Today, Troy and Gabriella were supposed to be expected to attend their engagement party held at the Bolton Mansion but instead they were going to have dinner as Troy knew that if there were an engagement party, Gabriella's family might have come and it would be very awkward for her to stay at a party where she didn't know anyone. Troy told his mother during a phone call when she called him about the guest list.

"About the guest list, do you know anyone from Gabriella's side who will be attending the engagement party?" Lucille asked her son over the phone.

"I think she'll be inviting few friends of hers," Troy answered.

"What about her family?"

Troy paused for a moment. Should he tell his mother that Gabriella's father doesn't approve their marriage? If he did, Gabriella might be furious but if he didn't, everyone would think Gabriella doesn't have a supporting family during the party. Then again, perhaps her mother could keep a secret.

"About that… Mom, I have to tell you something important regarding Gabriella," Troy said.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

"I didn't know if I should tell you this but . . ." then again, maybe he could twist the story a little bit. Gabriella will never know. She will eventually but for now he's good. "She actually had a job offer to China and she had to transfer there but when she was at the airport, I…uh...chased after her and told her not to go because I love her and then I…proposed to her," Troy lied. He distinctly remembered that there was this movie he used to watch where the guy chase the girl at the airport to tell her that he loved her. It was cheesy but it will have to do.

"Aww, Troy. That is so romantic of you," his mother commented. "What happened to her job offer?"

"She uh…she got fired and now she is kind of unemployed. After that we came to her father about the engagement and he disapproves it. He said he didn't want to see Gabriella again," Troy said. Technically, that was the truth.

"Oh my, that's awful. She doesn't have a job now and her father resent her? That is so sad. I'm so glad you two decided to move in with each other. She probably need you more than ever now," his mother said.

"Yeah but you can't tell Gabriella that I told you. She's kind of sensitive about this thing," Troy said.

"I promise. So I think we should just make this an intimate dinner with us. Is that going to be okay with you two? She'll won't mind right?" Lucille asked.

Troy smiled. "She won't mind at all."

Till now, Gabriella still hadn't known that Troy told his mother about Gabriella's father. She just assumed Troy told his mother that her father was just a little busy and couldn't make it. Maybe Troy should've told Gabriella the truth but he will soon. At least he thinks he will.

"Did your parents asked about why my family isn't coming?" Gabriella asked Troy while they were on their way to a fancy French restaurant.

"Didn't I tell you? This is intimate dinner. That's why we're going to a restaurant. Just you, me and my parents," Troy answered.

"What about your brother?" she asked.

"He decided to ditch this dinner. He's been busy with work and everything. Law isn't a day at a beach," Troy said.

"Is that the reason why you didn't want to work in law with your family?" Gabriella asked. She knew that Troy didn't want to be a lawyer but he didn't tell her why and she is curious to know.

Troy stayed quiet for a moment and then changed the subject, "We're almost there."

"Why didn't you answer my question?" Gabriella wanted to know. She remembered asking Troy the same question when they first met. He didn't answer then too.

"Because it's not necessary and it's my business, not yours," Troy replied.

"Well it's going to be my business too okay? After all, I am going to be the future Mrs Bolton," Gabriella said while pointing to the ring on her finger. "Besides, I'm might going to find out anyways. It's better to hear it from the source."

Troy rolled his eyes, "I just cracked okay?"

Gabriella didn't get it. "What do you mean?"

Troy took a deep breath, "I just hate it when people expect too much from me. Especially my dad. When me and James were little, my dad use to bring us to work for one of those 'bring your children to work' day. While over there, my dad practically expects us to become a lawyer like every Bolton man did. I just didn't like to be forced into something. When I told my dad that I have no intentions to go to law school whatsoever, he just lost interest in me and spend most of the time with his perfect son."

"Why aren't you the perfect son?" Gabriella asked.

"Because, I'm like the runt of the litter that who decided to make his own path instead of following others," Troy explained.

"You're not. You're more than a runt. I mean, you're an amazing songwriter and won awards for it. You should be proud of yourself. I use to be a total brat and people aren't afraid to say it to my face but I ignored them because I know who I am and I'm not afraid to show it," Gabriella encouraged.

Troy smiled. Gabriella did show herself as a brat but he didn't know how big of a brat she was. Whether or not, he was glad she encouraged him. No one did. "I don't know if that will help but thanks for trying," Troy said. "We're here."

Troy gave his keys to the valet and entered the restaurant with Gabriella by his side. To be honest, Troy was admiring how soft her hair looks at that moment. She had her hair in half up, half down do' and was wearing a simple silk red cocktail dress with a blazer to keep her warm with the night's weather.

"Troy, Gabriella, I'm so glad you made it," Lucille said, while hugging Gabriella and Troy.

"Of course we made it mom. You practically made us," Troy commented.

"I had a good reason to make you come to this dinner Troy," Lucille told his son. "Please sit first. Have a drink."

"Thank you," Gabriella smiled. "So what is the good reason?"

"Well, we just want to let you know that your wedding day has already been planned to the very last detail already," Lucille told them.

Troy and Gabriella almost choked when drinking their water. They weren't even thinking of planning a wedding at all. "You already planned the wedding?" Troy asked after catching his breath.

"But I haven't even gave you my share of the wedding or whatever," Gabriella said.

"We know. But it's already a Bolton tradition that us Bolton's help to plan the wedding. Don't you remember James' wedding Troy?" Jack asked.

"Yes Troy. How could you not remember how your own brother's wedding went?" Gabriella said sarcastically while shooting daggers at Troy.

"No, no. I remember. There are just a lot of things going on right now and all of it is just moving too fast for me and Gabriella," Troy explained.

"That is why me and your mother already planned your wedding from top to bottom so you two won't have to worry about anything," Jack told his son.

"I'm sorry but I can't have you guys do all the work. Maybe it would be better if we wait like a year for me and Troy to raise the money on our own. Who knows what will happen by then? Right Troy?" Gabriella said.

"Yeah. Totally. It's our wedding. We'll plan it or whatever," Troy supported.

"No, no. It's already been done and you two have to follow the rules," Lucille informed them.

Oh my gosh! What is wrong with these Boltons? Why must they go a step ahead of everyone all the time? I can't have a wedding. Especially when my dad isn't talking to me anymore. Who's going to walk me down the aisle? What if none of my family members decided not to show up? They would think I'm some kind of person without any supportive family. What am I going to do? Gabriella thought in her head.

Why must my parents be so persistent with the whole wedding thing? This whole Bolton family tradition is getting on my nerves. 'We do this, not that.' This is crazy. I can't be married to some person whom I just met. This is beyond crazy. Why must my life be so complicated? What am I going to do? Troy thought in his head.

"Do I have to do anything in return after we…uh…get married? Like pay you back or something?" Gabriella asked before sipping her water.

"Well that depends," Lucille started. "Are you two planning of having kids after you're married? If so, how many do you think you'll have?"

Gabriella spits out her water and started coughing insanely. Kids? Seriously, what is wrong with this lady?

Troy helped by rubbing Gabriella's back, "Um…we haven't gone that far mom. Who knows when we might have a baby? Could take forever you know," Troy explained.

"Oh, I apologise. You're right. It is all up to you. We'll just get ready with all the planning. Before I forget, we already set up a date for the big wedding!" Lucille announced.

Troy's eyes grew wide opened. "Really? When is it?" Don't say soon. Don't say soon. Say a year from now. Please.

"It's soon. Very soon. How's a summer wedding sound like?" Lucille answered.

"Summer? But…it's May. So that means…" Troy's voice drifted off.

"Yup! Your wedding will be exactly a month from now!" Lucille said excitedly.

Troy and Gabriella could have fainted at that very moment. They gave Jack and Lucille a fake smile and said:

"Wow!" Gabriella said.

"That's amazing," Troy continued.

"It's unbelievable. Really," Gabriella said truthfully.

"I know you two would be excited! Now we got that settled, Gabriella, maybe you could send us the addresses of the people you are inviting to your wedding. Like your friends and family members," Lucille suggested.

"What about I take care of it myself. I have a lot of time in my hands. I won't mind it at all. Really," Gabriella offered. The last thing she wanted to see at the so called 'wedding' is her family asking her why she had a quicky wedding.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes. Troy could help me. He wouldn't mind. Right Troy?" Gabriella pleaded.

"Yeah. Totally. I won't mind at all," Troy said, not knowing what he had got himself into.

---

The next morning, the Montez-Bolton apartment was awakened by the sound of a person throwing up loudly in the bathroom. Gabriella groaned as she heard the sound of her roommate and soon to be husband vomiting early in the morning. She quickly got up and walked frustratingly to the bathroom where Troy is.

When she reached there, Troy was rubbing his forehead while standing in front of the medicine cabinet.

"Do you mind?" Gabriella asked. "One of us couldn't sleep last night and she was planning to wake up late today."

"Well excuse me, Miss Cranky Pants, for being sick," Troy spat back.

"Why did you throw up anyways?" Gabriella asked.

"How the hell should I know? Maybe it was something I ate or something," he answered.

"Maybe it was the dish you ate. I told you that you should get the chicken instead of the oyster," Gabriella said.

Before Troy could answer, he turned to the toilet and threw up again.

"Eww! Maybe you should get to a doctor. I'll drive you there," Gabriella said.

"Drive what? You don't have a car," Troy said.

"No. But you do," Gabriella smirked.

"No. You are not driving my car. She only obeys me and no one else. She might break down in the middle of the highway for all you know," Troy said.

"There's a nearby clinic about nine blocks from here. We could walk if you want," Gabriella said.

"Alright, alright. Fine, we'll take the car," Troy finally decided. "But I'm driving her back home."

"And stop calling it a her. She's just a car," Gabriella said.

"You leave all the naming and gender deciding to me alright, Montez," Troy said.

Gabriella winced at his sentence, "Geez, it's not like we're having a baby or anything. Or did your mother brainwash your head from yesterday's conversation."

"OUT!" Troy shouted.


Sorry I haven't updated last week. I have been really busy with school and stuff and have trouble writing this chapter. This chapter might suck a little but I swear, the next one will be juicy. Promise. :)

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