Chapter Twelve!

After school, Troy sat in his truck, outside of Gabriella's house, debating about whether or not he should try to talk to her.

"She did avoid me all day today. She obviously doesn't want to talk to me. But why is she so upset? Sharpay and I were dating before... Yuck. She seemed really... jealous about the whole thing."

After sitting there for fifteen minutes, Troy slowly opened his car door and stepped out onto the street. He had parked across the road from the Montez's medium sized, brick house. He quickly jogged up to the front porch and knocked.

When nobody came to the door, Troy looked around and noticed no cars in the driveway. He was about to turn and leave when he heard the faint sound of a piano coming from upstairs. Troy quickly ran around back and looked up towards Gabriella's balcony. He noticed a light on and looked around for a way up.

"Okay, now I'm getting a little too desperate."

Troy saw a large tree beside the balcony and quickly went to it, scrambling up to the top. When he reached the branch that was closet to the balcony, he swung off and landed gracefully on his feet.

"This seems slightly stalker-ish to me."

Troy looked through the glass doors that led to Gabriella's bedroom and saw Gabriella sitting on the floor, her notebook open on the ground and a small electric keyboard beside her. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail and she was wearing a purple tracksuit.

"She must have changed when she got home. She wasn't wearing that earlier."

Troy watched Gabriella through the doors as she wrote something down in her notebook, chewing on the inside of her lip.

"She looks ridiculously cute when she does that."

Troy quickly shook the thought from his mind and continued to watch the girl concentrate on her work. She twisted her body slightly to reach the keys of the keyboard. She played a few notes and wrote something else in her book. She turned back to her keyboard and played what sounded like an introduction.

We're soaring

Flying

There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach

If we're trying

So we're breaking free

You know the world can see us

In a way that's different than who we are

Creating space between us

'Til we're separate hearts

But your faith

It gives me strength

Strength to believe

We're breaking free

Troy watched as Gabriella continued to switch between her notebook and her keyboard, oblivious to the fact that he was outside her door, watching her. Troy stood there, leaning on the outside of the door, behind the pinkish purple curtain so Gabriella wouldn't be able to see him if she looked up. After ten minutes, Troy decided to make his presence known.

Gabriella seemed to have taken a short break, standing up and stretching. Troy knocked on her balcony door and she whipped around, alarmed that someone was standing outside her window. She calmed down slightly when she saw that it was Troy. She sighed and went to open the door to let him in. She scowled at him as he stepped into her room.

"What do you want, Troy?"

"Look, Gabi-ella. Sorry. Um... I just... Hear me out okay?"

Gabriella found it amusing that Troy was stumbling over his words. She hid her smirk with a glare.

"Fine, Troy. You've got five minutes."

Troy nodded thankfully.

"Gabriella, I have no doubt that Taylor told you what happened between Sharpay and I. I'm just not sure she told you the whole thing. You see, I did hug her first. She came to me and said she was sorry and all this crap. She asked me for a final hug and I was hesitant, but I gave her one so she would leave me alone. That's probably what Taylor saw. I did hug Sharpay, but she kissed me."

Gabriella had moved to sit on her bed sometime during Troy's speech. Troy had taken her desk chair, pulling it up so he was a few feet in front of her. She sat silently, trying to soak it all in.

"How did you let Sharpay kiss you again, Troy? She already did it once. How could you believe her when she is known to pull this kind of stunt?"

Troy looked at Gabriella, wondering where the "forgive everyone" Gabriella went. Before he could say a word, she sighed.

"I'm sorry, Troy. I would have trusted her, too, if she apologized to me. I'm being a hypocrite and I'm sorry."

Troy smiled slightly at the guilty brunette in front of him.

"Gabi... Can I call you Gabi?"

Gabriella giggled and nodded her head.

"Of course you can, Troy. I'm not mad at you right now!"

Troy chuckled, gently shaking his head. This caused his shaggy hair to fly everywhere. Gabriella giggled again, watching Troy's hair swish in front of his eyes. When he stopped, he looked at her and grinned.

Gabriella noticed a few pieces of Troy's brown hair had fallen over his eyes. Without thinking, Gabriella reached forward and wiped the hairs away. When she realized what she was doing, she blushed and pulled away.

"Sorry, Troy. It was just bothering me."

Troy laughed.

"Bothering you? How about me? It was in my face! But thank you, I appreciate it."

"No problem."

The pair sat in an awkward silence for a few moments, occasionally sneaking a few glances at each other. Once, they both looked at the same time, catching each other's gazes. They quickly looked away and blushed. Gabriella giggled and Troy joined in with a few chuckles, breaking the silence.

"That was awkward."

"Tell me about it. So... What were you working on earlier? It sounded good."

Gabriella looked sharply at Troy, causing him to shrink back a bit.

"Me and my big mouth. Now I'm in trouble."

"How long were you standing out there for?"

Troy nervously rubbed the back of his neck with his hand.

"Uh... about ten minutes?"

Gabriella giggled at his obvious discomfort.

"It's okay, Troy. I'm not mad or anything."

Troy looked at her, relieved.

"Really? Cause I thought it was sorta bordering stalker-ish."

Gabriella shook her head.

"That was beyond bordering. You went into stalker country. But that's okay; I know you're obsessed with me."

Gabriella saw the look on Troy's face and burst out laughing.

"I was joking!"

Troy laughed, hesitantly, along with her.

'Maybe I am slightly obsessed. Okay, maybe not obsessed, but I fought for her to talk to me again. That's gotta mean something. I was never like this before. I never cared if someone was mad at me. It actually kinda happens a lot. Why did I only fight for Gabriella?"

"Troy. Troy!"

Troy shook out of his thoughts when Gabriella waved her hand in front of his face.

"Sorry... What?"

Gabriella looked concerned.

"Are you okay?"

Troy nodded sheepishly.

"I'm fine. Just got lost in thought."

"Oh, about?"

"You."

"Um... This song you were playing before. Where's it from? Or did you write it?"

Gabriella looked at Troy suspiciously, but decided to drop it.

"Oh, do you know Kelsi Neilson?"

Troy thought for a second.

"Is she in our music class? She's Jason's partner, right?"

Gabriella nodded.

"Yup, that's her. Well, she is working on the Spring Musicale for next year. She was stuck on some of the lyrics so I volunteered to help."

"Ah, of course. Super Gab to the rescue."

Gabriella gasped and hit Troy on the arm.

"Ow! Hey, that hurt!"

Gabriella stuck out her tongue at Troy, causing him to chuckle.

"Oh, real mature, Gabi. So, are you gonna show me this song that you were working so hard on?"

Gabriella nodded and sat on the floor, motioning for Troy to do the same. She handed Troy her notebook and picked up her keyboard, setting it on her lap.

"Okay, I have most of the words. I just have to put them in, play around a little."

Troy nodded as he read the lyrics. They were beautiful. Troy looked around the floor and found the sheet music. He motioned to the keyboard on Gabriella's lap. She looked questioningly at him, but handed over the keyboard. Troy set the music sheets on the floor beside him.

"Okay, so..."

Troy played the beginning of the song while Gabriella watched in amazement. Troy finished playing the tune and looked up at Gabriella, flashing his trademark smile.

"Will you sing it for me?"

Gabriella nodded and moved to sit beside Troy. She accidentally brushed against Troy's arm, causing a blush to creep onto both of their faces.

"It's a duet, so you have to sing first."

Troy nodded and started playing again.

We're soaring

Flying

There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach

Gabriella sang her part quietly as Troy watched her, glancing down at the sheet she now held in her hands.

If we're trying

So we're breaking free

The two continued to sing the song, unaware that Mrs. Montez had come home and was now watching them from the door. She smiled, never remembering a moment when Gabriella was this happy and comfortable.

"They are so cute together. Now, if only that husband of mine can see that."

♪

There it is! More fluffiness between our favourite couple! I realize that the chapters are decreasing in size. I'm sorry. I'll try to get them back up, but the next few chapters will be short. Maybe I'll post up two in one day...

Jay