I don't own anything.

Sorry for the long delay.

Chapter Nineteen

"Guess what I just got!" Troy stated as he leaned against Taylor's doorframe, she looked up from her computer and immediately smiled at him as he danced into the room waving a little card in the air. Crossing her arms over her chest, she studied him for a moment before saying.

"Um, I don't know a permission slip from your mom so that you can spend the night in my room." she asked with a small smile. Troy rolled his eyes at that and walked further into the room while slowly shaking his head.

"As much as you would like that, no that isn't what this is. This right here is my license baby." he said as he pumped his fist in the air. "And you know what that means. I get a car and you get to be the first lady of my ride."

"Sounds fun." Taylor said softly as she looked up at him for a moment. It had taken time but now she was very comfortable with riding in the car while Troy was driving. Walking further into the room, Troy sat down on the edge of her desk and looked at her.

"So where do you want to me take you first?" he asked with a bright smile on his face as he wiggling his eyebrows at her. Taylor blushed a bit underneath his stare and then graced him with a small smile. "Anyplace you wanna go just let me know and we'll head on out."

"Anyplace?" Taylor asked while tapping a finger along the bottom of her chin. "Geez, that gives me a lot of places to think about, does Albuquerque have a Chip'n Dales." Troy's mouth dropped open in shock at her question right before he rapidly started shaking his head.

"Taylor!" he exclaimed in shock as he looked down at her and rapidly shook his head from side to side. "I can't believe you just said that. "You have to be joking, wait I know. . .you've been spending to much time with Sharpay." he said. Taylor just laughed at his statement and reached out to place a hand on his knee.

"I'm just playing Troy. . .but seriously what do you want to do?"

"Entertain you." he answered right away with a quick smile. "As far as I'm concern there's absolutely nothing wrong with that." Taylor smiled at his answer as she slowly removed her hand from his leg.

"We could go and see a movie."

"Dinner and a movie." Troy added hopefully, he really wanted to take Taylor out for a night on the town. Even though, their town was small he still wanted to take her out where it could be just the two of them.

"That sounds fine. . .do you have practice though?" Taylor asked as she realized that it was Friday night. Troy shook his head and gave her a small smile.

"Naw, Coach gave us the night off. You know since playoffs are next weekend. He said we need a weekend to unwind and relax and I can't think of a better way to do that than to spend time with you." he proudly said as he looked at her.

"Well then I guess we can enjoy the night with dinner and a movie." Troy pumped his fist in the air and smiled down at her.

"You're gonna enjoy your night I promise baby. We are so gonna enjoy tonight."

"What should I wear?" Taylor asked as Troy hopped off her desk and made his way towards her bedroom door. He stopped at the question and turned around to look at her for a moment before smiling.

"Something nice which shouldn't be hard cause you alway look beautiful." he said with a wink as he slipped out of her room. Taylor smiled as he disappeared down the hall to his room. So tonight they were actually going to go on a date. Reaching out, she quickly grabbed her cell phone and dialed Sharpay's number.

"Hello?"

"Sharpay girl it's me Taylor." she listened for a moment as Sharpay shuffled around on the other edge.

"Yeah, what's up."

"Well Troy and I are going on a date tonight." Taylor exclaimed happily as she looked over at the door to make sure Troy was making his way back by her bedroom door. She could hear Sharpay cooing over the line.

"Ohh! And let me guess this going to be the first date where he's driving and you're okay with it." Sharpay asking knowing, Taylor picked at some imaginary string on her pants' leg and nodded her head. She trusted Troy with a lot of things and one of those things were her safety. She knew he wouldn't do anything to hurt her and she knew he wouldn't do anything outrageous in the car while she was riding with him.

"Oh I trust him." Taylor promised softly as she looked at the picture of her and Troy on her desk. "I just a little nervous is all. . .he told me to wear something nice but I-."

"Girl please, I know you're not about to doubt your looks. I know you aren't about to do that. I mean come on the man loves you to death and I know for a fact that he thinks you are beautiful. . .the most beautiful girl he has ever seen." Sharpay replied quickly hoping she could put her friends fears at ease.

"Aw! Thanks Sharpay."

"Please girl don't thank me for stating facts." she replied softly. "Now you go ahead and wear something amazing and knock his socks off and don't worry about anything else cause you'll be fine I promise."

"Thanks Shar." Sharpay laughed on the other end of the phone and Taylor could just imagine her shaking her head.

"That's what friends are for, Tay. To help you pick yourself up when you're doubting yourself." Sharpay stated firmly. "Now I think I need to get off the phone with you so you can ready for your date, but you be sure to call me and Gabby once you're done so we can hear you dish about your night out on the town with Troy Anthony Bolton." Taylor laughed at that statement, she should have known Sharpay wouldn't pass up the chance to hear some gossip even if it was from one of her best friends.

"Alright I'll make sure to call and dish."

"Good, now I'm gonna let you go. If you want my opinion on some outfits just pic-text me and I'll tell you which one I like."

"Okay thank you Shar."

"No problem, Taylor. Just have fun with lover-boy okay." Taylor giggled at the nickname that Sharpay had just made up for her boyfriend and nodded her head.

"Alright I'll have fun. . .although I don't think you need to tell me something like that." she said with a giggle.

"Good I've taught you well. Okay well I'm gonna let you go then."

"Bye." Taylor said as she hung up the phone and then sat it back down on her desk. She stared at her computer screen for a minute before getting up so she could get ready for a night on the town with her boyfriend.

Lillian Bolton walked downstairs and saw her son sitting on the sofa dressed rather nicely, leaning on the banister, she looked down at her and smiled. "And where are you off to this evening?" Troy looked up at his mother and blushed for a moment before smiling.

"Me and Taylor are going out on a date tonight. First day of me having my license and I wanted to celebrate accordingly." he said with a wink as he looked over at his mother. Lillian walked into the living room then and smiled down at him.

"That sounds fun. . .but you know what I expect." Troy just smiled and nodded his head as he looked over at his mother.

"Yeah mom, I know you want me to be on my best behavior but you know what maybe you need to talk to Taylor about that as well cause she's been looking at me in a certain way and-." He trailed off as Taylor made her way downstairs while shooting him a look that dared him to finish that statement. Glancing back over at his mother, he shook his head and sighed. "Nevermind-Taylor you look lovely." he said alerting his mother to his girlfriend's presence. Lillian turned around and smiled at Taylor as she slowly walked into the room. Troy and Lillian both took in her outfit. She was wearing a black skirt with a nice golden sweater that draped across her body and showed off her curves. Troy grinned at her and stood up from the sofa. "Like I said before, Tay you look lovely."

"You look great too, Troy." Taylor said blushing slightly because of the praise. Troy grinned at that while Lillian just silently looked between the two of them. She had to admit that they reminded her of when she and Jack were young. It seem that their son was following in his father's footsteps by finding a serious girlfriend while in high school.

"You both look great. . . now I don't want you all out all night okay. Make sure you come back at a decent time."

"We will Mom I promise." he said with a bright smile as he looked over at her and then made his way over to Taylor and quickly took her hand in his. He felt the smile widen on his face as she leaned into his side.

"Don't worry Ms. Lillian we'll be back well before curfew."

"Oh come Taylor don't tell her that. We could have made her sweat it out a bit before walking in that door a minute late." he said with a chuckle before dodging slightly so he could miss his mother's playful swipe at his forehead. Laughing, he stepped forward and gave his mother a quick kiss on the cheek. "See you later on tonight, Mom." Moving back he led Taylor out to his new car and helped her into the passenger seat before rushing around the driver's side and getting in. Settling down, he pulled on his seatbelt and then looked over at Taylor. Reaching out, he grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before lifting it to his lips and giving it a light kiss. "You ready." Taylor just smiled and nodded her head as she moved over slightly and brushed a kiss against his lips.

"Yes I am." Troy smiled at that as he reluctantly let go of her hand. Turning on the car, he watched Taylor for any nervous reaction that she might have but so far she seemed quite relaxed. "So where are you going tonight."

"Well," Troy began as he pulled out of the driveway. "While you were upstairs changing I received a call from Sharpay who let me know that I was to bring you to her father's restaurant for dinner," he looked over at her and gave her a brief smile. "She told me that if I didn't I would have to answer to her and you know out of your two friends she's the scariest so we're headed there." he said playfully.

"That place is really expensive."

"Your friends and I want the best for you." he said calmly as he looked over at her and smiled. "You deserve it." Taylor blushed at the way he was looking at her. Troy didn't know how he made her literally melt when he gave her looks like that. She had to admit she never thought that someone like Troy would ever want to be with her. However, after she spent some time with him after he helped her escape her mother she found that she had been completely wrong. Troy was one of the best men she knew besides her father and Wilson and she found she was much happier with him in her life. Once they arrived at the restaurant named after Mr. Evans daughter, Sharpay. Troy found a smirk slowly making its way on his face as he took in the sign, moving around to Taylor's side he carefully helped her out of the car. "Come let's enjoy the night and then we're off to the movies." he said as he quickly led her inside the restaurant. As soon as they entered they were immediately given the V.I.P. treatment, which they were the order came from Sharpay.

"So have you ever been in here before?" Troy asked as he settled down in his chair after helping her into hers.

"No, I haven't been in here before. I've never had a real reason to be in here until tonight." Taylor replied as she sent Troy a bright smile which he returned. "I really want to thank you for doing this tonight."

"There's no other place I'd rather be right now than with you." he stated easily as he looked at her. Taylor smiled back but before she could reply the waiter came up asking them if they were ready to order.

The night for the most part was for the lack of a better word, magical. Troy was a gentleman through and through and he made the night so memorable and enjoyable. She had so much fun that she didn't even think about him driving or worrying about their safety. All she did was enjoy her time with her boyfriend. As they pulled up outside their home, Troy turned and looked at her with a nervous smile on his face. "So we're back home," he paused and looked at the clock on his dashboard. "And five minutes early so we have some time to spare before I walk you to your front door." They both laughed at his little joke. "Did you enjoy yourself?"

"Troy I really did," Taylor replied as she smiled at him. "You really know how to make a girl feel special."

"The only girl I want to make feel special is you." Troy stated smoothly as he looked at her with a wide smile on his face. "And I'm glad that my goal was accomplished tonight." He said as he leaned over and kissed her. Taylor immediately returned the kiss and wrapped her arms around Troy's neck. Troy smiled into the kiss just before he deepened it. After a few moments they pulled away from one another intent on catching their breaths and rested their foreheads together and closed their eyes while enjoying the last few moments of their evening.