Disclaimer: It's probably obvious, but I don't own any of the HSM characters or their related elements.

Author's Note: These are all unrelated oneshots unless otherwise noted. This one takes place pretty early in their relationship, probably after they've had their first kiss but before they're fully comfortable with each other yet.

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HSM Romance Challenge

Theme: Something More

"I can't believe you just made me sit through Grease."

As the credits rolled on the TV, Gabriella turned to see Troy stare accusingly at her from the other end of the Boltons' sofa. Lying on his side, he poked her in the leg with his foot. She laughed, shrugging apologetically. "Well, I've never seen it. Taylor just lent it to me and said I might appreciate it. I didn't actually know there were so many parallels."

She giggled, poking him lightly back in the leg with her toes. "And give me a break, you totally liked it."

He let out a breath and looked at her. "Well, it was OK. But nothing I'm going to add to my home video library any time soon."

Gabriella laughed. "Yeah, right." She turned slightly to face him, hugging her knees to her chest and grinning. "You know though, I think our story has a better ending. I didn't have to dump my whole identity just to hang out with the guy I liked."

"No… but you also didn't get to wear a hot black outfit like Sandy did at the end."

She smacked his calf and he laughed, drawing his knees up to his chest. "Hey, Grease has got something more on that end of things," he said. "Even you have to admit that."

She narrowed her eyes at him playfully. "Well, it's too bad that you couldn't be some hot guy who races roadsters and goes out for varsity track just to win my heart."

He looked over. "I'm sorry. Did you just question my hotness?"

"Oh, I did."

"Oh, man." His eyes twinkled. "That was the wrong thing to say. Wrong thing completely."

And suddenly he was reaching over to Gabriella, his fingers heading for her sides. She squealed, trying to writhe out of his grasp, sinking deeper on her back into the couch as he laughed. "Help, someone! Help!" she cried between giggles. "Some moderately attractive guy is trying to tickle me to death!"

"Oh, my God, you never stop!" His smile widened and he redoubled the tickling efforts. "Moderately attractive. Oh, I'll give you moderately attractive, Montez."

He tried to pin her arms down, pressing his weight down closer and closer. And suddenly, twisting and laughing, Gabriella found Troy's eyes just centimetres from hers. His hands froze and he stared at her, still smiling. "Hi," he said, his face flushed.

"Hi," she said back, breathless.

He seemed caught. And Gabriella did the only thing that felt natural next. Lifting her head, she put her lips to his.

Then she felt his arms move behind her back to hold her tight, and her arms slid up between his shoulder blades, pulling him close to her. His kiss was soft and filled with longing, sending a slow and satisfying thrill down her spine.

Then he broke free and grinned at her.

"Now. Are we ready to take back our vicious lies?"

She smiled up at him. "Well... if that's what you get for lying... I'm not so sure." But suddenly, her eyes flicked behind him and a look of horror flashed across her face. "Oh my God. I think your mom's coming down the stairs."

Immediately Troy sprang up off her, retreating to his side of the couch and putting his legs up on the coffee table. For a few minutes, he pretended to look interested in the credits list still running on the TV. Then, casually flicking his eyes to the side, he realized the lights on the stairs were still dark… and Gabriella had her hands pressed against her face, trying to suppress her rising giggles.

Between her fingers, she saw him groan in realization, his posture relaxing onto the sofa. Then he grinned playfully, crawling over to her and wrapping his arms around her again. "You're never going to stop, are you?"

Putting her arms around his neck, she kissed him on the cheek, still smiling helplessly. "Nope… not as long as the rewards are this good."

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Author's Note: Man, that was fun to write. Shortest one yet too. And the Grease reference was just me wanting to be all meta-fiction-y. OK, now is it wrong that I kind of just want these two to make out all the time? Oh well, I don't know—I guess if it is wrong, I don't want to be right! Ha ha…