Chapter 10

One of the most favorite sounds rang throughout East High; the bell indicating ninth period was over. It was Friday, and Troy just wanted to go home, and relax. But he had basketball practice, which he was not looking forward to the least bit.

Troy slipped into the locker room for the usual basketball practice every day. This was the last place he wanted to be right now. He rather be with Gabriella, he wanted to ask her something tonight. But, he still needed to know if she was even up for anything.

"Yo, Troy!" Chad Danforth yelled, as he was bent over, tying his shoes. "Where were you at lunch?"

"Uhm," Troy paused. "I was sitting with someone else today."

"Who?" Chad asked, trying to think who else Troy could be sitting with. It wasn't a crazy scenario though; Troy was pretty well known around East High.

"Just some... people," Troy answered, opening a locker.

Chad's eyebrows squinted suspiciously. "Whatever, man," He said before going out to the gym.

Troy was the only one left in the locker room after Chad left. It was no surprise, he's been late for practice all week. All due to Gabriella.

All week, he'd been stopping at her locker at the end of the day, saying goodbye, and telling her he'd be calling her that night. And he did call her, every day. They could talk anywhere from an hour to four. They talked about pretty much anything; from when they were little, and they rode their bikes practically every day in the summer, to their favorite kind of potato chip. Which was sour cream 'n onion for both of them.

Troy looked up, hearing shoes squeak on the floor in the locker room. Jack Bolton stood there, with a weird look on his face. It looked like if you crossed, confusion, anger, and surprise all in one facial expression.

"You're here," Mr. Bolton glanced at the clock on the wall, "and only seven minutes late this time. Usually it ranges from fifteen to twenty-five."

Troy sighed, "I know it doesn't seem like basketball is a huge priority for me right now, but-," Troy was interrupted from his father's screaming response.

"Doesn't seem like!?" he slammed his fist against one of the lockers. "Tanner, you need football. It's the only way you're gonna get into a good college your mother and I can afford."

Troy's eye widen a little. His dad was losing it, he just called him Tanner. "Dad? What did you just say?"

"You heard me, Tanner!" He yelled, sighing and putting his face into one of his hands.

"Dad...," Troy began. "I'm not Tanner."

"I know who you are, Troy!" he yelled. "Go practice foul shots, or something."

Troy nodded, totally freaked out by this situation. His dad never called him Tanner before, sure he's compared him to his brother, but he never confused Troy for him.

Troy walked out into the noisy gym. Everyone was doing a lay up drill on each side of the court. Troy sighed, picking up a basketball, and walking over to one of the side baskets that no one was using. He put his toes right behind the foul line, dribbling the ball. He raised the ball above his head, flicking wrists and following through.

"Over here, boys!" Mr. Bolton announced, coming out of the locker room.

This was going to be a weird, very awkward practice for Troy.

--

Gabriella fell onto her couch, so happy that it was finally the weekend. She felt a breeze of warm air, as she heard the door squeak open, and close. A blond head bobbed behind the couch, as she sat down on the chair next to the couch Gabriella was currently resting in.

"I didn't hear the doorbell," Gabriella said to Sharpay.

"That could be because I didn't ring it, huh?" She slipped off her shoes, flipping her legs over the other side of the chair and grabbed the latest Seventeen issue.

Sharpay started humming, while flipping through the magazine. Gabriella sighed, rolling her eyes. This was a total Sharpay thing to do; barge into your house, welcome herself in, sit down, do something for a few minutes, then ask for food.

"You got anything to eat?" She asked, throwing the magazine back down onto the table.

"Probably not."

"Ugh!" Sharpay groaned. "I am so bored. Let's go out tonight."

"And do?"

"I don't know. Anything."

"Let's keep away from the parties at least, okay?"

"Still recovering?" Sharpay teased.

"Shut up."

Gabriella's phone started ringing, and Sharpay beat her to answering it. "Aw, little Troy is calling," Sharpay announced. "Now what will be the excuse to why you can't come to the phone?" She clasped the vibrating phone in her hand. "Are you waxing your mustache? Or, are you on the toilet, and it could be a while?"

"I will kill you if you say that," Gabriella threatened, trying to grab the phone from Sharpay.

She giggled, pressing the green button. "Hey, Troy."

"Sharpay?" Troy asked. "I thought I called Gabby."

"Oh, you did. But she can't some to the phone right now she's-" Sharpay began to say, but Gabriella snatched the phone away from her ear just in time to save herself from humiliation.

"I'm right here. Sorry about her."

"It's cool," he laughed. "You got any plans tonight?"

"No, why?" She answered, turning her back to Sharpay.

"You wanna come over? Just, like, hang out."

A grin stretched across her face. "Yeah, sure. That sounds cool."

"Awesome, so, is seven good?"

"Yeah, I'll be there."

"Okay, see ya then."

Gabriella shut her phone, as she set back down, and went back to her spot on the couch with a small smile on her lips. Troy just asked her to come over her house; that hasn't happened since sixth grade.

"Aw, big date with Troy Bolton?" Sharpay smirked.

"No, we're only hanging out at his house."

"Oh," Sharpay nodded knowingly. "I get it."

"It's not like that, perv."

Sharpay put her hands up in defense, " I didn't mean anything like that."

"Sure," Gabriella rolled her eyes.

--

Gabriella smoothed out her shirt, looking herself over in the mirror. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail; she looked good for someone who is just going to 'hang out'. She grabbed her sweatshirt, and cell phone, hitting the light switch and closing her door.

"Where are you going?" Anna asked, popping her head out of her bedroom.

"Troy's. I'll be back at eleven," she answered, walking down the steps.

"Dad's gonna be home at nine. What should I tell him?"

"That I'm over Troy's. No worries, Anna," She yelled, finishing with the front door closing.

--

Gabriella pressed her finger up against the doorbell, and heard the muffled ringing through the house. The door knob turned, showing a smiling Troy standing there. He had on such a simple pair of clothes, but still looked perfect; blue jeans and a red East High T-shirt. He wore nothing but white socks on his feet.

"Hope you don't mind, my parents had to go somewhere tonight," he blushed, hoping she didn't think he had the wrong intention.

"No, that's... cool," she replied.

Troy opened the door wider, letting her in. "You eat yet?" Troy asked.

"You mean today?" She smirked.

"No, genius. I meant dinner."

"Well, no, I didn't."

"Good. You like ravioli?"

"You made ravioli?" Gabriella asked in disbelief. No way had Troy made ravioli for the two of them. He could barley manage a pop tart.

"Yeah right," Troy commented, sarcastic. "It's from a can. You're not that special, Montez," He jocked.

"Good to know," She smiled, following him into the kitchen.

She took in the familiar setting. Gabriella had spent more time in this kitchen than her own while growing up. Everything was still in the same place as it was six years ago. The microwave sat next to the toaster, and the same four chairs sat at the small square table.

The beeping of the microwave filled the room, and Troy handed her a bowl with steam climbing out of the top. "Thanks," Gabriella smiled.

--

Two empty bowls, with red sauce still in them, sat on the coffee table. Gabriella and Troy were on the couch, snuggled under a blanket together. Troy played with Gabriella's fingers continually under the blanket.

"Stop it," she giggled. "You know that tickles."

"That's why I do it," Troy grinned.

"Ugh," she rolled her eyes. "You're so annoying sometimes."

"You love it though," he said, kissing her temple.

"I guess."

A comfortable silence filled the room, as Troy's fingers found Gabriella's hair. "Gabby?" He asked, still running his fingers through her hair.

"Hmm?" She asked, her head dropping onto his shoulder.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," she replied, like he was about to ask a casual question.

"Would you say we're together?"

"Like dating?" Gabriella sat up, looking into those beautiful blue eyes of Troy.

"Yeah...," he answered, like it was obvious.

"Well," she began shifting her weight, clearly uncomfortable. "I don't know. We don't need a label."

"But, are we exclusive?"

"Why limit ourselves?" Gabriella asked.

"Wait," Troy said confused. "Are you saying you're dating someone else?"

"We're not dating, Troy," She spat.

"Well, that's what I'm trying to ask you, Gabriella."

They both rose from the couch, and the blanket fell to the floor. Troy sighed, looking down at his feet. "Gabs, I didn-"

"I think I should go," she announced, grabbing her phone off the table and headed for the door.

"Wait," Troy called. "Let me give you a ride. It's raining."

"My house is up the street. I'll be fine." She opened the door, closing it behind her.

"Be careful," he said, but didn't get to finish as the door slammed in his face.

A/N: Sorry this one took a little longer than usual. I knew what I wanted to write, but I just didn't know how. Make sense? Probably not. Review please.