Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter. I hope you all like this one.

Semi-fluffy but with a tid bit of drama too.

Review please.

P.S: School sucks.

lovelylauren10: I always spell hott with two t's when I am talking about a guys looks. and hot with one t when it's like a fire or something. That is just how I have always done it. Thanks for telling me tho.

AnotherObsessedVanessaFan: It's their closet because before they got together Gabriella pulled Troy in there to talk about them. The party etc.

Hope that helps.

Nothing compares to a quiet evening alone
Just the one-two of us, who's counting on
That never happens
I guess I'm dreaming again
Let's be more than this

crushcrushcrush, by Paramore

My hand flew over my eyes. "I can't watch," I told Sharpay, Taylor, Ryan and Kelsi as the clock ticked down on the scoreboard.

"Gab, there is ten seconds left, and we are down by two, you have to watch," Taylor said and forcefully removed my hand from me eyes. But then my eyes closed tightly. Yes, I don't care for basketball much, but it is important to Troy, so it's important to me.

Sharpay jumped up and down beside me. "Zeke stole the ball!" she exclaimed and my eyes flew open and I laced my hands with Sharpay and Taylor who were on either side of me.

"We need a three pointer for the win!" Ryan yelled to all of us. Yes, I can count, I know. But I didn't respond. I watched as the numbers became lower and lower. Zeke passed it to Marc, who passed to Luke, and then he passed it to Chad. The passing probably had a name, but it's me, I don't know anything about basketball.

I shook my head, "No, Chad!" I yelped as he drove the ball forward to the basket. We need a three pointer, not two! But as he went to dunk it, the ball flew from his hands to Troy's who was waiting past the three point line. "Come on, baby," I whispered to myself. Troy caught the ball effortlessly. The ball easily popped out of his hands and flew towards the hoop.

The buzzer went off as the ball was mid-air. It seemed like slow motion, but it wasn't. The ball didn't even bump the rim, it went in the hoop with a swish. Troy pumped his fist into the air and Chad jumped up on top of him.

Taylor squealed from next to me, as did Sharpay. Ryan yelled loudly and hugged Kelsi. "We won!" I screamed and hugged my two best friends.

Sharpay pulled on my hand. "We have to get down there," she told us and we made our way down to the floor. We weren't that far up in the bleachers, but everyone was rushing down there.

I lost them all in the crowd in the search for Troy. He was in the middle of everyone with the rest of the team. Everyone seemed to break apart, but kept hugging each other. Then I noticed him, hugging some guy on the team. "Troy!"I yelled to get his attention, his eyes found me and he smiled then tried to meet me halfway. I rushed up to him and threw my arms around him. I didn't care he was sweaty, he actually looks kinda hott. "You did it!" I squealed as he swung me around.

The rest of the team seemed to drift and hug various students and cheerleaders.

Troy put me down and then pulled me into a kiss. See, if I didn't loose today at lunch, he would be the one loosing right now. This time, though, I didn't care about my brothers seeing, or the whole school watching, I hopped up and wrapped my legs around his waist as I continued kissing him.

I was about to deepen the kiss, but he pulled away, but not far enough to where I had to unwrap my legs. "I want to do this, I really do, but all of your brothers are wondering around. Can we save it for the after party?" he asked with a smirk on his face.

I nodded and bit my lip. I wanted to keep kissing him. "Yeah," I whispered and wrapped my arms around his neck to pull him into a tight hug. As I did this, my legs unwrapped and I slid down his body. "I'm proud of you," I muttered into his ear in a low voice. I knew he would have to go into the locker rooms and change plus talk to the coach. But I didn't want him to leave me.

"Thanks, that matters to me," he mumbled into my ear.

As much as I wanted to keep him with me, he did have to go. The gym was beginning to clear out as kids were going were going back to their houses to get ready for the party, and parents were leaving to go home. "You have to go, Wildcat," I said pulling away and taking a step back. "Go in there, talk to your team, and I'll meet you by the car," I told him as I walked away backwards. He smiled in my direction and turned to go into the locker room.

I had pushed the whole love thing out of my mind. Well, I have been trying to. It's only been a couple hours. But since then, I have been noticing the little things we do. How he always pushes that stray hair behind my ear. How I slip my hand in his, and how perfect it feels. And that when I have too many books he grabs some for me. That when we don't ride to school together he is at my locker when we get there. Well, not yesterday, but that is a rarity. And how no matter how far away his class is from mine, he is waiting outside of my classroom to walk me to my next one.

I think about all this, I know that when he is around my heart beat picks up, along with my breathing. That I still feel the tingles when he touches me, and the fireworks when he kisses me. I still haven't told him all of this.

"Gab, you okay?" Kelsi asked breaking me out of my trance.

I only noticed now that I was at the SUV and Sharpay's convertible. There wasn't enough room for all of us with Zeke and Kelsi. "Oh, yeah. Why?" I asked leaning against the car with the rest of them.

"You just walked up and stared off into space, it was a bit weird," Taylor informed me. Oh.. oops. I want to tell them, but I don't want to tell them right now. I would rather us be completely alone then in a parking lot full of kids yelling that we won and hanging all over each other.

I scratched my forehead awkwardly. "Sorry, I was just thinking," I mumbled.

Before Sharpay could say something, and we all knew she wanted to, I mean she's Sharpay Chad appeared in front of us.

"We're here! Championship winners, along with my boy Troy, also known as Hoops," he introduced them. Apparently Troy's new nickname amung the team is Hoops. I don't call him that. Like I don't call Chad, Hair. Although I can see why they named him that.

All of us laughed and Ryan man hugged them both. All the girls gave congratulations again. I hugged Chad.

"What I don't get a hug?" Troy said walking over to me with his arms open.

I laughed. "I think you already got enough in the gym. Aren't you the one who said to wait until the after party?" I asked.

Troy smiled again. "If you want to place another bet.." he trailed off.

"No!" I quickly exclaimed and he chuckled. I do not want to go an extended amount of time without touching him, tomorrow he is getting auctioned off to the highest bidder. Which I hope is me. I smiled at him and walked straight into his arms. He leaned his head against mine. "Congratulations," I murmured against his shoulder. He just pulled me tighter against him.

"Come on, Carmen," Sharpay said and dragged me away from Troy. I literally whimpered. Sharpay had taken to using my middle name as my first lately.

I frowned. "Penelope," I whined. Whining comes into effect when best friend pulls girl away from hott boyfriend. Sharpay opened her convertible door and shoved me in the back.

"No," she said. "We have to get to my house to get ready for the party. No making out with your boy toy right now. You can later," she told me.

Troy walked up behind her. "You're forgetting, Shar. It's a convertible," he reminded her and bent down to kiss me. Ha! Take that Penelope!

Sharpay shook her head. "You two are impossible," she muttered and went to tell Taylor and Kelsi to get into the car.

"Text me when you get to the party?" Troy asked, bending all the way down so he was at my level in the car.

I nodded. "Yeah," I answered.

"Good, I do not want to be around slutty cheerleaders longer than necessary," he told me. Aw, my boyfriend has standards, unlike my brothers. Well, Vince has them too. He has a girlfriend, Roxy. She's nice, I approve. I helped him. Me, Gabriella Montez.

Sharpay got in the front. "Say bye, Carmen, I'm driving away," she said turning on the car.

I reached over and kissed Troy quickly. "I'll text you," I assured him as we backed up. As soon as we pulled away Troy was engulfed by my brothers are various cheerleaders.

-

"Shar, let's go!" I yelled to her from the bottom of the steps in her house. We all got dressed quickly, well, quick for a girl. Besides Sharpay. She is still upstairs changing or something.

I brought clothes from my house. A pair of white short shorts, courtesy of Serena, and a black wife-beater that had a v-neck along with a white blouse I left unbuttoned. Sharpay insisted I wear black high heels, and I had to agree. It looked good. My hair was left alone, and just brushed. My makeup, insert ugh here, was all dark, but not like goth, you know?

Taylor wore a red dress that looked good on her, along with a pair of black leggings that went underneath. She got to wear black flip flops. Damn her.

Kelsi just wore a pair of caprice and a graphic tee. Her and Ry aren't dating, yet, so Sharpay doesn't tell her what to wear. Her t-shirt said 'Music Maker' on it. Along with a french hat. What are the called again? She wore flats. I don't get why I have to wear heels, damn Sharpay.

"I'm coming!" Sharpay insisted clomping down the steps in her red heels. She was wearing a pair of gold glittering pants and a red shirt that had a empire waist. It didn't have straps or sleeves, instead it wrapped around her neck with an interesting design.

I rolled my eyes. "Finally," I mumbled walking out the door behind Taylor and hopped into the front seat of the pink convertible.

"The party isn't far from here," Sharpay told us as she drove us out of her gated community. Yeah, this time it is at some rich kids house. Willis Throng. Weird name.

Sharpay wasn't lying. A minute or two later of Sharpay speeding down various streets she came up to a house full of teenagers.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and text-ed Troy quickly.

We r here wher r u?

Troy replied almost instantly.

In kitchen come meet us

I quickly read it over. "They are in the kitchen, guys," I told them and Sharpay nodded as we walked into the house. Now where is the kitchen?

I just grabbed Sharpay's hand so I wouldn't get lost in the crowd. She has a knack for finding her way around other peoples houses.

"Oh, here we are, the kitchen," she commented pulling me in. Not many people were in there besides Troy, Chad and Ryan, along with Zeke. They all had cups in their hands laughing at something Chad said.

I walked up behind Troy and slipped my arm around his waist. He jumped a little and I laughed. He turned to me and gave me a fake glare. "Do you know how many girls have done that to me tonight?" he asked, pulling me around to his front.

I laughed. "It better not have been that many," I teased.

He gave me a crooked grin. He set his cup down on the counter behind me as he pinned me against it. "You're the only one that I wanted to wrap their arms around me," he told me. Aw. He's so cute.

"Been drinking tonight?" I asked looking up at him and wrapped my arms around his neck. His arms looped around my waist.

"Babe, we won championships," he reminded me, grinning from ear to ear. That is a yes in Troy Bolton world.

I giggled at his drunkenness. "I'm not mad about it, Troy," I said. I wasn't. He's allowed to drink. I'm not his keeper.

He smiled again. "Can we go somewhere, to be alone?" he asked. I bit my lip and nodded. His hands dropped from around my waist and one of his hands laced with one of mine. We went to many rooms, to have someone yell to leave. I think Marcus was in one. Gross. He opened one door to find a closet. He smiled. "This works," he said and pulled me in, closing the door behind us.

His hand reached up and pulled a string, turning on a light. "A closet?" I asked. It wasn't that small. It was a walk in closet for a lot of towels. These people are rich.

"It has a lock," he mentioned turning it and plopping down on the floor. I laughed at him. I felt a push behind my knees, causing my to crumble on top of him.

"Troy!" I yelped as I fell into his lap.

He nuzzled into my neck. "That worked well," he muttered against my neck. I laughed against his hair.

"You didn't ask me to come with you in here alone because you wanted to make out with me did you?" I asked pulling away slightly.

I felt his lips leave my neck, and he looked up and me. He shook his hair out of his eyes and shook his head in no. "I came in here to talk too," he told me and moved me around so I was straddling him. Comfy. He ran his hands up and down my sides. "Hi," he murmured looking into my eyes.

I don't know why, but I blushed and looked down at my lap. This boy does weird things to me.

Troy's hand came up and cupped my cheek, and he lifted my head up to look at him. "You're beautiful, you know that?" he asked, I could see the truth in his eyes. No one has really called me beautiful besides Sharpay, Serena and my mom during puberty at age thirteen.

I shook my head slightly. My hands came up and layed over top of his. "You don't have to say things like that, Troy," I whispered, my insecurities getting the best of me.

With me on his lap, I was eye level with him. "No, Brie, you are," he insisted. I avoided his eyes and looked at the wall behind him. I hated being so insecure. Especially around him, but it is kinda hard to lie to him when I am looking into his eyes. I know he can tell when I am lying. "Half the guys in school want to be me right now," he added.

Well, duh. You're Troy Bolton. I rolled my eyes before looking at him, keeping my eyes on his eyelashes. "Yeah, Hoops, you just scored the winning shot in the championship game and you are the hottest guy in school," I reminded him.

"Not because I am all that," he said shaking his head. "It's because I am with you," he told me.

I laughed sarcastically, of course. "You are, like, my first serious boyfriend, Troy," I said. Do we have to keep talking about this?

"That's because all the guys in school are afraid of your brothers," he revealed. "But lucky for you, I'm not," he added, cocking his eyebrows.

I laughed leaning forward. "Lucky, am I?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yeah," he said huskily and he leaned forward to connect his lips with my neck once again. My breathing picked up more than it already had. I fought back a moan as he sucked on the skin under my ear. The spot never ceased to drive me wild, and since he figured it out, there is always a fresh hickey there.

I pulled away as I felt a throb in my center. My chest was heaving up and down. There wasn't much time before my lips were on his. I felt his fingers dip under my shirt, and come in contact with my soft skin. I gasped slightly against his lips. Troy bit my lip gently and I opened my mouth to let his tongue in.

I felt his hands leave my skin travel up my sides, and he pushed off my unbuttoned blouse. I didn't care, I was overheated, and we both knew I wasn't ready to have sex, and even if I was my first time was not going to be in a closet.

My hands slipped under his shirt and my nails raked over his abs. Boy has a six pack, lucky me. He moaned as my nails lightly scratched him. He pulled away from my lips and pulled my body as close to him as possible. He pushed my wife-beater strap down so my collarbone was showing. I felt his tongue lightly run over it and I fought the urge to throw my head back.

Troy pulled away a few moments later. "God, I love you," he said huskily.

Huh!?

I pulled away. Far away. I reached for my blouse behind me and slipped it on. Troy seemed to register what he said as soon as I began to put my shirt on.

"Gabrie-" he started, but he didn't know what to say. I leaned over and kissed his forehead.

"It's okay," I told him. "You're drunk." I stood up in one swift motion. "I'll meet you out there. I want to find my brothers and say congrats," I said and unlocked the door the left.

I didn't go searching for my brothers right away. I found the nearest bathroom and locked myself in. I slid down the door onto my butt. Did he just tell me he loves me? My mind screamed. I know he is passed tipsy, but not all the way to drunk. So it could just be the alcohol talking. It had to be that. My hands engulfed my head as I tried to control my breathing.

"Come on! Other people have to go!" some guy yelled threw the door. I had to leave. I had to go back out there and face people.

I stood up quickly and passed the person at the door without even looking at the guy. I needed to find my friends or my brothers.

"Have you seen Gabriella?" I heard Troy shout over the music somewhere. I looked to my right and Chad was dancing with Taylor, while talking to Troy.

"Wasn't she with you?" Chad asked. Troy nodded and ran his hand over my head.

"We got separated and I can't find her- you know what I'll keep looking. Just.. keep your eye open," Troy told him and Chad nodded then continued grinding with Taylor.

I needed to find Sharpay or Ryan. I walked in the opposite direction of Troy to the back yard. Luke! Or maybe Marcus. I made my way threw the crowd. As I got closer I realized it was Lucas. I walked straight into his group of friends. He gave me a sloppy smile as soon as he saw me.

"Gabs!" he exclaimed and hugged me. I smiled into his Varsity jacket. At this point in time, I am happy my brothers go to these parties.

I faked a smile. "Congrats, Luke," I congratulated him as I pulled away.

He nodded. "It was your boy who got us the winning point," he reminded me. Like I didn't know that. "Where is he anyways? Isn't he permanently attached to your hip at parties?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, I lost him in the crowd," I lied. I can lie to my brothers, just not Troy. "I'm going to go and try to find him," I lied again and walked away. I could feel Troy close to me, so I kept going.

I didn't want to face him. I didn't want him to lie to me and say he meant it. Because he might mean it in his drunken stupor and in the heat of the moment. I didn't want him to come to me tomorrow while sober and say sorry for saying something he didn't mean. It would hurt, badly. Even if I am not sure if I love him. I want to forget it all happened.

Then I saw her: Sharpay. "Shar!" I shouted and pushed through everyone roughly. "Sharpay," I said softer as I approached her.

"Carmen!" she squealed when she saw me. Great, she's drunk. Just what I need right now. "Zekey, this is my bff Carmen!" she told him enthusiastically. Zeke, thankfully, wasn't drunk.

"Hey, Zeke," I greeted. He nodded a hello.

"Sorry, I tried to keep her from drinking so fast. Who are your DD's tonight?" he asked.

I thought back. Me and Ryan. "Me and Ryan," I answered. "I think we should take you home, Penelope," I played along looking down at her. "It's getting late," I started looking back at Zeke. It was getting late. Almost midnight, which is my curfew. I didn't know me and Troy were in that closet for so long. "Can you round everyone up?" I asked.

He nodded. "I'll get Ryan to help, too. I saw him ten minutes ago. We'll meet you by the car," he instructed. I nodded and dragged Sharpay threw the party.

"You're pretty," she told me as I held her up.

I grunted under her almost dead weight. "Thanks," I answered. Finally! The front door. I threw myself at it. I thanked God that Sharpay parked close. As I approached the car, I saw someone leaning against it. It was Troy. He had his head down looking at the ground.

He must have heard me, because he looked up. "Brie.." he started and came towards me. Thankfully, Shar saw him too.

"Alexander!" she yelled and hurled herself in his arms. What is with her and middle names? My hand came up and rubbed by neck.

I groaned. "There's a kink in my neck," I told him, trying to tell him not to bring up the whole love thing.

He easily picked Sharpay up and set her down in the back of the convertible. I was leaning against the car, rubbing my neck. He pulled my body on his, so I wasn't leaning against the car, but him. His hands came up and started massaging my neck. "I'm sorry," he mumbled into my ear. "I didn't want to-" he started but I cut him off.

"It's okay," I assured him. "Really. We were- you just said it in the middle of a heated moment," I said. My head was leaning against his chest as he massaged my neck.

I felt him shake his head, but before he could start the others started walking over.

"I found them," Zeke announced as him and Ryan walked over.

Chad bounded over to me as he saw me. "Gabster!" he shouted in the middle of the street. I pulled away from Troy, who tried to keep me there, but I pried myself away. "You are the best friend eva!" he told me.

He just sounded like a little girl. Ha ha. Leave it to Chad to make me smile right now.

"You too, Chad. Come on," I said and pulled him to the SUV, avoiding Troy for the rest of the night.

-

xoxo

-

I successfully avoided Troy for the rest of last night. I didn't answer the phone this morning when he called. I didn't text him back when he text-ed me. I just wanted to forget that he even said it. I was already confused enough with myself. I didn't need him saying that me when he didn't really mean it. I could feel an ache in my heart.

I even debated buying him tonight. But I couldn't let Allison Stanley buy him. I knew it would piss him off, and I didn't want a fight. I wanted to buy him, but not talk to him. Weird, I know. But that is me.

I drove with my brothers to The Spot, where the boys were getting auctioned off because they had a stage that could be extended for a catwalk. The auctioning started off at five, and the dates started at seven. Once you were bought, you could do whatever you wanted until seven. Most guys went with their dates into the crowd to watch, others stayed behind the curtain and hung out with friends.

It's five-fifteen, and Troy isn't getting sold till about six. They take intermissions so people can eat in peace. Chad was one of the first ones sold, to Taylor of course. She just yelled one-hundred and no one upped the bid. He went behind stage, then came out to hang with us.

"Gab," he started when he walked over. "Troy wants to see you around back real quick," he told me.

"Girls aren't allowed back there, are they?" I asked, trying to not have to go back there.

He shook his head. "Yeah, they are. The girls just like to watch the others guys," he answered. Shit.

I nodded. "Okay, I'll be back soon," I told Sharpay who was freaking out about Zeke.

I made my way around back. Troy was waiting right at the curtain. He launched himself at me, gathering me in his arms. He rested is head on my shoulder. "We have to talk," he murmured against me. Damn those four words. That Lizzie McGuire episode is coming back to me. With the paperboy. What the hell is his name? It's been bothering me.

"N-not here," I stuttered out against his neck. I didn't want to have the 'I don't love you yet' conversation right now.

He nodded against me. "You're buying me, right?" he asked, but it was muffled a bit.

There was no hesitation in my nod. "Of course," I answered.

He pulled away and his hands floated to my cheeks. "We'll talk then, kay?" he asked. He had no doubt in his voice, and I felt my heart pitfall into my stomach.

I nodded. I seem to be doing that a lot. Nodding. "Okay," I whispered as I pulled away. He pecked me on the lips quickly.

"I'll see you out there," he said as he walked backwards further into the backstage area.

I gave a wordless nod and disappeared behind the curtain and back into the crowd.

I didn't want to do this.

I think this is one of my longest. Like it?

I'm going to keep trying to write as much as I can.

REVIEW!! REVIEW!! REVIEW!!

-- Kayleigh