Brief Encounter

Summary: Can anything good come from a mix-up?

Disclaimer: High School Musical and all of its characters belong to Disney. I just have them on secondment.

A/N: Thank you to Kristen for previewing my ramblings. You're a star. Many thanks to all that have reviewed this and have given me encouragement to carry on and for all that have added this as an alert or favourite. I thank you all.

Gabriella bade Taylor goodnight and walked into her bedroom. She noticed her luggage and after laying it on the bed, opened the lid.

"WHAT THE HELL!"

You're a Dork!

Taylor rushed into Gabriella's bedroom, toothbrush still in her mouth.

"Wath the matter?"

Taylor stared in horror at Gabriella who was stood transfixed, a pair of pale blue Calvin Klein boxers hanging from her finger, her mouth agape in shock.

"Dare I ask…?" Taylor stuttered, bursting into a giggle. Gabriella glared at her, her eyes narrowed to a slit.

"No you may not." Gabriella interrupted her through clenched teeth.

"Are they clean?" Queried Taylor, pointing to the boxers, wrinkling her nose. Gabriella gasped and flicked the offending article from her fingers with some force. They landed on her bedside table, hanging from her lamp.

"Aargh! I didn't think of that." She shrieked. Taylor couldn't help it. She let out a snort, then a guffaw; she even tried slapping a hand over her mouth to stem her laughter but without success. Gabriella couldn't help it. She started smirking, and then giggling before it turned into a full-blown laugh. That's the thing about Taylor; you couldn't help but join in with her laugh. It was infectious.

"So I take it, it wasn't all business in New York?" Asked Taylor once she could speak again. Gabriella blushed.

"Taylor! This isn't mine. Look, do I wear men's T-shirts?" Gabriella asked holding up a white T-shirt with 'JUST DO IT' emblazoned on the front. Taylor giggled.

"It would fit you twice over," she commented in amusement. Gabriella glared at her. She turned back to the mystery bag.

"There's a pair of Vans in here, size 9 and socks and a pair of Nudie jeans and a few more Calvin Klein boxers; there's another T-shirt and a blue plaid shirt."

"Hmm! All designer labels too," commented Taylor, moving closer to inspect the contents more closely. "He's hopeless at packing anyway," she pointed out, trying to comfort Gabriella, "but he definitely has class." Taylor finished.

Gabriella wasn't paying attention. She was too busy delving through the strange bag. She pulled out a matching toiletries bag.

"Should you be looking in that?" Asked a worried Taylor.

"Maybe not." Gabriella replied hesitantly, her hand moving to put it back.

"You may as well look now." Taylor said inquisitively. Her eyes were gleaming in anticipation.

"Taylor! You're worse than me." Gabriella scolded. Taylor grabbed the bag from her hand and opened the zipper. Taylor pulled out toothpaste and toothbrush, shower gel, shampoo, razor, shaving balm, face balm and body spray.

"Hmm! He looks after his skin which is always a good sign," she commented, " and at least he'll smell real good." Taylor added, opening the body spray and squirting it in the air. Gabriella sneezed as the spray hit her nasal passages. Taylor carried on rummaging.

"Oops!" Taylor pulled her hand out blushing.

"What?"

"Condoms." She squeaked. Gabriella burst out laughing all over again.

"Your face is a picture." She responded to Taylor's glare.

"Hang on, why am I laughing? Where the hell is my stuff? I thought this set was an exclusive." Taylor giggled again.

"Maybe the salesgirl meant limited edition?" Taylor tried to placate her friend, looking to supply the answers Gabriella was looking for but she was trying desperately to hold back the amusement and failing miserably. Gabriella scowled.

"Tay this isn't funny. I need my curling tongs and straighteners and my hair dryer. How am I going to manage without them? Oh shit! And my pill." Gabriella shrieked in panic.

"Come on Gabs, surely that wasn't your last pack?" Taylor queried trying to instil some logic to the situation.

"Well no, but I can't remember what day I'm up to." Gabriella uttered.

"It won't matter for a day Gabs, and you can't really do anything at this time of night anyway. We'll get it sorted out in the morning." Taylor promised stifling a yawn.

"Yeah, I guess you're right Tay. Come on you need to be up early tomorrow, go get some sleep. Goodnight." Gabriella agreed resignedly.

She put everything back in the bag, zipped it closed and pulled it off the bed. She sighed and flopped onto the bed, dragging her sheets over her tired body.

Travel can be a real pain in the arse at times.

Troy groaned and rolled over. He cautiously opened his eyes to pitch-blackness. Dragging himself from the bed and moving to the window, he gradually opened his blinds, letting the sunlight spill into the room.

"Thank god for that," he thought, glad to see his migraine had finally dispersed. He went into his bathroom, switching on the showerhead fully before stripping and immersing himself under the hot jets. After his ablutions were completed he returned to his bedroom and changed into a pair a jeans and a black t-shirt, throwing a red plaid shirt over the top before venturing into the kitchen. His mouth felt like sandpaper and he really needed some juice and coffee.

"Yo Troy!" Chad greeted him from his place at the breakfast bar, a half eaten waffle on a plate in front of him. He was dressed in tracksuit bottoms and an orange running vest, Nikes on his feet. "How are you feeling today?"

"Better, much better." Troy said with a smile while rifling through the fridge for the juice.

"How did your date go last night?" He asked remembering Chad saying he was hooking up with some girl last night. Chad shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

"It was okay, not spectacular but good. She ain't the one though," he added.

"Hmm! I didn't know you were looking for 'The One'?" Troy queried with a lift of his eyebrow and using his fingers to indicate the 'The One'.

"We…ll, I'm kinda looking out for my soul-mate but I haven't met her yet." Chad replied blushing furiously. Troy started laughing.

"I didn't realise you were a romantic. Have you been reading you Mom's Mills and Boons again?" Troy asked teasing his friend.

"Oh yeah! Payback was so sweet." He thought, laughing aloud at Chad's sheepish expression.

"Leave it. Just don't go there." Chad said gruffly, glaring at Troy. Getting up from the stool, Chad took his dirty plate over to the dishwasher.

"I'm going for a run. See you later." He added exiting the apartment quickly. Troy chuckled and then went to fill the espresso machine. Soon the smell of freshly ground coffee filled the room. Pouring a cup, Troy went and stood looking out of the window across the park. He opened the door and went and sat on the balcony and let the sun's rays stroke his face and arms. He spotted Chad in the distance jogging beside a blonde. Troy shook his head in wonder. Fifteen minutes later, Troy strode into the kitchen to add his cup to the dishwasher and then went into the hallway looking for his travel bag. Puzzled that he couldn't find it, he took out his cell phone and punched in some numbers.

"Dude, where's my bag?" He waited for an answer, "Right, later." He replied seconds later, snapping his phone shut. Finding his keys, he let himself out of the apartment and headed for the underground car park.

Minutes later he was back carrying all the bags. He left Chad's inside his bedroom and carried his own into his bedroom. Flinging it on the bed, he opened it. He gasped in astonishment.

"WHAT THE FUCK!"

Inside neatly laid out on top was a little black dress with spaghetti straps. Troy took it out and laid it on the bed. Underneath it was a couple of tops, a white T-shirt and a purple Juicy Couture jogging suit. These he also placed on top of the dress. He then saw a hair dryer and two other pieces of electrical objects that he wasn't sure did what. To one side he saw a laundry bag and decided to leave that well alone. Underneath the hair dryer, he saw a black vest and short shorts, a red teddy, four lacy bras in a variety of colours and what appeared to be matching thongs. He blushed he couldn't help himself. He held up a fuchsia pink thong just as the front door banged shut.

"Troy, are you still here man?" Shouted Chad, his voice growing louder as he spoke. He popped his head round the door and his eyes bulged in surprise. He started beaming his big wide grin spread across his face and his eyes sparkled.

"Dude! I hate to say this but they won't fit you." He nodded to the thongs Troy held in his hand. "You could try but I think it would be painful." Chad said bursting into uncontrollable laughter. Troy glared at him, his beautiful blue eyes turning icy. He hastily flung them back in the bag, blushing even more at being caught by Chad.

"Where…I mean how?" Stuttered Chad when he was able. Troy rolled his eyes.

"You tell me, you're the one that picked up the bag?" Troy stated through clenched teeth. Chad's eyes widened as he moved in closer, suddenly taking note that all the clothes were female. He started laughing again.

"Sorry Troy but you have to admit it's a fair exchange. Whoever owns all this has good taste." Said Chad picking up the red teddy. "I bet she's sexy." Troy nodded in agreement. For once Chad had said something he agreed with. He wouldn't mind meeting the owner of all this.

"I don't understand how this happened. That Louis Vuitton bag was an exclusive; at least I think it was" Troy muttered scratching the back of his neck trying to remember what the sales clerk had said.

"Yeah, well they'll say anything to make a sale," Chad said trying to comfort his friend. Unable to resist a snoop he delved into the bag bringing out a smaller bag with the same design.

"Hey man! Don't you think that's going a bit far?" Troy said as he started putting things back haphazardly. Chad shook his head.

"I've always wondered what women keep in one of these. Have you felt the weight of this? I'm telling you Dude, it's heavy." He said quickly trying to justify opening it.

"Nothing scary in here though, just toothbrush and paste, shampoo, body gel. Hmm! Wonder what she does with that?" Chad queried. Troy rolled his eyes.

"It's the same as shower gel, you idiot. I got some for Sharpay for Christmas."

"Right, okay," Chad said. "I thought it was something kinky."

"You would," laughed Troy. Chad continued to rummage.

"Man, she has enough beauty products in here, cleanser, moisturiser, toner, eye cream and all by Neutrogena. Must have got the lot on sale or something." Chad thought aloud. Troy smirked.

"Whoa! What's this?" Chad queried pulling out a metal contraption. It looked similar to a pair of scissors but without a pointed end, instead it had a curved bar that joined the two handles further up the stem. Troy looked puzzled.

"I have no idea but it looks dangerous." Troy said looking worried. Chad put it hurriedly back in the bag and then put it back in the travel case.

"So where the hell is my gear?" Troy cried in frustration. Chad burst out laughing again. Troy just glared at him.

"I have no idea man. I swear that was the only bag on the carousel." Chad whined, holding up his hands defensively.

"Did you really look?"

"Well, hmm, not really. I just saw the bag and knew it was yours." Stammered Chad.

"Well obviously it wasn't. Jeez Chad, you're a dork!" Troy said in frustration. "Now I have to go find my real bag."

"Hang on Troy. Isn't there a label on the bag?" Chad said brightly trying to get in Troy's good books again.

"Hmm! You may not be a complete dork after all. Good thinking pal." Said Troy who started smiling, hoping against hope that this nightmare may come to an end. Troy leant over the case to the reach the handle. He whooped in delight.

"Oh yeah! G. Montez and there's an address too." He shouted thankfully.

"Problem solved, maybe?"