A/N: I liked this chapter. Some humour thrown in there. School tomorrow :( lol. Enjoy :) Don't own HSM

Chapter 15 – Awkward

Gabriella stared blankly at the book in front of her. Taylor was getting some snacks from downstairs and Gabriella was alone in her friend's bedroom. As hard as she tried to distract herself, she found it impossible to not think about what had occurred during free period. The boy she was in love with had kissed her. It had been amazing. The way his lips had skilfully caressed her own as his hands massaged the small of her back. She blushed with embarrassment when she recalled just how much she had moaned when they hadn't even used their tongues. It had been simply heavenly. There was no other word for it.

As soon as his lips had touched hers, she had forgotten about her cell phone and had dropped it, immediately gripping his shoulders. She was still trying to figure out exactly how long the kiss had lasted, all she knew was that it had ended way too quickly for the part of her which craved Troy's touch and affection.

A text message. That was, as far as she could tell, the only reason the kiss had ended. And, even then, both had shown reluctance to stop the pleasant moment. When Troy had eventually pulled back, both breathing heavily, she had rushed to pick up her discarded phone. She was grateful for something to occupy herself with, giving both of the teenagers the opportunity to calm themselves down and figure out what, exactly, had just occurred.

Gabriella had read the text twenty times – she knew as she had counted – before the words had finally registered. She had been struck by the normality of the text. She had expected something terrible to have caused such a wonderful kiss to have broken. And yet, it had been Sharpay.

"Tell Troy I said congratulations." Gabriella mimicked in her best Sharpay imitation.

She knew that Sharpay would've killed herself if she knew what she'd interrupted but for the time being, Troy and Taylor would be the only ones who would know. She doubted her friendship she shared with Troy would ever be normal after that but she guessed that he viewed the kiss as a mistake. She based her theory on how he had reacted when she had relayed the message to him.

The first thing she noticed: he was rubbing the back of his neck.

The second thing: how he avoided her eyes when he spoke. "Oh. Well, I'd better go and change."

The third thing: he never said goodbye to her when he had quickly descended the stairs.

She knew that there was the possibility that she was over-analysing things and he was just in shock. It was a rational reaction to kissing your best friend, but he just…left. That not only left her upset and wanting to know what was going on in his beautiful head but, angered her to the point of wanting to slap him.

Memories of the tantalising kiss which was so fresh in her brain fleeted across the very front of her mind and all thoughts of inflicting any form of violence on him ceased and were replaced by the never ending want to feel his lips on hers once again.

"Mom, it's okay, I'm in my room with Gabby." Taylor's voice yelled, causing Gabriella's head to jerk up.

She finally realised that for the past five minutes which Taylor's presence was not with hers, she had been staring at her book, languidly turning the pages – and not remembering a single word on any of the pages. She was lying in the position she found most comfy to read – on her stomach, putting all of her weight onto her forearms as her ankles crossed loosely in the air.

The mattress of Taylor's bed bounced softly underneath her body as her best friend sat down, a bowl of popcorn and two cans of soda in her arms. "Honey?"

Gabriella sighed and slammed her book closed as she sat up onto her haunches. Her expression mirrored that of a sleepy child – her eyes were unfocussed, her mouth open slightly and a look of confusion was plastered on her face. "Yes, Taylor?" She asked after a moment, her tone making it clear that she was anything but okay.

Taylor silently offered her a can of soda and she felt her shoulder muscles relax as Gabriella took the can and shifted her position so she was sitting cross-legged. Taylor placed the bowl of popcorn between them as she twisted so she was sitting opposite Gabriella with her own legs crossed. "So, you want to tell me what's going on?"

Gabriella stared down at her unopened soda and ran the tip of her index finger around the rim. "Promise me you won't tell anyone." She whispered sternly, her gaze concentrated on the can which was perched precariously on her right knee.

Taylor nodded. "No one will hear it from me."

Gabriella leaned back against the headboard and finally opened the metal can, taking a long gulp of the soda. She placed it on the bedside cabinet and sighed, lifting her gaze to meet Taylor's. "Troy and I kissed." She whispered.

Taylor nearly choked on the mouthful of popcorn she had just eaten but quickly recovered, beaming at the Filipino girl across from her. "Gabby, that's amazing. Congratulations!"

"No!" Gabriella exclaimed. "Not congratulations. He just…left."

"Wait, was this because of Shar's text?" Taylor asked with realisation.

Gabriella nodded and hugged her knees tightly.

Taylor suddenly laughed and held a shaking hand to her mouth. "She is going to have a stroke if she knows that."

Despite her emotional and confused state, Gabriella managed a small smile. "I know that. Which is why I don't want you to tell anyone. Yet."

Taylor finally calmed down and nodded. "I know. So," She paused to glance at Gabriella, "how was it?"

Gabriella giggled softly. Taylor had never been boy-crazy – other than Chad – and she, along with the rest of the girls, had allowed Sharpay to take on that role. "Perfect. Like nothing I've ever felt before."

"And did you tell him?" Taylor asked quietly, her smile disappearing as seriousness took over the two teenage girls.

"Which part?" Gabriella whispered, already knowing that there were two possible implications of the question.

Taylor shrugged as she picked up a piece of popcorn an threw it into her mouth. "Either."

"No." Gabriella whispered. "How can I tell him I'm in love with him? Or that it was the perfect kiss?"

"Why can't you?" Taylor asked softly.

"Tay, my parents are his guardians. Isn't that kind of like falling for my brother?" Gabriella muttered.

Taylor shook her head. "No. And he won't be your brother unless your parents adopt him. And, with your mom's knowledge of your feelings for him, I highly doubt they will."

"My mom knows?" Gabriella cried.

Taylor rolled her eyes. "Do I need to say it?"

"Everyone?" Gabriella whispered in embarrassment.

Her friend nodded with a surprising lack of sympathy. "I hate to break it to you, but pretty much the whole school knows."

Gabriella groaned and buried her face into her knees. "Does he?" She muttered.

Taylor suddenly laughed out loud again at the thought which seemed ludicrous. "Troy? Notice anything but the way you look or the way you talk? Pfft. I've got more hope in Chad noticing that he has a new couch in his lounge."

Gabriella giggled slightly and lifted her head. "You sure?"

She nodded. "Positive. Trust me." She paused slightly as she took a drink of her own soda. "So, what are you going to do?"

Gabriella shrugged. "I don't know."

* * *

(A/N: this is HSMandChelseaFCfan)

Troy walked up the steps of the front porch in a daze; his mind replaying over and over the events from earlier on in the day. The event which could in effect have ruined his chances of ever gaining Gabriella's full trust back as well as destroying what friendship they had. But on the other hand, when he kissed her, she didn't pull away so did that mean she felt the same way about him as he did her? Also, when they broke apart she didn't pull away from him; she didn't shout at him; she didn't hit him. All he knew was that he was extremely confused about the whole thing.

He was in such a daze from his intense thoughts he didn't hear their neighbour, Kirsten, call him or notice the fact he had unconsciously opened the front door to the house and was now walking towards the kitchen.

Devon looked at Maria confused. "How come Troy didn't say hello back?"

"I don't know sweetheart, how about you stay there and I'll go see if he's ok?" Devon nodded worried in case Troy was upset with him for some reason.

Maria got up and followed after Troy who was just stood looking outside the kitchen window. Touching his shoulder, Maria pulled her hand away as Troy turned in surprise. "Oh. Hey, Maria." Troy's voice sounded dull, regretful even.

"Is everything ok, Troy? You seemed in a world of your own as you passed Devon and I." Maria commented.

Troy shrugged. "I don't know. I've just got a lot on my mind."

Suddenly it clicked in Maria's mind as to why Troy must have been down, or so she thought. "It's ok, Troy. I'm sure that you gave it your best effort." Troy looked at her puzzled. "The captaincy? You didn't get it, did you?"

Troy shook his head. "No, I got it."

Pausing, Maria waited, hoping and almost praying, for Troy to maybe burst out into a grin and shout 'got ya' or something. It didn't make sense. If he got the captaincy then why was he upset? "What's wrong then? You know you can talk to me always, Troy. No matter what the problem is, I'm always here for you."

"Thanks but I think this is something I just need to figure out in my own head and on my own. It's already complicated enough." Troy gave her a small smile for the first time since he'd entered the house.

"Just remember if you need me you know where I am." Looking around, Maria realising Gabriella wasn't with Troy. "Where's Gabby?"

The smile on Troy's face fell again. "Oh yeah, she asked me to tell you she was going to Taylor's after to school and wouldn't be home for dinner."

"Are you sure you're ok?"

"I'm fine, I promise." Turning to the fridge door, Troy pulled it open to see two sundaes in a bowl. "Is that what I think it is?"

Maria shook her head a Troy who was being a typical teenage boy where suddenly everything can change in a split second as soon as food comes into the equation. "I think Devon might want to explain that to you."

Troy walked back to the living room to see Devon sitting quietly. "So I opened the fridge and saw two sundaes, you wouldn't happen to know how they got there now would you, Big D?"

Devon turned around and grinned at Troy. "I made your favourite." Troy went to pick the small boy up and carried him back to the kitchen.

"Who's the other one for?"

"Gavvy. She was worried about you because you were worried so I wanted to make you two happy." Devon admitted, unsure as to whether or not he should have said about Gabriella being worried.

Troy smiled. "What were you both worried about?"

After being placed on a stool, Devon replied. "If you got the capincy?"

Troy smiled at hearing Devon struggle to say captaincy. "How about you give your big bro a high five then because he got the captaincy?" Devon clapped Troy's hand.

"Congratulations, Troy." Devon leaned forward and hugged the blue eyed boy in front of him. "I'm glad you're like my big brother." Troy just picked him up again and held him closer.

Pulling back, Devon suddenly remembered something. "Mommy and me made some cookies too."

Troy laughed. "Are you trying to make me fat?"

Giggling, Devon nodded. "Yep."

Troy shook his head as he grabbed the sundae from the fridge and tucked into it while Maria placed the cookies in front of the two males in the kitchen.

"What have you been up to then, Big D? You feeling better?" Troy asked.

He nodded. "I was really bored but then Mommy let me help do the cookies and sundaes and we ended up having a food fight."

Troy raised his eyebrows in surprise, turning towards Maria."You had a food fight? I'm shocked."

Maria rolled her eyes. "Don't be cheeky."

Troy feigned innocence. "I'm not cheeky am I, Big D?" Devon shook his head in agreement with Troy. "See?"

Smirking, Maria looked at Troy and found herself doing something she told herself she wouldn't do in relation to this specific topic; spoke the truth. "Maybe not always but you are definitely head over heels in love."

Startled at the comment, Troy choked on the cookie he was eating. "Excuse me?"

Devon tried to hold in his giggle. "You love Gavvy."

Watching him shake his head, Maria rolled her eyes. "Something's happened today hasn't it? It's obvious in your eyes."

Troy looked between the two. "Where on earth did you two come up with that? It's ridiculous."

"You love Gavvy." Devon teased.

Sighing in defeat, Troy stood up. "Fine, maybe I do but you'll never get me to confess to that in public." Turning, Troy walked out the kitchen and up to their room as the mother and son duo shared a victorious look knowing that whatever had happened, things were going to be interesting. Deep down though, both were scared that if anything happened and went wrong in any relationship Troy and Gabriella had, they would struggle to choose a side because although Gabriella was their daughter/sister, Troy was now just as much their son/brother.

***

Gabriella had left Taylor's house an hour ago and now her best friend was sitting in her boyfriend's room quietly as everything Gabriella told her repeated itself over and over in her mind. It was understandable why Gabriella had been pretty quiet after the revelation earlier but she just hoped that Troy and Gabriella would figure things out and finally confess to each other their true feelings.

Chad walked back up to his room with some drinks and snacks, his mind on his girlfriend upstairs. He had been surprised when his mom called him saying he had a visitor when everyone knew he was going to be watching the game tonight. Groaning at the time, he'd complained, shouting to his mom to tell whoever it was to come back later but as soon as Taylor appeared in the room, his thoughts instantly changed from his game to his girlfriend. "Mom said that if we need anything else to just call her."

Taylor was pulled out of her thoughts and looked at Chad gratefully. "Thanks. Are you sure you don't mind missing the game, Chad? We can watch it and talk later."

Chad shook his head. "The game's not important, you are; I'm more interested in what's brought you around here."

Sighing, Taylor waited for Chad to sit down on his bed before curling up into his side. "I just wanted some company."

Chad knew that it was more than that but also knew Taylor would talk when she was ready. "Well feel free to stay as long as you like and know that if you ever need to talk, I'm here for you, Tay. I love you so much and if I can help with even one thing then please let me."

Kissing his arm that was wrapped around her after his sweet words, Taylor let out a deep breath. "Just got stuff on my mind but don't worry about it. I love you too and I promise if I need you I'll come to you." Truth be told even though at the time she may not have seemed very sympathetic towards Gabriella and was happy Troy moved things on, with Gabriella also unable to deny her feelings, Taylor knew underneath it all she was worried at how confused Gabriella was and didn't want to see her best friend, the girl who was as good as a sister to her, to go through another heartache so soon after Chris broke her heart. Not that she thought Troy would break her heart but she just didn't know.

"Well how about we try and take some of that pressure off?"

Smiling, she nodded in his arms. "Can we just watch a movie or talk or do something?"

"How about we talk about what a little birdie told me about the new co-captain of the basketball team's girlfriend wanting to give him a present for making co-captain?"

Taylor rolled her eyes. "You are so full of yourself."

Chad feigned offence. "Me? I, Chad Danforth, would do no such thing. But I would like to get a kiss from this gorgeous woman I know. Any ideas if she would be up for it?"

"I'm sure Zeke wouldn't be too happy hearing you talk about Shar like that." Taylor joked as she sat up a little straighter.

Chad's eyes widened in shock, thinking Taylor had gotten the wrong idea. "No! Babe, I thought you knew I was talking about you."

Taylor laughed. "Relax you idiot, I'm not stupid." Chad let out an 'oh' as Taylor shook her head and twisted so she was lying half on top of him. Leaning down, she placed her lips over his as their lips moved together in a rhythm only they knew.

Pulling back a few minutes later, Chad looked at Taylor. "Did my parents get a new couch?"

* * *

(A/N: this is me (I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be...) again lol)

As Gabriella shut the door, her thoughts turned to…Troy…again. Even during dinner and while they were attempting – they new they would for the lack of available time they had – to have a Doctor Who marathon…backwards. However, Gabriella had looked at the clock and realised that she did actually have homework to do, highly doubting she would get it done. The only thing she could concentrate on was figuring out where the kiss had left herself and Troy as far as relationships were concerned.

She dropped her bag and shrugged her jacket off and hung it limply on the hook. She slipped her shoes off and fought back the urge to cry and padded through the hallway and entered the kitchen, seeing Maria rinsing the dishes. "Hey, Mom."

Maria turned around and smiled brightly at her daughter. "Hey, Gabby. You hungry? There's a sundae and a batch of cookies in the fridge if you are."

Gabriella walked over to the fridge and her eyebrows rose at the amount of cookies and ice cream. She grabbed a bottle of water and shut the door. "No thanks, Mom. I think I'm going to have an early night." She glanced around and then turned back to her mother. "Can I hear Don or am I officially going insane?"

Maria laughed and turned around while she dried her hands on a tea towel. "No. He's here."

"What?" Gabriella asked in surprise. "Why? When? Why didn't you text or call me?"

Maria rolled her eyes at how protective her daughter was over her son. "The hospital needed the bed and as I'm a doctor, they agreed he could come home."

"What?" Gabriella exclaimed excitedly. "Where is he?"

"The last I checked, he was in the lounge." Maria said thoughtfully.

Gabriella giggled and ran into the lounge, being greeted by a basketball game on T.V. She turned to the couch to see Devon in his pyjamas being cuddled by Troy as they watched the game intently. "Don!" She sat on the couch next to Troy and pulled Devon into her arms.

Devon giggled. "Hey, Gavvy." He turned in her arms so he could still watch the game.

"You okay?" She asked softly.

He nodded absent-mindedly. "I'm good."

Gabriella glanced at Troy and blushed when her eyes caught his. However, she was incapable to turn away. "H-Hi."

He hid his smile of how nervous she was and nodded slightly. "Hi. Was Tay okay?"

She nodded again and placed Devon back on his lap to get to her feet. She was still holding the bottle of water and she started peeling the label off. "Well, I've got to…um…you know…"

"Get ready for bed?" Troy guessed.

"Exactly. So I will see you guys…whenever." She muttered before turning around and leaving the room.

Soon enough she was in her bedroom but, she cringed. The one place she classed as her haven reminded her so much of the boy she was trying to forget for at least a minute. She dumped her bag onto her bed and crossed to close the curtains of her balcony doors. She pulled her duvet back and unfolded Troy's shirt. She smoothed the creases out and sighed softly. She pulled her own shirt over her head and started folding it, only jumping at the sound of a loud scream. She looked up to see Troy standing there, facing away from her.

"Troy!" She shrieked, rushing to pull his shirt over her head.

"Can I turn around now?" He muttered, unable to stop picturing her in black and pink bra. "I mean…uh…are you…you know…" He swallowed loudly, trying to picture her in his shirt. He let out a tiny groan of frustration at the realisation of that turning him on even more. "Decent?" He finally managed to get out in an unnaturally high pitched voice.

She immediately folded her arms across her chest and coughed nervously. "Y-Yeah. I-I'm…uh…decent."

Troy slowly turned around and focussed his eyes on Gabriella's face as he slowly stepped towards her. "I'm sorry about that."

"I thought you were watching the game?" She whispered, looking at her sock-clad feet.

Troy vigilantly reached out and brushed his thumb across her cheek. He watched her carefully as her eyes lifted and connected with his. "I'm sorry." He breathed as he pressed his lips against the cheek he was holding before stepping away, his eyes lingering on hers as started walking backwards towards the door. His fingers slowly slipped from her skin and his eyes took on an almost pleading look as they bore into hers.

"Troy…" She whimpered as she took the tiniest step forward.

He shook his head slightly. "I'm sorry. I didn't think. I'm sorry." His voice conveyed his desperation as he reached the door.

"But, Troy, I-" Gabriella stopped when she realised he was already gone. She wiped furiously at her cheeks when she realised how hard she was crying and slowly sank onto the edge of her bed. Things had just gotten a whole lot worse. Not only were things awkward enough after their kiss but, Troy had just seen her in her bra. Not just a bra, a black one with pink flowers! And he was apologising. He definitely thought of it as a mistake.