A/N: I hope you like this chapter. I enjoyed writing it :)

Don't own HSM


Chapter 10

Gabriella knocked on Troy's front door but then stepped back. She threw a wistful glance over her shoulder at her child-friendly grey Ford Focus. It offered her safety and security and the choice whether to go home or not. Before she could make that choice, the door opened. She turned back and felt Amber disappear from her side and jump into Troy's awaiting arms. Gabriella honestly couldn't breathe. He looked...um...she didn't know. She couldn't describe him.

He'd shaved.

And, boy, what a difference that made. She could see the definite cheekbones which she imagined had been more rounded during childhood. His jaw and chin looked strong and defined and she wanted to know what they felt like; she had to stop herself from reaching out and running a finger across them. And his lips...they looked so soft and perfect. His hair looked almost tame. It still fell naturally in front of his eyes, making him shake his head every so often. It looked clean and brushed. He wore a pale blue button up shirt exceedingly well. She was so accustomed to see him in either a plaid shirt or just, well, shirtless that it was a shock to see him in something so smart. It still boasted his defined chest and part of her was thankful for that. It was freshly washed and ironed and Gabriella wouldn't be surprised if Troy had just put it on when he heard the doorbell ring. A pair of faded blue jeans hung snugly on Troy's strong hips and Gabriella inhaled sharply. His hips were slim and ever so muscular.

She tugged nervously at her white spaghetti strap dress. It was simple and didn't flaunt her body at all. There was a thin strip of white ribbon tied just under her breasts and then it flowed to just above her knees. She hadn't really known what to wear but had finally decided on this dress because, well, it could either be dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion. But, the dress combined with her white ballet flats and her white cotton cardigan, it was definitely dressed down and she felt considerably under dressed compared to Troy.

Amber, on the other hand, was dressed in a pretty pink pinafore over a white t-shirt and she didn't have a care in the world. Troy was throwing her playfully up into the air and catching her as she fell. Her blonde curls blew around wildly and her giggles of delight filled the air. Troy set her down on the floor and suddenly turned on Gabriella.

"Hi," she whispered. She swallowed the lump in her throat, trying desperately not to cry.

"Hi," Troy said steadily. "Can I talk to you?"

"Will you yell at me?" she asked timidly, gripping the strap of her bag tightly.

He smiled and shook his head. "No. I just want to talk, I promise I won't raise my voice."

Gabriella nodded. "Do you have any kids' films Amber can watch?"

"I have The Lion King. Is that okay?" Troy asked.

"That's perfect," Gabriella replied. She stepped timidly into his house and followed Troy and Amber into the lounge. She stood there nervously and watched Troy, or rather Troy's muscles flexing, as he placed a DVD in the player so that Amber was occupied while they talked. His shirt had ridden up as he bent down and she could see the top of some white boxers. Wow. Maybe looking rough and messy was just an occupational hazard for him.

Rain bounded in from the back garden and paused to look pleadingly into Gabriella's eyes. Unsure what she wanted, she rubbed the dog's head. Satisfied by Gabriella's attention, she trotted happily over to Amber. Rain lay down for the little girl, allowing her little hands to tug on her ears and fur.

Troy stood up once the film had started and turned to Amber. Instead of using the patronising tone so many adults used with Amber, he spoke to her as if he'd known her since she was born. "My little gem, the movie is playing, Rain will take good care of you and if you need anything, we'll just be in the kitchen." He stepped towards Gabriella and hesitated for just a moment before he took her hand and led her into the kitchen.

Gabriella let her hand slip out of his and placed her bag on the island counter. The kitchen was made up mostly of beautifully polished granite surfaces with matching cupboards. It was spacious and large and Gabriella fell in love with it. As she wandered around the island counter in wonder, she murmured absentmindedly, "So, what did you want to talk about?"

Troy stepped in front of her and gripped her arms. The touch sent Gabriella's blood rate up into the heavens. "Ella," he began and then sighed. "I'm sorry."

Gabriella frowned. "What?"

Troy sighed again and stepped away from her, leaning against the wall opposite her. "I'm sorry. I was wrong to accuse you of doing that with Zeke. I didn't think it through but I was upset that you cancelled on me and then I saw you with another guy, Zeke or not, and that hurt me so much."

Gabriella shrugged her cardigan off and set it next to her bag on the island counter. "Why would that hurt you?"

"I was jealous," he mumbled. "I'm not proud of it and I really wish that I wasn't jealous of the prospect of some other guy being with you in that way because, I mean, this is you. But, I couldn't help it."

"Troy, I'm not sure what you expect me to say to that," she whispered.

He shrugged and went to scratch at his beard but stopped when he only found skin. The action made Gabriella smile. "I don't expect you to say anything." He paused. "Can I ask you something?"

Gabriella nodded.

"You were mad at me just before our one-on-one game and you have been ever since. Why?" he asked.

Gabriella paused and couldn't help letting tears begin to spill from her eyes. "You warned me about playing everybody like a violin when you accused me of having an affair but what about you, huh?"

Troy just stood there, letting her get it all in the open. They were both angry about too many things and it was time for it all to be out in the open.

"On the day of the game, I used your bathroom and I saw a damn pink toothbrush in there. I'll admit it. I was jealous. I was jealous at the sheer thought of you being with another woman like that. But it hurt me because you obviously didn't tell my family or they would've told me. Why the hell would you keep something like that from me? Who is she?" Gabriella cried. "And it hurt even more because I think that I sorta, kinda like you as more than friends and it's not fair." She slid into the corner of the kitchen and brought her knees up to her chest.

Troy walked over and knelt in front of her. He gripped her hands in his and looked into her eyes. "That toothbrush isn't my girlfriend's, my wife's, partner's, ex-wife's... It doesn't belong to a woman in that sense."

Gabriella sniffed, knowing he was telling the truth. "Whose is it?"

Troy sat next to her, leaning against a cupboard door. He kept his hand in hers. "Can I tell you the whole story?"

Gabriella nodded. "Yeah."

Troy took a deep breath. "I went to university in Bristol and got a degree in equestrian studies. After I graduated, I moved up to the Lake District and worked at a horse rescue centre." He ran a hand through his hair and looked down on Gabriella. "Five years ago, I had to quit my job because my mom," he noticed her smile at the use of the American term, "had a stroke. Do you know anything about strokes?"

Gabriella shook her head. "My grandparents, all of them, have a lot of things. Arthritis, diabetes, cancer...but no strokes."

"Well, um, it hurt me. My mom lost her speech and her use of her right hand. I moved back here and bought this place. At the time, she wasn't bad enough to need care or go in a home so my dad and me took turns caring for her. I didn't have a job because caring for her was a full time occupation. While my dad went to work, my mom would stay here. Hence the toothbrush. About three years ago, just after you left, probably, my mom had another stroke. It was worse than last time. She had to be put in a home then. In the one on Queen Margaret's road. So, I could get a job then at your dad's place. I mean, my mom hasn't been here since then. But, I just couldn't get rid of her toothbrush."

"Wow," Gabriella murmured. "I hate to sound insensitive but I have to clear this up: so, you're single?"

Troy smiled. "Completely unattached." He stood up and offered his hand to her. She accepted and he pulled her up. He smiled at her. "So we're okay now? You're not mad?"

She shook her head. "No. You?"

"No," he murmured.

"I kinda figured that you were losing or had lost somebody," she admitted.

Troy nodded. "It's hard but that's life." He paused. "Let me just check on our food. It should be done soon."

"What are we having?" Gabriella asked.

Troy got some oven gloves on and opened the oven door. He inspected the food before he shut it again, setting the oven gloves on the counter. "Pupus," he said softly as he turned to her. "I've never made it before so this might be horrible. But, I heard that it's the national dish of El Salvador. Is that right?"

Gabriella smiled and nodded.

"And do you like it?" he asked worriedly.

She laughed and nodded. "I love it."

"Great. It should be done in a few minutes," he said softly.


Once Gabriella's plate was clear, she placed her knife and fork together and then wiped her mouth with her napkin. She turned to her left where Troy was sat. "That was amazing," she praised.

"I'm glad you liked it, considering I really had no idea what I was doing," he chuckled.

Gabriella sipped her Merlot and smiled coyly across at him. "Well, my mum would be very proud."

Amber finished her milk off and then pushed her plate away. "Sorry that I couldn't finish it, Troy. There was too much."

He chuckled. "It's fine. As long as you enjoyed it." He gestured with his head to the living room. "Do you want to go and play with Rain?"

She nodded and slid off of the island stool. "Thank you, Troy." She skipped happily into the living room and her shrieks and giggles floated through to them a moment later.

"You're so good to her," Gabriella finally murmured as she and Troy sat there, drinking their wine.

Troy shrugged. "I guess that because of my mom and caring for her, meeting women has taken a back seat and I've sort of forgotten how to do it. So, I'm trying to be good to Amber because all I ever wanted was a little girl."

Gabriella smiled. "Well, I think you managed to meet me just fine, Hollywood," she murmured.

He nodded and sipped his wine. "Thank you. You know that just because we admitted we were jealous, I'm not going to start being nice to you."

Gabriella grinned. "Good. I wouldn't want you to."

Troy gathered their dishes together and placed them in the dishwasher. Amber's leftovers were set on the counter with a tea towel over the top. "Shall we go through?" he gestured to the living room.

Gabriella nodded and smiled when he took her hand, leading her through. "Why do you have a piano?" she asked, pointing to the piano in the corner where many people would've put a TV. The TV was in the corner closest to the archway leading to the kitchen.

He shrugged. "I'd rather play the piano than melt my brain by watching TV. I only watch it on very odd occasions."

"Play something for me," she murmured.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know, Ella."

"Please?" She looked up at him with her wide, innocent eyes.

Troy sighed and sat down on the piano stool. He patted the spot next to him and Gabriella sat beside him. Amber stood next to Gabriella and she leant against her mother. "Alright, I will." He placed his fingers in the correct position and let his hands dance across the ivory keys. A beautiful melody filled the room. It was slow and peaceful, filling Gabriella with a beautiful sensation.

He seemed to become a different person. Never had she imagined Troy to be a musician. When he was with the horses, it was like he belonged with them more than people. And now, he was revealing another side of him to her. He kept giving her glances and smiles, being able to play the song without looking at the piano at all. No sheet music was involved; he was playing it entirely from memory. He was focussed and was getting lost in the music. Gabriella kept trying to identify the tune. At first, she thought it might be something by Chopin but she knew all of his pieces and this wasn't one of them.

Troy finally brought the song to an end and turned to Gabriella and Amber. "What did you think?"

"What is that? What's it called?" Gabriella asked.

He shrugged. "I haven't named it yet."

"You wrote it?" Gabriella gasped.

He shrugged. "Yeah."

"Will you teach me, Troy?" Amber asked sweetly.

Troy smiled and reached across Gabriella to lift Amber onto his lap. "Press this key," he said.

Gabriella watched Troy curiously as he patiently taught Amber how to play 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'. Yes, she wanted to be with him a lot more than she originally thought.


"She's asleep," Gabriella murmured when she walked into the kitchen to see Troy making some coffee.

"Do you want to put her in the guest room for a while? You don't have to go just yet. First door on the right," Troy offered.

Gabriella smiled and nodded. "Okay. I'll be back in a minute." She came back downstairs a few minutes later and took the coffee gratefully from Troy. "Thank you," she whispered.

Troy sipped his own cup and stared down on her curiously. "Do you want to play some pool? I have a pool table."

She raised her eyebrows. "You do?"

Troy smiled and took her free hand, leading her down the hall. He turned into the room she supposed could've been used as a study. The pool table took up the whole room, leaving room for just a few shelves which had a few ornaments on them. Troy set his cup on a nearby shelf and began setting the balls up correctly. "Have you played before?"

Gabriella set her cup next to his and shrugged. "A couple of years ago but I wasn't very good. I'll need some help."

Troy took a pool cue and bent over the table to make the first break, not pocketing a single ball. "That's fine." He handed her the pool cue and gestured for her to get into position. Troy leaned over her and placed his hands over hers. "We're aiming for that red, okay? You pull it back gently and then push back smoothly," he murmured, letting his breath tickle her ear. His chest was pressed against her back and she could feel the wonderful heat emanating from his body. He helped her pull the pool cue back and then pushed it through, pocketing the desired red ball.

He stepped back and smiled at her. "Try the next one by yourself. Aim for that red ball by the middle pocket." He took a sip of his coffee.

Gabriella analysed the table. Troy was right. But that would be an easy shot. However, she could always aim to get two balls at the same time. She smiled to herself and made the shot cleanly in one fluid motion, pocketing the desired two balls. She leant back and turned to smile proudly at Troy. "That was the best shot available there."

Troy dropped his jaw. "You hustled me," he accused.

She shrugged. "Maybe." She leant back against the pool table so that she faced him. Before either could fully comprehend it, Troy held her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers. Gabriella dropped the pool cue to the floor and wrapped her arms tightly around him. She was pushed against the pool table and could feel his body against hers. Their lips moved slowly together as if they had all of the time in the world. Which they did, really. The kiss felt indescribable and Gabriella knew that no matter how hard she tried, she wouldn't be able to capture it accurately in words. No tongues were used. It was too soon for that. But the kiss felt honestly heavenly. Nobody had ever kissed her like that and she never wanted it to end.

Troy pulled back and breathed deeply as he looked down on her. She reached up silently and ran her fingers along his jaw line. They shared a smile before Troy brought her easily into his strong embrace.


"What's your favourite colour?" Gabriella asked. After the game of pool had ended (with Gabriella having the victory), they found themselves lying together on the settee.

He chuckled. "Um, I would say brown."

Gabriella pulled a face at him. "That's disgusting. I think brown, I think poo."

"I think brown, I think your eyes," he whispered.

"Smooth," Gabriella complimented.

He chuckled and tightened his arms around her. "I try to be."

"Thank you for shaving," she mumbled.

He smiled down at her. "Sharpay persuaded me. She said if I truly wanted you, it had to go."

"It's true. Beards are awful," she whined. "It's not funny," she complained.

He smiled and kissed her lips tenderly. "Well, I'll never have a beard again, I promise."

"Good," she mumbled. In the comfortable silence that followed, she occupied herself by running her fingers up and down his muscular arm. It amused Troy to see that such a simple action could keep her interested like that.

"Can I ask you something?" Troy murmured, twirling a lock of her hair around his finger.

"Sure," she whispered.

"How can you be so clumsy and be so good at ballet? I mean, you can't even run properly," he laughed.

Gabriella blushed deeply and shrugged. "I practice ballet routines so many times that I can do them blindfolded. It becomes second nature. Running, however," she paused to shudder dramatically, "is just plain awful for me."

Troy chuckled. "Well, okay then. You were really good at ballet," he murmured seriously.

"Thank you," she whispered. "It's because of my mum that I love it so much. She took me to my first lesson ever."

Troy paused and then turned to her. "Do you want to listen to some music?"

Gabriella smiled. "What have you got?"

Troy pushed them both up and he walked towards the cupboard that the TV was resting on. He pulled the doors open to reveal a small CD player with a pile of CDs next to it. There were only six or so. He handed the CDs to her. "I'm not sure if there's anything there you'll like."

Gabriella dropped down to her knees so that she was near him. He rested a hand on her back and she snuggled into his embrace. "Hollywood, you like Frank Sinatra?" she asked in shock.

"Yeah, he's one of my many idols," he explained. "Why?"

"Because, although he's good, Elvis is better," Gabriella complained, holding up an Elvis CD.

Troy rolled his eyes. "You can't be serious in comparing Elvis to Frank Sinatra!"

"Well, I am!" she protested. "Elvis is a classic American singer. He sang some of the most popular songs ever."

Troy grumbled to himself. "Frank was one of the greatest swing singers that ever walked the planet. Where would we be without 'Come fly with me'?"

"I admit it's a great song but what about Elvis' rock 'n' roll songs, his ballads, his love songs?" she argued.

Troy sighed and placed his CDs back except for an Elvis CD. "If I put this darn thing on, will you shut up about him?"

She smiled and nodded. "Probably."

Troy placed the CD in the slot and gave the case to Gabriella. "Which track do you want? What's your favourite?"

Gabriella immediately handed the case back to him. "'Can't help falling in love with you'. It's my all-time favourite. I just love everything about it."

Troy got the song playing and Elvis' slow guitar intro filled the room. Rain was lying by herself in the corner, obviously exhausted because of Amber's playing. Troy sighed. "I can't believe I'm putting Elvis on." He stood up and held his hand out expectantly to Gabriella.

She allowed him to pull her up and before she could comprehend Troy's actions, she was in his arms and they were swaying together. "If you don't like Elvis, why do you have a CD of his?"

"It's my dad's," he mumbled. "My dad quite often comes into my house and messes with my CD collection."

Gabriella smiled and pulled herself closer to him, pressing her cheek to his chest. Elvis' smooth voice floated around them and it was like they were in their own little cocoon of bliss. "Can I tell you something?" she muttered into his shoulder.

"Of course," Troy whispered.

Gabriella swallowed hard and spoke tightly around the lump that had formed in her throat. "You know how I kept correcting you when you called me Ella, saying that my name is Gabriella?"

Troy lifted her head when he heard the change in her voice. He looked deeply into her teary eyes. "Yeah," he murmured. "What about it?"

A tear leaked from her left eye. "It wasn't just annoying. The thing is, I'm telling you this because I feel that you need to know." She paused and they continued to sway together. She closed her eyes as Troy tightened his arms around her and kissed her forehead. She opened her eyes again and drew a deep breath. "My grandpa used to call me Ella. Only he ever did and nobody's been brave enough to call me it since he died."

Troy frowned. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Gabriella shrugged. "I didn't want you to think I was a basket case."

"So what changed?" Troy asked.

"You've seen me freak out twice and you already know the story behind my grandpa so I figured that I couldn't be more of a basket case than that. Besides, I really do want to be with you and I thought you sort of needed to know the back story," she explained.

"I won't call you it again," he promised.

She shook her head frantically. "No. I like it. It was just a shock at first. No, I want you to call me Ella."

Troy smiled and nodded. "Alright then, Ella." He leaned down to kiss her cheek and then released her, spinning her around. He brought her back to his body and dipped her down before he brought her back up. He chuckled at her shocked expression. "What?"

"You can dance but you can't do ballet," she whispered in amazement.

"Ballet is not dancing," he protested. "It's a sport." He smiled down at her charmingly.

She giggled and brought him down to her height so that she could kiss him.


A/N: When Troy explains about Lucille, I think it's important for you all to know that strokes have greatly effected my life. Writing that part and thinking up that part of the plot was very natural. It flowed and everything that Troy explained about Lucille's health has been true to me.

Um, atm, my life has been a bit crazy. I'm in the middle of chapter 19 right now. I've gone back to school and atm, my dad is in hospital. :( Hopefully he'll be home on Friday. Please pray for him. I miss having him here. I'm in the middle of writing a poem/lyrics and I'll post it on my twitter/facebook page.

Until next week...