Brief Encounter

Summary: Can anything good come from a mix-up?

Disclaimer: High School Musical and all of its characters belong to Disney, I just have them on secondment.

A/N: I know you've had to wait for this chapter but I hope it's been worth it. I want to thank Holly and Kristin for their valued and much needed support with this chapter that was turning into the chapter from hell for me.

"Halle-fucking-lujah! Am I or am I not amazingly fabulous," preened Sharpay dancing around the room in joy, her migraine clearly forgotten.

Catastrophuck

"Shar, I think you need to calm down," suggested Zeke walking over to his prancing girlfriend, "you'll only make your migraine worse."

"Pfft! It's a mere trifle," she denounced her migraine with a theatrical wave, a big smile on her face, her eyes gleaming excitedly as she hugged Zeke. "I can't believe I actually pulled this off. Maybe I should think of a change of career, there's a lot of money to be made in the dating game." Zeke rolled his eyes and groaned.

"Stick to what you know, Shar, you know fashion is your life." Sharpay pondered his words before nodding.

"I guess you're right." She walked back over to look out the window, pouting when Troy and Gabriella had disappeared. "Aw, they've gone," she pouted the gleam dimming in her eyes, "Still you never know, Zeke, Troy may be a fast worker," she added hopefully, grinning as she walked over to kiss her partner. "Take me to bed, Lover. I need some of your TLC."

Meanwhile Troy and Gabriella were strolling back towards the hotel after Troy had given her a brief view of the complex, their stroll taking them past the tennis courts, across the basketball court, around the outdoor auditorium then back through the well tended gardens, the stars above bright enough to light the way.

"This sky is as clear as the one in Palm Springs, almost as if you could reach up and pluck a star from the sky," said Gabriella dreamily as she leant against Troy's shoulder secure in his embrace.

"Hmm, if you're lucky you may see a shooting star," remarked Troy a sudden smirk lighting his features, "Or if you're very lucky you could see a myriad of them from my bed."

"Bragging again, Bolton," she taunted.

"Nah, just telling it like it is," he said confidently, groaning seconds later when she poked him in the ribs, her gentle laughter floating in the breeze as she skipped away from him. He caught up to her seconds before she walked through the door.

"Anyone tell you, you have bony elbows, Montez." He grumbled rubbing his chest.

"May have done," she smirked, "a girl needs a secret weapon against you heathen savages."

"I'll let you into a secret, you have an arsenal," he whispered against her ear making Gabriella look at him with a question in her dark eyes.

"I do?"

"Uh-huh! You can bring me to my knees with a look, with a smile, with a giggle, with a word." Gabriella's breath hitched in her throat at his words, words that told her she held his heart and soul in the palm of her hand and she felt humbled but scared too of being given that responsibility then she gave herself a mental shake; hadn't he only put into words what she had only thought, that he too held the same responsibility for her heart and soul. A heady sensation filled her body and mind as if she had tasted the forbidden fruit and become intoxicated with the taste. Uncaring of being seen she turned uniting her lips to his in a soul searching kiss, a kiss full of trust and respect, of warmth, of friendship but most of all love. A throat clearing made them spring apart and a becoming flush warmed Gabriella's cheeks as she looked at Mr Fulton, his eyes showing amusement at their actions.

"Sorry but I'm about to lock up," he said his hand resting on the edge of the open door beside Troy. Troy stammered out an apology, grabbed Gabriella's hand and dragged her through the door and down the hall with Gabriella's carefree laugh ringing out.

"Shush, Gabriella, shush," Troy hissed panic in his voice that only made Gabriella smirk at him.

"Aw! Scared at being caught out by your old boss," she teased.

"No, more like disturbing anyone that's trying to sleep," he admonished pulling her to a stop outside their doors.

"Sorry," she said in her little girl voice that only brought a grin to his face.

"So you should be," he said with mock seriousness, "now to a more important question…." He paused for effect and Gabriella's heart leapt into her throat.

"He wasn't going to ask to marry me, was he? Here in a hallway!" slid through her mind as she looked into his eyes that seemed to penetrate to her very soul. A wicked grin slid over his face as if he could read her mind.

"Your room or mine?" She couldn't help it she burst out laughing and he slammed a hand over her mouth to stifle the sound. "I think you need a good thrashing," he muttered as he fumbled with his key card, opened his door and dragged her inside before letting go.

"Promises, promises," she teased releasing another giggle at his muttered oath.

Troy came out of the shower, moisture gleaming in droplets on his shoulders, a peach towel wrapped tightly around his waist as he walked over to the bed, sinking into the mattress to stare at his beautiful girlfriend who still slept in his bed. Conscious of time moving on, knowing that breakfast would be served in an hour, he knew he had to wake her and he did so with some reluctance knowing that today would be the day they had to tell Sharpay and the others who still did not know about their relationship. He'd geared himself up to tell her last night only for her to give them a reprieve by being ill and he'd been left with a feeling of both elation and deflation at the same time; he wanted it over and done with, this feeling of impending doom was something he could not shake for he knew Sharpay was likely to go all theatrical on them and he wanted to protect Gabriella from the brunt of Sharpay's wrath when she was told. Maybe he should go now while Gabriella slept but movement from the bed put paid to that.

"Morning Handsome," Gabriella said huskily stretching lazily under the covers. Troy looked behind him then back at her, pointing to himself with a grin on his face.

"Who me?" he teased enjoying the sound that erupted from her lips. Gabriella sat up letting the sheet drop to her waist to pull him to her to receive his morning kiss.

"Hmm! Peppermint," she murmured against his lips.

"Good guess, Montez, now shift your butt and get in the shower, breakfast is in fifty minutes," he ordered moving out of her reach chuckling when she huffed, a pout on her oh so kissable lips; she looked adorable but he resisted the temptation to jump back into bed and skip breakfast altogether.

"Spoilsport," she moaned climbing from the bed, "What am I going to wear? Don't forget I got hustled in here last night." Troy grinned.

"Give me your key and I'll nip next door and get you something, what better excuse could a guy have to rifle through a woman's drawers," he said wriggling his eyebrows suggestively. Gabriella burst out laughing as she took her key from her purse and handed it to him.

"You are so bad, Bolton," she tutted waving a finger at him as she walked into the bathroom.

"But you love me, right?" he shouted after her, "Right?" Gabriella smirked as she stepped into the shower saying nothing.

Troy was coming out of her room, his arms full of clothes when Taylor and Chad came out of their bedroom, frowning when Taylor giggled.

"What's the joke, McKessie?" snapped Troy glaring at her.

"So you won the bed contest," Taylor teased with a smirk and Chad chuckled enjoying the sight of Troy carrying women's underwear.

"Looks like it," he grinned unabashed, "at least for last night."

"Yeah, knowing these two it could be musical beds," commented Chad.

"Well they do say variety is the spice of life; do you need spice in your life, Troy?" quipped Taylor laughing when Troy huffed as he opened his bedroom door.

"See you at breakfast, Troy," shouted Chad as the door closed. Gabriella was towelling herself dry when Troy walked back in with a frown on his face.

"What's the matter?" she asked with concern.

"Just got caught by Taylor and Chad coming out of your room," muttered Troy as Gabriella smirked. "It's not funny, Gabi, I feel like Wee Willie Winkie or whoever it was got caught stealing clothes."

"Aw, don't put yourself down Troy, I wouldn't call your Winkie wee," consoled Gabriella who promptly spoilt it by bursting into laughter.

"So why are you laughing?" he demanded flinging her clothes on the bed.

"I just got this mental image of you being caught with my underwear. Thank god it was only Taylor and Chad," explained Gabriella with a giggle. "Trust me, Troy, you keep me more than satisfied," she mollified him as she walked over to kiss him. Troy pulled her to him, deepening the kiss; his hands ran up her sides, loving the feel of her damp skin beneath his palms, his fingers skimming the underside of her breasts.

"Do we have to go for breakfast?" he groaned against her lips.

"Unfortunately," replied Gabriella regret lacing her voice, "Don't forget we still have to tell Sharpay."

"I hadn't forgotten," said Troy seriously looking worriedly at her. "I'd built myself up to tell her last night but then she kinda pulled the rug from under our feet."

"I know, I felt a bit deflated myself," agreed Gabriella softly before moving out of his arms to slip into her underwear. "We'll just have to bite the bullet and tell her at breakfast," she continued positively pulling the sundress he'd chosen over her head. "After all, what could go wrong?"

"Everything," thought Troy with trepidation in his heart.

Troy's fidgeting was getting on her nerves. Watching him through the mirror while she dried her hair, prowling around the room, flicking the curtain aside to stare outside, moving her watch and earrings around the bedside table, snapping his watch clasp open then shut, shaking the pillows then smoothing them out before straightening the bedcovers was driving her nuts.

"They have a maid to do that, you know," Gabriella teased smirking at him. Troy met her gaze through the mirror a wry grin on his lips.

"I know, I…I had nothing better to do," he replied. Gabriella sighed, switched off the hairdryer and turned to face him.

"Are you worried?" she asked softly.

"Nah, a bit scared maybe," he admitted ruefully as he ran a hand through his hair. Gabriella grabbed his hand pulling him nearer.

"We'll work this out, Troy, don't forget we're in it together," she said softly planting a quick kiss on his lips, "Look why don't you go and grab a coffee, I'm nearly done here then we can tell her together, okay."

"I love you," he whispered depositing a return peck on her lips.

"I know, now get out of here or I'll never be ready," ordered Gabriella with a smile. "Who'd have thought Troy was such a worry wart?" flashed through her mind as she watched the door close. Sighing, she turned back to tackle her unruly locks.

Walking into the dining room, Troy was surprised to find only Jason, Martha, Kelsi, Ryan, Taylor and Chad at the table; a waiter hovering to one side sprang into action following Troy to the table.

"What time do you call this, Bolton?" greeted Jason with a grin.

"Glad you could join us," quipped Ryan.

"Aw, were you missing me?" Troy replied sarcastically throwing a smirk at Jason and Ryan as he sat beside Kelsi he gave the waiter his order. Just at that moment sharp stilettos tapping on tiles could be heard drawing nearer then Sharpay strutted into the dining room hanging onto Zeke's arm.

"Morning Sharpay, feeling better?" asked Taylor.

"Much better, thanks," replied Sharpay sending a beaming smile around the table, pouting when she noticed missing faces.

"Where is everyone?" she questioned.

"Some of the guys took to the fairway early, leaving their other halves in bed. Don't know about Gabriella," supplied Jason with a shrug. Sharpay looked disappointed until she spotted Troy, her eyes lighting up, her lips curving into a smile as wide as the Cheshire cat but twice as deadly and Troy gulped when she sat down beside him.

"Hey, Troy, how are you this fine morning?" she asked as the waiter returned with a steaming pot of coffee and a replenished jug of orange juice.

"I'm good, why wouldn't I be?" his voice squeaked like a strangled cat.

"Oh no reason," she said slyly. "So do we know if Gabriella is up?" she asked looking pointedly at Troy.

"Oh shit! She knows, god knows how but she does," he thought, his eyes catching Sharpay's sideway glance before his sliced across the table to Chad and Taylor a question in their depths. "She's taking it very well, if she does," was his next thought breathing easier. They didn't help when they just stared back, eyebrows kinking as if in a synchronised dance, their eyes glinting with amusement.

"I'm going to fucking kill them, bastards are enjoying this," he groaned silently his eyes narrowing at them which only brought a quirky smile to their lips. Thankfully Troy was saved from answering as Gabriella breezed into the room, a bright smile plastered on her face, passing Jason on his way out.

"Morning everyone," she said cheerfully.

"Morning, Gabriella, I think I took your seat," Sharpay said as she hastily stood up moving around the table to sit next to Zeke.

"You did?" queried Gabriella casting a swift glance at Troy noting the wary look in his eye before shrugging her shoulders and settling into the vacated chair before turning back to their hostess.

"How's the head, Sharpay, migraines are the pits," consoled Gabriella sending her a commiserating smile.

"They are and I'm sorry for spoiling the party last night," Sharpay apologised, "but I had the best remedy," she added smiling slyly at Troy and Gabriella. Gabriella felt Troy's hand on her knee and it took all of her willpower to resist looking at him. She had the feeling she'd walked into the middle of something and wasn't quite sure how to act.

"You must let me know your secret, Sharpay, because they knock me out for a couple of days, don't they, Tay," said Gabriella looking to her friend for confirmation.

"The bad ones do although you don't seem to get them as often now," confirmed Taylor as Troy reached over to pick up the carafe of juice that sat in the middle of the table and filled her glass. Gabriella sent him a grateful smile.

"You are my secret," advised Sharpay looking at Gabriella as she went to take a drink from her glass, her hand pausing in mid air.

"Excuse me," asked Gabriella thinking she'd heard wrong, her face scrunched up in a puzzled frown.

"Hmm! I saw your little tryst with Troy last night and the pain miraculously disappeared," revealed Sharpay with a satisfied smile. Troy's jaw dropped. Chad snorted. Ryan looked confused he couldn't believe his sister was taking it so well.

"Oh," the small utterance spilled from her lips her eyes flying to Troy, her flaming cheeks sure giveaway signs.

"You can both thank me later," stated Sharpay loftily.

"For what?" muttered Troy glaring at Sharpay.

"Why for showing you the light, Troy. Without my intervention you'd still be pussy footing around," preened Sharpay tossing her hair back over her shoulders. Ryan, in the process of taking a drink of his coffee, spurted the contents from his mouth, splashing Sharpay in the process before having a coughing fit.

"What the fuck! Ryan, look what you've done," shrieked Sharpay jumping up from her seat. "I'm sure you were there when our parents taught us table manners," said Sharpay sarcasm lacing her tone. Troy, Chad and Jason burst out laughing and Ryan glared at them his eyes narrowing as they rested longest on Troy.

"Sorry, Sis, it was an accident," muttered a red faced Ryan once his cough was under control with the help of Kelsi rubbing his back soothingly. Sharpay suitable mollified returned to her seat after a quick wipe down by Zeke.

"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," she continued sending a malevolent glare to her twin before bestowing a beaming smile on her targets, "all it needed was a little push from Moi."

"Yeah right," snorted Chad earning a dig in the ribs from Taylor. Sharpay slewed her eyes sideways shooting him a puzzled frown.

"Am I missing something here?" she demanded shooting Gabriella and Troy a searching stare.

"A brain," muttered Ryan still seething from Sharpay's sarcastic comment, received a rewarding chuckle from Chad and a death glare from his sister. Troy sighed knowing now was the time to come clean and admit it, sending Gabriella a comforting smile before he looked over at Sharpay, clearing his throat that had suddenly dried up through trepidation.

"Okay we'll come clean, Gabriella and I are together," he admitted. Sharpay squealed in delight, thumping the air in victory.

"I knew it. Am I the business or what?" she crowed beaming around at everyone before running round the table to hug Troy and Gabriella.

"Or what," muttered Chad who earned a kick on the shin from Troy and a warning glare. Troy couldn't believe it was going so well, to say Sharpay was pleased was an understatement and he wanted it to remain so.

"Congratulations, Gabi. You make a cute couple," Martha said jumping up from her chair to hug Gabriella.

"Don't they just, I've been trying to tell Troy that for months," agreed Sharpay as she sat back down beside Zeke, "but he would insist on hanging with that, that nameless floozy," she sneered sending an accusing glance to Troy and received a thunderous look in reply. Gabriella's eyes bulged as she swapped a look with Taylor who rolled her eyes in return.

"Oh he listened," murmured Ryan who received a puzzled look from Zeke who heard him, his brain started to turn over, recalling all the weird looks and cryptic comments that had passed between Chad and Troy at various times over the last couple of months, the undercurrents he felt around the table now, were they a figment of his imagination?

"Nah, it couldn't be, he'd have told me," thought Zeke, "but would he?" Doubt clouded his mind as thoughts see-sawed in his brain. "Whichever way something was decidedly off." And there was only one way to find out.

"So how long have you been together?" asked Zeke casually, his eyes watchful. Gabriella slid a sidelong glance to Troy who grimaced and shrugged his shoulders.

"Three…" began Gabriella.

"But…but that can't be," spluttered Sharpay her eyes widening, "we've only been here one day." Chad chuckled. Zeke knew then it had been longer, just by the telling look that passed between the pair and Chad's chuckle was a sure giveaway.

"Let Gabriella finish, Sweetheart," said Zeke softly placing a comforting hand on Sharpay's arm before shooting Troy a telling look. Gabriella looked worriedly at Troy who reached for her hand for support as he gave her a wry smile.

"Three months," admitted Troy. Sharpay gasped, her mouth opened and shut like a goldfish as she tried to assimilate the information.

"WHAT! YOU BASTARD! And you never told me," screeched Sharpay looking daggers at her best male friend as the rest of the table held their breath, scared to utter a syllable lest she turned on them.

"We didn't tell anyone, Shar," said Troy quietly trying to sooth her.

"I'm not anyone, Troy, I'm your best friend," cried Sharpay unshed tears glistening in her eyes. "Were you ever going to tell me?" she demanded her anger outweighing the hurt and bitter betrayal she felt from her best male friend.

"I'm sorry, Sharpay," placated Gabriella regret clearly evident in her eyes, "that's my fault not Troy's."

"No it's not," argued Troy, "we decided together that we didn't want anyone knowing." He wasn't going to allow Gabriella to be Sharpay's whipping boy.

"But I'm supposed to be your best fucking friend," shouted Sharpay her stormy eyes pinning him to the chair.

"Eww! I don't think so," chipped in Chad wrinkling his nose at her terminology. Sharpay switched her malevolent gaze to Chad whose face creased into a smirk.

"Fuck you, Danforth. You know, don't you," she accused pointing a fuchsia pink manicured finger at Chad who arched an eyebrow, the smirk still plastered to his face. Sharpay could feel her fury bubbling to the surface, she felt duped, betrayed, dismissed from her friend's life like yesterday's trash, left out of the loop, stupidly she thought she was the matchmaker, trying to bring her friend the same kind of happiness she had found through him when that wasn't the case at all, she felt like a fool. How many more knew? How many were privy to their little secret? "Some best friend you are. Am I the last to know?" she demanded her eyes dripping in ice as she speared Troy again.

"We were going to tell you this weekend," said Troy trying to soften the blow.

"Whoopee do! Aren't I the lucky one?" she sneered, her eyes shooting daggers around the table, catching a smirk on Taylor's face riled her even more.

"Do you know?" she pointed a finger at Taylor then let out a cackle, "Of course you do, silly question, you're Gabriella's best friend, her roommate, her confidante," sarcasm laced her voice as she accused Taylor whose eyes gave her away, the knowledge clear to see.

"Yeah, I know," confirmed Taylor.

"Who else knows your little secret?" she demanded looking at Troy before swerving to light on Kelsi, Kelsi who hadn't uttered a word of congratulations earlier Sharpay realised.

"You do," she accused, "you didn't congratulate them so you must have known." Kelsi looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a car and could only manage a slight nod. "And if you know then my darling brother does too," she surmised glaring at Ryan, his flushed cheeks and downcast eyes branded him as guilty as hell, "Stabbed in the back by my own flesh and blood," she said dramatically giving a parody of a laugh.

"Cut the crap, Sharpay," taunted a smirking Troy, coming to the end of his tether with her histrionics, "You're not on stage now." Sharpay glowered at him, her temper reaching fever pitch, her palm itching to slap him senseless, hurt him as much as he had hurt her; picking up her glass she flung the contents across the table into Troy's smug face, pushing back her chair with enough force that it grated against the floor, hating him with a passion in that moment. Jason slipped back into the room his eyes widening when he saw the chair slide across the floor and Troy's muffled expletive and Gabriella's cry as some of the juice hit her too, Sharpay's ramrod back a dead giveaway that she was having a temper tantrum, her following words only confirmation.

"Screw you, Bolton," she screamed her face suffusing with an angry red tide. Jason gulped and slid into his chair quickly.

"Seems like everyone fucking knows apart from me," she said softly biting her bottom lip to stop it from trembling her temper abating after her violent action.

"I didn't know, Sharpay," said Zeke quietly.

"I know, we don't have any secrets," she said softly giving him a watery smile but getting her point across to Troy and Gabriella who felt like shit for not telling her sooner thereby avoiding this debacle.

"I didn't know either, " said Martha softly flinging an accusing eye at her so-called friends.

"Who knows what?" spluttered a totally confused Jason, his mouth full of food. Chad groaned shaking his head in disbelief as nervous chuckles and titters echoed around the table.

"Look, Sharpay, I am really sorry, I never wanted to intentionally hurt you," said Troy, trying to rescue the situation.

"Well you have," pain laced her words, "but you know what, I don't care anymore. You can go to hell," and with that she turned and marched from the room with Zeke in close attendance.