Beautiful Disaster

by: LunarEclipse360

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N: thanks for the wonderful reviews. You are the greatest.

Chapter 10

It had been a week since the incident in front of Gabriella's house. The day after neither said a word to each other, even if they wanted to. Troy's friends pestered him everyday about him sleeping with her, but he just blew it off as if he was working on it. In truth, he really had no interest in sleeping with her anymore. There was something else digging deep in his skin and it had to do with her.

"Troy." Her voice came softly and he looked up from his focus on the world outside the bus. She sat down next to him, her eyes focusing on the seat in front of her then looking at him. "Is there something wrong with me?"

"Why would you ask that?"

"Well...we haven't spoken to each other since that day. You know which one I'm talking about." He nodded, knowing very well what she was talking about. That day had been haunting his dreams since it happened. "And I thought, maybe there was something wrong with me and that's why you didn't want to talk to me. I know that it was really awkward but..."

"Gabriella." She shut up and he smiled, one of those smiles that he seemed to save only for her. "There's nothing wrong with you. You're perfect." She blushed and bit her lip, something he noticed she did when she was nervous. "Truthfully, I thought you might have been mad at me or something and that's why you weren't speaking to me."

"I wasn't talking to you because you weren't talking to me."

"I guess we were both caught in doubt, huh?" She nodded and averted her eyes. "Can I ask you something?" She looked at him and nodded. "I know this may seem a little awkward but...I was wondering if you wanted to go to the homecoming dance with me. I know that..."

"I'd love to," she said quickly and he looked at her.

"Really?" She nodded and smiled softly.

"I mean I'd have to check with my dad first, but...yeah. I'd love to go with you." He smiled and took her hand in his.

"Then it's a date," he said before kissing the back of her hand. "Come on, we're here." She nodded and stood up. They walked off the bus and he sent a wink her way before walking away from her.

As he went to his locker, he didn't notice his friends walking up to him. They all clapped him on the back as a way of saying 'hi.' He smiled at them and went up to his locker.

"So, how's the chase going?" Chad asked.

"Pretty well. She agreed to go to homecoming with me," he said with his trademark smirk. He couldn't let his friends know that he had no intention of sleeping with her anymore. So he kept up the charade, in hopes that maybe they'd forget about it and he would be able to spend his time with her without having a no longer wanted agenda.

"Alright. You'll be banging her in no time," Jason said, slapping his friend on the back. Troy grinned but it faltered. Sure he hadn't exactly spoken to Gabriella in a week and today was their first day talking again, but he still felt a connection with her. Hearing his friend talk about her like that made him feel guilty for playing this game in the first place.

He took his stuff out his locker and closed it. He walked away from his friends and head to homeroom. The three guys looked at him, wanting to know what was wrong with him but they chose not to voice it. They knew that when he was in a bad mood, he would blow up in your face like you would never believe.

Gabriella sat in the back of homeroom waiting for Troy to walk through the door. He and his friends walked in seconds later and she smiled softly. His eyes found hers and he smiled.

"What was that about?" Taylor asked, leaning over. Gabriella shrugged and looked over at Taylor.

"Still trying to get in my pants I guess."

"If you were wearing pants, that would be relevant." Gabriella giggled and shook her head.

"You know what I mean."

"I know." Taylor turned her attention back to Ms. Darbus' announcements and Gabriella had her mind on the boy sitting not far from her.

The bell to end homeroom rung and Gabriella stood up, grabbing her stuff. As she walked out of the classroom, she spotted Troy standing in the doorway. She sent him a shy smile and he winked at her. She glanced back at him before making her way down the hallway with Taylor by her side.

Fourth period was the most boring period she had. Gabriella sat in her health class, doodling on notebook. She accidently dropped her pen and as she leaned over to get it, she realized there was something in her back pocket. She went into the pocket of her skirt and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

You me garden free period

-Troy

She smiled and folded the note back up, sticking it in her notebook. She now couldn't wait for free period. The second the bell rung she rushed out of the classroom but not without a weird look from Taylor. Fifth period was free period. Gabriella rushed to her locker and put her things inside before closing it and going up to the roof. When she got there, she found he was already there.

"It's about time you got here," he said and she smiled.

"Well, it's a long way from my locker to here if you don't remember."

"That is true." She walked up beside him and leaned against the railing.

"So. Is there a reason you wanted me here?"

"No real reason I guess." She cocked her head slightly, not believing him. "Okay so I did, kind of want to see you."

"That's better. One question though. How did you slip that note into my pocket without me noticing?"

"Remember that wink I sent you after homeroom?"

"Yeah I was like walking right past you. So what?"

"That's when I slipped it in."

"So basically you touched my ass without me feeling it?"

"Yep. I'm a pro at that." She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"I bet you are." A period of silence past between them before Gabriella spoke up again, asking the one question that had been running through her mind. "What made you ask me?"

"I guess I wanted something a little different."

"What do you mean?"

"Well all the girls, except for who follow Taylor's words, I've already dated and I just can't date a girl twice."

"Why not?"

"I really don't know. It's just something I don't do."

"You don't keep a girlfriend for more than a week either."

"Taylor?"

"Taylor," she said with a laugh and he sighed.

"That girl's going to be the ruin of me."

"Maybe. Maybe not." He looked over at her and quirked his eyebrow.

"Is there something you know and are not telling me?"

"Maybe..."

"Spill."

"No way. It's girl talk. Girl talk is only spoken between girls." He moved in front of her and locked her in.

"Unless you actually want to leave here today, I suggest you spill."

"I don't care. I'll stay here if it means protecting a secret." He stared at her with intense eyes, trying to get her to break. She held her ground for longer than he expected, but she didn't hold it in. "Okay." He smirked and she sighed. "So, she's kind of mentioned that she has a thing for Chad."

"Chad? My best friend, Chad?" She nodded and he laughed. "Oh this is priceless."

"Please don't say anything to him. It'll totally ruin her trust in me."

"Relax, Brie. I'm not telling anyone. I think Chad would be more embarrassed than anything else."

"Brie?" she asked and he shrugged.

"Nickname. So?"

"My sister's the only one who's ever given me a nickname before," she said rubbing her left arm. "It's not something I get very often. To me, you're saying that you actually have some kind of affection towards me."

"Well...yeah. I mean shouldn't a friend give another friend a nickname?" she smiled sadly and shrugged.

"I guess so."

"Then there's my nickname for my friend," he said, leaning in close to her. "I hope you like it." He leaned his cheek against hers and she breathed in his scent before nodding.

"I love it," she whispered.

He smiled and took her hand in his, lacing their fingers together. He kissed her knuckles before burying his face into her shoulder. She had never been this close to a guy before. She had never been this close to a guy ever. Her father was the only male around her. She felt a pull to Troy like never before. It was something new to her, but she was loving every second of it.