Hey everyone…this chapter is a bit of a filler but will maybe give you a bit more insight into the workings of Troy and Gabriella's minds. This chapter has a few cuss words in and adultish themes, I still don't think it needs upgrading to an M yet but that is the direction I am planning on taking it eventually. Also haven't read this too carefully as am very tired and want to post (yes lazy of me i know) so please forgive any errors... Anyway Please share your thoughts with me. Love to all. Tink. Xx


Troy swore under his breath as he stalked angrily from the studio. It seemed the tug of attraction he felt towards Gabriella was noticeable to all but Gabriella herself thankfully. No matter how many times he reminded himself she was just a kid, his body overrode his mind and reacted to her nearness. He felt slightly sick with himself yet he couldn't stop. He wanted her, not just her beautiful body but also her quick wit, her intelligence, her clever tongue. He groaned when he thought about how he would like to feel that clever tongue on him and immediately his body began to harden painfully. Where Gabriella was concerned he was working on a hair trigger. There was just something about her that set him off.

He looked up to see her coming towards him and he cursed again, viciously, as he took in the way her hips swung provocatively, her pert breasts bouncing gently with each step she took. He watched as her full lips curved into a smile when she spotted him, her entire face lighting up.

"Hey" she breathed becoming frozen as he reached her.

"Hey" he replied curtly, not bothering to stop, carrying on down the hall without looking back. If he had, he would have caught the look of hurt and confusion that crossed her beautiful face.

Troy carried on walking, trying to ignore the feeling of guilt gnawing at his insides. He had to put some distance between them or else he would never survive the next twelve weeks. He just couldn't seem to control the reaction of his body around her, if people were already commenting on how he felt about her, he was in big trouble. Something would have to change and that something was him.

Gabriella stood shocked for a few seconds. She was returning to the studio as she had forgotten her book bag and hadn't expected to see Troy. Even more unexpected was his abrupt and cold behavior. He had responded so bluntly, a perfunctory hello, not even a smile, his eyes not meeting hers. Had she done something wrong? Had she upset him because they couldn't nail the routine? Had she made him angry with her amateurish ways? An uncomfortable feeling knotted her stomach as she continued walking and returned to the studio. She felt on edge and almost teary, her face a little pale. Sharpay and Taylor had returned to the studio and were running some moves; they stopped as Gabriella came in.

"Hey Gab, come and join us" called Taylor with a smile.

Gabriella collected her bag and crossed the room to stand beside them.

"So how are you finding it so far?" Taylor asked her.

Gabriella shrugged " Hard work, but I'm enjoying it…it's difficult being away from home though"

"First time away from the farm?" Sharpay asked sarcastically and Taylor elbowed her. Gabriella just looked at her in confusion.

"I'm supposed to be on my way for my first study session"

Taylor nodded in understanding "Brendan told me you're an honor student…Stanford isn't it?"

Gabriella flushed embarrassed to be talking about this.

"I was captain of my scholastic decathlon team" Taylor confessed with a knowing smile.

"Me too" admitted Gabriella.

"Well color me happy" Sharpay rolled her eyes at the pair of them.

"Don't mind Shar, all the peroxide she's used over the years has fried her few remaining brain cells"

"I do not dye my hair!" Sharpay protested, fluffing out her famous platinum locks.

Gabriella and Taylor shared a look, Sharpay was more concerned with people believing she dyed her hair than the fact they had accused her of having no brain cells!

"Sure Shar…. so do you need any help running your lines?"

Gabriella shook her head a small smile playing over her mouth "No thanks, Troy said we could rehearse together… he said he'd give me a few pointers"

"I'll bet he did" Shar said slyly and Taylor threw her a look.

"And everyone else has been so nice and friendly"

"Yeah, so how are you getting on with our resident love god?" Shar questioned the puzzled girl.

"Ignore her Gabriella, you know we're all here if you need any help"

Gabriella smiled at the girls "Thanks, anyway I better get going"

"Don't want to be late for class" Sharpay smirked.

Gabriella just smiled, she was confused by Sharpay. She didn't get the feeling she was being malicious but she didn't really understand why she was making so many sarcastic and cryptic comments.

Taylor watched as Gabriella struggled to understand what Sharpay was doing. She was a nice girl but very naïve and didn't deserve the caustic treatment she had been getting from Sharpay. The fact she had a thing for Troy was obvious from the moment they had been introduced but what was less clear was Troy's reaction to her. Sharpay was already convinced Troy was attracted to her but Taylor wasn't so sure. She felt a pang of sympathy for Gabriella, it was a lot to take on board and having the ice queen making catty comments was not helping matters. Sharpay wasn't a bitch she just liked to poke fun, but hers was an acquired taste and could be mistaken as maliciousness unless you knew her.

When she and Chad had first gotten together, Sharpay had ribbed them mercilessly and now it appeared she had Gabriella and possibly Troy in her sights.

"Sharpay give her a break, she's just a kid" Taylor said as Gabriella left the studio for her tutoring session.

"Strangely enough that's what Bolton said…I'm just playing with her Tay relax"

"Yeah but I don't think she's ready for your sense of humor…she's clueless Shar"

"Clueless? Well she's sure doing something right to have Bolton's panties in such a twist"

Taylor shook her head "I just don't see it Shar, she's not his type"

Sharpay snorted and flicked her hair "I'll bet you one hundred bucks that they're at it before the wrap party"

"Sharpay! Don't be such a bitch…there's nothing there"

"Not yet but I wouldn't like to bet on it"

"You just did dumbass," Taylor laughed and Sharpay scowled, turning her attention back to her script.

Gabriella was still perplexed by Troy's abrupt mood change and found her tutoring session to be less than productive. She had always found comfort in math, it's familiar and unchanging formulae but today something just wasn't connecting. Sitting through hour after hour, made her brain hurt and not for the first time she wished she could just go home. So it was with great relief that Gabriella left the schoolroom to return to the studio, a pang of disappointment inside her when she realized Troy was not back from his meeting with Brendan. Busying herself with rehearsals she couldn't help glance longingly at the door whenever it swung open, each time she hoped it was Troy, each time in vain. After the second hour she gave up watching for him and threw herself into the routine. There was one movement she just couldn't get and she struggled, frustrated with herself.

"Argh!" she cried, stamping her foot a little against the floor of the studio in temper.

"Hey are you okay?" came a deep and soothing voice.

Gabriella looked up to see a tall cute guy smiling down at her as he brushed his blue-black hair from his eyes. He had friendly brown eyes and a cheeky smile, his face was warm and open and there was something incredibly child like about him. Gabriella smiled back, liking him instantly.

"Yeah, I'm just having a small tantrum but I'm good" she smiled back at him.

He lifted one dark brow "Hmm I can see that…need some help?"

"Sure, I feel as though I have two left feet" she confessed quietly with a smile. After the sting of Troy's cold behavior it was nice to see a friendly face and warm smile.

"Yeah but they're cute" he said with a grin and Gabriella felt a tell tale blush spread over her cheeks.

"Thanks"

"I'm Flynn by the way," he said sticking out his hand.

Gabriella shook it with a shy smile "Gabriella Montez"

"The new girl" he laughed and she smiled again, feeling a surge of warmth towards this friendly stranger who seemed happy to put her at her ease.

"That's me, so you think you can help me?"

He looked down at her "Well looks like it'd gonna be tough but I suppose somebody has to do it. Which move is it?"

"The one where I spin into Troy and then he twirls me on the spot….I just can't seem to get my feet in the right place at the right time" she explained, unaware of the frustration coloring her tone.

"You mean this one?" he asked and then demonstrated the move perfectly.

Gabriella stared at him in amazement, as he executed the move with no trouble.

"That was great" she beamed.

He shrugged modestly "It's easy really, don't forget I've been doing this longer than you…wanna try?" he held out his hand and with a smile Gabriella grabbed hold of it, her smile changing to a delighted grin as he span her into his arms and proceeded to twirl her in the air.

That was how Troy saw them as he entered the room a few minutes later and immediately his mood blackened. Flynn had his arms wrapped tightly around her waist and was spinning her in a circle as she squealed in delight. Her face was alight with happiness and joy and it tugged at his heart and stomach. He told himself he should be glad that she had found someone closer to her own age to be friends with but all he felt was consuming jealousy. He crossed the room and came to a stop before them.

"Having fun Gabriella?" he asked his tone slightly acerbic.

"Oh Troy, you're back…. we can practice that lift again…Flynn has showed me how to do it"

Troy looked from the grinning Flynn to Gabriella with a sour look "I bet he has…you know we're here to work Gabriella, not screw around with the back up dancers"

Gabriella flushed red and trembled slightly under Troy's annoyed demeanor. She had never seen him angry, she was only familiar with the face he presented to the public.

"We weren't screwing around Troy, Gabriella was really struggling with that lift but she got through it with my help" he said somewhat cockily and Troy resisted the urge to punch him.

"Well thanks but I can handle it from here, back up boy" he snapped with a sarcastic grin.

Gabriella watched the exchange, a little frightened and puzzled. Why was Troy acting so mean all of a sudden? She just didn't understand him, she had done nothing expect work hard and now he was acting like a jerk.

"No problem superstar" Flynn retorted with a wide grin before turning to Gabriella "I'll see you around Gab, if you need anymore help you know where to find me"

He winked and Gabriella offered him a weak smile, feeling as though here was something going on she didn't know about.

"Yeah, thanks Flynn" she said softly and watched him walk away.

She turned to Troy with a shy smile, thrilled that he was back; unaware it was showing on her expressive face.

"Gabriella I thought you were here to work, not flirt with the back up dancers" he snapped, ignoring the stab of hurt he saw on her face.

"What? I, I wasn't" she protested quietly "he was helping me"

"Sure, whatever…it's your career" Troy said with a careless shrug "So do you want to finish this routine now or should I call lover boy back?"

Gabriella bristled and shielded her hurt by gritting her teeth "I'm ready now" she said and forced a smile, whilst inside she seethed. How dare he speak to her like that? She was still a colleague whether he liked it or not. Where had the kind, considerate, gentle Troy she had met on the plane, gone?

"Yo Evens" Troy hollered across the studio "Mind if me and Gabriella use studio 2 for a while? Nail this routine"

Ryan shrugged and grinned, "Long as that's all you're nailin'"

Gabriella was mortified as the meaning of his words sunk in and she felt another blush spread across her cheeks, wanting the ground to open up and swallow her. Troy gave Ryan the finger and he stalked across the studio giving her little choice but to follow, trying to ignore the knowing smiles on the faces of the cast.

Outside the sun was beginning to dip and it was getting on towards early evening. Gabriella realized with a start that she had no idea what time it was or how long she had been there and as she struggled to keep up with Troy across the studio lot she suddenly wished she was back at home in Albuquerque where things were a hell of a lot simpler.

Troy had a long stride and she had to practically skip at his side to keep up. His face was set and taut, yet he said nothing to her. Studio 2 was smaller than the large room they had been rehearsing in all day and Gabriella wondered if she would ever find her way around, and become familiar with the studios. Troy seemed to know his way around like the back of his hand but it was his third here. She watched with caution as he threw off the hoodie he was wearing to reveal his wife beater. She fought hard with the urge not to stare at his perfectly sculpted body but she couldn't stop herself. She had never been this close to a scantily clothed male before and despite her reaction to his nearness, a lot of her looks were out of blatant curiosity.

Troy could see Gabriella was uncertain of him as she stood nervously in the corner biting her lip, unsure what if anything to say to him. She was alternating between staring at him as though he were her last meal and hiding her face from him. He had acted like a jerk and he knew it but for some reason he couldn't always think straight around Gabriella. He was angry at himself for showing his lack of control around her, not at her for talking with Flynn. He knew he owed her an apology, as much she needed to get over her crush, he couldn't be a bastard to her.

"Look I'm sorry I snapped at you okay?" he bit out; unable to take Gabriella's wounded looks any longer.

She shrugged, saying nothing, chewing on her bottom lip once more, looking even more scared than she had five minutes ago.

"It's just I've had a hard day, Ryan and Sharpay have been raggin on me and then I come in an find you screwing around with Flynn…I didn't think you were taking this seriously…this may be your big dream come true but this is our careers Gabriella…I just thought you were messing around" he explained his voice a little calmer a little quieter as he stepped towards her running his hands though his hair.

"It's okay Troy, I understand but for the record I wasn't messing about…Flynn really helped me get it," she said softly but she was still wary of him. He took a deep breath and then another, huffing softly, looking at the ceiling trying to calm himself. She didn't deserve to be spoken to like that.

"I'm sorry Brie…I'm acting like a bastard I know…it's not your fault it's just like this sometimes" he said quietly, his eyes meeting her and pining her with his slate blue gaze.

"But it's only the first day"

"For you, some of us have been working on this for years now remember…same faces…same conflicts"

"It's okay really….It just took me by surprise that's all…you've always seemed so –"

"Insanely happy…you have to be in the public eye…you can never have an off day…remember what I told you on the plane, I'm just a guy like all the rest and like most guys, I can be a miserable son of bitch when I want to be"

"I can see that now" she said and allowed a small chuckle "Just remind me to stay out of your way"

Troy smiled at her in relief and she felt her heart speed up. Would she never get used to that look in his eyes when he smiled at her?

"So do you want to try again?"

She nodded and moved to his side, trying not to think how good they looked together, especially when he had his strong arms wrapped around her. She tried hard not to stare at their reflections in the mirror, the way he held her, the muscles and veins in his arms bunching and moving as he lifted her, the size of his hands on her body. He was beautiful she thought dreamily as he lifted her into the air as though she weighed no more than a small child.

Gabriella tried not to notice the feeling of his hands against her bare skin and the resulting tingle it evoked, the shivery feelings it produced inside her. After what seemed like an eternity but was in reality only an hour or so Troy pronounced that he was happy with their lift.

"So is that it, we're done for the day?" she asked with a hopeful look, as she flopped onto the floor, bracing her hands behind her, stretching out her aching muscles.

Troy looked down to answer her question and he had to swallow back a little groan as he took in Gabriella stretched out before him. She wasn't being intentionally seductive yet it was having that effect anyway as her tee rode up slightly bearing her soft hollow stomach to him, her breasts straining against the material as she moved.

"Er, sure" he answered unsteadily forcing himself to look away.

"Really we can go home now?" she sounded so excited by the prospect that he grinned, "What I wouldn't give for a long hot shower," she moaned a little in delight.

Troy felt all the blood in his entire body rush to his groin. His mental pictures complete with noise she made, pulled his pants suddenly tight. Twisting his slightly away from her and cursing under his breath, he reached down and offered her his hand, ignoring the zing of electricity that raced trough him as she accepted and jumped lightly to her feet.

"We'd better check in with the rest of the cast, just to make sure but I think for now we're done and guess what?" he said his slate blue eyes alight with amusement.

"What?" she sounded breathless in anticipation.

"You get to do it all over again tomorrow," he said with a chuckled as she appeared visibly disappointed by his revelation.

"Oh ha ha…you're a comedian" she said and stuck out her tongue.

"Seriously though, how was your first day? As bad as you thought?" he asked as they made their way back to the larger studio.

Gabriella considered for a second and shook her head "No, much much easier…everyone's been great"

"Told you, we're like one big happy yet slightly crazy family…you Gabriella, Gabriella, fit right in".

Gabriella beamed, his words thrilling her to her core and she looked at him for long seconds as they stopped walking, their gazes clashing. For Gabriella it was as though no one else existed at that moment but her and Troy, she was aware of nothing more than her own galloping heart and unsteady breathing. They were caught in their own little bubble where nothing and no one could intrude except for…Sharpay fucking Evens.

"Bolton! Get your skinny ass over here and leave the farm girl alone you pervert!" she shrieked in an ear piercing screech, waving a tattered script above her head, looking slightly demented.

Troy wanted to kill her, slowly and very very painfully but figured she was in a bad enough mood already that he wouldn't tangle with her, not if he wanted to come out of it alive.

"Sharpay?" he said turning to her with a falsely sweet smile "What the fuck do you want"

"They cut my solo because of you, Brendan just told me…it's now gonna be a duet between… hmm guess who?" she shrieked, uncaring of the laughter around her.

Gabriella looked around, a little freaked by Sharpay's outburst but saw that no one was taking her seriously and she allowed herself to relax slightly. But she couldn't help wondering why Sharpay had called Troy a pervert, she felt herself blush, was there some deep dark secret she didn't know about him? Because Zefron was a family company, they didn't sexualize their stars the way some production companies did but maybe Troy was a closet pervert. Gabriella secretly hoped so though she didn't really know what she would do with him if she ever got him.

"Don't worry Brie" Troy said in a gentle tone "Sharpay hasn't taken her pills today that's all….Shar I don't know what the hell you're going on about but we've all had a long day I'm going back to the hotel and so is Gabriella"

"Oh yeah I just bet you are, you don't waste any time do you Bolton?" she sneered and the grin disappeared from his face, to be replaced by anger.

Gabriella looked between the two of them and felt a flurry if unease, was Sharpay implying what she thought she was implying. Was that what she had meant by calling him a pervert? Gabriella felt a wave of humiliation wash over her; did everyone think there was something between them?

"Sharpay, stop this right now! This isn't fair to Gabriella, don't take this out on her cause you got cut, it's not her fault" Troy snapped, his voice rising in anger, the rest of the room silent.

"Yeah you would say that Bolton, protect your little schoolgirl girlfriend" she shouted, her face turning an ugly shade of red. Gabriella wanted to die, she couldn't believe what she was hearing, where her feelings that obvious.

"It's not true Sharpay!" Gabriella said sounding on the verge of hysteria "Tell her Troy"

Troy gave her a gentle look and then turned the full force of his anger back on the pouting blond "She knows it's not, she'd only saying it to cause trouble…I can't believe that you could be this petty Sharpay, if you have a problem go speak to Brendan…This is not mine or Gabriella's fault and as for schoolgirls, you're the one acting like one, so grow the fuck up" he snarled, too angry to care about the gaping looks. He turned to Gabriella who looked as though she were about to cry

"Come on Gabriella, let's go"

And on legs which shook, she obediently followed him from the room.