A/N: Well, here's your update. It was kinda fun to write. A bit of Troyella fluff :D Still having problems with chapter 21 :( Oh well. I'll figure it out. 10 days until my exam results :O *fingers crossed*

Please make me smile :) I hope you smile at this :) Enjoy

Chapter 16

Before Troy could comprehend what was happening, Gabriella had disappeared from his side and was now in Sharpay's arms. He stood there, realising that as old as he was, he'd never understood women. And as much as he wanted Gabriella, he knew she wasn't any different. He watched, half with amusement and half with confusion, as Gabriella and Sharpay's conversation slowly became woman-babble. He heard 'dress', 'cake' and 'fitting'. Other than that, he didn't have a clue.

Zeke chuckled as he patted Troy's shoulder. "Don't worry. Like I said before, you get used to it."

Troy nodded slowly as he watched Sharpay usher Gabriella through to another room. He followed Zeke through to the kitchen. "Are they always like this?"

Zeke chuckled as he switched the kettle on. "Hell yeah. If Gabi ever takes you out with knowledge that Shar will be there too and Gabriella tells you she won't leave you, don't believe her."

Troy smiled. "I'll bear that in mind."

"I assume coffee's alright?" Zeke asked absentmindedly as he poured boiling water into two mugs.

Troy nodded, looking around the spotless kitchen. "Yeah, that's fine. Ever since Brie told me of her problem, I've been wearier of alcohol. I want to tell my son." He wandered over to the far counter and picked up a framed photo of Sharpay and Gabriella. They were perhaps in their early twenties, both in bikinis on a beach somewhere. Gabriella was perhaps a little slimmer, a little less rough around the edges, but Troy couldn't believe how beautiful she'd always been. And now, she was all his.

Troy sighed and looked across at Zeke. "I mean, he's been really down recently. I don't want him to be like Brie. Don't misunderstand me. I love her despite, and maybe even because, of her problem. I wouldn't have her any other way. I know that Andy's smart. He knows the effects of alcohol. I'm just not sure what he'll do while he's feeling this way. And I'm not sure he quite understands the reality of the long term effects of alcohol."

Zeke handed Troy a steaming mug of coffee. He looked sombre as he sipped his own coffee. "She won't mind," he finally murmured. "She's talked about Andy to us and she knows that he's your world. She won't mind you telling people as long as it's within reason and you don't plaster it over the whole town, you know?"

Troy nodded slowly as he set the picture back on the counter. He gazed at Gabriella's face, frozen at a time of spontaneity, happiness and freedom. "I get it. We both have things that we'd prefer people not to know. I wouldn't do that to her. I'll talk to her about it later on."

Zeke smiled softly. "You're good for her, you know. She's been unsure of people for a really long time. I don't want to call it trust issues. But, it's pretty much that. She's had a few relationships but she's always left before they could learn about her problem. Perhaps you learnt more out of circumstances than out of choice. But she didn't run in the opposite direction when you did learn it. That's a good sign."

Troy chuckled. "I'm surprised that Andy, in all of his glory, didn't chase her away. He's quite a charmer considering the girl who likes him is currently giving him the silent treatment," he said sarcastically.

Zeke laughed and took a long sip of his coffee. "We've had a day by day account of that saga."

Troy's brow furrowed. "Why?"

"I think it's more to do with Gabriella avoiding Shar's questions about you more than anything," Zeke murmured.

Troy laughed and nodded. "I get that impression." His laughter died down and he looked at Zeke curiously. "Can I ask a question?"

Zeke shrugged. "Sure."

"I'm sorry if I'm intruding but I'm curious. Why are you and Shar getting married now? From what Brie says, you've been together forever," Troy mumbled.

Zeke paused for a moment. "I don't know," he whispered. "I mean, we'd survived the long distance relationship part as we went to uni on opposite sides of the country and it was kind of a given that we'd be together for a really long time. But, I was setting up my cafe and Shar was setting up her boutique and we didn't quite have the time or the money to do it. Then, things got complicated and it wasn't quite fair for us to do it. Better late than never, though, right? I mean, having kids was never a priority for us. Our philosophy was that if it happened, it happened. But we just wanted to be together."

Troy nodded slowly. "Must be great to have met the person you wanted forever at a young age."

Zeke frowned. "Was Andy's mother never an option?"

Troy laughed and shook his head. "Hell no. We were never supposed to be together. And I'm glad we weren't. Without her, I can have Brie all to myself."

Zeke had to smile to himself. He looked back at the picture of his fiancée and his best friend. "At least I know that one of my girls is in good hands. I'm still sceptical as to whether I'm the best option for Shar or not."

Troy quirked an eyebrow.

Zeke faltered. "That's not to say that Gabi isn't yours."

Troy chuckled. "Do you know what? She isn't mine. I have to share her with everyone else she keeps close to her. But that's okay. I want to be involved in her life and I want to be involved with her family."

Zeke gave the other man a small smile. He liked Troy, her really did. With the men that Gabriella had been involved with in the past, Zeke had always found a reason to dislike them. But with Troy, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't help but like him.

He smiled and patted Troy on the shoulder. "Don't worry, mate. You'll fit in around here just fine."

"Shar," Gabriella gasped, "I can't breathe."

Sharpay sighed and looked over her friend's shoulder to look in the floor length mirror in front of them. "Yes, but the dress looks much better like this. There's more emphasis on your chest and it highlights your curves."

Gabriella gave Sharpay a look of disbelief. "Do you want me to pass out at your wedding? I'd like to be breathing when you finally tie the knot." She breathed out gratefully when Sharpay let go of the material of the dress. "Besides," she murmured, "there's only one guy I want to be admiring my chest and my curves."

"And he'll be able to. He's coming to the wedding, right?" Sharpay asked as she fiddled endlessly with the bodice of the dress.

Gabriella shrugged. "I don't know. I guess that's up to you as you're the one in the white dress."

"Well, if you want him to appreciate this dress in all its glory in the way I intended it to look, I think he'd better come," she replied.

Sharpay smiled as she continued fiddling with the dress. Predictably, her first choice had been having her bridesmaids in hot pink. But Gabriella had put her foot down. Not only did she despise that particular shade of pink, but the dress that Sharpay had made in preparation had looked particularly unflattering on Gabriella. So, Sharpay had settled for baby pink instead.

"I still think it should be tucked at the back," she muttered as she tugged the material in a bit.

"Shar," Gabriella warned. "I'm serious. If I can't breathe at your wedding, I'm not going to be there."

Sharpay sighed and released the material. "Fine."

"Besides," Gabriella muttered, "what happened to making the bridesmaids look ugly so that the bride looks beautiful?"

Sharpay turned her friend so that they were facing each other. "You're my best friend, you know. I know I sometimes come across a bit strong but I know that you know me. I want you to be comfortable when I say 'I do' and preferably conscious, too."

Gabriella smiled. "I know. I feel bad, though, because you want the perfect wedding."

Sharpay rolled her eyes. "Please. You are way more important than some stupid bridesmaid's dress. Even if Zeke and I were getting married in a sleazy chapel in Vegas by an Elvis impersonator, I'd want you there."

Gabriella hugged her best friend. "And I'd be there." She pulled back to look at her friend's face. "I wouldn't miss your wedding for the world."

Sharpay stood back, admiring her handy work. Spaghetti straps, a white ribbon around the waist and the skirt of the dress fell to just below the knee. Overall, it was rather simple compared to her other creations. And although it would be perfect if it was tucked at the back a little more, she wasn't going to force her best friend to hold her breath. As always, Gabriella looked stunning. Sharpay motioned for her to do a twirl. "Give us a spin."

Gabriella laughed as she spun in a circle, her long ponytail, tied with a bandana, fell over her shoulder. "What do you think?"

Sharpay pulled her into an embrace. "I'm so glad I have you." She pulled back. "You look amazing."

"It's all down to you," Gabriella laughed.

Sharpay gave her a small smile when she saw Gabriella's bandana tied around her wrist. "Have you told him?"

Gabriella sighed as she twisted the bandana around her wrist. "No. It's not something I willingly bring up in conversations, is it? I know he knows about my addiction which is probably way more baggage in a relationship than this," she paused to show Sharpay her wrist, "will ever be. But, this is personal. It's something I want to share with him. I mean, I want him to know me for who I am. But I can't seem to face telling him."

Sharpay squeezed her friend's hand. "It'll be okay, you know. From what I've seen, there's nothing that you could tell him that could chase him away."

There was a knock at the door and a moment later, it opened a crack. "Are you both decent?" Zeke called.

Gabriella and Sharpay both laughed. "We're both dressed. Come on in," Sharpay replied.

Zeke stepped inside, followed by Troy. "I was wondering if you two ladies were ready for food."

Sharpay nodded. "Sure, we are." She couldn't help but notice the way that Troy was looking at Gabriella. "Hey, honey, do you want some help with that thing?"

Zeke frowned. "What?"

"The thing," Sharpay emphasised, sending her fiancé a well earned Sharpay-glare. When Zeke continued to look confused, she pushed his shoulder. "Go." She marched Zeke out of the room and shut the door, leaving Troy and Gabriella alone.

Troy approached Gabriella and looked her up and down. He took her hand and slowly spun her around. "What happened to your blue dress?"

Gabriella shrugged. "Shar wanted a dress fitting. What do you think?"

Troy smiled to himself. "You look beautiful."

"I didn't expect you to say that," she said sarcastically but sent him a teasing smile.

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I love looking at you, give me a break."

Gabriella nodded slowly. "I know this." She paused. "Do you own a suit? Preferably one that fits."

He rubbed his eyes as he concentrated on the items of clothing he owned that weren't jeans, shirts or filthy t-shirts that he wore for work.

Gabriella hit his arm. "Don't hurt yourself," she exclaimed.

Troy looked at her between his fingers. "I'm thinking."

She sighed. "It's not important. It doesn't matter. It's fine." She let go of his hand and went over to the bed where she had discarded her bag.

Troy stepped closer and hesitated for only a moment before he wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Why do you want to know?"

Gabriella quickly checked her phone, finding messages from Alejandro and Greg about something Maria had said about football. Without question, Gabriella was on Maria's side. She felt Troy's fingers dig gently into her hips and his breath brush against the skin of her neck. Just that slight touch would, to a lot of women, seem insignificant and not at all meaningful, let alone arousing. But, to Gabriella, that small touch sparked that wonderfully addictive heat that spread through her veins. She could feel her heartbeat quicken and her knees weaken. Perhaps she should've been scared about how much Troy affected her. It was an alien sensation and she was unsure where the whole thing was heading. But what she said to Troy was true: she wasn't scared. In fact, she liked the way he made her feel. She wanted more of him.

Still, she attempted to act nonchalant, despite how it was likely that Troy would see through her act. She swallowed hard to try to regulate her breathing. "Shar said you can come to the wedding."

Troy smiled against her shoulder. "Do you want me to go?"

Gabriella dropped her phone on to the mattress and turned around to face him. "I don't mind. I mean, I'd like it. I'll be surrounded by their family and although I love Shar and Zeke, I don't know their families that well."

"I'll go," Troy murmured. "And I'll buy a good suit, I promise."

Gabriella leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss him softly. "Thank you." She turned to ace away from him. "Would you be able to unzip me?"

Troy swallowed hard and stepped forward the pull the zip down the back of the dress. His fingers skimmed the bare skin of her back. "Brie, you know Andy is everything to me, don't you?"

Gabriella shrugged as she began unfolding the dress she had arrived in. She smiled across the bed at him. "Of course. Someone would have to be either blind or inhuman to not see that. Why?"

He turned away from her so that she could get changed. "If you're willing, I'd like you to tell Andy about you being... I mean, you don't have to, I would never tell someone without your consent. But, I know how badly this Steph situation is getting to him and I don't want things to spiral out of control."

Gabriella pulled the blue dress she'd worn originally over her head and proceeded to lay the bridesmaid's dress neatly on the bed. She turned around and sighed. "Could you zip me up, please?"

"Sure," Troy muttered. He pulled the zipper up and before she could avoid the question even more, he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. Normally, having her in such close proximity would have his male hormones in overdrive and he'd just want to kiss her, to hug her, to touch her in any way. But in that moment, he didn't care about his selfish sexual desires. He just cared about her. "I know it hurts. Just be honest with me: will you do it? As much as I care about Andy and I'll do anything to make sure he's safe, I'm not going to make you do something that makes you upset or uncomfortable."

Gabriella sighed. "I don't know. Telling you was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I was afraid of so many things that day. I realised that I'd relapsed and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to stop. I was afraid that you'd judge me and fire me." She averted her eyes. "Of course, none of that happened."

"And I wouldn't let that happen. What you have, Brie, isn't a disability. I don't look at you any different than if you weren't an alcoholic," he murmured.

She nodded slowly as she looked up at him. "I know. If I do this, if I tell Andy, I'm going to need you there. I don't tell people. I don't let people find out about it. I just don't let that happen. So, I've never sat down and voluntarily told someone. I'm going to need all the help I can get."

Troy laughed. "You think I'd let you do something like that alone? Brie, look at me." He waited until her eyes were locked on his. "I want you to be in my life more than I've wanted anything in a long time. I think the only thing I've ever wanted more than you is for Andy to be safe. I want you in my family and Andy's a part of that. I won't force you to do this. But it would mean a lot if you did."

Gabriella sighed. "And you'll stay with me while I tell him?"

"I'll do anything you want me to," he murmured.

She finally nodded. "Okay. I'll tell him."

"Gabriella," he whispered.

She twisted her head to look at him. "What?"

"Zeke said you push people away before they can know about your addiction. Please don't shut me out because I know," he murmured, a pleading tone lacing his voice.