Author's Note: Thanks so much for all the reviews! I broke 400! Yay! That's the most I've ever had. But really thank you, because without you guys, that never would've happened. Anyway, on with the story!
Disclaimer: I think we all know that I don't own anything, except for the little things and characters you don't know or recognize.
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Troy held his arms out in front of the mirror, letting the salesman poke the black fabric with numerous needles. He was getting his tuxedo fitted, along with his groomsmen; Chad, Jason, Zeke and Ryan. Jason and Ryan had flown in the day before, both staying at the hotel in which Troy and Melanie were. Zeke already lived in the neighborhood for his restaurant, so he stayed in his own place.
"Ow! Hey, watch where you're poking that thing!" Chad exclaimed, looking down at his salesman with a glare. The salesman looked up at him sheepishly, and then went back to measuring his pants. Chad shook his head in annoyance, while Jason, Zeke, Ryan and Troy all snickered.
"I still can't believe you're getting married," Jason proclaimed from one end of the store, turning in the mirror to get a look at his tuxedo from another angle.
Troy took in a deep breath as he looked at himself in the mirror. "Yeah, I know," he answered. It had been about a week from the day he found Gabriella in the park; the last time they got to spend time together alone. One part of Troy thought this was a good thing; if they continued the way they had, something they both would have regretted might have happened. Another part of Troy, however, was missing the time they had together without Melanie. He sighed as the salesman motioned for him to put his hands down.
"Yeah, dude, how did you propose? You never told me, you know," Chad retorted from his corner.
"Out to dinner," Troy answered simply. He then turned around on his stand, letting the salesman look over his revisions.
Zeke smirked. "Ah, the easy way?" he asked from his spot.
Troy smiled and looked down. "Well, I don't really think there is an easy was to propose to someone," he replied.
"I agree. He's right. There really is no easy way; just the level of emotion. For instance, I'm sure your partner would appreciate it if you did something different and romantic, rather than the original way of proposing," Ryan added knowingly.
Everyone stopped and stared at Ryan with raised eyebrows. Finally, Chad spoke up. "'Your partner?'" he repeated. "Would you listen to yourself? You sound like a walking romance book for dummies," Chad finished.
This earned a laugh from the guys, even Ryan himself. "Well, I'm sorry if I have more common sense when it comes to women," he replied, still chuckling.
"Hey! I take offence from that!" Chad cried, flapping his arms down at his side, causing needles to fly off his tuxedo coat. "Oh, um, sorry," he apologized meekly. The salesman sighed irritated, but nonetheless picked them up and started to place them back where they were.
Troy laughed at the scene before him. "Well Chad, you haven't been the smoothest person with girls-" he started, but someone else finished.
"Yeah, like that time you told Taylor she looked fat in that pink dress?" Zeke cut in.
"Hey! Someone spiked my drink that night, so by the time she arrived I was already hammered. I didn't even register what she asked me!" Chad said in defense.
Zeke and Jason rolled their eyes, while Ryan and Troy laughed slightly. "And besides, Troy, you aren't the smoothest one on the Earth either," Chad added.
Troy furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?" he asked.
This time, Jason, Zeke, Ryan all looked at Troy with a 'duh' look on their faces. "What?" Troy asked once again, not getting the point they were trying to make.
Ryan looked down at his feet as he held his arm out for the salesman to measure. "Well Troy, I guess we just all figured you would end up with Gabriella, that's all," he said quietly.
Troy sighed and looked back at Chad. "So that's what this is about?"
Everyone in the shop nodded, including the salesmen. "Yeah, this might sound a little corny, but you and Gabriella were like, the 'golden couple' back in high school," Jason interjected using air quotes.
Troy sighed and looked down at his feet. "What are you implying? That I just call the wedding off? I can't do that," Troy retorted.
Zeke and Chad exchanged looks. "No, but we're just saying…maybe you should think about what you're doing," Zeke said.
"Wait, so you all talked about this?" Troy asked irritated.
The four men looked down. "Well, no, not exactly, we just kind of all thought the same thing. I mean, I thought I was the only one who thought you and Gabriella would stay together," Jason spoke up.
Chad nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah man, he's right," he added.
Troy sighed and looked at his friends. "You honestly think I would ask someone to marry me without being sure I wanted to spend my life with them?" he asked.
Ryan gazed at Troy sympathetically. "Troy, we trust you, but people make mistakes. And I'm not saying you're making one, but sometimes people make them and don't realize it until it's too late," he said, stepping off his stool.
Zeke nodded slowly as his salesman motioned for him to get off his stool also. Ryan and Zeke disappeared into the dressing rooms, leaving Jason, Chad and Troy alone.
"You guys agree with them also, I'm guessing?" Troy asked, already knowing the answer.
Jason locked eye contact with Chad through the mirrors, and Chad nodded slightly, as to say, 'tell him.'
"Well, Troy, yeah, we do. We really do trust you, but is this really what you want? Melanie? If it is, we're your friends; we'll be there with no matter what. We're just asking that you think about what you're doing," Jason stated, now walking into the dressing rooms.
Troy turned to Chad. He immediately put his hands up in mock defense. "I didn't tell them to say that, I swear. It was all them," he said unconvincingly.
Troy rolled his eyes and stepped down on the ground. "I need some time to think," he muttered before walking into his own dressing room to change.
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"This is the area where the reception would take place," Gabriella guided as she, Melanie and Troy proceeded to walk down the cobblestone walkways of the reception hall.
Melanie grinned. "I really like it. What do you think of it, Troy?" she asked, turning to him.
Troy snapped his attention to the redhead beside him. "I think it's great," he replied with a smile.
Gabriella smiled widely. "Great, so then I should book it?" she asked hopefully. This was the fifth place they had looked, because Melanie hated or disliked all the other places she had offered.
"Yes, please," Melanie answered, wrapping her arms around Troy. She looked up at him and smiled. "Can you believe we're getting married?" she asked excitedly.
Gabriella bit her lip as she saw Troy think before answering. "Yeah, I know…" he trailed off, as he looked at Gabriella. Melanie followed his gaze, and gave him a confused look when she noticed who he was looking at. She opened her mouth to say something but Gabriella jumped in.
"Okay, well, since we have this place booked, we should probably go to the restaurant to make reservations for the rehearsal dinner," she said quickly, and then started to walk off in the direction of their car.
Troy broke off from Melanie's grasp and nodded. "Yeah, um, we should do that," he mumbled awkwardly as he followed Gabriella's direction. Melanie pouted and watched as he continued to walk. She sighed and ran to catch up to Troy. When she did, she wrapped her arm around his and enlaced their fingers.
"Are you okay, Troy? You seem…kind of distant ever since you got back from the tuxedo fitting," Melanie whispered.
Troy looked down at his fiancée. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just nerves, I guess," he replied with a weak smile.
Melanie looked up into his face and nodded. "Okay," she said smiling, leaning into him as they walked towards the car where Gabriella was waiting.
Gabriella was leaning against the green range rover carelessly, waiting for Troy and Melanie to catch up to her. She felt his gaze on her throughout the tour she was giving them; it was only a matter of time before Melanie started asking questions. Honestly, how oblivious can a girl be? Gabriella shook off her thoughts as they finally reached the car. She smiled as Troy came up next to her to open the driver's door. He grinned as he unlocked the car and watched Gabriella climb in the backseat. He then got in his own seat and started the car. Melanie crawled in the passenger side, and then turned to face Gabriella in the back.
"So, I've been wanting to ask you, -but I've never had the chance-, how is your love life going? I mean you must have such a passionate love life," she said with a bright smile.
"Mel, don't you think that's a little personal to be asking?" Troy asked nervously, looking at her.
Melanie looked back at Troy and shrugged. "It's okay, Troy," Gabriella laughed from the back.
"So?" Melanie pressed Gabriella.
Gabriella sighed and looked down. "Actually, despite what you may think, it's been…out of hand lately, if you know what I mean," she mumbled.
"I don't know what you mean. Care to explain?" Melanie asked interested.
Gabriella bit her lip nervously, not finding a way out of it. "Well, um, the guy I was interested in is not, er, available?" she tried weakly.
Melanie widened her eyes, and her lips formed into an excited smile. "When did this happen? And why is he not available?" she asked anxiously.
"Well, it's a funny story actually. He turned out to be one of the grooms for a wedding I was planning," Gabriella said with a fake smile, making a quick glace at Troy in the rear view mirror.
Melanie looked in shock. "Are you serious?" she asked incredulously.
Gabriella nodded. "Who was it?" Melanie asked, leaning farther into the back seat to see Gabriella. Just then the car swerved greatly to the left, causing Melanie to slide and hit her head on Troy's seat as he went steadily back on the road.
"Troy! What the hell was that?" Melanie asked, rubbing her head.
"There was a possum in the road! Did you see that? Goddamn possum," Troy muttered as he locked eye contact with Gabriella through the mirrors. She shook her head and broke the gaze as she looked out the window, watching the trees and bushes pass along the side of the road in a blur.
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"Hmm, I'll have to think about it," Zeke said playfully, putting his thumb and forefinger on his chin to make it look like he was thinking.
Gabriella grinned as she lightly hit him in the arm. "Zeke, please?" she asked, pouting like a puppy dog.
Zeke grinned. "Well you know, I am sort of busy that night, and it could be pay back for you not coming to see me all these years. I mean you lived so close and now…?" he asked, still grinning.
Gabriella laughed and looked at him, her bottom lip sticking out, still pouting. Zeke couldn't take the look any longer and finally gave in. "Oh, fine. But you have to promise me something," he said.
Gabriella grinned. "Okay, what?" she asked.
"You have to visit me more often. Once at least every three weeks, and no exceptions. I don't care how much Jamie is annoying you to work; I bring in more than enough business for her anyway," he stated.
"You got it. Now obviously you know the date because you're one of the groomsmen, so we need at least need-"
Zeke cut her off. "Yeah, I know what we need. Enough room for Troy's family and our friends; and then Melanie's family. I got it covered," he answered, writing it down on the reservation booklet at the podium, in the front of the restaurant.
"Man, this is a nice place you got here," Troy commented, looking around the restaurant in amazement.
Zeke looked up from the book and smiled. "All thanks to you, dude," he replied.
Troy looked at him, eyebrows knitted in confusion. "Thanks to me? What did I do?" he asked puzzled.
"If you never sang, I never would've proceeded with my baking and cooking dream. Let alone open a restaurant," he explained, going back to the table and seating charts.
Melanie looked up at Troy shocked. "You sang?" she asked surprised.
Gabriella and Zeke choked back laughs, as Troy stumbled for words. "Well, I mean – yeah," he stuttered.
"You never told me that!" Melanie exclaimed, hitting him playfully in the chest. Troy coughed and eyed Zeke warningly, giving him a stern look. Zeke smiled and shook his head, writing things down on the chart.
"Well, now that we've got that out of the way, I think we're done for today," Gabriella said happily, checking her papers she had in her hands.
Melanie grinned. "That's good. Thanks so much Zeke!" she exclaimed his name, like they were old pals. Zeke looked up at her questionably, but gave a weak smile. "No problem," he answered.
Gabriella held in a laugh as she hugged Zeke goodbye. "I promise I'll visit you," she said pulling away.
He smiled. "You better," he replied, then going back to recording the reservations. Gabriella led the way out of the restaurant to the car. She climbed in the backseat again, waiting for Troy to start the car.
"Oh, Troy? Could you drop me off at a card store? It's my sister's birthday this week and I need to get her a card," Melanie asked.
"Yeah, sure. Do you know where a card store is?" he inquired, turning out of the parking lot and onto a main road.
Melanie turned to Gabriella in the back. "Do you know where one is?" she asked sheepishly.
Gabriella laughed. "Yeah, there's one over on 5th Avenue, by my apartment," she answered.
"Oh, good. So then you can drop me off first, and then drop Gabriella off and then come back and get me," Melanie told Troy.
He nodded, and continued to drive. "Sounds good to me," he proclaimed. The drive was silent, except for Melanie's rambles every now and then about the wedding and its details. Gabriella sighed, and let her head hit the cold glass of her window, looking out the window. She watched they passes shops and little flower shops; she felt a smile creep its way on her lips when they passed the florist she and Troy had gone to. Her smile was wiped off as she remembered why they were there. Troy pulled over on the side of the road as she spotted the card store. Melanie quickly got out, but first leaned back to Gabriella. "Thanks so much for today! See you soon!" she exclaimed as she shut the door.
Gabriella smiled in response as she watched Melanie trot into the card store, disappearing from view. "You remember where I live, right?" Gabriella asked.
Troy smiled. "Of course, how could I not remember?" he inquired, remembering the night he and Gabriella went to the bar.
Gabriella grinned and leaned back in her seat. Troy turned the car around and drove a couple blocks to her apartment building. He pulled over to the sidewalk, and turned off the car. Gabriella got out, but only finding that Troy had also.
"Troy, what are you doing?" she asked puzzled.
He grinned. "I wouldn't be a gentleman if I didn't walk you to your door," he said, beginning to walk with her.
Gabriella rolled her eyes playfully and chuckled. "We already know you're a gentleman, I mean after all, you did swerve the car to the other side of the road to avoid me answering a question," she stated, walking inside the building with Troy on her heels.
Troy smiled slightly. "Yeah, about that," he said running to catch up with her. She was on the stairs, walking up them to get to her floor. He caught up easily, taking the stairs two at a time.
"What about it?" she asked, strolling onto her floor and fishing around in her bag for her key.
"Who was the person?" he asked carefully, putting his arm up on the wall, leaning on it.
Gabriella finally found her key and took it out, but not before looking at him. "Troy, do we have to do this now?" she asked desperately.
He looked at her with anticipation. "Well, when are we going to talk about it? I mean, we never get one on one time because Melanie is here, and obviously we're not talking about it in front of her," he stated.
She sighed and looked down. "What do you want to know?" she asked quietly, not daring to look up at him.
"Who was the person?" he asked, having a feeling that it might've been himself.
Gabriella heaved a big sigh, and finally looked up at him. "Who do you think, Troy?" she asked gently.
Troy looked at her, and saw that she had tears welling up in her eyes. He took his hand off the wall and came closer to her, taking her hand as he brought his own hand up to her face and wiped away a tear that had started to come down. She bit her lip at his touch, and felt her palms become all clammy. Troy kept his hand on her face, stroking it slightly. His mind was telling him to go, to leave, but his heart was telling him something completely different. He looked at their position and noticed that their bodies were close to each other, almost as close as the day they were at the florist. They were both staring in each other's eyes, questioning the other. It was then when Troy finally leaned in, closing the space between their faces and gently placing his lips on hers.
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Author's Note: Haha, you're all probably looking at the screen like, 'What? What just happened?' Well, it's part of the story. And this isn't the end…just in case some of you think that. Anyways, I think it's a good cliffhanger, don't you? Lol. Anyway, I want to thank Lipshake, who sort of sparked me for this chapter. Lol. Anyway, please review! Thanks!
