Remember: Gabriella's and Taylors Outfit can be found by clicking the link of my profile!

Disclaimer: I don't own Letters to Juliet or HSM.

Inspiration: You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift (doesn't really have anything to do with the chapter necessarily but I listened to it anyway)

Author: Alleycat

Story: A Love Letter to Troy Bolton

Chapter 4

"Honestly," Gabriella started but stopped at the intensity of Troy's stare. She realized that he probably wanted her to deny any type of friendship because she was nerdy. "I just met both of you guys today, so I wouldn't necessarily consider any of us friends. But Troy and I are actually just," She searched for an appropriate word. "partners. We are just working together on something."

Taylor nodded but had a calculating look in her eye. She also made sure to catch Troy's reaction which wasn't what she would normally expect of the pompous basketball captain. He seemed hurt.

He swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. "Are you ready?" He asked.

Gabriella nodded, not noticing anything was wrong. When he saw that they were going to exchange numbers, Troy began speed walking to the car. Gabriella caught up with him a few seconds later. "You're walking pretty fast!" She commented trying hard to keep up.

He didn't say anything but he slowed his speed.

"Did you get the list?" She asked after a few seconds of silence. It was too quiet. For the short time she had been around Troy, there were few moments of silence.

He nodded but didn't spare her a glance.

Gabriella tried another tactic. "So what's with you and Taylor?"

He barely restrained the urge to roll his eyes at the intelligent girl's name. "Oh you don't know?" He asked mockingly. "I'm sure she waited all of five seconds before poisoning your thoughts about me."

"We weren't even talking about you." Gabriella defended. "Your name did not come up until you showed up."

He was silent for a moment. "McKessie's always been that way to me and the team."

Gabriella's eyebrows rose at the word 'team.' That meant he was athletic and probably popular. Understanding began to dawn on her. "I'm sure something happened that made resent you guys," she reasoned.

"Yeah," He scoffed. "Having a low IQ is reason enough for her."

She stopped suddenly. "Who do you hang out with Troy?" She asked feigning innocence.

"People." He answered evasively.

"What people?" She pressed.

"I guess the basketball team and occasionally some cheerleaders." He answered cautiously.

Gabriella didn't respond but instead made an hmm noise.

"What?" He asked suspiciously.

"Nothing," She opened her car door and looked at him over the roof of her car. "just maybe you should try widening that social circle."

"Maybe I am." He argued.

Gabriella was sure that was a jab at her social status and so she would not respond. Usually she was against speeding, but this time was the exception. She wanted him out of her car as soon as possible. She was outside his house in what seemed like seconds. Gabriella didn't even pull over but stopped in the middle of the road and looked at him expectantly.

Troy got the hint and grabbed the folder with the list in it. "See you later."

"You can leave the list. The first part is boring work and just separating the girls from the guys."

"But what about the either way names?"

"The what?" She asked before comprehension dawned on her. "You mean the androgynous names?"

He scratched his head. "Um sure." He said unconvincingly.

It was obvious to her he did not know what that word meant. She giggled softly before pulling into his driveway. She felt less claustrophobic and more accommodating after his obvious lie. "Fine," She acquiesced while smiling sweetly. "You can take the list."

"Why don't we work on it together?" He asked. His eyes were focused on the folder in his hands. When she didn't decline right away, he looked up hopefully.

"Okay," Gabriella said slowly. As soon as his blue eyes met hers, she knew she could not say no to that face. It scared her more than she was willing to admit.

Gabriella held up her index finger to Taylor before grabbing her phone. "Hello?" She answered.

"Hey Gabby, it's Troy."

He had taken to calling her Gabby over the week. No one had ever given her a nickname before so she was unsure how she felt about it. The first time he used it was the first time he called her on the phone. It sounded more like a question than a nickname and it unfortunately made her heart rate increase.

"I know Troy." She laughed. "All cell phones have caller id."

"Oh, yeah." He stuttered. "What are you doing?"

"Just doing homework over at Taylor's," She responded.

"Again?" He asked incredulously. "Every time I call you you're at her house!" He whined.

Gabriella giggled. "Then should show you how much homework we have!"

He huffed. "I have homework too you know!"

"Really?" Gabriella faked surprise.

"Yes, and I'm sure I need more help than genius Taylor."

Troy did not necessarily need help. He could get by with B's in basically every class. In a particularly easy class, he could get an A. So it wasn't that he couldn't use help, it was just that he didn't want it. With Gabriella in the picture, B's did not seem as impressive as they once were.

Plus it means more time with Gabriella. Girls liked guys who knew when to ask for help…

Didn't they?

"If you needed help you could've just asked."

"Define help."

Gabriella giggled again.

"No I'm serious; it's a question on my homework." He joked.

"Okay Troy, I'll help." She sighed into the phone dramatically. "Just tell me when you're available and I'll come over."

Troy wondered why she never invited him to her house. Every time they hung out, which admittedly was only twice, it was either at his house or some public place. Even when she hung out with Taylor it was always at the decathlon captain's house. He wondered if she was trying to hide something.

"Five minutes?" He asked.

"Are you serious?" She gaped.

"As a heart attack," He stated.

"That's not funny," She protested but her giggling betrayed her. "I'll be there in a few."

She closed the phone and smiled softly to herself. When she saw Taylor's amused face, she pursed her lips.

Taylor watched the transition with a smile. "Did I tell you Bolton's been greeting me?"

"Nope," Gabriella began as she started gathering her materials.

"He has." Taylor admitted. "Every time I see him, he goes out of his way to say hello. It's a bit unnerving."

"I bet," Gabriella commented, still avoiding Taylor's knowing stare.

"I think it's because he's hoping I'll give him an in with a certain friend of mine."

Gabriella froze and met Taylor's eyes for the first time since the conversation started. "Meaning?" She asked in alarm.

"Meaning he's crazy about you," Taylor rolled her eyes at her friend's naiveté.

"Doubtful," She responded. "Did you forget we're trying to get him a girlfriend?"

Taylor waved that comment away. "All I'm saying is I don't think he needs one."

Gabriella's mouth dropped open. "If you are implying that I like Troy Bolton in any way shape or form-"

"That is exactly what I am implying," Taylor interrupted defiantly. "Maybe I was wrong about Bolton." She said slyly after a few moments.

"Maybe I was wrong about you," Gabriella said dramatically and they both laughed.

Gabriella ended up leaving a couple minutes later. Taylor had never seen Gabriella move that fast since they started hanging out. Even though Taylor didn't really know that much about Gabriella she felt like they were old friends. And old friends knew when their friends were lying, and Gabriella was most definitely lying.

Troy shut his cell phone and smiled brightly. He felt like doing an immature dance or even worse squeal like the preteen girls did in the movies. Both did not sit well with Troy so he let the feelings of excitement overwhelm for a moment before breathing deeply.

As he was releasing his breath, he took notice of the disarray in his room. He ran around grabbing dirty clothes and random dishes as fast as he could. Not two minutes later, his room was what he personally considered clean. He took a second to look over his room and was struck with disgust at how many things he had in his room had basketballs on them. It's almost embarrassing…

"Troy!" His mother called up the stairs. "Your girlfriend is here!"

Troy prayed that Gabriella didn't hear that as he ran down the stairs. "Mom!" He hissed when passed her.

She chuckled and went back to putting groceries away.

Lucille Bolton had never seen her son act this way over anybody. She wasn't sure how she felt about it. It made her happy that Troy was finally showing interest in something other than basketball. On the other hand, he was acting like a boy in love. As a woman who had a first love, she knew that during high school love always equaled heartache. She wasn't sure her son was equipped to deal with that.

Troy opened the door before Gabriella even reached the porch.

He was beginning to get used to the feelings he had whenever she was near. It was almost like an increase in his body's awareness. His heart would pound and his palms would get sweaty. It was very uncomfortable and Troy hated it. It confused him more than anything that he still craved her company.

She was wearing a button down shirt with a grey skirt that moved when she walked. She smiled shyly at him but didn't say anything until she was right before him. "Hey."

He noticed she was a little shorter than he remembered, maybe it was the heels. "You look wonderful," He breathed.

She blushed attractively and looked at him through her lashes. "You say that every time you see me." Gabriella reminded him softly.

He shrugged. "Only because it's true." He moved out of the doorway and gestured for her to come in.

She stepped in the house hesitantly and looked around in wonderment as if it was the first time she was there. Troy just closed the door quietly and watched her amused. He was able to see him mom sneak back into the hallway for an introduction. He tried to gesture for her to go away but she ignored him.

"You must be Gabriella." Lucille's voice broke through the silence.

Gabriella jumped and turned around. She managed a startled "yes" while her hand was still on her chest.

"You are a pretty little thing!" She took a step back as if giving Gabriella a once over. "No wonder Troy is so enamored with you!"

Troy could not form words to express the embarrassment he was now experiencing. He felt the rush of blood to his face and it seemed that the room has just gotten hotter. His mouth opened and closed several times but no noise came out.

Conversation continued without him.

Gabriella smiled graciously. "I am sure those are your words not his Mrs. Bolton." She quipped.

Lucille chuckled appreciatively. "Please call me Lucille. I'll leave you two alone for now but dinner will be ready in about an hour. You are staying aren't you?"

Her question sounded rhetorical but Gabriella nodded helplessly anyway.

When she was finally gone, Troy found his voice. "I am so sorry about that."

Gabriella waved his concerns away. "So what are we studying?"

He led her to the living room debating on whether or not a hand on the back was appropriate. She sat down before he could make a decision. She crossed her ankles delicately and then looked at Troy expectantly.

"I thought maybe we could discuss the case and then after dinner you could help me with my Calculus."

They had discovered that the admirer was in the same grade as Troy because of the line 'when we were freshman.' So Troy had gotten the secretary to print a list of all seniors this year as well one of their freshman class. He told her he was doing something special for the seniors. He was Troy Bolton and he would never lie.

So she believed him and handed it over.

They had already separated the boys from the girls and now they were knocking off anyone who was not on the freshman but on the senior. The chatter flowed easily between the two and dinner was ready minutes after they had completed their task.

Troy had decided before dinner was ready that he would put his hand on her back as they walked to the dining room. He lightly placed his hand on the small of her back and began to guide her when she didn't automatically shove him off. In fact if his hand wasn't on her back right now he was convinced he was hallucinating because of her lack of reaction. He didn't know which was worse. Regardless he still brought her to the chair before pulling it out. Smart girls believed in chivalry, right? Or was it that they believed it was sexiest?

He couldn't remember and that scared him.

Even though she did not show it outwardly, she felt his hand on her back the second it was placed there. She felt it through her skirt and shirt. It seemed to exude heat and she felt it spread to the rest of her body. It made her lightheaded and giddy.

Both were unknown and frightening feelings.

She sat down aware of the stares of by the parents especially the scrutinizing eyes of the father. "Everything looks great Mrs. Bolton." She complimented.

"It's Lucille and thank you, Gabriella." She responded kindly. "Please take as much as you want. I've made more than enough!"

Bowls of mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn were passed around the table. Pieces of chicken were distributed and the silence that befell them was awkward.

Troy glanced worriedly at Gabriella who was staring at her plate and taking small bites.

"So Gabriella," Lucille began. "Do you go to East High with Troy?"

Gabriella placed her fork on the plate before responding. "No, I go to a different school," She hesitated. "New Mexico Prep."

"That's a nice, expensive school." Jack dryly noted.

Troy sent his dad a warning look, but Jack was too focused on Gabriella's response to notice.

"Wouldn't you agree?" He prompted.

Gabriella smiled uncomfortably. "It is an expensive school. Most of the students can afford it but they do have tuition scholarships for those who are eligible." She was speaking specifically to Jack but Gabriella looked at the rest of the table. "I guess the selectivity of that process makes it a good school."

"But you can afford it can't you? Or should I say your parents?" He challenged.

"Jack!" Lucille admonished as the same time Troy half-yelled "Dad!"

The smile never left her face but it was becoming more strained as the conversation wore on. "My parents are lucky enough that they are able to work at jobs they love and still live comfortably."

"Comfortably? Or Rich?"

"Dad!" Troy stood up angrily. "You don't have to answer that Gabriella! I don't know what-"

Gabriella laid a gentle hand on his arm. "I don't mind Troy." She told him in a soft placating manner before turning to Jack. "My dad is an engineer and my mother is a lawyer. They both come from wealthy families already so I guess we would be rich." She answered flatly.

"Do you live around here?" Lucille asked quickly, desperate to save the disastrous dinner.

"No," Gabriella answered, already knowing how her answer would be taken. "I live in Sunset Hills."

Both parents sucked in a breath and Troy looked at her shocked.

Gabriella's ever-present smile widened, even though inside she was hurting. She was used to these reactions and could deal with it with grace. She stood up and placed her napkin gently on the side of her plate. "Thank you, Mrs. Bolton, for the lovely meal. It was delicious, but I must be going." She walked as fast away from the table that her dignity would allow her. Her chin only quivered when she was sure they could no longer see her.

Gotta love drama! Let me know what you think!

IMPORTANT-I have bad news: my schedule is going to summer hours so I work ALL the time! I guess I should be happy I even have a job (and I am!) but yeah I won't be able to update as frequent. So I guess ten reviews and I'll update next Tuesday and if not, the Tuesday after that! If I have any spare time trust me I will update it faster.

Alleycat