Hey again! I hope you all loved the last chapter…I'm sorry that Troy and Gabriella aren't together yet though…haha. I really hate making you guys wait. So I hope this chapter makes up for it! Thanks for all the supportive reviews!

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with High School Musical or any related characters.

PLEASE R&R!!!!!

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Chapter 8

"Alright…and action!" Gabriella giggled, pressing 'record' on her sidekick. She pointed it towards Troy, and nodded towards him to start talking. The two were sitting in her bedroom, two days later, and were about to send a video to her friends back in New York.

Troy waved and smiled to the camera, "Hey, this is shout-out to Gabriella's friends back in the city…you are watching the hottie of the town Troy Bolton…ladies my number is…"

"Troy!" Gabriella shrieked, before bursting out into a fit of giggles. Troy grinned, when she realized that he was just teasing and just rolled his eyes. Gabriella playfully punched his shoulder, before turning the video screen so that it was showing her. "Sorry guys that was just some weirdo…"

"A very hot weirdo" Troy cut in, popping his head into the video quickly, before Gabriella pushed him hard enough, so that he fell to the floor. Gabriella started giggling all over again, before regaining composure to continue her video.

"Anyways, I have a LOT to tell you about what's been going on here…" Gabriella hinted, secretly moving herself, so that it showed Troy in the background, "But in the meantime, I love you guys…drink some Starbucks for me! Ciao!"

Gabriella finished, and pressed 'end record' before pushing a few more buttons so that she was sending it. She flopped the phone down onto the bed, before turning her eyes to the floor to glare at Troy.

He held up his hands in defense, as he stood up. "You were the one who wanted me in the video…" He said defensively, and he heard her giggle again. Troy smiled, knowing that giggle was like music to his ears, and sat down next to her.

She sighed lightly, and moved so that she was resting her head on his shoulder. Troy grinned, and just put his arms around her, and the two sat there in complete silence, just enjoying the others company.

"Gabriella, Troy what are you two…" Lisa Montez opened the bedroom door, and saw the two sitting like they were. They quickly moved apart from each other, both blushing. "I'm sorry…did I interrupt something?" She asked smirking, and that just made Gabriella glare at her mother even more.

"No mom…we were just…talking" Gabriella lied, and knew from the corner of her eye, that Troy was giving her a weird glance.

"More like laughing…you two certainly have fits for giggles, you know that? I can hear you from downstairs!" Lisa exclaimed, chuckling to herself, and saw the kids just scratching the back of their necks nervously. "Well I'll be downstairs…"

Lisa shut the door again, and yet there was still that awkward silence. After a moment, all seemed to be forgotten, and Gabriella moved so that her head was on Troy's shoulder again. He was surprised by her actions so soon after the awkwardness, but still rewrapped his arms around her.

"Mm…that school wears me out, Troy. I never knew Sharpay could argue with me so much…" Gabriella started to talk, to strike up a conversation. Troy chuckled, and it seemed to vibrate through Gabriella's system.

"Yeah really…she's happier than ever with you. And take that as a compliment…I mean I made her really mad before and…well yeah. Let's just say, it wasn't pretty" Troy ended with a shake of his head, and Gabriella threw her head back with laughter.

She snorted, "Sounds like you."

It was only a moment later that she took that back, because before she knew what was happening, she found herself all tangled up with Troy on the bed, as he tickled her to death. "Troy…stop!" She giggled, trying to pry his hands from her stomach.

"You just intentionally insulted me…and you want me to give you a break? Never, Montez!" He bellowed, and just started to tickle her harder. Soon Gabriella was kicking her legs in the air, and Troy was enjoying how ticklish she was. "Jeez Brie…this'll definitely bring your mom up again, now!" He teased her.

Deciding she had enough, he stopped, but still remained his position pinned on top of her. Troy glanced down at her; she most definitely looked radiantly beautiful, with her dark curls fanned out onto the bed. He watched her bite her lip nervously, and he wandered what was happening to him.

Pressing his hands to either side of her cheeks, he started moving closer downward, to her lips. Gabriella closed her eyes, thinking it was about to happen again. She sighed on the inside, knowing that they were going to keep going through a routine: they'd kiss…and then act like they totally forget about it the next day.

Moments before his lips were pressed against hers he made a swift turn, and leaned up to kiss her forehead instead. Gabriella was surprised by his actions, and opened her eyes almost immediately, to see him rolling off of her, and getting off the bed.

Troy glanced towards the windows, and noticed the dark skies. "It's about to rain…and I have to work tonight" He informed Gabriella, as he looked towards her, now sitting up on the bed. "I should probably head over to the restaurant before the storm hits" He said quickly, grabbing his keys off her dresser.

Gabriella was now standing up, as she tucked a curl behind her ear. "Okay…" She replied, and gave him a wave. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then" She said her goodbyes, and he gave her a slight nod, before retreating out the door.

Gabriella groaned inwardly; the last parts of their conversation was so awkward…she hadn't meant for it to be that way. She headed towards the seat right by her window and sat down on it. She watched as it started to sprinkle outside, and sighed. What was going on with her?

Hearing the door slightly open, Gabriella looked up at it hopefully, thinking Troy had come back. She frowned, when it was only her mother again. "Honey I just saw Troy leave…he looked weird to me. Is everything alright?" She asked. Gabriella was getting annoyed; she knew her mother was only concerned, but she didn't want her to be nosy.

"Everything is fine mom. Why does everything always have to be all wrong?" Gabriella snapped, knowing that she was just stressed right now.

Lisa sighed, finally fed up to how her daughter always acted towards her when others aren't around. "Gabriella Elizabeth Montez…please don't give me that tone. I know you are still mad at me for making you move…"

"Mad?" Gabriella cut in, and then gave a sarcastic laugh, "No I'm still furious, mom! I loved New York…it was practically my home. And being here…" She yelled, and then turned to look out of the window again. "It's so boring…there's nothing to do…"

"Oh so are you telling me you don't like having Troy around?" Lisa argued back, putting her hands on her hips. "I know something is up between you two…don't think I don't see it! You seem to be a lot happier with him than…"

"Than what? Than with my friends back home?" Gabriella shouted, now standing up. She was completely outraged; how could her mother think something like that? She absolutely loves her friends back home, and will always care about them. "Sure, I have friends here now…but in a year I'm going off to college, and I'll be back to where I belong!"

Lisa sen a stony glance at her daughter. She felt like she didn't even know her. "So what…these are your temporary friends, then? I know that I did NOT raise my daughter to act this way…" She stepped her foot down, and Gabriella realized she was almost to tears.

They both stood there, mother against daughter, facing each other. Gabriella heard the rain beating down hard against the house, and Gabriella suddenly felt like crying. But she just couldn't show it. "Well then…maybe you should overlook that thought" She said more heatedly than ever, and grabbed her phone and keys, before marching out of the door.

"Just where are you going?" She heard her mother shouting at her, as she bounded rapidly down the stairs.

"Out! To go talk to Troy…I'll be back soon" Gabriella ended the conversation angrily, opening the door swiftly, and then slamming it shut. She knew she was throwing a humongous hissy fit, but she couldn't control her emotions. Her relationship with her mother…it was completely shattered.

And there was nothing she could do about it now.

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Gabriella burst through the door of the restaurant, soaking wet. There was absolutely no one there, except Troy, who she saw snap his head towards her the moment the doors opened. It was hard to tell whether she was crying or not, because she was completely drenched from head to toe.

"Gabriella?" Troy asked, now dropping the rag from his hands, now seeming completely alert. She burst into tears as she ran into his chest hard, completely pounding onto it. "Sh…" He whispered in her ear, as he held her to him tight. She knew by the shake in his voice that he was worried for her, but she just clung onto him as she cried into his shoulder.

After a few moments, she broke apart from him, and Troy got in full view of her tear-stained face. Before he could ask what in the world was going on, she asked him a completely out of the blue question.

"How can you stand living here? How can you stand waking up every morning knowing that you probably weren't going to meet a new person…that you haven't already met?" Gabriella breathed out in wonder, and he knew she was being completely serious about it.

Troy paused for a moment. He was unsure about how to answer that question; however, he just looked over into Gabriella's eyes…and he suddenly knew exactly what his answer was. "I didn't know that meeting people was that great…" He started, and Gabriella looked up curiously, desperately wanting to know the rest.

"Until I met you…" He finished in one breath, and before Gabriella knew it, his lips were reclaiming hers yet again, his hands already wrapping around her waist tightly. She knew she should probably be talking to him about her problems instead…but she just couldn't help it. The wonderful feeling from the other night was roaming through her again, and she felt so much love and compassion in the room.

Troy backed her up towards the closest wall in the dim lit building, and they found themselves in a replay of that Saturday night when they first kissed. They fought for control of each other's lips, and absolutely did not want to pull away for air, but they knew they had to have oxygen. Troy tore his lips from hers, his breathing ragged.

"What does this mean?" Gabriella asked shakily, holding tight to a bundle of Troy's shirt. He was now completely wet from Gabriella's soaked body pressed up against his, but he absolutely didn't care.

"Whatever you want it to mean" Troy said immediately after that, and in no time, he found a pair of lips on his yet again.

It was then that Troy knew he got his answer.

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And BAM…just like that, I managed to get them together. How amazing huh? No seriously…just kidding. :-) I actually am kind of…unsure though about this. I feel a little guilty for this happening right after Gabriella's fight with her mother…but I don't know. Perhaps it was sensing a break from everything…just to let it all go. And hang loose.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Next one will be up shortly!

PLEASE REVIEW:-)