Author's Note: I'm glad you all liked the last chapter. Thank you for all of the amazing reviews!

Disclaimer: I don't own High School Musical or Cheaper By The Dozen 1 and 2.


"I've never been so exhausted in my life," Troy groaned. He collapsed on top of Gabriella's bed and rubbed a hand over his face. "I thought taking care of the twins was hard… I never imagined adding one more into the mix!"

Gabriella collapsed on the bed next to him. "Welcome to my life." She turned on her side so she was facing him. "But you got along so well with them. They really like you."

"I'm glad," Troy said. "Now, you have to help me babysit my brothers and sisters. I think it's only fair that you return the favor."

"Oh, I will," Gabriella said. "But I was thinking of thanking you in a different way…"

She trialed off as she pressed her lips to his. Troy wrapped his arms around her, and their kisses became more intense and passionate. Troy trailed kisses down Gabriella's neck as her fingers removed his shirt. Troy did the same, and she pressed her naked skin to his. Soon enough, Troy began to fumble with the zipper of her jeans, but she froze.

Troy kissed her neck. "What?" he asked.

"Uh…" Gabriella didn't know how to say what she was going to say. So she was shocked into silence as the words slipped out of her mouth. "I'm a virgin."

Troy froze. His hands immediately dropped to his sides, and he backed away from Gabriella. He picked up his shirt and pulled it over his head. Gabriella did the same, but when she was able to see again, Troy was t the door.

"Troy, where are you going?" Gabriella asked.

"I… I have to go," Troy said.

Gabriella watched, speechless, as Troy left her room. She heard him leave the house altogether a few moments later. She sat motionless on her bed, her mouth slightly ajar as she stared at the door. Finally, she picked up her phone.

"Hi," she said a few moments later. Her voice was shaky. "This is going to sound weird, but can you guys come over?" She was silent as the person on the other end responded. "Thanks."


"Gabriella, what happened?" Taylor said fifteen minutes later. She shut the bedroom door after Sharpay and Kelsi had entered. "You sounded so upset on the phone."

"I don't know what just happened," Gabriella said quietly.

"What happened?" Kelsi asked gently.

"I don't understand."

"And we won't unless you tell us what the hell happened!" Sharpay exclaimed.

"It was Troy," Gabriella whispered. "We were… we were messing around, and it was going a little far, and I figured I should tell him… that I was a virgin."

"Oh, Gabby." Taylor sat next to her and pulled her friend into a hug.

"Did you seriously just spring that on him?" Sharpay demanded.

"Sharpay!" Taylor and Kelsi scolded in unison.

"What? It's no secret that Bolton isn't a virgin. And he seems to really like Gabriella. Think about it—they were about to go at it, and then Gabriella springs on him that her cherry is still intact. What's he going to do, besides freak out?"

"He really should have talked about it, though," Kelsi said. Taylor nodded in agreement. "He shouldn't have just left. That's what he did, didn't he?"

Gabriella nodded her head. "I didn't mean to tell him like that. It just slipped out!" She wiped at her eye as a single tear rolled down her cheek. "I just didn't think that I would meet someone I like so much so soon, and I thought I would never have to explain it."

Sharpay sat on the other side of Gabriella. "You love him, don't you?" she asked softly.

Gabriella looked up at Sharpay. "I don't know! Is it possible to love someone after knowing them for such a short time? I know that my heart starts pounding whenever I'm near him, and I feel butterflies in my stomach when he smiles at me, and when he touches me… God, it's like magic. And that's just touching alone! But I don't know if I love him."

"Gabby, that's love," Sharpay said.

"You think so?"

"It sounds like it."

Gabriella gave her friends a watery smile. "What am I supposed to do now?"

"Give him some time," Sharpay advised.

"Go talk to him in a little, though," Taylor said. "Don't just leave it hanging."

"You have to address it," Kelsi said.

"Thanks," Gabriella said. "I don't know what I'd do without you all."

Sharpay smiled. "I don't know what I'd do without me, either, Gabby."


It was late at night. It must have been almost midnight, Gabriella decided. She hadn't bothered to look at the clock, but she had noticed Troy standing outside, shooting hoops. She had been debating for the last hour on whether or not she should go out and talk to him. Finally, Jade had gotten bored of watching her younger sister pace, and had told Gabriella to go and talk to him.

So here Gabriella was, walking towards Troy. She stopped in front of the basketball net, and Troy stopped dribbling the orange ball. Gabriella couldn't read the look on his face.

"Hi," she said softly.

"Hi," Troy said. She couldn't recognize the tone of his voice, either. He seemed closed off, whereas she seemed like an open book.

"Listen," she said. "About today… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to spring that on you." She watched him for a few moments, and he just stared at her. Realizing that he wasn't going to say anything, Gabriella turned around to leave.

"I love you."

His voice had stopped her. Gabriella turned around. She wasn't sure if he had said that. "What?"

"I love you, and it scares me. I've never felt this way before—"

Troy was cut off as Gabriella launched herself at him and kissed him passionately.

"I love you, too," she breathed as they pulled apart.

A grin spread across Troy's face as he held her against him. "That's good," he whispered, before he pulled her into the guest house.


Author's Note: It was short, but sweet. What do you think they're going to do? Anyway, I hope you all liked this chapter. Review, please?