Chapter 11 – Feelings

AN: WOW!!! Again, amazing response to the last chapter! Can we PLEASE keep up this amazing work! Pretty please with a cherry on top? It really helps me get these updates to you faster, because it motivates me to write more. If I am not updating in a long time, it is probably because either I have been really, really busy, or that something happened that is not allowing me to update.

I would like to dedicate this chapter to a very special friend of mine. Denise, even though I have only been friends with you for a short while, I feel like we are sisters! I love you honey, and I thank you for all of the support that you have given me! Your reviews are amazing and heartwarming, and I love talking to you!

Anyway, here's the next chapter! [Ps. I am now only going to specify P.O.V's when I use Gabriella's, otherwise just know it is Troy's.]

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Gabriella and Isabella had instantly bonded. It was as if Gabriella had been there all along, and was always there for Isabella.

We were currently sitting in the room, Isabella in Gabriella's lap, as I showed Gabriella the picture albums of what she missed. My parents had left earlier, complaining that it was late, but secretly I knew my mom wanted me to spend time alone with Gabriella.

"Here is a picture of Isabella after she rolled over for the first time. I have a video of it at home for you, and was just about to burn it on a CD and place it in the album." Isabella reached over and began smacking the album with her tiny palm.

"Silly baby girl, what are you doing?" Gabriella asked.

"Fun!"

"Yes, that is fun, but you are messing up the nice album." I laughed.

"Bella has always had a fascination with the albums. She's always sticking her hands in the glue or putting the pictures in her mouth. I tried to cover up the slobbered on pictures as best as I could. Gabriella held onto Isabella with one hand, using the other to flip the pages of the album.

"Wow, you put a lot of work into this album."

"Well, I didn't want you to miss any part of Isabella's life."

"That's one of the nicest things anybody has ever done for me."

"You deserve it." Gabriella's face turned a gentle shade of crimson. I was surprised at how comfortable she seemed to be around me, and how we had clicked right at the beginning. "You've become a very important part of my life right now."

Gabriella blushed again.

A knocking at the door interrupted our conversation.

"Come in." Gabriella called out. The door opened, and in walked Sharpay.

"Pay!" Gabriella called out, and I lifted Isabella out of Gabriella's lap, knowing what was about to happen.

"Oh Gabby, you're okay!" Sure enough, Sharpay ran forward and gave Gabriella a huge hug. After practically cutting all of Gabriella's oxygen off, she finally pulled back.

"How did you know to come here?" Gabriella asked.

"Bolton called me. Seems like he's not totally useless, after all."

"And that's my cue to leave." I walked over to the bed. "I'm just going to talk to the doctor, okay?" Gabriella nodded. I quickly kissed her forehead.

I wasn't expecting the spark that flew through my veins as my lips pressed against her skin. I almost jumped back, but contained myself. I pulled back to see Gabriella's face bright scarlet.

"I'll see you later. Bye Bella!" I called, and walked out of the room with Isabella. Gabriella deserved some private time with her closest friend.

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Gabriella's P.O.V

I felt the spark when he kissed my forehead. It was like nothing I had ever felt before. I didn't even have that with Derek, and he had been my fiancé.

"What was that about?" Sharpay asked me. I felt my face burn even more, and I was sure that it was as red and hot as Mars. Of course Sharpay would act as if nothing had changed, and it was just another visit to my apartment.

"Nothing."

"That's sure didn't look like nothing." I sighed, knowing how Sharpay loved to really take apart every situation to figure out exactly what was going on.

"Troy was just being nice."

"Yeah. Awfully nice for a guy who was supposedly a 'known bachelor'." I blushed again. "You like him, don't you."

"You make it sound like I'm a school girl talking to you about my latest crush."

"Girl, I've known you since grade 2, and believe me, this is not a little crush." I sighed.

"What's not to like? He's handsome, well-educated, rich, and probably makes every girl swoon."

"Nope."

"What do you mean nope?"

"I did a little research?" I laughed.

"You, research? That's like saying I failed out of school. That never happens, Pay." She looked at me with a playfully angry look on her face.

"If I may correct you, when it comes to certain topics, like guys, I am very good at researching. And since Mr. Hotshot classifies as just that…" she reached into her overly-large Gucci purse and pulled out a beige folder. She placed it in my arms.

"What's this?"

"Just open it." I did so, and gasped at what I found. There were pictures of Troy, his visa bills, biographies, family charts, and stalkerish paparazzi photos of him everywhere like walking to his car, at his house, etc.

"It's all the information I could get on Mr. Bolton himself."

"Looks like you just googled his name and printed off everything it had."

"That's exactly what I did." Her French manicured nail reached down and pointed at a profile of him. "Troy Alexander Bolton; age 23. Born to Jack and Lucille Bolton. Used to be a basketball star in high school, and was wanted by every university in the country, but a knee injury caused him to give up his dream. He opened up a restaurant after graduating with honors from Business at Berkley University in California. He is the richest man in Albuquerque, his restaurant being one of the top in the state. His last long-term girlfriend was in university, but the relationship didn't last long after she cheated on him. Since then he has had many girls, usually lasting a couple of months each, that were mainly interested in his money. He is looking for the right woman, someone who will treat him for who he is and not for the amount of zero's he can write at the end of a check. He is not a player, and has not had a girlfriend in a year. He also doesn't like flings at all."

"You got all that from Google?"

"Yup."

"You practically have his life story! You could write a book on him."

"Surprisingly, they already have. It seems like Mr. Hotshot is very popular in the tabloids, and even has an unofficial biography. Whether he knows or not remains a mystery."

"So he's rich and famous. Like he would fall for a girl like me." Sharpay groaned.

"Oh please Gabriella. Can't you see he is obviously smitten with you? Why else would he take care of you daughter for seven months and not request anything in return?"

"Charity?"

"Wrong."

"What does it matter? He'll probably leave tonight and never come in contact with me again. He'll move on, and maybe find the perfect wife he's been dreaming of."

"Are you sure there was no brain damage from the accident?" I rolled my eyes. "I'm serious. Gabriella, he cares to deeply for your daughter to just leave you now. Plus, the doctors informed me that he has hired the best therapist in the state to come and help you with your walking. And once you're able to leave the hospital, he is paying extra for the therapist to come to you."

"He's doing all that?"

"Yes. From the way he talks about you, as well as to you, I know that he probably can't live without you. Which is kind of creepy because he just met you properly today. Oh well. Gabriella, he is the perfect man. Not to mention he already has it in and accepts your kid, which is an added bonus."

"I just want to get to know him better, as a friend. I mean sure, he's a gentleman and knows how to treat a lady right, which is what I have been looking for since Derek, but I need to get to know him first. He may not be as perfect as he seems." Sharpay sighed.

"Your decision. But better decide quickly, because he may not be available for long. I mean, a man with those looks is bound to get offers by the bucket, and soon enough he'll find another girl."

"Why do you want me to be with him anyway?"

"Gabriella, do you not remember how you were right before the accident?" I though back. I was depressed and still getting over the fact that Derek was dead. As the due date got closer to Isabella's birth, I was getting more and more upset that he was not there to see his daughter's birth. I was in a complete funk, and Sharpay was the only person I would talk to.

"Yes."

"Gabby, you're a different person. I haven't heard you talk about a guy in ages, and you seem totally comfortable letting this guy in. No matter what you believe, I know that you are destined to be together."

Maybe Sharpay was right. Maybe this was just what I was looking for. Someone who was good to me, provided for me, and also accepted that I had a daughter with another man.

Someone exactly like Troy.

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Troy's P.O.V

"Hey. Sharpay left?" I asked as I walked back into the room. After arranging a schedule with the therapist, I headed back to the room with Isabella.

"Yeah. She had to go to some baking conference with Zeke."

"Ah yes. He nearly fainted when he met me. Wanted a tour of the restaurant and a private cooking lesson with me and everything." We laughed. I gave Isabella back to her mother.

"Hey baby girl, did you have fun?" Isabella nodded her head.

"Dada giv cooki."

"Really? What kind?" Isabella looked confused. She looked up towards me with a puzzled expression.

"Bella, remember you're favourite kind of cookie? It starts with ch." She pondered for a bit, then her eyes brightened up.

"Chokola." She said in her tiny baby voice.

"Good job!" I said, and rubbed her hair adoringly. I looked to see Gabriella staring at me in awe.

"What?" I asked self-consciously.

"You're so good with her." I blushed.

"It's hard not to be. She's perfect. Just like her mother." It was now Gabriella's turn to blush.

"She seems very comfortable with you. She even calls you dada."

"Yeah. I guess it's because she didn't have another father figure in her life. She's a bright young girl. I referred to you as mommy all the time, and she heard my friend Chad always joking around and calling me daddy, and I guess she just figured that's who I was. She has such a brain that it amazes me. Sharpay told me she gets it from her mother."

"Yeah. I was kind of a nerd back in high school."

"Hey, so was I. I just pretended that I wasn't." she laughed.

"Really?"

"Yeah. My friends accepted that I was a good basketball player, and by law jocks are apparently dumb. Even though my friends knew that I was smart, it wasn't something I liked to tell everybody. I mainly just kept it to myself." She smiled at me.

"Thank you for sharing that with me."

"You're welcome. You're just, really easy to talk to. You remind me of my mom in that sense. I can tell her anything, and know that she will always be there to listen."

"And you can always count on me listening to you too." I smiled at her gently.

"Thanks."

I couldn't believe how well I was getting along with Gabriella. She seemed like the perfect person. Perfect personality; perfect smile; everything about her was perfect. I knew that I was falling harder and harder for her.

As a young boy, I never really believed in love at first sight.

After a rough experience with girls in high school, I started doubting that if it did exist, I would ever experience it.

When I first saw eyes on Gabriella, I knew that she was different.

And now, my beliefs, as well as my hopes and dreams, were totally changing.

I finally had hope that I was actually going to find a wife.

I knew that my dreams of having a family now had a chance of coming true.

My belief that 'love at first sight' existed was as strong as ever.

I had fallen in love with Gabriella Montez.

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AN: What do you guys think. Gabriella is unsure about her feelings, probably because this is the first time she is feeling anything like this since her fiancé died. Troy is now sure of his feelings.

I know some of you are saying that Troy loving Gabriella is just happening too fast, but I for one am a true believer in love at first sight, and I know that it does happen. For some, it is an instant connection, and you know that, that person is the one you want to spend the rest of your life with. I also believe that this is exactly what happened to Vanessa and Zac in real life, and that is why their relationship is so strong and powerful. So sorry if you don't like that Troy loves Gabriella already, but Troy has been having bad luck when it comes to his love life for a long time, and I wanted him to finally be sure of his feelings.

Anyway, please review if you want the next chapter!

Next Chapter: Gabriella starts walking, Troy by her side!

Don't forget to review if you want the next chapter!

Love you all!

Xoxo,

Lar