Gabriella hit the last key before she let out a breath. Troy wasn't laughing, which was good. She was still kind of afraid to look over at him. "Wow." He breathed out.
"What?" She asked, hesitantly looking over at him.
Troy stared at Gabriella before his eyes drifted down to her lips. He glanced back up to her eyes and her eyes were looking down at his lips. He leaned over, resting his hand on the bench in between them. He covered her lips with his. Her lips parted to let out another breath. She touched his cheek gently before dropping her hand. She gripped the side of his shirt as he deepened the kiss. His tongue flicked out of his mouth, making brief contact with hers. Her stomach fluttered as his lips parted again.
His hand rested on her knee, rubbing lightly with his thumb. Troy was the first to pull away. He pushed her hair behind her ear then brushed his thumb down her cheek. "Will you play me another song tomorrow?" He asked, dropping his hand from her cheek.
"We'll see." She said, with a small smile.
"What time is it?" He asked.
"Trying to get rid of me already?" She asked, teasingly as she pulled out her phone. "We have five minutes."
"Time flies." He noted. "I don't want to go home." He groaned, putting his head in his hands.
"Me neither, trust me."
"He is going to flip a shit." Troy said with a sigh. "Is it june yet?"
Gabriella laughed. "I wish. Only nine more months."
He groaned again. "God, help me."
"You'll be fine." She said, running her fingers though his hair.
"I can't believe Coach talked to you."
"He thought I was your girlfriend."
Troy groaned again. "That's even worse!"
Gabriella laughed. "And he made me late for class."
"I'm sorry."
"No worries, TB. It's not your fault." Gabriella closed the piano cover and gathered her things. She took her phone out, checking it.
"Let me see that." Troy said taking the phone out of her hands.
"Hey!" Gabriella said, pouting.
Troy did quick work entering his number into her phone then texting himself before he handed her the phone. "Here." He picked up his backpack.
She shoved her phone in her pocket. "Let's get out of here, TB." She said, adjusting her backpack.
He let her walk out first, keeping a hand on her backpack protectively. He walked with her to her car. "Which way do you live?" He asked, leaning against her car.
"I live in The Ridge, TB." She said, tossing her backpack into the backseat.
"Shit." Troy murmured.
"What?" She asked, turning around. She saw Coach Bolton walking towards a black car. "Where's the truck?"
"It needs a fuel pump." Troy said with a shrug.
"Bolton, let's go." Coach yelled, waving him over.
Troy shook his head. "I'm not riding in a car with him." He said, turning around to look at her. "I'll walk home if I have to."
"Looks like he isn't going to take no for an answer." Gabriella said, looking over at Coach Bolton. "He's coming."
"Fuck." Troy murmured.
"Troy, let's go, son."
"No, Coach, I meant what I said. I'm not riding in a car with you."
"You're being ridiculous Troy. Let's go, we're going to be late for dinner."
"You can leave but I'm not going with you." Troy said stubbornly.
Coach Bolton pinched the bridge of his nose. "Let's go Troy, Now."
"No."
"Fine, walk home then." Coach said, turning around and walking back to the car.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Troy said, leaning down, pressing a kiss to her lips.
She pressed her hand on his chest. "Let me take you home."
"Why? Do you care about me or something?"
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Yeah, or something." She pushed him away before getting in the drivers seat.
Troy got into the passengers seat, putting his backpack in his lap. "Nice car."
"It was my birthday present. Apparently neglect can be forgotten with a 50 thousand dollar car." She said with a shrug.
"I just got a shitty truck to look forward to, if my dad will ever let me drive it." Troy said with a sigh. "With the rate I'm going, I'll never drive myself anywhere."
"What if you talk to your mom?"
"That might work. I don't know." He said with a sigh. He leaned back and watched her as she drove out of the parking lot. "At the light turn right."
"Okay." She said, licking her lips. "Do you have any siblings?"
"Nope." Troy said with a sigh. "I wish."
"My sisters are crazy. Camilla is a diva. My little sister Mariella is just spoiled rotten. She's so sweet though. I feel bad because she has no one to play with. Cami is super smart, I feel like she's smarter than me sometimes and she's only like thirteen. Mari is only eight."
"I wish I had at least one sibling to fight with instead of Coach." Troy said with a shrug.
"You can have mine." Gabriella said with a laugh.
" A right here." Troy instructed, resting his hand on her knee.
She turned before glancing over at him. "What do you want to major in?"
Troy shrugged. "I'm still undecided."
"Well you've got time, where are you gonna apply?" She asked.
"I'm not completely sure. I've been looking at California as an option." He said with a shrug. "Maybe Southern California. UCLA would be nice…. Or San Diego, live right by the beach."
"Sounds awesome." Gabi said, glancing over at him.
"Turn here. It's the third house. See the truck?" Troy asked as they got to the stop sign.
"Yeah." Gabi acknowledged. She pulled up in front of his house and parked her car. "What about New York?"
Troy grinned over at her. "You keep saying things and I think it's because you like me."
Gabriella laughed. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."
"There's nothing wrong with liking me." He reasoned with a shrug.
"If you weren't so annoying, you'd be a good guy."
He shrugged again. "What can I say? I know how to get the attention I want from the people I want it from."
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "You're dramatic and annoying but I wouldn't mind enduring detention if I got to spend it with you.
"Aw, Gabi, you're gonna make me cry." He pouted. "You're beautiful and I'm obsessed with you." He leaned over, kissing her cheek. "Thank you for the ride."
"Yeah, yeah. Get out of my car." She teased, pushing his shoulder lightly.
"I'm going to bring you lunch tomorrow." He said, brushing her hair from her shoulder to run his fingers along her neck. "So tomorrow, you better not avoid me, or you're not going to eat. I'm going to take you somewhere special."
Gabi sighed. "I guess I don't have a choice."
"You do." He ensured. "But I hope you choose to eat with me."
"Well I think about it." She said, looking over at him. "I'll see if it's something I feel like eating, then I'll decide."
"That's all I ask." Troy said, unbuckling himself. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yep." She said sitting back.
He opened the door but didn't get out yet. He leaned over puckering his lips. "A kiss to hold me over?"
Gabi laughed, leaning over pecking his lips. "You're a character TB."
"You like it." He winked. "Sweet dreams"
"Farewell, TB." She watched as he got out of the car and closed the door. He kissed his palm before pressing his hand against her window, leaving a smudge.
She rolled down the window. "You smudged my nice clean window, TB. You owe me a car wash." She yelled as he walked up to his door. Troy chuckled, turning around to blow her a kiss. She rolled her window back up and rolled her eyes. She made a u-turn, driving back towards The Ridge.
Gabriella decided on a dress to wear to school the next morning. She got up early enough to straighten her hair and actually eat breakfast. She didn't have to rush to take Cami and Mariella to school. She parked in her spot and grabbed her books. She even stopped to talk to some of her friends she hadn't got the chance to catch up with this year.
She saw Troy walking alone out of the corner of her eye. His head was down and his hood was on his head. She frowned as he didn't even glance up at her. He walked into homeroom. She excused herself from her friends and walked into homeroom.
He was covering his face with his hands. She fought with herself to get his attention. She reluctantly walked to her seat and sat down with a frown. She pulled out her phone, sending Troy a quick text asking if he was okay.
He replied with a short, 'fine.' He didn't even look back at her.
She text him again, reading 'We still on for lunch?'
He confirmed that they were as Ms. Darbus walked in. She put her phone away before Darbus started her drabble. She glanced over at Troy every couple of minutes to make sure he wasn't looking at her. He hadn't all period. She was kind of disappointed, especially after yesterday. She felt as if they got closer, maybe she was wrong. She sighed aloud as the bell rang. She gathered her things and walked out the door without bothering to look back at TB.
As soon as the lunch bell rang, Gabriella headed straight for her locker. She put her books away and closed the locker behind her. She walked towards her car like she always did. She always sat in her car for the first half of lunch, finishing up some homework or just sitting with the AC on.
She looked up from her phone as she walked out of the building. She stopped, a smile spreading across her face as she saw Troy standing next to her car with a small smile and a bucket. She bit her bottom lip as she approached him.
"You are such a stalker." She said with a laugh.
Troy shrugged. "I have nothing to say to defend myself against that statement."
"What are you doing out here?"
"You said I owed you a car wash, so I washed your car." He said simply with a shrug.
Gabriella sighed. "I don't know what to do with you TB." She told him adjusting her backpack.
"Ready for lunch, beautiful?"
She sighed. "As ready as I'll ever be." He held out his hand for her to hold. She stared at it for a moment before he shook it, signaling for her to hold it. "People are going to talk TB."
He smirked. "Why are you ashamed of me?"
"No." She said, slowly.
"I know my reputation hasn't been the greatest since I've quit the team..." He trailed off.
She slid his hand into hers. "I just want to prepare you for when the rumors circle back to Owen, he's going to be pissed."
Troy laughed. "I am not scared of him, that's for sure. He is not as tough as he looks."
"He's been a little sensitive since I dumped him." She said, playing with his fingers to make hers comfortable.
"Enough about him, let's go eat." He said with a mischevious grin. "Are you ready to run?"
"Am I ready for what?" She asked just before he took off running, dragging her behind him. She caught up with him, giggling as they ran through the hall getting weird looks. They ran up the stairs and to an empty hallway before Troy pushed open an emergency exit door. Once he pulled her in they stopped running.
She leaned against the door with her backpack still on her back. Troy stood in front of her as they both tried to catch their breath. He smiled, lifting up her chin to place a kiss on her lips. "Hungry?" He asked softly.
"Always." She murmured back, sliding her fingers back in between his.
He lead her up the stairs and onto the rooftop garden. "So this is your favorite hiding place?"
He shrugged. "Mostly in the winter. The science club mostly uses it during springtime or after school so lunch is my favorite time to come up here, if I'm not looking for you."
She rolled her eyes. "What's on the menu, TB?"
"You are in for a treat." He enthused. He pulled a basket from under the table. He played trumpet sounds with his mouth as he opened the basket. "I have Grapes, PB and J sandwiches, water, and the two greatest things god invented all in one: chocolate covered strawberries."
Gabriella smirked as her eyebrows rose. "I'm impressed TB. Who knew you could put together a picnic?"
"I'd have to say you're the only one." He grinned, handing her a sandwich. "Eat as much as you want."
"I will." She said taking a large bite of her sandwich. "How'd you get all of this up here anyway?" She asked, covering her mouth.
"I have two free periods."He said with a shrug. "The morning one was for extra practice but since I am not participating in basketball I use it like study hall… or use the spare key for whatever car my dad drives, go home and come back."
She shook her head. "You're just asking for trouble, TB."
He shrugged. "I've done everything I've supposed to do for three years. No girls, no drinking, no detention, no parties…nothing. I feel like I deserve to have some fun my senior year, do you agree?"
She thought about it. "I suppose."
"You were my first kiss." He said, taking a bite of his sandwich.
She choked on her bite before swallowing. "You're joking."
"Nope." He said, shaking his head. "I told you, no girls."
"Come on, you have to at least had one girlfriend or something."
"Nope, the only reason I would talk to girls is for group projects." He said with a shrug. "I couldn't really do anything because Coach was always around the corner. I don't really give a shit anymore."
She took the last bite of her sandwich before she studied him. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"You would really think I'd advertise my inexperience? You expect me to say I had sex with half of the cheerleading team and I gave a girl two orgasms in one night?"
She shrugged. "I don't know."
"All I have to say was that you were my first kiss. Hopefully, you'll be a lot more than that."
Gabriella laughed. "If you hadn't brought me chocolate, I might have slapped you for saying that. I don't know you, TB. But as we're getting to know each other, we can determine the status of the relationship we have." She said, reaching over for his hand.
"So, what is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that I've jumped into many relationships with too many guys. I like you, TB, I do but for once I'm going to take my time to ensure that I don't get hurt." She said, rubbing her fingers over his.
He smiled. "I'm fine with that. Take a much time as you need." He kissed her hand gently.
"Thank you." She plucked a grape from the bowl and popped it in her mouth. "I want to know why you were so antisocial this morning."
He sighed, dropping her hand. "Long story short, I got into a fight with Coach, mom got involved… I didn't have the best morning."
"I'm sorry." She said with a sigh. "I woke up early today. It was surreal."
He chuckled. "I imagine you're not a morning person."
She shook her head. "I go to bed early and wake up late. I love sleeping. If anybody wakes me up, they get a black eye."
Troy tossed his head back laughing. "That's great! I would be the asshole to wake you up."
"Then you'd be the asshole with the black eye." She said, picking up another grape.
"You're unlike anyone I've ever met and it's crazy that I've known you forever and we have never talked like this." He said, putting a grape in his mouth.
"We've never had any of the same friends. You've always been with Chad and Jason and whoever. I've basically been nobody."
Troy shook his head. "That's not true. You have always been so involved with everything since the beginning. You were always hall monitor or 6th grade class president. You were always the first to volunteer yourself to do anything."
"Yeah, everyone called me a teacher's pet. I just needed something to occupy my time. I never wanted to be at home. I still don't I hate going home, its more okay now since my sisters are there. It still sucks though."
Troy shrugged. "Well now, you have me."
"Now, we have detention. Next, we're going to have the play."
"Great, then we'll spend more time together." He reasoned with a shrug. She stared at him blankly. "Don't look at me like that. I've talked to you for three days and you're already my best friend."
"Seriously none of the basketball guys talk to you?" She asked.
"If they do, they try to get me back on the team." He murmured, grabbing a strawberry. "Want one?"
She opened her mouth and he fed it to her. "Mmm." She moaned. "I love chocolate."
He smirked, licking his lips before he ate the rest of it. "You are so beautiful." He wiped the juice off the corner of her mouth before licking his thumb.
"You just want to get me into bed." She said, taking a bite of another strawberry.
Troy's eyes widened. "I'm deathly afraid to get in bed with you." She slapped his arms, making a sound of offense with a mouth full of strawberry. "No! Not like that. It's just that I have no idea what I'm doing. I don't know how to… pleasure-"
"Okay. Enough. I get it." She said, holding her hand up.
"We could do stuff if you want… I mean… I'm not opposed to-"
"No, no. It's okay. We're friends remember?"
Troy laughed as his face turned red. "Yeah, right."
"We can still make out though. Making out is fun."
"Yes. Making out is good."
"I can't believe that I'm the first girl you've kissed." She said, putting a grape in her mouth.
"Let's not talk about that, anymore." He said, rubbing his chin. "It's kind of embarrassing."
She closed the lids on all the containers. "It's cute. At least I know you don't have any diseases."
"That is true." He pointed out, helping her put everything back into the basket.
"Can you bring this to detention so I can eat the rest of those strawberries?" She asked, scooting closer to him.
He nodded. "Sure. I don't know how warm they'll be."
"Just keep them in Darbus' class." She suggested.
"You're smart. It's like you're in all AP classes or something."
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "You talk too much." She said, putting her finger over his lips.
"I do not." He mumbled with her finger covering his lips.
She removed her finger, replacing it with her lips. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. She licked his bottom lip gently causing him to part his lips. She ran her fingers through his hair, running her tongue across his. She nibbled on his lip gently before pushing him away.
"You do." She said with a small smirk.
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