AN: Hey guys sorry for the late update, I was busy with exams but now I'm finish. It is the summer holidays here, so I will be on holiday, I will try an update as soon as I can. Remember to R&R.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Ch.5 Plans Failed

Troy looked at the twins and then at Gabi. He had already seen the fake smile on Andy's face; he really hoped they wouldn't do anything to her. He caught Alex's eyes and gave him a pleading look. I almost told them to leave her alone and play nice. "Hello Gabriella, I'm Alex and this is Andy," he told her. "Um… nice meeting you guys," Gabi greeted them. She could already tell they didn't like her by the way Andy looked at her. There was a long, awkward silence, until Claire came to the rescue.

"Gabi, won't you please come help us bring the food out? There's someone I want you to meet," Claire said, pulling her towards the kitchen. Gabriella shot a look at Troy, but he nodded his head for her to go. "Okay," Gabriella said, "I'm right behind you." Troy looked at his siblings, and just by looking at them, he could tell they had something up their sleeves. He sighed heavily.

"Okay guys, I know you don't want to hear this, but you're gonna listen anyway," Troy started, "Over the past couple of years, I haven't spoken to you about your behavior towards my girlfriends yet, but I'm telling you now. Abi is very important to me, and I really don't want to lose her. So please, give me at least another year to get to know her better. I want to leave this house with a happy girlfriend, okay? If I don't, there's going to be major problems," With that, he turned to leave.

The twins were stunned; Troy had never, ever spoken to them like that before. Looking at each other, they knew she had to go now, if she was making their brother turn against them. They were really angry, so they had to put their plan in action very soon.

Gabriella came out of the kitchen with Claire holding a dish of mash potatoes. They were walking towards the other side of the pool where the tables for all the food were. Everyone could just dish up for themselves, because there wasn't enough room for everyone to sit down at one table. Claire and Gabriella were having an intense conversation that they didn't notice the trap the twins had set up.

There was a skateboard right in front of her, and as she stepped on it, she started heading backwards towards the water. Troy saw what was happening and ran to try and catch her, but he was too late. Her scream wasn't heard over the splash of the water. The whole yard went quiet; everyone was so shocked about what just happened. The dishes that Gabi and Claire had carried were left forgotten on the floor.

Recovering from the shock, Troy jumped in to get her. As they both came up to the surface, worried etched on Troy's brow. "Oh my gosh, are you okay Abi?" Troy asked worriedly. Gabi just looked at all the shocked faces staring at her. She couldn't help herself; she started laughing so hard her stomach was aching. She gasped as much air as possible, trying to calm herself down.

"Now that was fun!" she giggled, looking at her boyfriend, who in turn gave her a look saying something like 'did you hit your head when you fell?' Everyone suddenly burst in laughter at the way Gabi was acting. They had expected her to have a fit, but no, she thought it was fun. The twins exchanged a look of shock. They were still trying to understand why she wasn't shouting or –at least- crying. For the first time ever their plan had failed. Troy looked at her and chuckled before giving a quick kiss.

"You know most girls would have freaked?" Troy told her, brushing her hair out of her face. "Yeah, well you know I'm not 'most girls', am I?" she asked. "Yep, that's for sure, but I definitely don't mind, cos you're my mind," Troy smiled. They shared another kiss, before climbing out the pool. Claire was there waiting, holding 2 towels in her hands. "Wow Gabi, that sure was a show!" Claire exclaimed. "I know, but now I don't have any dry clothes," Gabi told her, ringing out her hair. "It's okay, you can borrow something of mine," Claire told her.

"You still have clothes in your room, right. Now I'd advise you get inside before you get sick," Claire told them. They toweled themselves off and headed into the rooms to get changed. The twins were absolutely horrified that their plans didn't work. Why is Gabriella still here? They had to think of something more original. "Alex, what now? We have to think of something quick," Andy panicked. "Don't you think I know that Andy, she's really a handful," Alex sighed.

While in his room changing, Troy tried to think of how the skateboard had gotten there, so close to Gabi. It definitely wasn't there before, she would've seen it. He just shrugged it off and went to find Gabriella.

Jack Bolton looked at his twin kids. He knew they were up to something because, firstly, they whispering very heatedly, and secondly, he knew that skateboard didn't get there by its self. "So, mind telling me how that skateboard got there?" he asked suddenly. The twins jumped in shock when they heard their father's voice behind them.

"We don't know, daddy. We were just wondering who was stupid enough to leave it there, and not pack it away when they were finished playing with it," Andy answered sweetly, putting on her most innocent voice. He looked at them, studying them, before shrugging, never one to push. "Well, I hope who ever put it there realized how much danger they caused to an innocent person." And with that, he turned and left them be.

After a quick shower, Gabi got dressed in one of Claire's many dresses. Her hair was still soaking wet, and she didn't even bother with make- up as she went downstairs, to find her boyfriend waiting for her in the kitchen. He looked very deep in thought.

-Troy's POV-

Should I really tell her after only 3 months? Am I going too fast? I really should talk to my dad. Tonight just seems like the perfect time to tell her, especially in front of my family. "Hey hun, what you thinking about?" Gabriella asked me. I looked up as soon as I heard her musical voice. Sometimes I wonder if God was in a extra good mood when he was making her. Maybe she is my Guardian Angel. Every night I thank him for bringing her into my life… "Hey Abi, oh, nothing important. Come on, I'm starving."

-End of POV-

The evening went smoothly during dinner. After everyone ate, Gabi helped with the dishes and clearing up while Troy spoke to his dad. "Dad, I really need your advice on something," Troy said. Jack looked up and nodded his head. "I'm listening son," he said. "Have you ever felt like your whole life you were incomplete, and then someone comes into your life and fills that empty space inside you? And the very thought of losing that person makes you want to break into a million little pieces?" he asked, looking his father straight in the eyes. Troy ran a hand through his hair uneasily.

"Son, I know that feeling, it's the same way I feel about your mother. That feeling is what love is, and is how you represent yourself. The day I met your mother was the first day someone made my stomach do flips. She looked gorgeous and it was definitely love at first sight," he told his son, before carrying on, "Son, if you're telling me that you love Gabriella, I already knew that the moment I saw you two together. You remind me a lot of how your mother and I used to act." Studying his son very closely. He led him over to the bench and they both sat down.

"Dad, I can't describe the way I feel about her. When I see her enter a room, she takes my breath away. I wouldn't last a day without hearing her voice. I really want to tell her I love her today with you guys around, but I'm scared she doesn't feel the same way about me," Troy told his father, looking down.

"You really shouldn't be thinking about how see feels about you, Troy. I have seen the way she looks at you, and I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual. Don't be afraid to tell her, because you never know what life holds for you two. I'd tell her before its too late if I were you," his dad told him. With that, Jack left Troy alone with his thoughts. Troy sighed and decided to go find Gabi. "It's now or never," he muttered to himself.

The twins were sitting in the TV room, trying to figure out a plan, when they heard feet approaching. They peeped out the door and saw Troy and Gabriella heading towards the patio. The twins followed closely and hid behind the wall, where they were sure they wouldn't be seen.

"It's now or never Bolton!" Troy mentally readied himself. He gazed at his girlfriend who was looking at the stars. The light from the moon reflecting on her face, making her even more beautiful. "Abi… I need to tell you something," Troy blurted out. Gabriella looked at him worriedly. Was he about to dump her? "Um… okay," she said, trying to ready herself for the bombshell.

"I know we've only been dating for 3 months, but the feelings I have for you are really strong… I guess what I'm trying to say is… I…" Troy stuttered. "Troy, are you dumping me?" Gabi asked with tears in her eyes. "NO!" he told her a little loud, wiping away her tears, "Just let me finish, okay?" Gabi just nodded her head.

"Okay, as I was saying. We've been dating for 3 months, and they've, so far, been the best 3 months of my life. I can't go a day without hearing your voice, and… you don't have to say it back, I'll understand… what I'm trying to say is… I love you Abi!" he blurted out. Gabriella was definitely stunned. She didn't think his feelings for her were strong. She looked at his sad face, and smiled. She leaned in towards him and gave him a sweet, gentle kiss on the lips. "I… I love you too, Troy," she told him back. Troy had the biggest smiled plastered on his face. His girlfriend, the love of his life, loved him back. He was the happiest he's ever been right now.

The twins both gasped, looking at each other, stunned.