It's Always Been You

Disclaimer: I do not own anything associated with High School Musical nor anything related to the magazines, T.V. shows, movies that I choose to mention in this story as well as anything having to do with the celebrity life. Take everything has fiction!

AN : First off....THANK YOU!!!!!! Your response on the last chapter was amazing and really is the reason Im updating this soon. Thank you soo much for the great number of reviews. They were a stitch to read. Im glad yall are happy Gabriella finally removed her head from her ass and saw how freaking blue Troy's eyes are....among other things :) In this chapter she discovers quite a bit more

Anyway, thank you sooo much. I hope I get an equal response....or dare I say, even greater response from this chapter. It's quite long and has quite a bit of action. I had a blast writing this one and really didnt want to stop, hence how many words I used.

Enjoy....I know I did!!



Chapter 12

The car ride back to Troy's place from the studio was oddly silent. He had tried to start numerous conversations with her but getting anything more than few word responses wasn't happening. They hadn't talked about what transpired last night because after the warm reception and seemingly normal and happy ride to studio it didn't seem that it needed to be addressed. However, at the moment he was wondering if the sudden change in mood that Gabriella was presenting had anything to do with it.

He looked from the road to study her rigid stance that was staring out the window; "are you okay?" his concerned voice asked.

"Huh…oh…um yeah…I'm fine. I think my headache is coming back" she said as she nervously laughed and attempted to give him a reassuring smile.

Troy narrowed his eyes, he knew she wasn't telling him everything. That crooked smile that now adorned her face was only present at certain times and those certain times were when she was hiding something. It only presented itself once in a blue moon and usually only lasted a few minutes before she blurted out the truth. He waited and got nothing. He decided to let it be for now. He would give it another day or so and then if things were still off with her he would ask her again, "okay"

Gabriella closed her eyes as she tried to calm herself. She knew that Troy knew she wasn't being truthful with him. He knew her like the back of his hand, but because he was such a gentleman and so absolutely wonderful he let her lie to him, for now anyway. She knew if her odd behavior continued he wouldn't stand for the lame headache response or whatever else she came up with.

Troy cleared his throat, "so, do you want to meet at my place or yours for the photo shoot?"

Gabriella took a deep breath and responded quickly and disjointedly, "um…I don't know…whatever you want"

Troy cocked an eyebrow at her words and tone, "okay…um…I just figured that since we won't get to hang out for a couple days that you might want to go together, but I mean, if you'd rather go alone that's fine"

Gabriella whipped her head around to face him. Her eyes widen in mild fright, "What? Why a couple days?" she didn't want a couple days. She needed to figure out what the fuck was going on inside her mind and body in regards to him. Gabriella was a hands on type of person and being in his presence was very pertinent for this trial, not to mention on normal circumstance she hated not being able to see him for a couple days, which really looking back on it should have been the first sign that maybe she wanted something more than platonic. Seriously though, she needed to know what she was feeling and if it was possible he felt or could feel the same way.

Troy laughed, "Awe….are you going to miss me?"

Gabriella smiled genuinely as her eyes eagerly searched his, "of course…I always miss you heartthrob"

Troy grinned. He loved when she said that, even it meant more to him than her, "I have a shoot for Elle tomorrow and a meeting for that new project I told you about the other day and I have no idea how long those artsy types are going to keep me" he said with a light chuckle as he gripped the steering wheel a little tighter as he took a sharp turn forcing the veins running up his bicep to throb.

Gabriella's eyes had traveled from the striking blue to the solid roundness of his upper body and the sickenly sexy veins that were now announcing their perfect presence on his arms. Fuck, had they always looked like that? She wrapped her left hand around her right to prevent the itching desire to reach out and trace each glorious line.

"I hate your management team" she said under her breath. Well, at that moment she really fucking hated them. She would now have to rest in the torture of her own bubbling feelings alone. She sure as hell couldn't call Sharpay about it because that fucking sign she has been threatening would without a doubt be clutched under her arm and if she called Taylor she would call Sharpay and once again the fucking blasted sign would be tossed in her face. She never hated glitter more than she did at that very moment. Sharpay had finally forced someone to overdose on the stupid sparkling material, too bad it wasn't her crazy ass.

Troy cupped her knee in his strong embrace and lightly rubbed his thumb over the rounded smooth surface, "I think you will survive" he said with a laugh.

Gabriella bit the inside of her cheek fighting the desire to beg him to raise his electrifying touch up to the inside of her thigh. She giggled instead. God, she sounded like one of those fucking silly girls from Beauty and the Beast and Gaston sure as hell found nothing about those worthless hags appealing. Gabriella inwardly rolled her eyes at the random thoughts swimming into her head, had she just quoted a fucking Disney movie, an animated one at that, oh God?

She cleared her throat, "fine…if you must, then you have to come to my place and have the car pick us up there"

Troy smiled his perfect white swagger and gave her a heart stopping wink, "you got it"

Gabriella swallowed, "I hope so" she said under her breath as she brought her gaze back to looking out the window at the rapidly passing homes.


Thank the heavenly stars. Gabriella's manager had called bright and early the next day to inform her that the cover for Cosmo that she had scored a couple months back would like to be pushed up to the next day in she was available. Hell yeah she was available. Apparently something with the photographer and going somewhere and a Mom, she didn't really know the true reason nor was she really listening, nor did she really care. She was up for anything that would distract the gnawing self-imposed questions eating away at her mind.

After receiving the call from her manager Troy called with his daily wake up chime and she did everything in her power not to bluntly ask if he liked her like that. Yeah, it was a six grade question, but blunt had always worked for her in the past, but she fought the desire deciding that this possible change of circumstances deserved more than her impatience. It was a big deal and it needed careful consideration and thought. She piddled around the house for a few more hours and then took an Ambien and went to bed.

The next morning she was awoken by the sexy voice that had done naughty things to her in her dreams. It was crazy how one epiphany out of nowhere could totally sex up her sleep time. Damn, if he was anything like what she dreamt about she was never going to want to get out of bed. Well, assuming getting into bed was even an option. As of right now this was a one sided desire as far as she saw it.

The shoot had gone swimmingly and the shots she had seen had her more than pleased. However, what she was actually elated by was the fact that it had taken hours on hours and now it was rather late. She was now only one more night of sleep before she would be able to see Troy and that much closer to getting to the bottom of the fluttering pit that was now her stomach.

She took another Ambien and went to bed.


"Gabriella" Troy shouted as he entered the main room tossing his signature shag from his light eyes. She was nowhere to be found, so he tried again, "Ella…are you here or have you been tied to you bed and gagged?"

A light giggle was heard from upstairs. Troy's gut instinctively lurched at the honey sound.

"If that were the case I wouldn't be able to answer….I'll be down in a bit heartthrob" she called from the hall in front of her bedroom.

Troy rolled his eyes, "you have five minutes and then I'm leaving without you" he said as he took a seat on the sofa and crossed his jean clad leg knowing he would do nothing of the sort. He peered down at his wrist to study the hands on his watch, "starting…now"

Gabriella looked at herself in the mirror with confident eyes. A playful smirk curled her lips as she turned to the side to take in what she had decided to wear today. She knew she wouldn't be wearing it long because the moment they got to the location she would be changed into whatever they saw fit, but the moments that she wasn't in their attire she needed to make sure she made an impression. She needed to do what had to be done in order to explore what she had been feeling for the past few days. She needed to discover if Troy could possibly reciprocate those emotions and this was test one.

She flung her perfect flowing midnight curls from her shoulders as she exited her bedroom and then made her way down the hall to the descending staircase, "do you want me to test that threat heartthrob?" she questioned as she stopped midway down the stairs where he could fully take in everything about her. She placed her hand on her hip as she cocked it to the side. She arched her back slightly as she raised her eyebrows in a dare while letting her gleeful yet devious smirk pull at her perfectly glossed lips.

Troy lifted his head at the sound of her lower than normal voice. He immediately sprung to his feet as his cyan eyes widened and changed to a darker hue. He felt his mouth losing the ability to supply moisture to his swelling tongue as his eyes traveled from the nude strappy "fuck me" heels that covered her delicate feet to her bare toned, long as shit legs until they finally reached the small strap of cut off jean fabric that barely covered the body part that Troy was certain would make him cum instantly upon sight. The waist band of the shortest shorts he had ever seen in his life hung low on her round hips and clung to her protruding hip bones. He swallowed the building lump of desire racing up his throat as his gaze lingered on her tight and visible taunt abdomen that only became covered by the light brown t-shirt an inch above her bellybutton. He took a deep breath as he forced his eyes to travel north and north was so good. Her perky breasts were free and erect under the thin material that resembled some sort of a t-shirt. He let out a light groan as his navy eyes finally found her sultry and amused caramel ones. She was trying to kill him.

Gabriella's smirk widen, yep, she had killed him. The look in his eyes was unmistakable and she liked it. It was definitely a step in the right direction. He obviously liked what he saw, but she couldn't discount the male factor, she was indeed wearing little to nothing, but at least it had elicited some response. He wasn't completely numb to her body and that was good. Test one complete and a success.

"You um…" he began as he rubbed the skin on the back of his neck raw.

Gabriella let out a giggle as she took the last step from the stairs and then walked towards him, "I um…" she picked at him, "I'm ready heartthrob…lets go see what compromising positions Vanity Fair can put us in this time" she said as she wrapped her hand in his and looked over her shoulder with a playful smirk, "maybe you will get to cop a feel again" she remarked with a wink.

Troy let out a deep needy laugh that he hadn't expected to come out, but he went with it. He pulled her back towards him so that her backside lightly ricocheted off his solid chest, "sounds like someone's hopeful" he whispered against her ear.

Gabriella laughed as pleasure striking tingles trailed down her chest, "maybe" she responded as she pulled him along through the house absolutely loving and appreciating their playful flirty moments all the more now.


Troy dug his toes into the sand as he waited on the beach for the remaining girls and Chad to arrive from hair and make-up, Gabriella was one of the girls. He crossed his sculptured arms over his chest as he observed the thin material of his white crew neck t-shirt. His eyes traveled down to the low hanging denim jeans that were held up by at thick brown leather belt. He was quite comfortable. He looked around at the others and they seemed to be dressed in similar attire. It seemed that they were trying to make this as relaxed a shoot as possible, which was good, but Troy couldn't help but wonder why.

He let out a groan. What was taking so long? He was bored. He wanted Gabriella to come back and entertain him. She had been quite entertaining already this morning. Their normal flirtatious banter seemed to be on a higher than normal chart, not that he was complaining, it was just something he had noticed. His hopeful heart wanted to read more into it, but the logical side chalked it up to her just being excited for the shoot and having not seen him in a few days.

Gabriella walked from behind the tent where she had dressed and finished with all her applications. She shook out the perfect tight curls as she waded through the sand. When she reached her target she ran the expanse of her hand along the small of his back, "hey" she said as she came to stand beside him.

Troy looked to the new presence. His lungs constricted into a tight mess as he observed the small fabric of her gold and black triangle top and matching string bikini bottoms. He cleared his throat as he ripped his head from the sight of her in order to calm his escalading nerves, "took you long enough"

Gabriella laughed as she ran her tongue along the back of her teeth, "it takes a while to look this good"

Troy chuckled as he eyed her up and down taking his time to memorize every inch of her bare skin, "hmm" he said with an eyebrow raise and then looked back out at the ocean crossing his arms tighter along his chest.

Gabriella was completely in favor of how tight that shirt was on him. It clung to every curve of his perfect anatomy and his jeans hit just low enough to make you beg to see what was underneath. Gabriella groaned, when had she become this horny and thought such explicit thoughts?

"Alright ladies and gentlemen, it's great to see that you all have yet to get yourself confined to a rehab hospital or tied some sex scandal. It's a pleasure to shoot you fabulous people again"

Gabriella snickered.

Troy looked at her out the corner of his eyes and mirrored her grin.

"Okay…it's going to be pairings grouped together in this joint shot. So you with the poof top go stand next to the chick with the dark hair, sorry I can't remember your name and you there you're with him and um, Heartthrob, well, hello there," she said with a wide grin.

Gabriella snickered again.

"You're with the blonde on the end" she instructed with a wave of her hand for him to go stand next to her.

Gabriella's mouth fell. What the fuck was this? Um…no.

"Porter, you're with Gabriella." she instructed for the jet black haired actor to come towards her.

Troy's eyes narrowed.

The photographer stood back and observed the couples she had created. She narrowed her scrutinizing gaze and perched her lips as she thought about the shot. After a few moments she shook her head, "nope…I can't do it…Heartthrob, you can wipe that scowl of your face….you're back with Gabriella"

Chad laughed loud and out loud.

Troy looked over his shoulder as he walked back over to a satisfied and smiling Gabriella and glared at him mouthing "fuck you"

The photographer instructed the others along the stretch of sand and finally came to Troy and Gabriella. "Heartthrob, take a seat on your ass and bend your knees. Um…Gabriella saddle up"

Gabriella scoffed, "excuse me?"

The photographer looked blankly at her and let out a sigh, "saddle up…straddle his waist love…I'm pretty certain you can handle that" she spat as she walked back to the people aiding her in the shoot.

Gabriella smiled as she cleared her throat. Maybe this bitch photographer wasn't so bad. She slowly lifted one of her legs over his waist as she planted her ass atop his groin. She lightly fidgeted as she curled her legs around his waist and dug her toes into the sand behind him. She bit down on her lower lip as she instinctively straightened her back and wrapped one of her slender arms around his sweaty neck brushing her rounded chest against his. A gradual smirk touched her lips as the slant of her tongue darted along the corners of her mouth, "Something tells me this is the one of many compromising positions we will find ourselves in" she said with a gleam in her eye.

Troy was trying desperately to concentrate on breathing in and out. His heart had begun to race out of his chest the moment her perfect barely covered ass stationed itself above his straining organ. When she spoke it sent a jolt behind his belt and a heat covering his already sweltering body. The words alone were hot as hell, but hearing them on the luscious plump lips of the woman he had desired for so long was enough to force all logical thought from his over active brain, lucky for him the witch of photographer sought their attention just as his hand was about cup the swell of her ass and grind her into his aching pelvis.

She handed Gabriella a fedora that coordinated with her suit, "play around with it…we're about to start shooting…you two…um…just keep doing what you're doing" she said with a smirk and a head shake.

Gabriella giggled as she placed the hat on her head, "God…she's so dirty. I mean, was it absolutely necessary to get that crude wench again?"

Troy grinned at her now level face as his hands wrapped around her tiny waist and his finger lightly traced the softness of her skin, "her shots were good last time Ella"

Gabriella smirked, "you're enjoying his aren't you?"

Troy chuckled "it is quite….different for us"

Gabriella shrugged as she placed her hand atop the hat on her head. She tilted her head back and smiled as she looked at the camera, "enjoy it heartthrob"

Troy drug his lower lip inside his warm mouth as he stared at her. God, he had dreamed of having her positioned like this over his cock so many times. Well, she was naked and they were in a bed and there weren't cameras…well, if she wanted cameras, he could have obliged that.

"Heartthrob…seriously…look at the fucking camera. I didn't place her like that so you would completely lose focus…it's suppose to be hot…but come the fuck on"

Gabriella let out a fit of giggles and Troy rolled his eyes. Her gaze caught his and she started laughing again. Troy chuckled, "oh it's funny huh?"

Gabriella nodded with a smirk.

Troy's fingertips began to dig into her slim sides and quick burst of laughter escaped from her now fidgeting body from the blissful tickles his fingers were displaying.

The photographer continued to shoot the others and the natural interaction between the two. She rolled her eyes, "whatever" she groaned and brought the camera to look at the latest shot of the two of them expecting it be a mess. Gabriella had her hand securely atop the hat with her head thrown back and turned towards the camera with her chin dipped down and a perfect smile on her flawless face. Troy's hands were securely around her waist as he looked at Gabriella but slightly at the shooting lens. His grin read adoration and excitement. Their bodies were tangled in a mess of perfection and beauty, "Hmph…okay" she said in surprise and continued to let the naturalness between them continue. The shots were coming out outstanding.


The photographer had chosen to do the individual shots for each of them in the pairs they were set up in for the group shot. They were now up and the mischievous smirk on the witch's face had them wondering what she had in stored for them.

"Gabriella, you are going to be first….I want you to lie in the sand and just give me some playful actions with big smiles and then pouty ones. Just go with it and be as natural as possible"

Gabriella smiled and nodded. She gave Troy a swagger of a grin and did as she was told.

Troy watched on as her perfect smooth form became sticky and dirty from the heat and her constant sexy movements in the sand. It was so hot! Blinking at the moment only occurred when his eyes screamed with a stinging feeling. He didn't want to miss a thing. Not one thing.

"Um…okay Troy…you're going to be a little more stationary. I want you to just kind of play with the shirt. Like lifting at the sleeves to show off your arms as well the hem at your abdomen, then strip it off when you're ready and just kind of go with it"

Troy nodded.

Gabriella grinned as she fingered the hair framing her face while watching the perfection that was her sweet and absolutely gorgeous best friend. Her absolute favorite part was when the thin material that was his shirt came flying over his head. It looked great on, but it sure as hell looked better off.

"Okay…I want to do a few more and then it's a wrap. Alright…Gabriella lay back in the sand." She instructed.

Gabriella pulled up the sweetheart strapless bandeau leopard print swimsuit top they had changed her into for this portion of the shoot. She laid down and lifted herself up on her elbows and awaited instruction.

The photographer smirked, "Troy…now you saddle up…lay on top of her"

Troy's lips parted in shock, but he quickly recovered. He took a silent deep breath and slowly walked over towards her. He looked down into her deep eyes and gave her the smile of apology he thought she wanted. He bent down to her height, never letting his gaze leave hers.

Gabriella felt her pulse begin to rise the closer he came. Something about this felt different. It wasn't playful like it was earlier. This had an intimate seriousness to it. Her chest began to rise and fall a little quicker than before as she spread her legs so that he could nestle between them. Her chocolate pores bore into his dark ocean irises as she let her body drift to fully lie in the grainy sand.

Troy swallowed the quick beats of his heart as the air surrounding them became thicker. His heart was beating ninety to nothing. He gazed down upon her in a look of awe and adoration. He felt a swell of exhilaration hit him. She almost looked nervous. Gabriella never got nervous. The hopeful side of him was taking over and the darkness of her orbs sent sweat trickling down his spine. He nudged his knees between her thighs as he gradually lowered his weight on top of her. He felt his breath quicken and then cease as he felt her leg lift and raise to wrap around his lower half.

He stopped thinking and just did. No questions, no nothing revolved in his mind.

He lowered his head to rest against hers as the span of his hand slowly glided up her thigh and over the firmness of her heated stomach. He swallowed slowly as his eyes rapidly traced the stunning features of her face, never wanting to forget this moment. He quickly wet his lips as he thrusted his weight into her as his hands crawled up the sides of her breast to her slender panting neck. He held back a groan as she arched into his touch. He closed his eyes as burst of feelings and jolts of pleasure scorched every inch of his body. His thick hands firmly slid along her defined cheeks to leisurely tangle in the mass of soft curls. His lips lingered millimeters from her lips while his shaking orbs never left hers.

Gabriella felt like she was about to combust. The feel of his weight against tingling skin sent a pool of excitement to the center of her suit bottoms. She couldn't pull her eyes from the capture his had created, nor did she want to. Her lungs did their best to keep up with the rapid intake of breath she was forcing into them. It was pleasurable. His musky sweet breath lingered over her nostrils making her ache to close the short distance between their panting lips. Her hands traveled up his bare damp sides and she felt her core begin to pulse at the spasm that occurred under her touch when she glided over his abdomen. Her fingers ghosted over his shoulders and over the light stubble on his cheeks. She ran her tongue over her upper lip hoping and praying that it would touch his and signal that she wanted nothing more than for him to plunge his tongue into her begging warmth.

"And that's a wrap" the photographer shouted.

Troy whipped his head towards the smirking photographer. He hadn't realized she was even shooting. He shook his head in order clear his mind. He had gotten so caught up in his desire and Gabriella had let him. That was the shocking thing. Should he question that or should he avoid the inevitable shoot down? They had been working, even if he hadn't realized it, but did she?

"Gabriella" he whispered.

She just stared at him completely motionless.

He laughed, "Gabriella"

He slowly and reluctantly lifted himself from her and offered his hand for her to take, "Come on…stop playing around"

Gabriella looked at him and then at his hand, "huh?"

"The shoot's over" he said with a grin.

Gabriella forced a smile, "oh"

Damn


Ha....so close....yet....