'24 hrs till us'- Troy, I smiled as I read the text that Thursday morning when I came out of the shower. He been texting me the same countdown texts every morning for the past week. I quickly got dressed in a cream coloured sun dress that stopped just past my knees. Gabriella and Sharpay had bought it for me from French Connection to cheer me up during mine and Troy's mini 'break-up' and I was yet to wear it. I could tell from the view in my window that the New Mexico sun was beating down heavily. This weekend was going to go be amazing I could feel it in my bones. I grabbed my gold gladiator sandals and book bag and went down stairs for breakfast.
"24 hours and I'm eighteen!" I sang into the kitchen
"Baby please don't say that it breaks my heart!" My dad laughed as I kissed him on the cheek
"Morning to you too Daddy!"
I grabbed a muffin and nibbled on it for breakfast, not feeling very hungry I was just looking forward to hearing Troy ring the doorbell. In fact he would be here any minute now, I smiled at the thought as I continued to talk to my Dad. 'RING RING!' that was my cue to evacuate the kitchen, I jumped up and run to the door, I had to or my Grandma would get there before me and try as she did every morning to steal my boy... so very almost boyfriend. I swung open the door and jumped into his arms as my disappointed Grandma stood smirking at the bottom of the stairs.
"You better leave my man alone Taylor!" she said approaching us,
"Here was I thinking he was mine" I mumbled rolling my eyes as I quickly grabbed Troy's arm, pulled him out of the house and closed the door behind us laughing.
"Grandma Gina's a trip" He laughed as we walked to his car and drove to school. The drive there was strange, there wasn't much talking, but there was a lot of smiling and stealing looks at the other when they weren't looking. There was a mixture of anticipation, excitement and tension in the car. We walked into school as we always did but our hands kept brushing together, as though we just wanted to hold hands. Each time it happened we look at each other smile and shyly, I was so glad to bump into Shar and Gabby in the hallway.
"TAY TAY!" they both said at the same time smiling before dragging me away from Troy. I looked back and smiled shrugged my shoulders sympathetically at him.
"That's the dress we got you! looks hot girl" Shar said smiling as Gabby nodded
"So you excited?" Gabby asked
"NO! I'm scared!" I replied as they laughed
"What for? In like fifteen hours you're gonna be eighteen and you're gonna be official wifey Bolton!" Sharpay exclaimed
"EXACTLY!" I replied "He's my first boyfriend" I whispered as they laughed
"So what Tay, Chad was my first boyfriend and we were fine" Gabby shrugged
"And anyway you guys were kind of going out for the last eight months without the kissing and dates; I mean you even did the whole dramatic 'break-up' thing and the 'disapproving' parents' routine. You did everything a couple usually does without being a couple! Only thing that's going to change is you can make-out. Trust me that's the best part" Sharpay winked as Gabby and I laughed. Guess she was right; I shrugged off the uncertain feeling in my stomach and followed them to homeroom.
That day seemed to have been the longest day of my life, it's as though time had literally slowed down. My lesson dragged on until forever, each time I looked at the clock, I could have sworn the hand was slowing down at each second, each minute passing by thirty seconds longer than the one before. All I wanted to happen was lunch to come because after that I had study and with no work left to do this year I could spend it with Troy. Troy, was it even possible to love someone as much as I loved him? It felt like my heart would jump out of my chest at the very thought of him. He just seemed to make me happy, he never completed me, no because I was already complete before I met him but he made me smile. He always made me smile, even when he was purposely annoying me, he made me smile. Even when he'd come over and spend more time discussing basketball with my Grandfather than talking to me he made me smile. Come to think of it even that time when he had been late to meet me after school, he'd made me smile. Smiling just came naturally when it came to Troy Bolton.
"10 hours and 28 minutes Mckessie" He whispered into my ear that lunch as he sat down next to me in the canteen that afternoon.
I smiled. "Hey you, how's your day been?" I asked feeling strangely shy
"It just got a whole lot better" He winked offering me some of his chicken sandwich as I shook my head to say no. I had nothing to say back, no smart comment, no flirty reply. I was dry, why was this happening all of a sudden today of all days? I bit my lip and pulled out a book, to pretend to read.
"Okay Tay, what's up?" He asked putting down his sandwich
"Nothing, why do you ask" I replied not looking up from my book
"You're reading your book upside down again" He smirked as I let out a small embarrassed laugh and put my book down.
"Nothing's up... I think?" I sighed "I dunno Troy, I feel weird around you today" I shrugged
"Gee Thanks Tay" he said rolling his eyes
"Well you're the one who asked!" I replied huffing and crossing my arms
"Okay well what do you mean you feel 'weird'?" He asked looking insulted
"I dunno Troy I just do" I replied annoyed as Shar, Gabby, Zeke and Chad approached us and sat down exchanging looks as they looked at us.
"Fine" He replied as he returned to eating his sandwich
"Fine!" I huffed picking up my book again, once again not noticing it's upside down
"It's upside down" He smirked glancing at me
"Maybe I like reading this upside down!" I said
"Okay what's going now?" Sharpay asked
"Why don't you ask your friend?" He replied "She's the one feeling 'weird' around me!" He said getting up to leave the table
"Well maybe if you didn't make me feel weird, I wouldn't feel weird!" I replied through clenched teeth, rolling my eyes
"Ohmygosh are you guys serious! That has to be the dumbest argument I ever heard!" Sharpay said throwing up her arms "Troy sit down!" She ordered as he looked at me and slowly sat back down.
"You guys are arguing because Taylor feels 'weird' ugh! Of course she feels 'weird' tomorrow you are going to be her first boyfriend! DUH, you're going to be her first kiss, her first date and God knows her first lover..."
"SHAR!" I shouted before she finished what she was going to say
"'Okay okay, but you get my point, it's natural for you to feel weird! Gabby did when Chad and her had their first date, I did when Zeke first asked me out, it's not a big deal! And Troy you should know that, you've been through the majority of the females at East High" She finished
"how was I meant to know she felt weird about that! All she said was that she felt weird around me full stop!" he replied
"'she' is here you know! I'd appreciate it if you stopped referring to me in second person!" I said glaring at him
"Now you're just being difficult Taylor" He said
"Okay, we are going to go sit over there because clearly you two have some issues! Come over when you sorted them out" Gabby said getting up as everyone followed and left
"I am not!" I replied crossing my arms
"Fine, you're acting like a three year old now" He smirked, causing me to smile
"See there's my smile" He replied smiling back "Is that why you were feeling 'weird' Tay?"
"Kind of..." I smiled shyly "Like Sharpay said you've had so many girls"
"Don't remind me..." He said "But listen if that's what making you feel weird, just remember for the last eight month you have been my only girl, I mean I haven't kissed a girl in eight month... so this in kind of like my first kiss... again" He smiled "Any way all those girls weren't you so they don't count anymore"
I smiled, there he was again, making me smile "I hate it when you make me smile you know that Bolton?"
"That's why I love doing it Mckessie" He winked as we got up to leave the canteen with his arm around my shoulder.
Troy had dropped off home at school and only stayed for an hour before making up some lame excuse about having to leave early to have dinner with his Dad. Troy never left early, ever in fact most nights my Dad had to kick him out because he often stayed beyond my curfew. I didn't mind that he'd gone early I just wanted to know what exactly he was planning; I knew he was planning something I just didn't know what it was. Anyway I was too excited about tomorrow to worry about Troy and his disappearing act. I'd spent the evening playing scrabble with my crazy Grandma who kept making up words, it was crazy. I decided to have an early night, simply because the earlier I slept the quicker morning would come. It was something I'd done every Christmas when I was younger and it usually worked.
It was eleven now and couldn't close my eyes for more than two minutes at a go. It was getting ridiculous, in less than an hour I'd be eighteen and most importantly free to love Troy. I got out of bed and decided to find a book to read, hoping that I could read myself to sleep. It didn't work, I ended up reading the first eight chapters of 'Pride and Prejudice' in almost an hour and I didn't seem to be getting drowsy yet. I got out of bed again and looked at the clock opposite me. It was nearly midnight, my eighteenth birthday was exactly a few seconds away and I decided to have a little countdown of my own, in five, four, three, two, one!
I was officially eighteen and still awake, I grumbled to myself because I knew the midnight texts would begin to come in, first being Gabby and then whoever else after that. What I hadn't anticipated on was the phone call I got when I was lying on my bed. Without bothering to look at the caller I.D I quickly picked up. Maybe they could talk to me to sleep or something.
"Hello?"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" The voice on the other end whispered,
"Err Thanks but who is this?" I asked yawning, see it was working already in a matter of minutes I'd be asleep
"Nice of you to recognise your man's voice" He replied
"Oh, sorry Troy!" I giggled "Aww you phoned at midnight"
"Of course, I wanted to be the first person you spoke to and saw when you turned eighteen"
"Aww, well you are the first person I spoke to but I think my crazy family will beat you to the whole seeing thing" I replied smiling into the phone
"Well why don't you step out onto your balcony and we'll see about that" He replied as I curiously made my way to the window, I pulled back the curtains and pushed the big glass door open. I walked onto my balcony and looked around not spotting him anywhere, until I reached the rail and looked over the edge. There he was, standing at the bottom with a small cupcake in his hand. It had a single candle in the middle. He eyes met mine and I slowly hung up the phone.
"Hey!" I shout-whispered over the rail
"Hey!" He replied smiling cheekily up at me "come down" He said signalling me with his hand, I nodded and proceeded to sneak out of my room and down the stairs, so I didn't wake anyone up. I slowly unlocked the front door and left it on its latch as I turned and slowly walked forward towards Troy who was now casually leaning up against his car.
"Happy birthday baby" He said as he pushed the small cake in front of me "Go ahead make a wish" He winked as I closed my eyes and blew out the candles.
"You have no idea how long I've wanting to say that" He said when I finally opened my eyes smiling as he pulled me into his chest with his right hand
"Make a wish?" I questioned
"No, happy birthday" He replied as I giggled and nodded "So what did you wish for?" He asked
"If I tell it won't come true remember" I smiled up at him as he shook his head
"So you're eighteen?" He asked as I nodded
"That I am"
"Wow, it doesn't feel real that we finally made it here" He smiled putting his arms around my waist as he placed the cake on the hood of his car "But I am so happy that we did Taylor, so happy"
"So am I" I replied putting my arms around his neck and looking into his eyes, the same eyes I seemed to love almost more than life itself
"Taylor Anne Mckessie, would you like to go out with me sometime?" He asked as we both laughed
"Troy, I would love to go out with you sometime" I replied smiling as a slightly surreal silence covered us.
I continued to stare at him as a million thoughts run through my head at that moment but my heart was calm. It wasn't beating extra fast or extra slow or anything. It was just beating, I didn't take in the fact it was cold outside and the cold was seeping through my cotton pyjamas. I didn't even care that I was wearing my embarrassing purple and yellow stripped pyjamas. It didn't even cross my mind that our heads seemed to be inching further and further into each other until I could feel his breathe against my face, I didn't notice him push bangs from my forehead or gentle tilt my head up towards his. My eyes closed as our lips gentle met, his hand around my waist pushing me harder against his body, the other running through my hair. There it was my first kiss, gentle and soft and oh so sensuous. I pulled back smiling before moving forward again and repeating the kiss we'd just had, this time I allowed his tongue to slowly slide through to my mouth as he slowly massaged my mouth with his tongue before we both pulled away. It was perfect, he wasn't force or too passionate, he smiled down at me and continued to place small enjoyable kiss on my lips, moving onto my nose and finally onto my forehead before he leaned his head on mine.
"I need to go in before my Dad and his gun come to get you" I whispered into the silence not really meaning it, but knowing I'd rather still have a boyfriend when I woke up in the morning
"It doesn't matter just stay a while longer" He smiled as I nodded knowing neither one of us wanted to leave that moment, I leant up and kissed him again just do I could remember just how soft his lips were,
"Can't get enough of me already Mckessie" He smirked as I looked away from him knowing it was true, I buried my head into his chest and heard him chuckle
"I really do need to go babe" I whispered, babe wow that sounded good when I said it. I mean he was my 'baby' now, I smiled as the thought as I pulled away from him, picking up my cupcake from his car and leading him to my door.
"Thanks for the cake" I smiled when we got to the door
"It's okay baby, just don't eat it" he laughed rubbing the back of his neck nervously
"Why not?" I asked amused
"Well when I got home, I tried to make you a big cake, like a real birthday cake... and well those are the bits that didn't get burned or undercooked, so yeah you might not wanna eat that" He finished as I giggled into chest
"Thanks for the heads up" I smiled as the silence hit us again, I held onto him again before gently pushing him away
"I love you" He smiled as he traced my lips with his fingers
"I love you too" I replied leaning up to kiss him again, and again, and again until it just got ridiculous we both ended up giggling. "Sharpay was right, making out is the best part" I smiled
"For once I think I agree with crazy pay" He smirked as I playfully hit him
"Stop calling her that, good night baby" I smiled removing his hands from my waist to his annoyance
"I'll see you in the morning" He grumbled as I smiled at his antics
"Hey, that's less than eight hours away" I reminded him
"Your right I waited eight months, what's eight more hours" He smirked stealing another kiss from my lips "now go inside before I refuse to let you go" He smirked gently pushing me through my door. I closed my door slowly before jumping up and down and silently screaming, so I didn't wake my family up.
"I just my first kiss, I just got a boyfriend, I just had my first kiss, I just got a boyfriend!" I sung dancing around
"That's nice baby now go to bed it's nearly one" I heard my Dad say from behind me as I abruptly stopped and laughed nervously.
"Hey Daddy! Bye Daddy!" I laughed running upstairs and falling onto my bed, finally falling asleep.
Morning came quickly, it sucked that I had to go to school on my birthday but I didn't care I was used to it by now so I showered, dressed and run downstairs.
"I'm eighteeeennnnnnn" I screamed as I run into the kitchen and jumped on my father
"I told you never to say that again!" He sighed as I giggled
"So where's my present?" I smiled getting straight to the point
"Why don't you go outside and see for yourself" He winked as I run outside knowing it could only be a car, I just wanted to see which car he'd got me.
"DADDY!" I screeched as I saw my beautiful Black Mercedes Benz CLK class Cabriolet, I run and hugged it jumping up and down, before remembering I had to thank my father
"Thank you, Thank you so much! And to think I'd been asking you for a mini-cooper all this time" I laughed as I hugged him, he handed me my keys and I run to get into my car, welcoming the beautiful smell of leather. I couldn't wait to show Troy especially because my car was now better than his SUV.
As soon as those thought run through my head, I saw him walking into my drive and smiled
"Okay, I'm gonna leave you to show Troy your new car, but make sure you come in for breakfast before you leave, you know Grandma cooked up something this morning" He winked as he playfully glared at Troy like he did every morning
"Do you see it baby?" I asked as I hugged him not wanting to take my eyes off my car
"Yeah I see it, it's better than mine" He shrugged "My girl had a better car than me, dang that's hurts" He laughed clutching his chest
"I know!" I laughed pulling him towards my car "wait where is your car?" I asked not seeing it parked anywhere
"I left it at home" He smiled
"You knew?"
"I picked it" He smiled as my mouth dropped, Troy and my father had gone car shopping together, that is something I never imagine would ever happen
"Wow, thank you!" I smirked as we leant up against my car, him in front of me
"That's it, just a simple thank you" He smirked "Our honey moon period finished already"
"Oh I wouldn't say that" I smirked pushing myself up towards his lips and kissing him as I whispered I love you against them.
We quickly went inside, hands finally being able to intertwine with each other. We welcomed the smell of pancakes as we indulged ourselves in a big breakfast, and made small talk with my family. Our eyes never left each other, smiling and smirking from across the table. He foot rested next to mine under the table and from time to time when no one was watching we'd just sit there and stare each other for longer than we should have. We finally left with twenty minutes left to get to school in my new car. I couldn't wait to see Gabby's face; she'd got her car on her eighteenth a few months ago and hadn't stopped driving it everywhere.
"Are you excited?" He asked as we got into my car
"I dunno, I have everything I want now" I smirked knowing he knew I meant him... and my new car of course
We were welcomed into school by 'crazy pay' holding up three balloons that said happy eighteen and a pink party hat on her head. I rolled my eyes at her craziness before welcoming her hug.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" She screeched as she saw my car and pushed me aside to look at it "what is this! This is beautiful!" she smiled hugging my car
"I know!" I smiled jumping up and down as Troy watched on amused, Gabby finally pulled up with Chad a few minutes later.
"Ohmygosh! Taylor! You're eighteen! AHH!" Screamed Gabby as she hugged me and then saw Sharpay hugging my car and jumped up and down joining in with the screaming.
"Oh man! How long have they been like this?" Chad asked Troy
"Last five minutes" He replied nonchalantly
We finally calmed down realising we had to go to homeroom before we were late; I reluctantly left my car not trusting the school car park to keep it safe.
"Come on Taylor, you're going to ruin your perfect record if you don't move away from your car" Troy whined pulling me away
"Okay okay I'm coming... I just need a moment..." I mumbled as I felt his lips crash into mine
"come on now!" he smirked knowing he now had my full attention "now" He said as he placed my hand in his and led me away from my car and very amused friends.
"You guys already at it!" Sharpay smirked as we walked into homeroom.
Today was going perfectly, school had just finished and rumours of mine and Troy's new public relationship didn't cause much of a stir, seeing as almost everyone was expecting it to happen sooner or later. They just wanted to know why it took so long to happen. I was now at Gabby's we were meant to be meeting everyone else at my favourite restaurant to celebrate my eighteenth. I didn't want to make a big deal about it, just wanted to spend it with close friends so Troy and Gabby had organised the evening and it was up to Gabby to get us there on time.
"Gabby it's not a big deal, I'll just wear some jeans and a nice top, it's just dinner, all that matters is that you guys are there" I replied as Gabby shoved a dress in my face, it was a new dress I hadn't seen before but she was insistent on me wearing it.
"Taylor just wear the dress okay!" She said through clenched teeth as I finally nodded and agreed, putting on the short black dress, she smiled and then pulled out some purple heels, I hadn't seen before either and insisted I wear them. I had never seen Gabby act so forceful before in my life, but I decided not to argue.
We finally left half an hour later, we were already late and then Gabby said she had to pass by my house because apparently my Dad had to see me for some reason before dinner.
"Gabby you know how Shar gets when we're late! I'll just call him!" I protested as we pulled up in front of my house
"Oh she won't mind waiting, let me just text her and let her know we'll be a little late" She smirked as she pulled out her phone and got out of the car with me.
I unlocked the door still arguing with Gabby about Sharpay, and walked into my surprisingly dark house, I made my way with Gabby to the living room shouting dad and switched on the light
"SURPRISE!" shouted the majority of East High along with my father and crazy Grandparents, while a satisfied Gabby stood next to me smirking
"OH. MY. GOSH!" I said startled "Gabby!" I screeched hugging her as she returned the hug
"Well it wasn't just me, Troy played a big part too" she said in between everyone rushing to say happy birthday and hug me. Before I knew it, the music was pumping, my Dad and Grandparents had kissed me and left saying they would be back tomorrow afternoon, but there was to be no alcohol and no boys staying over.
Finally free from crazy high school students who had now taken to the dance floor in the middle of my room, with a few sneaking in alcohol or had arrived drunk, I searched the room for Troy, finding him standing by himself watching on.
"Hey you" I smirked as I walked through a few girls to get to him
"Hey yourself, so you like?" He asked as he nodded to the party
"I love, thank you" I whispered taking his hand
"You look beautiful, Gabby said you'd like the dress" He smirked
"This was from you?" I asked as he nodded "and the shoes?" He smirked nodding again
"Well Gabby kinda helped me out with both if I'm honest" He shrugged shyly as I led him through to the backyard where it was quieter
"Thank you Troy, for everything this year" I said as we stood outside in the summer breeze
"Why? I like loving you" He smirked as he pulled me closer into him and begun to kiss me softly before kissing me more passionately as he run his hands through my hair. We finally pulled back for air staring at each other intently. Why did moments with him continue to be perfect?
"I like loving you too" I smirked back
"Good because there's something I want to give you" He replied as I nodded on curiously
"Close your eyes"
"Troy!" I huffed crossing my arms
"Taylor!" He replied in the same manner making us both laugh as I finally closed my eyes
He gently took my hand as I felt him slip something cold onto my wrist, I shivered at the touch
"Okay now you can open them" He ordered as I smiled excited
"Oh..." I murmured as stared at my wrist that currently housed a simple silver bracelet, it looked perfect, with the three diamond in had in the middle.
"Turn it over" He smiled as I nodded and turned the delicate bracelet over
"'Taylor. M, Where My Heart Is, Troy. B'" I smiled as I read it out loud "Troy..."
"No Taylor, It's true. You are where my heart is... whether that's in Stanford or Yale or Paris, just remember that wherever you go you're taking my heart with you. You feel like home to me... and that's why I'm coming to Berkeley for college next year" He finished smiling
"What! Oh my... but your Dad? Your scholarship at U of A!"
"I don't care, it doesn't matter my Dad will get over it... I don't know how to make it clear to you how much I want us to be together and we're graduating in a month and then it's summer and college and a couple of months together just isn't enough before we have to separate. I don't feel like I can ever leave you... ever... and if Berkeley is the closest I'll get to you then I'm going to Berkeley." He stated confidently "I'm coming with you"
"But Troy, you can't do that, it's your future... have you thought about this?" as much as I wanted to jump and down and be happy about what he was saying, I couldn't do it. I'd feel selfish, neither of us knew what the future held, we might break up before college or during college or after college! We weren't guaranteed forever as much as I wanted it to be forever. I couldn't let him take that risk especially because I knew just how much him and Chad adored playing basketball.
"It's all I've been thinking about since prom! Taylor I don't know what the future holds and I don't know if we'll be together in ten years time... but I don't care. I want to be with you alone, I know that I love you A LOT, I know that for sure and I know I didn't wait eight months for us to be together to spend a couple months together and then separate and see each other every break or whatever. At least if I'm in Berkeley we can say we tried to make this work and if it doesn't then I'll walk away if my heart will let me. But until then I will do whatever it takes to be with you. Besides Berkeley is a really good med. School and I can still play basketball there. The best part is you'll be exactly 31 miles away from me so I can come up and see you every weekend and versa visa. I just love you too much to be just a high school love." He finished staring seriously into my eyes, I knew then and there he meant every last syllable of what he'd just said.
"Troy... I love you too... oh forget it! YES YES YES!! I didn't want to think about having to leave you this summer either so thank you! Thank you for the bracelet, the dress, the shoes, and the party and for your heart. I promise to look after it always as long as I have it. I just can't believe you'd that... for me. I really can't explain how I feel, just know that you have every part of me and well it looks like we're with each other for quite a while" I smiled biting back tears and any inhibitions I had inside, if he was willing to take the risk then so was I.
"Come on, it's your party and you haven't even danced yet" He smiled as he led me back inside. If only he knew that I didn't need to dance when I was with him, I didn't need anything, just him. The boy who was willing to run to the west coast for without asking for anything in return. He didn't need any guarantees that's we'd be together in ten years time or any promise that I'd love him alone, even though I planned to, but he didn't ask me to. He just wanted to fight for our relationship like he'd been doing for the last eight months. He just wanted to fight for us. I loved this boy.