Disclaimer – I don't own HSM

Chapter 8 – You Wanna Escape?

'You better be grateful that I chose to drive the Lexus!' Gabi laughed as Troy chucked the bags into the back of the car.

'Yeah, well. I wouldn't have brought so much clothes, but when I was given some money for no apparent reason from Lakers…the first thing that came into my head was to spend it…' Troy smiled as he climbed into the car.

Gabi laughed, 'I think I may have to teach you how to look after your money.'

Troy pouted. 'Can't you at least let me have my fun?'

Gabriella considered this, 'Maybe, if you behave.' She turned into a block of apartments. 'Leave your stuff in the car; I want to show you the apartment first.' She led Troy up to the top of the building and put a key in apartment 1092. She opened the door and entered, allowing Troy to see his new home.

'Wow,' he breathed. The apartment was a penthouse, with a massive living area and a large master bedroom, with its own bathroom. The kitchen was a nice size, and there was a beautiful balcony, which over looked the streets of LA. 'Well picked out…' Troy whispered into Gabriella's ear and then kissed her forehead, her nose then her lips.

Gabriella deepened the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his body close to hers. Troy picked her up and carried her to one of the couches. He laid her down and ran his hands up and down her body. 'I've…missed…you,' Troy whispered in-between kisses. Gabi moaned in response and tangled her fingers into his hair. He smiled as he continued to kiss her and began to kiss down her neck, making Gabriella groan with pleasure. 'Tr-Troy,' she groaned as he hit a sensitive spot. 'Troy,' she said again and tugged lightly on his hair to make him look up. 'We need to get ready for dinner with my parents.' He nodded and helped her off the couch. They then went down to collect his bags and get ready to go out.

'Troy! Nice to see you in LA at last!' Marie greeted him as they walked into the restaurant. Marie kissed both Troy and Gabriella on the cheek and Carlos hugged his daughter and shook Troy's hand. They all sat down with Troy and Gabriella sitting next to each other, interlacing their hands together under the table.

'How do you find LA so far, Troy?' Carlos asked while they were looking at the menu.

'It's a great city, but I haven't seen much of it yet, I arrived here about three hours ago, and we just went to the apartment.' Troy answered and squeezed Gabi's hand, both of them remembering what they got up to.

'Ah, we helped Gabi choose the apartment. It has a great view,' Marie smiled.

'It's a stunning place. But I can't wait for the first practice in a couple of months.' Troy smiled.

Carlos nodded, 'Well enjoy the break before, because the coach will work you very hard.'

'Good…that's the only way they will win,' Troy answered.

'Correction, Bolton…it's the only way you will win,' Gabi interjected. 'You're in the team now!' Troy smiled. He still couldn't believe how quickly he achieved his dream.

They all chatted for a while and while they were eating their main course Carlos said, 'I wonder who got the gig of singing the national anthem on the first home game…'

Gabi smiled, 'I received a phone call this morning.'

'No way,' Troy said.

'You're singing?' Marie asked.

'Yeah…Lakers told me they would love for me to perform!' Gabriella grinned.

'Honey, that's fantastic!' Marie said.

'Well done, princess.' Carlos smiled.

'I'm so proud of you, Brie,' Troy kissed Gabi's cheek and she blushed.

'How was the interview you had today, Gabs? Marie asked while Carlos was paying the bill.

'It was good. The photo shoot was so much fun. I might have a chat with Laura about doing a bit of part time modelling, if she thinks I am good enough.' Gabi answered.

'Who's Laura?' Troy questioned.

'My agent. She's great. She looks after me like I am her younger sister. She has made things so much easier for me.' Gabi said, 'Anyway, the interview itself was good. I told the interviewer that Troy and I met in Albuquerque during a game of basketball. I did mention the fact that a certain someone refused to pass me the ball at the beginning of the game.' Gabi laughed as she nudged Troy. 'I then said that we got to know each other, and one day we decided to take it further and become girlfriend and boyfriend.'

'So you keep your dignity and I seem like a complete jerk!' Troy complained.

'I told the girl that in fact you turned out to be one of the nicest guys in the world and I am the luckiest girl in the world,' Gabi came back.

Troy laughed. 'Okay, you're forgiven.'

'Alright, kids, are we ready to go?' Carlos said as the waiter left the table. Everyone nodded and stood up and made their way to the two cars.

All four of them hugged and Marie and Carlos got in their car and drove back to their house. Troy and Gabriella walked over to Gabi's car and Troy said, 'Is there a park around here?'

Gabi smiled and drove in the opposite direction to the apartment and parked her car next to a park. They got out and Troy took Gabi's hand as they walked around in silence. They came across a children's play area and they found themselves walking over to it. Gabi sat on the swing set and Troy started pushing her gently.

'I meant what I said in the interview, Troy.' Gabi said as Troy continued to push her, 'I am the luckiest girl in the world.'

Troy sighed and he stopped pushing the swing and moved so he was standing in front of Gabriella and he knelt down to get down to her level. 'Brie, I am the luckiest guy in the world for you to take me back, even after what happened when you had to go back to LA…I love you Brie, and I want to give you something…' Troy dug into his pocket while Gabriella watched him intently. He pulled out a box and opened it to reveal a beautiful white gold charm bracelet with 5 charms on it. Gabi took the box to look at the charms closely. Troy smiled and sat on the swing next to her and explained the charms to her. 'The number '14' is quite believable…it is both of our basketball shirt numbers…The microphone represents your talent and love of performing…The car shows that you love your cars…' Gabi smiled wider, 'The lipstick represents that you always spend a ridiculous amount of time getting ready in the morning even though you look beautiful without any make up on at all…and finally, the heart with the 'T' on it represents that you will always have my heart, no matter how far apart we are.'

Gabi nodded, hiding the tears in her eyes. 'Can you put it on for me?' she whispered and Troy grinned as he put the bracelet on her right wrist. He took hold of her hand and pulled her up onto her feet and kissed her softly. 'Take me home…' She murmured into his ear and he picked her up bridal style and carried her back to the car.

Troy drove Gabriella back to the apartment and they stood in the elevator in silence. They entered the apartment and Gabi flung herself at him and kissed him passionately. Troy pulled her closer and kissed her back with as much force. 'I love you,' Gabi said as Troy kissed down her neck, 'My heart will always belong to you.' Troy stopped kissing her and looked at her, his eyes blazing with love and passion. Gabriella noticed he was asking something silently and she smiled and nodded, pulling his head down so she could kiss him again. Troy picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist, and he walked into the bedroom and closed the door with his foot.

The next morning Gabi turned her head into the soft pillow then turned round to cuddle up to Troy, but ended up finding out that there was no body next to her. She opened one of her eyes and saw that in fact, the room was empty. She quickly closed her eyes again when she heard someone walking into the room again. She felt someone climb into the bed and kiss her nose. She smiled and wrinkled her nose and Troy laughed lightly and pulled her on top of him. Gabriella opened her eyes and smiled down on Troy and leaned down to kiss his lips. 'Let's get up, I want to show you downtown,' Gabi said and she started to get off Troy, but he didn't let her.

'Oh, Brie, let's stay her for a while!' Troy complained.

'Troy, it is 11 o'clock!' Gabi laughed and Troy let her get off him. She grabbed hold of the white sheets and gave it a swift tug, removing it away from Troy. He groaned as Gabi wrapped it around her body, grinning menacingly. Troy got off the bed and she squealed and scooted away from the bedroom and he chased after her.

'Troy! Is it true that you have proposed to Gabriella?'

'Gabriella! What sort of relationship do you have with Zac Efron?'

Gabi squeezed Troy's hand when she felt him tense up and whispered, 'Ignore them.'

They were walking around the streets of LA, but the day that started off peacefully ended up with the couple being mobbed by the press. Gabi was annoyed, but she was used to people asking her ridiculous questions, but this is Troy's first experience, and he didn't like it. Gabi towed Troy into a café where the paparazzi couldn't follow and they sat right at the back of the room. 'I'm sorry about this, Troy,' Gabi said quietly after they ordered some drinks.

'Don't worry, Brie. It's not your fault.' Troy said and took hold of her hand.

Gabi smiled as their fingers interlaced. 'I have an idea…when do you start training?' Gabi asked.

'In a few weeks…why?' Troy said, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

Gabi leaned over the table so she could whisper, 'Do you wanna escape?'

Troy's eyes widened. 'Where are you thinking?'

Gabi shrugged. 'I dunno…England, Spain, France, Italy. Take your pick!'

Troy smiled at her, 'Well, what do you want, English…hot weather…the Eiffel Tower…or pizza?'

'I like all four!' Gabi said.

'I'm torn between England and Spain…' Troy said.

Gabi considered what Troy said. 'I think…Spain for summer then if we want we can go to England in the winter time…if we have time that is!'

'Deal,' Troy grinned as the waiter came up to them with their order.

AN: Sorry this chapter is a bit boring…but it is a filler. I can't make up my mind if I am going to write about the holiday or skip forward in time. Any suggestions? Review please, I'm getting a bit stuck!