Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, content or anything affiliated with the High School Musical franchise. All work is fictional.
Author's Note: Hello to a new story! So, I haven't written an M-rated story in a long time. As the summary of the story states, there are going to be some heavy topics dealt with and drama, but there's gonna be some explicit (yet tastefully written) scenes. I haven't dabbled in writing sexual content in such a long time, but I'm older with new experiences and a broader knowledge of writing since the hey-days of Fanfiction, so we'll see how it goes! On a side note, Flames of the Heart will be updated soon, but I wanted to get started on this story. Enjoy! Leave a review if you'd like, but it's not totally necessary. Just letting my creative outlet flow!
Chapter One
It was a brand new day on the Sunkissed cruise line and, so far, Gabriella Montez was having a great vacation. This was her last full day on the ship until they landed back on the coast of California. It was also one of her last good days until she had to move away from her friends and her home in Los Angeles, heading straight for Albuquerque. She had no idea what to expect, but she always heard that New Mexico was a desert and ridiculously hot at the most inopportune times. Not that Los Angeles was any different, though. But, what was she supposed to do in Albuquerque?
She shouldn't be too surprised, though. She had to move because of her mother's job as a traveling nurse. In Gabriella's lifespan, they had moved a few times. The other times were when Gabriella was little. She had been in Los Angeles since she was ten years old, so six years was a long time for her to make wonderful friends, have memorable sleepovers, date a few guys and make a mark. She had two years before she was going to leave for college. How was she going to make her mark in two years?
She loved her mother, don't get her wrong. At times, they had a wonderful relationship that she wouldn't trade for anything. However, the majority of the time, it was just Gabriella. Her mother worked long hours and, when she was called in on an emergency, she had to leave. She knew she had no choice, but it wouldn't hurt her mother to spend more time with her or acknowledge how much the time away hurt her.
Gabriella wanted this vacation to matter to both of them. So far, they had docked at a few islands near the Bahamas and went on a few shopping trips and laid out on the beach. They ate fabulous food that they had never tasted before and shared laughs and new memories together. Last night, they had even promised they would spend some time on the deck by the pool or even going to see a show. Gabriella was looking forward to it.
In the room, Gabriella was changing into a black bikini with gold embossment around her cleavage and her waist. She slipped on a white lace cover up and threw her curls up into a messy bun. She had no makeup on and simply applied some sunscreen since she still wanted to perfect her tan. Making sure she was covered and she had everything she needed, she came out of the small bathroom and back into the room with their two beds, a decent television in the upper corner and a porthole of the view.
Her mood drastically changed. Her mother wasn't dressed for tanning or the pool. She had on a pair of khaki shorts, a purple tank-top and some flip flops. She was even carrying her purse and was reapplying some lipstick. Obviously, they had different ideas.
"Mom?" called Gabriella.
Her mother, Maria, turned to face her daughter and grinned. "You look beautiful, honey! Where are you off to?"
As if the swimsuit didn't give it away. "I thought we were going to the deck today."
Maria winced, but she didn't look too sorry. "Gabi, I'm sorry but I thought I told you about the group of people I met yesterday? We made plans to have a little grown up time, just us adults."
Gabriella swore her mother still looked at her as ten years old. She rolled her eyes and dropped her swim bag to the ground with a thud. "You never told me that, mom."
Maria still wasn't phased. She came up to her daughter and cupped her cheeks. "Honey, it'll be okay. It's our last day. Why don't you go make some friends with people your own age?"
Gabriella wanted to make a quip about how she was going to leave the cruise anyway tomorrow and she'd never see these people again, much like her friends in Los Angeles. She held back, though. She didn't want to fight with her mother on vacation. So, she did what she normally did in these situations.
"Okay. I'll just text you," she said, trying to keep her tone at a moderately calm level.
It must have worked because her mother smiled and patted her shoulders. She clutched her purse as she headed to the door. "You have a good time, sweetie!"
Gabriella watched the door close and soon, just like always, she was wrapped in silence. The low sound of the moving ship and the waves outside hardly penetrated her ears. There was a roaring in her body, a familiar anger that she knew would soon fade away and replaced by a naive feeling towards her mother's actions. It's what she had to do. She wanted to keep her mother happy, even if she wasn't. She cherished the little moments they had and, if she confronted her about how she really felt, it would all fall apart.
Gabriella recovered herself and exhaled a big sigh. She grabbed her beach bag and headed out of the room, taking the few turns and elevator rides to the deck so she could enjoy her day. She bypassed a few other passengers on the way to the deck: old couples enjoying their retirement, honeymooners, families with little children that were reprimanded about bumping into her. There were even a few guys her age that she passed walking together. One of them waved at her and she smiled back.
She wasn't oblivious to the effect she had on guys. She'd been told multiple times that she was "easy on the eyes" with her long raven hair, natural appearance without the need for heavy makeup like some of the other girls her age, curves and a body that she was blessed with and eyes that someone once told her could "hypnotize a blind man". Even if it was kind of corny. She didn't take advantage of it, though. She flirted like any other teen girl, but she didn't really give a guy her full attention unless she was attracted to them, too. She wasn't the kind of girl that had the moral of saving herself for marriage, having lost her virginity a few days after her fifteenth birthday to her boyfriend at the time.
Eventually, she made it to the deck and was met with the sun high in the sky, beating down on her skin. It wasn't too hot, but it was the perfect weather to get a tan. On the deck, there were two pools; one that was more shallow for those who wanted to rest their feet and another across the way that was deeper for people to float and kick their heels. There was a kiddie pool along the way and, next to it, was a little waterpark and a slide that started on an upper level above the deck. On the other opposite end, there was a bar that sold non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. They even had a few snacks on hand. Again for the kids, there was an ice cream stand farther away from the bar. Pool chairs were scattered all around and, most of the time, they were filled with passengers. Today, it wasn't too bad. She spotted an empty chair near the bar and claimed it, setting her bag down and stripping off her cover up. She walked over to the shallow pool and dipped into it, the water reaching her chest as she relaxed on one of the steps. Her arms spread out in the water and she let out a relaxing breath and closed her eyes.
She felt beautiful right now in her swimsuit, no makeup and her hair piled up. She felt confident when she wasn't covered in so many clothes, but it wasn't in the theme of showing off her body on purpose or for attention. She was always confident. Her friends hyped her up and complimented her so much, always true to their word and never fake. She had never met a fake person, to be honest. People liked her at school because she was nice and liked to be friends with almost anyone. The problem with moving to a new city was that she worried people wouldn't see her like that. Would they find her as egotistical or full of herself? Did she need to change her appearance to fit in? She wanted to be herself.
After a while, Gabriella could feel herself getting pruney. She opened her eyes and winced at the sunlight. The pool held more people and she was starting to feel a bit crowded by the extra people. She got out of the pool and headed over to the bar, wrapping her towel around her waist. She greeted the bartender and ordered herself a water with a small container of grapes.
As she waited for the bartender to get her order together while also taking care of a few drunk adults, she turned around and people-watched. The chairs were filling up. There was a hairy guy on a chair that had fallen asleep and she knew without a doubt he'd wake up with sunburn. A woman had the balls to sunbathe topless, though she was lying on her chest. A few preteen boys in the pool were gesturing toward her in awe as if they had never seen a naked back before. Kids were going down the water slide and a lifeguard was yelling at one to slow down.
"Here you are," said the bartender.
Gabriella thanked him and took her drink and food to her chair. She glanced over as she settled down and noticed, about ten chairs down, a teenage boy settling into his chair. She couldn't help but admire his physique. He definitely lifted weights because he had chiseled abs and perfect muscles, especially for someone that looked her age. His board shorts were a green plaid and he wore dark sunglasses that sat underneath a messy flop of chestnut hair. He lazily flopped down on his back and rested his arms above his head.
Coming out of her trance, she relaxed and snacked on her grapes while sipping her water. As she relaxed herself, she wondered what her new home would be like again. She didn't know what their house looked like, only because she didn't bother to ask her mother. Two stories? Three? Ranch-style? Did they have a backyard? Who would her neighbors be? The big question was high school. She will be a junior this year. How hard would the teachers be? Would she make a friend her first day?
Gabriella could only guess and make assumptions. As soon as she and her mother went back to Los Angeles, they had about three more weeks to pack and move. Those three weeks would go by fast to her, but it seemed like a long ways off. It made her nervous. She wanted to fast forward to the moment they arrived at their house from the long car drive.
She felt some water droplets on her and looked up at the pool. A few kids were making big splashes in the pool, the ones whose feet didn't really touch the bottom easily. Some older women glared at them as if a few drops offended them and their cake of makeup and stick of hair. She didn't mind. Kids would be kids. She smiled at what appeared to be a young father holding on to a floatie that his baby daughter was resting on. She had a big smile on her face as if she were floating on a cloud.
Eventually, Gabriella decided she wanted to do some swimming and float for a bit. She set down her empty water cup and empty container of grapes. She kept her bag and her towel on her chair so nobody would steal it. She got out of her seat and smoothed out her bikini, making her way to the deeper pool. Unfortunately, she wasn't too careful. Another kid made a splash and she ended up slipping on the excess water. Her heart began to pound in her chest as she thought for sure she was going to crack her head open.
Instead, she fell in the opposite direction and into another person's lap. She expected to be thrown off or punched, but she felt a pair of hands grab her waist and a deep sounding oof!
It was the teenage boy she had been admiring earlier. His sunglasses were still on as he sat up, but it was obvious he was looking at her. His hands were still on her waist and it was hard not to notice how good his hands felt on her skin. If she wasn't mistaken, she thought she felt his fingers tighten a bit.
"Is this a dream?" he asked, letting out a slight chuckle.
Gabriella quickly tried to get up and said in a high voice, "I'm so sorry! I did not do that on purpose!"
His hands were still on her as he helped her stand up, standing up from his chair himself. He was a bit taller than her as she came up to the middle of his chest. Up close, he looked even better and she couldn't help but steady herself by placing her fingertips on his abs. They were out of this world and the sensation of his skin caused her to withdraw her touch. However, his hands stayed resting on her waist. Did he forget he was touching her?
He smiled and laughed. "It's okay, it's okay! Nobody really trips on purpose."
God, his smile was perfect, too. His voice was hypnotic, almost like his laugh. It was almost childlike and carefree.
"I guess," she said, suddenly feeling shy.
The guy let go of her waist and lifted up his sunglasses to rest on his head. Her breath was gone as she sucked it all in at the sight of his eyes. You couldn't just call them blue. They were lighter, but held a dark aura to them. All in all, they pierced her soul as if she had known him forever. As if he already knew her heart.
She felt more than shy. She felt her whole body heating up and it wasn't because of the sun.
"Are you okay, though?" he asked her.
She noticed his gaze traveling down her body and back up to her face. Holy shit, he checked her out. Did he know that she had checked him out, too?
She nodded quickly, like a bobblehead. "Yeah, I'm good. Slightly mortified to meet you in your lap, but yeah."
He laughed again. She wanted to hear his laugh constantly. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Not a bad way to meet a pretty girl, so I don't regret it."
If he kept saying these things, she didn't know if she could control her actions. She had to get out of this awkward situation.
"I'm Troy," he suddenly said, holding out his hand.
Gabriella gripped his hand. "I'm Gabriella."
His hand was a bit rough and she guessed from the obvious weightlifting or maybe he worked with his hands a lot. It felt good, though. Their hands seemed to fit perfectly, like a puzzle piece. She found it hard to let go, but she did.
Troy's smile seemed to get wider and he bit his bottom lip. "Well, I hope we see each other again...Gabriella."
She had to get out of there. She was about to be a puddle. She just nodded and smiled, hoping she didn't look like a weirdo. She walked back to her chair to grab her things and went towards the direction that would lead her back to the elevators. Before she even got near five feet of the exit, she tripped over her own feet.
She turned and heard Troy laugh, but it wasn't a making-fun kind of laugh. It was like he found her...cute? She blushed and quickly ran out of his sight. She hoped she didn't see him again after her mortifying introduction, but she also did hope she would see him again just so she'd know this was all real.
Troy Bolton was an easy-going guy. When the opportunity came, he liked to relax when he wasn't working on his jump shot for the upcoming Wildcat team. His first high school party was the beginning of sophomore year after he made the varsity basketball team for the first time, being the youngest in history to land captain. At the party, he drank for the first time. Even though he had a stupid hangover the next morning, the memories of having fun with his friends and meeting new people topped the outcome. Since then, he loved going to parties and having a good time. Sure, there were parties where he didn't have such a great time thanks to a few trips to the toilet bowl. He lost his virginity to a senior cheerleader, albeit inebriated. All in all, he was a fun guy and, thanks to his spot on the team and his personality, he was a popular kid in school.
For the entire summer, he had a great time. Besides the epic parties and new drink recipes that were a hit and miss, he spent time with his best friends: Chad Danforth, a fellow team member; Taylor McKessie, Chad's girlfriend and one of the smartest girls in school; Zeke Baylor, another member of the team and one hell of a cook; Sharpay Evans, the richest girl in school with a big heart hidden underneath glitter and pink; Ryan Evans, Sharpay's brother and the class president, but he was probably the most honest and realest of them all and he had been there for Troy multiple times through the years; Kelsi Nielsen, a quiet girl but she was fun to hang out with and she was also Ryan's girlfriend; and Jason Cross, another member of the basketball team and a longtime friend who loved to party as much as Troy did.
He had amazing friends all over East High, but his group of friends were like family. He could talk to them about anything and they always understood. With the guys, minus Ryan since he only played baseball, Troy practiced plays and even played basketball for fun on his court, the court at the park and even the East High gym. Tryouts were almost immediately after school started back up and he was making it his mission to be captain again his junior year. It'd be the same way his senior year, too. Basketball was his life and it's what he wanted to do in college.
His father, Jack Bolton, was the coach of the team and it only made Troy work harder than the other guys to stay focused. His father wasn't a dictator, though. If Troy needed a rest or wanted to take things in a different direction, he was okay with that. They both knew he was good enough for scholarships and they both knew that, this school year, the scouts would be on the lookout for him. Troy would love to play basketball anywhere, but his dream would be to play for the Redhawks for the U of A nearby. Since he was a kid, he watched their games and studied the players. He and his family would always go see games together and mimic the plays back home. It'd be a dream come true.
When he, his father and his mother - Lucille - booked the cruise before sophomore year ended, Troy was looking forward to it but he would miss his friends and he would miss the court. The cruise ship didn't have a basketball court anywhere, so he was literally away from basketball for longer than he had ever been before. A part of him thought he wouldn't be having that good of a time. However, with the last day being here and the journey back home tomorrow, he was going to miss the most epic relaxation he had ever had. He had been to another country for the first time, a beautiful country with amazing locals and gorgeous colors. He learned so much culture and experienced something new that some people didn't have the opportunity to experience. It made him remember how thankful he really was that his family was stable enough to afford trips and to live a good life.
That evening, it was Troy's favorite time of day: dinner. The food on the ship was amazing, but of course it wasn't a match to the food he had eaten at the restaurants on the different islands during the trip. However, the cruise food was pretty bomb. Basic food groups, but they were all recipes he had never really tried before. The first night, he had tasted quail hesitantly and it was actually pretty good, especially with the creamy sauce with it. Another night, he had tried out a Moroccan dish with ahi tuna and mint couscous, according to the menu. He definitely now had a better palate than any other teenager. Except maybe Sharpay.
Tonight, being the last dinner service, the ship was going all out. Dinner was outside tonight with the sun setting behind them. Instead of waiting service, it was a full out buffet. The bar was serving any kind of drink and there was an endless amount of lemonade, teas, water, sodas, you name it. The food was supposed to be unbelievable. According to the menu, there was supposed to be rotini pasta with the best cheeses, barbecue, and excellent prime rib. Troy was excited. There was food for anyone's taste.
Throughout dinner, Troy sat with his mother and father at a smaller table and talked about the upcoming school year, basketball and the plans for the rest of summer. Sometimes, his father and Troy talked a lot about basketball, but his mother never minded too much. His father was kind enough to switch the topic so his wife wasn't left out and it's something Troy admired. His parents had been together for twenty years and their relationship was the strongest he had ever seen. It inspired him to one day find that someone he could spend the rest of his life with, though it probably wouldn't be for another few years when he found that girl.
However, his mind couldn't let go of Gabriella, the girl that had fallen into his lap as if by the force of the universe. The feel of her skin was smooth and, if he had to be honest, he had felt some kind of satisfying shock when he caught her. Or maybe that was because she had pretty much fallen on his dick and it was quite a jolt. But, she was a pretty girl. Beautiful, even. What really captured him and stuck in his mind all day was her smile. It was a cute smile, but her mouth was the perfect shape. He couldn't really describe it. It was just something he wanted to see again and again. Honestly, he was disappointed that he wouldn't see her again. He had no idea where she lived, but he was sure it was nowhere near him. That was like a one in a million shot.
After clearing two plates of food, Troy was still hungry. His parents seemed to be finished and had ordered some coffee a few minutes ago. Troy wanted to get another helping of the pasta and maybe one more roll. God, he had to run a lot of miles when he got home.
"I'm going to get some more food," said Troy, standing up from his chair and smoothing his hands over his button up shirt.
"Honey, can you see what kind of dessert they have up there? I think the menu said something about pecan pie?" asked his mother. Jack nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, of course." Troy gestured between the two of them. "Do you want two slices or just one?"
"Just one will be fine," said Jack. He smiled. "Thanks, son."
Troy went back to the buffet line and grabbed a clean plate, heading straight for the pasta. He didn't want to bust out of his jeans or to feel miserable, though he was close. He grabbed a small portion and then went to the rolls. There was one left and it was meant for him. As his hand reached for the tongs, he felt another person's fingers before they jerked away from the tongs.
He turned to face the person that wanted the roll and his eyebrows shot up and his mouth turned into a bright smile. "It's you!"
Gabriella stood before him, looking even more gorgeous dressed in a cotton grey dress with spaghetti straps and a pair of black flats. Her hair was still up in the messy bun from earlier and she had no makeup on, but she just amazed him. He had never seen someone so beautiful like her.
She looked nervous as she turned her empty plate over and over. "It's me."
"Do you want the last roll?" he asked her, picking it up with the tongs.
Gabriella shook her head frantically, her bun of curls bouncing. "No, no! You were here first."
Troy smiled at her kind manners and shook his head, placing the roll on her plate. "No, it's okay! Honestly, I probably shouldn't have any more food beyond this pasta." He rubbed his belly as if it was a beer belly instead of his usual chiseled abs.
He was aware of Gabriella's eyes drifting to his stomach and he remembered that she had seen his abs earlier. He suddenly felt like a douchebag and dropped his hand. "Not trying to be a lunkhead."
Was she blushing because she got caught? She smiled shyly. "No, I never thought that." She glanced down at her roll. "Thank you."
He shrugged. "So, where are you sitting at?"
Gabriella gestured over behind the buffet where a woman who looked like her, but older, was talking on her cell phone. Troy noticed her face fall when she noticed this, but she recovered quickly when she looked back at him.
"That's my mom. What about you?" she asked politely.
Troy nodded over her shoulder towards his parents. They were sipping on their coffee and he forgot for a moment that they had wanted pecan pie. "Do you know if they have pecan pie up here?"
"Um," she pursed her lips and glanced over the buffet. "I think? It may be at the end. You like pecan pie?"
He shrugged. "Nah. I'm more of the classic apple."
"I can make apple pie," she smiled at him and wiggled her eyebrows.
Troy laughed at her cute quip and nodded. "Well, maybe the stars will align and we can make one together."
She was quiet, but it wasn't awkward. It was a moment where they just looked at each other. He admired her beauty and noticed that she looked like an angel with the sun setting directly behind her. A few curls came loose around her face from the wind and he had the strong urge to tuck one behind her ear, but they were in front of their parents. It'd look kind of weird if he touched a girl that they had never met.
He decided to break the silence. He had to get back to his parents. "So, what are you doing tonight?"
Gabriella was about to respond when they both heard a few grumbles. They both looked to see a line forming behind them, stormy eyes glaring at them for standing in front of the food and not doing anything. She blushed and turned back to face him, slowly stepping away.
"I should get back to my mom."
Troy nodded and headed for the dessert section. Someone said "finally" when they moved over. "Yeah, of course. I should too." But he didn't want to leave her.
Gabriella smiled at him and walked back to her mother, leaving him alone with the pecan pie for his parents and his now cold pasta.
As he walked back to his parents, he felt troubled. What if he didn't see her again? He had no idea what she was doing tonight. He knew there was some kind of last hurrah at the teen club downstairs. He was going to check it out, but maybe she wasn't the partying type. Maybe she was going to bed after dinner. He had bumped into her twice already, though. A little part of him hoped that the third time was the charm.
Gabriella was excited for tonight. She and her mother talked about just staying for the evening and watching a movie. When she was younger, they would have movie nights in their living room with blanket forts, junk food and cheesy romance. It was the best time for them and they normally fell asleep and woke up in the living room. Of course, they were sparse now. When she had mentioned it to her mother at dinner and her mother actually sounded excited, it made Gabriella feel good about the rest of the vacation. It was a good step for them and maybe this would help her mother realize how important their relationship was.
She had gone to walk around the deck after dinner while her mother supposedly went to their room to get ready. So, when she came back to the room about an hour later, she shouldn't have been surprised to see her mother wearing a flashy outfit and some pretty heavy makeup. Clearly, she wasn't staying in with her.
"Really mom?" Gabriella slapped her hands against her thighs in exasperation.
Her mother looked at her and gripped her clutch, wincing. "Honey, I'm sorry. There's a big jackpot for the last night on the cruise and I really want to see what my chances are."
"So, you are choosing gambling over spending time with your only daughter?" Gabriella scoffed. "Nice."
Her mother simply tsked and walked toward the door, giving her a smile as if everything was okay. "Mija, it's okay. We can have sleepovers any day. We live together."
Highly unlikely.
"There's something going on at that teen club, I think. Why don't you go have some fun and meet some people?" she suggested before kissing her cheek and leaving.
Gabriella was alone again, but she thought about what her mother said. She shouldn't spend her last night alone. Maybe Troy was going to be at this club. He seemed like the type that liked to have fun. To be honest, she couldn't stop thinking about him after seeing him twice in the past few hours. She still couldn't believe she hadn't seen him the previous days. She didn't want to leave him during dinner, but she didn't want her mother to ask her questions and she got embarrassed by holding up the line. She wasn't much of a partier, but maybe she should take a chance. Especially if she could run into Troy again.
She ran over to her suitcase and rifled through her clothes. Whenever she vacationed, she always made sure to pack something super nice in case of emergencies. This was a must and she was grateful she had packed one of her favorite dresses. The dress was a bodycon style and the color was mint-green with silver flip sequins that glistened when she moved, being one of the most glamorous dresses she owned. The straps were skinny and it fell above her knees, but it was pretty easy to ride up.
She chose shoes from her mother's pile and found a pair of black moderate heels that tied up in a gladiator style. When she slipped them on after putting on the dress, she marveled at how they accentuated her legs and made them look longer. She now hoped that Troy was going to be at this club because there was no denying how attracted she was to him, no matter how shy she got in his presence.
Gabriella went into the bathroom and shook out her bun of curls. She prepped them to be slightly loose with the raven waves falling over her shoulders. She didn't want to look like a hooker, so she applied makeup lightly with some mascara and pale lip gloss. She was thankful for her genes once again because she didn't have to cake on makeup to look pretty or feel comfortable.
Feeling confident with her outfit and suddenly feeling an urge of confidence, she headed out and towards the teen club. She saw a few other teenagers heading in the same direction. Some were taking the stairs and others were smart enough to take the elevator. It wasn't too far from her room. Her room was a bit lower in the ship so the teen club was just a few floors up. When she reached the floor, she could hear the music thumping. A security guard was at the front, marking people's hands with X's because they were underage. She wasn't naive, though. She was surprised he didn't search them for alcohol. They were teenagers. They were going to sneak in alcohol.
The security guard marked her hand and let her inside. The inside was a totally different atmosphere. The glow of the room was blue from the stars on the ceiling, the rest of the room dark. It wasn't too hard to see, though. There were strobe lights in each corner, but not so dangerous where it could affect someone's epilepsy. The dance floor was in the middle and, all around it, were soft couches. Some people were hanging out with their friends and sitting down. Others were on the dance floor, dancing to some sort of techno music that you'd never hear at a house party. Behind one set of couches was a bar, but it looked like they were only serving sodas, water, flavored drinks and anything else nonalcoholic. But, just as she expected, she spotted a few guys and girls slipping alcohol into their drinks. She wasn't a snitch, though. You only lived one life.
It was bigger than she thought it would be. She smiled and felt excited to let loose for once in her life. She was feeling a bit parched, so she walked toward the bar. As she walked, she knew her dress glistened and probably caused a stir against the darkness and the blue lights. She caught a few guys giving her winks and a couple of girls admiring her outfit as if it was cute. If anything, it gave her even more confidence. She approached the bar and smiled at the girl.
"Can I please have a pink lemonade?" she asked. It was her favorite drink.
The girl nodded and prepared her drink, adding a twisted straw to give it some flair. Gabriella thanked her with a tip and took a sip, sighing happily at the sweet taste. She didn't realize how thirsty she had been until she realized she had drained half the glass.
"Pink lemonade, huh? Pretty girly if you ask me," said a deep voice in her ear.
Gabriella almost jumped at the intrusion and turned. Her stomach did a backflip when she saw it was Troy. He was looking absolutely amazing tonight. He had changed from his dinner clothes and was wearing a pair of dark jeans, a white tank top and a striped green shirt with the buttons open. His hair was the same cute and floppy style. What attracted her were his eyes. The blue seemed to be even more hypnotic in the dark lights of the club. Something else in her body was getting hot and bothered.
"Well, I am a girl. It's my favorite drink," she said, placing her lips over her straw. She wasn't immune to the fact she was now in her flirt mode.
He licked his lips as he watched her and grinned. He lifted up his brown bottle in his hands. "Root beer is my splurge."
"Such a man drink," she teased and rolled her eyes.
Troy laughed and eyed her up and down, taking his time on her legs and her dress. He tugged lightly at his shirt. "We kind of match. Though, you look so much better in green than I do."
She blushed and felt herself getting closer to him at the bar. It could be because someone had nudged her from behind, but she wasn't complaining. He didn't seem to mind either. His free hand was on the bartop and it was dangerously close to her waist.
The music seemed to get louder as the song changed to something more upbeat. Troy had to lean towards her ear to talk to her. She didn't push him away, though. She wanted to talk to him for as long as possible and, plus, he smelled pretty damn good. It was almost a cinnamon musky smell, but it was intoxicating.
"I was hoping to see you again tonight after dinner. I'm glad you came," he told her.
Gabriella leaned towards him, too. "I thought I had plans with my mom, but she went to the casino." She paused for a moment. "I came here tonight because I had hoped you'd be here."
Troy grinned down at her. His hand finally went to her waist and he made a move, pulling her closer to him. His fingers were gentle. "You came for me? You know I love to party."
"Now I do. I'm not big on parties, but you seem like the kind of guy who likes to have fun," she shrugged.
"So no parties in high school?" he asked her.
She hoped he wouldn't look at her as a loser. "I have friends, but I'm shy in big crowds like that. Drinking, loud music, bodies."
He looked back down at her dress again and felt the material. His finger went to one of her tendrils and twirled it loosely around. "You don't seem so shy right now."
"I guess you bring it out of me. The urge to see you and spend as much time with you has given me some confidence," she said, letting her hand tug at his shirt.
"I noticed some of the guys in here eying you up." He shrugged with a smirk. "I got to be honest. The little green monster came out of me."
"Oh yeah?" Gabriella arched a brow. "It's funny because I can see a few girls behind you checking you out."
The tension was hitting a new high and they were both feeling it. Troy must have set his root beer down somewhere because now both of his hands were holding tighter and pulling her close to his body. There was no space between them. Gabriella engrossed herself in the feeling of his body touching hers. She let her hands travel up his chest, gripping his collar.
"Well, it's too bad for them. I've already got the most interesting and beautiful girl in my arms right here," he said in a low voice. His face bent down and his nose grazed her cheek.
Gabriella just wanted him to kiss her. "Too bad for the guys, too. I've got this pretty hot guy right here that is turning me on."
Troy's grip tightened at her words and even she was a bit surprised at her forward attitude. But, there was just something about him that brought out this confident and sexy side to her. The more time she spent with him, the more comfortable she felt. She knew she would never see him again, so right now, she wanted to live her life to her heart's content.
"Dance with me," he demanded.
She put her empty glass on the bar and let him lead her away. Instead of going to the middle of the dance floor, though, he took her to a secluded space off of the dance floor and behind the couches. The sense of privacy away from other dancers made her suck in an air of breath. It was sensual to her that he wanted her to himself.
The music had changed to something slow, but with a sexy bass. He twirled her around and faced her back to him. He held her waist and moved his hips with her backside. Her hands traveled up her own body slowly, hoping she was eliciting some kind of reaction from him. It seemed to work because his grip got tighter and he tried to pull her closer to him.
Gabriella's hands went up and behind her to his neck, delicately playing with the hairs at his nape. Troy knew exactly what to do next. He began to nuzzle her hair and her cheek, his hot breath panting near her ear.
"You're so beautiful," he murmured in her ear.
She could feel the sweat on her skin already from the heat of the club and the heat from her and Troy. She was sure they would set the place on fire. She felt such womanly power while dancing with him, such confidence she didn't think she ever had. Her hands went back down and he caught his hands, bringing them closer into her body. His fingertips were at the bottom of her dress, dangerously close to her inner thigh. The more she danced, the more her dress began to ride up.
Troy groaned at the new contact and turned her around to face him. She gasped at the sensation as he gripped her body, his hands on her ass. His lips hit her neck and she leaned her head back, closing her eyes at the sensation of his lips on her sweaty skin. She gripped his shoulders, only wanting him to do more. When she felt the obvious erection through his pants brush against her body, she instinctively thrust against his body in time with the slow and sexy beat.
Troy stopped kissing her and looked into her eyes. His blue eyes were something stormy and it only made her want him more. It was desire.
"Do you want to get out of here? Be alone?" he asked her, licking his lips as if he was dehydrated.
She only nodded and tried to keep up as he gripped her hand and quickly led them out of the club. He repeatedly punched the elevator button. "Damn it, come on."
Gabriella giggled and gripped his bicep with her free hand. "Someone is impatient."
"No," he said. The doors opened and they both got in. Immediately, he pushed her gently against the wall onces the doors closed. His lips hovered over hers, teasing her. "I just can't wait any longer."
She knew what that meant and she was all for it. She was incredibly attracted to him and, if this was the last time they ever saw each other, she wanted to make it memorable. She wished he would kiss her, but his lips continued to ghost over her skin. His body was pressed against hers and the strap of her dress had fallen off of her shoulder.
The doors opened and they dodged an elderly couple that was looking at them horrendously. Troy and Gabriella laughed as they ran down the hall. She soon noticed she was on her floor.
"Wait, is this where your room is?" she asked him.
They stopped at a door that was literally a foot away from hers. "Yeah. My parents are going to be occupied for quite a while. Where is yours?"
She pointed in the opposite direction and laughed. "Literally right there."
Troy finally opened the door and grinned down at her, pulling her in by the waist. "You've been here this whole time and we're just now meeting each other? On the last day?"
"I know. So unfair," she said, looking at his lips.
Troy shut and locked the door. Gabriella looked around the room. There were two beds and she knew exactly which one was his. It was unmade and there was a little basketball pillow on it. She picked it up and threw it in the air.
"Basketball player?"
"Youngest captain my sophomore year," said Troy, slowly walking toward her.
"Impressive. I can barely walk in a straight line." She tossed the ball back on the bed and sat down.
Troy chuckled and grabbed her left leg. He looked at her shoes with a confused expression. "I will never understand women's shoes. Is this comfortable?"
"Hell no." She laughed at his expression.
"Well, I think I should give you some relief." Troy smiled and untied the strings. He did the same thing to the other foot and soon, the shoes were off. He slipped off his own shoes and watched her slide back on the bed, her head resting against the pillows. He followed her direction and laid down next to her.
They didn't do anything. They were close to each other. Troy was stroking her cheek affectionately and it caused the butterflies to turn into giant moths in her stomach. Gabriella admired every inch of his face, hoping she'd remember him for the rest of her life. This was a boy that gave her such confidence, that made her feel alive. She had never thought about someone so much like she did Troy.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked, his voice at a quiet volume.
"I thought I wouldn't see you again, but the third time's the charm." She paused as she took a moment to look into his beautiful eyes. "Your eyes."
He laughed lightly and his hand moved to her waist. "What about my eyes?"
"I couldn't stop thinking about them the first time we met." She suddenly cringed and covered her face, rolling over onto her back. "Oh my God. We just met today and I sound like such a fast-paced weirdo."
What teenage boy wanted to hear from a strange girl, sober nonetheless, that she thought about his eyes? He was definitely going to kick her out now. So much for that.
She felt a weight on top of her and her hands were removed from her face. Troy held her hands and had a big smile on his face.
"Don't be embarrassed. It's cute." Troy took a moment as he looked her over. "To be honest, I've thought about your smile this whole time."
"My smile? Most of the time, it's my eyes." She watched as his arms lifted above her head, lacing their fingers together.
"Your eyes are beautiful, of course. But your smile is so perfect with such kissable lips." Again, their lips were inches apart.
She was dying.
They were quiet again. Troy nuzzled her nose, but his eyes kept looking at her mouth. His knee wedged her legs apart, causing her dress to ride up even more.
"Can I try something?" he asked her.
Gabriella knew what he was going to try and she was literally begging for it. She only nodded and waited as patiently as she could, which was pretty lacking.
Finally, his lips descended onto hers in a soft kiss. It sent lightning bolts throughout her body and electrified her in ways that she never thought possible. He knew how to kiss. His lips moved against hers and his tongue slowly slipped into her mouth, caressing her own with such passion that it made her toes curl.
She didn't want it to end. She knew what they both wanted. Her legs wrapped around his waist and she knew for sure that her dress was exposing her black underwear, looking more like a shirt. She moved her tongue inside his mouth, making the kiss harder and even better.
Troy got the message and let go of her hands, moving and touching her down her body. Gabriella tugged his shirt over his shoulders and he quickly shrugged it off, moving to remove his tank top. Once he was shirtless, she did the one thing she had been wanting to do when she had been his lap. She rolled them over so she was on top and kissed his neck, traveling down his defined pectorals and abs. They were hard and perfect and she wanted to touch them all the time. Her nails raked across the skin and she felt a pulse when he moaned at the sensation.
"You're so good looking. Are you even human?" she muttered, sitting up so she was straddling his waist.
Troy laughed, making her giggle at her silly comment. His hands gripped her waist, his thumbs brushing against the waistband of her exposed underwear. "You make me laugh so easily."
"I like your laugh, but you know what else I like to hear from you?" she said, biting her bottom lip.
"What's that?" he asked.
Gabriella reached for his belt buckle and moved her groin against his growing erection. He arched his back and moaned again. She grinned and said, "That."
"You're driving me crazy," he said, letting out a breathy laugh.
Troy helped her get his pants off, leaving him in a pair of red plaid boxers. She reached her hand into his underwear and marveled at how big he felt. Her grip caused Troy to grunt and his fingers went underneath her underwear. She gasped at the sensation and lifted her hips up.
"Damn, already?" he asked, referencing how turned on she was.
Gabriella collapsed on her back on the bed, her legs folded up underneath her. "Baby, I've been wanting you since I saw you at the pool. The club was just the extra I needed to flip the switch."
Troy groaned and went over to her body, positioning her legs so they were spread and her knees were up. "I want to make you feel good. If this is the last time I see you, I want to make this the best vacation for you."
She was soaking at his words and nodded, wanting him to take the lead. She wanted to see how good he was. He was a smooth talker, he was gorgeous and he made her feel on top of the world. Was he the whole package?
He faced her core and pushed her panties aside, gripping her ass. He didn't say anything. He teased his tongue on her thighs, hitting dangerously close with his breath on her folds. She fidgeted in his grip, wanting him to just do it already. He chuckled at her reaction and plunged his tongue into her depths. Her back arched off of the bed as he moved in circles, lapped her up and flicked at such a speed. No other boy could compare to him. He was treating her with such gentleness, but was sending off to another planet behind fireworks.
Gabriella knew it wouldn't be long for her if he kept moving like this. She didn't want it to end like this. It wouldn't be 100% satisfying. She wanted the whole package, literally.
She tugged gently on his hair so he would stop and meet her eyes. "Troy, I want it all."
He looked surprised but recovered and looked around. He sat up and rubbed the back of his neck. "You sure? Are you...I mean…"
She smiled and shook her head. "I'm not."
He grinned and nodded before coming to hover over her. "Me either."
"Thank you for asking, though." she giggled and kissed his lips, her hands cupping his face.
Troy tugged on the strap of her dress. "This will have to come off, though."
She sat up and raised her arms. The slinky material lifted off easily from her body and he tossed it to the side. She suddenly remembered that she wasn't wearing a bra. She watched his eyes lock on to her bare breasts. They weren't big, but they weren't small. She was about a B-cup, but she wondered if it was what Troy would appreciate in a girl. Was he into the bimbos?
Troy immediately wrapped his arms around her waist and brought them both back down to the bed, his lips ravishing her breasts. She concluded he must have liked her body as a hand stayed on her breast while the rest of his lips traveled along her skin before reaching back to her underwear. He tugged them down and off of her body, leaving her completely vulnerable.
Troy sat up and fiddled with the waistband of his boxers, watching her closely. "Are you sure you want this? We've only known each other for half a day."
Gabriella appreciated asking her a second time if she was sure, giving her the chance to back out. Did she want to back out? She was never going to see him again, but the way he looked at her and the way she already felt in this entire day told her a different story. Something in her gut told her this wasn't going to give her any regrets.
"I trust you," she whispered, leaning up and placing her hand on the back of his neck. She brought his lips down to hers in a sweet kiss, their lips moving slowly together.
Troy slipped off his boxers and hovered above her, his left hand tangling into her curls and his other hand caressing her body. He moved his lips over to her neck as his erection got closer to her core, lighting brushing the tip against her folds.
"Do you have anything?" he asked her. "I didn't really expect to get laid on vacation." He let out a little laugh.
Gabriella was thankful in this moment because, when she had gotten into a relationship with the boy she lost her virginity to, she had already gotten on birth control pills since they had talked about it before. She wasn't even sure if her mother knew. Of course, they still used a condom. But, she was on the pill effectively and she didn't have a condom at the moment. What were the possibilities that anything would go wrong?
"I'm on the pill," she assured him, tugging on his hair as his teeth grazed her skin. She arched her pelvis and rubbed against his erection.
Troy groaned at the sensation and didn't hesitate. He pushed into her all the way and paused for a moment, relishing in the warmth of their bodies together after so much tension in mere hours. Gabriella couldn't believe the way he felt inside of her. It was as if every inch of her body was covered and their souls were combined as one. Her legs wrapped around his waist as if he could get any deeper and he slowly began to move back and forth, never leaving her body.
"Oooh…" she moaned, closing her eyes as she held onto him.
Troy's lips never left her skin. He kissed below her ear, her chin, her forehead, her eyes. It felt like he wanted to memorize her entire face before they never saw each other again. It broke her heart, but it also opened up a space reserved for him. A space he would never leave even if they were apart for the rest of their lives.
His thrusts became faster and his panting was harder, his hot breath hitting her skin and sending chills down her spine. He murmured her name over and over again until his words were breaking up, indicating that he was close. She was just as close, too, feeling her body tightening up and the ultimate coming to a cusp.
"Tr-Troy…" she breathed out, her fingernails digging into his shoulders.
He suddenly lifted them up so they were sitting on their bed, her body resting on his lap with her legs still around him. His eyes were on hers, the blue stormy and passionate as he kept thrusting. He gently gripped the back of her head and he nodded, mentally telling her to let go.
She couldn't hold back as she let go. He refused to let her head drop, so her eyes were locked on to him as she came with such a force she had never experienced before. Troy came with her and she watched his pupils dilate at the sensation, his lips whispering her name.
They didn't say anything as they laid back down apart from each other, completely spent. Her body was still exposed as she stared up at the ceiling, hearing the sounds of the waves outside the window in his room. She didn't know what to think. She felt euphoric and she wanted to do it again and again. But, she couldn't really get attached. Tomorrow, it'd be a dream to remember.
She looked over at him to see his eyes were closed, but he wasn't asleep. He was still catching his breath and the confident side of her felt pretty cocky about that. She looked over at the clock and saw it was almost midnight. She wondered how long her mother would be gone or when his parents would come back. It would certainly be a sight for them to see a random naked teenager in their room with their son.
She felt movement and watched as Troy got out of bed and slipped his boxers back on. He didn't say anything as he went into the bathroom and shut the door behind him. She didn't hear anything and she wondered if she should be concerned about his silence. Then again, she shouldn't have expected him to cuddle a stranger. Or cuddle at all. Did he like to cuddle after sex or was he just a see-you-goodbye type of guy?
Maybe she should just go. What else could happen now? She took the isolated opportunity and slipped her underwear back on, traveling around the bed to grab her dress and slip it back on. She didn't bother putting her shoes back on and grabbed them while wishing she had a hairbow with her to contain the mess of sex hair.
The sound of padded footsteps stopped her along with the sound of a husky voice. "Where are you going?"
She looked up at Troy, who honestly looked confused. She smiled sheepishly, her confidence suddenly lost. "Your parents could come back any minute and my mom…"
Troy didn't try to stop her or try to keep hanging out with her. They had talked about how they kept missing each other today and she had expected some sort of a fight. Instead, he walked towards her and kissed her forehead. He laced their hands together and he smiled.
"That was incredible. You were incredible."
She blushed as he kissed her cheek, dropping their hands. The moment felt empty compared to their other times together today.
"Thank you," he said.
"For what?"
"For making this trip memorable and for just being so sweet." His smile turned into a slight smirk as if he was trying to keep it casual.
If there was a feeling lower than empty, she felt it now. His face and the words he used seemed like a complete 180 to the guy she had met earlier. Did she make a mistake? Had she just been so gullible this entire time and fell for a charm that he held for girls he wanted to hook up with?
He must have noticed the drop in her face and he asked, "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?"
Then he asked questions like that, which is something cliche guys wouldn't care about.
She shook her head and smiled at him, hiding her emotions. "Just...not ready to go home tomorrow."
"Yeah, I'm not particularly ready to go back to school in a few weeks." Troy rolled his eyes and sighed.
Again, she had expected him to say something else. Maybe he would miss her instead of thinking about school. He was starting to damage the image she had of him and right now, she just wanted to leave and dream of a better outcome than this.
She left a chaste kiss on his cheek and walked toward the door, glancing back at him one more time. He wasn't watching her. He was collapsing back on to the bed and turning on the television even though there were only five channels, really.
"Bye, Troy." She didn't know what else to say.
Troy smiled at her and looked at her for a few seconds. "See ya."
She winced and quickly left the room, leaning against the wall next to his closed door. She didn't want to cry right now. He was still a stranger and she would never see him again. She had to remember that. But, she could only remember the way he made her feel, the way he touched her and made her into someone that was held on the highest step, someone who deserved to be given the world. That's exactly why she had to cry, though, as she reached her empty room. She didn't even change. She crawled underneath the covers and buried her face in the pillow, letting her tears fall.
She shouldn't cry over someone she didn't know. But, she couldn't help the tears right now. After feeling confident and on top of the world, all thanks to a boy, she was supposed to hold on to that euphoric feeling she had felt merely twenty minutes ago.
When you regret something that you had different expectations for, sometimes the only thing you can do is cry.
Author's Note: So, this chapter was uber long. Mainly, it was because of the introductions to who they are as people, some things in their past, etc. I'd like to make the chapters long, but certainly not as long as this chapter was. I highly doubt there'd be as much background to type out in every single chapter compared to this first chapter. Also, please don't think ill of Troy right now. I know how this story is going to go up until the end, so just trust me.