A/N: Last chapter! Sorry for the delay…but RL sucks :)
I'm extremely nervous about this…so I'd like to know what you all think. Of course it's up to you but…being the last chapter of the story…I'd like to hear your thoughts about how the whole thing has been developed – it'd meant the world! ;)
Thank you so so so much for still reading though that story may has disappointed you somehow; to know that you've read those 21 chapters means everything and I really don't have enough words of gratitude to explain what I'm feeling right now :') I guess I can say just one thing: THANK YOU, because you all are incredibly amazing! *hug*
Here's chapter 21 (the last one); enjooooooooooy! :)
PS: I guess you remember how the first chapter happened TEN YEARS after all the high school thing began, right? The story itself was like a massive flashback...and in this chapter everything goes back to the present. In italics = flashbacks (ten years ago), in normal letter, what happens in the present, okay? Hope that helps you all to understand this end :D
Ring Ring
The peaceful embrace the couple was sharing broke when her phone began to ring impatiently from her bag.
He groaned.
She giggled.
"Wanna bet who's that bad timing?" He muttered in frustration dropping his arms from her waist in defeat and letting her sit up and reach for her bag.
She rolled her eyes. "Be nice," she scolded while reaching for the disturbing item. "He's not interrupting us all the time now."
"After ten years!" He complained wincing when the ringtone began again. "Take that, baby, seriously…and think about changing that stupid and strident ringtone of yours in the meantime…"
She rolled her eyes. "Don't be such a baby!"
He groaned again and pushed his back away from the old trunk sitting up too to help her. "Where in the hell do you have your phone?"
"It has to be here," she muttered taking her wallet, keys and dietary out of her bag. "And stop complaining about Chad's bad timing; yours is not better and you don't know if Chad is the one who's calling me now."
He rolled her eyes and took the bag from Gabriella's hands, turning it over and letting everything she had inside fell on the grass.
"I don't have bad timing!" He protested as if he'd been insulted, his task of looking for the phone forgotten. "That's happened just a couple of times…and it was ages ago!"
"Whatever you say, baby," she answered distractedly reaching for her phone for it'd fallen from her bag along with all the other things she had inside of it, "Tay doesn't share that opinion of yours," she said pressing the 'answer' button not even looking at the screen. "Hello?"
"Tay is going to kill me!"
Troy rolled his eyes when his best friend's (loud) voice arrived at his ears. "See?" He muttered.
Gabriella slapped his arm and gave him a warning look that made him lift his hands in surrender.
"Earth to Gabriella!" Chad whisper-hissed into the phone when he noticed Gabriella was ignoring him. "I need your help!"
"What have you done now?" Gabriella spoke into the phone not leaving her eye-lock with Troy. "Why do you need my help? And why are you talking this low?"
"Low my ass," Troy muttered earning another slap from Gabriella. "What? I'm hearing him and you're the one with the phone pressed to your ear!"
"Can you pay me some attention?" Chad demanded angrily. "And stop with the questions. I need help…and I need help now!"
Troy pointed with his head the phone as if proving his previous words and she rolled her eyes. "Okay, one at time – you and I are going to talk later," she said at Troy. "Chad, why do you need my help?"
"Tay is going to kill me!" He repeated.
She rolled her eyes. "What have you done?"
"Nothing!" Chad answered panicky.
Gabriella narrowed her eyes. "Then? What the hell is wrong?"
"I don't know what to buy her for her birthday!" Chad whined.
"Her birthday is in two months, Chad!" Gabriella exclaimed shockingly. "You still have two months to figure her present out; why are you panicking?"
Troy couldn't help but snort and although Gabriella tried to glare at him, the truth was that he could hear the laughter she was trying so hard to contain in her voice.
"Tell him I can hear him laughing," Chad hissed angrily into the phone. "This is serious, Bribs, she's going to kill me if I don't buy her something she likes."
Gabriella rolled her eyes – within the years she'd known him, she'd learned that Chad could be the perfect drama queen when he wanted. "She'll love whatever you buy," she said soothingly. "You know that…"
Troy shook his head amusedly. Since the night when Chad apologized to Gabriella ten years ago, the friendship between them both had blossomed in what it was now – the strongest of the friendships he'd ever witnessed. It was more than a simple friendship; it was as if they were siblings so close they were…siblings when, usually, Chad was the big and protective brother and Gabriella the little sister. Though he couldn't forget how the roles changed whenever it came to Chad's relationship with Taylor, Gabriella's best friend.
"What are you going to give her?" Chad asked.
"I don't know yet," Gabriella said while lying down again – her back pressed into Troy's chest, who welcomed the gesture embracing her body and kissing her hair, burying his nose there and inhaling deeply…still amazed that, after ten years being beside her every day…her scent still made goose bumps appear in his skin so perfect he thought it was.
Knowing the conversation between Chad and Gabriella could go for forever, Troy closed his eyes and relaxed his back on the oak letting his mind drift to so many years ago, ten to be exact, to the night when his best friend came back to his life for good.
Troy smiled from his position lying on Gabriella's bed when he heard her yawn. "Are you tired, baby?"
"Ugh," she groaned. "I can't believe it's not even 10 PM and I'm this tired," she complained from the bathroom. "How in the hell I'm going to get up tomorrow?" She said turning off the bathroom's light and going to the bed where Troy was already waiting for her, wearing a pair of shorts and a sleeveless tee. "I think I would sleep for a whole day if I could."
Troy was already in his boxers waiting for her to join him. "Then come here," he invited her opening his arms so she could snuggle into him – the way he knew she liked to sleep. She did as she was told and soon sighed in contentment hearing his heartbeat (the best lullaby in the world, if you asked her). "You know what though?"
"What?" She asked tiredly with her eyes closed and repositioning herself so her head was on his chest and her left arm was around his stomach.
"I'm happy today has been the way it's been," he said lowly, his fingertips caressing the soft skin of her arm lulling her to sleep. "It's been a rollercoaster all day with…like huge things all happening at once, but I'm happy with everything that has happened today."
Gabriella opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him with the softest of the smiles plastered in her face. "Me too; I'd say today has been one of the best days since I came here."
"One of the best ones?" Troy asked lifting his eyebrow questioningly. "I would have said today has been the greatest day since you came here for you; you've been incredible all day, you've faced everyone, you've defended yourself, you've showed that you are not going to stand any more shit directed to you, you and Taylor have sorted everything out, Chad has apologized, we're public now…I mean, those are too many good things happening to you in just one day, uh? Which day beats today?" He asked curiously not really knowing which day Gabriella would consider an even better day.
"Why do you say 'for you'?" Gabriella asked. "I'd say today has been a great day for you too, don't you think?"
"Of course," he nodded. "But I can think of other days that are way better than today, in my opinion."
"Tell me which those days are," Gabriella demanded with a curious smile on her face while pulling away from him and lying down on her pillows, signalling to Troy that he did the same so both were lying down facing each other.
Troy shook his head while reaching his hand to hers, so he could intertwine their fingers together. "I've asked you first." She blushed and he chuckled, his free hand reaching up to pull her hair away from her face and a soft smile plastered on his mouth when he realized she was biting her lip the way she did whenever she felt embarrassed. "Tell me," he encouraged.
"I agree with you, today has been a great day but…there are more days I don't want to forget. Days that mean so much to me that I want to keep them in my memory forever," she whispered.
Troy didn't know if it was because of the soft tone of her voice, because of her choice of words or simply because of the special way her eyes were shining in but he knew there was something hidden behind her words, something that made him push himself closer to her and embrace her petite body with his arms, kissing her exposed neck when she buried her face in his. "Which are those days, baby?" He whispered not wanting to disturb the peace they had in the bubble they were in.
"The day I realized I trusted you, for once," Gabriella whispered from the crock of his neck. "Then…the day you told me you loved me…and then yesterday because it was when we made love for the first time is in the list as well…but the best one…"
Troy felt his insides melt with her words. Of course those same days made his list too, but to hear Gabriella say that days that were milestones not just in their lives but also in their relationship were her best days made his heart soar in happiness. However, he felt curious about which day was the most favourite one for her. "The best one…?"
"Is the day I met you," she admitted, her voice just a low muffled murmur. "This is the best day in my life so far."
Troy didn't know what to say; he felt so touched by what Gabriella told him, the only thing he could do was to press himself even closer to her, rolling her on her back and then following so his body covered hers, joining their lips in a passionate and deep kiss where he tried to muster everything he was feeling yet he didn't know how to phrase it.
"I love you," he breathed when they pulled away although still kept their bodies pressed together and his nose nudging hers lovingly. "I love you so much, Gabriella."
"Show me?" She asked in a petite voice while opening her legs so he could lie between them more comfortably.
He didn't speak an answer but his body did. His hard shaft pressed against her opening and his mouth came fervently down to hers muffling the moan that was about to escape from her throat at the sensation of him so close to her. Their mouths melted together and it wasn't long until Troy rubbed her lower lip with the tip of his tongue so she granted him access to her sweetness; she obliged and soon a furious battle began, a battle neither of them won but both of them enjoyed because of the passion, the heat and the sensuality it had. Their bodies seemed to mirror the actions of their tongues; while Troy pressed himself into her core in small thrusts, Gabriella bucked her hips upward not just welcoming him but also wanting him, craving him, with only their clothes as barriers. He pulled away when the need of air became noticeable but soon enough latched his mouth into her collarbone and the valley between her breasts, sucking and nipping until he was sure a mark was beginning to appear in her baby skin, smirking when a throaty moan escaped from Gabriella.
"Damn clothes," Troy growled into her ear when the tank top she was wearing didn't allow him to explore more of her inviting and delicious skin.
She giggled naturally at that. "Then take them off; what's stopping you?"
Troy pulled away and looked down amused, but also lovely and hungrily at the same time, at her flushed face. "Are you gonna tell me Gabriella, the Sexiest Vixen of Sex is coming over tonight?"
She blushed but her eyes never left his in a show of confidence both knew was new but real. "It seems she doesn't need to come, don't you think? I'd say normal-Gabriella is doing a pretty good job with turning you on," she flirted back in a teasing way while moving her hand between their bodies and caressing his hard erection through his cotton boxers.
He let out a gasp but then chuckled, pressing himself even closer to her so the slow and teasing movements of her hand got stilled and the torture she was infringing in him stopped. He smirked when she grunted in frustration at seeing her own hand trapped between their bodies, and then he used this same moment to take a deep breath trying to control his body. "Of course she's doing great…but maybe you could call the vixen tonight…and I'll call whoever you want so he comes and plays with her…" He answered continuing with the joke, his voice tight.
"Oh, is Brad Pitt in town?" Gabriella said in an excited voice with the only purpose of tease him while wriggling her arm so she could free it – that new movement make Troy groan loudly and stiff his body, freeing Gabriella's arm who, pouting while enveloping his hips with her legs and his neck with his arms, pressed her body closer to his, continuing with the joke between them and also teasing him at the same time. "How come I didn't know that?"
"Are you really saying you would change me for Brad Pitt? But he's old," Troy protested rearranging his body so he was more comfortable.
"But he's so handsome," Gabriella smiled a soft smile tangling her fingers in his hair.
"And he's married," Troy continued, his hand moving up so he could caress her face.
"He's not married," Gabriella interjected sassily.
"He's with Angelina Jolie and they have six children together," Troy continued.
"And?" Gabriella shrugged her shoulders, a cute giggle escaping from her mouth. "You know I love children, I'm sure I would be able to manage."
He chuckled. "Alright so…should I call him?"
Gabriella laughed tightening her arms around his neck. "Nah, you're doing a pretty good job. Should I call the vixen?"
He moved his hips forward imitating the movement he would be doing if he was thrusting his shaft inside of Gabriella's body like he was doing before, grinning like a cat when he heard her sudden intake of breath. "I take you over her every time…and everywhere…"
His voice was so husky and his face so full of lust, Gabriella felt a shiver ran up and down her spine in anticipation at what was about to happen. "Then we're even," she whispered.
"Yeah?" Troy whispered leaning down so their noses were rubbing together.
"Yeah," she breathed against his lips, her arms pulling Troy's face down over hers so she could join their lips together, a movement which was soon followed by Troy, who deepened the kiss devouring her mouth and plunging his tongue inside of her warm cavern, initiating a luscious and hot battle of tongues that left both teens breathless. He pulled away but his mouth never left her skin; leaving her mouth, Troy's moved downwards to her neck and collarbone, where he sucked and nipped until a second mark began to appear, enjoying not just her sweet taste or scent but also the mixture of mewls and moans that left her throat.
Her hand moved down again and he growled against her skin when he felt her hand searching her way under his boxers. "Baby…" He breathed tightly, a hidden warning behind his voice.
"What?" She said tightening the hold of her legs around his waist so he couldn't move away from her.
"I'm already hard and you," he closed his eyes and took a deep intake of breath when her hand finally enclosed his tight penis. "If you keep up that, I'm going to explode…"
"Now we don't want that, do we?" Gabriella whispered just before she planted a soft kiss in the column of his throat while pulling down his boxers with her hands, urging Troy to kick them off completely. "I want you to explode…inside of me." The growl that left Troy's body was enough for the small bit of shyness that still was in her disappear and Gabriella pulled his body away, stood up from the bed under the scrutinizing stare of Troy, who was devouring her body just with his eyes, and got undressed, lying on the bed completely naked afterwards.
Troy didn't miss a bit when he woke of his daydreaming state and soon covered her body with his the same moment his mouth covered hers in a tight lip lock; the mood changed that moment – if before there was playfulness behind each action they were doing and each word they were spoken, the moment both nude bodies met it disappeared and only feelings, real feelings, emotions, desire and passion were present. It was not just something physical but also something that meant their souls connecting, their feelings meeting and their hearts getting in sync.
Gabriella pulled away. "Now Troy," she said, her voice containing a hint of frustration and whining, the hungry in her eyes not being missed by Troy. "I need you now."
"I'm here," he kissed her lips softly and reached his arm out to his nightstand where they kept the condoms. He pulled one out, covered his penis with it and then went back to hover Gabriella's body with his. "Are you ready, baby?" He checked softly, his fingertips playing with her long and silky curls that were framing her angelic face giving her a special aura that just made her seem even more beautiful, thing he hadn't known was possible until that moment.
"Yes," she whispered locking her arms under his and her legs around his waist.
"I love you," he whispered just before he joined their mouths together and their bodies too, thrusting his engorged shaft slowly, inch by inch, inside of her hot centre.
She moaned her response and began to buck her hips upwards, meeting his thrusts and feeling how he was deeper and deeper inside of her with each new one until he was embedded inside of her body completely. He stopped then – it'd been like a silent agreement so both could enjoy the feeling of being completely joined together – and locked his eyes with hers; they had a silent conversation where they conveyed all their love for each other in their eyes in a powerful way that made their insides explode in wild fireworks at the huge amount of feelings and emotions both felt – 'love' wasn't enough to describe what they were feeling that moment, 'passion' either, 'lust' either…because it was more than all that put together; it was something foreign and unknown, something that neither of them had felt until then, something that neither of them knew how to describe or put into words because it was something so huge, so perfect, so beautiful…nothing either could say would be able to convey the turmoil of feelings their hearts were full of. What they had changed drastically that same moment; everything but them became blurred and in their hearts nothing more than the other was present; they were alone in the world and they wouldn't have wanted it in any other way.
Happy tears escaped from her eyes and he kissed them away the same moment he resumed his thrusts – slowly at first but gaining speed with each new one went by. The passion escalated again and soon both were moving completely in sync, the pleasure building up and soon exploding inside of their bodies when they reached their orgasms at the same time, both screaming the other's name in pure and abandoned bliss and more happy tears leaving their eyes due to the incapability both felt to put their current emotions into words.
Just one thing both could say when he pulled his now soft shaft from Gabriella's body and laid beside her, enveloping her trembling figure with his strong arms and pulling her closer so each inch of their skins touched – and it was more than enough.
"I love you."
"Baby?" Gabriella asked, concern written in her face.
"Uh?" Troy shook his head and looked at Gabriella. "Sorry, I've kinda zoned out…what were you saying?"
Gabriella scrunched her nose up. "Are you okay?"
He nodded. "I was…thinking…"
Gabriella rearranged her body so she was straddling his legs. "About?"
Troy wrapped his arms around her lower back and pulled her closer to him. "Do you remember the night Chad came to your house when we were in high school and he apologized for everything he did and all that?"
A soft smile appeared on Gabriella's face. "We became public that day…" He nodded, a soft smile appearing in his face mirroring hers and, just when he was about to talk, Gabriella talked again interrupted him. "And that night I knew that you were the love of my life and the person I knew never would fail me."
He hugged her tightly into his body too touched to say anything but she knew what his actions were saying without needing to hear the words leaving his mouth.
"You taught me to trust, Troy," her muffled voice came from his shoulder. "You've changed my life for the best…since the first moment we touched each other…you…you just made feel things so foreign but so special…you made me feel special…and you still do it."
"You are special," he said kissing her hair. "You are the most special and important thing in the world for me, Gabriella…and…and…"
She pulled away, silent tears falling from her eyes and a small smile in her face. "And what?"
"You know that if I haven't asked you to marry me is because you don't want to get married but -," he cleared his throat. "I've thought we could go to a pseudo-honeymoon…or something to celebrate our ten years together."
She giggled. "I'd love that," she kissed his cheek. "But we have to wait…"
Troy narrowed his eyes in confusion at the way Gabriella's mind seemed to be far away from where they were. Silently, he observed her and focused all his attention in her face for he knew was the mirror of what she was feeling. Within the years, Troy had learned something about Gabriella – she sometimes needed her own time and space, and he guessed that moment was one of those times. Knowing she would share with him what was going on in her mind, Troy relaxed his head into the oak's trunk and closed his eyes, not stopping the caresses of his fingertips in her lower back showing he was there.
Gabriella, on her part, couldn't help but think about what happened the day which followed the magical night Troy was referring to. She'd never been so confident and scared at the same time in her life like she was that day because of its significance.
"Troy, do you think Taylor and Chad will go together to school today?"
Troy lifted one of his eyebrows and looked at Gabriella through the mirror of her bathroom – they both were getting ready for school and while he was shaving, Gabriella was applying some light make up in her face (their night had been way too long and sleep hadn't been, precisely, in their mind until they had seen the sun beginning to rise through the window). "Why do you ask? Not that I don't care about what they do but today is the first day we're going to school like the couple we are…and I'm more excited about it than worried about Chad and Taylor, to be honest."
Gabriella smiled. "I'm excited about that too," she said moving closer to Troy and wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning back into the bathroom counter so her body was trapped between Troy's and the cold surface. "But Taylor was worried about what would happen between them…and…and I don't want for Chad to bail her and leave her alone, you know? If he doesn't go with her…she should come with us; I don't want people picking on her now…"
Troy couldn't help the smile that found its way to his face at her words – her concern for her friend, even though some lions could be waiting for her too, was something he admired and treasured because it was a proof of how pure she really was. "I don't think Chad is going to leave her, baby," he soothed, his fingertips pulling her waves away from her face, "Chad really cares about Taylor…and I'm pretty sure he doesn't want anyone picking on her."
"How do you know that?" Gabriella asked reaching her arm out and grabbing the Gilette from Troy's hand so she could shave him. "Did he say something?"
Troy smirked and relaxed his back, letting Gabriella proceed with the shaving – it wasn't the first time she did that and, in an unknown way for him, she always managed to shave him so softly and sweetly…it was like a massage, a pleasurable sensation he'd never felt while shaving himself. "Let's just say…we had a conversation more girly than either of us would admit to anyone."
Gabriella giggled. "You're ridiculous…and you've already admitted to me that conversation's existence…"
"But you love me enough to help me keep my macho fame untouched," he grinned goofily and then winked at her.
"Oh, I don't know," Gabriella teased back. "I mean…that maybe would take some of your attractiveness away and girls at school would back off…"
He knew she was joking…yet he also knew she was worried about what Sharpay would do once they arrived at the school. "Then do whatever you think you have to do; as long as you still think I'm attractive…I'm good."
It was simple, a simple comment so she got reassured without saying anything about her lack of confidence. Troy knew she didn't want for him to get worried and he also knew she didn't want for him to speak her out of her worries in a way that made them realer; it was weird but he just knew that Gabriella was struggling with an inner battle, a battle where a part of her felt still so small in comparison with the other female population of East High was fighting to win over another part of her that felt confident enough about herself, about him and about their love. He hoped he would be able to make that second part of Gabriella win…because he didn't want anything more than that – a happy and sure of herself Gabriella that didn't worry about anyone's thoughts but hers and that was able to enjoy their happiness without having to worry about the idiots he knew were their classmates.
"You know I think you're more than attractive," Gabriella winked at him – she appreciated his reassurance and thanked him for it – and gave him the wet towel when she ended her shaving of him so he could whip off the foam that still was in his face. "Of course you're not Brad Pitt but…you'll do."
He pinched her sides and laughed when she squealed. "Fair enough," he murmured tightening his hold around her waist and kissing her. "You know I wouldn't mind having you shaving me every day? You make it be like a massage…"
She giggled cutely. "I'm awesome like that…"
"Awesome indeed," he nodded his head and pecked her lips softly again. "But now your awesomeness and you need to get ready because we're going to be late."
She pouted. "What should I wear? I want to look okay…"
He scoffed. "You could wear a potatoes' sac and even then you would look more than okay."
She smiled cutely. "Thanks babe, that's really sweet of you…but I'm serious…"
He sighed. "Okay then, you're going to wear whatever I tell you to wear?"
"Yeah?" Her answer came more like a question because of the devilish glitter in his eyes. He was up to something, she was sure of it, and soon she became afraid of her own agreement – that could be even worse than she herself picking her own clothes.
"Okay then," after a quick peck on her lips, Troy went to her closet and rummaged through her clothes with a look full of determination and sureness in his face. "Aha!" He said after a while retrieving a red mini skirt and a white top with straps. "Then wear that."
"I'm not wearing that!" Gabriella protested with her cheeks tinted with deep red. "That skirt is…too short and…"
"It's perfect," Troy argued back. "You've said you would wear whatever I chose…"
"But I thought you would tell me to wear a pair of jeans and a top or something…not that."
Troy rolled his eyes. "Why not?"
"Because it's too short?" Gabriella said sarcastically.
"Well, it was in your closet," Troy said defensively.
Gabriella rolled her eyes this time. "My mom bought it for me, I had nothing to do with it."
"Put it on," Troy encouraged. "I promise you I'll tell you if it looks too short or not."
"You'll think it looks good because you're a guy…a horny guy," she interjected. "You won't be sincere…"
"Please? For me…" Troy pouted his lips and tried to give her the courage she needed just with his eyes.
She sighed. "Weren't you the one complaining we would be late?"
Troy shook his head. "We won't be late, come on…"
Gabriella sighed again in defeat – she had to learn to say no to his eyes some time. "Okay, but you'll tell me exactly what you think, okay?"
"I promise I'll tell you the truth," Troy nodded his head happily. Now he only need to convince her that she didn't look like a whore like she thought but like a normal teen happy with her body.
Wordlessly, Gabriella took the clothes from Troy's hands and put her robe away, leaving herself only dressed in her underwear. Troy looked at her body hungrily but stopped the comments that would put his thoughts into words and just focused in to try to look at the situation objectively.
"Well?" Gabriella turned around and then stood with her arms crossed over her chest.
Stunning, absolutely stunning. Troy couldn't understand what had Gabriella so worried about the skirt because it fell just a few inches above her knees and it didn't show anything; the outfit wasn't revealing at all and it just looked a confident young woman happy with her body – which he hoped Gabriella felt instead of all those insecurities.
"You look incredible," Troy assured. "You can wear that perfectly because it doesn't show anything…"
"It's too short," she argued, a hint of doubt in her voice now.
"You know I wouldn't like you wearing something too revealing because you know I don't like to share you with anyone," Troy argued back. "I'd tell you if I thought you would put a show for the rest of the guys at school…which you aren't with that skirt, I swear."
"Do you really think I look okay?" Gabriella asked in a petite voice.
He nodded. "More than okay," he enveloped her in his arms and squeezed her torso. "I don't know why you're so worried…you don't look vulgar…and wouldn't look even if you tried! You just look comfortable in your shoes…which you should be…"
"I am but…"
"Nothing," he shook his head. "You are beautiful, extremely beautiful so don't think about what the others are going to think, okay? You have to feel good with yourself and, believe me, you have everything you need to do it because you are precious, inside and outside."
"Charmer," she said giggling cutely and became more serious again. "You make me feel beautiful, though…"
"Because I'm only stating the truth," he pulled away lightly but still keeping her body in the circle of his arms and winked at her. "And, by the way, you haven't heard me being a charmer yet…wait until I decide to drop on you all my charm…you'll be a goner in seconds!"
She laughed. "Are you sure Mr. Cockiness? I'd say I've already heard each one of your charming lines…"
He chuckled and shook his head. "Nah, you've just heard me saying the truth…maybe I should prepare a day of "Charming Troy" just for you…"
She kissed his jaw and pulled away, turning around so she could look at her reflection in the mirror of her bedroom. "Can't wait for that day to arrive then…"
"You have just signed yourself a deal, babe," he said flirtingly slapping her retrieving butt playfully.
"Troy!" She whined with a pout in her features. "Don't do that!"
Troy lifted his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, you had a small taint just there…and I, being the awesome and perfect boyfriend I am, have just helped you, baby, and you tell me that…I feel so insulted right now…"
She couldn't help but giggle. "Of course I had a stain exactly in my butt…of course…"
A wink was all she received from him.
LTTLTL
"I think I'm going to call Taylor," Gabriella murmured still being inside of Troy's car and not ready to open the door to the real world just yet.
The couple had arrived at the East High's parking lot ten minutes ago with twenty minutes to spare, so they decided to just stay in the car with each other, enjoying the last moments of "peace" they would have until the end of the day. Troy's worries about them being late weren't needed at all because once Gabriella decided to wear what Troy told her to she also decided to not think about her outfit anymore and just focus in Troy's opinion. She felt pretty thanks to him and she was getting used to the length of the skirt – it wasn't as short as she thought in the beginning but it did was shorter than the skirts she was used to wear. However, with what Troy had told her she didn't feel vulgar but, on the contrary, extremely comfortable…and herself, the new herself who was strong, who had confidence in herself, who liked to feel that way and also who enjoyed to know that the people who cared about her loved her the way she was.
"Gabi," Troy sighed. "There's still some time before the bell goes…wait some minutes more…"
"And what if Chad doesn't come with her?" Gabriella asked nervously. "She would have to come alone, Troy…we can't allow that to happen! And if we don't know until it's too late…then what?"
Troy reached his hands out and grabbed Gabriella's. "Baby, Chad is never at the school this early; he'll arrive when only ten minutes are left…so don't get all worked up now, okay?" He hugged her and kissed her hair. "Everything is going to be okay…and if Chad doesn't come with Taylor, we'll wait for her here and we'll go inside with her, okay?"
She nodded into his chest and sighed. "Am I being silly, am I not?"
"No way," Troy kissed her hair again. "You're just being a worried and concerned good friend."
Gabriella smiled and looked up to him. "I love you…"
"I love you too," he smiled and then something behind Gabriella made him grin silly. "And you're going to love me even more now…"
She scrunched her nose up in confusion. "Why?"
"Hey," Troy protested indignantly though both knew he was just having fun with her. "It could happen, you know? Why assume that you can't love me more than you do now?"
She rolled her eyes at his line but smiled nonetheless. "Troy…why?"
"Okay, okay," he chuckled. "Because I'm seeing something you're going to love…"
Gabriella pulled her chin away from his chest. "Where?"
"Turn around," he whispered. "Look at the main doors…"
Gabriella did as he told her to do and then squealed. "Oh my gosh!"
He laughed. "See? I was right!" He boasted…earning a slap in his bicep. "Hey, what was that for?"
"Because you need to stop this cockiness you have with you today," Gabriella said amusedly. "It seems it's like…possessing your body or something."
Troy lifted one of his eyebrows in amusement. "Possessing me?"
"Oh shut up!" She blushed. "You know what I mean!"
"I do not," he grinned goofily again.
"Troy!" She whined…using her pout afterwards. "Don't be so mean…"
"I'm not mean," he grinned in satisfaction. "The pout won't work this time, by the way, and just so you know, the only thing that can possess me…is you."
The red tint in her cheeks intensified and just when she was about to say something back to him, a shy tap in her window made her turn around and gasp. Troy rolled her window down and smiled. "Good morning!"
"Do we really need to know why your face seems to be in flames, Gabs?" Taylor asked for Troy's amusement.
Gabriella huffed. "I'm not blushing…"
"You so are," Chad interjected timidly but also naturally after sharing a friendly look with Troy. "Though, babe," he said, this time tugging at Taylor's hand which was intertwined with his, "I think we don't want to know anything at all about these two…"
"Chad!" Gabriella and Taylor protested, the first indignantly and the second one in amusement, while Troy and Chad laughed freely at the girls' reactions.
"What?" The dark skinned boy grinned once his laughter died down. "Don't tell me you want to share with us what was going on inside of this car before we got here…"
Gabriella closed her eyes and then covered them with her hands. "Oh my gosh, that's embarrassing…"
Troy wrapped one of his arms around her shoulders knowing her mortification was escalating dangerously and kissed her hair softly, letting his face there so he could whisper into her ear. "Baby, tell them something back…just…mess with them like you do with me…and just tell them what this side of you yesterday surfaced wants to tell them; it's just Chad and Taylor…and we're alone here, okay? You just need to be yourself…"
Gabriella turned her head and looked dubiously at Troy, who nodded his head in encouragement. She took a deep breath and then turned her head to the opposite side, to Chad and Taylor.
"You're right, Chad," she reached to her left so she could hold Troy's hand – she may felt stronger but she needed the small push she knew would come with Troy touching her. "You two don't want to know what was going on here…you may get too jealous of what Troy and I have and completely enjoy…and you don't…yet."
This time the ones who blushed were Taylor and Chad for Gabriella's amusement, who giggled uncontrollably along with Troy, who couldn't help the snort that left his throat. "Well done, babe, I couldn't have done it any better."
"Thank you," Gabriella grinned opening the passenger's door of Troy's car and stepping outside of it, with a winning look in her face. "What? No more comebacks, Chad?"
Chad huffed and looked away. "I guess not."
"That's good," Gabriella said looking at Troy, who was reaching down to grab her hand. "What about you, Tay?" Taylor looked down, the blush in her cheeks quite evident for everyone to see but said nothing. "I guess the topic ends now then, right?"
Chad and Taylor looked at each other and then looked away, the shyness and embarrassment both were feeling making Gabriella feel giddy. "Right," both murmured.
"Thought so," Gabriella squeezed Troy's fingers. "Shall we go inside, then?"
Troy took a deep breath and then his face changed, along with Chad's, both very aware of their surroundings and of what could happen – they knew they had to be on alert in case something bad happened to the girls.
"Let's go," Troy's hard and cold voice sounded more menacing because of his hard stare – his eyes were grey and they held a fury no one would dare to question – and soon he began to walk towards the main doors of East High not looking at anyone in particular but noticing everything that was happening around them: the stares and whispers had already begun and so his body stiffened as if he'd been slapped.
Taylor's hand, still interlocked with Chad's, also squeezed his in a mixture of worry, fear and hope for having him calmed down before something bad happened.
Gabriella, alert too, squeezed Troy's fingers just for good measure. "Hey," she whispered tugging at his hand so he stopped for a moment. She waited until his eyes were locked with hers and gave him a small smile. "I love you, okay?"
"I love you too, so, so much," he whispered leaning down to capture her lips for a brief moment. "Thank you," he breathed against her ear when he pulled away.
She only lifted their intertwined hands and planted a soft kiss in his palm. "Together, Troy, together…"
The doors opened and the hallway turned silent at the same time. Everyone had been both couples outside and all were waiting for what would happen when they stepped inside of the school, fearing Troy's and Chad's rage and also curious about how they would react – it wasn't everyday that they saw Troy Bolton loosing his composure and showing his real feelings: protection and love for another someone this time.
"Mind. Your. Own. Business." Chad said between his clenched teeth. "There's nothing to see here."
Taylor and Gabriella pulled themselves closer to the guys but didn't dare to lift their eyes from the ground. The guys, noticing the girls' discomfort just dropped their hands and wrapped their arms around their shoulders, giving them a small squeeze showing their support.
Gabriella was the first one in react. Her eyes abandoned the ground and her usual chocolate orbs became clouded with a dare for everyone to tell her something; she wasn't afraid anymore and she was ready to face anyone who attacked her. Taylor soon followed when Chad kissed her head, and then she also lifted her eyes from the ground with defying the others to say something.
The boys, extremely proud of the girls, shared a look and a nod – they were okay…and they would be okay.
"What's that?" Sharpay's strident voice arrived at their ears and the four teens closed their eyes – not even one fucking day could the Ice Queen to back off? Didn't she have enough with what Troy told her the day before?
Chad was about to answer her but was beat up by Taylor. "What's what, Ice Queen?"
"Don't call me that," Sharpay's heels resounded in the hall, closer and closer each time until she was standing up in front of them. "You are no one to call me that."
"Oh, but you are someone to insult us?" Gabriella laughed sarcastically. "Don't give us this bullshit, Evans…you are no one, no fucking one in this school anymore, is that clear? Back off and just learn to live your own life instead of using the others' to feel okay. Grow up and forget we exist."
Troy couldn't help the snort that left his throat and Sharpay looked at him. "Something funny, traitor?"
"You," he laughed without humour. "You don't know how ridiculous you really are…"
Troy shook his head and continued walking towards their homeroom, ignoring Sharpay's weak attempt to attack them, being closely followed by Chad.
"But is anyone going to tell them something?" Sharpay asked to no one in particular. "Are you really leaving them be that way?"
The Pandora Box Gabriella opened the day before became evident just then.
"Mind your own business, Evans!"
"Shut the hell up, bitch!"
"Sharpay, if Troy and Chad are with them, they are untouchable now. You need to accept that," Jordan, one of the members of the basketball team told her. "The school has changed, Evans…"
She was left alone in the corridor, a pathetic pout in her face and bright unleashed tears in her eyes – she'd lost.
Gabriella shook her head allowing her mind to come back to the present and she couldn't help the grin appearing in her face when she remembered the day East High became a normal school for good – it was a so memorable day…and it also helped that Sharpay lost each student's respect because of how she'd been behaving until that moment. It wasn't as if Gabriella was happy about another someone's disgrace – Sharpay apologized the last day of school and whish them all the best, apologies they thanked and accepted – but the fact that Sharpay learned a lesson that day…and also because everyone at East High became free to do and say whatever they felt without being judged by anyone – the school became a pleasant place where new friendships and relationships between people who'd never spoken before blossomed.
"Hey baby," Troy murmured into her ear when he noticed her mind was in the present again. "Why can't we go to a vacation now? We have three free weeks…and…it's been a while since we've had one of those…"
Gabriella giggled, but it wasn't her usual giggle, fact Troy didn't miss – was she nervous? "If we use the car…then okay…"
He lifted one of his eyebrows. "The car? Which kind of honeymoon we can have using the car? I had thought about going to Hawaii or something like that…"
She sighed – maybe that moment was the right one to confess herself to him. Turning around between Troy's legs, Gabriella placed her hands in either side of his face. "Baby," she said softly, her fingertips caressing his face. "You know how I've insisted this morning so we came here this afternoon?"
He nodded silently.
She took a deep breath. "I had a reason for that…"
"What's wrong, Gabi?" He whispered, confusion, concern, worry and even fear plastered in his face.
"Nothing is wrong…" She answered with a watery smile. "But I wanted to come here because this is the place where…I don't know, where I became feel my father closer to me and where I feel more…at ease with me and my circumstances, you know? I just needed the courage he gives me every time I think about him because I need to tell you something."
He waited silently for Gabriella to explain herself.
"We can't go to Hawaii now because…"
His hands reached for hers, intertwining their fingers together. "Because?"
"I'm pregnant," she breathed out. "And we have the first appointment with my doctor next Friday…"
"Pregnant?" He whispered, the awe and excitement completely evident in his face and voice. "You sure?"
She nodded and sniffed, feeling all emotional with the happiness with which he reacted to the news. "Do you remember how I felt sick two weeks ago?" He nodded silently, too shocked to say anything. "Well, I was at work and then I began to throw up," Gabriella explained. "I was feeling dizzy and the nauseas never stopped so I went to the hospital before I went home; they took some analysis and I've received the news this morning. When you've come back from your run I was on the phone with my doctor and I was booking up next Friday at 2 for the first ultrasound."
"God baby," he said hugging her into his chest again.
"You happy?" She whispered into his ear. "You really happy?"
He pulled away. "Happy? Happy doesn't cover how I'm feeling…you…you've just made me the happiest man alive with that…gosh, this is…wow…I'm speechless…I…I don't know what to say…but…wow…this is huge…and incredible…and…and perfect…and…because I love you so much…and…because…because I need you in my life and…and because life without you wouldn't be a life…it'd be hell and…fuck, a baby? Wow, this is amazing and…"
Her lips over his stopped his rambling.
"I'm happy too…and I love you too," she said against her lips, a smile appearing in her face the same it appeared in his both thinking with delight about how the future just good things would bring for them and how many more "ten years celebrations" were waiting for them.
It's been ten years after that first (and last) year at East High.
Ten years full of new experiences, new people and new feelings.
Ten years full of laughs, smiles, kisses, adoration and love.
Ten years full of good and bad moments that had made them both be who they were in the present time.
Ten years full of "lessons" in life they had learned together…
Because she'd taught him and he'd learned and because he'd taught her and she'd learned...
Always holding each other's hands.