A Chance At Happiness
Chapter Five
Gabriella winced as another punch flew to Troy's face. How he could keep fighting when someone else's fists were getting in the way was beyond Gabriella. Especially with those boxing gloves being so large. Gabriella gasped as a punch went into Troy's stomach; the blow caused him to stumble back. Gabriella wanted to cover her face with her hands to hide her from the scene in front but, at the same time, she also wanted to see what happened next.
Boxing was an intriguing game when you thought of it strategically. The punches had to be carried out at the right time and at the right moment. One wrong move and you could be knocked out in a second. Gabriella noticed how every punch that Troy took, the more determined he was to fight his opponent. Troy stumbled back a little further when he ducked the punch the opposition threw. Clearly, he had not expected the opponents next move and the opposition (who was wearing blue gloves and, fittingly, Gabriella had mentally named "Blue") recognised this and tried to corner Troy.
Gabriella could practically see a look of glee on Blue's face. He knew that Troy had few options and Gabriella continued to watch with much worry. It was one of those moments when you wanted to watch but, at the same time, you wanted to look away. Gabriella found that time dramatically slowed down. Every step that Troy took back and every step that Blue took forward was painfully slow. Gabriella waited with anticipation and she felt the nerves that Troy should have; although his face was one of such determination that he looked ready, not worried – Gabriella supposed that gave some comfort to her.
Blue: another step forward. Troy: another step back.
Troy was basically cornered in the ring and Gabriella nervously held her breath. But, with one, powerful swing, Troy knocked Blue back quite a few steps. It took a little while for Blue to recover (Gabriella assumed it had been more from the shock of suddenly being hit when he had been so confident of a win) and Gabriella realised she needn't have been worried at all. Troy had known what he was doing all along. He knew that Blue would be confident. He knew that Blue would strike when he was in the corner and he knew that Blue would not be expecting such an almighty comeback.
Before Gabriella could even blink, Troy had taken his advantage and thrown quick punches to Blue. The latter couldn't take anymore and he fell with a thud to the ring floor. They counted and then it was all over. Troy had won. Gabriella let out a relieved breath – one she had not realised she'd been holding. He roared victoriously and his boxing team dramatically cheered and chanted joyously. The crowd (at least, those supporting Troy's team) loudly screamed. The atmosphere was rather unbelievable and Gabriella could only clap and smile giving the occasional whoop!
In a matter of seconds, Troy was engulfed by his team as they celebrated their win. However, somehow through the screams and cheers and chants, Gabriella and Troy managed to catch eye contact. Her smile widened and she blushed when Troy sent her a cheeky wink. Their eyes couldn't hold on for much longer and Troy was taken away to the Dean of the University of Albuquerque who was waiting with medals and the winner's trophy. Gabriella heard a few girls behind her squeal and gossip at how Troy had winked at them. Gabriella could only stifle a laugh and she felt so happy in that moment for reasons she wasn't entirely sure herself. One wink couldn't send her stomach into a flurry, could it?
She wasn't going to answer that.
The giving of the medals and the trophy didn't take that long and the crowd soon became sparse when the teams went into their separate changing rooms. But Gabriella had promised Troy that she would stay and she remained true to her word and patiently waited on the bleachers. There were a few stragglers, many of them friends and girlfriends of the opposition and of Troy's team, too. Troy also remained true to his word and he didn't take too long to change. He quickly exited the changing rooms, newly washed in clean clothes and with wet hair. Gabriella noticed that even after a fight with the few bruises, he was still incredibly handsome.
"Hi." He breathed out. His smile wide and welcoming.
"Hi." She returned.
"How did you like the game? Hope it didn't bore you, too much." Troy grinned.
"No, it really didn't." Gabriella shook her head. The corners of her mouth pulled upwards and reaching her eyes. It matched Troy's own smile which had grown when he'd heard of Gabriella's excitement in watching his game. "Congratulations. You were amazing. I never knew boxing could be so...Thrilling!"
"Thanks. Although, I have to admit, I thought I was a goner at one point."
"You looked as cool as a cucumber at every moment." Gabriella replied, although there was a hint of amusement in her voice.
"...I looked shit scared, didn't I?"
"Maybe, just a little bit." Gabriella admitted and Troy laughed.
"I don't know if you'd be interested or not but the team, they want to celebrate our victory with some drinks. I don't mind if you don't want to come and we can totally go somewhere else if you don't but they said you're welcome to join. Some of the others have their friends and girlfriends so it's not like it'd be you on your lonesome and a boxing team." He explained and he had a sweet and, quite, shy smile that tugged at his lips.
"I think that sounds good." Gabriella smiled.
"Great!" Troy exclaimed. "The others shouldn't be long. However, saying that, John likes to look at himself in the mirror for a good thirty minutes before deciding to leave." Gabriella giggled. "I think you'll like everyone, though. We can be really loud when we get together but it's always fun."
"I don't doubt it."
The couple continued chatting for quite a few minutes after and, as predicted by Troy, John had been the last one out with not even a hair out of place. The opposition had all left the gym and when everyone from Troy's team were ready to go, they left the University and headed off to a nearby bar. It was loud and rowdy, much different from Amber's Lounge, but it completely suited them as the group (accompanied by girlfriends and friends) were loud and rowdy themselves.
As captain, Troy had been nominated to get everyone their first drinks. Gabriella couldn't deny that she was nervous when he left her by herself with a group full of strangers and she half expected to be ignored. Yet, she was wrong. The person next to her, a young man not much younger or older than Troy, turned to face her with a warm and friendly smile.
"You're Gabriella, right?"
"Yes." Gabriella shyly nodded.
"I'm Alex." He held his hand out and Gabriella shook it. "It's nice to put a name to a face." Gabriella didn't answer this time; instead, her brow furrowed and Alex smirked. "Didn't Troy tell you? He's been talking about you quite a bit. In fact, I feel like I already know you with amount of times Troy's managed to add you into the conversation."
Gabriella blushed. "I hope they're all good things."
"Oh, they're good things. They're very good things, don't you worry your pretty, little head." Alex teased.
"Alex, please tell me that you're not scaring Gabriella." Troy said, handing Gabriella her drink and sitting between Gabriella and Alex and he sat comfortably close to Gabriella so his hand went round the back of the seat.
"Of course not! What do you take me for, Troy?"
"I take you for a complete shit-stiter, my friend." Troy teased and, in a boyish manner, he grabbed Alex putting his head under his arm and rubbed his head with his fist. Alex uncomfortably grunted and Gabriella giggled as the former tried escaping from Troy's grasp. But, how easy was that when Troy was the captain (and clearly the best) of the boxing team?
"Get off!" Alex wriggled around and Gabriella continued to laugh as his cheeks went red. "Okay, Bolton, I give, I give!" Troy smirked and he let go of Alex's neck. The latter then sat up and rubbed the back of his neck whilst playfully glaring at Troy. "You owe me a drink."
"What! Why?"
"You could have made me bald, Bolton. Bald!"
Troy rolled his eyes and Gabriella loudly laughed. After Gabriella's first encounter with Alex, it was a really enjoyable and relaxed evening; one full of laughs and jokes and teases. Every member of the team, their friends and other halves were fun and lively; especially Alex who was basically the life of the party. By the end of the evening, Gabriella was exhausted. She had laughed harder than ever before and it was reaching midnight when Troy asked if she wanted to go.
It had been arranged that Taylor would take Gabriella to the University and Troy would drop her home when they were finished. It had been Troy's idea and, honestly, his motives behind it had been so he could spend just that little bit more time with the brunette. Gabriella welcomed his idea with open arms, the same idea in her own mind.
Gabriella happily, although tiredly, got into Troy's truck and let out a contented sigh. The evening had been such fun and she hoped she'd be able to do the same again at a later date. Right now, however, she was tired but the journey home was as relaxed as anything. The more time she spent with Troy, the easier it was to just be around him.
"You're friends are crazy!" Gabriella heartily giggled.
"You think they're crazy? You should meet, Chad. He's in a whole different world." Troy replied.
"Chad? He's the one you've been friends with since kindergarten, right?"
"Right."
"That's cute. I met Taylor when I was in middle school." Gabriella answered. "But she's still the best. I honestly couldn't imagine being around without her." She said and Troy smiled. "If you had any problems, no matter what it was, you would go to Taylor. But she also has a temper on her." Gabriella's eyes slightly widened. She was thinking back to those times that Taylor had been fuming. "You do not want to be on the wrong side of Taylor McKessie. She would, no doubt, rip you apart in seconds."
"She sounds...Interesting." Troy chuckled.
"She's lovely really. And she knows basically everything. Ask her a question and she'll know it."
"You clearly think very highly of her."
"I really do. She's my best friend...I suppose it's because she's always been there, you know." Gabriella explained. "Whenever I've needed someone, she's been right there. She'd drop everything for her friends if they wanted her to...She has brilliant timing." Gabriella fondly smiled.
"The same can not be said for Chad. He has horrendous timing." Troy replied and his face scrunched into a wince. "I remember when we were at East High and we were in this English exam." He began to tell his story. "Chad and I had no clue what we were doing. We'd been playing basketball instead but we had decided that morning to help each out during it."
"So, you cheated." Gabriella added.
"Not cheated, just helped one another when we needed it." Troy replied.
"Cheated." Gabriella corrected.
"Fine then, we were cheating, although I would still call it helping each out." Troy playfully glared and Gabriella sent him a cheeky smile. "Anyway, we were basically passing notes with questions and answers. It was working really well and then, the teacher decided to walk around and see how we were doing instead of the marking they'd been doing before. So, when the teacher was walking up our aisle, Chad was sitting next to me, he decides to pass me the note, right in front of the teacher. Needless to say, we got a detention every day after school for a week." Troy said. "My Dad was livid."
"Serves you right for cheating." Gabriella teased.
"Oh, and you have never cheated before?"
"Of course I haven't!" Gabriella defended.
"Likely story."
"I haven't, I don't need to cheat because I study."
"I'm afraid I don't know the meaning of that word." Troy said and Gabriella heartedly laughed again.
They reached Gabriella's house in good time. To the both of them, it felt like it had been too quick and wished for more time. Troy slowly pulled up in front of Gabriella's house and stepped out of his car along with Gabriella before walking her to the door like a gentleman. Gabriella stifled a yawn but Troy saw her do this and smiled to himself.
"Thanks again for coming tonight." Troy said. "Seriously, I'm really glad you came, it's been a great night."
"I enjoyed myself. I'd like to come to more of your matches." She quickly added. "If that's alright with you."
"Definitely! I'd love for you to come see more." Gabriella yawned again. "I'll leave you to get to bed."
She gratefully smiled and Troy leant in. At first, Gabriella thought he was going to kiss her cheek like he'd done before but, then, she realised he wasn't aiming for cheek; he was aiming for her lips. He hadn't planned on this himself but she looked so irresistible standing there that he couldn't help himself. Gabriella didn't even attempt to move and she licked her lips with anticipation. He drew nearer and nearer and Gabriella found herself angling her head upwards. His lips were so close, she could feel his breath on her face. It was warm and comforting. His lips brushed against hers and Gabriella felt the butterflies fluttering in her stomach and then, just as their lips were about to touch again-
Troy's phone loudly rang.
"Damn it." He irritably muttered. Gabriella felt her cheeks heat up. She fully registered that they almost kissed. God, how she wanted that kiss so badly! He pulled his phone out of his pocket and rolled his eyes, holding it up for Gabriella to see. Chad's name lighting up. "I told you the boy had bad timing."
"I am so jealous!"
Gabriella dipped her head down and shyly smiled. It was Monday morning and the moment Gabriella had stepped onto East High premises, Taylor pounced wanting all the information from Friday night. They had hastily made their way up to the roof. It meant that they would be comfortably alone and no one could eavesdrop and hear them; especially Heather and Sharpay and Kelsi.
"And he told his family not to come to that match, just so you could watch it?" Gabriella nodded and she couldn't hide the smile that pulled on her lips. "Wow, that's something. Well, there's no doubt about it, he definitely likes you!" Taylor exclaimed and Gabriella blushed. "I can't believe it! Troy Bolton!"
"Taylor, don't shout it." Gabriella scolded and, although there was no one, nervously looked around. "Anyone could hear you."
"We're on the school roof, how many people could actually hear me?"
"You honestly don't realise how loud you are, do you?"
"It's my greatest flaw." Taylor dramatically sighed, placing the back of her hand on her forehead and then giggled with Gabriella. "Anyway, enough about me, back to Bolton, when are you going to be seeing him again?"
"I...I don't know." Gabriella honestly replied. "We haven't planned anything but we're texting a lot." She paused. "You really think he's interested?"
"Are you kidding me? Of course he's interested, you numbskull!" Taylor said and looked stunned at Gabriella. "You think he'd go to all that trouble to make sure you could watch the match, take you out for dinner, meet his boxing friends if he didn't like you even a little bit?" Taylor made a very fair point.
"I suppose." Gabriella said. "Also...We...Well...We almost," she lowered her voice, "kissed."
Taylor would have screamed if she knew Gabriella wouldn't hit her for it. "Really?" Gabriella shyly nodded. "That's great! How could you even question him being interested when you almost kissed? More importantly, why did you not tell me this sooner." Gabriella shrugged. "You should have called me straight after, no matter what the time, Girl...Wait, but how did you almost kiss?"
"His phone rang."
"Oh, that's shit." Gabriella nodded in much agreement. "I bet it was one of his friends."
"Yeah, Chad."
"Knew it. Men have such bad timing. Well, most of them."
Gabriella nodded again but sighed when she heard the school bell ring. "Come on, we better get to homeroom before Darbus flips a lid."
That evening, when Gabriella returned home after her ballet practice, she had expected to go straight to her room in order to complete her homework. It was how her Monday's usually went and why should this be any different? Instead, she found herself face-to-face with her parents. They looked very proper (as always) in their suits and stern (as always). How long had they been waiting by the door for her to return? Gabriella wondered to herself.
"Gabriella," he mother began with the same sharp and controlling voice, "your Father and I needed to speak with you." Gabriella nodded, waiting for them to continue. "This Saturday, there will be a social event. It is for your Father's business so, naturally, it will be hosted here." Gabriella nodded, again. It wasn't unusual for her parents' business parties to be held at home.
"We expect you to be on your very best behaviour." Robert added.
"There is a dressmaker currently in your room with Louisa. We've selected some designs for you to choose from but you must make your decision quick because she doesn't have a lot of time to make it. She'll need to take your measurements as quickly as possible so hurry upstairs as fast as you can." Christine demanded.
"Okay."
Gabriella trudged passed them and began making her way up the stairs. "Oh, and Gabriella?"
"Yes." Gabriella turned.
"Make sure you mingle at the party. You're a representative to both your Father and myself." Christine explained. "Your Father has a lot of important people to impress and you must make sure you don't ruin it for him." Gabriella nodded and turned but she was called back, again.
"And smile, Gabriella." Robert told her. "People will want to talk to you if you smile."
"Okay."
"Make it easy for the dressmaker, won't you, Dear?" Christine crisply asked. "Choose quickly but wisely."
"I will."
"Louisa will help you if you need it."
"Okay."
"And I've left a timetable on your desk explaining the precise timings for Saturday."
"We need everything working to those exact timings, too." Robert added.
"Your Father's right," Christine nodded, "it's best if you memorise them."
"Yes, I think that'd be a good idea." Robert agreed. "We need you to be perfect."
"Okay."
"And don't forget to do your homework afterwards."
"I won't."
Business parties were the worst.
There was nothing to do for a seventeen-year old. Gabriella was just surrounded by people in their mid to late forties and they were generally the younger ones out of the many businessmen and women that wandered around her home. She had always hated these social events because she always had to pretend to be someone she wasn't.
She had to laugh when she didn't find jokes funny and look interested when really she wanted to yawn. Gabriella knew she wasn't a good actress. She hated being in the spotlight and to have all that attention on you but this, this business world around her, was all an act! And her parents were the directors, the puppeteers if you will. They were always there, watching, directing and pulling her strings. Sometimes, Gabriella would finish a conversation with one tedious person only for her mother or father to look at her with a stern gaze in their eyes which told her to hurry up and find another person to talk to. If she didn't, Gabriella would certainly fail them.
If there was one thing Gabriella never wanted to do, it was probably to follow in her parents footsteps and go into business. If her childhood had taught her anything, it was that business parties were full of false and pretentious people that were either too drunk to remember you or constantly judging you and that wasn't by your personality but the way you presented yourself. And yet, Gabriella knew it suited her parents well because they had this dominant, powerful vibe they gave off and you'd be mad in saying they weren't any good because they really were intelligent people with plenty of ideas that would shape the future.
But it wasn't going to be Gabriella's forte – because business parties were the worst!
"Gabriella?"
Gabriella swiftly turned on her heels and her eyes went wide with surprise. "Ryan?"
"What are you doing here?"
"This is my parents' business party."
"Wait, so, this is your house?" Ryan asked.
"Yes." Gabriella nodded and Ryan gave a low whistle of appreciation.
"Well, it is very nice." Gabriella mumbled her 'thanks'. "My parents were invited. I believe my father is doing business with yours." Gabriella nodded. She wasn't really interested but it would be rude to not respond in some way. "What are the chances? I expect that if they really do do business with one another then we'll be spending more time with each other." Ryan said and he looked extremely pleased with himself.
"I suppose so." Gabriella quietly replied.
"I'm really glad you're here though because I've run out of things to say with these old people." Ryan twitched his head to a group of elderly businessmen who were laughing, very obnoxiously, whilst downing their champagne flutes. "They're a nightmare to converse with."
"Same problem here." Gabriella answered and she was genuinely glad Ryan was there. Finally, someone her own age who would actually talk to her. "These things are never any fun. I hate coming to them but I'm obliged since it is my parents' party." She said with an undertone of impatience and boredom. "I just hope this evening goes by quickly."
"It won't." Ryan replied. "Business parties never go by quickly for people like us."
"And, sadly, that is the truth. No matter how hard you hope."
Ryan loudly chuckled and, right then, he very much resembled the fat businessmen that had rosy cheeks from drinking too much. Gabriella realised that Ryan would probably fit into this scene very well when he was older, although she couldn't actually imagine him to be fat. Ryan was too obsessed with his own image for him to gain any pound of fat.
That and Sharpay would most likely kill him for being her overweight, twin brother because that would imply that she could easily pile on the pounds, also. It sounded ridiculous (it was ridiculous) but that was Sharpay's way of thinking. But it just emphasised to Gabriella how different she was to Ryan. And how different Ryan was to Troy. This wasn't her world but it could easily be Ryan's.
"Do you want to go somewhere else for a bit?" Ryan suggested. "Get away from these lot?"
"Er..." Gabriella scanned the room until she found her parents, both of whom were in a deep discussion with important people, no doubt. But, she knew they wouldn't notice her disappearance and this may be the only chance she'd have. "Sure."
"Troy, why are you defending her? We're your family!" Heather furiously complained.
"That does not mean you can just be complete bitches!" Troy scoffed. Sharpay and Heather's jaws almost dropped. "I can't believe you would even consider being so rude and horrible to someone you barely know!" Troy exclaimed and with every word, he seemed to get more and more frustrated.
"Gabriella Montez is nothing but a freak!" Heather childishly stamped her foot.
"Heather! Stop it, now!" Troy growled.
"I don't understand it," Sharpay said, "why are you defending her? You don't even know her."
"That doesn't matter, Sharpay." Troy sharply replied. "What you're doing is wrong."
"Oh, boo-hoo, I'm doing something wrong," Heather mocked, "because I haven't done that before."
"It's bullying!"
"We hardly talk to her!" Sharpay argued.
"But when you do, you are cruel!" He exclaimed. "Why do you even do it? Do you think you're cool?" He glared and Heather grinded her teeth together. "I don't even care what your reasoning is. Stop doing it. Because if you don't, I swear to God that I will put a stop to it myself." He threatened.
"Why do you care?" Heather screamed. "I can't believe my own brother is taking Montez' side."
"I can't believe he ruined a perfectly good evening." Sharpay muttered under her breath.
"I wasn't the one to go off into a tantrum." He shot back. "I was just telling you that you should lay off of Gabriella and then you both started yelling!" He loudly exclaimed. Sharpay and Heather knew he was right. The three of them had been watching a film when he brought the subject up in a calm manner and they had just snapped in response. "The pair of you need a reality check! You think you can behave this way after school?"
"Shut up, Troy!" Heather whined and she folded her arms across her chest.
"Seriously, you better grow-up, the both of you," he said, "otherwise I have no choice but to tell our parents."
"Don't be a dick, Troy."
"Coming from the little girls who feel the need to bully a perfectly innocent person everyday!"
"What's it to you, anyway?" Sharpay said.
"It has nothing to do with him." Heather added and her lips pursed together.
"Actually, when it's my sister and my cousin who are making a reputation of bullying for themselves then it does have something to do with me." Troy angrily replied. "This is your warning." He looked between Heather and Sharpay. They had confident stances but their eyes held worry and concern. "I swear, if I hear that you've been picking on Gabriella again, I will do something worse." Troy stomped out of the room...He couldn't stand to be around those two girls for much longer. Right then, he just wanted to talk to Gabriella.
Ryan and Gabriella moved outside into the cool, fresh air. It was a dark but very clear night. The stars sparkled and shone beautifully on the velvet canvas of the night sky. There was a light and refreshing breeze on a warm evening and the teenagers' features were only lit up by the lanterns that hung around her garden.
"That's better."
"Much." Gabriella agreed.
"Can't hear any of their pompous laughing, now." Ryan chuckled and Gabriella nodded. Gabriella was facing away from Ryan, unaware of his eyes that wandered around her figure. Instead, she was staring at the fountain and she smiled as her thoughts drifted to Troy. However, Ryan interrupted her. "I don't think I've told you this yet, but you look really gorgeous this evening."
Gabriella weakly smiled. "Thank you."
She reached out and brushed away the non-existent crinkles on her long, black dress that fell to the ground. It had an intricate, silver design that wound round her dress from her waist up to the top of the dress. Surprisingly (for Gabriella), the dress was strapless and her hair was pinned up into a neat, curly bun. Ryan was right, she really did look gorgeous. He, himself, looked rather handsome with his traditional, black and white suit but Gabriella didn't comment. Ryan already knew it himself.
"Although, I'm not surprised." Ryan casually said. "You always look gorgeous."
Gabriella's cheeks heated up with embarrassment. Suddenly, this all felt very uncomfortable and wrong – not to mention that Ryan had managed to sidle closer (at first, unnoticed by Gabriella) and she could feel his chest against her shoulder. Gabriella really, really wished she hadn't decided to leave the party to be alone with Ryan. What was she thinking? She had already realised by now that the rumours were true and Ryan did, in fact, fancy her. Gabriella just prayed he didn't.
"I've been meaning to speak with you for ages, now." Ryan said in her ear, so gently it was almost a whisper.
"Really?" Gabriella subtly shuffled away from Ryan.
"Really." Gabriella cringed and Ryan moved closer.
"Maybe, we could talk about it on our way inside?" Gabriella suggested. "My parents will wonder where I am."
Gabriella turned and tried to walk away. "Not just yet." Ryan caught Gabriella's arm and pulled her back. "I really needed to just tell you something." He carried off a confident smile well and he held it in place even when Gabriella nervously gulped. "It probably won't come as a shock to you. I've made it obvious enough, I feel and the gossip around would've just told you anyway."
Gabriella's palms began to sweat but it wasn't in a Oh-I've-been-waiting-all-my-life-for-this-moment kind of thing but rather a I-need-to-get-away-from-him kind of way. "Really, Ryan, I think my parents are looking for me. I believe I just saw them and-"
"I really like you, Gabriella." Ryan interrupted. "I can't stop thinking about you."
"Ryan-"
"I mean it, Gabriella. I really mean it. You are on my mind twenty-four-seven!" He exclaimed.
"Ryan, I don't think we're-"
But Gabriella didn't have any chance to tell him because Ryan had grabbed her face with both hands and pulled her lips to his in a sloppy and very unromantic kiss (at least, it was that to Gabriella). Gabriella's eyes widened and her hands waved around a bit before putting them on Ryan's chest and pushing him away.
"Ryan, I-"
"You can't even imagine how long I've been waiting to do that."
God, this was awkward. "Ryan, I don't know how to tell you this but..." Ryan eagerly waited. "I don't like you like that."
And for Ryan, time stopped whilst everything just built up into one awkward brick wall. Gabriella couldn't think of anything to say and Ryan was too shocked to talk. Thankfully, Gabriella had been holding a clutch bag and it began to ring shrilly in the quiet air. Thank God! She said in her mind and excused herself from Ryan.
"I'm sorry, would you mind if I took this?" Ryan paused and then shook his head.
Gabriella couldn't have run off quicker. Instead of going back inside (where her parents were definitely going to catch her with her phone at the party), Gabriella walked further outside and out of earshot from Ryan. She couldn't let him finding out (especially not now) that his cousin, Troy, was calling her. Pressing the green button, she put it to her ear and gave a happy and relieved sigh when she heard Troy's voice.
"Hey, Sweetheart."
"I am so glad you called."
girlwithbrowneyes:
Hello! I'd just like to apologise for the delay in this chapter. I've been studying, taking exams and still completing homework. You'd think that after our exams, they'd give us a break but oh no! Also, I've been getting a couple of waitressing jobs here and there so even less time to write but summer is almost here!
I know this chapter is in short parts but it's exactly what needed to be shown. I don't want to put in long scenes for it to be boring, y'know? Fingers crossed, you all enjoy this one still and I do believe the kissing booth scene will be in the next chapter!
Thank you to yogaluva, pumpkinking5, Bluebell140, ilovesmiles, lovinzacefron93, icebaby26, SimpleThings, xZanessaFreakx, sa7rah and annabethchase999. Your words are wonderful! Also to Fairyvixenmaiden, really enjoying our PM conversations. :)
Also: Go to my profile for ACAH BANNER! :D
Hugs and Kisses,
Olivia.
Disclaimer: I do not have any affiliation with the Disney/HSM franchise nor do I own any of the recognised characters; only the plot and my imagination.