A/N: So I guess I didn't explain something well enough because I had a bunch of people asking where Troy is going. In chapter three, when Troy is talking with Rock and Eric, he says how two days after Halloween he's going to Cancun for his aunt's wedding. I'm so sorry I failed at getting that across. And I really don't think this chapter makes up for it much, I'm not real happy with it. But hopefully you guys like it! Thanks for reading as normal! :D

"Right now, with you, it's finally starting to feel like summer."

-Troy Bolton, High School Musical 2

"I swear to God I'm gonna start wrapping you in bubble wrap cuz you can't keep on your fucking feet." Eric's tenor voice boomed as he approached her locker, which she had just slammed into her forehead and was now rubbing vigorously in attempts to numb the pain.

"And I'd probably just pop the wrap and then trip and fall anyways." She joked lightly before feeling Eric's feverous arms enclose her into a tight embrace. Her throbbing head snuggled into his comforting chest, though she suddenly wished he had an icy touch so she could place her "battle wound" onto it. She'd have to remember to do that with Troy later.

"Probably." Eric chuckled his deep laugh that always made Gabriella brightly smile as he tenderly pulled away from her and rubbed the chapped impact point with his gentle thumb. Gabriella smiled coyly before glancing down, desperately wishing that this act of endearment was only because she had hurt herself, and not that he was making excuses to touch her. She seriously doubted herself though.

She liked being held and touched by Eric. It was something of if she had an older brother, that's how she would have felt. Protected, which felt good, but always to a point. She couldn't stress enough how there was absolutely not sexual feeling towards him at all. Though he wasn't trying to make a move on her at the moment, she still didn't want to lead him on to something more at all. "Thanks… you were supposed to say, 'Jeeze Gabs, you're not that clumsy!''' Gabriella pouted before Eric laughed heartedly again.

"Sorry… you wanna come over after football so I can make it up to you?" He offered eagerly before Gabriella pulled out her navy bag and slid the heavy books she would need for tonight's homework inside. The sparkle of his intriguing eyes made Gabriella's stomach squirm guiltily. Well, she could work her way around this walking away without him angry, she knew it.

"Um… actually… I'm um… studying… with Taylor and Chad…" She honestly told him while cautiously closing the neat locker and taking two strides to catch up with his one as they made their way down the emptying hallway, for it was the end of the day.

Eric's black eyebrows furrowed in a cute way that reminded Gabriella distantly of a disappointed dog. "Oh… well, I could come and keep you company so you don't feel like a third wheel?"

Gabriella looked down at her tiny feet before closing her eyes. There was no way around this was there? "Um… well… I'm sure I'll be fine…"

Then the realization seemed to dawn across Eric's now upset face. "Let me guess… Bolton's gonna be there huh?" Gabriella's silence confirmed his worst dream. "Can't you just like… tell him to fuck off or something?"

"Eric… it's at his house. And no I won't do that," she hissed defiantly as though he had insulted herself. The normally chocolate eyes turned into black ashes as she glared harshly at him. How dare he insult Troy in front of her? She was in such a good mood for finally going over to the boy whom she was falling for quickly's house, and the football captain was killing her mood violently. "I'm sorry you have a problem with him, but you just have to get over the fact that he's my friend too."

"Friend my ass." Eric mumbled grudgingly under his breath before they were stopped where they were headed by a beaming blonde girl with hair that reached her shoulders and a peppy smile on her face. Gabriella immediately recognized her as a one of the co-captains of the cheerleading team named Lizzie.

"Hey guys! I'm having a party next Saturday for Halloween," her voice practically bounced with excitement as she shoved two what looked like rough paper construction invitations into their loose hands, Gabriella noticing her smooth fingers purposefully grazed Eric's a little longer. "It's just at my house… It would have been on Halloween but my parents are going out the next night…"

Gabriella's stomach turned cruelly. The date was November first. The day before Troy left for Mexico. Why was the world out to get her right now? Evil Aunt who had to get married in bikini city. Why couldn't she get married in like… Antarctica or something like that? The penguins wouldn't even have to get suits!

Penguins? Now Gabriella was just getting desperate.

"Ugh… it's a costume party?" Eric groaned before shooting Gabriella a 'you've got to be kidding me' look. Lizzie giggled stupidly before smacking Eric's arm flirtatiously. Gabriella noted how his curious orbs shifted to the side to see if she was green with envy. Gabriella was still the same color as before and no trace of jealousy over her features.

"Yes… and I'm kicking you out if you don't have one… so may I suggest something that flaunts…" she tenderly squeezed his, what Gabriella knew was burning, bicep. "These?"

Eric smirked suggestively at her before gently tapping her smooth chin gingerly, again checking to see if Gabriella was watching. "I'll see what I can do."

With that, Lizzie blushed furiously before giggling a fake laugh again. "See you there. Bye Gabs." She waved and scurried away with a huge stack of the invitations pressed up against her semi exposed chest tightly.

As soon as she was out of sight, Eric continued to guide Gabriella towards the front doors of the school. "Playboy bunny Ella?" He fantasized, a distant look gazed across his visage before Gabriella's horrified eyes enlarged to huge circles before she jumped up to smack him in the back of the slim head forcefully.

"Don't think of me like that!" She squealed before Eric smirked suggestively again.

"Okay… okay… Victoria's Secret model then?" He tried for a second time, Gabriella not even noticing that they were now in the middle of the entrance with a pair of angry artic ceruleans with the owner crossing his bulging arms with a jealous haze over his face.

"Maybe I'll just be a nun because you said that." Gabriella scowled.

"Kidding! Kidding… God Ella… take a joke?" He lazily apologized before wrapping his scalding arm around her shoulder again, one that Gabriella squirmed out of for punishment of his perverted mind.

And then she saw him, his convulsed demeanor illuminating the shadows which his arms were crossed as his built shoulders were pushed up against the rock hard walls. Troy's liquid nitrogen eyes filled with envy that Gabriella knew had no reason to be on his face. Eric's lucent light browns flashed to him, a smirk curling onto his elongated features that he was getting to the basketball captain. Troy looked as though he was doing everything in his power not to launch himself at Eric. She didn't want to provoke it, but the dangerous appeal to him was so ungodly sexy.

Gabriella turned back to Eric and pointed her slender finger towards where the three were waiting for her. "I… uh… I gotta go…"

The football superstar nodded before pulling her to his chest with his torrid hands. They hugged for less than normal, Gabriella pulling away much quicker in case the cyan eyes were watching with rage, which she knew were from the two hole that were drilling into her back. "Later Ella." He chimed with a wave.

Gabriella timidly turned around, almost afraid of the effect she was about to receive from him, Gabriella hesitated before biting her bottom lip nervously. She did everything in her power to walk with grace towards him, yet she noticed how the anger was present moments ago had faded into a somber expression. "Where's Taylor and Chad?" Gabriella asked in a mouse loud voice.

Troy shrugged his shoulders loosely before pushing off the wall with his sturdy back. "They left already and said they'd meet us there. AKA... they're gonna make out for about twenty minutes before coming over." His weak smile still dazzled her as he began to lead her into the hazy terrain outside. Under the sun that was begging unsuccessfully to break through the clouds, Gabriella could see how he was fighting with his face to seem pleasant.

Why did Eric have to walk her out the doors? She was certain Troy couldn't be mad at her. He had seen them together before. But why then did he look somewhat depressed?

Their silence was deafening as Troy practically leapt down the stairs to the parking lot, Gabriella warily following him, trying not to make a fool of herself. She finally successfully managed to walk, shuffling her feet as she caught up with Troy, his upset eyes scanning for his sleek Audi. "Just follow me alright? It's not that far."

Gabriella nodded before noting her dirty truck at the opposite end where his expensive vehicle was. Troy fully turned to her, Gabriella once again almost being blown over by the blast of his appeal. "I'll meet you there," she watched as he flipped his perfect sandy brown hair, shot her a sincere smile, before beginning to head towards his car. Unsatisfied, Gabriella retraced his footsteps and brushed up against his icy side, sliding under his protruding bicep before burying her head into the comforts of his stone chest. "What? Gabi… what is it?" Concern was threaded into his voice

Gabriella encircled her arms around his long torso, feeling his reflexively pull her tiny body closer to him. "I was gonna ask you the same thing…"

His ribs vibrated her silky cheek as he sighed deeply, entwining his large hand with her knot of hair. "It's nothing okay… I just saw something that… made me think about what I might loose when I'm gone…"

It took a moment before Gabriella's stomach sunk to the ground. Was he talking about her? No. There was no way. The tiny kisses on the forehead and cheek she had received since Saturday might have been a big deal to her, but she was certain they meant nothing to Troy. Hell, he might have even kissed Sharpay on the head for all she knew!

"I'm sure the things that have a… um… hold on you wouldn't be lost…" She tried to reference herself in search of the tiny hope that he was talking about her. Troy beamed down at her, before tenderly rubbing the tip of his numbing nose against her baby smooth forehead.

"What about you? What's this for?" He questioned, though she noted how he squeezed her tighter in reference to the hold he had on her.

"Nothing… I just… like hugging you." She responded, embarrassed. She really didn't know what came over her to rush to him and hug him. Probably just the fact that she felt incomplete without it, and she hoped it might cheer him up from seeing her with Eric.

Troy finally smiled a crooked smirk that reached his ears. He pulled her tighter to him, closing his eye and inhaling her scent as though he was imagining a happy place.

"That's good… cuz your hugs are the fucking highlights of my day," he then blushed a rosy color of his bronze cheeks before nervously chuckling. "I have a pathetic day don't I?"

Gabriella shook her gorgeous head before leaning her forehead up onto his chest, feeling the pulsating sensations of his heart vibrate against her brain. "No… you don't…"

They were the highlights of her days too.

Smart, funny, sexy, beautiful, gorgeous, amazing, unbelievable, seductive, cute, adorable, beautiful, caring, loving, beautiful desirable, stunning, beautiful, creative…

Did he mention he thought she was beautiful?

Troy did everything in his power to keep from his loose jaw from smashing into the floor at her radiance. She was so striking as she sat innocently on the floor of the white family room with a large bay window that shown the emerald skyline. He watched as she pulled a lock of her cascading hair behind her adorable ears as she turned the page of her Human Anatomy book. His house didn't seem to be able to take her beauty, and Troy felt dizzy just staring at her.

And of course at how embarrassing his mother was.

"Gabriella… sweetie, are you sure you don't want anything?" Troy cringed as Lucille pleasantly asked of his crush. Gabriella politely gazed up at her, his adoptive mother's face beaming with approval at her son's choice in female to bring home. All it did was make Troy want to crawl into a hole and never come out again. He was mortified.

"Lucille… I think her answer's still the same when you asked her five minutes ago." Troy scolded between his sparkling teeth as both Chad and Taylor were giggling at his embarrassment. This only made Troy glare angrily at the two of them, both shutting up as soon as the piercing eyes landed on their forms.

"Oh hush, Troy." The elder woman glared her milky gray eyes at her sun before turning back to his guest. Troy scowled before trying to hide his burning face into the hood of his sweatshirt, making Chad and Taylor become on the brink of exploding of laughter.

"Thank you Mrs. Cars…" Gabriella shyly responded.

"Please, Lucille honey." Lucille chimed, causing Troy to shake his head again.

"Oh… um… that's okay Lucille. I'm fine." She turned her star striking head towards Troy and grinned her snow white teeth. Damn it Montez, why are you dong this to him?

"Alright… but if you need anything, don't be afraid to ask okay?" His mom once again shined her bright teeth before wiggling her fingers at the seventeen year old beauty, before her eyes turned to Troy and sparkled. He knew she was ecstatic with Gabriella right now. Well, at least he didn't have to worry about his mom liking her if they ever took things further.

Yeah, like she'd ever say yes to someone like him. That was a hilarious joke.

He wasn't angry at Gabriella at all earlier today. Just… seeing her with Eric made him realize, he was going to be leaving in ten days. It would be a perfect opportunity for Eric to launch an attack on her. Troy would have no way of stopping it, plus it would be so easy for her to just fall violently for the football captain. Stupid, stupid football! Why couldn't Eric just play something less jock-like? He'd look good in a chess uniform! Why the hell couldn't he do that?

"Lucille loves you." Chad mused before shooting Troy and taunting look, the ice crystals forming on the outside of Troy's ceruleans shot towards his best friend dangerously.

"She's so nice." Gabriella's comforting smile took over her delicate lips. The luscious, plump lips Troy so desperately wanted to taste…

"Yeah… she is." Troy shrugged his tough shoulders before glancing over to see that Chad had a lazy arm around Taylor's built frame. The bob of her hair rested against his shoulder in the form of endearment. Both brown and blue caught each other, before they glanced away. Troy was too embarrassed to admit to her that all he wanted was for her slender body to be underneath his limbs. And head, and torso, and be inside…

Stop thinking of her that way Bolton! She's too good for that!

And that was when he began to feel it. The familiar, longing, torturous throb that began to pulsate between his legs at the image of Gabriella's writhing form. Damn it! Not now! His body was completely rebelling against him as his bronze face began to pale and his hands began to claw at the book in turmoil. He could feel Gabriella's curious brown eyes pouring into him, so he did everything in his power to stay still.

"Are you okay?" Gabriella softly sung in her sweet voice that only made this so much harder for Troy. He couldn't help but imagine her gently running her slim fingers into his flippy hair.

"Fine," Troy squawked in a voice much higher than his own. "I mean, fine." He caught himself, trying to sound deeper.

"You're looking a little pale man." Chad commented, his tender lips pressing against the smooth black hair that belonged to Taylor.

"I'm fine." Troy seethed through his teeth and did his best to keep himself covered. Though Gabriella's stare was not helping one bit.

"Lizzie handed out the invites today." Chad informed them as if Troy hadn't already gotten his yet. His groan was not hidden by the others. One, he hated costumes, they were for four year olds. And two, he was picturing Gabriella in something reveling her olive skin. STOP IT RIGHT NOW!

"For the Halloween party?" Gabriella questioned rhetorically.

"I'm not dressing up." Troy refused as he strategically placed his book over his crotch so it would hide the tent that was forming between his legs.

"No way in hell." Chad agreed.

"Oh come on!" Taylor whined with an eye roll. "It's Halloween, you have too!"

"I'll go as an East High basketball captain wearing jeans and a t-shirt." Troy joked before letting out a cough in attempts to keep his voice even.

"You can't not dress up!" The goddess complained, Troy's sparkling orbs locking with her earth shattering mocha eyes that almost sent him flying to the wall with the radiance of them. He couldn't describe how much he wanted to just crawl over to her and shove his lips against her tempting ones, but he had to contain a little self control. Okay, so he had absolutely no self control when it came to Gabriella, but he could just pretend he did. "She said she'd kick Eric out if he didn't. You probably apply too."

Troy rolled his ceruleans again, this time with a little bitterness that she brought up her best friend. "Shock can fuck off." Troy mumbled aggressively under his breath before receiving hot angry fire from Gabriella's milky spheres.

"Don't okay Troy?" Gabriella hissed with a passion that made Troy's stomach squirm again, and not in the good way. Again, he was reminded of all the time the football captain would be able to spend with the girl who had a hold on his heart. It was beginning to rip at his core. He'd have to do something soon; he couldn't let her slip away. Troy couldn't remember a time in his life when he was this happy. And he had never felt this way about someone like he did about Gabriella Montez.

"Sorry." Troy mumbled under his breath as though he was a little kid who just got caught doing something wrong. The air was then deafening with silence, Chad and Taylor unable to look at either of them for coffee and cyan had connected in a heated gaze that would have probably burnt anyone else.

"Erm… well… maybe I'll go as like… superman… cuz I'm super…" Chad attempted to break the ice, before Troy and Gabriella's eyebrows narrowed in confusion at his stupidity before letting their laughs fill the room again.

"Keep telling yourself that." Troy responded before closing his eyes and listening to the blissful sound of Gabriella's honey giggles.

It was enough to make him shiver with longing.

Screw his Aunt for getting married in Cancun…