A/N: Just a quick thanks to all my reviewers from the last chapter. I'm totally overwhelmed with the response for this story so far :)
I'm sorry if I don't get the chance to update next week, I'm starting a 4 week teaching experience block, so between that, my normal job, assignments and that little thing called Real Life, I might not get too much chance to write, and so this is just a little forewarning. Enjoy and don't forget your lovely reviews.
Troy couldn't help but smile at Gabriella's terrified expression as they prepared to land in New Zealand.
"Don't laugh," Gabriella shot out through her clenched teeth. "Can you not see that we're dropping down right near the ocean?"
"We're landing, Brie, not dropping. And I'm sure the pilot know where he's meant to be landing," Troy said softly, reaching out for Gabriella's hand which was on her thigh, her nails digging into her thigh in terror.
"I doubt it," Gabriella muttered, barely loud enough for Troy to hear her.
"Look at how green everything is," Troy said gently, trying his hardest to distract Gabriella from the landing. "I see sheep!"
Unable to help herself Gabriella giggled at his comment, "I think we're going to see a bunch of sheep while we're here."
"I think you might be right," Troy replied, squeezing Gabriella's hand gently. "I also think you might be breaking my hand."
"Deal with it, Bolton," Gabriella smirked, although she loosened her grip slightly, but only for a second as the wheels touched down on the runway, startling her.
"Shhh," Troy coaxed, using his free hand to draw her body closer to his own, his fingers playing with her curls as Gabriella whimpered.
Gabriella immediately felt relaxed in Troy's embrace, but she still trembled as the plane carried on down the runway.
"Are you okay?" Troy whispered gently in her ear and Gabriella gave a quick nod against his shoulder, the pair both forgetting that their brothers were sitting right behind them until a sharp kick hit the back of Troy's chair, breaking the moment.
Ignoring his brothers Troy watched Gabriella, wondering how someone could look so perfect after a 24 hour flight. She had changed when they landed briefly in Sydney and was now dressed in black full length leggings, a baggy white sweatshirt and black sneakers, her hair kept back from her face by a simple black headband.
"Troy?" Gabriella's musical voice broke through his thoughts and he realised he had been staring at her with a smile on his face. "You wanna take a picture?"
Shaking his head at her teasing Troy reaching his hand down and lightly tickled her side, making her giggle.
"Why would I need a picture when I can have you anytime I want for the next 3 months?" He teased right back, making Gabriella blush.
Just as Gabriella opened her mouth to speak, Will came into view and Troy snatched his hand away from it's resting spot on Gabriella's hip.
"Gabi, are we in New Zealand now?" He asked excitedly, and Gabriella nodded, standing up herself.
"Have you guys got your carry on luggage?" Jack's voice called across the plane and all five children nodded, with Troy and Gabriella double checking under their brothers' chairs before they started to get off the plane.
"God it's cold," Troy muttered to Gabriella. "Who'd miss out on summer for a second winter?"
"Crazy parents who like to drag their kids halfway around the world," Gabriella muttered back as the pair started to lag behind their families as they entered the airport.
Gabriella looked around the airport as they entered, deeming it to look very plain in comparison to some of the airports she had been in before.
"I hope the rest of the country is more interesting than this," she whispered to Troy. "This looks more boring than a regular boring airport."
"What were you expecting?" Troy teased. "A stone age looking airport? Or something from the Victorian times maybe?"
Gabriella swiped her arm around at Troy, smacking him soundly in the stomach, causing an "oof" to sound from him and alerting the teenagers' presence to their parents.
"Are you two okay?" Maria asked, eying them suspiciously.
"Fine," Gabriella smiled. "Troy just walked into my fist."
The parents shot looks between themselves, wondering if it was possible that their teenagers seemed to be having a good time, finding it amazing that there had been no complaints from neither Troy nor Gabriella since the first time they had met at the Montez house.
When their parents had turned away and were again talking amongst themselves Troy let out a small laugh.
"I walked into your fist?"
"Yes. It's not my fault you can't watch where you're walking," Gabriella chided playfully.
"You're lucky you're cute," Troy muttered under his breath, not realising that Gabriella could hear him.
"And Gabriella you'll be sleeping up here," Maria announced, pointing to the double bed above the cab. "It has curtains so you can have a bit of privacy."
"Thanks," Gabriella muttered, resisting the urge to tell her parents that she'd have a lot more privacy if they had of just stayed at home.
The two families had just gone to pick up their motor homes from the airport depot, and Gabriella and Troy had reluctantly been separated for the first time since Gabriella arrived at Albuquerque airport.
"Can I sleep up top with Gabi?" Will asked, looking in awe up at his sister's new "bedroom".
"No that's Gabi's space," Joseph explained. "I don't want to find you up there without your sister's permission, alright?"
Joseph knew that it was important that Gabriella had her own personal space in the tiny motor home, and he and Maria had figured the best way to enable this was to give her the bed above the cab where she had her own storage areas.
Before long the two families were safely buckled into their own motor homes with Jack and Joseph each driving to their first place of stay on the journey, Waiwera Holiday Park which was around a 45 minute drive from the airport.
I think my Dad is going to get us lost.
Gabriella stifled a giggle as she read the text from Troy, the same thought having just gone through her mind as she heard her Dad arguing with the GPS.
My Dad is arguing with the GPS. Save me.
Looking out at the scenery Gabriella had to marvel at how they were currently travelling in New Zealand's biggest city, but it was no more traffic than there usually was back in New Mexico, and everything around her was so green and natural.
Saving you would be my pleasure.
Gabriella felt her heart beat faster at Troy's reply. She knew that she was crushing on him, big time, and he was definitely flirting with her a lot, but Gabriella was afraid that he was only flirting with her because she was the only female around that he could talk to.
Deciding to just have fun while she could Gabriella quickly typed out a reply of "Such a charmer" before she went back to pondering if Troy's feelings were developing like her own were, or if he was simply a natural flirt but her phone buzzing with a reply distracted her thoughts.
Only for you, Brie.
Just as Gabriella was to type her reply, Joseph announced that they had arrived at the holiday park and Gabriella quickly removed her seatbelt and followed her family out of the motor home and over to where the Bolton's were standing.
Slipping in next to Troy, Gabriella's heart started pounding as Troy took her small hand in his own, lacing their fingers together as he kept his eyes trained on his Dad who was talking to the holiday park owner, finding out where their camp sites were located.
Troy was aware that his family and Gabriella's family could easily spot their joined hands, but he couldn't help his need to be close to Gabriella, his feelings having developed for her faster than he could've ever imagined, which scared him a little bit.
Gabriella's hand felt cold as Troy dropped it when his Dad came back over to them, asking them if they could walk the twins, Will and Charlie over to the campsite, since the boys needed to stretch their legs.
Troy quickly said they would, finding out where the site was, and agreeing that they would keep an eye on the boys to make sure they stayed safe.
Letting their brothers walk ahead of them with Charlie settled on Gabriella's hip, her chocolate brown eyes sleepily closing as Troy and Gabriella walked in silence, each trying to decide if they should bring up where this whole thing was going, or if they were just imagining how the other was feeling.
"Brie?" Troy said softly, deciding that he needed to know what Gabriella was feeling. "This might sound kind of sudden, but I just think you should know, I really like you."