A/N: So I know Life Is A Highway wasn't written in the '80s, but I thought it would fit anyways. Thanks so much for reading! Your reviews are amazing!
Troy was getting addicted, and they had been there for three minutes.
Something about the sound of screeching tires. Something about the way it smelled like burnt rubber and gasoline. The head lights that were blinding as the piercing blue eyes were going wide with excitement. Maybe it was the cheering as two cars speed down the highway, coxing them on since they needed all the adrenaline they could get. His male hormones were shooting through the roof as the smile couldn't be whipped of his face while they walked out on the lone highway towards were all the other cars were parked. Troy was almost getting hard just looking at them. There was something that was such a turn on about cars to guys. Something no one really knew why, but this was better then anything he had ever seen before.
It was obvious that the girl whose hand was squeezing his so tight he was sure it was going to bruise his knuckles wasn't feeling the same way.
"Holy shit!" Chad exclaims as they walk up to where the other cars were parked and people were cheering. Troy's adrenaline was flying and he wasn't even in the cars. "Fuck, did you see that?"
Troy's eyes look up to see that people were cheering as the two cars completely skid as they cross the finish line. And these weren't just cars. They were godly. Their sides were painted with flames; they were basically built for speed. It was the seven of them, since like normal Kelsi didn't want to come and Jason said he'd stay with her. Olivia still came, even though Troy could see she was glancing at him and Gabriella every once in awhile. It wasn't like they were making out or anything. They hadn't even kissed since they got out of the truck. But then again, Gabriella hadn't said a word either.
When they were younger, it was almost as though they would share pain. He could remember this one time where he fell off his bike. They were five, and he completely tore up his knee cap so there was no skin covering it. After his mother patched him up, she turned around to see that Gabriella was sobbing and holding her own knee. It was one of those moments. Troy could almost feel the nervous feeling in her stomach in his own. But it was killed by the adrenaline that was going through Troy's veins.
Though this exciting for Troy, the scene looked a little intimidating. Besides drinking, Troy never really did anything bad or rebellious. This though, this was different. The only lights that could be seen were coming from the headlights of the cars that were watching the two cars pull up to two white lines even with each other. From what he could see, bodies were draped across the hoods of the cars. Girls, even though the weather was cold and he was wearing a red warm up jacket over his long-sleeved dark gray t-shirt, were wearing bikini tops with just leather jackets over them. The six of them suddenly were dressed out of place. The guys there were wearing baggy jeans and long jackets. He didn't want to make assumptions, but the didn't seem to have a lot of money. Gabriella seemed to be the only smart one, since she was wearing gray sweatpants and a tight dark blue long-sleeved t-shirt.
"Look at what we got here." A sudden deep voice says and Troy suddenly feels his body tense up. Walking towards them was a huge guy, tall and fat, with what looked like tattoos written down his entire arms. He looks at the seven of them and laughs a deep, maniacal laugh that made Troy sick to his stomach. Maybe this wasn't such a great idea…
"You lost rich asses?" An African American says with huge muscles that were bigger then Troy ever wanted his to be. He walks behind the big white guy smirking. His eyes look to Sharpay, who was wearing a bright pink jacket even after Gabriella begged her not to and tight jeans. "Get the fuck out… you don't belong here."
"They're with me." Another voice rings out and the white knuckled grip Gabriella had on Troy's hand relaxes the slightest bit. Troy could feel his own heart beating faster as he looks to see for the first time in his life, Sharpay actually looked scared, since she was now pulled tightly against Zeke's arm. His eyes then move to see that a tan familiar boy was walking to them. He lets out a sigh in relief, as Gabriella seems to be breathing again also. "Hey cuz…?" Carlos says while smiling at Gabriella, then the rest of them, Troy catching his longing look on Olivia. What? "Follow me."
Troy gladly walks away from the other two guys who were almost growling at them. The rest follows, though Troy could feel Gabriella's body closely on his back. She still hadn't said anything, even when her cousin showed up which makes Troy nervous. Was she really that scared? He couldn't deny that he was back there too. But was she going to be angry for him convincing her to come? The eight of them finally stop in front of a blue car with white flames running down the sides. He lets out a small breath when he sees Miles and Tony. Actually people who weren't giving him the stare down.
"Man what's up?" Miles asks while doing the guy handshake with Chad and Zeke. Troy would have, except he didn't want to let go of Gabriella's hand right now, since her knees seem to be shaking. Troy could also see Tony look Sharpay up and down again, even though he had a dark and thin girl on his arm. There was another pale girl who was wearing a sports bra with a jacket over it standing behind Miles, looking the girls up and down threateningly. Carlos was empty handed.
"Welcome to 167!" Carlos exclaims and almost as if on cue, two cars take off from the start line. Troy's eyes look up to see them speeding down the asphalt, probably hitting over a hundred miles an hour. He could hear the roar of the engines as they sped down the road. A grin bursts to his face, suddenly forgetting completely about the people here that wanted to rip his head off. He wasn't used to it, since normally most people praised Troy Bolton.
"Fuck Zeke did you see that!" Chad exclaims in the dark while the bright yellow car cuts off the black one off. Zeke nods, his eyes also wide as Chad lets go of Taylor's hand.
But Troy's smile falters for a moment while he feels a shaking body at his side. He turns for the first time to see Gabriella's hair was pinned back half way. The headlights of the cars made her skin look pale and her eyes wide in fear, but he couldn't help still think she was the most stunning thing he had ever seen in his life. "Are you cold?" He asks while ripping his eyes away from the screaming cars. Gabriella's deep brown orbs leave the streets also as she looks up at Troy and nods.
He gives her a small comforting smile while taking off his red warm up for basketball and turning around. He had to place his hand on a dark car next to him since it was so black he couldn't see a thing. But Troy gently slips the jacket on Gabriella's shoulders, giving her a kiss on the top of her hair in the process. He didn't even notice the look of jealousy in Olivia's eyes as his arms wrap around her small waist. His chin rests on her shoulder as her head leans back to him, obviously feeling safer in Troy's arms then anywhere else in the world.
"Fuck that shit!" The driver who lost yells as he gets out of the car. He angrily looks out to the crowd who was booing him. Gabriella's body tightens again as Troy tries to pull her closer. He let the guilt settle into his veins from dragging Gabriella to somewhere she didn't want to go, but he couldn't help it. The fumes from the gasoline were intoxicating. He couldn't leave; it was like he was getting addicted to a drug. Slowly but surely.
"So where's Rosa?" Gabriella's voice comes out and Troy couldn't help but notice that she didn't say anything to him; she was talking to her cousin.
Carlos shrugs while glancing back at the light brown eyes that had Troy so entranced just a few months ago. Though he felt no feelings of jealousy whatsoever. He looks back to his cousin with a small smirk. "We broke up. She couldn't handle me."
Miles rolls his eyes. "Whatever man you dumped her!"
Troy glances back to see Olivia's head perk up. He narrows his eyes a little in confusion. What? Didn't they only meet once? "It doesn't matter." Carlos shrugs again and Troy looks back to him while trying his hardest to pull Gabriella closer, but she physically couldn't get any closer. Her body was formed perfectly to fit his from the back as he attempts to nuzzle her neck a little, while Gabriella's forehead gently grazes his.
"Who wants to get raped next?" Someone yells from the center of the cars. Troy looks over to see a tall, African American with muscles that bulge out of his body. Note to self, do not mess with that guy.
"Are they all… ex-murders?" Zeke asks slowly as he wraps his arm around Sharpay's shoulders tighter.
Tony rolls his eyes. "Nah… that's just Samuels." He states, Troy wracking his brain to his drunken New Year's Eve where they were complaining about a guy name Samuels. "The fucker thinks he owns the place." Tony says with venom laced in his voice. It seems that this guy wasn't one to mess around with.
"He practically does. You know how tricked out his ride is!" Carlos exclaims while throwing his hands up.
"Have… you ever raced him?" Olivia's voice could be heard as Carlos smiles while looking back at her.
"Once. And I lost. No one beats him. No one has the guts to." Carlos explains as the piercing blue eyes look to the beady black. Chad was hanging onto Taylor's hand but was looking back at Troy with a smirk on his face. They were both thinking the same thing. Both of their male egos were shooting through the roof. The drug was pulling Troy in. Something inside him wanted to race the guy. His dad had taught him a little about cars, but he didn't know anything about racing. It couldn't be that hard, just go fast right? He knew how to drive stick, which most of these cars were. So I'd be fun to try to beat the best right? Was that how every opponent was when they crossed paths with Troy on the court?
"How about you rich bitches?" Samuels asks and Troy actually gets a chill down his spine as the guy turns to them. He was smirking a little as all eyes suddenly landed on them.
"Dude… I wanna do it!" Chad exclaims as Troy's face frowns a little. His stomach drops. He wanted to be the one to try it first. He was the captain of their team right? Shouldn't he have a go at everything first?
There was cheering and Carlos, Miles, and Tony suddenly have smirks on their faces. "Hell no Chad!" Taylor protests. "You're not doing anything."
As the tall dark guy walks towards them, Troy notices the way his hair was completely shaven, with a tattoo going up his skull. He had three other huge guys behind him, with a girl at his side that looked like she was a stripper and she was looking Troy up and down. His eyes were deep, beady and black as he stops in front of them. When his lips part in a crooked smile, there was a center tooth missing in the front. Gabriella immediately spins around in Troy's arms and wraps hers around his neck for him to protect her, Troy hanging onto her waist reflexively. The piercing blue eyes narrow. He wanted game. Even if this guy could rip apart his body with his pinky. Troy's competitive side was starting to show.
"You wanna play bitch?" He asks while spitting in front of Chad. Chad's black eyes narrow in the way that Troy has only seen them right before they're about to play their rivals, West High. "Or maybe you should listen to your chick. She's fucking hot enough to know you shouldn't mess with the big boys."
Chad's eyes become a black storm at the sound of him intimidating his girlfriend and he had a sick smile on his face looking at Taylor. She grabs his arm and tries to pull him back. "Chad… come on stop this!"
"Troy, do something!" Gabriella says in his ear, but Troy couldn't move. So badly he wanted to be in Chad's spot. He wanted to race this guy. He wanted to win. But if he couldn't do it, his best guy friend was the next best thing.
"Where's your piece of shit anyways?" Samuels asks while looking for a car and Tony immediately steps forward.
"He'll take my ride." He says while patting Chad on the back.
The huge guy's sick smile curves again. "You got yourself a race."
Cheers and honks erupt from the rest of the cars at the sound. Chad's mouth smirks as Taylor's eyes grow wide. "I can't watch this… I can't watch this…"
"Tay, relax. I'll be fine." Chad says while Tony opens the door to his car. Troy's eyes narrow again. He wanted to be in that position. He wanted to drive. He wanted it more then anything right now. But Chad's eyes move to Troy so he has to put his jealousy away for a moment. "Bolton… you're gonna ride with me right?"
A smirk immediately forms on Troy's face. Well, if he couldn't be in the drivers seat, he could at least get into the passenger's. He opens his mouth to answer, but then some other sound rings through the air first. "Fuck no."
Troy's eyes grow wide as he looks down at Gabriella. Her thin black eyebrows were narrowed and set on the piercing blue. No. He needed to go. He was craving the feel of going against the law. He wanted to feel what 160 mph felt like. How could she do this to him? Her eyes were sparkling as she was beginning him desperately. Her face suddenly became even more beautiful then he had ever seen in his life. Her smooth skin glowing in the headlights, her lips puffy yet so kissable. Everything "What?"
Gabriella gorgeous mouth opens up, Troy almost holding himself back from placing his lips onto hers. He always knew she was gorgeous, but why all of the sudden was he getting this rise? "You're not going." She says in a threatening tone, letting Troy realize why he was seeing her like this. It was a test. The first test of addiction. Half of him was telling him tempting him to choose to stay with Gabriella. But the other half, the one he wanted to listen to, was about to tell her to piss off and go ride with Chad. "I'm not going to watch you die."
"I'm not gonna die Gab…" Troy says with venom in his voice. He was temped to shove her off and just take off with Chad, and tell him he's driving.
"Troy, no." She orders as the side of Troy's mouth twitches.
Troy's eyes narrow angrily as he lets go of Gabriella and sits down on the hood of the car behind him. A monster was suddenly fuming inside him. Fuck her. "Let me know how it is." He grumbles as Chad lets out a sigh. He was pissed. He wanted to do it, but the sensible side was taking over. Gabriella's side was taking over.
"You sure man?" Chad asks, still grinning like a little kid on Christmas. Troy's eyes narrow even more. The guy with the afro nods in understanding. "Zeke, let's go."
Troy could feel the fire run through his veins as he watches Tony pull his green car with dark blue stripes on the side down towards the curb. Chad and Zeke run towards it while cheers were still erupting from the crowd. Sharpay, Taylor, and Olivia all walk over to where Carlos and Miles were standing. He couldn't look at her. He could feel the eyes on him in the blackness, but he refused to look at her outline. His eyes were just narrowed on the green and bright yellow cars that were lining up to the start line. "He's going to die. Shar, how can you be fine with this?"
Troy was barely listening. How could she do this to him? She had to have known this was something he really wanted. Was he being immature about it? Probably. But it didn't matter. He wanted to race, and that was all he cared about right now. "He'll survive. Go Zeke!" She screams as though it was a basketball game and everyone but Troy looks at her like she was crazy. "What?"
He watches with envy as Chad gets into the driver's seat and Zeke gets into the passenger's seat. "Does he have a chance at all?" Olivia's sweet voice fills the air as Troy could almost feel his fists clench. He knows Gabriella's watching his every move, but he didn't care.
"No way." Carlos' voice responds. "Samuels move is to cut them off early at the turn around. They always start on the left. Everyone turns right, because it's faster. But if he takes the turn a few seconds earlier. Even if you try to beat it, he cuts in front of you. So its either let him win or your ride flips."
Troy watches from the safety of the hood of the car while a girl wearing barely a bikini walks to the center of the road. He knew Gabriella's eyes were still on him, so his eyebrows rise as though he was interested in the girl. He knew Gabriella was aware he was trying to piss her off, but he could almost hear her eye roll. "Ready?" The girl's voice screams while she smirks. "Go!"
The roar of both engines blare in Troy's ears, making this so much harder. He watches as the green car immediately takes off, with the yellow one just a few feet behind. They travel down the road, the noise of the engines starting to fade away. Jealousy was stretching through his veins. Chad had to be going at least 120.
"Stop it Troy." The voice of angels says while Troy's eyes were staring longingly at the green car that was off in the distance now.
He didn't want to talk to her, so he doesn't look at her but could feel her presence right next to him. "I don't need you to protect me Gabriella." He says with anger laced into his voice. His eyes squint to try to find the car that had now disappeared. "I can handle myself thanks."
He could almost feel the daggers come from Gabriella's eyes. "And you wanna know what I don't' need Troy? You in the fucking hospital because of your stupid male ego."
This makes the piercing blue eyes finally rip from the road. They look up to meet the deep brown that had concern laced with them. She knew. She knew he was getting addicted to this. But it wasn't bad! It wasn't like he was the people out in the corner smoking pot! He just wanted to race, what was the harm in that? "It's innocent Gab…"
Gabriella laughs almost hysterically. "Innocent Troy? Innocent?" She asks with poison spilling out of her mouth as she says the word. "Oh yeah, it's real innocent. Fuck Troy I'm not letting you die early. Or wind up in jail."
Troy's eyes narrow for a moment before he hears another round of cheering. "Here they come!" His eyes shoot back to the road to see the yellow car at least four-hundred feet in front of the green. If he was in the car, he would have been in front of Samuels. He would have driven better then Chad. He would have gotten it.
"Whatever Gabriella." He says her full name. "I don't need my girlfriend making decisions for me alright?"
But the moment it slips out, Troy's eyes look up to see Gabriella's grow wide. Girlfriend. He had never said the word before. Never once had he said Gabriella was his girlfriend. The anger that was once laced into her eyes disappears as suddenly a swell of happiness erupts in them. Troy, just seeing the small smile on her face now, feels his own mouth form into a smile. "Dude, he just got killed!" Miles says in the distance, but Troy for the first time wasn't paying attention to the race. His eyes were locked on Gabriella's and they wouldn't be taken off anytime soon.
But Gabriella's face becomes slightly hard for a moment. "Um…I'm your girlfriend now?" She says while trying to be mad from before, but Troy could tell that she was trying her hardest to keep the smile off her face.
Troy smirks as he grabs her hips, sending shockwaves through his hands. Gabriella's smile beams like the headlights as Chad and Zeke were walking towards them, Chad obviously pissed off. "Fuck that. I'll get him next time."
"Well… yeah." He says with a sheepish smile on his face. He leans his forehead against hers and lets his nose rub against hers for a moment, trying his hardest to force out the images of the cars that kept popping in his brain. Focus on Gabriella. Don't smell the gas. Just focus on her sweet scent. "If you wanna be…"
Gabriella smiles softly as she tilts her head and lets her lips connect to his. Troy closes his eyes and gently feels her lips squeezing his own. This should have been a happy moment, but he couldn't get the poisonous feelings of wanting to race out of his head. "You know me better to think I'd say no." She says after they pull apart.
She wraps her arms around his neck as he pulls her close to him on the hood of the car. His nose was digging into her hair, trying to take the gasoline scent out and replace it with the smell of vanilla. He was also trying to blind himself of the headlight and concentrate on the beauty in front of him. The screech of tires had to be replaced by the sound of Gabriella's heart beat. But no matter how much he tried, the drug was pulling him in. He had to race… and no one, not even the girl in his arms was going to stop him.
His name was Troy Alexander Bolton. And he was officially addicted to street racing.
Even if he didn't do it… yet.