Dynamite Kid and the Green Butterfly

An- A thousand apologies! I meant to get this out soo much sooner than this, but the holidays have taken over. I've been swamped with school projects, some that I haven't even handed in. I sat myself down long enough to get this written though! Special thanx to didyoumissmeofcourseyoudid for helping me out with this. You rock!

Happy Holidays to all!

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not mine.

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Chapter Four

I. Can't. Sleep. I've been up all night. I tried all of those stupid methods of trying to go to sleep. Like that one about counting sheep...yeah, it doesn't work. The worst part? Troy is sleeping soundly next to me. I don't blame him. He barely slept the night before, and then having to go to school and basketball practice...then driving. He must be pooped. I should be sleeping. When I see my mom, I don't want to look disheveled. I want to look my best, no bags under my eyes, no mussy hair...I have to look presentable. I picture her whenever I close my eyes. I see her standing tall, about 5'5, with her short curly hair let out and stopping just above her shoulders. Her eyes look hazel, no...pure hazel. They're the most beautiful color I have ever seen, besides Troy's. His eyes are crystal blue. It's like they pull you in. In the group photos for the year book, it's impossible not to stare at Troy's first. His eyes are alluring. That's what attracted me to him in the first place.

"Mhph...ball-" That was Troy. He's turned his body for the second time. Same old Troy. He could never lay still. I wonder...

"Psst! Troy..." I whispered. I hope he's awake. "Troy!..." I repeated. Huh! He'd always been a light sleeper. Whenever we shared a bed together, the slightest movement from me would wake him. He'd wrap his arm around my waist and snuggle closer. I giggled silently. Thinking back a few months ago, I remembered the real reason why he did it. I thought it was because he wanted me close, but Troy explained that was only half the reason. The real reason?...because he wanted me to stop moving. I laughed, louder this time.

"Alright, Alright." He groaned. His muscular body shifted and turned to me. "Obviously ignoring you isn't keeping you quiet or still." I held back another laugh. "What's so funny?" His eyes focused on me. They were somewhat amused. I suddenly didn't find anything so funny anymore. Should I share my memory with him? No. Of course not. How awkward would it be to share a memory about me and him in bed together after we'd broken up? Well, it can't be anymore awkward than actually being in bed with him. Even if you are fully clothed.

"I was just thinking about how much of a light sleeper you were." I smiled. "You would always wake up in the middle of the night."

"Nah, it was because of your snoring." He joked. I laughed noisily, but quickly toned it down.

"Remember our first date?" I questioned. It was the most embarrassing night of my life.

"Oh yeah! You fell asleep on my shoulder at the movies." Troy's teeth shone through his smile.

"Ugh, don't remind me!" So, before he says some weird reason for me falling asleep, let me clarify that I had a cold. I had gone to school sick that entire week because I really wanted to go out with him. Magdalena has strict rules when it comes to absenteeism. If I don't go to school I can't go out. Anyway, I wanted to be completely tamed during that date. Meaning...I didn't want to sneeze and have snot rockets all over him. I took a dose of 'Nyquil', thinking that you can just ignore the drowsiness. Yeah, doesn't work when you're comfortable, in a dark room, and already tired because of the cold you have...

"Ah, but you were so cute! I remember looking down and seeing you all snug against me." Note, that last sentence was said in the tone you would use when cooing at a baby. I groaned. He can be such a meanie!

"Why? Why must you send me back to that embarrassing moment?" I giggled. This was fun. Talking about old times with him. Can't exactly say that I'd put it on my 'list of things to do with Troy Bolton if I break up with him' list, but I wasn't arguing.

"You're probably going to think this is weird..." Troy had a look of contemplation on his face. He wanted to tell me something. That was obvious even without him saying so.

"I promise I won't." Wonder what this could be...

"Well, that day was the first day I kissed you..." . . . "I mean, not like on your lips, but on your forehead."

"I..."

"You don't have to comment on that..." Good, because honestly, there are no words to describe it. "I don't really know why I did. I guess because I was just drawn to you. I looked down at you sleeping, and I knew we'd have something. It just felt right..." Troy's eyes weren't focused on mine. They were staring down at the comforters and the sheets that were now wrapped around us both.

"That's...that's really sweet Troy." And it was. It goes on the list of the sweetest things Troy Bolton has ever said to me. Right up there with how he told me that I was the only girl for him. He cleared his throat.

"Yeah...we should get back to sleep. We still have a lot of driving to do." I smiled at him.

"Will uh....um..."

"Yeah?" He asked in a whisper. I feel very silly for asking this. I turned so that my back was facing him.

"Will you...um...hold me like you used to?" Ugh! Did I really just ask that? I mean really? We're broken up! Why do I even feel like it's okay to ask that?! "Ne-" Before I could finished telling him to disregard my last statement, his arm draped itself over my waist and pulled me closer. I felt his chest against my back. I felt his breath on my neck. Is it crazy that I like this? That I feel like I belong in his arms?

"Go to sleep, Brie." His voice was a low whisper. He kissed the base of my neck, and I closed my eyes. I enjoyed having his lips back on my skin. I've missed that feeling, and I hadn't even realized...

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"G, wake up." Troy shook my body. I slowly opened my eyes.

"Mhm...?" I groaned.

"Here, I uh...I got you some breakfast. You still like Chi Tea right?" I smiled at him.

"Yeah, and you still like coffee?" He nodded and handed, or rather shoved, me the beverage.

"We need to get going soon. If we play our cards right, we'll be in Tuscon today at noon." That meant it was six a.m. Normally, I would complain and go back to sleep. But nothing was normal anymore. I didn't know what normal was anymore.

"That sounds fine. I'll be dressed in a minute."

"Which basically means we won't get out of here until six-thirty..." He grumbled and left. Pardon my French, but what's up his ass? I shook off the comment and went to get dressed.

"I don't take that long to get ready." I grumbled as I walked out of the room and left the key on the desk. I must admit that it was nice of Troy to carry my bags into the car. Last night was awesome. It was great to talk to him like that. That was the first conversation we had without arguing. Truth be told I wanted to have more. Oh! Another thing that bothered me, well bothered in a good way, was having his arms around me. I'd missed that.

"Do you mind driving? I'm tired." Troy explained. I nodded. It was my fault he was tired anyway. With all my turning and talking, it was a wonder he got any sleep at all. We got into the car and I started the engine. "After we get back on the highway, all you have to do is follow the..." I nodded my head. Okay, so I wasn't really listening. So what? How hard could it be to drive when there's signs everywhere?

In no time at all we were back on the highway. I stayed in the lane that Troy told me to, and followed it out. I attempted to focus on the road, but somehow...my mind drifted. I was thinking about all the times that Troy and I were together. Like, the first time I'd ever spoken to him. In bio, when we were dissecting bees. Troy volunteered to be my lab partner that day, and things clicked. We'd talked for most of the period. Of course that meant we didn't get the assignment done, but I didn't mind. He didn't ask me out until about three months later.

I can still remember what he was wearing. He'd just gotten his hair cut that day. He had on a dark green polo with faded jean, and green Chucks. Now, this was on the first day of school, our junior year. Troy's face was more defined when he came back from summer vacation, and his muscles were definitely bigger. Needless to say that I said yes to going out with him. He'd been all I could think about. Those blue eyes of his, still, get me lost when I look into them. We were a timid couple until our first kiss. PDA wasn't our thing, still isn't really mine.

It's a different story for Troy. It seems as if he was rubbing it in my face that he'd moved on. Ugh! Stupid Shelly Masterson. I truly hate her. Typical stereotype of a cheerleader. I still can't believe that after all we'd been through, he picked her of all people. The boy has full knowledge on my dislike for her, and he goes and dates her! He was practically my first everything!

"What are you doing?!" His voice bellowed through the car. What now?

"What do you mean? I'm driving..." I said in a matter-of-fact tone. Did he think I was baking a cake?

"No! I mean, you just missed the turn off! You're going the wrong way." Oh...

"Well, I'll just take the next one, don't sweat." I told him.

"Gabriella," I winced. Troy's voice was dangerously low. "That was the last turn off. There won't be another one for the next hundred miles or so." Now I could see why he's mad.

"Oh..." That was my response. That's how stupid I felt.

"Weren't you paying attention? We could've been done by now! We could've been done with this stupid trip."

"You didn't have to come on this trip, Troy." I spat. I was getting angry with him.

"You're right, and I wouldn't have come if I'd known you'd screw up so badly." I gasped and kept my eyes straight ahead. Troy was sitting up in his chair with his body shifted toward me.

"I screwed up? I made one mistake! It can be fixed. Suck it up, it's not the end of the world."

"You always screw things up. We'd be at your mom's and back in Albuquerque within two days if you hadn't been day dreaming." That might be true, but I'm not taking all the blame for this. He should've helped me!

"What other things have I messed up, Troy? Hmm? Do tell..." He kept quiet. I didn't hear him speak until he was facing forward again.

"Our relationship."

That was all it took to shut me up. I guess I could be blamed for that. I broke us up, and I certainly didn't try to be his friend afterwards. All the fighting we'd just done made me wonder.

Was last night a dream? Did we really joke and laugh like nothing was wrong? Either way, I was sure of one thing.

I wanted it back.

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An- Thanx for reading! I'll try to update more quickly now. Once again, Happy Holidays! I hope you all have an awesome time! Comments? Questions? Suggestion? You know what to do!

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