand up to cup her cheek and stroke it down her neck "I know that if I kiss you just here" he touched a spot on her neck " you moan my name" he finished his voice suddenly husky.

She shivered and felt the tension return to her body "Troy" she whispered as their mouths met and there was no more talking for a long while.

"I believe in dreamin', shooting for the stars, baby to be number one, you have to raise the bar" Sharpay Evens sang as she drove along the street on her way back from dance class.

Suddenly she spotted a pair of familiar figures on the side walk and slowed down; to make sure she wasn't imaging what she was seeing. There on the other side of the road locked in a passionate kiss was Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez. And- thought Sharpay- judging by the way they kissed it wasn't the first time it had happened.

"Well, well, well. Gabriella and Troy" she muttered to herself, speeding the little pink car back up, eager to share what she'd seen with Ryan and Kelsi.

After making plans to hang with Chad and Taylor the next day, Troy and Gabriella said goodnight. But not before Troy had given her another bone melting, make your knees go weak kiss. Gabriella was so happy spending time with Troy and was thrilled that he wanted to spend time with her too even it was just to make out. She'd never experienced anything like the way Troy made her feel and was going to lap it all for as long as it lasted. Deep down she knew she was falling for him, how could she not? He was handsome, smart, and funny and kind, not at all like the person he pretended to be at school in front of the other kids and his teammates. Gabriella liked her Troy Bolton but what worried her was the fact she was beginning to like him too much. How would she cope when he reverted to Lunkhead Basket Ball Man and they were back at school?