So I was sitting here reading stories on fanfiction and my sister walks in and says "Are you updating today?" And I replied with a "No, it's Monday." Obviously, she convinced me otherwise and I'm apologizing now! Sorry! I totally forgot it was Tuesday! But, here is the next chapter, a few hours late, but still here. Enjoy!

Loving Love

Chapter thirteen

The 'L' Word

"Wow, so he actually said that?" Gabriella asked Troy as she handed him another stack of books while he stood on the moveable ladder leaning against the book shelves.

It was midnight and the book store was closed, leaving an empty store and the only additional sound being the music softly playing from the speakers around for Gabriella and Troy to listen to as they worked. Troy was usually the one to stock new books and rearrange the store because he was the only employee who didn't have a liable excuse to leave. He nodded as he put the books that Gabriella handed him onto the high shelf and slowly stepped down when he was done.

"Yeah, and he was pissed too. My dad kept looking at me as if I was about to spill my secret to the whole team; Like it would have been easier that way." Troy rolled his eyes as he thought of his dad's expectations, picking up the empty box at his feet so that he could fold it into a small form.

"Well, I can see why he wants you to tell your team, considering what happened the other night when I came over." Gabriella nodded, fixing an out of place book in front of her. "But I don't think he really understands the depth of our… previous hatred for each other."

Troy sighed as he rubbed his tired eyes, picking up a heavy box of books before walking over to the teen section of the book store, setting the box down once he and Gabriella found a spot for the new supply of paper backs.

"Did you really hate me?" Troy asked quietly as he knelt on the floor next to Gabriella, pulling the sturdy box open.

"Did you really hate me?" Gabriella said as she looked at him, feeling his arm brush up against hers as he looked over at her.

Troy shrugged, looking away from her when her brown eyes looked into his somewhat sadly. He began slowly arranging the books on the shelf as Gabriella cleared her throat next to him.

"I think that answers your question." Gabriella nodded, taking a pile of books from the box so she could hand them over to Troy.

"Do you remember our seventh grade dance when you danced with that one kid… Tanner something?" Troy remembered, breaking the sad silence filling the air as some kind of sad song played above them.

"Tanner Goodman." Gabriella remembered, nodding her head with a soft smile.

"I remember seeing you dancing with him in your cute little white dress as Sharpay and Taylor danced with their dates." Troy said with a soft chuckle, continuing with the stacking of the books.

"Oh, I remember that too, Troy." Gabriella said with a shake of her head. "You poured Hawaiian Punch all over me and him. You ruined my dress."

Troy nodded, remembering too the mean reaction he had to seeing them dancing together. He also remembered the tears that filled her eyes when she had glared at him evilly, leaving the dance with her friends as Sharpay threatened to sue him.

"I was so jealous of him." Troy admitted.

"Of course you were, otherwise you wouldn't have done it." Gabriella nodded with a sarcastic tone in her voice as she looked over at Troy's side view.

"Wait, you knew?" Troy asked in surprise, looking over at her as he stopped what he was doing.

"At the time I technically didn't, but then when I came home crying my mom had to convince me that boys are mean to girls because they like them." Gabriella told him.

"Well, I didn't like you." Troy denied.

"Why else would you have done that to me then?"

Troy scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, glancing over at Gabriella who looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"Okay, so maybe I did, but at the time I didn't even know it." Troy smiled sheepishly, rolling his eyes playfully when Gabriella laughed at him softly. "But, what I mean to get at is that… I regret doing those kinds of things to you."

Gabriella looked at Troy carefully, seeing the vague blush that appeared on his cheeks as he apologized to her for probably the first time since he met her. She felt goose bumps appear on her skin as they both sat quietly, feeling the apology sink in.

"Me too." Gabriella finally said. "Because maybe things would be a lot different now, you know? If you and Chad would have figured out earlier that Taylor and I pushed you in the sand box because we liked you guys, then maybe you and I wouldn't be sitting here at one in the morning stacking books together because this is the only time we can be here together without being caught."

"You liked me then?" Troy asked guiltily.

Gabriella shrugged as she leaned against him slightly as they stared at the colorful books in front of them.

"In a way, I always have."

Troy smiled as he looked at her, their faces only inches apart as they leaned against the book shelf behind them. Gabriella took Troy's hand in hers, entwining their fingers together softly as they sat still, both focusing on being together, both looking at the books in front of them, and both holding in a few words that could have been said in this moment as they sat among the rows of books, listening to the quiet music.

"Gabs…" Troy started slowly.

Gabriella lifted her head from his shoulder, turning to face him as he sat in what looked to be shock. Just by looking at him, Gabriella could tell that his heart was pounding and that he had something on his mind.

"What?" She asked in a whisper, not wanting to interrupt his realization by a loud response.

"Uh…"

Gabriella tilted her head slightly in confusion, seeing that he was kind of nervous while still holding her hand in his.

"What?" She repeated in the same tone.

"I think I love you." He whispered to her as if he was trying to keep it a secret, but still wanting to let her know.

Gabriella felt her breath catch in her throat as her heart beat quickly inside of her. Her hands, she knew were probably sweaty now as they rested in Troy's and she opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out as she sat in shock. Gabriella couldn't breathe as she let go of Troy's hand, feeling her head spin as what he admitted to her echoed in her memory. She kissed him quickly on the cheek before standing up, stepping over the box of books that blocked her path.

"I think… I think I have to go." She nodded, looking down at him.

Troy closed his eyes as the dinner he had hours before debated about coming back up. This is why he never said the 'L' word. The 'L' word got people in trouble, and it definitely broke hearts because his heart was currently sinking into his stomach, causing him to regret admitting his feelings to her.

"Okay." He said with a nod. "See you later."

"Goodnight." Gabriella squeaked as her voice cracked while she took a few more steps away from him.

"Yeah. Goodnight." He replied, staying in his spot on the floor.

Gabriella walked quickly down the row of books and when she got a good distance away from where Troy was, she ran. She ran to her car and drove home quickly and she ran into her room where she tried not to hyperventilate as she sunk into her bed. She definitely wasn't expecting Troy to use the word he hated the most and she didn't expect to run away from the word like she had. She simply hated love—At least she was supposed to anyways.

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Much love,

unknownbyhim22