Chapter 10: Just Them

Gabriella woke up the next morning with her nose tucked snuggly in the crook of Troy's neck. One of her arms was draped over his waist, the other over his shoulder, her hand resting on his cheek. She took a deep breath, inhaling his scent. She didn't want to move. He had both his strong arms wrapped around her sides, holding her as close to him as possible. She finally tried to get up, but realized that their legs were in a tangled mess. She grinned at herself and then slowly tried unwinding herself from Troy's 'sleeper hold'.

She did, and on her way to the bathroom she heard Troy groan into a large, deep yawn. She giggled, turning around to give him one last glance before she entered the large hotel bathroom.

Troy opened his eyes. He had woken up a while ago, but had not wanted to wake up the beautiful girl he had been unconsciously clutching for the past eight hours. He groaned when her body heat left his, and he rolled over onto his back. He stood up and looked at himself in the mirror, before turning to meet eyes with his girlfriend. She leaned her head out of the bathroom, hair wet, and he could see the corner of the towel she was holding against her body. He smiled at her.

"Troy, could you grab my change of clothes and my bikini please? They should be right at the top of my duffel." Troy grinned menacingly.

"You don't have any clothes on you? Well, gosh then Gabriella, what are you wearing?" He continued to grin through his sarcastic words.

"Funny, Troy. C'mon. Give them to me." She watched him as he made his way over to her duffel. He took them to her, but stopped a few feet from the bathroom door. "Come get 'em."

"Troy, I can't. Just please, bring them to me!" Gabriella was starting to get annoyed. Troy thought this over for a minute, then smiled. "Okay." He ran into her, pushing her from the door that was blocking his view. They now both stood in the bathroom, Troy smirking at his flustered girlfriend.

"TROY!" Gabriella quickly made sure the towel was covering all of her before she walked towards him. "That wasn't funny." She snatched her clothes and rolled her eyes. "God, you're such a guy!" He laughed and waltzed out of the bathroom, figuring he had pushed her enough for now.

When she left the bathroom, he smirked at her and she hit him playfully on the back of his head. He now made his way to the bathroom, and came out in his trunks and a black T-shirt.

"Ready? We'll go find Chad and Tay then go for breakfast before hitting the beach."

"OK. I think I'm gonna tan for most of the day."

The two met up with the other couple, and sat down for breakfast. After chatting a bit then eating, the girls hooked arms and made their way out to the beautiful day that awaited them. They easily found four beach chairs, and claimed them as their own with their towels. Gabriella began rubbing lotion on herself, then called upon Taylor to do her back.

"Allow me!" Troy said, pushing Taylor out of the way.

"At least he's polite to you." Taylor said, rolling her eyes.

Troy rubbed lotion on Gabriella's back and smiled a bit when he felt Gabriella shiver under his touch. Gabriella closed her eyes and embraced the tingling feeling that surrounded her whole body. Troy leaned back against the chair, pulling Gabriella with him. She giggled, her body warming up immediately against his chest. She sat up suddenly, grabbing the bottle of lotion. She turned around, now sitting on his waist, her legs dangling off either side of the chair. She put a generous amount of lotion in her palm and began messaging his toned pecks. She felt him squirm a bit beneath her as she moved her hands lower, messaging each individual section of his six-pack, stopping above the waist band of his bathing suit. She looked up at him again, dark eyes diving deep into pools of blue. She smirked at him, "You're so hot." She said nonchalantly, stepping off him. He chuckled, pulling her towards him as he stood, wrapping her in his arms. He ignored Chad's scoffing, and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Troy, let's minimize the PDA in front of your friends. And mine."

"Why? They don't care." He said, crashing his lips onto hers, then kissing her all over her face, making her laugh hysterically. Taylor sighed loudly, causing Chad to sit up on his chair.

"What? Sorry I don't suffocate you with affection. Jeez." Troy and Gabriella laughed, but stopped at Taylor's playful glare. "I'll make it up to you later, OK?" Taylor was satisfied with this answer, and lied back down, resuming her sunbathing.

Troy was lying peacefully, with his eyes closed, when suddenly his whole body went cold. His eyes flashed open, but stung a bit against the salt. Someone, and he was pretty sure he knew who, threw a bucket of cold ocean water on top of him and he was determined to take him down. He ran after his curly-haired friend, who was laughing hysterically.

Taylor and Gabriella rolled their eyes and laughed at their boyfriends. Taylor turned to Gabriella.

"So." Taylor said. Gabriella kept her eyes closed, but turned her head in Taylor's direction.

"So."

"How are things with Troy?"

"Fine."

"Just fine?" Taylor opened her eyes and pulled her sunglasses down to get a full view of her best friend's expression. Gabriella felt a smile creeping to her lips.

"Okay," Gabriella sat up and looked at Taylor. "Things are great! It's weird though. Like, before we were 'together' I got kinda nervous around him, especially when we started spending more time together. But now, it's like… I get butterflies for everything. When I found out yesterday that we'd be sharing a bed, I almost puked!" Gabriella said, chuckling.

"So that's why you were so nervous last night!" Gabriella shrugged.

"You'd think that after we're together, I'd calm down a bit. But it's the exact opposite. I kind of like it though. No one had ever made me feel like thid. Every time he touches me, or holds my hand, or runs his hands through my hair my heart goes nuts. It makes me feel so –"

"Happy? Giddy? I know. You don't hide it very well." Gabriella smiled. Troy really did make her happy. "Besides, it's obvious he loves you too." Gabriella's eyes shot open. Love? She had never though of it that way. She decided to change the subject.

"So how's Chad?"

"He's –"

"A god. The hottest thing in this world, he makes the girls fall at his feet."

The two girls turned around to see Chad standing behind them, looking down at them with a cocky smile.

"Ya, alright Chad. But as long as you're with me, you'll ignore all those girls."

"Mhmm." Chad mumbled. Gabriella turned around to make sure Troy wasn't anywhere near them. After all, she wasn't completely sure how much Chad had heard, and it would have been really embarrassing if Troy had been there for her little confession.

"Where's Troy?" Gabriella asked.

"Don't worry; loverboy is just grabbing a spare towel." He went to sit next to Taylor.

When Troy got back with a dry towel, he grabbed Gabriella's hand and brought her into the water. Troy loved hanging out with Gabriella. She was so easy to talk to and very very good looking, which was a definite bonus. However, he only knew a few things about her despite the amount of time they've spent together.

"Tell me about yourself Gaby." Gabriella laughed.

"Um, what do want to know?"

"OK, I'll ask you a question and you have to answer it. Then you can ask me a question that I have to answer."

"Ooh, OK. I'll go first. How many girls have you hooked up with?" Troy laughed at her question.

"Um, lots. I've never really had a real girlfriend though. I'm not used to the whole relationship thing."

"Which is surprising." Gabriella said, and Troy cocked an eyebrow at her.

"My turn. How many boyfriends have you had?"

"Six."

"SIX!" Troy stared at her in disbelief, Gabriella laughed.

"Well, that's if you include the two in elementary school. And the other three weren't very serious. My most recent one was probably the most serious, but it turns out that he only asked me out and kept on dating me as a part of a bet. That was two years ago. I've been hit on and asked out and stuff since then, but it's hard, you know."

"Mhmm. Well I would never do anything like that to a girl. It's mean." He said, taking Gabriella's hand under the water. She smiled sweetly at him and then dove under the water. She came up and splashed him.

"Oh no you di-in't" Troy said, in a girly voice. Gabriella shrieked as he lifted her and threw her into the water. Their frolicking was interrupted by Taylor yelling at them.

"Hey guys, c'mon. We're getting ready to leave! It's almost dinner!"

The couple entered their room, and Gabriella let Troy use the washroom first. While Troy was in the washroom, Gabriella realized she left her curling iron in the bathroom. She knocked on the door.

"Troy I left my curling iron in there. Can you give it to me?"

"Hold on Brie, I'm changing. I'll be out in a sec." Gabriella grinned, she thought of a wonderful idea. It's payback time. Gabriella turned the doorknob, to make sure he hadn't locked it – which he hadn't. Then, she quickly pushed to door open, revealing a very startled Troy Bolton in the process of pulling up his plaid shorts past his red boxers. She smirked in satisfaction, as he also was not wearing a shirt.

"Gabriella! What the hell?"

"Sorry, Troy. But, obviously the bathroom is not a very private place between you and me anymore. Especially after this morning. Now we're even." She said with a sly smile. She walked by him calmly and grabbed her curling iron from the counter. Before leaving the room, she turned to look back to him. "Thanks, baby." She said, leaving Troy speechless.

When Troy and Gabriella met up with Taylor and Chad, they decided to get Mexican for dinner before heading back home. They all had fajitas, and made fun of Chad, who scoffed down his food faster than all his friends combined.

"Well, boys, thanks for bringing us here, it was a nice surprise." Taylor said, happily reminiscing on their weekend.

"Yeah, thanks guys." Gabriella agreed. "I can't believe we're back at school tomorrow. The only bright side is being able to see all my friends again." Then Gabriella remembered that Sharpay was going to be there, and groaned.

"Woah. What's wrong with her all of a sudden?" Chad looked at Gabriella like she was nuts.

"I'm guessing it has something to do with a cute blonde that will be attending our school this year." Troy said. Gabriella gave him a slap, "She is NOT cute. She's sickening."

"Right. Sorry." They laughed, and decided it was getting late, considering the two-somewhat-hour drive.

Troy climbed into the driver's seat after putting the two surf boards in the trunk of his pickup. He looked over at Gabriella and smiled, putting the car into Drive, and they head to the highway, leaving Tijuana behind. Gabriella slipped off her shoes and brought her feet up to the dashboard, slouching in her seat.

"Oh, hey, feel free to get comfortable, don't be shy." Troy said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"Thanks, bubby."

"Bubby!" Troy said, laughing. "Don't call me that. You sound like a mother of a toddler." Gabriella giggled at the comparison.

Gabriella turned up the volume at the song on the radio. Troy started singing the first part of the lyrics. "You know I never, I never seen you look so good. You never act the way you should. But I like it. And I know you like it too. The way that I want you. I gotta have you. Oh yes, I do." He started bobbing his head, and Gabriella laughed. She started singing the lyrics too.

"You know I never, I never ever stay out late. You know that I can hardly wait. Just to see you. And I know you cannot wait. Wait to see me too. I gotta touch you." She started imitating Troy's dancing, and they both broke out to sing the chorus.

"Cause baby we'll be at the drive-in, in the old mans ford, behind the bushes, 'till I'm screamin' for more. Down the basement, lock the cellar door. And baby… talk dirty to me!"

They both broke out in hysterical laughter, Gabriella throwing her head back.

Once the song was over, they both sat and talked quietly for a bit, about anything and everything. Gabriella soon started recognizing her surroundings, disappointed that her mini-vacation was coming to an end. She took Troy's hand, and embraced the moment before she would have to let it go. She thought again about what Taylor said. Did she love Troy? They had only known each other two months. She pushed the thought from her mind, but that only welcomed more unpleasant thoughts. She was not looking forward to school tomorrow. She just wished that she could stay in this moment forever, where there was no school, no Sharpay, no stress, just them.

A/N: Hey again! So, I know there's not much really going on in this story, and I know that they're in like Tijuana but I didn't really feel they needed to go out and get drunk or whatever :p. Do you guys mind if I make a few sexual references? And if they do end up having sex (maybe, maybe not) there will not be many details, if any. Let me know if this is too much for you guys. But I promise, few details, IF ANY! I just see it as a possibility in the future, that's all. I still wanna keep it rated 'T'. Thanks and REVIEW! Xox

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