A/N - I don't own HSM at all, I own the story though. Enjoy and I'm waiting to know if you liked this chapter or not!! ;0)

Chapter 12,

The Big Ben

As brother and sister, Mrs. Johnson put Gabriella and Troy together in a room. Their suite was enormous, it could fit two king size beds, a huge flat TV and a middle size closet very well. When they arrived in England, Gabriella avoided Troy as much as she could because she was still scared of what happened the night before and how her body reacted at it. Only two days ago they were just good friends, actually the best of friends but now they made out in an airplane bathroom, for God's sake. And it was not only a simple make out session, it was THE make out session, a heated one, really heated one. Gabriella was definitely attracted to him and she was 100 percent sure she liked everything Troy said and did, she couldn't deny it, her body proved her the minute she went back to her seat at the plane. It took her more than an hour to calm down and stop shaking, but she definitely was not able to stop thinking and imagining his touches and kisses all night long. Gabby knew she was crazy in love with Troy, but she was yet too confused to admit it.

Troy didn't understand at all Gabriella's behavior after their kisses in the plane. He thought she liked it, she liked him, but maybe all she felt was attraction, maybe Ella only saw him as someone to make out and then disappear from her life. Nah, his Ella wasn't this type of girl. He knew her too well and she wouldn't do anything like that. She was probably confused about everything that happened with them. Troy was confused too a while ago, but he decided to forget about his brain for a week and let his emotions speak louder.

As much as Gabriella tried to stay apart from Troy and even managed to ask him to sleep in his own bed during the night, she couldn't do it. Having Troy by her side, his arms wrapped around her body and his head buried in her neck like he did every night was how she was used to sleeping and without him there, she couldn't relax at all. Ella tried, she tried really hard but around 4AM she gave up and during their first night in England, she woke him up and called him to her bed. Troy hesitated a bit, but Gabriella assured him it was okay with her. He lay on her side and wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his head on her neck. Maybe Troy was the solution for all her problems, cause sleep overcome her body and before he could ask for a good night kiss, she was already fast asleep.

Gabriella woke up early their first day in England; she was really excited about being in London and didn't want to lose her time sleeping. She stretched up, still yawning and tried to get up, but was unable to do it since Troy was holding her by the waist.

"Troy?" she tried to wake him, "Boo, wake up"

He held her closer to his body but didn't wake up. "Trooooy" she called him again, trying to let her body go of his arms,

Troy smiled for a second and Gabriella giggled, "I know you are already awake"

He nudged her stomach playfully, "It's still early Ella, go back to sleep"

Gabriella nestled her head in his neck, "Boo, let's go. We need to eat before meeting the rest of the guys! We're visiting the city" she said excited, "Yay, Troy"

He unwrapped his arms off her body and covered his face with the blanket, "Go ahead"

"You're coming with me" she said, standing up.

Troy didn't look at her, just shook his finger in negation. She walked to the bathroom, "Okay, never mind"

As soon as he heard the door closing, Troy sat on the bed, looking around. He slowly shook his head trying to wake up and stood up, heading to the bathroom too. He opened the door and got in,

"5" Gabriella smiled, "I knew you'd come"

Troy wrapped his arms around her from behind and squirmed his mouth into a half grin, "Morning for you too"

Ella turned her face and kissed his cheek, "morning Boo, ready to visit London?"

Troy shook his head, closing his eyes and resting his chin on her shoulder, "No"

Gabriella turned around, facing him in the eyes, "Come on Troy"

He hugged her again, pressing his lips against her neck, "Come on Ella"

She felt her body shiver at the touch of his lips on her skin, "Troy, I'm serious, I want you to go with me" she sat on the bathroom counter with her toothbrush on one of her hands and pouted, "Please. It's important for me"

He prepared his toothbrush too, raising a single eyebrow, "I'll think about it"

"Ok" she said, brushing her teeth. Troy did the same, both of them looking at each other during the entire process of cleaning their teethes,

"So, did you think?" she asked when she finished,

Troy nodded, "I'll do it, but I want something back"

"What?"

Troy placed his body in the middle of Gabriella's legs, wrapping his arms around her waist again, hugging her.

Gabriella stroked his hair, "What do you want Boo?"

"Another kiss" he said softly as a secret.

Gabriella looked away, "I, I don't know Troy"

"Don't you want to kiss me?" he asked, making her look at him.

She nodded, "I do, but I'm afraid it's wrong"

Troy kissed her neck, caressing her stomach slowly, "It's not Ella,"

Gabriella closed her eyes, feeling his lips, "How do you know? Yesterday we were almost caught twice" she sighed, "People won't understand it, Boo"

"I don't give a fuck" Troy told her, "It's our life and we are not siblings, people can't criticize us"

"I know, but—" she started but was stopped by his hands on her waist, putting her on the floor again.

Troy pushed her delicately till she rested her back on the counter, "Baby, stop using your brain for a second"

"Just one kiss okay?" she said, looking down. He got closer, "I won't do anything you don't want too"

Troy cupped her face with both of his large hands, tunneling his fingers into her hair and rested his mouth on hers gently. Gabriella moaned softly to herself when she felt his lips crashing over hers. She opened her mouth, making sure she could receive Troy's tongue. He wrapped a strong and possessive arm around her, tangling his tongue with hers. With the air being needed again, they slowly pulled away to breathe,

"You're amazing Ella"

She had her eyes still closed, "Hmm"

Troy smiled to himself and kissed her neck, "Ella,"

She rubbed his back with her nails, "Uhm?"

"I'm willing to renegotiate with you" he said, laughing.

Gabriella smiled, "I'm listening"

He kissed her earlobe and then her chin, "I can't stop here"

"What you mean?"

Troy framed her face in his hands, "I want more kisses, baby"

Gabriella sighed, starting to feel her body acting weird again,

"I don't think it's a good idea Troy" she admitted, "I'm not myself when you kiss me"

Troy nodded, disappointed, "I understand, I said I wouldn't force you to do anything you didn't want to and I keep my promises" he fake smiled, "I'm gonna get ready for breakfast"

Troy stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him. Gabriella smacked her forehead, groaning. Maybe Troy was right, maybe she should enjoy their time alone without thinking about the risks of it. She took a cold shower, her mind still in Troy's large hands on her stomach and his tasty lips on hers. Gabriella definitely wanted another kiss, actually, another kisses.

When she came back to their room, Troy was already dressed in a black V shirt and dirty jeans, watching cartoons. Damn, he even looked gorgeous acting like a kid. Gabriella had to control herself to not attack him right there. Instead of it, she invented a fake hungry and Troy pretended he believed in it. He knew for ages Gabriella didn't like to eat in the morning because she always felt sick after it. The two confused teenagers went to the hotel's restaurant and ate in silence, avoiding sharing glances and affection during the meal, mainly because Louise kept staring at them with killer eyes.

"Are you afraid of me, Ella?" he asked her, breaking the silence while they grabbed their food,

Gabriella shook her head, walking to the table with him, "I'm just confused"

He sat down, putting on the table a glass of orange juice and a plate with eggs and ham, "About what happened last night and this morning?"

"Yes" she whispered, "You're not?"

Troy took a sip of his juice and answered calmly, "Not anymore"

She sighed, "I wish I was as brave as you are"

"You can be. Just stop getting so worried all the time" Troy told her, "Enjoy our time, baby"

Gabriella shook her head, "We're popular in school, Troy" she looked back, "If anyone sees us, we'll be in big trouble"

Troy rolled his eyes, "Nobody is going to see us. We don't have to display affection in front of the whole world" he assured her, "At least, not the kind of affection I want to display towards you" he winked, "That one we should save for our room, babe"

Ella couldn't help but laugh, "You're not worried at all?"

"Not this week. We're away from home and I plan to take advantage of it"

Gabriella looked down, pushing her plate of food away from her, "I'm scared of how I act when I'm near you"

"Stop worrying too much about it too Ella" he leaned on the table and whispered, "Don't hold back your emotions, nothing we do is wrong, believe me"

She stayed in silence for a whole minute, without staring into his gaze. Gabriella finished her juice, balancing the pros and cons of going crazy with Troy. First, she was dying to make out with him again, but she was afraid she would go too fast with him. Second, Ella couldn't forget how she felt the night before and this morning. Okay, the con… she bit her lower lip thinking about another con… Shit, she was in trouble for a while now, liking him, kissing him, thinking of him, dreaming about him… so getting deep inside it wouldn't make a big difference now.

"Okay" she finally said, "You're completely right"

Troy's eyes widened, "am I?"

She nodded, "Let's have fun while we are here"

He smirked, "That's my girl!"

Gabriella laughed and turned back, "Let me just tell you something" she looked at him again, "If that stupid bimbo you call your date get near you this week you two are going to be in severe pain"

Troy laughed, "I'm all yours Ella. I always was"

Before she could reply, they heard the rain starting and Gabriella moaned, "You have such a big mouth, Troy"

"What did I say now?"

"Paying 1500 dollars to see the rain, it must be lovely" she mocked him, standing up, "And now it's raining"

Troy laughed and followed her to the hall that was full of East High students, "I'm sorry I'm so important that even God is in charge of what I say"

Gabriella looked back over her shoulder, "You forgot your modesty in the restaurant, Boo"

He kissed her cheek, "Stop being such a pain in the ass, Ella. That's my job" he sat on the hall couch, right beside Taylor and Chad, "What's up guys"

"Hey" Chad greeted them still sleepy, "Man, Mrs. Johnson is late and I'm getting hungry again"

"You're always hungry" Taylor said and Gabriella laughed, "Yeah, he is"

Troy tapped his lap calling Gabriella and since there were no available places to sit anymore, she jumped on him, "Ouch Ella, you need to be more delicate" he said while he stroked her hair away from her eyes,

She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder, "Sorry"

Troy rubbed her back slowly, smelling her hair, "No problem Ella"

"Ahem" Chad fake coughed, "How was the night, lovebirds?"

"It's not like it's your business" Troy said, "but it was fine. The bed is awesome, I slept like a baby"

"Yeah right" he said sarcastically,

Taylor rolled her eyes at her boyfriend, "Chad can't shut up for even a minute" she looked at Gabby, "But you guys together are so cute"

Gabriella stuck her tongue out for her friend and Troy smiled, "Should we say thank you?"

Taylor laughed, "I asked Gabriella if you guys were a couple first time I met her, did she tell you that?"

Gabriella blushed really badly, "Tay!"

Chad shrugged his shoulders, "She's right, Gabs. You guys look like a couple!" he said, "But ARE you a couple?"

Taylor slapped Chad on the back of his head, "Stay out of their life, eh!"

"Ouch Tay, be careful with the afro" he protested, "I was just trying to say I never saw Troy so jealous about her like the time she dated Aidan"

Gabriella smiled to herself at Troy's jealously. She immediately ignored the feeling of lip locking with him right in the middle of the hall. The thought of him suffering in silence because of her, as weird as it could sound, turned Gabriella really on.

"I had no idea you were so possessive like this" she joked,

Troy shook his head, "It's not like Chad is saying" he tried to defend himself, but got interrupted by his best friend,

"Yeah, it's worse" Chad laughed.

"Dude, come on" he said and Gabriella hugged him tighter, "I love to know you're so jealous, Boo" she whispered on his ear and Troy couldn't help but shudder at her voice.

Sharpay and Zeke entered the hall holding hands and sat in front of the gang.

"What's up?" Zeke asked, "Where's Mrs. Johnson?"

Taylor sighed, "Haven't arrived yet"

Troy rested his head on Gabriella and yawned, "I could be sleeping right now, I really could"

Gabriella stroked his hair, "If you wanted to sleep you could have stayed home"

"And miss the party? No way!" Chad said, "My best friend needs to be included in everything"

Troy laughed, "Yeah, dude"

The boys started talking about basketball and Sharpay pointed discretely to Zeke's hands in hers and smiled to her girlfriends, she moved her mouth slowly and Taylor and Gabriella laughed when they understood that her friend was saying "Thanks to Shakespeare"

"Oh, here comes Mrs. Johnson"

"Finally" Chad said, lifting his hands in the air to thank God, "Yo, Mrs. Johnson, who's that guy?"

Mrs. Johnson looked at the tall blond man on her side "That is Mr. Labonier. He is our guide for the week" she smiled, "But I'm afraid Ms. Labonier told me it's going to rain all day" she rubbed her arms, "I suggest you guys go back to your room and get a coat before we leave"

Gabriella stood up, "It's your entire fault, Troy"

"Yeah, yeah" he rolled his eyes, "Blame on me"

"London has more than 2.000 years" Mr. Labonier began his speech while the students looked outside the bus window, "During this period of time, the city suffered several plagues and was devastated by the fire, civil war and the German aerial bombardment—"

"Damn" Chad muttered, "This is so boring. Why do I want to know the German almost ruined the city? This is bullshit"

Troy agreed, "I don't like it too, I just came here to stay with Ella"

Chad shook his head, "You're so in love, dude"

"I'm not" Troy said too fast, "I'm, uhm – I don't know, I like her, dude. That's all I know"

"Yeah right" Chad mocked him, "Troysie has two girlfriends now, Louise and Gabriella"

Troy rolled his eyes, "You're so fucking annoying dude"

"And you're such a fucking lovebird" Chad smiled, "Lovebiiiird"

Troy watched as Gabriella stroked a lock of hair from her eyes and placing it behind her ear started to take notes of everything Mr. Labonier was saying. He smiled at the fact she would probably know the history of London way better than Mr. Labonier in the end of the day. She was just intelligent like this and he liked it.

"Even though London has been through too much, it has grown to become one of the most significant financial and cultural capitals of the world" the guide kept explaining, "If you look to your right, you can see the famous Big Ben"

Gabriella grinned widely and Troy got lost in her expressions another time. How come she could be so gorgeous like she was?

"Do you want a bib?" he heard Chad's voice, "You're almost drooling dude"

Troy stared at his friend, "If you don't shut your freaking mouth I swear I'll change seats"

"Mr. Bolton and Mr. Danforth, is there anything you want to divide with the rest of us?" Mrs. Johnson asked and everybody looked back at them, giggles everywhere "Your conversation seem more interesting than the history of a legendary place"

"Sorry" Chad and Troy said together,

"Alright" the principal said, "As you were saying, Mr. Labonier"

"Yes" he said with his British accent, "The Big Ben is the world's largest four faced clock tower—"

"We better pay some attention now" Chad said, pretending he was some kind of intellectual guy. Troy ignored his friend and tried to concentrate on what the tour guide was saying, but his mind was way too lost in Gabriella. He couldn't stop thinking about her and her kisses. He almost jumped out of his seat when his cell phone started vibrating in his pocket. He grabbed the phone and pressed the button read below the 'new text message'.

Stop staring at me and pay attention Boo :p

Troy smirked and typed a reply really fast,

"What are you doing dude?" Chad asked but got no response, "Thanks for the attention, eh!"

I can't help it - you're too gorgeous

I swear I could kiss you right now ;)

"Chad Danforth" Mrs. Johnson yelled from the first seat, "Come right here, you're sitting next to me the whole day"

"Oh fuck" he cursed before standing up and crawling to the Principal's side, Troy tried not to laugh but Chad's face sitting beside Mrs. Johnson was priceless.

"Alright kids, we're stopping for pictures in the Tower Clock" Mr. Labonier told them, "But we're only staying for 15 minutes so you need to be fast"

The students started to step out of the bus and Troy kept sit since he was in the back and had to wait for the whole bus to be empty before he could get out too. Chad asked him to wait in the same place with a weird smirk on his face, so he just did what his friend asked.

Troy watched as a few students played around outside the bus by the window, taking pictures and pointing to the huge clock,

"We have ten minutes" he heard her voice and looked up "Chad and Taylor are watching our back"

Troy grinned and pulled her by the hand to him, making Gabriella's petite body fall on top of him. He gave her a hug, running his fingertips up her back and nuzzling against her neck, "I missed you"

"You did?" she asked softly, caressing his neck with her nails,

"Definitely did, babe" he whispered huskily in her ear before moving his mouth to her neck and sucking behind her ear, "Hmm you smell so good, Ell"

Gabriella's whole body shivered and she moaned lightly while Troy bent his head just as she lifted her chin, their mouths looking automatically for the other. He nibbled gently on her lower lip asking for permission to get inside her mouth. Gabriella opened her mouth, putting her arms around his neck and pulling him closer to her as he moved his fingers across her back, tracing her spine while his tongue curled delicately with hers.

Troy's temperature started to rise as he felt Gabriella's hand stroke his stomach inside his shirt and their kiss became deeper. He gasped and she smiled into the kiss, letting her emotions flow and her body tells her what do to, like Troy suggested earlier.

Gabriella threw her head back as his touches sent shivers up her spine, "Oh Boo" she managed to speak while he moved a possessively hand on her back, gently running his tongue on Ella's lower lip.

Troy nibbled her earlobe, "I told you we'd have so much fun together"

Ella giggled, "Yeah" she dug her nails hard on his stomach, "Go with the flow, huh?"

Troy laughed, "Yea baby" he pressed her back against the seat and Gabriella kissed his neck furiously, "Damn, I hate how you make me lose control" she admitted while his hands travelled up and down her legs, "Fuck Troy"

He held one of her hands on her side against the seat and sucked her chin, moving his tongue slowly down her throat, "You like it, Ell?"

Gabriella moaned and took his bottom lip between her teeth, "So much. I like everything you do"

He laughed into the kiss, letting his mouth go of her teeth and caressing her ear with his lips, "You name what you want and I'll give you, baby"

Gabriella closed her eyes and took a deep breath. There were lots of things that she wanted right now but she couldn't really name it. She was having a burning sensation between her legs and every time Troy's hand touched her stomach she had to control herself not to beg him to go up. Her nipples got harden as he licked her lower lip, breathing heavily,

"I-I" her voice cracked, "I want you to touch me—"

He interrupted her, sucking her lip, "Where, baby?"

Gabriella's fingers dug into his shoulders as the burning sensation grew bigger inside her. She couldn't help but ask herself where the sweet butterflies went and why the hell they moved away letting this erupting volcano take their place.

"Tell me baby" he said with a husky voice and she became breathless. Ella grabbed his hand and slowly placed on her right breast, shivering at Troy's smile.

He searched for her mouth again, finding her tongue faster then before and moving his hands to massage her breast firmly but yet gently. Gabriella groaned because she wanted so much more and that would scare the death out of her; she whispered Troy's name into his neck, as soon as she felt his cold fingertips moving up inside her stomach. Oh damn, that had to stop right now or Gabriella wouldn't be able to stop it anymore.

"Boo, wait up" she said softly, stopping his hand, "Everybody will be here in a sec, we can't do it"

Troy rested his sweaty forehead on her shoulder and moaned in frustration. He was so excited now he could feel his member pressing his underwear and jeans. He took a deep breath and kissed her shoulder, "Go ahead, Ella. I need a few minutes alone"

"Are you okay?" Gabriella asked a bit insecure, "Did I do something wrong?"

He looked her into the eyes, "Nah, you did everything too well"

Gabriella nodded silently and stood up, running away from Troy. "Damn it" he whispered to himself, trying to think of non sexual things like tigers, hairy women and cars. He heard footsteps getting louder and froze, covering clumsily his lap and holding his breath. An afro appeared and Chad laughed at his situation, giving him a bottle of cold water,

"You need this more than I do" he took of his hoodie, "Place it in your lap dude, Mrs. Johnson will come here any second"

Troy sighed – one day Gabriella would definitely kill him. He closed his eyes, trying to calm down and covered his lap with Chad's hoodie. Meanwhile, Gabriella was dragged to the bathroom by Taylor, and now the girl was trying to re-do her make up, after making her friend wash her face with cold water,

"You're all red" Taylor shook her head, "You need to be more careful"

Gabriella sighed, "I know. I lost control, again"

Tay smiled, "I know"

Ella smiled back, "Fuck, I'm getting into a huge mess, huh?"

"I don't know" she replied, "I'm the type of person that likes to enjoy life"

"So don't you think I'm wrong for doing this?"

Taylor laughed, "Hell no, girl" she painted Gabriella's lips with gloss, "I want you happy"

Gabby smiled, "Thanks"

"But you'll have some problems with this red marks in your neck" she mocked, "It's gonna be sooo purple in two days"