Hey guys, thank you so much for the great reviews on the chapter. I'm really glad you liked it. I want to dedicate this chapter to all of you. You've been great over the course of the story and I hope you continue to read and enjoy as it begins to come to an end.

Thank You!

Disclaimer: I own Scarlett

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

I groaned as I rolled over in the bed, wishing the ringing noise would shut up. I opened one eye slowly, wincing at the sudden blast of sunlight hitting my eyes. I sat up on my elbow, looking at the clock to see it was 8:30am.

I felt the bed shift beside me, and I knew Troy was beginning to wake up as well. I reached over to the bedside table and grabbed my phone, sliding the screen up and putting it my ear.

"Ha-oh" I said into the speaker, through a yawn. I covered my mouth, with one hand, laughing slightly as Taylor's voice echoed back to me.

"Are you still in bed. God, he must keep you up late.....Okay forget that, I know he keeps you up late and I know how he does it. Mom and Dad, were wondering when you were due home from your 'friends' house."

"Tay, its like 8.30 in the morning. Let a girl get some sleep" I let out a puff of air as Troy's arm swung around my stomach and pulled me closer to him, burying his face in the back of my hair.

I patted his arm softly, running my fingers up and down, through the fine layer of hair there. He groaned a little, snuggling more into me.

"I know. I'm just giving you the heads up. They want to know all about your 'sleepover' with your 'friends'". I smiled and nodded, yawning again.

"I'll be back soon. Gimme a couple of hours"

"Alright" she groaned "But you better have some good shit made up to cover your ass, 'cause I'm not doing it for you".

"I love you too Taylor. Byeeeeee" I replied, my head flopping to the pillow. I slid the phone closed, shutting up her incessant responds through the phone. I smiled and placed my phone back on the bedside table, snuggling back under the covers to go back to sleep.

3 HOURS LATER

The bacon, fizzed in the pan, as I cooked some up, for Troy's breakfast. He was still sleeping, and I was in the kitchen, dressed in one of the long white shirts that he wore to work. I rubbed one foot up and down the back of my other leg, smiling happily as I watched the food cook.

I heard the floorboards creek from the room and I knew Troy had smelled food and got up. I turned around just to see him ambling into the kitchen, dressed in just his navy blue boxers. He smiled at me, before covering his mouth with one hand, yawning into it and stretching his arms up over his head. His muscles all stretched out, and he rubbed his eyes softly as he brought his arms back down. His hair was sticking up at all angles, mussed from being asleep.

"Mmmmm....smells good babe" he murmured, a little between sleepiness and happiness as he sauntered over and wrapped his arms around me from behind. I'd turned back to the breakfast, making sure it didn't burn whilst trying to stop the wave of desire flowing through my body.

I nodded and leaned back against him, while flipping the bacon.

"You slept well" I answered him back "Lucky for you, Taylor didn't wake you up with her 8.30 phone call".

"Mhmmmm" he laughed a little "I was sort of awake. I heard you talking and I figured it was Taylor, so I just rolled over and pulled you back towards me. I knew you'd go back to sleep with me".

"Oh, you just knew that did you. I guess you know me so well" I broke a bit of sausage off of one I'd already cooked and plated up and lifted it up to him, turning my neck to see him pull it into his mouth and lick his lips. I licked the excess from my fingers and then pushed him away so I could finish the breakfast.

"You want to pour some orange juice?" I said to him, hearing his answer and smiling.

I plated up the rest of the breakfast and then turned the cooker off, making my way to the table. I went to sit in the chair next to Troy but he grabbed me and pulled me down on his knee. I squealed a little and he laughed at me, wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling the two plates towards him as he began to feed me some of the food. I done the same with him until we were both full up.

I laid my head down against his chest, running my fingers softly over his collarbone and opposite shoulder.

"Its Saturday" I said softly.

"I know" he replied tightening his hold on my waist "You need to go home yeah?"

"Yep, Gerrard and Jess are wondering where I am. They want to know all about me staying over with my 'friends'".

He laughed; a deep rumble right from his chest, that sent shivers down to my toes and all the way back up.

"I'm sure you'll come up with something to fool them. You always do".

"I know. But what if I don't want to fool them anymore Troy. I hate not being able to tell everyone, who I'm with, who I love and who I belong to. Its just not fair".

"I know, baby, I know. But once you sort out college and school finishes, we can tell everyone. Its just not going to be good for either of us if we tell them now. They won't understand. You know they won't. Taylor does, because she's young, like you. She doesn't believe age matters. I'm not saying, that everyone will hate us. But there's a good chance, a lot of folk will. And then where does it leave us? To top it off, I'll lose my job and go to jail. I really don't want to do that. And I don't want to lose you".

I turned in his lap, grabbing his face between my hands "You will never lose me Troy Bolton. I will never leave you. Do you get that?"

"I got it baby".

"Good. And you won't leave me either?" I asked just for clarification.

"What do you think?" he asked, arching an eyebrow. I nodded and leaned forward, pressing my lips against his, wrapping my arms around his neck tighter.

"I love you" he said pulling away. I nodded and placed my forehead against his own.

"I love you too".

LATER THAT NIGHT

BACK AT TROY'S

I lay on my side, my back against Troy's front as he wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me against him on the sofa. I'd been home and got some clothes and changed. I'd sat and had lunch with Taylor and her parents, before she said she was heading out to Brady's. I made like I was tagging along and then came to Troy's.

I reached for the control, flicking the TV off and then sat up, turning to face him. He smiled at me, leaning on his arm, his black shirt, clinging to his chest, causing me to take a flush by just looking at him.

"What's the matter?" he asked, smiling at me.

"Nothing. I got some things for college today. I've got an interview set up for a University. I wanted to let you know and discuss it with you". He pushed himself up on the sofa and turned to face me more, a pensive look coming over his face.

"I think, its a bit of big decision to make without anyone Scarlett. You've chosen a University already?" he asked and I nodded "But I thought we were going to discuss it".

"I know. I hope I've chosen one anyway. I'll need to wait until after the interview to see if I get accepted. I know we said we were going to discuss it, but technically its my choice Troy. Its my life. And I know what you're going to say. I can tell by the look on your face. I hope I've done the right thing anyway....."

"What do you mean?" he asked, arching an eyebrow at me. His arms were folded over his chest, making them bulge more. I stood up and went over to my cream tote that was lying by the door to the sitting room. Jewel whined a little as I went over near the kitchen and looked up. I just grabbed my things out of my bag and went back over towards Troy.

I sat down on the coffee table.

"Well, the problem with choosing a University, Troy, was the fact I wanted to be close to you. I love you, more than anything and I don't want to lose you. But I also have to think about my own future. And what I want out of life. When I came here, I was stuck up, nasty, sarcastic and always up for an argument" I saw him smile at this "And then, that day, when I got hurt and you helped me. And then we kissed for the first time" I blushed slightly and reached for his hand. I intertwined our fingers together "I think, that day changed my life. It gave me you and I couldn't have asked for something better. You saved me Troy. And you've been through so much with and for me. Its a wonder why you stick with me, but I want to thank you for doing it".

"Okay, this is like a speech babe. Just tell me what's going on".

"Well, because of what you did for me. I've decided I want to become a teacher, like you. And upon deciding that I've been granted an interview for California State University".

I placed the booklets on my lap, running my free hand through my hair.

He was silent for a few moments.

"Cal State?" he asked and I nodded "Baby, that's here, in Long Beach".

"That's right Troy. I want to stay close to you and this way, if you want to, we can live together while I go to college? What do you say?"

Again he was silent, but his grip on my hand never faltered at all. In fact, I'm adamant I felt it getting tighter.

"Are you sure this is what you want?"

"If you mean by that, do I want to be with you? Then the answer is most definitely yet. I've wanted to be with you for a long time Troy. I want to be with you for a long time. I hope you feel the same way?"

"God, I do. I love you so much" he sat forward "No one will take you away from me Scarlett. Nothing can break us apart. Not even University. And I would love you to move in with me. We can get a bigger house, something different if it makes you happy. Just as long as you're here" he stood up, pulling me with him. He pulled me to him, lifting me up and hugging me tightly "And I know you'll nail the interview. You'll get it. I love you".

"I love you too" I replied, kissing him soundly, tightening my hold around his neck.

END OF CHAPTER

There we go, hope you liked it. A bit fluffy and cheesy, I know. But still.....xxxxx