Against All Odds

Heaven Isn't Too Far Away

Gabriella and Troy spent the next day together. That afternoon, Troy took Gabriella putt-putting (she won) and they ate hot dogs from a vendor's stand in the park. They retreated to Troy's later that night, where they had dinner and played board games with his parents. Throughout the entire day, neither Troy or Gabriella brought up the incident that had happened the previous night. They both acted as they always had, and were still the best of friends. Both of them believed that nothing substantial had changed in their relationship.

But it had.

Jack Bolton knew his son had feelings for Gabriella, but tonight he noticed something more. He saw more than just a simple attraction in the gazes Troy sent Gabriella. He saw respect, admiration, and more importantly, love.

Marie Bolton was quite used to girls being interested in Troy. She could remember dozens of nights being woken up by phone calls made by giggling girls, of days where Troy would come bursting through the front door because he had been followed by a group of girls. But there was something different about Gabriella. She wasn't interested in Troy because he was the Wildcat superstar, but simply because he was Troy. And Marie really appreciated her for that.

And neither parent could deny the newly formed sense of closeness. While they were all in the den playing board games, both Jack and Marie noticed Troy's arm around Gabriella as she leaned comfortably into his chest.

But all of this was oblivious to Troy and Gabriella.

Sunday morning Troy waited impatiently outside of the Albuquerque Church of Christ. He noticed that a few people had begun to trickle out of the front doors, so he assumed that the service had ended or was close to.

As more and more people came out, he quickly scanned the crowd looking for Gabriella. A few moments later he spotted her and her mother talking to an elderly man.

"Gabby!" he yelled running up to her.

Gabriella turned to see who was calling her name, but smiled when she was Troy.

"Troy! What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I have something to show you!" he said excitedly, taking her handing and leading her away.

"Mom, I'll be right back!" She called out to her mother as Troy pulled her away. He continued to lead her out, weaving in and out of people, and through the parking lot. She suddenly felt him stop, looking around her Gabriella was confused. There was nothing here. They were in the middle of the parking lot.

"So, what do you think?" He asked.

"About what?"

"My new car!" Troy held out his hand pointing to a red Grand Am parked right in front of them. "Well, it's not new new, but you get what I mean." He grinned.

"Wait! What? How?" She asked him excited.

"My dad took me to get my license this morning. After I passed, he took me to my grandparents where I saw this car in the driveway. I guess he bought it back a while when I first turned sixteen."

"Troy, I am so excited for you. This car is awesome!" She jumped into his arms, engulfing him in a hug. Troy wrapped his arms around her and spun her around.

"So, you want to go for a ride with me." He asked putting her back on the ground.

"Are you sure you want to take me? I mean, you're the Wildcat superstar." She joked. "I'm sure there's someone more exciting than me."

"Nope." He smiled sweetly at her. "You are the only person I want to be with right now."

Gabriella blushed at him. "Well, let me go tell my mom." Gabriella ran off, returning a few minutes later.

"She says it's okay, as long as we're safe."

"Gabby, I would never let anything happen to you." He walked to the passenger side and opened the door for her to get in. As Troy walked around to the other side, she settled into her seat, putting on her seat belt. She looked around the interior of the car and realized how nice and clean everything was.

"So are you ready to go?" Troy said starting up the car.

"Where are we going?"

"That I can't tell you." He smiled mischievously,.

Thirty minutes later, they were on the freeway, windows down with the wind blowing through their hair. Troy looked over at Gabriella, whose hand was out the window, cupping the air and slicing her hand through the wind. Her soft curls were flying in the wind, and a smile illuminated her face. He thought that she had never looked more beautiful.

"Troy this car is so nice! I bet you're so excited."

"Yeah, I am. I'm the luckiest guy in the world right now. This car, this day - all with you by my side. How can I not be excited." She looked over and met his gaze, her smile growing.

"So." she said with a sparkle in her eye. "Where are you taking me?"

"I can't tell you that Gabriella. It's a secret." He laughed at her.

Smiling, Gabriella reached to the radio and turned it up. When they both recognized the song, they began to sing along.

Would you go with me if we rolled down streets of fire
Would you hold on to me tighter as the summer sun got higher
If we roll from town to town and never shut it down

Would you go with me if we were lost in fields of clover
Would we walk even closer until the trip was over
And would it be okay if I didn't know the way

If I gave you my hand would you take it
And make me the happiest man in the world
If I told you my heart couldn't beat one more minute without you, girl
Would you accompany me to the edge of the sea
Let me know if you're really a dream
I love you so, so would you go with me

Would you go with me if we rode the clouds together
Could you not look down forever
If you were lighter than a feather
Oh, and if I set you free, would you go with me

If I gave you my hand would you take it
And make me the happiest man in the world
If I told you my heart couldn't beat one more minute without you, girl
Would you accompany me to the edge of the sea
Help me tie up the ends of a dream
I gotta know, would you go with me

I love you so, so would you go with me

As the song ended, Gabriella smiled and looked over at Troy.

"I didn't know you liked Josh Turner."

"Well, I do." He smiled.

"First John Mayer, now Josh Turner. What other secrets you got hiding up those sleeves?" She giggled.

"I like singing with you." He said so sweetly, Gabriella felt her heart flop.

"What secrets do you have Miss Montez?"

Gabriella shook her head. "I have no secrets."

"Everybody has secrets, and believe me, I will find out yours." The mischievous look was back in his eyes. Suddenly the car stopped. Gabriella looked and saw they were parked. She hadn't even realized they were off the interstate.

"Come with me." Troy was out of the car, and had opened up Gabriella's door, holding out a hand. She grabbed it and stood up. Troy stood behind her, and placed his eyes over her eyes.

"Okay, I'm going to direct you, so just walk forward." Gabriella did as he said so, but very reluctantly.

"Troy, why am I not allowed to see where I'm going?"

"Trust me Gabriella, okay? You'll love this."

They continued to tip toe along, Troy directing Gabriella up sidewalks, stairs, and other obstacles. Finally, they reached their destination.

"Okay Gabby. If you hold out your hands, you'll feel a stone ledge, I want you to hold on to it."

"Troy, where am I?"

"See for yourself." He said taking his hands off of her eyes. Gabriella looked out, and gasped. She was standing there, looking out at the Grand Canyon.

"Troy." She whispered. "It's so beautiful."

Troy smiled at her. "You told me yesterday that you've wanted to see it since you were a little girl, so I knew I wanted to take you here."

She turned to him and hugged him.

"Thank you Troy."

"It's my pleasure, Gabby."

They had spent the entire day there, but as night crept upon them, they had to leave.

"Gabby, we'll come back. I promise." He said taking her hand. He led her to the car, and opened the door for her. He got in, started the car, and began the drive home.

"Thank you so much Troy. I will never forget this day. Ever." She said.

"Well, good. That means you can't forget me either." He laughed.

"Troy I could never forget you." She said, yawning after she had finished.

"Sleep, Gabby. It's a long drive. I'll wake up when we get home, okay?"

"Okay."

Gabriella immediately dozed off to sleep.

Troy pulled into Gabriella's driveway, and looked over at her. She was too peaceful to wake up. Instead he got out, and opened her door. Gently he unbuckled her seat belt. He put one arm behind her back, the other below her knees and picked her up bridal style. With his foot he closed the door and walked up to her front door. He managed to ring the door bell with his foot as well.

Ms. Montez opened the door, and smiled at the sight she saw in front of her.

"Her room's up the stairs and to the left. You'll see it." She whispered.

He mouthed 'thank you' and walked up the stairs. Walking into her room, he placed her onto her bed, and pulled the blanket over her. He gently placed a kiss on her forehead.

He began to walk out, but stopped. "Goodnight Gabby. I love you." He whispered.

He walked back down the stairs where Isabella was sitting in the living room.

"Did she enjoy it?" She asked him.

"Yeah, I think she really did. She was like a little kid." He said causing Isabella to laugh. "Thanks for not saying anything to her about it."

"I wouldn't ruin your surprise Troy. I'm just glad she finally got to see it. She's been babbling about it since she was little. I've been working so much we hadn't gotten a chance to go, but I'm glad you took her. Thank you, Troy."

"Your welcome. I'm going to head home now, will you tell Gabriella I said 'goodbye.'"

"I will. Bye Troy."

"Bye Ms. Montez."

Up in her room, Gabriella was in deep sleep. Her mother walked in to check on her before she herself went to sleep. Seeing that everything was okay, she began to walk out. She stopped when she heard Gabriella turn.

"I love you too, Troy." she mumbled in her sleep.

Isabella smiled, and shut the door.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed that. It was definitely fluffy, but things won't always be fluff! You can see Troy's car on my profile :) Please review.