"Can't it just be break already?" The annoyed voice complained before Gabriella giggled and gently closed her tidy locker. She turned to the blonde who leaned annoyingly up against her locker, eagerly waiting for Gabriella to turn and lead her towards the stairs where they would venture to the locker room together.

The week had dragged on unpleasantly slow for Gabriella. Ever since her entire body had been thrown into an outer space shock on Sunday night, it seemed that she couldn't concentrate on anything else that motioned on in her surroundings. Troy seemed to be normal, only his pleasant mood seemed to be rising the spirits of the fellow classmates at East High. It could have been the Christmas holiday started the next day, even though it was Friday and Christmas wasn't until Tuesday. It didn't matter. If the basketball captain was in a good mood, then that meant the entire school was. Coach Andrews seemed to be ecstatic that he was on top of his game also and hopefully pummeling The Crusader's tonight at the away game.

"Em, break started like an hour and a half ago. Calm down." Gabriella beamed happily as they strode down the hallway, side by side. The two had decided to run after school that day, since practices would start the day they came back for indoor track. Gabriella loved track, but anyone with eyes could see that she was built for Cross Country. Plus, indoor to her was just a waste of time. The real season didn't start until March for her.

"I know, but the away game seems so far from now." Emily frowned sadly, reflexively making Gabriella glance up at the clock in curiosity. Her hopeful brown eyes falling sadly to the floor. It was a few hours until she could gaze upon Troy drenched in sweat.

They seemed to be closer for the past week, though they hadn't seen each other much. When Troy wasn't working, he was at basketball or Gabriella was at the gym running. The crave to be around him was rising to an unbearable, physically and emotionally. "I guess…" Gabriella distantly sighed, thinking about Troy's knee falling smile that was worth a thousand pictures.

That smile literally broke her daydream as she felt the pitter patter of her heart race. After walking into the atrium, her eyes almost popped out of her head when she saw the basketball captain walk stride across the room with a red bag draped lazily across his shoulder, resting above the white dress shirt and red and black tie around his neck. It was the same outfit he had worn earlier today to dress up for the game.

"Troy!" Emily practically squealed, but his earth shattering blue eyes were locked on the Cross Country captain. She couldn't hold back the loving smile that painted her features as Troy's step quickened, as though the distance between them was too much.

"Hey Emily," Gabriella couldn't contain herself. Completely forgetting Emily was there, the pressure between them couldn't be subsided, so Gabriella caved and lifted her legs towards him. Troy let the bag on his shoulder fall, before he prepared by squatting and Gabriella leapt into his strong arms, wrapping her slender legs around his torso. "Hey you." His deep voice whispered through the locks of her black hair.

Gabriella gripped the back of his neck with every once of power she had. Her face was burning from being this close to him. "Why'd you leave?"

Troy gently let his hands slip and let her slither down his body until she was standing in front of him. "I had to let Sadie out." He answered softly, neither one taking their eyes off each other.

"Ummm… Gabs I'll just…. um… yeah…" Emily's confused voice pointed towards the door, though Gabriella wasn't listening nor looking. The only thing she registered was the soft tap of the door closing.

"God it's been a long week," Troy's voice vibrated huskily against her neck. Rounds of fireworks exploded as his nose tranquilly nuzzled her soft cheek. "School's not enough of you time."

"Of me time?" Gabriella questioned softly.

Troy brought his head back around, Gabriella immediately noticing the empty feeling that replaced his breath on her face. But that thought was wiped from her memory as his hands gingerly cupped the sides of her face, warm electric waves toasting her rosy cheeks. "I just missed you."

"Troy Bolton missed me?" Gabriella acted as though he was a perfect celebrity, which he practically was, in her eyes at least. "He really missed me?"

Troy leaded his forehead against hers and inhaled the strong scent of her. Closing his eyes blissfully, he grazed the tip of his nose against hers. "Every second I'm not with you I miss you."

Gabriella's breathing was sucked out from her as she gazed upon his perfect body, narrowing on the liquid cerulean eyes that bubbled with passion. "I mis…"

"Bolton!" An echoing annoying voices filled the heavy atmosphere, just before the squeak of shoes murdered the sound. Troy's sparkling irritated eyes flashed a death look in the direction behind her. Gabriella's head whipped around, knocking Troy's hands away from her face to see that four of the basketball team members were standing with shocked looks on their features. All were juniors, but that didn't seem to make a difference to Troy. His eyes dropped down to her once more.

"I'll see ya after the game alright?" he questioned curiously more than stated. She would have expected him to be angry that someone saw them touching in public, but the spirit of his mood didn't seem to diminish. Gabriella smoothly nodded her head, before another bang of fireworks exploded through her soft skin as Troy's cold lips pressed against her cheek. The toffee colored eyes grew four times too big before Troy flashed her his dazzling white smile. "Wish me luck."

Gabriella, still horror struck that Troy actually kissed her while other people were present. Her tongue was a desert of confusion when his amused hand lifted up to give her a small wave and he started to walk towards the team. "Good luck." Her voice mumbled softly, watching his retreating figure leave.

Why did she have the gut feeling he was playing another game besides basketball tonight?

He couldn't stand it anymore.

"If she fucking loves him so much, then why didn't she bring him tonight?" Chad complained before leaning against the counter with the bottom half of his body jetting out from the counter top. Troy quickly glanced to where the rest of the five people were draped lazily over the tan colored floor, aimlessly watching a movie. He could see Taylor's dark eyes glancing over in their direction every once in awhile.

"He's in college… he's probably off getting wasted somewhere." Troy responded in his hushed voice.

"Fucking drunk."

"Dude… you drink." Troy reminded him irritated before letting a small smile course his lips at the sight of the gorgeous vixen giggling at something Ryan had just said on the floor.

The Wildcats won, creaming the Crusaders', and kicked off the holiday with a bang. Taylor and Chad seemed to be the only ones who weren't happy, but Troy was getting used to it by now. Though it was annoying to constantly hear Chad's complaints or Taylor's questions on if he said anything about her, which Troy always had to lie and say no not to hurt her feelings. Now, he was working on getting Gabriella by herself so he could do the deed he needed to get done.

Tiny bubbles of nerves popped mercilessly in his stomach. There was no way she would say yes to him. He already told her he wanted nothing to do with an actual relationship, so she probably believed it now too. His head felt like it was going to pop and burst helium, for he could barely feel the tips of his course fingers. To say he was nervous was the understatement of the millennium. "It's different."

"It's not different man!" Troy shot back before beginning to taste the remains of the popping nerves on his tongue. Breathe Bolton. Just breathe. "You get shit faced just as much as any college guy would."

"No fucking way."

Troy's lips remained silent, but his body seemed to be ripped into a cosmic cloud nine when Gabriella's warm eyes lifted backwards to look at him on the opposite side of Zeke's basement. His toes tingled when her smile curved upwards, then she returned her gaze back onto Ryan's face. He needed air.

"I'll be right back." Troy mumbled distantly, before walking around Chad's angry form to reach the stairs. It was curious that Troy couldn't even stay in the same room with her without feeling light headed from the fact that he couldn't find the courage to just ask her out. He hadn't had a girlfriend since Taylor, and now it was starting to settle in. There was absolutely not a chance that she would say yes.

Even being in the same house with Gabriella's presence looming through the shadows was too much for Troy to think clearly. So as he reached the dark first story, he slipped on his black shoes and grabbed the warm coat that was hanging on the forgotten rack. Tentatively, he opened the door, as though Gabriella's perfection would slither out the door if he did so. Troy slowly stepped into the brisk air, shutting the door behind him.

Tiny snowflakes danced from the black heavens as his cyan eyes were drawn to the twinkling lights above him. No wind was present in the Colorado air, it just felt, incredible. Being outside made his head screw on straight, as he watched the new gentle flake pile up onto the wet and dirty snow, causing a white frosting.

He had to do it. There was no other option. He loved her. Truly loved her. And never before had he been in love. She had been where no other girl had gone before the second she stepped into his dreary house. Ever since the beginning, she had been mostly selfless to give him what he needed if there was something wrong. She was perfect, and Troy knew there was absolutely no way he couldn't do it anymore.

A slam burst from behind him and Troy's body completely spun to find the source of the disturbance. Big mistake.

There she was, smiling her hypnotic smile that could truly bring him to his knees. The soft waves of her hair draped over the tops of her black pea coated shoulders, making her face look elegantly beautiful. She timidly bounced down the stairs, her eyes dancing with delight. Troy couldn't contain the tug of the sides of his lips. "You look lost Wildcat."

The smooth confidence in her voice only sent Troy's nerves into a complete spasm. "Just needed some air."

"Well good. I was starting to think you were gonna be attacked by a bear or something." Gabriella's humorous voice rung through the silence so smoothly it was almost like she was gliding on silk.

Troy chuckled nervously, and glanced up towards the sparkling night sky to match his eyes. Though it was snowing, the clouds peaked glances of the bright stars that shone down on the two. "I'd be able to handle myself."

Gabriella's head dropped to the floor before she raised her liquid coffee colored eyes to meet his. It took several moments until Troy realized he wasn't breathing. "I don't doubt that."

Her slender legs closed the distance between the two, making Troy's spine shiver, but not from the cold. Teasingly, her body moved to the side to step into the freshly fallen snow. "Really?"

"Really," she repeated. "It's so beautiful out here."

Troy watched lovingly while Gabriella's tiny, yet beautiful, body spun slowly around. Her head was raised to the sky, with the tiny angelic flakes lacing into the threads of her midnight hair, reminding Troy of the night above them. Her eyes were shut innocently, as though she was taking in as much of the moment as she could. The careful legs crossed each other, with beautiful giggles surfacing from the depths of her throat.

Just watching her, Troy felt a giant wave of love smash over his body. Perfection was gliding before him, and he couldn't believe that it would have taken so long for him to realize. So long that he wasted his time thinking that he could protect her. Now, it was completely obvious that she didn't need protecting. If there was one thing Troy knew for certain, it was that he needed her.

Physically, emotionally, lovingly, needed her.

"What are you thinking?" Gabriella questioned when her head lowered from the bliss she was in a moment before. Her eyes glistened in curiosity at the way Troy was staring at her, a stare that spoke more that a million words ever could.

"I'm thinking that I've been wasting too much fucking time." His shaking body took a timid step forward, causing Gabriella's dark eyebrows to narrow curiously.

"What?"

Slowly, Troy began to stride to where she was. The heat of her smooth skin seemed to fight against the cold that brushed the side of Troy's red cheeks. He stopped in front of her, his tickling lips inches away from hers. The larger hand gently hunted for her tiny one, threading their fingers together. The perfect fit.

This was it. It was now or never. And of course, the one time he needed to be calm and smooth, the English language wasn't welding into his memory anymore. His mouth hung open, dry and stupidly, with Gabriella's dark eyes twinkling with curiosity. A deep inhale of oxygen finally reminded him to speak.

"I feel differently now than when we first started this."

He watched her reaction, her olive face becoming earth shattering pale. Troy could feel his newborn heart rapidly drumming against the inside of his chest. As she spoke, her velvet voice was shaking in fear. "What are you talking about? I thought things were ok!" Panic vomited from her voice, but Troy was locked in his own panic and couldn't register it.

Troy took a deep breath, though no oxygen could fit into his swollen lungs. Say it Bolton. Just do it. You've waited this long, just do it now. "I want strings Gabi. I want… you."

Gabriella's eyes exploded into two large full moons. Her nose flared in surprise, and Troy could feel her body suddenly tense. Oh no. She didn't want this. Troy could already feel the new beating heart inside his chest cracking painfully. He knew it. She didn't want this. He couldn't even comprehend that the pale skin just burst into rays of perfect sunlight, crashing down onto Troy's body.

"I… I mean… I don't know… you… and I… I just thought… I'm so sorry…" Troy finished stupidly before dropping Gabriella's numb hand to the ground. Panic stretched through his body as she just stared at him with wide eyes that Troy was so horrorstricken he didn't realize there was happiness spilling out from them. It was over. She didn't want him the way he wanted her.

How ironic it was, that while trying to protect her, he was the one who ended up heartbroken.

He started to turn away from her, the beating heart smashing against his chest painfully. How could he be so idiotic to believe she would want to be his girlfriend? It was stupid, he was stupid and worthless. Obviously she thought so too.

Or not.

"Troy!" Finally, her determined voice slashed through the cold air. Troy slowly swiveled his head around, attempting to hide the hurt on his face. But Gabriella's face beamed in a glorious beauty. Troy had never seen anything as stunning as the way her slender body was positioned then. "Does this mean… you wanna… like… be… official?"

Gabriella whispered the last word hopefully, and Troy suddenly remembered that breathing was necessary to live. His full muscular body turned around, and in sync, they both started to trot towards each other. The tenderest organ inside his chest was beating so quickly it was vibrating against his chest. The heat between the two intensified as their distance closed. Hearts raced, hope filled the night sky.

Troy attempted to keep his voice calm. "I… well… if you want…"

The star light was nothing compared to the smile stretched upon Gabriella's face. Her body seemed to revolt against her as her long legs murdered the distance between them. Troy hadn't even realized she was running towards him until her arms were swung around his neck and her warm lips pressed against his cold ones. Electrical waves of love rippled through Troy's poisoned blood stream, before his fingers tangled in the depths of Gabriella's black locks.

Their kiss remained tender, yet sensual. Troy couldn't believe this was actually happening. Here he was, kissing his girlfriend. His girlfriend. The word that had once been taboo sounded sweet as honey. Girlfriend. And that meant he was a boyfriend.

He could get used to this.

Troy's senses were intensified, as though he had woken up from a long nightmare he had forever been a slave to. The tickle of the cold wind against his rosy cheeks, the bright twinkle of the sky above them winking down upon him, the feel of the ice water that pooled in his shoes, for he was standing in the snow bank. Everything hit him with such a force that if Gabriella wasn't gripping tightly to his neck, he would have fallen over.

Their lips parted reluctantly, before the chocolate met the ocean in a lightning strike gaze. There was no other place he would have ever dreamed of being than with her in his arms. "So I guess this means you're my boyfriend."

He was a boyfriend. He was never going to get sick of that.

"As long as you're all mine, only mine." Troy's husky voice vibrated against his cheek.

His strong arms enclosed her in a tight embrace, forcing her to listen to his rapidly beating heart. Neither said a word, but both held each other like they were holding the world. Which, they were, in a way. At least for one night, neither one of them thought about a twisted past that both possessed. For one night, all they had to think about was each other.

And that was enough for both of them.

A/N: So I hope you guys really liked this chapter. It's pretty happy, which I think is needed. But it's not over yet, so don't get super comfortable. There's a lot of unfinished things that need to be taken care of. But anyways, I really hope you guys like this chapter. Thank you for your reviews, you know they mean the world! :D