Okay! Here's the next chapter, you guys are seriously the best readers ever and I'm really loving writing this story, I hope the date lives up to expectations!
Gabriella took in a deep breath as her hand opened the door to her apartment, knowing Sharpay and Taylor would be inside, and both – though Sharpay would be the one asking the questions – would want to know what had happened on her walk with Troy.
And then she'd have to tell them about the date, and no doubt go through more questions, when all she really wanted to do was have the time pass quickly until Troy was to pick her up.
Slowly opening the door wide enough to step through Gabriella braced herself for the oncoming bout of questions she knew were heading her way.
"Did lover boy hold your hand? Were your fingers intertwined? How big are his hands?" The questions flowed from Sharpay's mouth before Gabriella even had time to shut the door.
Gabriella hesitated before turning around to face her two friends. Taylor had a soft smile playing on her lips while Sharpay's smile was much more evident, her excitement at Gabriella and Troy's meeting painfully obvious.
"Hello to you too, Shar," Gabriella joked as she dropped her purse to the floor and kicked off her shoes while starting to answer what she could only assume were Sharpay's first set of questions. "Yes we held hands, our fingers were intertwined because we're adults and not 5 year olds, and what does it matter about the size of his hands?"
"Just a question. So where is he? You guys are seeing each other again, right?" Sharpay continued to fire the questions and Gabriella fought a smile back, which neither of her friends missed.
"Sharpay, give the girl a second. If something's happening, or happened with lover boy, I'm sure she'll tell us," Taylor winked at Gabriella and Gabriella felt herself starting to blush.
Hurrying past her two best friends Gabriella entered the kitchen, deciding that telling them her and Troy had a date in a few hours would be news best said from a slight distance.
"Troy's probably on his way home to get ready for our date, just like I should be about to do," Gabriella said as she opened the refrigerator, waiting for the squeals of excitement she had predicted would come from her friends.
"Your date?" Taylor asked blankly, the news not registering in her brian as fast as it did in Sharpay's, an ear piercing scream emitting from the blonde followed quickly by Taylor's identical scream.
Gabriella giggled in the kitchen, placing the bottle of water on the counter as she heard two sets of footsteps coming closer to her.
Two pairs of arms wrapped around Gabriella, squashing her slightly and Gabriella felt a wave of love for her two best friends at that moment. She knew that she would look perfect for her date with Troy, because Sharpay and Taylor were as excited as her and would help her to get ready, just like when they were in high school.
"Where is he taking you?" Taylor asked as she released Gabriella from her embrace.
"What time?" Sharpay added in.
"What are you going to wear?"
"Can we help you get ready?"
"Did he kiss you?" At this question Gabriella couldn't help the blush that spread across her cheeks and Sharpay and Taylor squealed again.
"Was it like a peck on the cheek? Or a full on I-want-to-have-wild-sex-with-you make out?" Sharpay asked.
"Sharpay!" Gabriella cried out, blushing an even deeper red at the thought of making out with Troy again.
"You totally want to screw him," Sharpay stated with a shrug of her shoulders as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Let's just get Gabs ready for the date, first?" Taylor suggested, taking the blonde's thoughts away from humiliating Gabriella and onto fashion, her favourite thing in the world.
"Okay, so before we can decide what you wear, where is he taking you?" Sharpay asked, switching from a giggling girl into her fashion designer mode.
"Dinner and a movie," Gabriella answered with a smile.
"Okay, a safe first date. You need a dress. Let's go look in your closet…." Gabriella stopped listening as Sharpay thought out loud of the dresses Gabriella could wear, all Gabriella could think about was getting to see Troy again, and she didn't care what the hell she was wearing when it happened.
--
Troy paced back and forth across his living room, Chad sat on the sofa, watching his best friend.
"Dude, you're gunna wear out the carpet," Chad pointed out.
"And if I stand still or sit down I'm going to be crazy by the time I'm meant to be picking Ella up!" Troy threw his hands up in the air in defeat.
"I've never seen you so nervous about a date before," Chad said with a shrug. "What's the big deal?"
"The big deal? Chad!" Troy cried out. "Ella makes me feel differently than I ever have before, even just in the short time I've spent with her."
"I dunno what's up with you, but you sound like a chick," Chad stated. "Now can you move from in front of the tv?"
Troy shot his best friend a glare and walked away, heading to the kitchen to have yet another cup of coffee.
Troy rested against the counter, sipping at the hot liquid and going over the plan for the night.
He was picking Ella up at 7, then taking her to Zeke's restaurant for dinner and then he was letting her pick what movie they watched, since he couldn't decide. Next would come the ice cream she had suggested that afternoon, and finally a surprise Troy had prepared to show her that he really just wanted to be with her and that his feelings were true.
Finishing the last of his coffee Troy looked at his watch to see it was time to leave and pick up Gabriella. He put his mug in the dishwasher and smoothed down his blue shirt once more before picking up his keys and heading out.
"See you tomorrow, Chad," He called out to his best friend.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't!" Chad called out in response, not turning his head from the tv at all.
A few minutes later Troy stepped out of the apartment building, the cool air of the night making the hair on the back of his neck stand up as he tried to stay calm as he walked to his car.
Sliding into the black Audi Troy turned on the ignition followed by the stereo, letting his favourite radio station play in the background, keeping his mind from drifting to Gabriella and having him be a nervous wreck by the time he turned up at her door.
--
The ride to Gabriella's apartment seemed to take Troy forever, he just wanted to see her again. But when he was in the elevator going up to her apartment the nerves settled in and he started to doubt if he was able to be the guy that Gabriella had met at the club.
By the time Taylor opened the apartment door Troy was ready to bolt, but he instead forced himself to walk into the girls' apartment and take a seat on the sofa next to Sharpay who was sulking following a warning from Taylor that she was not to question Troy at all.
Troy kept his eyes down, his gaze on the dark blue carpet that adorned the apartment, until a small cough from Sharpay drew his gaze upwards, connecting with the dark haired beauty in front of him.
His gaze traveled up her bare, slender legs, mid thigh her black dress started, slipping over her small curves up to a V neck and thin straps that were covered by her loose curls.
Troy didn't notice her strappy black heels or the silver bangles on her wrists as his eyes connected with her chocolate brown eyes. He quickly stood up, taking a step towards Gabriella and placing a soft kiss on her cheek.
"You look gorgeous," Troy whispered as he pulled away from her, flashing her a toothy smile which caused her own smile to grow wider.
"You kids go have fun now," Sharpay teased, causing the pair to snap out of their trance and blush lightly.
"Shar!" Taylor scolded causing Gabriella and Troy to laugh softly at Gabriella's friends.
"You want to go, El?" Troy asked, wanting to get the night started and to not have to share Gabriella with anyone else.
Gabriella's heart soared inwardly at the nickname flowing through Troy's lips as if he was born to say it. Unable to speak Gabriella just nodded at his suggestion, taking his hand as he offered it to her.
Sharpay and Taylor squealed at the gesture which felt so natural to Troy and Gabriella, but neither of them said anything as Troy lead Gabriella out of the apartment, Gabriella shooting her friends a quick smile as she shut the door behind her, leaving her and Troy alone at last.
Troy felt more at ease with Gabriella than he had ever done in his life. As they waited for the elevator he couldn't help but look at her again, at the way her tanned skin glowed, blending perfectly with the dark fabric of her dress.
Gabriella's eyes traveled from the blue denim of Troy's jeans to the brighter blue of his button up shirt that had several buttons undone showing a glimpse of the white beater he had underneath. Allowing her eyes to travel up further they connected with his sparkling blue eyes that were fixed on her.
"You really look gorgeous, El," he said again and she giggled at his repeated statement.
"I believe you've already said that tonight, Troy," she teased as the elevator arrived at their floor and the pair stepped inside, their hands still linked together.
"Well maybe you're just sop gorgeous I can't think of anything else," Troy teased back, laughing as Gabriella flushed red at the compliment. "Blushing just makes you even more gorgeous."
"You're a charmer, aren't you?" Gabriella giggled as Troy led her out of the elevator and then outside to his car.
"Your ride for the evening." Troy held the door opened as Gabriella slid inside, the material of her dress creeping up her leg even more, causing Troy to hold his breath for a second as he tried to stop himself from thinking what it would be like to slide his hand along the smooth exposed skin of her legs.
Qucikly shutting the door and heading around to the drivers side of the car Troy slid in himself and smiled when Gabriella;s hand once again found his, their fingers linking instinctively and resting on Troy's knee as he started the short drive to their dinner destination.
--
Dinner went just as Troy had planned, with him and Gabriella getting to know each other better, swapping childhood memories, favourite colours, foods, seasons, tastes, vacation spots and everything in between.
Now they were standing at the movie theatre trying to decide what movie to see. Troy had told Gabriella that it was her choice but she wasn't sure what she wanted to see.
"The comedy one or the horror?" Gabriella asked Troy who has his arms wrapped around her waist, his front against her back.
"It's your choice, but I'd prefer the horror so I have an excuse to hold you," Troy said with a soft laugh, his breath tickling her ear.
"Sounds good to me," Gabriella confirmed. "My knight in shining armor."
"Always happy to save a damsel in distress," Troy whispered into her ear, nipping at the lobe gently, unable to resist her sweet smell anymore.
"Troy," She whimpered in response. "Don't start something you can't finish."
Troy laughed at her words and slowly unwrapped himself from Gabriella's body and taking her hand to get their tickets for their chosen movie.
"Can we get popcorn?" Gabriella asked once Troy had their tickets, batting her eyelashes at Troy.
"How can I say not to that face?" Troy responded, gaining a happy cry from Gabriella who proceeded to drag him to get the popcorn.
Five minutes later Troy and Gabriella were seated in the back row of the theatre with not only popcorn, but soda and candy as well, much to Gabriella's delight.
"How do you have that amazing figure when you eat like a kid who's locked in a candy shop?" Troy teased as the lights dimmed and the previews started.
"It's one of life's mysteries," Gabriella giggled turning to look at Troy, identical smiles playing across both of their faces.
"If you say so," Troy whispered against Gabriella's lips before joining them in their first kiss of the night.
The kiss started off slow and sweet, but neither were able to get enough of the other and soon the kiss was heated and passionate.
As they broke apart a few minutes later both were breathing heavily and they had missed most of the previews. Luckily for them there were only a few other people scattered around the theatre, all unaware of the couple in the back row who couldn't get enough of each other.
"Are we going to watch the movie?" Gabriella asked with a giggle as Troy connected their lips again.
"Of course, I just. Need. One. More," Troy punctuated each of the words with a soft kiss to Gabriella's lips.
"Enough," Gabriella giggled, twisting her body slightly so that she was curled into Troy's side, her head on his shoulder, her arm across his lower stomach.
"Yes, ma'am," Troy responded wrapping his arms around Gabriella tightly, their bodies so close in the dark room it was hard to see where one ended and the other one started.
--
By midway through the movie Gabriella's face was hidden in Troy's neck, her whimpers when a loud nose sounded through the theatre muffled by his skin.
Troy found her reaction to the horror movie amusing and he planned to watch many more horror movies with her, just to get close to her like they were at that moment.
"Do you want to leave, El?" He asked gently in her ear.
"No," She pouted.
"Are you scared?"
"A little," she admitted.
"Aww, baby," he comforted, running his fingers through her curls in a soothing fashion.
The rest of the movie continued in much the same way, with Troy and Gabriella to wrapped up in each other to pay much attention to the film playing, but neither of the minded.
Once it was over they stood up in the now bright theatre, stretching their bodies before Troy took Gabriella's hand in his own, leading her out of the theatre and outside where they started the short walk to where his car was parked.
The air was much cooler outside now and Gabriella shivered as the air hit her skin.
"Cold?" Troy asked as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I have a jacket in the car."
"Are we getting ice cream?" Gabriella asked excitedly. "Because the best ice cream shop is just down the road."
"Let's get you the jacket, I don't want a frozen date," Troy laughed. "How can you want ice cream if you're already cold?"
"I always want ice cream," Gabriella responded with a shrug of her shoulders as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
When they reached Troy's car he quickly unlocked it and retrieved a black jacket from the backseat which he helped Gabriella into.
"God, you look good in my jacket," he whispered, using his body to gently press Gabriella's body up against the side of his car. His lips sought out hers and he slipped his tongue into her hot mouth, tracing the area, tasting her sweetness that made his head spin in delight.
Gabriella moaned gently as the kiss broke apart and the pair stood for a few more seconds, their bodies pressed together, their chest heaving as they struggled to regain their composure before they went to get their ice creams.
"Ready?" Troy asked gently, stepping his body away from Gabriella and holding out a hand to her.
Gabriella took his hand and they chatted more as they walked the short distance to the ice cream store that Gabriella had mentioned.
"What flavour?" Troy asked as they neared the counter, he'd never noticed the little store before but it seemed to be very popular.
"Chocolate? With sprinkles?" Gabriella more asked, her eyes sparkling as she watched Troy roll his eyes before kissing her gently on the nose.
"Are you sure you're not 6?" He teased.
"If I am, you're one sick person," Gabriella teased back, gaining a laugh from Troy.
Troy ordered Gabriella's ice cream and a vanilla cone for himself and when their ice creams were ready Troy led them to a booth at the back of the store, letting Gabriella slip in after him and mould her body against his own.
They ate their cones in silence until Gabriella reached up and licked Troy's ice cream.
"Hey, you!" He exclaimed, moving his cone out of her reach. "You have your own."
"Yours tastes like you," Gabriella pointed out. "And I'm beginning to like that taste."
Troy watched Gabriella for a few seconds before he burst out laughing at her answer.
"You're too cute for your own good, do you know that?" Troy asked through his laughter.
"I do," Gabriella responded. "But you love it."
Troy nodded his head as he took the last bite of his cone smirking when he saw Gabriella had a small blob of ice cream on her bottom lip.
He dipped his head to gently lick along her lip, licking up the ice cream before plunging his tongue into her mouth, causing a moan to stifle through Gabriella's lips as Troy explored her mouth once more this time Gabriella's own tongue fighting for dominance, wanting to taste more of Troy, unable to get enough of him.
"I don't want this date to end," Gabriella breathed when they broke apart for air.
"It doesn't have to," Troy said softly, glad he was getting a chance to finally reveal his secret.
"What do you mean?"
"I've booked a hotel room, I'm not expecting anything to happen, I just knew I wouldn't want to let you go home tonight," Troy explained. "We can watch a movie, order in room service and get to know each other better."
"It sounds perfect to me," Gabriella answered with a smile. "But I don't have anything to sleep in."
"I packed some of my clothes for you to wear, I'm a thinker."
"You are indeed," Gabriella giggled, leaning in to place a soft kiss on Troy's lips.
"Are you ready to head off to the last part of the night?" Troy asked a few minutes later.
"Let's go," Gabriella agreed, sliding out of the booth and following Troy out to his car.