Sorry for the serious delay. I've got other stories to do. There's a Trevorrie (Trevor and Corrie from Suite Life), which I will be posting soon in the Suite Life section. And then the video sequeal for "How Can They Not Tell."
I'll be working hard to get you guys more updates.

Author's Note: This chapter takes place a while after the last one.

With much love,
Kat

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"We could use these flowers to decorate the archway," Gabriella said looking through a catalog as Troy stared into space. Seeing his blue eyes clouded with thought, she took a seat next to him. "Troy, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's the matter. Now what did you say about the archway?" he answered, trying to avoid the question.

Gabriella took a hold of his hand, squeezing it with concern. "I know better," she stated, "Now, Troy, tell me what's wrong?"

Getting up, Troy walked toward the window, looking at his faint reflection in the glass. "There's no need to tell her," he thought, "This battle is between me and myself."

Following him, Gabriella hugged him, one arm under his outstretched arm and linking it with the other. "Troy, baby, please talk. I'm so worried about you." She placed her head on his shoulder, occupying the space between his neck.

"It's only between me and myself," Troy told himself again. He turned and kissed Gabriella on the top of her head. "It's nothing."

She didn't believe him, but Gabriella knew that Troy would come around to it. Letting go of him, she walked away, taking a seat.

"Gabi, is something wrong?" Troy asked, feeling the absence of her presence.

"Yes," she replied, "Is there something wrong with us? Did I do something?"

"Where would you get that idea?" Troy asked, sitting on the window sill, looking at his fiancé with concern.

"Because you seem..." she was trying to find the right word, "distant."

"Gabi, do you think our relationship is the problems?" she nodded and he ran over to her, "Gabriella, our relationship isn't the problem."

"Then what is it?"

"It's nothing."

"Well, if it's nothing, then tell me. I'm getting worried about you Troy, so worried."

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes, Troy, it would reassure me if you told me."

"Okay. Well..."

"Ringggggggggggg-Ringggggggggg!!!"

Gabriella got up and answered the phone. "Bolton residence, Gabriella Montez speaking."

"Gabi," it was Chad, "Where's Troy?!"

"He's right here," Gabriella answered, "Let me get him."

Taking the phone from her, Troy looked at her, "Bolton residence?"

Gabriella smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

"Hey Chad. What's up?"

"What's up! What's up?!" Chad yelled, "Where are you?"

"I'm at home, of course. How else would you reach me on my home phone?"

"Okay, let me rephrase that," Chad retorted, "Where are you not?"

"In bed with Gabi?" Troy joked.

Finding his humor refreshing, Gabriella pulled Troy into a passionate kiss. The phone dangling form his hand, Gabriella began twisting the collar of his shirt.

"Troy!" Chad yelled," What about the basketball game?!"

"The game!" Troy shouted as Gabriella jumped back from playing with his shirt.

"Yeah, it starts in 10 minutes!"

"10 minutes?!"

"And Coach is wonderin' where you are!"

At this point, Troy debated whether to go to the game or stay with Gabriella and tell her.

"Troy," Gabriella said, "Go to the game. The boys need you." She sat down at the table, looking at her nails.

"Gabi," Troy took her hand, "Come with me. You need to know."

"Okay."

They both left the house and rushed to the stadium.

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Inside the locker room, the team stood around their anxious coach, watching him wear a path in the floor with his pacing.

"Where's Troy?"

"He's on his way," Chad replied, "Calm down."

"No," Coach said, pounding his fist into hand, "We need Troy. He's our ticket to victory."

The team was some-what offended by his remark.

"Where's Troy?" Coach questioned again, "The game starts in two minutes."

"Coach," Chad said again, "He's coming. Just wait, he'll show up."

"Minutes before the game!" He paced to the other wall. "Our ticket to victory is gone."

"There is more than one member on this team, you know."

Turning toward the locker room entrance, the guys saw Troy walking in with Gabriella behind him.

"There are many other members on this team," Troy stated, "There's Chad... Jason... Doug... Tyler... Zac... Chuckie... Jared... Sterling... Zane... Steve... And Harley."

The boys smiled as Troy pointed to them, explaining the situation.

"These guys are amazing players. They carry as much weight as I do. They do the same drills I do at practice, they score baskets for the team, they partake in our victories and losses. But most importantly..."

Outside, the MC started to call the names of the opposing players.

"They all have the love of the game. Which I," he settled his gaze on Gabriella, "might have now lost."

"Now make some noise for our Home Team," the MC exclaimed from the court.

"Troy," Chad said, walking up to his best friend, "that was truly inspirational."

Their Coach stood there, absorbing the information.

"What Team?!" Chad yelled, returning to his old high school antics.

Only Troy and Jason understood. "Wildcats!"

"What Team?!"

The rest of the team caught on. "Wildcats!"

"What Team?!"

"Wildcats!"

"Wildcats...!"

"Get'cha head in the game." The other guys were lost again.

"Guys," Troy said over their cheering, "You'd better get on the court."

"What about you?" the Coach asked.

"I'll get out there," he answered, "I've got to change. Just go."

Troy and Gabriella watched the team shuffle out of the locker room, all inspired by Troy's sentimental and elegant speech. The door closed, leaving just them in the locker room.

"Troy, you know Chad's right," Gabriella said, "That speech was truly inspirational."

"Gabi, do you really want to know what's bugging me?" he asked, pulling off his shirt.

"Yes, Troy, I do," she answered, turning around, giving Troy some privacy.

"Well," he grunted, tossing the shirt on the floor, "I'll tell you if we win the game."

Forgetting that he was changing, Gabriella turned around, only to find that he was right behind him and she was getting a clear view of his muscular chest. "What if you lose?" she replied, blushing.

"I don't plan on losing," Troy said, somewhat cockily, "But if we do, you'll see what I'll do."

"Really," Gabriella said, placing a gentle hand on his chest, "What will you do?"

"Well, you already say that I'm going to give you one of these," Troy replied, pulling Gabriella into a passionate kiss, working his arms around her slender waist.

"Troy, are you coming?" the Coach said, coming back into the room.

Startled, Troy pushed Gabriella away. With a look of disgust, Troy answered "Yeah, give me a minute."

"Well, let's go," he retorted, leaving the locker rooms.

"Gabi," Troy said once more, "You should go 'cause if you go, I'm never gonna leave this room."

"Okay Troy," Gabriella gave him a tender peck on the lips, "Good luck, not that you need it. I know you'll win."

Smiling, he watched her leave, blowing a kiss before the door closed. Troy pulled on his uniform and ran out into the court.

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"It's the last minute of the game and the Home Team is behind by just one point," the MC shouted, "This is their last play! Can they make it count?"

Troy looked at the score board. 32-31, them down one point. Breathing heavily, he walked over to the benches, grabbing a drink.

"Okay," the Coach said, "we'll do this play."

"But Coach," Harley said between his panting, "That play's all Troy. The other team is already on him."

"But like I said, Troy's is our ticket to victory," Coach answered.

Troy sighed. Coach has been getting on his nerves lately. It's like the whole team depends on them.

"I'll do it," Troy answered, seriously thinking that it would probably be the last play he ever made. It all depended on the outcome of the game.

The whistle blew, signaling the teams to continue the game. Breathlessly, the teams went to finish off the last half minute.

The referee threw the ball up and Jason launched it to Chad. The ball was passed from Chad to Zane to Jared to Sterling to Steve to Doug to Tyler then Zac to Harley then Chuckie and finally to Troy, all under 45 seconds.

Running down the court, Troy scanned the crowd. He saw Gabriella jumping up and down in the crowd and cheering his name.

Smiling, he made his way across court. Preparing to take his shot, Troy saw out of the corner of his eye, two members of the opposing team running toward him.

Quickly, Troy lined up the ball with the basket with only 5 seconds on the clock. Launching the ball, Troy let it fly from his hand as one of the opposing players knocked him onto the ground.