Chapter 29

"Thanks Kelsi!" Gabriella called out before shutting the car door and heading up the walkway to the house. Gabriella had just finished her shift at work and was on her way back home when Kelsi spotted her walking on campus and offered her a ride home.

She had spent the last couple of hours at work, being certain to get all of her studying done so that she would be free for the evening. She, Martha, and Zeke had decided to throw a house warming party of sorts that night for their group of friends.

When Gabriella opened up the front door, music filled her ears. Making her way further into the house, Gabriella smiled seeing Martha, Sharpay, and Taylor all sitting around the kitchen table chatting as they munched on some chips.

"Hey Gabs! How was work?" Sharpay asked, being the first to spot her.

"Exhausting. You know when everyone else is showing up?"

"The guys are all still at the gym," Taylor answered. "Chad just texted me saying they were done with practice and would be heading over soon."

"Okay, well we can wait for them before we start cooking. Kelsi just dropped me off, but she was going to go pick up Ryan and also get some drinks from the store, so they should get here soon as well."

Martha reached over, sliding the fourth chair at the table out a bit and motioning towards it. "Pull up a chair. You're just in time for the afternoon gossip, and if you hurry, you might get some chips as well."

Gabriella shook her head, pulling her backpack up on her shoulder a bit more. "Actually, since everyone will be here in a few minutes, I was going to go upstairs, take a quick shower, and change," she finished, her eyes catching Sharpay's, who had a knowing look on her face, which quickly became a smirk causing Gabriella's nerves to kick in.

"Getting ready for a certain someone are you?"

With a roll of her eyes, Gabriella hoped her expression wasn't revealing the small amount of truth to that statement. All day long she'd been looking forward to the hangout that evening, because she knew that she and Troy would be able to spend more time together. Lately she couldn't get enough of him, a drastic change to how things were mere months earlier, even just weeks earlier.

"Try to hide it all you want Gabs, but I know you too well. What are you planning to wear? Oh!" Sharpay exclaimed, clapping her hands together, her eyes lighting up.

"Don't even think about it!" Gabriella ordered, hoping to nip her ideas in the bud. "You will not be coming up to my room and trying to find me some outfit to wear tonight. I can handle that all on my own."

"But Gabs," Sharpay whined, putting on her best puppy dog face.

Gabriella shook her head sternly. "No way, not falling for it."

"You're no fun," Sharpay muttered. "Just don't come downstairs in baggy clothes."

"Okay Shar," Gabriella agreed.

After escaping the grilling from Sharpay, Gabriella made her way upstairs before heading into the bathroom to take a shower. Normally, she was not one to take too long in the shower, but for some reason tonight was different. She couldn't decide if it was because the shower was an opportunity to relax and escape the inquisition from her friends or if it was because she was pre-occupied with looking extra special for a certain someone. She attempted to convince herself it was the former even though she knew better.

Dressed in a dark brown skirt and a black tank top, her hair slightly pulled up and wearing her favorite pair of flip flops, Gabriella made her way downstairs almost thirty minutes later. She couldn't hide her smile as she spotted her friends still seated around the table, now joined by Ryan, Kelsi, Zeke, Chad, and Jason.

"Hey guys! Glad you could all make it!" Gabriella exclaimed as she stepped further into the kitchen, her eyes scanning the room for the one missing person that she couldn't wait to see. Her heart sank a bit as she began to realize he wasn't there, her mind already coming up with hundreds of rational reasons to explain his absence. Those excuses were for naught though when moments later her heart began to race as she felt his warm breath on her neck and his scent filled her nostrils.

"Looking for someone?" his amused voice inquired in a soft whisper.

Spinning around, Gabriella wasn't even aware of the eight pairs of curious eyes watching them. All she picked up on in that moment were his black Converse shoes covered slightly by his dark blue jeans, his light blue long sleeved shirt that was rolled up to his elbows and that the top few buttons of said shirt were undone revealing his white wife beater underneath. Gabriella also couldn't miss that the blue color of his shirt matched the color of his irises, making them radiate even more.

Looking at him, Gabriella realized that Troy had spent a little more time and effort than normal in getting ready for that night as his normally purposefully messy hair was now styled slightly being spiked up a bit.

The moment her eyes trailed back down to his, Gabriella felt her cheeks immediately flush. "Done checking me out?"

"Shut up," Gabriella muttered, shoving his shoulder playfully.

"Because I don't mind at all Angel," Troy continued despite her protests. "Feel free to keep going. I'll be busy checking you out as well. You look beautiful," Troy added in a whisper, stepping closer and pulling her into a hug, letting his lips lightly brush her cheek as they pulled apart.

"You two gonna stand there and flirt all night? Some of us would like to eat you know."

Troy immediately glared at Chad, the source of the interruption, keeping his arm wrapped around Gabriella's waist while she hid her face in his shoulder embarrassed. "If you want to eat, then eat."

"Well I would, except we're all supposed to cook together and then eat, which means we need you two lovebirds."

"Get your butt up and lead the way then, man."

"Gladly!" Chad cheered, jumping up to his feet. "Let's go Zeke. Time to cook this spectacular meal you have planned. I've been excited about this all week. "

"Alright, first thing, everyone wash their hands. Next, I figure if we split up into groups, we'll get things done quicker," Zeke ordered, drying his hands off and slipping a red apron over his neck.

"Very manly dude," Chad joked sarcastically, struggling to contain his laughter.

"Shut up afro-geek. I think it's sexy," Sharpay said, a glint in her eyes as she wrapped her arms around Zeke's waist, her fingers playing with the apron ties.

"I think I just threw up in my mouth a bit," Chad confessed with a disgusted look on his face.

"Shut it Danforth or I'll make you," Sharpay quipped back.

"Well it's obvious those two can't work together," Zeke pointed out, grabbing Sharpay by the waist and pulling her into his side. "Chad, you and Taylor pair up along with Troy and Gabriella. You guys can make the rice and salsa. Shar and I will take care of the meat and other taco ingredients, and then J, Martha, Kelsi and Ryan, you guys can work on the tortillas and dessert."

Everyone soon paired off, busily cooking while the radio blasted music in the background.

Gabriella stood in front of the counter, chopping up some tomatoes while Troy stood next to her, appearing to be chopping up some cilantro. His focus though wasn't on the food in front of him, but rather the girl beside him.

"Dude, I'm going to laugh so hard when you chop off your finger," Chad laughed turning away from helping Taylor with the rice. "I can see the headlines now: 'Local star point guard Troy Bolton out for the season'."

"Shut it Chad."

Chad was not deterred though by Troy's attempts at being harsh. "Let's go to Glenn with today's local sports news…Glenn? 'Local star basketball player Troy Bolton reportedly is out for the season after injuring his left index finger in a nasty encounter with a kitchen knife. Word is he was too busy sappily staring at his crush and chopped off his finger while cutting cilantro. Fortunately the digit was recovered and sewn back on, but doctors have advised Bolton to sit out the rest of the season. Don't be alarmed though fans. Chad Danforth, the team's other star player who still has all ten digits intact is perfectly capable of carrying this team through the rest of the season. Back to you Susan'," Chad finished with a huge smirk on his face.

"My fist is about to have a nasty encounter with your face if you don't shut it," Troy warned, his cheeks flushing pink, ultimately matching Gabriella's.

Glancing over at her, Troy felt a smile tug at his lips as he wrapped his arm around Gabriella. Immediately she let herself be pulled into him, her face becoming buried in his chest.

"Awwww," the girls all cooed, earning a stiff glare from Gabriella, who brought her face out of Troy's chest long enough to give them a stern look before returning it to the comfortable spot between Troy's neck and shoulder.

Zeke placed his hand on Sharpay's back, leading her to the sliding door that went out back. "We're going to check on the meat. Back to work all of you," he ordered playfully.

Breathing a sigh of relief that the attention was no longer on them, Gabriella pulled her face away from Troy's chest, keeping her arms wrapped around his waist while she sent Zeke an appreciative look, earning a wink in return.

"Sorry about that Angel."

A confused look crept onto Gabriella's face as she looked up at Troy who was staring back down at her. "Why are you sorry?"

"I'm sorry for being the cause of all that attention on you. But I'm not sorry for staring at you," Troy added quickly leaning down and pulling her into a hug, his cheek resting against hers. "I can't help myself there," Troy admitted in a soft whisper, kissing her cheek before pulling back.

Smiling at how her cheeks tinted pink even more, Troy spun her around so she was facing the counter once more, this time caging her body in with his as he stood right behind her.

"Can I help you?" Gabriella smirked, angling her head back so she could look up at him.

"What?" Troy shrugged innocently.

"How am I supposed to get this done with you hovering over me like this?"

"Am I distracting you?" Troy softly asked so the others couldn't hear, sliding his arms around her waist tentatively.

"Yes," she answered honestly, unable to control the butterflies in her stomach, certain Troy could hear her heart race.

"Good."

Troy clasped his hands together in front of her, effectively trapping her in his arms. Gabriella didn't mind at all though, shifting a bit so her back was closer to him, finally calming the butterflies enough to finish chopping up the tomatoes.

After they had all the ingredients ready in front of them, the two loaded the ingredients into the blender, mixing it up before pouring some into a small bowl on the table for dip, while the rest was placed in a larger bowl for the tacos.

Since they were finished, along with Taylor and Chad who were now at the table, the latter inhaling the newly made salsa, Troy and Gabriella ventured outside to check on the meat for Sharpay and Zeke.

"Looks like it needs a few more minutes, yeah?"

"I think so," Troy agreed, shutting the lid on the barbeque, looking over his shoulder to see Gabriella lying on a lounge chair.

With a smirk on his face, Troy walked closer. He had backed off a bit after he had hurt Gabriella, not wanting her to get the wrong idea and push him away completely. However, from the cuddling on the couch the previous weekend to her leaning into him and holding him tight earlier that night when she was embarrassed, Troy could tell she was okay with a little more physical contact.

So, continuing with his latest behavior, Troy sat down on the lounge chair, squeezing in right beside her.

"There are more chairs you know," Gabriella giggled.

"I see that, but I want to sit here," Troy insisted, wiggling a bit more. "None of the others have a beautiful girl sitting in them. Now scoot."

With a dramatic sigh and a playful roll of the eyes, Gabriella shifted over, not resisting the urge to lay her head on his chest when Troy brought his arm around her shoulders.

The two laid there for a few minutes, completely content, and only getting up when Sharpay and Zeke came back outside to get the meat, Sharpay being sure to send a few catcalls their way.

With the meal all prepared and everyone back inside, the group sat down, falling into easy conversation, despite the fact that some of them never before hung out together.

"So Chad comes out of the bathroom the next morning…his hair bright pink!" Jason re-told a story from their sophomore year, having trouble controlling his laughter.

"The look on his face…," Troy managed to say through his own laughter.

"Priceless," Zeke finished, slapping Chad on the back who glared at his friends, not amused that he was the one being made fun of at the moment.

"Ha. Ha. Ha. You guys are hilarious," Chad muttered in a monotone voice.

Taylor covered her mouth, trying to hold in her giggling while bringing her other hand up to wrap around Chad's shoulders and pull him into a consoling hug. "Chad honey, we're not laughing at you."

"You might not be, but I am," Sharpay chimed in, smirking when Chad stuck his tongue out at her in a childish way. "Do you guys have any pictures? I always told you that pink would be a good color on you Chad."

"I have one!" Jason yelled out, flinching as Chad whipped his head quickly towards him.

"Cross, if you value your life at all, you'll give me those pictures when we get back so that I can burn them."

"It's alright J, you can give them to him. I have copies too," Troy added.

"Me too."

"Me three," Gabriella added, right after Zeke.

"Where'd you get the picture from?" Chad questioned, his jaw dropped.

Taylor shifted uncomfortably in her seat for a few moments, before shyly raising her hand. "That'd be from me."

"You!?" Chad exclaimed incredulously, shocked that his own girlfriend had kept copies of the pictures and gave them to other people.

"She's my best friend," Taylor shrugged, bringing her hand up to rub Chad's back lightly.

"Why would you all keep them?"

"Because they are fucking hilarious man!" Troy supplied, a huge smile on his face showing how clearly he was amused by Chad's reaction.

"Keep talkin' man and I'll show Gabriella the pictures of you when you were three and decided to dress up like a little girl so that you'd fit in with those little girls your mom was babysitting."

"Duuude!" Troy groaned, covering his face as the whole table burst into laughter, looking out of the corner of his eye to see Gabriella's face red with laughter, unable to help the small grin that appeared on his face when he saw that.

"Don't worry Gabriella, I'll call up Mrs. B and get you access to those," Chad assured Gabriella, causing Troy to glare at him, the look on Troy's face being a clear example of the phrase "if looks could kill".

"You suck man."

"Payback Bolton, it's a bitch! And don't think you two got off the hook either," Chad continued, his eyes shifting back and forth between Zeke and Jason. "J, I have pictures of the game when we switched your game shorts from a medium to a small and you had to wear them the whole game, with your spandex shorts being longer than your game shorts."

Jason sunk in his chair when Chad finished and the group laughed loudly once again. "And Zeke, I think we all remember freshman year of high school and the wetting the bed incident."

Everyone whipped their heads around to look at Zeke in shock, while Chad, Jason, and Troy all covered their mouths to hide their laughter.

"Whoa, when was this?" Gabriella exclaimed. "Not all of us remember it!"

"Ow! Zeke, what the hell?" Chad yelled, rubbing his forehead and picking up a piece of ice that had landed on his plate after bouncing off his face.

"That was me warning you to keep that story to yourself…not everyone here has heard it, thankfully, and I'd like to keep it that way."

"No way man!" Chad protested. "The rest of us have been humiliated. You aren't getting out of it!"

"Yeah, I need to hear this story," Gabriella added, turning to Troy. "Troy?"

Unable to resist the look on her face, Troy began to re-tell the story, much to Zeke's dismay. "Freshman year, Zeke fell asleep one night when we were all hanging out, and we put his hand in a bowl of warm water. He woke up a few hours later in his rubber ducky boxers mind you, and let's just say that the ducks weren't the only yellow spots on his boxers. Needless to say, he tossed those and his sheets in the trash that night."

"You're dead Bolton," Zeke mumbled under his breath, his mumblings barely heard over the laughter of everyone at the table.

Troy turned to Zeke, shaking his head while still chuckling. "Sorry man, I can't resist the look Gabriella gave me. Call me whipped all you want. Plus, that was pretty fucking hilarious!"


After the stories were over, everyone had spent the rest of the time eating and discussing the project that would take place Thursday night. They had volunteered to not only show up, but also help with spreading the word about the event, as well as helping to set up and run things that night, much to Zeke, Troy, and Gabriella's relief since they were going to need the extra help.

Later on, Troy and Gabriella found themselves walking outside after just finishing up the dishes. Everyone had left a while before, except for Martha who was in her room, and Sharpay and Zeke who had relocated up to his bedroom.

"Are you sure you don't need to get back?" Gabriella asked, a slight shiver going up her arm as Troy grabbed her hand in his.

"Nope, I'm free for the night," Troy smiled at her before tugging her towards the hammock that was set up a few feet away. "You first," Troy grinned, ushering her to get into the hammock first.

Gabriella blushed, carefully settling herself into the middle of the hammock.

Troy gestured to the small space left for him, his eyebrow raised. "You don't expect me to fit in that small space, do you?"

"What? You eat too many tacos or something?"

Troy just rolled his eyes, turning to sit down as well. "Shut up Montez and scoot over."

"Wait! Not-," Gabriella called out a little too late as the hammock spun around and the two hit the ground with a thud. "Yet," she finished with a groan, before succumbing to laughing hysterically at the situation.

"I told you that you ate too many tacos," Gabriella teased, earning a playful shove from Troy.

"Ha. Ha," Troy responded sarcastically before brushing off his shirt as he stood up, offering Gabriella a hand. "Now get up Angel, and stop laughing at me."

"Maybe you should go first this time CP."

"Gladly," Troy smirked, settling himself into the hammock cautiously before trying to move to the side, only to flip over once again, landing on the ground with another thud, his groans quieted by Gabriella's giggles.

Troy just rolled his eyes, brushing himself off once more. "Glad I amuse you Angel."

"You sure you don't want to just sit on a lounge chair? Or maybe even just stay on the ground? You two seem to be getting along great."

"You're so funny," he muttered sarcastically under his breath before tentatively sitting down in the hammock once more, this time managing not to flip himself over. "Alright, your turn. Get in here," Troy ordered, holding his arms out to Gabriella, who slowly sat down on the hammock before laying back comfortably, her head settling on Troy's shoulder tucking beneath his chin while his arm wrapped around her shoulders.

"See? I knew we could manage it," Troy whispered, his hand drawing patterns on her shoulder.

"Don't speak too soon there Bolton. They say pride comes before a fall and I've taken enough tumbles for one day."

Troy just laughed, pulling her more into him, resting his cheek on her head for a few minutes before Gabriella interrupted the silence.

"You think your mom would show me those pictures of you if I asked?"

Troy groaned before bringing his hand down her side, tickling her there and causing her to squirm a bit, much to his delight. "Very funny Angel, but I'm sure your mom has some embarrassing pictures too."

"Nope, all of mine are humiliation free. I didn't have cross-dressing tendencies as a child."

Troy just rolled his eyes, unable to think of a good comeback. "I'm gonna kill Chad."

"Aww, come on! I bet you were cute in a little dress. What color was it?"

"Angel, I'm warning you! Don't forget, I have connections with your sister. I'm sure she'd jump at the opportunity to share some embarrassing stories."

"You wouldn't."

"Oh, I would," Troy laughed, unable to resist the urge to lightly brush his lips against the top of her hair, bringing his hand back up to settle around her shoulder.

"Tonight went well," Gabriella commented after the two had been quiet for a few minutes.

"Yeah it did. We're gonna kill on that project come Thursday night."

Gabriella sighed. "I hope so. I'm all nervous already. Plus, our grades are counting on this event going well."

"Don't worry Angel, we won't let your record be tainted," Troy joked, playfully poking her side before turning serious, his hand now soothingly rubbing her back.

With that, Gabriella relaxed and snuggled more into Troy's embrace, enjoying the quiet of the night and swinging ever so slightly in the hammock. Seconds, minutes and possibly hours could have gone by but the couple wouldn't have noticed. No, all they knew was that their future together was looking clearer every day and to help further their chance, they each silently made a wish on the same star that night.