Gabriella P.O.V

I wanted so badly to be endearing but all I could do was stare him down; literally – from head to toe. He was walking up those stairs creating such high temptation that even the idea of being the carpet was looking good. However here I was. My first moments with Lucille and I was thinking about tearing her son's clothes off, despite the fact that he was only wearing boxers. It had been all so simple. Troy and I had eventually stopped staring at each other just long enough for his mother to request that Troy put some 'proper' clothes on. And just like that he was walking up those stairs. I was in the entrance of their home talking to his mother for the very first time. God my nerves had begun to consume me between Troy's lack of clothing and the eagerness of his mother. It was only once I heard Troy's door slam closed that I realised Lucille was still talking to me.

"...believe you are the first girl who Troy has actually brought home. And a sleepover! I must tell you it will be so refreshing to see another girl in the house. I'm too used to finding Chad on the couch or in the kitchen cupboards in the morning. I have set up the guest room for you but Jack did mention you two were only friends and that you could be in Troy's room if you prefer?" Did she just ask if I wanted to spend the night in Troy's room? A room in which there is only one bed? Yes my mind had officially failed me.

"Oh. Uh."

"And the Bolton men are clearly as oblivious as the rest of the male species. Separate rooms it is." My cheeks burned at the comment. I was just as transparent as I feared and it took his mother to realise it. She had a knowing smile on her lips that declared she knew exactly what my feelings towards Troy were. She just seemed to overlook the rationality of the situation.

"Ms Bolton, I'm...I'm not a threat. He doesn't reciprocate so the room situation truly won't make a difference." The only difference that would occur was that I'll be hyperventilating if sharing room and hyperventilating in a smaller degree if apart. The effect of her son still created the same result.

"Oh Darling, You are the greatest threat to Troy there is."

"I am?"

"Stunning, Kind and Smart. The only thing you have working against you is that his mother approves of his choice." She laughed with such sincerity that I begun to question why Troy had kept me from her. Lucille clearly was the warm hearted mother figure that every household needed.

"He hasn't made a choice"

"He asked you to come over, didn't he?" She gently squeezed my arm with a reassuring smile. Her words sank to the pit of my stomach and I found myself thankful that the question was rhetorical. I couldn't have verbally given an answer if she had requested it. My thoughts were silenced as Jack came from the kitchen with a phone in his hand.

"It's for you," Lucille graciously accepted the phone before excusing herself. Relief absorbed me the moment they had left the room. How did I end up here? Admitting my feelings to his mum? God I hadn't even confessed to my mum. I need to tell him before I go home. I will walk out this door tomorrow and he will know. I took a moment to compose myself before admiring his home. The hallway was beautiful. The crème walls were beautifully detailed with a dark brown lining that flowed throughout the house while the walls were filled of family photos. On each wall a picture of Troy could be found with that ridiculously attractive grin on his face...hmm the next 48 hours of that. My feet found the stairs and moments later I was staring at two doors and an additional hallway before me. My hand slowly closed around the handle of the closest door. Turning the door slightly before entering I was graced with an image that caused my heart to slam against my chest

Troy P.O.V.

"Oh My God! Sorry..." I could hear the tremor in her voice as if she had whispered it into my ear. God just looking at her was intoxicating. Her mouth was slightly ajar and mine followed shortly after as I took her in. Time was suddenly of no expense as we stood without saying a word. An unspoken tension filled the air as I stared at that the movement of her body as she slowly backed herself against the door. If I could just walk over...Shit. We're alone for this very first time and my thoughts are already in the gutter. Just wait until tonight...when we are not meters from each other.

"I swear I don't have an obsession with seeing you without clothes," Her reaction was delayed as she quickly rose her hands to her eyes. I tried not to smile as I realised that she found it easier to cover her eyes than to close them. Hmm apparently self control wasn't a friend to either of us.

"Well that is refreshing," With her hands still over her eyes I begun to walk closer to her; feeling like an animal caging its prey.

"Troy, I" The best I could reply was an 'hmmm' as I took her in from much closer than before. She stood no more than a foot away and the intoxication that she radiated was pulling me forward step by step; inch by inch. Her breathing was as inconsistent as mine. Although with every exhale, her soft breath landed on my skin and my body shuddered in response, in excitement.

"Miss Montez?" We both went wide eyed at my dad's voice. It was the first time that Gabriella pulled her hands away from her eyes as she spun around to face him. The poor girl was going to be scared for life the way she was going.

"I swear I don't have an obsession with seeing him without his clothes, really coach..." I laughed. I really shouldn't have, but I laughed. Dad raised his eye brows as his eyes met mine, a fighting smile almost gracing his lips before raising a dismissive hand to the comment. His actions communicated his thoughts 'I'm not getting involved.' He left without a word and sudden those pretty eyes were covered once more with the world's smallest hands. A deep sigh left her mouth and suddenly we were back to this. Excitement. Caution. Ecstasy.

"Gabriella..."

"Don't. I have been here fifteen minutes and I'm already humiliated. I wanted them to..." She wanted them to like her. I knew better than anyone else what she was going through. I had wanted Mrs Montez to approve. Hell I wanted her to recommend me to her daughter. Even if it meant visiting the Montez residence to visit Maria instead of Gabriella every once in a while...well more like whenever I felt desperate.

"No, you haven't. Plus it's all uphill with dad. Ella...Gabriella." She bit her lip in a way that made me want to do it for her. This was Hell. This not touching her and platonic until officially proven otherwise was the worst form of hell I could think of. How long was she going to stay with her hands over her eyes? I felt her surprise as I placed my hand on the small of her back, before pulling her into me and closing the bedroom door behind her. Her head quickly found refuge in my chest as we stood there for a moment.

"I'm trying to have a moment of self pity and you're completely ruining it with your bare chest." I didn't mind that at all. Hell I rejoiced in it as I watched her cheeks redden while slowly pulling her hands away from her eyes.

"Say it again..."

"What? Bare chest?" The girl within my arms had turned a lovely shade of crimson at just the mention of bare skin. Avoiding all eye contact she met her eyes with the floor; no longer facing me or my 'chest.'

"Gabriella Montez. You are blushing!" God she was gorgeous. "Hey you're sleeping over, you have to get used to it at one point or another...Although by your blush I'm thinking you want the opportunity to take a second look." I was pushed away before being hit. Her little fighting spirit coming out as she attempted to hide her already revealed embarrassment.

"Troy!"

"I'm just messing with you."

"Go get dressed Bolton," Don't worry I want to see you without a shirt too. I wouldn't dare say it out loud. Although it would be intended to be humorous there was too much truth in it to risk saying it aloud. Hell I couldn't even image the tension getting any higher than right now. Picking up my black shirt I made my way to the ensuite. Her eyes were on me; I could feel them and glancing up into the mirror it was confirmed.

"Hey Ella? Your obsession of not seeing me half naked...or wanting to take a second look would be much more convincing if I couldn't see you staring at me in the reflection." Her eyes that had been travelling down my back sharply made their way to mine. She struggled for a reason while that beautiful face got much, much darker.

"Oh Montez do you ever stop blushing?"