Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter, I don't have all that much to say so I wont hold you up any longer reading the silly authors note! Just a quick reminder that I don't own anything!
Gabriella let out a frustrated sigh as she tried for the 11th time to zip up the suitcase that she was taking to Santa Fe.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures," She spoke to herself as she climbed up on Troy's bed and sat her self down on top of her case.
"Having trouble?" Troy asked from the doorway with a smile on his face as he watched Gabriella bounce up and down on her case to try and get the zippers closer together.
"Well don't just stand there laughing come and help me" Gabriella called unmoved from her position on the case.
"I don't know why your taking so much stuff princess, were only going for 3 days" Troy chuckled pulling hard on the zippers of the case.
"3 days is a long time, who knows what's going to happen, you have to pack for every eventuality" Gabriella spoke in a matter of fact manner that caused Troy to chuckle aloud.
"Your crazy baby" Troy pulled hard on both zippers on last time letting out a sigh when the case was finally closed and he could spend some alone time with Gabriella.
Troy pulled Gabriella gently from the top of the case and into his arms; he lifted her so that she was comfortably sat on his hip with her legs wrapped tightly around his waist.
"You know were gonna miss the bus if we stay here much longer and we wont be going to Santa Fe at all" Gabriella giggled as Troy snuggled his face into her neck and brushed her soft skin with his nose.
"Not a problem, I'm driving us there. I thought we could use some time alone before all the madness begins" Gabriella smiled leaning her forehead against Troy's.
"That sounds so awesome" Troy walked over to the bed and gently placed Gabriella got and led beside her. He could see in her eyes that she was nervous even though everyone knew she would be totally awesome.
"Come on babe you don't need to be nervous, you're an amazing player and even if you do mess up your so beautiful people won't even notice" Gabriella snuggled closer into Troy, she wasn't all that nervous about winning or losing but the thought of messing up with hundreds of people watching made her feel physically sick.
"I know but what if I do something really stupid and everyone laughs at me and then the team don't want me anymore" Troy had no idea that Gabriella felt the way she did about the game, she had always come across so confident in practices and was always the one to help all of the other girls through their pre-game nerves.
"Ella baby why did you not tell me you were feeling like this? You know that's not going to happen, you're an amazing player and I'm so proud of you. Your gonna go out there and knock them all dead with your amazing volleyball skills" Troy rolled over so that he was gently resting on top of Gabriella, he lent down and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
"I hope your right, I'm so glad you gonna be there, I don't know if I'd have ever been able to leave you even for three days. Is that really sad?" Troy shook his head and kissed Gabriella softly again, this wasn't the time for strong passionate kisses it was a time for showing each other how much they care about each other.
"Come on beautiful let's get this luggage in the car and get on our way to Santa Fe, I'm planning on stopping along the way" Troy pulled Gabriella to her feet and held her tightly in his arms.
It took them 2 ½ hours to get to Santa Fe; they had stopped off for food half way there but had carried on up the highway quickly so that they had it there not long after the rest of the team.
"Finally here" Gabriella jumped out of the car and stretched, all the nerves that she was feeling earlier slipped away from her as they arrived at the hotel where the team would be staying.
"I'm so excited for practice now. It's going to be awesome meeting the teams from other cities" Troy pulled Gabriella closer to him as they entered the lobby of the hotel.
"There's Annalise and Coach Martin, I better go and let them know I'm here. Go get check us in a reception and I'll meet you up there" Gabriella smiled as she stood in her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on Troy's lips.
"Don't be long" Troy spoke against Gabriella's lips before heading towards reception.
Gabriella quickly made her way over to the small seating area where the team were sat looking through paper booklets that Coach Martin had given out.
"Hey guys" Gabriella chirped, the girls turned they're head smiling and waving as Gabriella sat down on the seat that hard been saved for her next to the newest member of the team, a small junior named Liberty Jefferson.
"Hey Gabs, did you have a good trip up?" Liberty asked smiling happily at Gabriella.
"Yeah much nicer than taking the bus, we stopped off at this cute diner" Gabriella had worked hard to get Liberty on this years team, she had seen her playing in the park a few weeks previously and had called her up to fill open sub space on the team. She wasn't the best player there but Gabriella knew with practice she could be one of the best players on the team.
"Right listen up" Coach Martin's loud voice hushed the girl's quiet conversations. "Practice will begin tonight, we will all meet her at 7pm do not be late. Montez I see Mr Bolton has decided to come along, I hope he is not planning on distracting you from you game" Gabriella shook her head quickly when Coach Martin looked sternly into her eyes.
"Good that's what I like to hear, the first game will be at 2pm tomorrow against Alamogordo, I know we are better than then and if we lose I will be wanting to know why. Go to your rooms and get some rest" Coach Martin dismissed the team from the Lobby. Gabriella sighed; she couldn't remember why she had agreed to take on the captain role, the next three days were definitely going to be tough.
"Troy are you here?" Gabriella called as she pushed open the door to the suite walked over to the bed and collapsed on to it.
"I'm in the bathtub babe, do you wonna come in?" Gabriella opened her eyes when she heard Troy's voice through the bathroom door.
"No I'm going to bed I'm exhausted" Gabriella called back, she pulled off her clothes, threw on one of Troy's practice jerseys and climbed under the soft sheets.
It was 20 more minutes before Troy finally emerged from the bathroom, he had pulled on some clean boxers after stepping out of the shower knowing that Gabriella would need all the sleep she could get for the game tomorrow so there would be no time for funny business.
He slowly got into bed being careful not to wake Gabriella; he looked over at her sleeping peacefully, he carefully wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tightly into his arms.
"Good night beautiful" Troy whispered against Gabriella's cheek. Troy decided that he wasn't going to sleep; he was going to stay awake and watch Gabriella sleep and make sure she was in the Lobby for 7pm practice.
It had been a long two days for the East High volleyball team, they had won all of the 6 games they had played so far and it was finally the day for their final and most important state playoff game against Goddard High School from Roswell.
"I'm so nervous" Gabriella looked at Troy with big nervous eyes; he stepped forward and placed his hand softly on her cheek.
"Your gonna do great, you've been amazing so far I'm so proud of you" Troy placed a kiss on Gabriella's forehead before gently pushing her towards the locker room.
The game was intense with both East High and Goddard High both taking the lead at various times.
"Come on babe" Troy shouted loudly, it was 3 minutes until the end of the game and East High were only just in the lead. Troy looked on as the determination grew in Gabriella's eyes; she jumped as high as she could and hitting the ball as hard as she could.
The East High crowed screamed as the final buzzer rang through the gym, they had just won the state championships. Gabriella stopped, everything and everyone around her was moving at a thousand miles an hour but her world was stood still, so many times she had imagined what winning the state championships would be like but she never it would actually happen. Her daze was broke when she felt two string arms wrap around her waist and spinning her around in big circles.
"You did it baby, I'm so proud of you" Troy placed Gabriella gently down on the ground and wrapped his arms tighter around her waist.
"It can't believe it" Laughed happily as the rest of the team approached herself and Troy wrapping their arms around her.
Troy carried a sleeping Gabriella in his arms down the corridor towards their hotel room, they had sat down amidst the madness of winning and Gabriella had instantly fallen fast asleep. Once they were happily inside their room Troy led them both down comfortably on the bed; he caressed her cheek gently, even when she was all sweaty and in her volleyball uniform she still looked unbelievably beautiful to him.
"Did I fall asleep? That's so embarrassing" Gabriella mumbled as she stirred from her peaceful sleep, Troy chuckled watching Gabriella's face scrunch up as her eyes adapted to their hotel room lights.
"You just looked too beautiful to wake up" Troy pulled her even closer to him before placing a loving kiss on her forehead and her temple.
"I don't feel beautiful, I'm all sweaty," Gabriella giggled as Troy nuzzled his face deeper into her neck.
"Hmm beautiful like the sunrise" Gabriella giggled playfully punching Troy's shoulder.
"Easy Cheesy" Gabriella laughed as she wriggled out of Troy's arms and up off the bed.
"I'm gonna take a shower while you get changed for the after party tonight, you better be looking hot when I come out" With that Gabriella closed the bathroom door and began getting ready for the night ahead.
2 hours later Gabriella stepped out of the bathroom in a black halter neck dress that stopped just above her knee, it was elegantly decorated with a white bow that accentuated her small waist.
"Wow…you look too hot, I'm not sure I'm happy with your being this hot around a whole load of single guys" Gabriella smiled at Troy happily knowing that no matter how hard they tried no guy would ever take her away from Troy.
Most of the teams that had travelled to Santa Fe had brought members of their student body along with them for support, some as boyfriends but most as just people who thought it would be cool to tag along.
"You know I only have eyes for you" Gabriella smiled as she walked closer to Troy and lent her head on his chest looking into his eyes.
"I should hope so to, come on sexiness were gonna be late" Troy took Gabriella's hand and began to make his way towards the door but Gabriella pulled on his arm gently stopping him from going any further.
"I love you" whispered sincerely, she realised over the last few days she hadn't told Troy enough how much she loved him.
"I love you to, you're the most precious thing in my life" Troy pulled Gabriella towards him and wrapped her into a tight hug that symbolised just how much love they shared between them.
"I know that I haven't told you enough recently but you're my everything Troy, I don't know what I'd do if you left me, I hate sounding pathetic like this and I hate relying on one person for everything but that's just the way its happened" Gabriella was surprised that she had let those words freely flow from her mouth, that was a mini rant that she had been planning to keep lock away until the end of time but her mouth obviously had other ideas.
"Hey, you know I'm never going to leave you. I'm in this for the long run whether that be 20, 30, 40 or 50 years who knows how long but I love you and there's no other girl in the world who will ever be as beautiful as you" Gabriella smiled and snuggled herself deeper into Troy's embrace.
"Even when I'm old and wrinkly?" Gabriella giggled looking up at Troy once more.
"Even when you're so old and wrinkly that your boobs touch your knees your still be my beautiful Gabriella" Trust Troy to make a joke like that in the middle of a semi-serious conversation.
"We better go or we'll be even more late and we both know what everyone will assume if we both show up 20 minutes late" Gabriella smiled up at Troy who had moved his head forwards so that he could easily lean his forehead against hers.
"I agree but listen babe I love you ok? Don't let anyone tell you otherwise" Gabriella nodded against Troy's head, she loved it when they had conversations about their feelings for each other, it made everything seem a whole lot more real rather than it just feeling like it was all just a beautiful dream.
"I love you to" Gabriella whispered savouring the last few moments they would share alone together before the after party craziness began.
So that was kind of a filler chapter, the next one will be the after party. I would greatly appreciate reviews and I love reading them all. Hope that didn't bore any of you too much, the next one will be a little more exciting I promise hehe don't forget to review!!