Hey everyone. Thank you very much for the reviews. This chapter doesn't progress the storyline much at all. It's pretty much just Gabriella Troy fluff every way you look at it. But I had a hard week and needed it. Enjoy!

Dru

To clear up anyquestions the chapter prior to this one (six) was indeed a flashback. Sorry for any confusion.

Chapter 7

Mozart

The sky was beginning to cloud up, the wind again picking up. Trying to explain to Taylor all that went on that night a few weeks ago was a little bit too much for Gabriella to take. She hadn't even gotten to the important part yet. Tears streaked her cheeks and she shook slightly, partially because she was embarrassed about crying again and partially because she was feeling an unexplainable amount of anger towards herself. Why couldn't she just come out with it? Kelsi had gotten stabbed. The road had been slick. Everybody gets flat tires. She felt like it was her fault. They were both naïve, hadn't thought twice about accepting a strangers offer to help them.

As Gabriella took in another strangled attempt at breath, Troy's arms almost instinctively tightened around her. He had his face nuzzled into her hair. Over time he had learned that this seemed to calm her down. Or at least enough where he could talk to her. He rubbed her arms gently making sure his next words were perfectly planned out as not to upset her anymore then she already was. Chad and Troy had made their way over to Taylor's after playing ball for a few minutes. It was too hot to do anything after 9 o clock in the morning anyway. When they had gotten there Taylor had her arms wrapped around a hysterical Gabriella, trying and failing at calming her down. Chad had taken Taylor in the house, leaving Gabriella and Troy alone. Well…not completely.

Docker was busy chasing aggravated squirrels up Taylor's big oak tree and standing guard at the bottom until they came down. Gabriella's stray sat in the shade of the same tree, her head cocked slightly, watching Troy intensely.

"Gabriella…," he whispered. Her tears had subsided somewhat. Her cheeks were still wet but no new tears were resurfacing as of yet. He knew his next choice of words were crucial. He sat with her close to his chest on Taylor's patio chair on the backyards small slab of concrete. "Why is your dog looking at me like that?"

"She's not mine Troy," Gabriella whispered.

"Well I think she thinks she is," Troy kept his voice quiet, an attempt at soothing, trying his best not to jostle her around too much as he set his asleep foot gently down on the ground.

"Come here girl," Gabriella slowly reached her hand out. The honey brown dog was soon on her feet and sitting obediently next to the lawn chair, her pose completely still as Gabriella stroked the white patch on her chest. Troy reached his hand out and let the dog smell his hand. Gabriella smiled when her pink tongue snuck out to lick it approvingly.

"Aww, she needs a name."

" Troy she isn't mine," Gabriella insisted, grabbing his arms and tightening them around her middle, a little roughly as if it had been a fault on his part for loosening his grip, even for a second. Her head rested against his chest and she could feel his gentle chuckle as it rose to his mouth.

"I like Mozart." Gabriella let out an exasperated sigh.

"Mozart was a man. She is a girl."

"It's unique," Troy said. "Who wants a dog with a common name? Would you rather we name her Fido?"

"No Troy," Gabriella said her voice taking on a tone quite similar to that of an adults explaining something completely simple to a small child. "I would rather we name her nothing and not get attached to her and find her owner who is probably really missing her." Gabriella made sure she emphasized the dogs' gender to get her point across to Troy.

"Well…," Troy seemed to think about it. "Maybe…if we give her an intelligent name she will turn out to be an intelligent dog."

"I give up. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

"You know…usually I'm the one telling you that," Troy smiled against her hair. "You are not a happy camper today are you Ms. Gabby?"

For some reason it had always drove Gabriella crazy to have Troy call her Gabby. Zeke, perfectly fine. Taylor, fine. Chad, maybe. Troy? It rubbed her the wrong way for some reason. She had to groan. And she had to groan because she knew the only reason he was doing it was because he knew it drove her nuts. He wanted a reaction.

"Troy Bolton…," she turned around ready to scold him. But one look into those sweet blue eyes, her mouth was stuck in an attempt at protest. To push her completely over the edge, Troy put his hands on her hips and gave her a tiny kiss on the nose, pulling away only a little so she would still feel the wisp of his breath on her face when he spoke.

"Love you."

" Troy…I…," he cut her off with another kiss, this one like a brush that was barely there against her lips. He pulled away quickly, partially because she had shoved him.

" TROY!"

"What?"

"You're such a little cheater! Why did you have to go and ruin a perfectly great bad mood?"

"Cause…," he grinned. "Your face is permanently stuck in a giddy little smile 99 percent of the time and it's the 1 percent of the time when it's not that kills me."

"I love you too," she managed a smile.

"See? I knew it was in there somewhere," Troy poked her belly affectionately and laughed as she contracted like a little rollie pollie bug. Mozart let out a bark, nuzzling her wet snout underneath Troy's arm anxiously.

"She wants to be part of the fun," Gabriella smiled.

"Good girl Mozart," Troy had a triumphant grin on his face that only grew when Mozart lifted her paw and rested it on his leg, giving out another short bark of approval. Gabriella rolled her eyes, petting the dog on the head.

"Fine," she wrapped herself around Troy's arm.

"We can call her Mozart."