Gabriella sat in her room quietly reading her book, the house was silent as the sunlight poured in through her window and she turned the page. The weight on the bed shifted and Gabriella stilled as she waited for the visitor speak. Only they didn't and for whatever reason Gabriella wasn't afraid.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, a hand larger than her own gently caressing her skin and sending thrills of want through her. A smile growing on her lips, Gabriella looked over her shoulder coming face to face with blue eyes. His smile caught on her own lips and her book was discarded as it slid to the floor, turning fully she was in a better position for his kiss.

His lips crashing down on hers hard, his hands shifting on her body her tang top coming up her stomach as he touched her skin with his scorching hot hands. She could feel heat pooling between her legs, could feel his kisses as they traveled down to her neck. "Oh Troy," she whispered her hands latching onto his shoulders needing to hold onto him in fear she might explode.

"Gabriella?"

The sound was distant and Gabriella's body fell against the pillows as Troy kisses lingered on her neck.

"Gabriella? We know you're in there," there was a banging noise and Gabriella pushed it from her mind feeling the muscles on his arms flex as he held his masculine body above her.

"Gabriella wake up," the banging had merged into a shaking sensation and all she could see was his smile as he faded from her mind his blue eyes a memory as green eyes came into view.

"I swear if you're not off this bed in four minutes I'll burn it with you in it," Sharpay said as she sat at the foot of it. "Did you forget about the party tonight?"

Taylor who was sitting at her desk on the opposite end of the room was flipping through a stack of magazines she found on the desk. "Did you buy every single one in the coffee shop?"

Gabriella frowned as she pulled the pillow over her head wanting to return to her dream world where Troy was waiting for her. "It's only noon." It'd been a week since Troy and her had talked in the back yard and ever since then she couldn't get these dreams out of her head. These thoughts of him touching her and kissing her of looking into those blue eyes. She was even wondering off during class on occasion having day dreams about her blue eyed friend who might be more than a friend or just a friend and it was driving her nuts!

"Yeah and we have to get our hair and nails done, seriously what were you thinking," Sharpay said getting up from the bed. "Come on, get your clothes on let's go."

Gabriella rolled her eyes and she crawled out of bed.

"By the way this came for you it's from Julliard," Taylor said with a smile.

Gabriella lurched forward and plucked it from Taylor's hands. "Oh my god, I sent out the application early admission like 4 weeks ago!"

"Well open it," Sharpay said putting her purse down on the bed.

Gabriella fumbled with the envelope flap before giving up and tearing it open on the sides her body frazzled with nerves as she quickly opened the letter.

Taylor and Sharpay watched Gabriella expression as her eyes darted through the letter. "What does it say, will I have someone to visit in New York or what?" Sharpay said as Taylor got up from her chair.

"I got in on a full ride," Gabriella screamed and then the girls screamed and in the middle of the celebration her mother came into the room panicked.

"What's going on?" she said wild eyed looking around room.

"I got in I got in and it's a full scholarship Mom, I got into Julliard." Gabriella squealed and her mother leaped forward to hug her everyone jumping up and down in a circle.

Eddie was next store in the garage with Troy and Chad all three of them looking down into the truck.

"We're doing what now?" Eddie asked looking at all the car parts and then up at the two older boys.

"Giving it a tune up," Troy responded as he looked over at Chad. "So what kind of party is this again?"

"The college kind, my older brother invited me, asked me to bring some friends," Chad said reaching over and getting Troy a funnel.

"You said you'd teach me to drive?" Eddie said interrupting Troy and Chad.

"Eddie, I am going to teach you how to drive but you need to learn the basics before you get to the expert stuff, trust me you'll thank me one day," Troy said handing him a rag.

"So are you in or out?" Chad said referring to they're last conversation.

"In," Troy nodded before looking away from Chad and back at Eddie. "Hey where are you taking Kelsi tonight?" Troy said reaching over and unscrewing a top.

"To a movie then pizza."

"Yikes," Chad winced and Troy let out a sigh.

"Have I taught you nothing?" Troy said giving him a soft smack in the back of his head.

Eddie looked from Troy to Chad. "What's wrong with pizza and movie?"

Troy tossed his own towel off to the side, "Nothing if you've been going out for a while. Everything if it's a first date. Movies aren't personal."

"Their normally save for later in the relationship," Chad said sitting on a box, "You know like when you both know stuff about each other."

"Kelsi and I know stuff about each other?"

Chad rolled his eyes. "No. you don't. Taylor and I, we've been dating for a three years, sometimes I take her to a movie she wants to see and it helps me avoid the whole talking and having to make an effort."

"Oh wow," Troy said raising a brow and glancing at Chad, "Avoiding to make an effort?" he said jokingly. Troy turned back to Eddie, "Look, you might think dinner and a movie is awesome but, it really doesn't give you time to know to get to know her."

Eddie looked at both boys, "So then what do I do?"

"That's up to you Eddie, take her someplace special, somewhere you go to relax."

Chad nodded and then looked over at Troy, "So you're coming tonight?"

"Yes, I believe I am," Troy said going back to work on his truck.

Gabriella stood in a room surrounded by college students and High school seniors. Her friends were enjoying themselves; then again they both had dates. Gabriella looked around the room at everyone lost in their own lives as the music throbbed through the room. Had she enjoyed parties before? When things were happier, did she ever do something really fun for herself or was she really always planning her next move to stay busy and avoid moment like this.

Gabriella looked down at her red plastic cup and then lifted it to her lips for a sip. The cool liquid burned her throat on the way down but rippled through her body. Closing her eyes she listened to the music and the thoughts of Troy came back to her, his hands on her hips, then her thighs pushing up her skirt. Gabriella felt a blush on her cheek as she opened her eyes. "This is so stupid," she whispered deciding that her beer was no longer the best idea.

Minding his own in the kitchen Troy continued watching people as they traveled in and out of the kitchen. Until one caught his eye. He saw her coming in from the living room as four people did a party train leading out of the kitchen. "Some party huh?"

Gabriella jerked in what seemed to be surprise at the sound of his voice. "Yeah," she said with a small shrug. "It's really something," Gabriella looked at her cup and then decided to chug it.

"Whoa, there cowgirl," Troy said with a smirk. "Is this part of those infamous daddy issues?"

Gabriella's eyes looked up at him as she placed the empty cup on the counter with a warning. Message loud and clear. The topic of her father was off the table. "What are you doing here?"

"Chad invited me?" Troy eyes wondered a little bit over her outfit, she was wearing a small black skirt and red blouse that laced up around her chest. Revealing, skimpy, easy, cheerleader written all over it. But he knew the truth. He knew she was just putting on a show. "Nice outfit," he said lifting his plastic cup to his lips.

"Thanks," Gabriella felt a warm sensation spread through her not sure if it was the alcohol or him. Quietly she walked past him accidently brushing up against him due to the small kitchen space between the island and the kitchen sink behind them. "Sharpay made me buy it."

"I'd give my regards, however I don't think she like me very much does she?" he said inhaling the smell of her perfume that now linger around him.

"She just wants what's best for me," Gabriella said as she reached into the fridge and pulled out a two litter of soda. "She's one of my closest friends," she said on her way past him again for the cups. Their bodies touched again and this time a spark jerked Gabriella back as she slowly came away from him.

Troy closed his own eyes as she brush against him for a second time. He had to bury the urge to reach for her deep down inside of him; things were too complicated, with her dad being back and the possibility of them leaving.

"We're friends right?" he asked as she brushed against him on her way back to the two litter, the need to feel her again only growing no thanks to the tiny kitchen. Had it really been this tiny just moments before?

"Of course," Gabriella said opening the soda and pouring some into her cup. "We talked about this the other night," Gabriella watched the foam in her cup, maybe she should have stood with the beer.

"Yeah, but we also kissed." Troy said reaching for the soda and walking past her to place it back in the fridge.

The breeze from his movement fanned her skin and Gabriella felt the Goosebumps under her shirt as they tightened like icicles. "Well," Gabriella paused as she looked down at her drink again. "You kissed me. Remember," she said in a low voice.

"You're the prettiest girl I've ever seen," Troy watched her carefully the brown in her eyes looking back at him.

"You just want to kiss me again and you're wondering if I'll let you," she said bringing the cup up to her lips to hide her smile.

"And your smart too, I like that."

"So you figure this out?"

Troy shook his head playfully as he came closer to her, imprisoning her between this body and the sink.

"I could leave to New York at any moment?"

"I know."

"You haven't even played your first game against the knights."

"I know," Troy hands slowly shifted from the counter to her hips.

"What about College?"

"I'm having a hard time remembering why I shouldn't kiss you," Troy whispered reaching for her cup which had been strategically placed in front of her lips.

"Troy, we're friends."

"Friends with Benefits?"

"Hardly," Gabriella breath came out short as she watched him carefully. Her heart was beating faster, her lung pumping quicker, everything inside her wanted to be next to him.

"So you're saying I shouldn't kiss you right now?" he whispered glazing into her face as if trying to commit everything to memory. As if he was trying to see every bit of her at once, like he was hungry. Hungry for her.

"All I can think about is you kissing me," Gabriella leaned in only to hesitate, not sure what was going to happen between them.

"All you had to do was say so," Troy murmured as he leaned in the rest of the way, their lips finally meeting in what seemed like years of time. Gabriella fell against him and Troy wrapped both his arms around her waist pulling her closer to him. She hands snaked around his neck and she wrapped both her hands around him, holding him closer to her. Like in her dreams.

Troy grunted and lifted her so she was sitting on top of the counter their mouths still connected. His hands shifted in her hair and her hands gripped his shirt. At one point Gabriella was acting on instinct, she was almost primal as she felt his muscles through his clothing blocking her from the amazing skin on skin she been dreaming about for days.

"Gabriella there's a reporter outside with a camera I think he might be- Oh crap," Sharpay said voice echoed through the kitchen.

Troy shot back releasing her instantly and Gabriella jumped off the counter adjusting her skirt. "Who called them?" she asked nervously.

Sharpay glared at both of them. "I think you should ask questions later get the hell out of doge."

Taylor and Martha appeared from the living room as well. "We can take my mom's van," Martha said holding up her keys.

"What about my Jeep?" Gabriella felt panic running in her blood, she'd been drinking. She'd been on a kitchen counter top with some guy between her legs about to get to second base in the middle of a college party. What the hell was happening to her?

"I'll take it home," Troy said as Sharpay handed Gabriella her purse.

"Thanks," Gabriella said giving him the keys.

"Get out of here," He said with a smirk, without missing a beat Martha and Taylor quickly took her by each side as they ran out the back door.

This left Sharpay and Troy alone in the kitchen, the party humming in the background. Sharpay crossed her arms. "So," she said walking over to the table. "Why do I keep running into you, running into her?"

"I don't know why do I keep running into you taking her away?" Troy said picking up Gabriella forgotten cup of soda and taking a sip.

Rolling her eyes Sharpay tilted her head as she examined him, "Gabriella is going through a lot, and I don't trust just anyone, when it comes to her, I mean, do you realize what would have happened if I hadn't spotted the reporter out there?"

"I can assume," Troy said putting the cup down.

"I know who you are," Sharpay said with long sigh. "Cut the crap, you know exactly what would have happened. Reporters seem to follow you around as well. Does Gabriella know about that?"

"She knows part of the story."

Sharpay uncrossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "Which part?"

"The part that's important," Troy emptied his cup into the sink before pushing off and making his way to the living room.

Sharpay's eyes followed him, "If this is some kind of plot to get back into the spotlight? You're barking up the wrong tree. If I find out that you the one that called that reporter so you name could get splattered in the headlines again-"

"I didn't," Troy cut her off as he passed her. "I don't even want that much attention. I'm just a blimp on the radar. I don't want any part of it."

"Yeah right, that's why you're on the basketball team?" Sharpay placed her hands on her hips, "Nice trick, let's hide the basketball star in a shitty High school basketball team where he'll come out the hero. Save the day and make a fortune." Sharpay shook her head in disgust as Troy turned to look at her.

"You don't know what you talking about," Troy said deciding to end the conversation.

"Oh, but I do Bolton and I am watching you."

"Good then watch this." Troy called back as he lifted his middle finger in the air and left the room.