Hiroshima was a speck of sand. Pearl Harbor? Like the Japanese never knew how to fly airplanes. The Middle East was a playground argument. Nothing compared to the rumbling, stomping and screaming from above. It was as though shot guns were being fired carelessly. It was, by far, World War III. Awful, blood curdling screams vibrated through the thin air, but neither one of them could move from the seats they were in. The space between them was too much, but Gabriella wouldn't dare move an inch just incase an atomic bomb exploded down the stairs.

"YOU CANNOT BE FUCKING SERIOUS!" A heavy voice bellowed, causing the squishy couch to rumble beneath its wake. The sparkling blue eyes shot to the warm brown and they both winced at the same time, hearing something crash above them.

"How can their voices hold up this long? They've been screaming for almost a half hour!" Troy whispered fearfully, Gabriella biting her bottom lip nervously as she heard another crash of what sounded like a hair brush being chucked against a wall. Gabriella could see as if bright day light Taylor's twisted had as she chucked it at the waiting ringlet boy.

"We've almost gone that long…" Gabriella whispers back, remembering when she first stepped into his house, how angry he was.

"Yeah… but you didn't throw anything at me." Troy hushed back before wincing once again to hear something else being smashed against the wall.

Lucky for Zeke, Kelsi, and Ryan, they had managed to escape the last get together at Chad's house for winter break after five minutes of Taylor and Chad arguing upstairs. Gabriella couldn't even remember what it was about now, something about Chad spilling burning hot sauce on his shirt, and Taylor making some snide comment about not being able to keep anything in his mouth. From there it just exploded into a cosmic mess, and Troy and Gabriella being the best friends, were stuck to dial 911 if anything terrible occurred.

"I could if you wanted me to…" Gabriella's smooth features shrunk into a wince after an earth slamming scream.

"HOW IMMATURE ARE YOU? JUST STOP BEING A FUCKING ASSHOLE AND JUST TALK TO ME!" Taylor screeched angrily from above.

"I'll stick to kissing you." Troy mumbled before leaning back on the couch, attempting to relax his stiff body. Gabriella noticed the tiny purple bags shadowing below his sky eyes, proving to her that he was tired.

"How did we get stuck with hospital duty?" Gabriella questioned before placing her heavy head onto Troy's hard chest. Her body reflexively snuggled further to his warmth when his muscular arm wrapped around the curves of her shoulder.

His icy lips froze the top of her head in a kiss, but it was a frozen that she would never be sick of. "Because we're good people."

Gabriella rolled her murky eyes. "Good fucked up people."

Troy chucked his throaty laugh before pulling her down forcefully, so her head was resting in his uneven lap. "As long as I have you, I think I'll survive."

"IF YOU THINK I'M SO FUCKING IMMATURE THAN GO TO YOUR FUCKING COLLEGE BOY!"

Gabriella watched intently as Troy's perfectly formed face cringed in responds to the last yell. That was probably the worst thing Chad could say, especially since Gabriella knew that Taylor was struggling with her desire to be with Chad, and her commitment to Matt right now. "SHUT UP!"

"WHAT DOES HE HAVE ANYWAY? HUH? WHY IS HE SO FUCKING PERFECT FOR YOU?" Chad screamed with an emotion laced into his voice that Gabriella had never heard before. It sounded the closest thing to Troy's tortured voice. It was frightening. Troy's chilled thumb ran across the baby soft cheeks on her face, as Gabriella's tiny fingers designed circular shapes onto his knee.

"Did I ever tell you you're perfect for me?" Troy whispered lovingly before curling the strength in his back to breathe heavily into her ear and press fireworks on her soft skin.

Gabriella couldn't help but fully absorbed the sensual moment, even though the two were screaming from upstairs. Above the ceiling, polar opposites were occurring. Hate shot through the edges of the windows, threatening cause the tension to explode into a million pieces. Below the ceiling, however, love was pushing back, ordering the hate to disappear. The juxtaposition of the moment was so powerful that Gabriella could barely contain the emotion she was feeling.

"HE'S NOT!" Taylor's voice was twisted like there was a bone crushing anaconda around her neck. "OPEN YOU'RE FUCKING EYES CHAD! I'M NOT STANDING IN FRONT OF HIM SOBBING RIGHT NOW. I HAVEN'T BEEN BEGGING FOR WEEKS FOR HIM TO JUST SAY ONE DAMN WORD TO ME BECAUSE I CAN'T STAND THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED! DOES THAT SOUND FAMILIAR?"

The shakiness of Taylor confirmed that Gabriella knew she was probably hyperventilating from the sobs that erupted from her mouth. The air cranked a thousand degrees higher with the sunset of the ocean blue eyes locked on the stunning dark topaz. Gabriella slid her body up so her long legs stretched across the couch and her back was pushed up against the hard arm. The delicate fingers slithered around Troy's neck, not daring to break the gaze the two had formed. "Kiss me…" She whispered seductively.

Troy bowed to her request, knotting his rough hands into the coils of her black hair. Was it bizarre to be kissing Troy while their best friends' were ripping each other's heads off? Yes. But Gabriella couldn't control herself when she attempted to dip his head lower towards her craving body.

The screaming had crashed to almost normal levels, but neither noticed. Troy's free hand dipped to her side, resting on the bump of her hip, his fingers dancing along the tanned skin, causing rounds of shock waves through her entire body. "Gabi…" Troy whispered when their lips parted, both heavily inhaling to grasp as much breath as they could.

It wasn't until they heard the timid sounds of someone returning to the first story that their eyes left each other. Gabriella wiggled her way from Troy's embrace, falling to his side and resting a head onto his chest. "Where are the others?"

Gabriella's dizzy head rose to see that Taylor was standing before them, her body trembling in rage, yet pain bleed through the tears of her eyes. Gabriella's heart broke to gaze upon her best friend. "They… uh…" Troy cleared his throat roughly. "They left forty-five minutes ago."

Taylor nodded, though Gabriella wasn't even certain if she heard what Troy had just said. Being the best friend she was, she untwined herself from Troy's body and strode to where the broken girl was standing, tears dripping down the sides of her dark face. She pulled Taylor into the biggest bone crushing hug she could muster, feeling her trembles.

"I can't do it anymore." Taylor gripped Gabriella's strong shoulders tightly.

Gabriella knew exactly what she meant. She couldn't be with Matt anymore. Relief spread through Gabriella's body before she closed her eyes and gently soothed her back. "I know."

"I have to do it… or else I'll loose Chad forever, if I haven't already lost him."

She glanced back to see that Troy's face curved upwards in a triumphant, yet caring smile. Gabriella grinned lovingly back, knowing that the initial bomb was now done. It was exploded and all that was left was rebuilding. Yet she knew from experience that rebuilding could be the hardest part.

"Ari, I swear if I see one more flash that camera's gonna be in two pieces!"

Ari's tiny nose scrunched in anger as she shook her head. The older Montez who was previously pinned against the hard counter by a hip bone before her annoying little sister had to intrude, was now evilly glaring through her dark eyes. "It's my Christmas present! I can use it how I want!"

Gabriella shook her head at the digital camera before glancing sideways to see that Troy was scratching the back of his soft neck nervously. She stared back at the sliver digital camera that was glued to Ari's hands since the second she opened it. This was the second picture that she had taken of Troy and Gabriella that night. It upset the eldest because her sister was supposed to be in bed, for the first day back was tomorrow. "If you're not in bed in a minute then that camera will be mine."

"Mom got it for ME!" Ari wined angrily, shooting her light brown daggers through her desperate eyes.

Gabriella did her best not to roll her own eyes in irritation at her mother for attempting to buy her little sister's love. Expensive gifts were Maria's forte, but they drove Gabriella up the wall, because she didn't want expensive gifts, she wanted a mom. "It doesn't matter. I told you to got to bed twenty minutes ago."

Her face was still flushed from getting caught in the start of a kissing session with Troy when the camera flash went off. Ari was supposed to be in bed before, since Gabriella was babysitting. Of course Troy offered to come hang out with them, Gabriella knowing that both were exicted for her little sister to hit the bed so they could hit the sheets of their own.

Ari frowned pouting before Troy chuckled heartedly. "Don't worry Ar… I know where she hides everything. I'll keep it safe for you." He smirked happily at her before Ari giggled and placed the camera on the table reluctantly.

"Thanks Troy." Ari beamed excitedly, Gabriella rolling her eyes irritated at the brother-sister relationship Troy and Ari now had. It was sweet, and she couldn't have asked for anything better, but when Troy took Ari's side on things, she got annoyed.

"No problem. I know how mean she can get when she's crabby." Troy teased, shooting Gabriella an amused smile before she hit his hard stone shoulder.

"Hey! Be nice or I'm kicking you out!" Gabriella warned jokingly.

Ari giggled in her shy laugh. "See what I mean?" Troy mouthed before Gabriella's small hand smacked the back of his hard head. "Ouch!"

"Alright… bed… now." Gabriella demanded forcefully while pointing a slender finger towards the stairs. The bright smile on Ari's face crashed to the floor in a frustrated pout.

"Fine… night Ella. Night Troy!" She waved her tiny fingers at the couple, Troy laughing lightly as he waved back.

"I could kill that girl sometimes." Gabriella mumbled angrily after a few minutes of silence before Troy flashed her his million dollar smile, calming Gabriella immediately.

"She's just excited… now where were we?" Troy husky voice floated through the air before his hips returned back to pinning hers. Gabriella bit her bottom lip, gazing up at him with a suggestive twinkle in her eye. The long arms snaked around his shoulders and to his neck, gripping the back of the tiny hairs with her nails to evoke a tickling sensation. Troy groaned lightly before letting a strong hand be placed either side of her on the counter and tenderly placed his cold lips where they belonged.

A moan escaped Gabriella's mouth as she felt Troy's hands search for the bottom of her warm thighs. As though she was a feather, Troy easily lifted her onto the icy surface of the countertop, letting her long legs straddle his hard torso. "Troy…"

"You taste so good." He panted unevenly, causing shivers to electrify down Gabriella's back.

"We really should…" Gabriella breathed heavily as Troy's magical lips left hers to cause fuming fire trails down the sides of her soft neck and exposed chest. "…be working on the…" Her voice was hitched as Troy dragged them across the intersection of her heated skin and her shirt cut. "…CD cover…"

"Mmm… right…" Troy agreed, but his body was rebelling furiously against him. Not that Gabriella minded, for his tongue began to excavate wet skin inside her mouth. His intoxicated musky scent fumed through her nostrils, causing her to just desire him more. Troy hungrily dueled with her tongue and Gabriella squeezed her muscular calves around his waist tighter, feeling his budge beginning to rise with the temperature in the room.

Ever since yesterday when they witnessed Taylor and Chad causing the house to blow up, both had been so much more furious to prove to the other that they really cared. Not that Gabriella was complaining at all, for moments like these were exciting. The ones where they weren't heavily making out because they were in pain, but because they wanted to show each other how much the other meant to them. At least, that's what Gabriella wanted to prove to Troy.

Troy finally peeled his lips away from her mouth. Both were breathing as though they had run a marathon, and both could feel the love that evaporated off their skin into the thin air. She was well aware that she was imagining it, but she swore she could feel his heart beating against her chest identically to when Gabriella's was pounding. His strong thumbs were tenderly drawing circles around her lower back, causing fire waves to ripping through her spine.

Something about the thick air felt differently. It was like a humidity clinging to the tips of the hair on their arms, making them erect. Gabriella's dark eyes fluttered open to meet Troy's shattering gaze. All oxygen was vacuumed out of her lungs just from the loving look he was nailing into her. His forehead found hers and his sparkling eyes closed blissfully, Gabriella feeling the edges of her smile reaching her eyes. "What is it?" Gabriella whispered softly, stroking the back of his neck gingerly.

His breath was warm as it blew into her face. Gabriella inhaled his sent selfishly, never wanting to be anywhere but in his arms. "I… it's nothing…"

"Tell me." Gabriella pleaded forcefully and brushed her swollen lips against his, sending trembles through his rock body.

Troy chuckled halfheartedly, gazing at the ground since it was easier than her gorgeous face. Gabriella's curiosity and impatience was eating her away inside. Why did this feel so different right now? So… right. The romantic tension was threatening to burst the strong built walls. "I… I…"

Gabriella's heart stopped beating. Her face paled hopefully and her body was sent into a cosmic shock. Her fingers that were still petting his neck began to vibrate. Was this a dream? Was she sleeping right now? She prayed that she wasn't. Prayed with all her heart that this was not one of her fantasies that she would wake up in the morning to find herself lying in bed alone. "Don't be afraid…" She whispered encouragingly as though speaking too loud would cause him to decide against it.

Troy took a rib shaking breath before finally lifting his cerulean eyes. Gabriella had never seen them that blue, which filled with the four letter word she wasn't going to jinx. Gabriella's mind was completely wiped blank of everything else. She had even forgotten her own name.

"I… I love you."

Gabriella's body was paralyzed. She had anticipated for it, but the words didn't shock her any less. Troy's hopeful face let his eyes dance across her features, attempting to read her emotions. He loved her? Did he just say that? Was it possible? Gabriella's sandpapered throat gulped. "You love me?" She pressed in a raspy voice.

Troy nodded slowly, fear written across his tanned face. "I love you."

Gabriella's mouth hung stupidly. "You love me?" She asked again, this time louder than before.

His smile began to tug at the sides of his tight mouth. "I love you."

She couldn't contain herself. A smile wider than her face exploded through her cheeks. Happiness rained down onto her olive skin, never feeling euphoria quite like this. Love spilled through the air like an explosion of fireworks, and Gabriella swore she heard a band fan fairing outside. Troy loved her. Troy loved.

"You love me?!" She squealed one more time before Troy chuckled and ripped her from the counter she was plastered on. Gabriella couldn't help but let loose the vomit of giggles that were protruding from her mouth.

Troy spun her through the air as her legs held his waist tightly. Nothing felt better than this. Not going to state for Cross Country, not finally being relieved of her father three years ago, not even Troy asking her out. "I love you!" He announced ecstatically.

Troy Bolton loved. Though she couldn't be happier that he just confessed his love to her, she could not deny that she was just as excited that he loved in general. He told her that he couldn't fall in love; he didn't have a heart to fall in love. Gabriella broke that barrio down, smashing it to the floor. She gave him his heart back, where ever it had gone in the first place. She gave him a reason to live.

Troy gently set her down on the cold linoleum before Gabriella gripped his black t-shirt and continued to let sets of laugher slip through her mouth. Trickles of his fingers running down her bare arms caused Gabriella to shiver beneath his touch. He then reached up and cupped both heated hands on either sides of her face, making her feel like he was holding her together. "I love you..." Troy whispered before slamming his lips against hers in the most passionate and lust filled kiss she had ever experienced.

Gravity smashed beneath her feet. The world suddenly slipped away from them and they were floating on a cloud of bliss. Gabriella pulled his neck down as far as it would reach, for she didn't want to miss a second of him. Nothing felt more perfect than the muscular arms around her back. This was where she belonged, always and forever.

When they finally broke free, it took a moment before Gabriella was able to steady herself. But then she sensitively brought her small hand around to gingerly caress his steamy cheek, leaning her forehead to his hot lips. "I love you too."

Perfection wasn't even able to describe what was occurring in the kitchen. Gabriella couldn't describe what it felt like in words, so instead of saying anything else, their lips met in a out of this world kiss that would have taken the jaws of life to rip them apart from each other.

Because love shaped everything.

A/N: I know these last couple chapters have been extremely fluffy, but I hope you guys are liking this still. And sorry for the slow updates, but as I'm stressing, right now it's extremely busy for me! Thanks for reading and reviewing!