Troy let the cool water from the creek drip down his face that morning, the bright summer sun already drying it up. He breathed in the fresh air, smiling contently as he saw Tobey and Belle still resting under a tree, their nuzzles were almost touching. He then directed his attention to the tree beside them and the figure sleeping peacefully in the shade it provided. Troy couldn't help but grin as he wiped some water out of his eyes and he walked up beside Gabriella Montez taking in the beauty which seemed to radiate from her.

His stomach then began to twist as he remembered their conversation from the night before. Troy couldn't have pictured a more perfect evening, under the stars and the easy, natural conversation they had had. She had not a care in the world that he was her stable hand, she just saw him as Troy and they both really wanted their new found friendship to work...possibly span into something more?

That's when Troy's smile disappeared. He recalled Sharpay's words from the night before. "You do know nothing can come of it...right?" It was true. When was the last time you heard of a poor stall cleaner marrying a beautiful lady of society? Troy couldn't recall such an instance and he knew any thoughts of a relationship with Gabriella had to be pushed aside for they'd never become a reality.

"Is everything alright Troy?" A soft voice stirred from his feet, and looking down he was faced with Gabriella's glowing face smiling up at him her eyes still drooped with sleep.

"Why do you ask?"

"You just looked so serious, as if something was troubling you." She looked so adorable and Troy chuckled sitting beside her.

"It's nothing for you to worry about." He covered up and Gabriella sat up beside him.

"When I first woke up and you weren't beside me I was afraid you had left." She looked down for a moment, playing with the grass between her fingers and Troy softly smiled.

"Why would I leave after one of the greatest evenings I've had to date?"

Gabriella blushed lightly her smile reappearing again, "I enjoyed last night too. It's nice to have someone to just talk with. Even if they do wake up abnormally early in the morning." She grinned and Troy chuckled.

"I couldn't help it. I always wake up before dawn...have done since I was seven..." Troy then froze, the colour draining from his face and Gabriella frowned curiously, looking him over.

"Troy, are you alright? Are you ill?" She worriedly began and Troy jumped up anxiously.

"No, I just remembered that I'm supposed to be warming up the race horses...right at this moment."

Holding out his hand he helped Gabriella up off of the ground, and without even thinking held her hand all the way over to her horse. Belle and Tobey were quick to catch on to their anxiousness and jumped up obediently, allowing Troy to re-strap their saddles.

"I'm terribly sorry about this Troy." Gabriella apologised, facing Troy who shook his head.

"None of this is your fault. I knew I had to work, it's my own forgetfulness."

"Would you like me to talk to your manager?"

"No it will be alright. Besides, I don't want anyone getting suspicious about you and I." He reassured her and Gabriella nodded allowing him to help her mount her horse. Troy blushed remembering the night before where she had fallen on top of him...he didn't realise his heart could beat so fast and his breathing stop at the same time.

Mounting Tobey, holding the reins, he trotted beside Belle and Gabriella out into the empty field.

"Lucky the field workers won't be out for another hour. What about your mother?" Troy curiously asked, knowing she would have his head if she found out where her daughter was.

"She won't rouse me for another hour or two. She's convinced I need a lot of beauty sleep."

"That's not true." Troy replied unintentionally, yet it had just slipped out. He liked to pay her compliments, he loved seeing the pink rush to her cheeks and an adorable smile graces her features. He felt she deserved them, since her mother seemed to be in short supply of them.

Soon the back of the main house came into view, the stable close by. Troy sighed, knowing this was where they'd have to part ways."I'll take Belle back to the stables. I'll tell them I was starting to break her in a bit." Troy began, dismounting his own horse and helping Gabriella dismount her own.

"Thank you Troy. For last night...and everything." Gabriella brightly smiled, holding out her hand for him to shake. Troy however couldn't resist as he held the soft hand in his own and he lifted it to his mouth, placing a tender kiss on her warm skin. His heart, he just knew, was going to fail on him if it continued to beat so rapidly.

"Same here." He smiled, his lips feeling all tingly as he looked up at her and the light pink crept onto her cheeks. Then mounting Tobey once again he also held Belle's lead in his other hand and looking back at Gabriella they slowly walked off.

"Troy!" Gabriella began to jog over, holding up her white nightgown, her curls blowing in the breeze. "When will we meet again?"

"If you're willing to sneak out, I'll meet you down at the creek again tonight." He winked and then turned his back making his way to the stables. His heart was now starting to slow down to a normal pace and he inwardly cursed as his fuming boss stormed over to him not looking amused.

"Bolton! Where the heck have you been all morning? I was about ready to call up to the house to report their black mare had been stolen last night!"

"Jim...I am so sorry. I took Belle out so I could begin breaking her in, so that she gets used to the grounds." Troy lied, dismounting Tobey, holding on to two sets of leads.

"I don't believe that was your job this morning. Your job was to warm up the racehorses before the jockeys arrived...so the jockeys had to do it themselves!" Jim spat back angrily and Troy rolled his eyes.

"It'll do them some good to actually learn how to look after their horse." He mumbled and immediately regretted it as Jim looked as though he was going to explode.

"Look Bolton, your father may be groundskeeper and all but you still need to learn your place here. So bite your tongue and do your job properly."

"Yes sir." Troy replied, kicking himself for talking back to his superior and once he was excused he led Belle and Tobey to their respective stalls. They were very reluctant to be separated that it took Troy almost 5 minutes to pull Tobey away from Belle's stall.

"You're going to see her tonight boy..." Troy smiled to himself, knowing he'd see Gabriella tonight as well and that would be his motivation to get his work done today.

----

Gabriella sighed dreamily as she made her way up the back pathway to her house. She was clutching the back of her hand, tracing it with her fingers softly and it still felt tingly from where Troy had gently kissed it. She certainly hadn't expected it, but the whole night was just magical as well. She didn't know she could talk to someone so honestly and easily and how he talked to her with such respect, not differently because she was a woman.

She was so glad he still wanted to keep their new found friendship...something she was now hoping could turn into so much more. Gabriella knew deep down it was unrealistic, that she'd never be given permission and it was unheard of but for a moment last night she could picture herself married to Troy. They'd ride horses all the time, be able to talk with each other and more importantly love one another.

Gabriella had only known Troy for a day so she wasn't in love as of yet, but she already had a great admiration for him and she hoped he returned her feelings. Now all she could think of was seeing him again tonight, she just had to sneak back to her room first. Cautiously she crept around to the side of her house and she yelped in fright as she ran into someone, who she desperately hoped wasn't her mother.

"Oh my, Miss Montez...please forgive me." It wasn't her mother. Gabriella sighed out in relief and she helped up what appeared to be a wash-maid, who had a sweet smile and blonde hair. Actually she looked quite familiar, like someone she knew.

"No it's no problem. My fault entirely, oh and please call me Gabriella." Gabriella smiled politely at the woman who nodded.

"I can see why he likes you." The woman seemed to whisper and Gabriella frowned.

"I'm sorry?"

"Begging your pardon, it's just one of the stable hands told me how sweet you were, and it's true."

Gabriella perked up as the woman mentioned a stable hand, "Which stable hand might this be to say such kind words?"

"Troy Bolton...he's a little brother to me really." The woman smiled and Gabriella's heart back-flipped, Troy had already told his friends about her.

"Oh yes Troy. Who might you be?"

"Oh I'm sorry, where are my manners? I'm Sharpay Baylor."

"Nice to meet you. I'd love to continue this conversation but I must get back to bed before my mother is up." Gabriella winced, hoping Sharpay wouldn't be inclined to tell on her but she merely chuckled.

"I see. Nice meeting you too Gabriella." Sharpay knowingly winked at her and walked away, leaving Gabriella to climb up the lattice on the walls and onto her balcony. She threw off her riding boots and her coat and climbed straight into bed. Luckily at that moment a knock came at her door, and her mother entered the room.

"Gabriella darling...time to wake up. Breakfast will be served promptly."

"Yes mother." Gabriella mumbled under her covers, yet her mother clicked her tongue annoyed.

"Could you please not mumble dear?"

"Yes mother." Gabriella repeated, sitting up this time and smiling sweetly at her oblivious mother who closed the door and Gabriella sighed, collapsing back into her pillows. She held her hand close to her chest again, closing her eyes, thinking of Troy riding gracefully on his stallion. Why couldn't nightfall come sooner?

----

"So then Michael actually asked, no more like demanded we clean up the mess he made! Can you believe that guy?" Chad exclaimed annoyed by what had happened on the plantation today and had been rambling on to Troy for a while now, Troy however wasn't at all listening.

"Well, Troy...can you?" Chad asked again and was only met with silence once more.

"Troy have you even been listening to me?"

"Sorry...uh, what?" Troy blinked confused facing his three friends who frowned at him concerned.

"Everything alright Bolton?" Zeke asked curiously and Troy nodded quickly.

"Yeah, I'm fine." He tried to cover up but Sharpay was eyeing him suspiciously until she spoke up.

"You'll never guess who I ran into up at the house this morning. Gabriella Montez herself." Sharpay smiled, looking over at Troy who had dropped his fork in surprise.

"You did, did you?" He asked quickly and Sharpay nodded, Chad and Zeke oblivious to Troy's behaviour.

"She is such a sweet girl, nothing like her awful mother. She was dressed in her nightgown however."

"That is strange." Chad noted, shovelling more food in his mouth."Why would she walk around in her nightgown?"

"I'm not sure. She seemed to be sneaking back to bed." Sharpay pointed out and Troy dropped his knife this time, all heads turned to him.

"Are you sure you're alright Troy?" Chad asked and Troy nodded again, avoiding Sharpay's frown. Looking out of the cabin's window he gasped in delight that it was finally quite dark out, he could see Gabriella again.

"Excuse me guys but I'm on night shift again." Troy jumped up, pulling on his coat.

"Again?" Sharpay asked curiously as Chad frowned thoughtfully.

"Yeah...I uh...one of the horses is poorly and needs tending to. Goodnight everyone." He quickly left and Chad shook his head confused.

"How can Troy be on night shift?"

"What do you mean?" Sharpay asked.

"Well...I was talking to Eddie before dinner and he said he was on the stable night shift tonight."

"How strange." Sharpay mumbled, and she frowned, trying to piece it all together. Why would Troy lie about taking night shift? There had to be something he wasn't telling them.

----

Gabriella allowed the night's cool breeze to hit her face as she patted Belle's nuzzle affectionately. She'd been waiting patiently in the woodland where she'd slept the night before for a while now and she was beginning to doubt whether Troy would show up at all. Brushing out her nightgown she let a restless Belle drink from the creek until the mare whinnied.

"Not to worry Belle...I'm sure Tobey will turn up soon." She murmured, and jumped in fright as a voice rang out from behind her.

"Sooner than you think." It was Troy, and she clutched her heart in shock. The moonlight was outlining his shadow as he sat on top of Tobey and Gabriella flushed.

"I was beginning to think you had deserted me." She smiled and Troy dismounted his horse who immediately came over to Belle.

"I could never do that. I just had to hide from the man on night shift before I could get to Tobey."

"Ah yes, that charming gentleman. I had to sneak behind him, yet he barely noticed my obvious shadow due to the fact he was drinking." They chuckled and Gabriella was glad to see Troy's smile again. It was all she had thought of during her etiquette lessons today. Together, they sat on the grass, taking in the familiar atmosphere before Gabriella spoke up again, remembering this morning.

"I met a friend of yours this morning as I was about to ascend my balcony." She chuckled and Troy nodded.

"She told me. How did you like Sharpay?"

"She's very nice, she mentioned you of course."

"She is like a sister to me. She's married as well." Troy pointed out and Gabriella smiled.

"I hope it was by her own choosing."

Troy nodded. "Very much so. She was disowned by her family for such a match."

Gabriella's eyes widened in awe, she couldn't imagine what that must have been like. To find someone you wish to marry, whom you love and would even give up your family to be with them. It was awfully romantic...to have your heart run free with another.

"This may seem strange...but I find that to be wonderful." She sighed and Troy frowned in confusion.

"To be cut off from your family?"

"No...although in my case that wouldn't be so terrible, but to be free. To make your own choices, be with the one you love consequences be damned." She closed her eyes, just trying to imagine that euphoric feeling, she didn't notice Troy gazing at her in awe.

"You can always make your own choices. You just have to find the strength to follow your heart." He replied and Gabriella opened her eyes to be met by his crystal blue ones.

"I wish it was that simple for me." She looked away sadly. She was of course referring to her mother's plan of betrothal to Ryan Evans II. However, Gabriella wasn't planning on divulging this piece of information to Troy...she didn't want him to assume she wasn't hoping for their friendship to go further.

"It isn't? Aren't you free to love who you choose?"

"Well, society expects me to choose a partner most suitable for matters not concerning the heart. I, however, will choose to love whoever I want. That's one thing they can't control." Gabriella responded and her heart back flipped as Troy's smile grew.

"I hope they never will either."

That night, as she and Troy lay under the stars Gabriella fell asleep with hope in her heart, what exactly did Troy mean by that statement?

A/N: Thank you for the awesome response to this story. I hope you enjoy the way I'm writing it and Troy & Gabriella's relationship.

These first chapters were all for character establishment but now I'll be introducing Ryan Evans II, Jack Bolton, Carlos Montez and Sharpay's pregnancy to the mix. I hope you'll stay tuned.

Sarah x