Chapter 10

"Hey, Ma?"

"Yes, Troy."

"How would you feel if I told you I wanted to make a difference in the world?" His ambiguous question had his mother's interest piqued.

"Well, I suppose I would be happy. A mother always wants her child to do something worthwhile with his or her life."

"I want to go to university and major in something that will help me make a difference. Something that will help people."

"That's very commendable, Troy. Most people in the medical profession do want to make a difference. They want to help people who have nowhere else to go."

Troy ran his fingers through his hair, his heart rate increasing, "Yeah, you're right. Doctors do make a difference. I'm just not so sure I'm medical doctor material, Ma."

Heather wiped her hands on the dish towel that sat on the counter and stared at her son, "Honey, I have no idea what you're talking about. Your grades are wonderful. You've always enjoyed sciences and such." She beamed at her young son.

Troy looked his mother in the eye. "That's true, but I don't want to be a medical doctor, he finally admitted. "I want to do sociology and psychology."

"Troy, where is this coming from? You love basketball. You and your father have been talking about basketball and sports medicine since freshman year." She sat down beside her son. Troy saw the worry in her eyes.

"You know," he conceded, "you're right, Ma." If she didn't understand, there was no way his father would ever understand. "We have been talking about it. Just forget I said anything. I'm gonna go visit Gabriella." He stood and walked out of the room, even as his mother called him back, wanting desperately to understand.

Xxx

"Troy, what a surprise! Gabriella didn't mention that you were coming over today, though she has been talking about you all week," Mrs. Montez winked at him before ushering him into the living room. "Make yourself at home, sweetheart. I'll go get Gabriella." Troy thanked Gabriella's mother, and sat on their sofa. He really liked her mom. He imagined that Gabriella would be similar to Mrs. Montez when she became a mother.

Troy was sat in the living room, hoping Gabriella wouldn't be purturbed by his unannounced visit. He picked up a photo album and began thumbing through it as he waited for Gabriella and Mrs. Montez to return.

"Hey," he heard her sweet voice before he saw her enter. She looked all beautiful and sleep soft, even though it was past noon. She was wearing an off-the-shoulder sweater that looked like it came from the eighties and a pair of jeans with a hole below the knee. She wasn't wearing any make-up and her hair was down. Troy instantly stood to greet his lovely girlfriend.

"Hi," he approached her timidly, taking her hand in his. "Sorry I just showed up randomly. I should have called."

She smiled that gentle smile of hers, "No, no. It's okay. I'm happy to have you here." She led him back to the sofa he had been occupying before she entered. As they sat she noticed the photo album he had found. "Oh god, you weren't looking at this were you?"

Troy laughed and squeezed her hand, "How is it that you've always been the one to light up the room, Gabriella?" he asked as he pointed to a picture of her – no more than a toddler – hugging a stuffed puppy and grinning so brightly it would make the sun jealous.

Before she could even think to answer, Mrs. Montez entered the room, "That is a talent she has had since before she was born. She's always been the most wonderful girl I know," her mother doted.

"Mom," Gabriella drew out the word in embarrassment.

"You're right, Mrs. Montez," Troy ignored Gabriella's plea for them to stop. He looked her deeply in the eyes, blue penetrating brown, "she's the most wonderful girl I've ever known as well."

Despiter her mother being in the room, Gabriella leaned over to kiss her boyfriend on the cheek, and once Elena Montez excused herself, Gabriella kissed Troy properly before whispering, "Let's go for a walk, handsome."

Xxx

"So what brought you to my house today?"

"Mmm," he sighed before wrapping an arm around Gabriella's shoulder and bringing her closer. He kissed her head, "can't a guy just want to come visit his beautiful girlfriend after not seeing her over the entire weekend."

"He can," she agreed, "but, I think you had ulterior motives today, Mr. Bolton," she teased.

"I was talking to Mom about university."

Gabriella snuggled closer to him, pressing a light kiss to his chest, "I take it that it didn't go so well."

Troy shook his head in affirmation, "She didn't understand. Granted, maybe I should have talked to her a bit more, but I just couldn't handle it."

"I'm sorry," Gabriella sympathized. "Maybe she will understand more if you spend time explaining exactly what it is you want to do. If you want to be sneaky about it, I don't mind coming to visit. Parents never yell at you when you have a guest."

"You're right," he laughed. "Maybe I'll take you up on that offer."

"Good," Gabriella stopped and dislodged herself from his arm, only to wrap her own around his neck, "because...I...have...yet...to...meet...your...par ents," she pecked his lips between each word. The last kiss became lingering. Troy tightened his grip around her curvy waist, effectively pulling her closer. Much to his surprise, as the kiss deepened Gabriella licked his lower lip. Without hesitation, Troy obliged her request. Both forgot that they were being publically affectionate until wolf whistles were heard.

"Hey, Troy! The rumors must be true. How is she in bed?" a group of guys from East High stood across the street laughing at the pair. Upon their inquiry Gabriella pulled away from Troy, her face covered in humiliation.

"I'm sorry," she apologized on a voice thick with unshed emotion.

"Don't apologize," Troy instructed her sternly before caressing her cheek. "You didn't do anything wrong. They're a bunch of assholes. Ignore them." He kissed her gently before walking across the street.

Troy laughed sarcastically, "Real funny. Except it's not. What the fuck do you think you're doing?" he asked with crossed arms, "You think making fun of my girlfriend is a way to get your kicks and giggles?"

"Troy," one of the guys began. Troy recognized him as a junior on the baseball team, "we all know you're with her for the sex. No need to get bent out of shape."

Troy grabbed him by the collar.

Though Gabriella couldn't hear what was being said, she assumed it was bad when she saw Troy grab one of the guys. She rushed across the street, her tiny hands grabbing the one that Troy had balled into a fist, "Please," her brown eyes were still full of concern.

"Listen to your girl, Troy."

"I know what you're saying about me," Gabriella turned her attention to the guys. "Sharpay told everyone that Troy only dates me for sex. It's a lie," she ground out, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Now you'll call me a prude, right? Just leave me alone. Leave us alone. No one butts into any of your relationships."

"Brie," Troy pulled her close, his knuckles running down her cheek affectionately, "let's go."

Xxx

"I don't like being a damsel in distress, Troy," Gabriella admitted as they sat in the hammock in her backyard. "And I don't like that you almost punched that guy. That's not you."

"I'm sorry. I got so angry. They were being such assholes. I don't want anyone to hurt you," he mumbled the last part into her hair, just audible enough for her to hear it.

"I know," Gabriella conceded, "and I love you for that. I love that you want to protect me and make sure no one is mean to me, but I just need you to hold my hand, and kiss me, and love me."

"Part of loving you is making sure no one hurts you, Gabriella," he explained as he rolled over to face her (a difficult task in a hammock). "I don't want you to feel like I'm always speaking for you or rescuing you, but some things I just can't help. When someone says something about you, or tries to hurt you, I'm going to get pissed. It's impulse. Please understand. I'm not doing it to inadvertently annoy you."

She sighed, "I know. I know. I just want us to focus onus, not everyone else.

"We will," he promised. "Troy and Gabriella always." He laced their fingers and ran his tongue along her bottom lip, eliciting a gently mewl of approval from her.

"God, I love that sound," he breathed against her mouth before licking her lip again. The same sound escaping her luscious lips.

"Troy," she begged, "kiss me. You're such a tease."

"You're the tease," he did kiss her then, "You've looked beautiful all day; and I've wanted to kiss you here," he ran a hand across her bare shoulder, "since I saw you."

"Kiss me there," she breathed out.

Troy rolled over, pinning Gabriella beneath himself. Their legs tangled together and Gabriella fisted Troy's hair as his hot mouth met her equally as hot skin. His fingers found the hem of her sweater before meeting his real destination, the soft warmth of her bare stomach. "Too fast?" he asked.

Her breathing was erratic, but she managed to answer, "N...no...no. Keep...keep going."

Before he could, however, they were interrupted.

"Gabriella, mi hija, Troy's mother just called. Apparently he isn't answering his phone." She called from inside.

Quickly, the pair dislodged themselves from the intimate embrace. They sat up, leaving space between. Gabriella's face was flushed and her mouth kiss-swollen. Troy's appearance was not much better. His hair was in disarry and his hands were placed precisely over the bulge that had formed in his lap.

"Uh. I should check my phone," Troy began ineloquently. "She...she wants me home." With hesitation he gave her one last kiss before standing awkwardly and leaving.

Gabriella felt dizzy with want and uncertainty as he left. She also felt guilt at the fact that her parents could have walked outside at any time.

She and Troy would have to be more careful.