Troy's persistent calling and texting, as well as his continuous visits to her apartment, Gabriella had finally given in to his request of meeting up, to once and for all discuss what had happened between them and if there was anything worth pursuing. The only reason Gabriella agreed to this meet up was because he was beginning to annoy her and it was New Years Eve and she didn't want to go into the New Year in an argument or fighting at a party they were all planning on going too.
Troy sat at a rarely large and spacious coffee shop, figuring that this was mutual ground, no advantage of being at one another's apartments. He twirled his spoon around in his luxury hot chocolate while nervously bouncing his leg. He figured that it was going to be a tough conversation so he thought he'd treat himself to a nice and soothing drink, with all the extra toppings.
Each time the bell rang, indicating that someone had walking into the coffee shop, Troy would tilt his head to see if it was his company arriving. He had been debating between the couch and the two seater table which comfy chairs which were a little more tucked away by the window. Deciding on the chairs for this discussion, it gave him a slightly obscured view of the door.
His eyes were now trained on the door after checking his watch and seeing that she was now ten minutes late, he was wondering whether she would bother turning up but when the door pushed open to reveal a woman pushing her hood off her hair and raking her fingers through the mass of black curls while scanning the coffee shop. He instantly knew it was her. He held up a hand and gave a slight wave with a soft smile as her eyes looked around his area.
Gabriella sent him a small smile back before walking towards the counter to order herself a drink. Troy watched her, noting her warm coat was covered with small rain drops, bringing the wet weather outside, inside the coffee shop. Her body was covered in a pair of dark wash jeans, a band tee and a thick, oversized cardigan which was covered by her long black coat. Troy licked his lips, tearing his gaze away from her and trying to gather his thoughts so he knew exactly want he wanted to discuss and say to her. A sip of hot chocolate later, Gabriella was pulling out the chair opposite him and placing her large vanilla latte in front of her.
"Hi," Gabriella greeted, shrugging over her coat.
Troy smiled slightly, "Hey, I thought you weren't gonna show," He commented.
Gabriella sipped her drink, "My car wouldn't start so I had to get the bus then walk, sorry," She shrugged, her eyes cast downwards.
"Speaking of sorry's," He paused, his voice breaking due to the emotion, "I'm so sorry for kissing her, Gab," Gabriella's dark eyes snapped up to his, "She was there and I thought you were going back to Theo and it hurt," Troy spoke softly.
Gabriella took a deep breath and shrugged, "It's not as if I can be mad. You're not my boyfriend. You didn't cheat. It just sucked because we were getting on well again," She cut off their eye contact.
Troy brought his drink up to his mouth, "I'm still sorry, it shouldn't have happened. I regret it so much. I don't see Sharpay that way, at all. I don't look at her and think… fuck, I want you, like I do with you," He muttered with conviction, trying to gain back eye contact.
"Troy, don't," Gabriella whispered.
"I'm just telling you how it is. I don't want Sharpay or Lola or any other girl right now. I don't think about them 24/7, I don't want to hold their hand or kiss them or have them in bed with me. I don't want that with anyone other than you since I met you. You have made my life so damn difficult," He smiled softly, "But I wouldn't have it any other way. My feelings for you have never altered, sure they've been masked by anger and all that but I've always liked you."
Gabriella pressed her lips together, taking a moment to think of a response, "You know my dad picked me up, not Theo. I haven't spoken to Theo since I told him that we kissed at Christmas. I explained everything to my dad after he realised I wasn't my normal self. He thinks that what you did was wrong but he knows everything I've done wrong too. I'm not saying that what you did is right just because I've done things wrong as well but you have no reason to be loyal to me."
Troy instantly shook his head, "No, I do have a reason, I love you. I did something wrong and I don't want you to just excuse it, I want you to think it over, to understand it meant nothing and that I'm sorry and then to forgive me. I hope you can forgive me," Troy told her, leaning his elbows onto the edge of the table, crossing his arms.
Gabriella took a gulp of her latte, letting the warm liquid cruise down her throat before answering, "I don't think there is any reason to not forgive you. You've put it on the table, told me what happened, you are not my boyfriend and I've spent a week going through it in my head. It just really sucks."
"Yeah, it does. I understand that we've both probably ruined our chances at being together but I really want to be friends and actually respect each other for once," He sent her a slanted smile before continuing, "I care about you so from now on I need to respect you a 100% and think about you not just do what makes me feel better which in the long run, makes me feel worse," He spoke softly, while reaching out to gently pick up her hand which rested upon the table.
Gabriella's eyes became fixed on the hand which was held by the handsome man across from her, who was currently playing with her fingers in the silent moments which followed his speech, "We both need to stop doing things to get back at each other," She agreed in a whisper.
Troy nodded silently as he gazed at her, "Yeah, definitely. I think we've been doing it subconsciously, not on purpose."
Gabriella nodded, looking up at him, "I'm so sorry. For everything I've ever done that's hurt you."
Troy gave her a grin, "It's ok, it's done, it's in the past, I forgive you."
Gabriella nodded again, taking back her hand to hold her drink and take a sip, "Thank you."
Troy tilted his head a little, "And I'm sorry for anything that I've done to make you cry, that hurt you, that made you angry or hate me. I'm so very sorry for everything, Gab."
Gabriella nodded, "It'll take time to forgive you about the Sharpay thing but everything else; it's fine, like you said it's done and I want to leave the past in the past and move forward and be civil with you."
Troy grinned, "How many times have we tried to be friends and civil?" He asked, rhetorically.
Gabriella let out a small giggle, "A lot but I feel that this is the first time that we both actually mean it and want to work past this whole thing and be friends."
Troy nodded, his smile faltering a little, "Definitely."
"So do we just hang out when we all hang out or see each other alone?" Gabriella queried.
The blue eyed hunk raked a hand through the front of his thick hair, "Straight away I think we should just see each other whenever you come to visit, with our friends then eventually when we're over each other, well, when I'm over you, we can hang out alone."
Gabriella bit down on her lower lip, "Until I get over you, as well," She whispered, quickly bringing her latte up to her lips as they made eye contact.
Troy nodded fairly quickly, "Yeah."
Gabriella wiped the coffee foam from under her lip, "You look good though."
Troy couldn't help the small smile that spread across his face, "Thanks, I've been hitting the gym a lot this week, stress work out or something," He smiled as she laughed, "You look good too."
"I've been trying to avoid you so I bet that's lost me a couple of pounds," Gabriella teased.
Troy smirked, playing with the cup in his hands, "You gave in, in about 7 days."
"You were extremely persistent," Gabriella commented with a teasing smile.
Troy opened his mouth to shoot back a quick response but his name was called from somewhere near the entrance of the shop. His blue eyes looked up and over Gabriella's head and his face froze before forcing itself into a smile.
"Hey," Troy called back, nodding his head at his friends.
Gabriella's head turned to see who he was talking to and her eyes shot back to Troy, narrowing them a little and tilting to the side, "Really, Troy?"
"Hey, I didn't know they were gonna turn up here. I didn't invite them," Troy told her, "I promise."
Gabriella simply shook her head and shrugged, disconnecting their eyes and began playing with her cup as three of their friends walked up.
"I didn't think I'd see the day that you two are sitting down together civilly for longer than five minutes now a days," Chad smirked, resting his hand on Gabriella's shoulder, squeezing it a little seeing that she was tense.
Troy gave Gabriella a smile, "We're not that bad, are we?"
Gabriella shrugged, "We probably are."
"Gabriella," Sharpay mumbled.
"Don't." Gabriella spoke quickly.
"Gab," Troy whispered, "It's not her fault."
Gabriella's eyes shot up to connect with Troy's, staring at him intensely, "You serious? You're actually going to stick up for her?"
Troy's head tilted, "No but you know that it's not just her fault. We both made a massive mistake but you willingly met up with me to sort it our but you won't give her the time of day?"
"Because I did a lot of shit to you! You kinda had a reason. I've done nothing to her, I gave her no reason to straddle you and make out with you." Gabriella's voice rose.
"It didn't mean anything," Sharpay commented.
"You still made out with him! The guy you were trying to hook me up with. You knew I liked him and you still didn't tell him to stop. If I interrupted ten minutes later, I probably would have seen you two fucking," Gabriella growled, standing up, grabbing her coat and heading out of the door. Leaving a half full latte, an unsurprised Chad and Zeke, a disheartened Troy and a regretful Sharpay.
"I'm gonna go after her," Chad spoke, turning to jog after Gabriella who had stormed out in the rain.
As Chad jogged down the street, his eyes looked left and right down each block and soon found her leaning up against a random building, her breathing heavy, her hood down and her head titled up to the sky.
"Gab," Chad said, softly, walking over to her and standing in front of her. With no indication that she knew he was standing right there, he pulled her hood to cover her head and zipped up her coat.
Gabriella sighed, finally making eye contact with Chad, "Sometimes I kinda wish that they did it for a reason, that they had been together previously and still had feelings for each other or they'd always liked each other but never acted upon it. But knowing that they did it just to spite me, fucking sucks."
Chad offered her a small smile, "They didn't do it to spite you. You know that Troy hates the idea of you and Theo and he'll say that he's ok with the thought of you and Troy both being friends but he loves you, why would he want that?" Chad asked, rhetorically, "He was hurt because you two were getting along so well again and they he thought you were going to see Theo and babe, you know Troy's a good looking guy, Sharpay would have to be blind to not realise so when he kissed her. I don't think it was anything to do with you on her part, it was just a hot guy kissing her."
Gabriella let out a small laugh, "You gay, Chad?"
"Am I fuck," He laughed, "You know what I'm saying though. Have an issue with Sharpay if you want but don't let that come between you and Troy if you've decided to work on your issues."
Gabriella nodded, "Just keep her away from me tonight. Drunk me takes no shit," She laughed.
Chad nodded once, saluting her while smirking, "Consider it done."
JFJFJFJFJFJFJFJFJF
Gabriella decided to go all out for this New Years Eve with her outfit. She dressed herself in a tight silver strapless body con dress with a pair of strappy black heels which added a couple of inches to her slim yet curvy frame. Her think hair had been tamed into large bouncy curls slash waves with her eye make-up smoky. The group decided to meet inside a club where they had booked a VIP booth. Due to a couple of links, Gabriella had gained, she had gotten in and was free to get drunk all night long. The issue Gabriella had was not that a couple of male eyes had took appreciative glances down her body, it was that as she walked up to the booth, Troy and Sharpay were sitting next to each other and were talking amongst themselves with Lucy, Liam and Zeke.
"You don't have much luck in clubs, do you?" Chad commented, coming up next to her as he had just been to the bar.
Gabriella looked at him, her hair flicking to the side as her head turned quick, "What do you mean?"
"The claws always have to appear," Chad smirked.
Gabriella shrugged, "It's my first proper New Years party, I'm not letting anything or anyone ruin it," She feistily told him.
Chad's thick brows rose quickly with a smirk, "Fuck, I'm not getting on the wrong side of you."
"You're apart of many who have learnt that the easy way," Gabriella told him, her tongue licking the corner of her glossy lips.
"I think you've caught someone's attention," Chad commented as he began to walk at the table to sit down and hand out a couple of drinks.
Gabriella frowned at this and looked towards the booth before walking over. Her eyes quickly caught sight of Troy's blue eyes, scanning her body. She ignored it and walked over, not happy as she saw that Sharpay was leaning over Troy's chest to talk to Lucy without shouting as much.
"Hey Gab," Zeke greeted with a large smile, patting the space in the booth next to him.
Gabriella surveyed the space, noting that Sharpay was the other side of him and the space was between Zeke and Chad, she shrugged and walked over.
"Hi," She greeted, happily, giving him a half hug.
"I'll go grab you a drink," Zeke offered, before turning to Sharpay, nudging her gently, "You coming get a drink?" He asked which was answered with an enthusiastic nod. The two of them squeezed past everybody which left Troy a space away from Gabriella.
"Hi," Troy smiled, shuffling closer to her, "You look… a lot of words."
Gabriella couldn't help but smirk, "A lot of good words or bad words?"
"Amazing words," Troy husked, "If we haven't had agreed to be just friends then I'd be totally trying to hook with you," He smirked.
Gabriella grinned, "Really?" She asked, biting down on her lower lip.
Troy's eyes watched her suck on her lip a little, "Hmm," He nodded.
"Troy," Gabriella laughed.
The blue orbs shot to her brown eyes, "Sorry," He smiled cheekily.
"Are you though?" She asked, tilting her head a little, her hair falling to one side.
Troy paused for a moment, laughing, shaking his head, "No. Not by a long shot."
Gabriella couldn't wipe the smile of her face, "I think this is the longest that we haven't in a club for a long time."
Troy nodded in agreement, "I hope it stays this way," He said, moving a little closer to her, his arm raising and lay on top of the booth behind her head.
Gabriella knew that she should shuffle back to put a little bit more room in between them but she didn't. Her eyes glanced approvingly at his growing arm muscles and his obviously more bulked out and define chest area.
"I think you need a bigger tee," The brown haired beauty commented, teasingly and she pulled at the slightly tight fabric resting against his bicep.
Troy glanced down at his body after watched her pulled at his sleeve, "It's not too bad, is it?"
Gabriella pouted a little, tilting her head from side to side, debating her answer, "It's not bad, at all," She flirted.
Troy's eyes snapped to hers, "Stop flirting," He grinned.
"You're hot so I can't help it but I'm sorry. Your tee shirt is just a little clingy at your chest and arm area but in a hot kinda way, not the 'I'm trying to show off my muscles' way." Gabriella reasoned.
"I'll take that," He shrugged, "Am I dressed appropriately though? You look like that and I'm dressed like this," He motioned down at his body.
Gabriella smirked, "Are you giving me the approval to check you out?" She asked.
Troy grinned widely, "Yeah, I sort am."
Gabriella didn't question it again and took to time to observe his tanned muscular arms which contrasted beautifully against his white tee, down to his chest which pressed against the top just right and then further where she guessed that his abdominal muscles had become more defined but not in a gross way as the rest of his body had become more muscular since summer. His toned behind and strong legs were clad in a pair of straight black jeans and his feet were covered with a pair of smart yet casual shoes.
"Yeah, you look good," Gabriella let him know as her tongue poked out to lick at her lip.
"Thanks," Troy muttered, just loud enough for her to here.
"Maybe a little bit too good," Gabriella added.
"Why?"
"Because if I drink too much I'll probably try to kiss you," Gabriella admitted, shrugging.
Troy swallowed, his eyebrows raising, winking at her quickly, "If I drink too much then I'll probably be trying to do a lot more and get you back to my place to ring in the new year."
"Gabriella! Drink!" Zeke shouted, leaning across the booth to place a drink if in front of her.
Gabriella smirked over at Troy, "And so it begins."
JFJFJFJFJFJF
The magic of alcohol is that it can affect your brain in many, many different ways and right at this moment, Gabriella and Sharpay were dancing and singing their night away on the dance floor, laughing when they bumped into one another or a random person. They were both drunk, not tipsy but not smashed. They had an emotional moment for around five minutes which consisted of crying and hugs and confessions and forgiveness.
Troy and Zeke's eyes were trained on the two girls who were dancing to the music. Troy was purely entranced and was gazing lustfully at the sway of Gabriella's behind, her toned slightly bent legs and her slender arms which she had up in the air. Zeke had a grin on his face as she watched Sharpay enjoy herself and dance a little more clumsily than Gabriella, obviously a lot drunker.
"You two," Chad laughed, "You," He pointed at Zeke, "Are basically laughing at the girl you like and you," He looked at Troy, "Look like you're ready to pounce."
"No way," Troy defended whereas Zeke wore a sheepish expression.
"Yes way. Don't deny it to me, bro."
Troy shook his head, "I'm just having a glance round and my eyes happen to settle on Gabriella's ass for a moment, we're just friends," He shrugged while trying to hide a smirk.
Chad burst out laughing, "Dude, I'll be so surprised if you two don't go home together."
Troy just grinned cheekily, "We're friends and friends don't have sex."
Chad nodded, smirking, "Sure. Doesn't mean you don't want to though."
Troy shrugged, "I don't think any straight guy would deny her sex if she requested it."
Chad actually nodded, agreeing with him, "That girl has an ass."
"Oh! Who has a good ass?" Gabriella squealed from behind Chad who was sitting at a chair which he pulled up to the booth. She leant down, her arms wrapping around his shoulders and leaning against him a little.
"Alright, Gab?" Chad laughed, patting her arm.
"Gabriella, I wish I had you're butt," Sharpay pouted, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder, leaning against Zeke's side a little.
Chad and Troy both looked at each other and smirked as Zeke wrapped his arm around her and lay his hand to rest on her hip.
"My butt is not cute," Gabriella grumbled as she straightened, "Less talk about my butt and more dancing. Chad, Troy, Zeke, come on," She urged, taking a hold of Chad's wrist and Troy's hand and pulling the two men up as Sharpay got to work on convincing Zeke.
Neither of the three guys needed much persuading by the two pretty women and Chad wanted to go find a cute girl to dance with but first he joined the rest of the group of the dancefloor.
Troy wasn't exactly sober, so his hand didn't let Gabriella's go as she went to get back to dancing. He held her hand, softly but determinedly pulled her to him. One of his large hands held his other wrist and her body was trapped between his chest and his arms.
"We were on about your ass," Troy informed.
"Huh?" Gabriella asked, distractedly as she continued to dance in the trap of his body.
Troy boldly reached down to quickly yet softly squeeze her behind, "Me, Chad and Zeke were on about that."
Gabriella's eyebrows shot up, "Friends don't squeeze the others butt's, Troy."
Troy shrugged, "I can let you go if you want?" He questioned. Only after he spoke did he realise that that question was loaded with possible implications.
"No, I don't want," She smiled.
Troy's jaw clenched but a small smile made it's way onto his face moments later, "Good," He mumbled, not sure if she could tell what he was saying. He moved forward, pressing a solid but soft single kiss to her forehead before letting her go and start to dance goofily in front of her.
Gabriella giggled as she watched him put his arms out in front of himself and rotated them along with subtlety wiggling his hips.
JFJFJFJFJF
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Happy New Year!" Everybody in the club shouted and then in tradition kissed their retrospective partner.
Gabriella looked around and saw Sharpay connected at the mouth with Zeke, Lucy and Liam also sharing a kiss and Troy hugging a girl who she was all too familiar with; Lola.
Her eyes narrowed as she watched the interaction, zoning in on Troy's hands on her hips. Gabriella was a little annoyed because she didn't know that this girl was going to be joining them at the club.
"Happy new year!" Chad exclaimed, coming from no where and pulling her into a hug, picking her up excitedly.
Gabriella laughed as he shook her, "Happy new year, Chad," She shouted, holding onto his shoulders as he continued to shake her.
He suddenly put her down, his hands on her shoulders, "Where's Bolton?" He asked.
Gabriella shrugged, "Hugging Lola, last time I saw."
"Lola's here?" Chad frowned.
"Apparently," She shrugged again.
Chad tilted his head, "Alright?"
Gabriella nodded with a smile.
"Gab!" Lucy squealed, running over to her and Chad the best she could in her drunken state and with heels on.
"Happy new year, babe!" Gabriella said happily, hugging her friend.
"Happy new year," Lucy giggled, hugging her tightly, "I hope this year is good to you, I know it's been hard for you the last couple of years."
Gabriella smiled softly and genuinely, "Thank you and I hope it's good for you as well."
"Thanks," Lucy smiled, pulling back, "Ready for a little more partying?" She asked, pulling a face while waiting for the answer.
"Of course," Gabriella grinned as the two girls made their way to the bar as Chad went in search of Troy.
Chad had said happy new year to pretty much all of his friends that he had met at the club but he had yet to say it to his best friend, who no one seemed to know where he was. Chad had done a full circle of the club but had not bumped into him. But as he was about to give up he saw Troy squatting against the wall of the club which Lola hunched over him. It was obvious that in the short space of time that Troy had be missing, that he had gotten extremely drunk and a smashed Troy equalled a weak Troy. From Chad's position it seemed as if Lola was still trying to flirt and kiss him and Troy had backed away and huddled up into a ball, telling her no.
"Troy! Man!" Chad shouted as he walked forward, also a little drunk but glad he wasn't totally pissed.
"Chad! Get her off me!" Troy shouted in a slur.
Chad placed his hand on Lola's shoulder and slightly pushed her out of the way, reaching down to help Troy stand, "What have you been drinking, dude?" Chad laughed, telling Troy steady himself before he let go.
"Dunno," He swayed.
"Well happy new year! You were MIA for a little while," Chad told him.
"Happy new year!" Troy exclaimed in a laugh, "Dude, I love you bro."
Chad snorted, "Love you too, man. Now let's go find you some water and sober you up a little before you try to hit on Gabriella."
"Gabriella! Let's go find her!" Troy grinned like a little boy and all of a sudden he was a happy drunk and started to drag his best friend through the club.
Chad grumbled as he got dragged along and he knew his friend was going to blow his whole cool guy thing he had going on.
"Gabriella!" Troy shouted, walking quickly up to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind quickly, "Happy new year," He mumbled next to her ear as he felt her tense up, obviously surprised at the arms that wrapped around her because she hadn't heard her name being shouted.
Chad was extremely surprised, he thought that Troy was going to make a fool out of himself but as soon as he touched Gabriella, he turned back into the cool, chilled man he usually was.
Gabriella spun around, "Half an hour late."
Troy grinned, "Happy new year," He repeated.
Gabriella flinched at his breath, "What have you been drinking?" She laughed, "But happy new year."
"Thank you," He smiled, his hands resting on the curve of her waist, "Do I get a new years kiss?"
Gabriella's eyebrows shot up, "Excuse me?"
Troy shrugged, "A guy who has liked you before tonight, has kissed and done so much more with you, is definitely being teased tonight."
"What do you mean?"
"That dress, you're dancing, you in general. I love you so obviously I'm attracted to you, tonight has just intensified that," Troy said bluntly.
Gabriella's eyes widened, "Troy we agreed to be just friends this morning, let's not ruin that already."
"Well can we spend some time together before you go back to college?" Troy asked.
Gabriella pouted a little, debating whether to answer the man who she now realised was under the influence of more than enough alcohol, "Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"Maybe."
He paused, "Ok."
I'm sorry it's a little short but I really wanted to ask you about how you would like the night too end?
Also I thought of a different way I could of gone about this story and I'm gutted I haven't done it that way. I wish I wrote about certain dates of the year like obviously the 4th of July then Halloween, Christmas, New Year etc.
Thank you for reading.