A/N: Even though Valentine's Day has passed, I still want to write cute one shot about our favorite couple. Thank you for all the feedback you've sent in. Ideas are always accepted and appreciated!!!
Thank you to Justacrush for all her help with this chapter!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own and/or am affiliated with any of the characters, the movie, music, etc.
Thursday, December 14th, 2006 6:00 am
I bounced into Troy's room full of energy and a smile on my face. I walked up the ladder before jumping onto the bed. He groaned and rolled over burying his face deeper into the covers.
"Troy, come on I know you're awake." I whispered before placing a kiss on his forehead.
"It's too early." He groaned as I laughed and reached my hand under the cover to tickle his stomach.
"Stop it!" He mumbled sticking his head farther into the covers.
"Troy Alexander Bolton it is time to get up! Get your scrawny ass outta bed!" I yelled which caused him to jump up and hit his head on the ceiling above.
When Troy shot me a look of pain, all I could do was laugh and hold my hands up in innocence. "I tried to get you up unharmed."
"You're way too hyper this morning. How many cups of coffee did you have before you came?" He mumbled while cracking open one eye to look at me.
"Only two. I've been up since 4." Flashing a grin only sent more looks of aggravation in my direction.
"No wonder you're so bright eyed bushy tailed this morning." Troy never was able to understand how much of a morning person I was. At the same time though, I couldn't possibly stay up as late as he does some nights.
"You better lose the attitude. We're seeing our families for the first time since October. I would hate for your dad to have to ground you the entire time we're back in New Mexico..." I looked up at the ceiling avoiding his eyes at all costs.
He groaned loudly and pulled the pillow over his tired eyes. "Let me sleep some more."
"Don't make me get violent. I want you outta this bed in ten minutes and in that shower in fifteen. Do you understand me, Troy Alexander?" Staring into his eyes, I threatened. "You don't want to celebrate Christmas with a black eye, do you?"
"Yes ma'am… I mean Gabi." Even though he was grumpy, I still thought he was adorable. Climbing off his bed, I took the covers with me causing him to shiver in the cold. He would wake up now!
"I'm coming to check up on you in fifteen minutes and I wanna hear that shower going." I walked out of the room in the direction of my dorm.
"Why don't you go jump his bones all ready?" The growing voice coming from under the covers caused me to jump up and spill coffee all over my outfit.
"Dammit Olivia, why must you do that?" I turned to look at my grinning roommate. "I was going to wear that on the plane!" She and Matt were going home to their families later on today and since their drive was less than two hours away, she was in no rush to get up.
Olivia was too busy laughing to answer me. "You should . . . . you should have seen you face." She managed to cough out. I looked at her furiously while digging through my neatly packed suitcase, trying to find something else to wear.
"Gee thanks, Liv. I'm sure going to miss you during the two weeks we're gone." Honestly, I was going to miss both her and Matt and our other friends.
"Aww, Gabs, we'll see each other when we come back on the 30th. Your family as well as Troy's will all be out here. Mine and Matt's will be out here too. We'll ring in the New Year as one big happy family." Liv sat up in bed and smiled at me. A smile crept across my mouth, partly because she was so sweet and caring, and also because her hair looked like she stuck her finger in an electric socket.
"I guess you're right. I'll call you almost everyday just to check up." I promised.
"That a girl. I knew you had a smile hidden somewhere." Now, I had a full fledge, goofy grin across my face.
"By the way, I've all ready gone and woke Troy up. I threatened him." If only I could stick my chest out, I would have to show her how proud I was of my personal accomplishments. Olivia was very familiar of how hard it is to wake up my boyfriend.
"What did you threaten him with?" Liv asked as I got her curiosity. "No Christmas cookies for a week?"
I stuck my tongue at her before saying, matter-of-factly, "I told him that if he's not in the shower within fifteen minutes, I was going to get violent." Olivia laughed at me for the second time that morning.
"I don't think I've ever seen you get violent." Liv looked at me with her eyes raised in curiously. "And I doubt I ever will."
"Troy has, so he knows what's coming. Speaking of…it's been fifteen minutes so I should go check up on him. Troy and I will stop by before we leave." Olivia nodded before falling back and snuggling into her covers.
"Just wake me up." I was already out of the room and her voice was growing distant.
When I reached Troy's room, exhaustion from getting up early sat in. I made his bed the best I could before falling down on top of the plaid covers and closing my eyes. Out of now where, a wonderful, ecstatic voice filled the room. Troy was singing and every note reminded me of how much I loved him.
Another summer day Maybe surrounded by
has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
but I wanna go home
a million people I
still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
I miss you, you know
I couldn't help but giggle while lying there, listening to his strong voice. Who would have known he would sound this good so early in the morning? I can only pray that one day, I'd wake up to this sound every morning for the rest of my life.
Even after he threw open the door, entering his bedroom in just a towel, he was still singing. Obviously, he didn't see me sitting there, and I didn't dare interrupt his song.
I pushed myself off the freshly made bed and walked closer to the bathroom where he was collecting his things and throwing them in his travel bag. He grinned into the mirror as I hid a giggle that was dying to escape. He finally noticed me but didn't miss a beat in the song he was singing.
He took my hand and used his hair brush as a microphone. Even though the dorm room was empty, he was acting like he was singing to an amphitheatre full of people, but his eyes remained on me the entire time. At the final note, Troy leaned forward and captured me in a sweet, soft kiss.
"Good morning, pop star." My cheeks turned red and I smiled at him longingly.
"You caught me." He gave me a long look before speaking up. "Something's wrong with you." He was buttoning up one of his nice dress shirts while I looked at him oddly.
Troy had always known me better than I had known myself. "Yeah…" I dragged my confession out; afraid of what he would say. "I'm scared about going home." I ran my hand through my hair showing Troy how scared I was.
I continued to tell Troy about the real reason I was up so early and why I was so scared. What would my friends think of me? What about my family, I mean; I'm practically an adult now. Most of all, what about Sharpay and everyone? It's going to be so different going back home.
"Hey look at me." He put his finger under my chin and raised it up. "I'm just as scared. I'm worried that my friendships with Ryan, Jason, and Zeke aren't going to be what they were when we all left in August." He sighed.
Starring into his ocean blue eyes sent an immediate feeling of calm over me. "Once I get there, I'll be fine but it's just the anticipation that's getting me nervous."
"I know what you mean. But Gabi, once we're there, we'll be fine. And I'm going to be by your side the entire time." They way he rubbed his thumb over my knuckles made me loose all worries for the time being.
He smiled before pushing himself off the floor and walking back over the bathroom. I sat at his desk while watching him scurry around the room collecting last minute items. His eyes found mine every couple of minutes or so and I would just smile in his direction.
I was too busy staring at him that I didn't hear his question until he came right up and kissed me, successfully knocking me out of my trance. "Now that I have your full attention, what time are we leaving?"
"We have to be at the airport at 8 because we have to check in since our plane leaves at 10." He just nodded with understanding.
"I'm ready to go. What about you?" Troy asked looking up at the clock.
"I've just gotta get my stuff and then I'm ready."
"I'm going to pull your car to the circle so just bring down your stuff."
We went our separate ways, leaving him with a kiss on the cheek and a smile. When I walked into my soon-to-be deserted dorm room, I found Olivia and Matt locked in a steamy kiss.
"Gosh guys, you two are the only people that make out at 7:45 in the morning!" My interruption caused them to break apart suddenly, flushed and embarrassed. "But don't mind me; I'll be out of here in two seconds."
"You're leaving?" Olivia climbed off her boyfriends back and walked towards me.
"I am. But don't be sad, I'm tired of being sad. We'll see each other in 16 days and I promise to call every morning." We embraced in a hug and stood there for several minutes, almost not wanting to let go, afraid our promises won't last. "Come on, no sad eyes. It's Christmas."
"I know, but it'll be weird being home and seeing my siblings and not you everyday." Olivia frowned.
"It won't be that bad. Besides we'll spend New Years Eve together and that'll be a kickin' ass good time!" We both laughed like teenagers, causing her boyfriend to send us a strange look.
"I can't wait! The guys have a game but we'll be together at the strike of midnight." We continued to giggle until Matt couldn't stand it any longer.
"Where's Troy at?" He interrupted.
"He's putting his crap in the car. I'm supposed to be down there right now." Unintentionally, I looked up at the clock on the wall and then back at my friends.
"Let me take your suitcases down there so you two can finish saying goodbye." Matt offered. I smiled at him gratefully.
Olivia and I walked behind Matt down the stairs and out to the circle driveway. We hugged again while the guys situated the suitcases into my little car.
"I'm going to miss you but we'll talk." Olivia promised for the last time. "Have a good Christmas, and I can't wait to hear what Troy gave you."
"Oooh, well, I can't wait to see what Troy gets me, either. I'll see you later." With one last hug, we had finally said our goodbyes.
Matt and Troy walked closer to Olivia and me. I pulled Matt into a friendly, yet slightly awkward hug. "Have fun with your mom and I'm sure we'll talk to you before the 30th."
"We will. Good luck with your games on the 19th and 21st. I'll be watching from home."
"Thanks Gabi." He said before Troy came over to me and wrapped a comforting arm around my back. "Ready?"
I nodded, and then waved sadly back at two of my best friends. I was really going to miss them.
Once in the car, my eyes stared sadly out the windows. Matt and Olivia were still waving goodbye, and I even saw a couple of tears drip down Liv's face. When Troy turned the ignition to the car, he looked over at me and smiled.
"Ready to go home, babe?"
Looking out the window for one last time, I smiled. "You bet. Let's go home, Troy."
And I've been keeping all the letters Another aerorplane, another sunny place Let me go home I'm just too far
that I wrote to you,
each one a line or two
I'm fine baby, how are you?
I would send them but I know that it's just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that
I'm lucky, I know...
but I wanna go home
I've got to go home
12:00 pm Albuquerque Time
The knot loosened in my stomach as the plane came to a stop in the terminal. Troy let go of my hand before standing up and handing my bag to me. "Still feeling nervous?"
I shook my head before looking up at him. He looked deep into my brown eyes before giving me a look."A little yeah but it's starting to go away."
He just smiled at me as the line to the exit started moving ever so slowly. Someone was trying to torture me. On the one hand, I was so excited to see my brother and my mom but on the other hand I was so nervous about seeing my friends again and worrying about if our friendships would be in jeopardy or not.
Troy looked back at me while squeezing my hand. I gave him a smile before we started walking towards the exit. The butterflies flew up into my stomach again as Troy and I headed for the exit.
Once we were in the connector between the plane and the terminal, my heart started to pound loudly in my ears. Troy kept glancing over at me just to make sure I was all right. I pushed forward a fake smile as we made it into the airport. "This way." Troy led me towards the baggage claim where we knew our parents would be waiting for us.
I followed in his footsteps as our feet carried us closer to our loved ones. My heart beats faster, the butterflies became more excited, and I couldn't control my breathing. Troy stopped suddenly making me plow into the back of him.
"Gabriella, you're going to be fine. We're just seeing our parents." Troy coaxed me pulling me closer to his chest.
"I'm scared." I whispered as his hand ran through my hair.
"Shh pretty girl, you're going to be fine. I'm going to be by your side the entire time. I'm not leaving you; I promise." He whispered in my ear as I slowly started to nod my head.
I looked up into his crystal clear eyes and got lost in the pools of blue. I knew right at that moment, I was going to be fine. He kissed me a final time before we began our final steps to the baggage claim. He squeezed my hand as I caught his contagious smile.
My eyes swept the baggage claim area before finally finding the four people I had been searching for. My mom, Joe, and Troy's parents were standing there grinning at us. Troy and I couldn't get over to them soon enough.
Wordlessly, I dropped Troy's hand and walked into my mom's warm embrace. My nerves disappear the moment she wrapped her arms around me. I was where I wanted to be; right in my mom's arms.
"Welcome back, Gabi." Mom whispered as I pulled back and dropped a kiss on her cheek. "Thanks mom. Hey Joe." I stepped back to avoid me dropping Joe, who had decided to run into my arms.
This is exactly where I wanted to be; with my family. I smiled at Troy as the excitement from our families overtook us.
And I feel just like I'm living Another winter day And I'm surrounded by I've had my run Let me go home It'll all be alright,
someone else's life
It's like I just stepped outside
when everything was going right
And I know just why you could not come along with me
This was not your dream
but you always believed in me...
Has come and gone away
in either Paris or Rome
and I wanna go home
Let me go home
A million people I
still feel alone
Let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know
Let me go home
baby, I'm done
I've gotta go home
I'll be home tonight
I'm coming back home
The song is "Home" by Michael Buble. Christmas time is upon us; I'm so excited for this. Feedback would be amazing. Thank you to everyone who has submitted feedback!!
