"Mom, I have to get to school." Gabriella said as the music shut off and Anna nodded at her daughter.
"Okay, that was really good Gabs." Anna praised as Gabriella stepped out of the bathroom all dressed for school.
It was now Monday and it would be a lie if Gabriella said that she wasn't excited to go to school to see how things played out between her and Troy. She didn't know why, but Troy is one of the first guys that she was actually really attracted too, sure she has had one night stands with other people, but with Troy Gabriella could actually see herself getting more involved with, and it made her curious why that was, maybe it was because of his eyes that told everything?
"Mom, remember, I won't be here until 4 because I have to do some homework in the library, but I'll stay later tonight at the studio." Gabriella said before she walked out. Gabriella let out a sigh of relief when she heard her mother's response.
"Okay, but I won't be here because we have a dinner party at one of my co-workers houses, and you should probably make an appearance too. You haven't been to one in ages." Anna said as Gabriella spun around with a weird look on her face.
"But then what about dance practice?" Gabriella asked as she found this strange that her mother was actually suggesting this. Sure Gabriella had been to one of these dinner parties before, but that was like two years ago, and now her mom was basically saying 'let's skip dance for one night,' maybe she was changing?
Anna sighed as she put the boom box away. "One night off won't kill you, plus you did awesome yesterday and we have a little bit more than four months to prepare for the NMD competition."(New Mexico Dance.) "And I have someone that I want you to meet."
Gabriella nodded her head as this idea spun around in her head, "Okay." Gabriella said hesitantly. "Bye mom." Gabriella called over her shoulder.
"Love you." Anna called before the door shut and she could make out her daughter's faint voice say back, "You too."
When Gabriella pulled up in her usual parking spot she was immediately greeted by Taylor.
"Hey." Taylor said in a groggy tone that Gabriella laughed out.
"What happened to you?" Gabriella asked as her eyes scanned around hoping to meet a familiar blue pair that could make her melt if she stared long enough.
Taylor held her head for a second as she shielded her eyes from the sun shining brightly down on them. "House party at Jake's last night which you didn't come to."
"And?…" Gabriella queried knowing there was more as her face faltered for a second as she noticed that Troy was not outside.
Taylor groaned again. "And I might of drank one too many and now my head feels like it's about to explode." Taylor said as they reached the steps of the school and she looked at Gabriella with a curious face.
"What?" Gabriella asked becoming somewhat self conscious.
"You seem different." Taylor said as she tried to remember if she talked to Gabriella at all over the two day weekend after the club. "You seem…happy." Taylor said slowly as Gabriella had a soft subtle smile on her face.
"That's because guess who doesn't have practice tonight." Gabriella hinted as they walked inside the school to get greeted by some of their classmates.
"Are you serious?!" Taylor exclaimed. "That's awesome, I've been wanting to go shopping with you for so long."
Gabriella looked at Taylor with a little sympathy. "But…guess who also has to go to their mother's company dinner party."
Taylor's face dropped as they turned the corner to go to their lockers. "Well…that's okay, but what's making her let you skip tonight?" Taylor asked knowing that didn't sound like Anna at all.
Gabriella shrugged her shoulders as she dropped her right shoulder to have her duffel bag slide down her arm with ease and onto the floor so that she could open her locker better. "She said she has a person for me to meet, but…" Gabriella trailed off thinking back to how happy her mother sounded this morning, and the praise she got from her, which was highly unusual especially if they were just practicing without a competition ahead of them.
"But what?" Taylor asked as she raised an eye brow at her best friend and Gabriella looked at Taylor knowing that Tay could read her so well.
"It's just…she seemed happy." Gabriella said in a somewhat curious tone. "It makes me think that…maybe there's something going on." The warning bell rang as Gabriella shut her locker and looked at Taylor to see if she was going to say anything.
"Maybe she just has some good news?" Taylor suggested as Gabriella nodded her head even though she doubted that, maybe she had big news, but not good news, Gabriella was 99.9 percent of that.
When Gabriella and Taylor walked into homeroom Gabriella's eyes scanned the classroom for Troy's piercing blue eyes, but didn't find them. Taylor hit Gabriella on the arm slightly to get her attention as they took their seats. "Chad's not here yet, do you know where he could be?"
"Maybe the gym?" Gabriella suggested as Jake walked in and took his seat on Gabriella's side. "Hey Jake." Gabriella greeted as Jake sat down flinging his backpack to the ground lazily.
Jake smiled, nodded, and answered, "Hey, so there's this house party at this guy's house on Friday, and I hear that this guy is hot, sexy, charming, and awesome at football. You in?" Jake asked as he looked at Gabriella and then at Taylor.
Taylor shrugged, "I'll talk to Chad."
Gabriella looked at Jake, "And who is this mysterious guy?" Gabriella played along with an amused smile as all her nervous thoughts about Troy were stored away to the back of her mind.
"Me." Jake said cockily. "So you in?"
Gabriella thought back to her mother's strange behavior. If her mother was this lenient on tonight's practice, then maybe she would be for Friday. Gabriella smirked, "We'll see." Gabriella felt her heart skip a beat when her eyes connected with the blue eyed boy that just walked into homeroom with Chad. Gabriella felt a smile take over her face as Troy slightly nodded at her.
"Miss Montez!" Ms. Darbus' voice rang out as the 19 students all looked back at Gabriella who was busy looking at the back of Troy's head as Troy talked to Zeke quietly. Gabriella snapped her head up and looked at Darbus as the color rose to her cheeks. Gabriella gave a nod to tell Darbus that she now had her full attention. "Don't just nod your head at me."
Gabriella bit her bottom lip hoping that her face wasn't as red as a tomato now. "Yes Ms. Darbus." Gabriella said quietly.
"It says here that you're supposed to go to gym class today and not go to the studio?" Ms. Darbus more like questioned as Gabriella's face scrunched up into confusion, but nodded anyways.
"Okay." Gabriella said distantly and before she knew it the bell rang and the students started filtering out. Gabriella looked up once she felt someone looming over her. Gabriella looked up and felt her voice hitch in her throat as none other than Troy Bolton stood in front of her with a smirk.
"Spacing out on me Montez?" Troy joked as Gabriella stood up and put on a smirk. She ended up thinking about him all weekend. But yet, she couldn't give into him all of a sudden, could she? Or else she would be another notch in his belt and she didn't want that.
"Can I walk you to your next class?" Gabriella heard Troy ask her as she pretended to think about this. How could he sound so calm? Well of course he did, he was Troy Bolton!
All of a sudden Gabriella's face got serious as she made sure that her body rubbed up against Troy's as she walked past him. "Just because you bought me one drink doesn't mean you own me." Gabriella bit her lip to keep from laughing as she caught a glimpse of Troy's shocked face. She was mentally beating herself up for not letting Troy walk her to class, but she had to make sure that she wasn't just some girl to him, and that she actually meant something.
"Dude, are you okay?" Chad asked as he saw his best friend walking out of Darbus' classroom.
Troy nodded his head as he watched Gabriella's retreating back as she walked along side some other girl. Troy saw Gabriella merely smile and nod her head before she sped up her walking and left the girl in her spot.
"Yeah." Troy said distantly.
"So you're coming over to my house tonight with some of the guys, right?" Chad asked as this immediately caught Troy's attention.
"Actually…" Troy scratched the back of his neck as Chad's face fell a little. "My mom's business is having this one dinner party and my parents want me to go." Troy said thinking back to when his mom first got this job a year ago as she became part owner.
"That sucks, but hey, maybe there will be hot girls there." Chad said just as Taylor came up to them and hit Chad on the arm for saying that. "Ow."
Troy laughed at his friends as he looked ahead of them and saw Gabriella listening to something Jake said. Troy knew that one day that would be him in Jake's spot, he just had to do it quick. "I doubt it." Troy said finishing the conversation Chad and him were sharing. "Last time I went everyone was old and boring."
"Mom, this is so boring." Troy complained as they stood in the banquet hall Troy's mom's business reserved.
Lucille rolled her eyes at her sons behavior with a pleasant smile on her face. "Honey, we've only been here for a minute, go and mingle." Lucille urged as Troy looked at his mom like she was crazy, they were all old, snobby, stuck up people that only talked about money, accounting, and other things they did at his mom's job.
"I think I need a drink." Troy said uneasily as his hands fidgeted with the light blue tie around his neck as his mom and dad both stiffened a laugh at their sons behavior. Troy turned around with a soft glare on his face as he poked his tongue out at his parents and their faces immediately turned serious, but when their son turned his back again they both looked at each other and rolled their eyes as they entered the room and were immediately beckoned into conversation.
Troy couldn't believe his parents, it was one thing to tell him that he had to go tonight which Troy put up no fight too since he did respect his parents and his parents let him off on so many things, he felt like he owed them, but to make him wear a tie and mingle with people that couldn't care less if he was there or not was another. Troy walked up to the bar as he thought about that day.
A certain brunette was in his gym class, who would've thought that. Troy just figured that was the one class they didn't have together since Gabriella usually left school last period, but now he knew after talking to his dad that Ms. Montez and him had some plan worked out that Gabriella got an A in gym class and could skip class as long as she worked at the studio on her dancing.
Troy leaned against the set up bar as the bartender was busy with some old couple at the other end as his mind went crazy just thinking about her. She wore her dance practice clothes that consisted of short black shorts, and a dark red tank top. They played dodge ball today and all he could think about was hard Gabriella could actually throw a ball, and the victorious smile that took over her face when she hit Chad and got him out. He remembered her laugh as it burnt it's sound in his head as Taylor and her clapped hands in pure bliss as their side somehow won.
"Diet coke." Troy was taken out of his thoughts when he heart a sweet innocent voice speak besides him.
Troy turned his head and saw the beautiful brunette standing three bar stools away from him in a spaghetti strap black cocktail dress that came just below her knee. Troy's jaw dropped slightly when he saw her, he hand only seen her wear slim fitting jeans with graphic Ts or if you counted the night at the club where she was wearing a sports bra that looked especially good on her. Troy smiled when he heard Gabriella giggle at a cheesy pick up line the bar tender told her before walking off.
Gabriella turned in her spot as her eyes caught a glimpse of the caramel color haired boy. She turned another 80 degrees to look at him fully in surprise. She didn't know that his mom worked at the same company her mom did. Gabriella smiled at Troy as she saw him making the first move and walk over to her.
Troy was going to take another chance, and this time he was actually going to have some sort of conversation with Gabriella unlike that morning. Troy didn't have to put on a smile seeing as it just appears whenever Gabriella is near as he now stood in front of her with his side leaning against the bar.
"Montez, how come I haven't seen you here before?" Troy asked in a cool voice. Troy mentally sighed with relief at how smooth his voice came out to be, inside it felt like his stomach was twisted into knots that would take forever to untangle.
Gabriella smirked as she brought the rim of her glass up to her soft luscious lips and took a delicate sip before lowering the glass with a twinkle in her eye. Maybe Troy wasn't the player everyone made him out to be? "I usually don't come to these things. They're so--" Before Gabriella could finished Troy cut in.
Troy smiled at how innocent Gabriella sounded, even though he knew she was anything but. "Boring." Troy cut in as Gabriella smiled and nodded at him. He knew exactly how she felt, that's why he dreaded these types of events.
"Yeah, I don't really plan it into my day to go to this dinner to get felt up by old guys." Gabriella joked as she found herself giggling when Troy let out a good hearty laugh. Gabriella looked around as she looked past Troy and then back up into his eyes. "It seems we're the only youth here."
Troy took a step closer to Gabriella as there was barely a gap between their bodies. Troy's hand rested on Gabriella's shoulder as it sensually trailed down her arm and gently pried the glass of soda out of her hand and set it on the bar table. Gabriella watched his movement out of the corner of her eye as his other hand gently played with a curl that was in front of her ear and dangling freely from the acute bun sitting perfectly in the back of her head.
Troy's face gradually got closer to Gabriella's as their eyes were locked on each other as Troy silently asked if Gabriella was okay with this, but he knew instantly that she was seeing as she wasn't flinching or backing away thinking he was some crazy person.
Troy's nose tentatively touched Gabriella's nose as their foreheads rubbed up against each other. Troy's hand that was playing with her curl moved to her lower back as it rubbed down her exposed upper back as Gabriella swallowed a moan. Troy's lips dropped dangerously low to Gabriella's lips as they brushed against them lightly as Gabriella was just aching for more.
"Then let's show them what our generation can do." Troy said huskily as Gabriella arched her back into Troy closing of the space that was left while one of her hands laid on his chest as she could feel him breathing at a steady rate that was slowly picking up speed to match her own and her other hand lifted up and started massaging the back of his neck, playing with the little hairs.
This time Troy was sure that Gabriella wasn't going to have a saucy come back and just walk away like nothing happened. Troy shut his eyes as both of his arms were stationed on Gabriella's lower back, keeping her close as he bent his head lower and connected their lips enforcing a long waited, well passionate, never wanting to end kiss.
When Troy pulled back they both looked at each other as shock flashed through both of their eyes as they stared intently at each other. Neither one of them would have imagined that a simple first kiss like that would make them feel like…that! Like there was hope in a relationship, that they could make something work, that maybe it wasn't too late to start something and forget about all their bad relationships in the past.
Both of their minds were going crazy as one of Gabriella's hands reached up and lightly cupped the side of Troy's face and traced his distinct jaw line. Gabriella knew that it would be a risk getting into a relationship with Troy right now as she didn't know if her mother would switch over into sane mode anytime soon and make her start up her usual schedule with dance, and Gabriella knew that it would hurt a hell of a lot more if she started something with Troy and got her hopes up to have them taken away from her because she didn't have time for him, it wouldn't be fair to her and especially to Troy.
Troy leaned into Gabriella's touch as her own hand found one of his own and their fingers interlaced with each other. Troy turned his head a little more into her touch so that he could swiftly in one quick motion place a kiss on the inside of her palm and then look back into her eyes, all within two seconds.
They both could feel the sexual vibe that radiated off of each other from being this close together for that amount of time. They must have been standing there for at least five minutes just running their hands over the others arms, face, waist, and back. People must have stopped to stare at some point, but Troy and Gabriella were oblivious to it.
"I think I really like you." Troy breathed against her lips lightly as he spoke.
Gabriella pressed her pelvis into Troy's and leaned up so her lips touched his as she spoke, "Think or know?" Gabriella already had a suspicion which was confirmed.
Troy looked into Gabriella's brown orbs and shut his eyes briefly as his hands ran slowly up and down her slim sides. "Know." Troy breathed out as Gabriella could almost taste his ice mint breath.
Gabriella stood on her tip toes as she connected their lips as they both kissed full on with force. "Do you know…how much time…we wasted just…using eyes…for two years?" Gabriella got in between kisses as they weren't rushed kisses. They were more of a sweet slow, lingering kiss that seemed like they could keep it up forever.
"I know…." Troy said as he kissed the side of Gabriella's mouth as they both were oblivious to some of the people around them that were in their mid fifties giving them dirty looks at the bar. "Now we can…" Troy kissed up Gabriella's jaw line loving the way she felt molded into his chest as his hands were resting on her back. "Use other means…" Troy nibbled on her ear as Gabriella shut her eyes as her two hands clung onto his back as she tried taking slow even breaths to regulate her air circulation. "Of communication." Troy said as he pulled back with a small smirk on his face as Gabriella and him were about to lean in again.
"Gabs?!" Gabriella and Troy both pulled back before their lips could connect again, each in a blissful state. "Gabriella?" Anna called as she spotted her daughter's back while she was with some boy Anna vaguely recognized.
Troy pulled his arms off of Gabriella hoping her mother didn't see wondering if Gabriella's mom was a laid back parents, or the up tight parent. Troy smiled down at Gabriella as Gabriella turned around and her mother walked forward.
"There you are dear, I have someone for you to met." Anna said and then looked between her daughter and Troy and then back at Gabriella and raised her eye brows.
Gabriella cleared her throat slightly as she shot Troy an apologetic look. "Mom, this is Troy Bolton. Troy, this is my mom, Anna Montez." Gabriella said as she smiled when Troy put out his hand like a gentlemen would.
Anna shook Troy's hand and smiled at him, nothing like how she usually acted when Gabriella was with a guy. "Troy Bolton, as in Lucy's son?" Anna asked.
Troy nodded as Gabriella tried to hold back a laugh at how Troy could quickly switch moods and go from husky sexy Troy to a suck up with the parents, or maybe this was just the mixture of them both?
"Yeah, that would be me." Troy laughed.
"See Gabs, I told you that you would meet someone your age." Anna said as Gabriella's face flushed a light pink and Troy let out a small chuckle.
Gabriella cleared her throat as she was racking her brain to try to change the subject. "Um mom?" Gabriella accidentally said a little too loudly. "Um…what's up?" Gabriella asked as Anna let out a small chuckle.
Anna put her hand on Gabriella's shoulder lightly and gently shook her with each laugh she let out. Gabriella looked at her mom like she was crazy seeing as her mom was actually laughing and joking around. "My daughter, always one to cut to the chase." Anna let out another small laugh again as Troy chuckled.
Gabriella looked at Troy with a soft glare seeing as he was adding to this unmom behavior. Her mom seemed too happy. "Mom?" Gabriella urged.
"Oh right, well I just have someone for you to meet." Anna said as she looked behind her shoulder briefly and then back at the two teenagers before her.
"Yeah, I'll be over in a minute." Gabriella said as Anna nodded her head.
"Okay, and it was nice meeting you Troy. Don't be long, we have to have an early night tonight. 5:30 practice in the morning?" Anna raised her eye brows with an amused smile on her face as she walked back over to a group of people.
Gabriella sighed as she turned around to look at Troy. Maybe her mom hadn't changed that much, but something was sure up, but Gabriella couldn't help but keep the smile off of her face as Troy looked at her with his own smile.
"Well that's my mother. Now I remember why I never invite friends over." Gabriella joked.
"Aw, I thought it was cute the way that she had you blushing." Troy teased as Gabriella lightly glared at him and then felt another smile come onto her face.
"I'm sorry, but something must be up if she's like this, I have to go." Gabriella said. "Um…" Gabriella looked up as she didn't know exactly what to say.
"Hopefully tomorrow you won't avoid me." Troy whispered so closely to Gabriella's ear as he let his mouth brush over her ear lobe.
Gabriella pulled back and smiled at Troy as she took a step away slowly dropping his hand. "Not here with my mother right over there." Gabriella said as she continued to take one step at a time backwards while smiling at Troy. "I'll see you tomorrow Troy Boy." Gabriella called back.
"I'll talk to you tomorrow." Troy said as Gabriella turned around as Troy stressed the word 'Talk'.
Gabriella walked over to her mother who was now talking to one guy who looked to be about in his late thirties or early forties, right around her mother's age. He was tall, about 6 foot with black hair and was semi tan as he was wearing a business suit. Gabriella didn't recognize him as Anna turned around with the man who was following her view.
"Eric this is my daughter Gabriella, and Gabriella sweetie, this is Eric Thompson." Anna said as Eric stuck out his hand which Gabriella shook it unsurely.
"Hi." Gabriella said as she gave her mom a curiously look.
"I've heard so much about you Gabriella." Eric said as Gabriella nodded trying to act as if she knew what was going on.
"I've…um…that's nice. Thank you?" Gabriella more like questioned as Eric chuckled a bit and Anna smiled at her daughter.
"Gabriella, Eric actually is one of the founding owners of this company." Anna chimed in. "He just transferred here a couple of months ago."
"Oh, that's cool." Gabriella said as Eric nodded.
"I seem to think so." Eric joked as Gabriella smiled and Anna laughed a little and that's when Gabriella noticed it, they were holding hands.
"Mom?" Gabriella asked as she looked at their hands and Anna and Eric both followed her gaze.
"Well you see Gabs, Eric took me out to dinner when I was on my last business trip with him and well, here we are." Anna said.
Gabriella nodded her head, she was in shock. Sure her dad left them 16 years ago, but not once had Gabriella remembered her mom dating some guy and now all of a sudden her mom was introducing her to one, is that why her mom had been so laid back lately?
"Oh wow…" Gabriella said as she trailed off as she tried to comprehend what her mother and Eric were talking about in front of her, as they both tried to get her into conversation as Gabriella just stood there nodding, trying to put on a smile. How could one moment she be so happy, and then the next go into complete shock. Gabriella didn't know what she was feeling as she couldn't seem to concentrate on something for more than ten seconds. "Oh wow..." Gabriella repeated to herself as she watched her mother actually kiss Eric goodbye before heading home.