Hey everyone- thanks again for your comments! I hope you like this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!

CHAPTER10

Troy downed several drinks, mostly shots. Toby had ganged up with some other lads and they had begun drinking games which he was quickly roped into. And he was finding it hard to keep up. After Fiona had almost drowned him with Vodka, he sat up, dizzying at the movement.

"Aw man…" he moaned

He caught a glimpse of Gabi moving through the house, up the stairs, dressed only in her swimming costume which was clinging to her damp body. He got up and staggered a little "Whoa" he said, arms flailing as he tried to get his balance.

Toby laughed "Hey bro where you off to?"

"Upstairs..." he grinned drunkenly

He found climbing the stairs an arduous task. He got to the top step and felt his stomach lurch, convulsing against the spirits he had consumed.

"Oh god..." he said, going pale

"Bathroom's there Troy" someone said from behind him, pointing to a door on his right.

He pushed open the door to the bathroom forcefully as his stomach lurched again, this time emptying the contents across the bathroom floor, and all over someone's bare legs.

"Oh my god!" the owner of the legs screeched. Troy looked up to see Gabi; who had been drying herself with a towel, frowning down upon him. She was looking at him as though she were about to punch him.

Gabi was shocked to see Troy so drunk. She looked around for help but she was alone, covered in sick with a very drunk Troy knelt in front of her.

She was so angry she could almost punch the wall. Or Troy.

"Geez, Troy, what did you drink?" she asked in annoyance, leaning him toward the toilet bowl as he wretched a little more.

She went about cleaning her flip flops and legs, followed by the carpet. It was just a good job she had a strong stomach. He'd managed to puke everywhere, it seemed.

She sat on the edge of the bath patiently, putting on her cover up as Troy emptied his stomach in the toilet bowl. She felt bad for him and rubbed his back a little, wondering who on earth had let him get into this state.

Once she was confident he'd stopped being sick, she maneuvered him out of the bathroom. There was a queue forming and Gabi was getting the blame.

She struggled to get him down the stairs, his arm around her smaller shoulders, his weight putting her off balance. He was singing loudly off key but she couldn't make out the song. Something about falling.

If she weren't so angry, she might actually find this behaviour adorable.

As it was she was still in shock at his public apology. To have him puke all over her was just the icing on the cake.

She managed to get him outside where he promptly collapsed on the pavement.

"Oh Troy, would you at least TRY and stand up please!" she said, exasperated.

He looked up at her from where he lay on the pavement, stretching his arms out "I'm a starfish!" he announced, then laughed at his own stupidity, giggling childishly as he thrashed his arms around.

She. Would. Not. Laugh. Gabi thought to herself. He looked ridiculous laid there throwing his arms around. But he also looked so damn cute. And bare chested, he was more than inviting to look at.

That made her even angrier. She was trying to shut him out of her life, what had gone wrong?

She pulled out her mobile and called for a taxi but when the taxi got there they refused to take him.

He was laid on the cold pavement practically out of it apart from his random giggling.

Gabi sighed and rolled her eyes. She had no idea where he lived and there was absolutely no way in hell she could take him home. Her mom would go ape shit if she saw her bringing Troy home drunk.

But her house was only a block away and it seemed the only choice to try and get him there. She just prayed to god that her mom would be out when she got home.

"Come on, you pathetic idiot" she muttered semi-affectionately to Troy, pulling him up by his arm. He fell back once, pulling her with him and making a grope for her butt.

"For goodness's sake Troy!" she protested, clambering up and dragging him up unceremoniously. "Get a grip will you!" she shouted.

His head was flopping to one side as he looked at her, big blue eyes appealing to her softer nature. His fringe was messily swept across his forehead and he smiled, kind of chewing his lower lip like a naughty child "Sorry Mum" he slurred

For crying out loud, now he was calling her mum! He really knew how to insult a girl.

And as he looked at her, his sexy eyes did something to her tummy. She'd never hated someone so much and fancied them at the same time before.

She propped him against her once more, struggling to support him as he once again began walking like a zombie with zig zag direction. He had also started singing again. "I'm freeeeee….Free fallllingggg" he sang so loudly she was sure he woke up most of the neighborhood.

"SShhh Troy" Gabi whispered, finally cracking as giggles enveloped her against her will.

"Wha?" he said, spinning round to face her so quickly that he almost knocked them both flying "Wha's funnyyy?" he asked

"I'm frreeeeee" he sang loudly again, letting go of Gabi to make his way randomly across the road, collapsing on the curb as he realized he couldn't climb it alone.

"Troy, please be quiet. We're almost there and you can't make a sound okay?" she asked, seeing from down the street that her moms' car wasn't in their drive. She sighed with relief.

"Why?" he asked, confused; as she picked him up again

"'Cos we'll get in trouble okay?" she explained carefully

"But we're frreeeeee….free falllinnng!" he sang again.

Gabi laughed out loud "Mother of Mary, Troy, will you STOP SINGING already!" she pleaded.

He looked down at her from where she had him propped on her shoulder. "You're really beautiful" he said suddenly.

She looked up at him, surprised.

"Just stay still while I open the door" she commanded, and didn't know how she managed to get him up the stairs and into her room without breaking anything.

She had a double bed, which she took Troy to and then kind of leant backward to drop him on it. He flung an arm over his eyes "Too bright!" he complained as she flicked on her light.

"Tough" she said, picking up his legs to move him onto the bed fully, the best she could. She took his shoes off and stood back against her door, taking a deep breath.

Of all the things that would happen tonight, she hadn't expected this.

She moved around her room as she tidied up quickly and grabbed her pajamas. She looked at Troy who was now star fished on her bed, his long eyelashes touching his cheeks as he slept with his mouth wide open. She smiled at his cuteness as she quickly changed into her pajamas in her en suite bathroom and jumped a mile when someone banged on her door. Oh Jesus. Her mom.

"Gabi are you okay honey?" Her mom called.

Gabi opened the door a tiny crack "I'm fine, why?"

"I heard you moving about, it's late and I was worried"

"I'm fine, I just dropped something" she lied

"How was the party?" her mum asked through the crack in the door

"It was good, mom. Look I'm kind of tired I'm just gonna try and sleep" she said

"Ok. See you in the morning"

Gabi sighed with relief as her mom's footsteps went down the hall. Troy was trying to sit up on the bed, settling for propping on his elbow.

"Come sleep" he invited groggily to Gabi

She stared at him for a few moments. He was drunk and she didn't know what he might be like with her if she slept next to him.

"Gabi, I won't hurt you, I promise" he murmured sleepily, slurring a little still.

She walked slowly over to the bed and he reached out a hand to her. Gabi took it, kneeling on the edge of the bed as she climbed across on her knees.

She lay next to him, facing him and tucked her arm under her head so she could watch him.

He fell asleep with her hand in his and Gabi felt herself relax as she heard his breathing come in soft even breaths.