A/N: This chapter is a special birthday present for Stacey!!!!! (few special droolworthy moments for you in here ;) enjoy!)
She deserves a thanks for helping me out with some ideas in this chapter, and thanks also needs to go to Corii for reading through when I got discouraged and helping me outta my writing slump!
Reviews make Troy take his top off more often ;)
Troy resisted the urge to scream as he sat in his motorhome on the slow journey back to the campsite. He'd spent the day with his parents, brothers and Will, firstly going to the Waihi Gold Mining Museum and then taking a drive to get lunch.
It was two days since Gabriella broke her wrist in 2 places and she was still in a considerable amount of pain, so Maria and Joseph had stayed back at the campsite with their daughters while the Bolton's and Will went exploring. Troy had tried to beg his Mom to let him stay back as well, but Lucile had merely informed him that Gabriella would still be there when they got back.
"Troy?"
Troy's head snapped up at the mention of his name, seeing Will looking at him a tiny bit unsure about if he really wanted to be talking to the older boy who had snapped at everyone so far that day.
"Yeah?" Troy grunted.
"Can Gabi come swimming tonight?" He asked sadly.
Troy nodded his head, spending the day with Will had allowed him to see how much the young boy idolized his older sister, he had asked numerous questions about his sister's condition and her abilities – or lack of – all day, and while it warmed Troy's heart to see the unconditional love it made him miss Gabriella more.
"She was getting something that she can wear in the pool tonight," Troy replied to Will who seemed happy with the answer and turned his attention back to the conversation with the twins, leaving Troy to txt Gabriella.
Hope I don't wake you. How's the patient this afternoon?
He didn't have to wait long before his phone buzzed in reply, making his heart speed up as he looked at the time on his phone and realised he'd be back at the camp site in about ten minutes.
Bored. Are you going to be back soon?
Troy couldn't hide the smile that crossed over his face as he realised she must be missing him as much as he was missing her, the teenagers already having become quickly adjusted to having the other one around.
About ten minutes. Are you needing a Troy Bolton hug to make your arm better?
Gabriella smirked as she read the text message, her t-shirt dropping to the bed as she used her good hand to type out a flirty message back, wondering how Troy would react to her starting the flirting instead of him.
My lips are feeling a bit sore… you can't hug them so maybe you'll have to fix them in a different way…
Awkwardly, Gabriella slipped her grey t-shirt over her head, layering it over her black long sleeved t-shirt that she was wearing with black sweatpants. She had been lounging around in her pyjamas all day, but when she noticed the time and remembered that Troy would be back quite soon she had quickly washed her face, brushed her hair and teeth and found some clean clothes to change into.
Since arriving in New Zealand and having their first kiss, Gabriella and Troy had been unable to get enough of each other. Troy had gone to the hospital with Gabriella, at her insistence, and they had been practically inseparable ever since. When Gabriella was in pain, all she wanted was to cuddle with Troy and she hated having to miss out on the planned activities because she was too tired or sore.
Her phone beeping drew Gabriella out of her thoughts and she nervously read Troy's reply, not noticing her Mom had climbed up the ladder to Gabriella's space in the motorhome and saw her daughter's goofy smile appear.
Ten minutes has never been so long. If you want we can hang out tonight when everyone else goes swimming?
"When's Troy going to be back?" Maria teased her daughter, watching Gabriella's cheeks redden.
"Um 10 minutes I think," Gabriella stuttered, wondering how she was going to request to her Mom some alone time with Troy. "Mama?"
"Yes, Gabi?" Maria asked as she picked up Gabriella's dirty laundry.
"Can Troy stay with me when everyone goes swimming tonight? It'll give you a chance to take Charlie to the pool, she hasn't got to go yet cause you know Dad doesn't like taking her there," Gabriella rambled.
"I'll talk to Lucile, but remember you can come swimming tonight, remember you've got your waterproof cast now," Maria answered noncommittal. "I know you and Troy are getting serious, sweetheart, but we don't want things going too fast."
Gabriella covered her face with her good arm. "Mama! Nothing like that is happening!" Gabriella squealed in embarrassment.
"I'm just saying," Maria commented. "I just want to protect you."
Gabriella didn't answer, instead she turned away from her Mom and moved to lay down on her bed, avoiding her Mom's gaze until she eventually went back down the ladder into the main part of the motorhome.
It was unclear to Gabriella about how her Mom had suddenly gotten all protective of her, after it was her and Lucile's doing that had pushed the teens together to start with, they were now closely watched and unable to get any alone time together, thanks to their Moms.
Can I come up?
Gabriella forgot she never replied to Troy's text and quickly called out to her Mom.
"Mama, can Troy come here until dinner?"
After receiving the okay from Maria who seemed to be feeling a little bad for having gotten so serious on her crushed out daughter, Gabriella typed back to Troy to tell him it was okay and he appeared a few long minutes later.
"Hey pretty girl," Troy whispered as he crawled the short space over to Gabriella, kissing her gently on the lips before he lay down on the bed with her, letting Gabriella snuggle into his side peacefully. "Did you have a nice day?"
"I am now," Gabriella answered honestly. "My Mom came up just before and basically said to me she doesn't want us to be having sex."
"Sex?" Troy chuckled. "She's moving a bit fast isn't she?"
"She's protecting me," Gabriella groaned. "I asked her if you could stay with me while she took Charlie swimming and she sprung it on me."
"Our Moms are a bit crazy," Troy decided. "First they send us out alone, try to get us together or whatever, and now they're doing the opposite!"
"That's what I was thinking before you arrived," Gabriella confessed.
"Speaking of before I arrived, are those pretty lips still sore?" Troy asked huskily, turning more on his side so he was face to face with Gabriella.
Having lost the ability to form words Gabriella merely nodded tilting her head as Troy's lips descended on her own, meeting softly at first but more passionately with every passing moment.
In desperate need for oxygen, Troy broke the kiss, peppering his lips along Gabriella's jaw as the pair caught their breath.
"How was your day?" Gabriella asked a few minutes later as Troy lazily played with her curls, her body curled up against his own.
"Museum… boring. Driving for over an hour through farmland and small towns to get McDonalds… pointless. Kissing you… amazing," Troy kissed Gabriella's forehead as she smiled up at him.
"You're such a sweet talker," Gabriella scolded.
As Troy opened his mouth to answer, Will's head appeared through the curtains that closed off Gabriella's space.
"Mom says that dinner's ready in five minutes," Will announced before looking between the pair. "Were you guys kissing? Ew!"
Gabriella shot her brother a stern look and he laughed as he moved out of view.
"I swear I'm going to," Gabriella started, cut off by Troy's lips meeting her own, his tongue begging for entrance which she happily granted, the thoughts of her younger brother disappearing quick fast.
"Going to what?" Troy asked huskily as they broke for air once more.
"Hmm?" Gabriella purred, connecting their lips again, wasting no time letting Troy gain access to her mouth, their tongues dancing as their bodies melted together.
"Gabi! Troy! Dinner!" Maria called up to the teens who reluctantly separated their lips, their bodies still pressed closely together as they smiled at one another.
They knew that while they were still far from having privacy, any second they got alone with the other was enough for them.
-----
After dinner while the kids cleaned up, Lucile and Maria talked about Troy and Gabriella, coming to the decision that Gabriella could go to the pool with everyone else and her and Troy could spend some time together there.
"But Mom!" Troy whined as his Mom told him the outcome of the conversation. "Don't you trust me?"
"I trust you Troy, but I don't trust your hormones," Lucile explained, making Troy blush as he thought back to the feelings making out with Gabriella earlier had ensued. "And that blush tells me I'm right in the way that your relationship is heading."
"Mom. This is… it's just… it's unfair!" Troy cried out. "So what if I like Gabriella? She's beautiful and smart and funny, you can't keep us apart forever."
"Troy, sweetie, I promise this is all just to protect you. Your relationship with Gabriella is still fresh, if things were to turn sour you'd still have to be practically living with her for the next three months."
"There isn't going to be a relationship if we don't get any time together," Troy muttered. "I'm going to go change into my suit."
In the Montez motorhome, Gabriella had already stormed away from Maria, ending the conversation halfway as she tore up the ladder to her bed as fast as she could with one of her arms in plaster.
She had changed into her suit and put her cast cover into a bag with her towel to take to the pool so that she could swim and she was laying on her bed, cross with her Mom for not letting her hang out alone with Troy.
"Come on pumpkin, the Bolton's are waiting," Joseph called up to his daughter, waiting for her to appear and then helping her down the ladder. "How's the wrist?"
"Fine," Gabriella replied shortly. "Let's go."
Joseph smiled at his daughter's attitude, having been filled in by Maria only a few minutes ago and he followed her out of the motorhome where she went straight over to Troy, letting him embrace her tightly.
"Did I mention I hate parents," Gabriella mumbled into Troy's chest as he rested his chin on the top of her head.
"I second that motion," Troy whispered, hugging her tighter.
"Come on you two," Jack called out to the teens as the families headed over to the heated pool that the campsite had.
Troy laced his fingers with Gabriella's, taking her bag from her shoulder and carrying it for her, which earned him a smile.
The walk to the pool was only a few minutes long and when they got there everyone bar Troy and Gabriella wasted no time jumping into the warm water. Troy sat down in front of Gabriella, helping her to pull her cover over the cast and suction the air out.
"Ready to swim?" Troy asked when they were sure the cast was sealed. Gabriella nodded and Troy took off his hoody, revealing his bare chest.
Gabriella forgot to breathe for a second, her eyes trained on the forming muscles of Troy's torso, his tanned skin almost glowing in the poolside light.
"Perve," Troy whispered, breaking Gabriella's stare and making her blush deeply.
Turning away from Troy, Gabriella tore off her own sweatshirt and t-shirt, slipping her shorts down her legs before she turned back to Troy who's turn it was to stare.
"Shit," Troy breathed as his eyes danced down Gabriella's body, making her shift nervously.
"Come on! The water's perfect!" Jack called out breaking the moment between Troy and Gabriella once more.
The pair got into the water, swimming away from their families as much as possible, Troy gently trapping Gabriella against the pool wall as he bent down to whisper in her ear.
"And I thought you were beautiful before," he complimented. Gabriella bit her lip nervously as she felt butterflies erupt in her stomach. Knowing that if she didn't move within the next few seconds they were going to end up forgetting their parents and siblings were nearby and she didn't want that to happen.
Pushing him gently with her good hand Gabriella managed to increase the distance between her and Troy, her dark eyes sparking playfully as she splashed water up at him.
"I keep telling you you're a sweet talker," she chided as she moved away from him slowly, seeing the glint in his eye before he swung his arm in the water, spraying her completely.
"You're gunna pay for splashing me, Brie," Troy warned advancing on Gabriella who kept on backing up away from him.
"Bring it on, Bolton," Gabriella teased, the anger towards their parents disappearing as the two slipped into their own world.