Chapter 16: Long Awaited Visit
Screaming out in joy Gabriella lunged herself at the man standing in her doorway. "What are you doing here?" she asked while still wrapped up in his arms. At the sound of Gabriella screaming everyone came out of the living room, thinking that she was in trouble. They were surprise to say the least to find Gabriella in the arms of a six foot tall, light-brown skinned man. At the sight in front of him Troy began seething with jealousy.
"And here I thought you would be happy to see me," the man said putting Gabriella down and turning to walk away.
Gabriella turned him around and hugged him once more, this time giving him a kiss on the cheek. "You just surprised me is all. I can't believe you're here."
"Ahem, ahem." Gabriella turned around; her friends were all staring at her with confused expressions on their faces. She looked at Troy, jealousy clear on his handsome face.
"Oh, my bad you guys. This is Lucas; remember when I told you about him?" Gabriella said. She was glad when she saw Troy's face calm down before he stepped forward and offered his hand.
"Hi, I'm Troy. This is Sharpay, Zeke, Taylor, Chad, Kelsi and Jason," Troy said pointing at each person respectively.
"So you're the Troy Bolton. Gabi here is always talking about you," Lucas said laughing at Gabriella's face, it was priceless. "Don't deny it Gabi, now are you going to invite me in?" Grabbing his bag Lucas made his way into the living room. "Now who wants to know what Gabi says about them when you're not around?" Lucas asked once they all settled down.
"She talks about us?" Troy asked, curiously.
"Definitely, you the most though Troy," Lucas said. "Now who wants to know first?"
"No one because you're not going to say anything," Gabriella said.
"Why? Do you say bad things?" Taylor asked unsurely.
"What? No, of course not."
"If you don't then you wouldn't mind it," Sharpay stated matter-of-factly. "Now, what does our dear Gabi say?"
"Well, let's see. She's always gushing about how she had found the best girlfriends in the world," Lucas began as the girls rushed to Gabriella and hugged her saying that they felt the same way. "She's also going about how Chad, Zeke, Jason and Ryan have become like brothers to her, that they're always there to help her. I want to thank you guys for that by the way."
"Hey, it was our pleasure. We wouldn't let anything happen to little Gabi, right guys?" Chad said. Then, with a knowing smile he added, "Especially Troy."
"Which brings me to the last person." Lucas said as he turned to Gabriella with a mischievous grin.
"Lucas, please don't," Gabriella begged.
"What? It's just amusing is all. I mean one day you're complaining about how he's the biggest jerk in the world." At this Troy's face fell. "And the next you're telling me about how he's got to be one of the world's best kissers. Which, by the way, I didn't need to know."
Troy and Gabriella began to turn crimson red from embarrassment as the others broke out into fits of laughter. "Y-you really said that?" Troy asked quietly.
"Yes, I mean no, I mean," Gabriella shut her mouth before she embarrassed herself any further. In the time span of a minute Troy went from blushing to grinning like a madman. "You better sleep with your eyes open tonight Luke."
Laughing at her threat Lucas responded, "I'd like to see you try."
"So how long are you staying for?" Sharpay asked.
"Um, two weeks. I have some time out of college so I went home. My parents kicked me out saying how I should be visiting Gabi and Ana. They told me what had happened on at the party and on Monday, and I knew I had to see for myself that you were okay."
"For being so sweet I will forget how you embarrassed me a minute ago."
"I try. So what do you have to eat? I'm starving, plane for is the worst," Lucas stated.
"Mom's staying late again so I was going to do some takeout."
"Cool, do you guys want to stay? It'll be Gabriella's treat."
"Hey!" Gabriella exclaimed.
"Well, I was never one to turn down free food so why start now? What are we having?" Chad asked.
"I have a craving for Chinese, what about everyone else?" Lucas asked. They agreed on Chinese and while Sharpay called to place the orders Gabriella showed Lucas to his room. When they got back downstairs they sat around and talked while waiting for the food to arrive. After they finished eating the guys decided to play some basketball in the driveway while the girls sat on the porch and talked.
"Luckily the old owners left the hoop here or else the guys would've been bored out of their minds," Gabriella remarked.
"Ssooooooo," Sharpay started. "Why didn't you tell us that Lucas was such a hottie?"
"Eww, Shar he's like my brother and I for one do not call someone I think of as family hot," Gabriella said totally disturbed by her friend's comment.
"I have to agree with Shar on this one though, he is so fine!" Taylor said as she high fived with Sharpay.
"Me too," Kelsi stated earning a high five from both girls.
"You have no idea how wrong that is," Gabriella said.
"Well, what about Troy?" Taylor asked with a smirk.
"Yeah, you never told us that you thought he was one of the world's best kissers," Sharpay said.
Shrugging Gabriella stated, "Didn't think it was important. I still thought he was a jerk at the time so I couldn't really say anything to you guys at the time."
"But he's not a jerk now, so how do you feel about him?" Kelsi asked.
At this point Gabriella wasn't paying attention to the conversation. She was busy looking over at the guys her eyes on Troy as he gracefully moved around. She forgot about her surroundings as her eyes examined the boy who had somehow managed to steal her heart. Despite the October chill Troy had removed his shirt revealing his well-defined chest and sculpted features. He wasn't like any guy she had ever met before and that scared her a little. Forgetting the presence of her best friends Gabriella's eyes darkened with lust as she quietly said, "God, I want him."
"What was that Gabi?" Kelsi asked shocked at her friend's straightforwardness.
"You want him? Oh my god! I knew it! You totally have a thing for each other!" Sharpay said as she jumped up and down joyously.
"You like him, you want him, you want to kiss him," Taylor chanted teasingly.
"Guys, shush they'll hear you!" Gabriella whispered frantically as she looked over at the guys.
"Well that would be a good thing, and then you and Troy will finally get together," Sharpay stated.
"I'm just not ready, not yet. Even though I feel like I can trust him, I don't know if I can fully give him my heart. Not after what happened last time," Gabriella said, getting sadder by the second.
"Oh Gabi! We didn't mean to make you feel bad; we just want to see you happy," Sharpay said.
"Thanks but I want to take it slow, until I know that I can give him my heart without having to worry about it getting stomped on again."
"Don't worry, if you want to give it to someone I have an inkling that Troy would be the best caretaker," Taylor said.