Wow okay, I've taken years to update, BUT this chap is like majorly long for me soo enjoy!

CHAPTER TWO

So I thought maybe that this week would be better. Maybe today would turn out okay, and nothing crazy would happen. And I'll come back from school and just relax. Maybe Troy Bolton will leave me alone, and after out little dinner on Sunday, I'll never have to talk to him again. Even though he's my next door neighbour.

But that changed the minute I walked out of the door to go to school. Because Troy walked out of his house at nearly the exact time as me. Damn. I tried to go back into my house but he had already seen me. I tried to look casual walking down my steps but I felt my palms get sweaty as I saw he wasn't moving. Why wasn't he walking? Was he actually waiting for me? I walked as slowly as I could but he kept staring at me.

"Hey Montez," Troy said as I caught up to him.

"Hey Troy," I said continuing to walk and he started to walk along side me. "Thanks for dinner last night, it was umm great." I said awkwardly. I felt my cheeks redden as the image of Troy in only a towel flashed in my mind.

"Yeah, no problem my mom loves to cook anyways." Troy said.

…

Ugh I hate awkward silences, I had to figure out something to say.

"So, do you like it here so far?" I said, but right as the words left my mouth I regretted them, what a lame way to start a conversation.

Troy didn't seem to notice. "Oh yeah it's actually a lot quieter than my old house. We used to live on a main street so I could never get to sleep at night. I like it a lot better here."

I looked over at Troy and our eyes met. There was something about them that seemed…genuinely happy. The only other emotions I'd seen in Troy's eyes were coldness, or just emotionless, up until now. I smiled at him and he smiled back. A real Troy smile.

"You know, you should do that more often." And for once I didn't care if it was a lame comment.

"Do what?" Troy said.

"Smile like that."

"I didn't realize I was smiling any certain way?" Troy said, but even as he said the words, that smile was still plastered all over his lips.

I just shook my head and looked away. His smile was contagious.

I looked up moments later to see we were already on the East High grounds. We walked through the front doors and Troy held the door open for me.

"Thanks, I guess I'll see you around." I said starting to walk to the left.

"Yeah, bye Gaby," Troy said and gave me one last smile before turning down the hallway.

Good Lord. Why was he being so nice to me. And he called me Gaby again..

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

I don't think my life could get any worse right now. I've just been to history class and was told that my new tutor is none other than Troy. Troy! How is he better at geography then I am?

Then again being tutored by Troy might not be such a bad thing. After all he was being really nice to me yesterday and this morning. Maybe he's not so bad after all.

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"What's gotten into you man?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you like that Gabriella girl?" Chad asked.

"No, it's just..weird that she's my neighbour now."

"Ooooh You like her man!" said Zeke.

"Shut up Zeke,"

"Why do you like her anyways, she's such a nerd," Chad said.

"You don't even know her Chad." Troy said getting frustrated.

"Neither do you."

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

I walked down the hall in between classes to get to my locker, but as I was walking I could tell someone was staring at me. I turned my eyes to see Troy walking down the other side of the hall, farther down than I was. As I looked at him, he looked away. And I noticed all his friends were surrounding him. My heart for some reason was beginning to beat faster as I watched him walk. God he was so.. Perfect.

What was I thinking!?

And then when everything was finally right, something went terrible wrong. As Troy and his friends passed right by me, Chad stuck out his foot. As I was staring at Troy, I failed to notice him stick it out and I tripped right over it.

And my world came crashing down..literally.

I fell hard on the ground, my books flying everywhere. I quickly sat up, holding back the tears that were stinging at my eyes. I looked up, hoping one of them might help me up, but as I stared back at Chad's face I knew it wasn't going to happen. Chad along with most of his friends were all laughing. My eyes quickly sought out Troy's and he looked just about as shocked as I did. Chad looked over at Troy. "Troy, that was hilarious! Why aren't you laughing?"

Troy and I were now staring at each other, wow I must look like a retard here on the ground, I started to collect all the papers. Troy smiled to Chad, but it was an emotionless smile, the one I hated.

"It was really funny Chad." Troy said in a dry tone, gave me one more glance, and walked away. Chad looked confused and his friends ran off after Troy, leaving me in the middle of the hallway, late for class, and on the verge of tears.

I slowly put the loose papers back into my binders and picked up my books. There was no point in going to class now. I was already almost 7 minutes late, and I didn't want to face any of those people right now, or ever for that matter.

How could Troy's friends be such asses? At least Troy wasn't laughing at me too, which was an improvement from a couple weeks ago. But why was I even caring what Troy thought anyways, it's not like he helped me up, or yelled at Chad for tripping me.

I sighed heavily as I opened my locker, taking out my school bag and purse, and leaving all my books in my locker. Even though I knew I head tons of homework, I didn't take any books home. I just didn't want to do anything when I got home but take a long bath and go to bed.

I slammed my locker, heading to the front doors to go home. As I opened the front door, the December winds whipped across my face as usual, sending a shiver down my spine. I chose a bad day to wear flats, it must have snowed during lunch because there was almost 8 inches of snow on the ground. I kept walking as the snow got it to my shows, but I didn't care right now, I just wanted to get home.

I opened the door and looked at the time on my cell phone, 1:56. I stuck my cell phone in my pocket and went into the kitchen. My mom wasn't back from work yet and I looked at the kitchen table which had a note on it.

Gabi,

I'm working late tonight, be back around 8.

Suppers in the fridge, just warm it up

Love, Mom xo

I went upstairs and started the bath water, while I got my pj's out. Coming back into the bathroom I quickly stripped from my clothes and sat in the hot water, trying to relax. After about 20 minutes I was just about to wash my hair when I heard a faint buzzing sound. Looking over in the direction it came from, I realized it was my cell phone vibrating in my pocket. I dried my hands on a towel and reached for my jeans. Pulling them over I got my cell out of my pocket and flipped it open.

You have 1 new message from Troy. I clicked the 'Read' button.

Sorry about today. Don't forget we have a tutoring session tonight my place at 5? Troy

Oh no. I completely forgot about tutoring. Well I'm I guess I'm not getting into my pj's then. I quickly finished up in the bath and got re-dressed. I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen, going to see what my mom had left me for supper. It took me a couple minutes in the fridge to realize she actually wanted me to eat the gross roast beef from a couple nights ago. Shoving it back in the fridge I walked into the living room and turned on the TV.

I flicked though the channels and settled on a random show. I wasn't really watching the TV and I decided just to think. It put me in a kind of trance and I curled up into a ball.

Several minutes later I decided to look at the clock. It was already 4:30. Wow did the time go? It was like 3 o'clock two minutes ago!

I went over to my school bag to get my geography stuff for Troy's. Damn. I'd left my books at school. Well I guess I'll just go to Troy's without any books for a tutoring session and look like a fool. Great.

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

"Hello Gabriella! It's so nice to see you again!" I smiled at Mrs. Bolton as she ushered me inside. "I think Troy mentioned something about tutoring you, come on in, I'll get Troy."

I walked into the Bolton's house yet again. It was definitely more homelier now, with pictures hanging on the walls and little trinkets on the tables.

Troy's mom went upstairs and came down seconds later. "He's on his way, why don't you come sit in the living room."

I sat down on a couch and waited. Troy finally came down looking a bit out of breath.

"Hey Montez, lets go to my room."

I nodded my head and followed him up the stairs. He pushed open his door and I walked in for the second time to his room. The first time I hadn't actually gotten to look around in his room because I walked in on him coming out of the shower, which was enough of a distraction. So I looked around his room for technically the first time taking everything in. The first thing that I noticed was his room was very…Troy. Which would make sense. His walls were plain, and his covers were dark. There was trophies, metals, and ribbons lining the walls and on shelves and were many items associated with basketball.

It took me a minute to realize Troy was staring at me.

"Uh.. Do you not have any books?" Troy asked looking at my empty hands.

"Well I totally forgot you were tutoring me tonight so I didn't bring any books home." I said.

"Oh okay, I think I brought mine home, I'll be right back." I sat on Troy's bed and waited for him to come back. I glanced at a small table beside his bed and noticed a picture of him when he was probably about seven. He was holding a basketball and smiling broadly. He looked really happy and full of emotion, something that was rare to see these days.

Troy walked back into the room holding a binder and a textbook. "I did remember my stuff, so.. I guess we should get started." Troy said as he spread out his books and papers on his bed.

"So what stuff do you have trouble on?" he asked looking up, his hair falling in front of his face.

"Um.. I don't know, I get kind of confused with what we were doing last week." I said.

Troy flipped through his binder a bit more, and it got really quite. "You know what?" Troy said suddenly, "I don't really feel like working."

I smiled at his abrupt comment, "I never feel like working," I laughed.

"So how about we do something else like..we could go swimming!" Troy said standing up.

"Troy it's the middle of the winter, are you crazy?" I asked him.

"Not in a swimming pool Montez, we have a hot tub." Troy said starting to dig through his drawers.

"Woah wait, I'm not going swimming, even if it is in a hot tub, it's still freezing outside." I said.

"Oh come on Montez! It's not cold when you get in there, and besides you know you want to."

"No. I'm not going, and besides I don't even have a bathing suit here." I said crossing my arms. Me and Troy in a hot tub? That's just weird.

"Duh Montez, we're neighbours, just go over and get your bathing suit. Pweeeeesse!" Troy said sticking out his bottom lip and giving me puppy dog eyes. Damn he was good.

"Okay okay, I'll go." I said standing up and heading for the door. "I'll be back."

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"I don't know how you got me to do this Troy, we're not even outside yet and I'm already cold." I told Troy as he slipped his shoes on to go outside.

"Okay, I'll go first and get the cover off and then you come out okay?" Troy said turning on the outside light.

"Okay," I said and watched as Troy ran outside and slowly pulled off the cover to the hot tub. He motioned for me to come out and I opened the door stepping out into the cold. I quickly jogged over to where Troy was standing and watched as he dropped his towel, pulled his shirt over his head, undid his belt and pulled down his jeans, leaving him in swimming trunks he had probably changed into when I went to get my bikini.

I breathed out heavily, trying to stay calm. Oh my god, thoughts of Troy in a towel came rushing back into my head.

I dropped my towel to and stripped off my clothes. I stood shaking for Troy to get in in my white bikini.

"Hurry up Troy, it's SO cold!" I said to him to hurry up.

"Okay you try getting in here Montez, it's SO hot!" Troy said half mimicking me.

So I dipped my foot in and almost let out a shriek. It was insanely hot, so I slowly eased my leg in and eventually my whole body. Troy came in moments later and we both sat at opposite ends of the hot tub, water up to our shoulders.

"It's actually nice in here once you get used to it." I said.

"Yeah I know." Troy said, and then silence. God another awkward silence.

"So…" I started out.

"So…what's your favourite colour?" Troy said abruptly.

I hesitated for a moment, "Red," I said, "Yours?"

"Green." "When's your birthday?"

"April 22nd" I said, "When's yours?"

"March 4th"

"What's your middle name?" I asked pulling my legs up to my chest. Why were we asking each other these questions?

"Alexander, yours?"

"Bonita."

"What's your favourite time of the year?" He asked.

"Probably Spring," I said.

"Why spring?" he asked and I smiled. "Because it's not too hot and it's not too cold." I answered simply. What's your favourite time of the year?"

"Definitely summer," Troy said smirking. "Why summer?" I asked.

"Because it's hot enough to go to the beach and check out all the hot chicks." He said smirking.

"Is that all you think about?" I asked him laughing, before slapping his arm. I tried to ignore the shiver that went from my hand to my whole body.

"Probably." Troy said laughing. "But really," I said, "Why is summer your favourite time of the year?"

Troy took a minute to reply, "Well, it's a break from school, from basketball, from my dad, I guess." Troy said looking down. And all of a sudden I was shocked at how small and innocent Troy looked, not the strong and confident boy at school, but maybe what was inside the hard exterior.

His piercing blue eyes looked up to meet mine, and I smiled reassuringly at him.

"What's with all the questions?" I asked trying to change the subject.

"Well, Chad made me realize that I really don't know that much about you." Troy said smiling and the laughter came back into his eyes.

"Well now you do," I said smiling too.

And I realized that every time Troy Bolton smiled, I smiled. Which in my case, may mean I might be falling for him.

There you go, I don't know when I'll update because I'm SOOO busy right now its not even funny. And plus its almost CHRISTMASS!! 3 dayss! Yeahhhh im so pumped ahha. And on boxing day im going to England for a week so I really don't know when I'll update but I'll try my best!

Merry Christmas and a happy new year !!