Excitement 13
A few days have passed. Sharpay, Ryan, and Jackie found out about them and kept on congratulating them and telling Troy that it took him long enough. They even gave them a new couple nickname, Troyella. It both pleased and annoyed Troy. But he ignored it and kept all his focus on Gabriella. Ms. Darbus posted the casting list for Romeo & Juliet. Troy and Gabriella got the lead parts as Romeo and Juliet, while Sharpay got the role as the nurse and Ryan has the part as Paris. Ms. Darbus surprised them by saying that instead of performing the play at the school's auditorium, they performed at one of the theaters on Broadway. Also that the play is on the last day of school before Christmas vacation.
On a Wednasday afternoon after school, Troy and Gabriella decided to go over to Gabriella's house to do some more rehearsing for the play. Troy was a little nervous. He never been to Gabriella's house before and wasn't sure how her family was going to think of him. But Gabriella gave him a gentle squeeze on his hand and a comforting smile.
She punched in the code to the alarm system, unlocked the door, opened the door, and led Troy inside her huge five-story townhouse, out of the freezing cold. As they walked in the long hallway, Troy saw that they definitely had started their Christmas decorations. The place was already covered with loads of decorations and Christmas lights. They passed by a few paintings and Troy recognized a few of them.
Gabriella led him into the huge luxury living room where he saw a gigantic Christmas tree standing in the corner, covered with decorations. Christmas music played in the radio. He saw two college-aged guys playing video games. A middle-aged man reading the newspaper while talking on the house phone and his cell phone. And a girl who looked a bit like Gabriella, but had dark hair that was a bit lighter than hers, reading A Christmas book to an adorable little toddler girl.
Once the toddler girl saw Gabriella, she got off the older girl's lap and ran to her while opening her arms. "Gabi! Gabi!" She cried.
"Hey Izzy!" Gabriella said, lifting the girl up, spinning her around, and planting a kiss on her cheek.
Izzy? Troy thought. He knew it was short for Isabella, but was now confused. Gabriella told him that she has two older brothers and only one sister. She never said anything about another sibling. He wondered who the little girl was.
Gabriella took Troy's hand and turned to her family, who caught her attention. "Troy, I like you to meet my family," She said and then walked over to her two older brothers and gave them each a hug. "These are my older brothers, Jason and Mark," She walked over to her dad and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "This is my dad, Nicholas," She then moved on to her sister and gave her a hug. "This is my older sister, Tia," She walked over to the toddler, picked her up, and kissed her cheek. "And this is my niece, Isabella."
Niece? He thought. Then she must be one…of her siblings' kid.
Gabriella went back to Troy and took his hand again. "And you guys," She said, turning to her family, grinning. "This is my wonderful boyfriend, Troy Bolton.
Her brothers nodded to him with half tiny smiles. Tia nodded her head toward him with a small smile and carried the little girl in her arms while tickling her. Her dad gave him a small wave, still talking on the phone.
"We'll be upstairs in my room," She told them and led Troy to the staircase.
"Hey!" Jason cried after Troy.
Troy stopped half-way on upstairs and turned to him.
"Just to let you know, we'll be listening in on you guys and watching you very closely," Mark began to say "And if you try to do anything to our baby sister-any funny business-well then…let's just say that it won't be your lucky day." Jason finished.
Tia gave him a firm, stern look and added "We mean it! If you try any funny business, I can assure you it won't be your lucky day. Understand?"
Troy nodded and quickly followed Gabriella up the high staircase. Well I can see that they're very protective of their sister, he thought.
By the time they finally reached the top of the stairs to Gabriella's floor, Troy was out of breath and felt like he was about to collapse. He held Gabriella's arm for support, panting, feeling like he was about to have a heart attack. He looked up at Gabriella, who was giggling at him, and was amazed to see that she wasn't tired at all.
"Why are you laughing?" He asked, still panting.
"Because I'm amazed that you're being overly-dramatic for just climbing a few stairs." She answered.
Troy shot his head up at her, shocked, and said "A few? A few? You must be joking if you think climbing over ten staircases is only a few."
Gabriella shook her head and rolled her eyes, playfully. She help steady him up, opened the door to her room, helped Troy walk in, and laid him on her couch.
Troy finally caught his breath and got his heart beating at a normal pace. He sat up and looked around Gabriella's room. It sure was big. It was actually more than big, it was gigantic. It was about double the size of a master room. The walls were painted with light colors and had about 4 or 5 collages. There were also two big book-shelves neatly organized with tons of books and had a few frame pictures. A huge king-size bed that had about five big pillows and a soft lavender comforter, a dell computer and Mac laptop on a white big desk, a wide-screen T.V, and a huge closet. Also a huge dresser that had about every color of make-up in the world and more pictures. And even a fire-place.
Troy walked up to the fireplace and looked at some pictures on top. One of the pictures was of Troy and Gabriella, at the age of eight, sitting in front of the fountain, eating ice-cream, smiling at the camera with some ice-cream on their faces. Troy looked at the photo and grinned, remembering that memory of when they first and began to have a flash-back.
Flashback
It was hot summer during the time and young eight year Troy was scowling, following Sharpay and Ryan to the park. He couldn't believe his parents dragged him and his sister to New York. And while Jackie was going to the spa with their mom, he was stuck with his cousins and now has to meet his Sharpay's best friend. He at lease hoped that she wouldn't be like Sharpay, then that would be double the annoying pain.
Sharpay dragged him to the meadow in the park, let go of his arm, and looked around for her friend. "Mommy, are you sure she's here?" She asked her mom.
"Yes, sweetie," Her mother told her, putting on her sunglasses "I called Gabriella's daddy and he said that Gabriella is here with her brothers and sister with their nanny."
Sharpay frowned impatiently, scanning the park, wondering where her best friend was. Finally she smiled, spotting her friend, playing ball with her sister and brothers. "Gabi, over here!" She yelled.
Gabriella turned her head toward them, waved, and ran to them.
"There she is." Sharpay said, beaming, pointing to her.
Ryan waved to her. Troy turned to their direction and stood still, seeing a way-too-cute adorable girl running to them, wearing a white summer dress, with her almost black hair in pigtail braids. His stomach churned. His throat felt bone-dry. And his knees began to feel like Jell-O. It was like this girl had put a spell on him.
When Gabriella approached them, his aunt Phoebe kissed her head and hugged her. Sharpay then squeezed her tight. When she finally released her, she pulled Gabriella closer to Troy and said "Gabi, this is our cousin, Troy. Troy, this is my best friend since preschool, Gabriella."
Gabriella turned to him and gave him a warm smile.
Troy felt like she was about to faint. He normally didn't like girls, but there was something different about Gabriella. He could feel it; especially by the way she was making him feel. Troy felt his cheeks getting hot, goose bumps covering him, and his face changing to the color red.
Once he looked into her big eyes, he sudden forgot everything. He almost forgot his own name. "Hi…I'm Bolton Alexander Troy." He said and then blushed more, realizing what he just said. You idiot! He thought about himself. Now she thinks you're a complete freak show.
But Gabriella giggled, which surprised him. She smiled at him and said "Hi Bolton Alexander Troy. I'm Montez Antoinette Gabriella."
Troy blushed even more, but smiled, seeing she was different from most girls in a very nice way.
They smiled at each other for a long moment and finally shook hands. But as they shook hands, they felt something neither of them could describe. It was something electric traveling through their bodies.
They were practically inseparable all day, just talking and playing. Troy's aunt bought them some ice cream cones and they sat at the fountain.
As Troy took another lick of his cream, the scoop fell to the ground and some drips stained his shorts. He felt embarrassed, mad, and was about to cry.
Gabriella patted his back, wiped the drips of ice cream off his shorts with a napkin, and handed him her cone, "You can have some of my mine." She said, with a comforting smile.
Troy slowly smiled at her and took a lick of the cone. Gabriella definitely was a cool girl and one of the nicest people he ever met.
Aunt Phoebe pulled out her camera and got in front of them. "Smile." She said, snapping some pictures.
"Let's be friends." Gabriella whispered in his ear, offering her hand.
"Forever." Troy whispered back, grinning at her, shaking her hand and holding it for a moment. The electric in his body grew bigger and bigger. Ever since then he had a massive crush on her. On Gabriella Antoinette Montez, his dream girl.
End of flashback
Troy grinned at that memory as he placed the photo back on its place. That's the day I first fell in love with her, he thought.
"Hey." Gabriella said, wrapping her arms around him, grinning.
Troy turned to her with huge grin. He spun her around, brought her back to him, and kissed her.
Gabriella pulled back for moment to catch her breath, but kissed him eagerly again.
Troy grinned, kissing her back. He couldn't get enough of her. He doesn't just love her, he wants her. He needs her. He kissed her hungrily for a long moment and finally pulled back before things get too hot. Troy cupped Gabriella's face and traced her nose, her cheeks, and her sweet lips.
Gabriella signed with a smile. She grabbed his hand and led him over to her couch. She nuzzled into his chest and traced his hand.
Troy smiled down at her as he brushed her hair with his fingers. "So you excited about your birthday on Saturday?" He asked her.
"Of course," She said, looking up at him. "But my birthday is even more exciting because my dad id taking us to Paris for the weekend and is also taking you, Shar, Ry, and Jackie with us," She kissed his cheek. "It's going to be awesome."
Troy grinning, caressing her cheek. Yes it was going to be awesome. Gabriella was able to convince her dad to let them come to Paris with her and her family for her birthday and won't be coming back To New York till about Tuesday. It's all set. Since tomorrow is half-a-day (and also no school on Friday) they're going to get their suitcases and meet at Grand Central to ride the train to the airport. Mr. Montez has their plane tickets. First class. And arranged reservations at the hotel, they're staying at.
Troy couldn't wait until tomorrow afternoon. He couldn't wait until he and Gabriella get to Paris. He knew that she might be busy with some stuff when they get there, but he couldn't wait until they're all alone. He has special plans for them.
But right now, he was curious about Gabriella's niece, Isabella. He wondered how old she is and which one of Gabriella's siblings is her parent.
As if Gabriella was reading his mind, she said "Wondering about Isabella?"
"How did…?" He asked her, confused. It was like Gabriella was a mind-reader and always knows what he was thinking.
Gabriella sat up on his lap and stroked his hair. "When a person cares about and loves a person so much, they know practically everything about them, even what's going in their head," She said and then pecked his cheek. She signed, stroking his cheek, her eyes sudden becoming serious. "Isabella is my niece, as you know, and I love that little girl to bits. She just turned three."
Troy nodded. He stroked her cheek and brushed her hair back.
Gabriella smiled, but her eyes remained serious. She traced his lips; pausing for a moment from talking. Finally she said the answer to the question he was wondering about his niece. "Isabella is…Tia's daughter."
Her sister's daughter…he thought. Troy was trying not to act so surprise, but it was hard not to. After all, Tia is only a college freshman; seemed pretty young to have a kid. "Whoa…" He mumbled.
Gabriella nodded, leaning against his warm chest, and traced his hand. Even though she and her family love Isabella, they were still pretty shocked and couldn't believe that Tia got pregnant. "Yeah…" She mumbled.
Troy could tell that it was a touché' subject and didn't want to push her Gabriella away farther. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." He told her.
"But I do," She said, and then kissed his nose. "Only I'll just tell you later." She was glad Troy didn't want her to say anymore because she was a tad uncomfortable talking about Isabella. She brushed her nose against his, their foreheads touching. "I love you." She said, smiling at him.
Troy grinned. He loves hearing her say those words. "I love you, too." He replied and then pulled her into a kiss, their tongues wrestling with each other.
They both grinned as they made out. But were interrupted by a middle-aged plump maid. Gabriella pulled back, fixing her sweater. "Hello Missy." She said to the maid.
"Hello Miss Gabriella," She said in a German accent. She eyed Troy. "You must be Mister Troy. Nice to meet you."
"You, too." He said, sitting up and wrapped his arm around Gabriella.
"I'm sorry to be interrupting you two," Missy said "But Mister Mark and Jason wanted me to make sure that you two won't be doing anything silly."
Gabriella rolled her eyes, but smiled. Her brothers are so protective of her-most of the time too protective.
"I brought you both some snacks," Missy said as she placed a tray of brownies and two sodas on the coffee table. As she was about to leave, she turned back to them and said "Mr. Montez wants to remind you about tomorrow. You need to get your things and meet him at Grand Central at 2:00 sharp."
"We will." Gabriella said.
With one last nod and smile, Missy left.
"We better start rehearsing." Gabriella said, grabbing a brownie and taking a bite of it, and took her script from her messenger bag.
Troy wanted to kiss Gabriella again, but he didn't want to her family to walk in, catching them making out. He took a piece of his brownie and his taste buds sang. "This is awesome." He said, taking another bite.
Gabriella kissed the tip of his nose. "Glad you like it because I made them. There are my famous triple-chocolate brownies." Gabriella said, finishing up her brownie, taking a sip of her soda, and flipping through the script.
Troy looked at her, amazed. She's beautiful. She's sweet. She's smart. She sings. She dances. And now she cooks. Is there anything Gabriella couldn't do?
"You are a really good cook," He told her, stuffing another brownie in his mouth. "Ella, if you made these for school's bakesale then the school would make a fortunate." Gabriella giggled and playfully smacked his arm. "Come on, Troy. Let's rehearse." She told him.
"Okay, I'm coming." He said, eating his third brownie, grabbing his script.
They joked around as they rehearsed Romeo & Juliet and did their parts in the play over five times.
Gabriella checked the clock and saw it was getting pretty late. "You better get going pretty late. "You better get going. I'll walk you to the door." She said.
Troy stared at her, horrified, of using those stairs again. His legs were still sore. "I suppose you don't have an elevator here, do you?" He asked, jokingly.
"Sure we do. It's on the left near the stairs." She answered, seriously.
"What?!" He asked, shocked. "You mean you actually have an elevator here, and yet you made us walk up all those stairs?!"
Gabriella silenced him with a kiss. "It's good exercise for you." She said.
When Troy got his stuff, she grabbed his hand and led him to the elevator. Troy signed playfully which earned him a light punch. Once they were in the elevator, they held hands, gazed into each other's eyes while smiling, and exchanged a few kisses- very long, heated passionate kisses.
But Gabriella had to pull away when they had to reach the bottom floor to the living room. She didn't want her family to catch her kissing Troy in the elevator. She knew they, mostly her brothers, would freak out.
She walked him to the door and pecked him on the cheek. She smiled at him and stroked his hair, her chocolate eyes glowing with lust and love. "Night." She told him.
"Night." He replied, smiling at her. He brushed her hair with her fingers down to the tip and pecked her lips. And with one last wave, walked out the door. Gabriella signed happily as she closed the door. She leaned against the door and touched her lips, blushing and thinking about him.
Love is definitely in the air. And you can see these two are definitely in love.
Troy signed once he got home. But it was a happy sign. He couldn't wait until tomorrow comes, then soon he'll be in Paris with his favorite girl. This weekend is definitely going to be awesome.
Once he, against his will, and Ryan helped Sharpay and Jackie and finished his own packing, he glanced at a framed picture of Gabriella in her St. Peters uniform, looking beautiful and gorgeous as always, smiling brightly, on his nightstand. He grinned at the picture of his beautiful Gabriella and traced it with his fingers. Tomorrow seemed so far way and he could hardly stand it, getting impatient. He couldn't wait.