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 so much for all the reviews I am getting with this story. It really does encourage me to continue with it and update quicker than I had intended.

"So…. Troy Bolton?" Gabriella blushed and ducked her head.

"How in hell…?"

Sneaky

The Californian sun was shining brightly as Gabriella walked out of her apartment building the following morning her Gucci sunglasses perched firmly on her nose. She spotted a flash as the sunlight reflected off a solitary lens pointing at her from a car parked across the road and sighed. Deciding to ignore it she carried on walking down the road. It felt good to do something as simple as walking through her neighbourhood to her local coffee shop two streets away from home.

Aroma Café was fairly busy for 9am but it seemed to be passing trade as there were a few vacant tables including her usual booth towards the back. Gabriella waited in line to order her usual before walking over to her booth. She sipped her coffee and checked her Iphone for messages, smiling at a couple of them.

"Boy it's so good to be able to do this," she thought with a smile. The smile faded a little when she remembered yesterdays' lunch.

Flashback

"Did he find out about him?" She thought with a silent groan.

"Troy Bolton?" Gabriella queried with an innocent look on her face.

"Yeah, I understand you've met each other," Ryan continued a hint of humour in his eyes.

"Where did you hear that?" Gabriella asked casually although her breath caught in her throat, her heart pounded in her chest.

"Bloody hell! Is nothing sacred in this damn town." She thought internally.

"Oh, just from the biggest gossip around," Ryan replied with a chuckle. Gabriella raised an eyebrow. "My sister," he volunteered with a grin.

"I see, and she would know this how?" Gabriella asked nonchalantly.

"Her and Troy are like that," he indicated crossing over two fingers. Gabriella looked disbelieving.

"Seriously. Troy is one of her best friends; in fact he hooked her up with her fiancé Zeke Baylor." Gabriella sighed. She hated the intrusion into her private life but realised the cat was out of the bag. Time to bite the bullet and trust Ryan.

"I…I've met him," she admitted with a frown. Ryan chuckled when she blushed. He patted her hand in sympathy.

"Just be thankful it's me asking and not Sharpay. She'd give you the third degree." Ryan smirked as Gabriella still frowned. He knew she was a private person.

"So…. so Troy would have told her?" She said disappointedly.

"Hell no! You've not met Sharpay have you?" Gabriella shook her head.

"Trust me Gabs, it wouldn't have been a pretty sight. Sharpay can be…shall we say very persistent. She's like a terrier with a bone, she wouldn't have let up until he was forced to spill the beans." Ryan said rolling his eyes. Gabriella giggled.

"You shouldn't worry though. She's like a sponge, takes everything in but gives nothing confidential out."

End Flashback

Gabriella grimaced. She really hoped Ryan was right. She hated her private life being invaded. She had a close-knit circle of friends whom she trusted implicitly and then there were acquaintances and business associates. Ryan was in the middle ground not quite one or the other.

Gabriella came out of her reverie when she felt a presence beside her. She jerked her head up to see a guy in running vest and shorts, sweat glistening on his skin. He wore Ray Bans that hid his eyes and an orange baseball cap pulled low over his brow. She sighed silently.

"No! Although he doesn't look like an autograph hunter."

"Hello again," He said with a wide smile. Gabriella's face broke into a smile too when she realised who it was.

"Hi, I didn't know you came in here," she commented. Troy blushed.

"Little does she know and best to keep it that way. I don't want her to think I'm stalking her."

"Only sometimes when I'm out this way. Can I join you?"

"Please do," She invited. Troy squeezed into the booth opposite her.

"So how have you been?" Troy asked removing his Ray Bans. Gabriella shrugged.

"Busy, you know how it is," she replied. He nodded.

"Yeah I do. It can be crazy at times, especially in the season."

"I believe you play basketball?" Gabriella queried. He nodded.

"For my sins. No really I love what I do. I'm very blessed." Troy shrugged. "I guess I got lucky doing what I'm good at and getting paid for the privilege." Gabriella giggled.

"Not confident much," she teased her warm chocolate orbs flirting with his baby blues. Troy laughed.

"Hey, if you've got it, flaunt it," he flirted back. Gabriella cast her eyes over his muscular arms and shoulders before moving up to inspect his features.

"Why not indeed," she smirked back.

"Man she's hot! Am I glad I ran this way today." He thought returning the favour and inspecting every visible inch of her.

"So, I understand you're in show business?" Troy said fishing to see if Sharpay was right. Gabriella giggled.

"Show business? I'm not sure I'd call it that. I sing if that counts?" Gabriella replied playing down her talent with a shrug.

"From what I hear you're about to take the charts by storm," Troy stated. Gabriella blushed.

"Is he interested? He's obviously been doing checking up on me," she thought with a smile, a warm feeling spread through her entire body.

"Now where did you hear that?" Troy blushed realising he'd revealed too much.

"From a friend in the know," he admitted looking embarrassed.

"Do I know him?"

"Her," he corrected.

"Who?" Gabriella asked curiously. "Surely he doesn't know Caroline?"

"Sharpay…Sharpay Evans." Troy answered.

"Right, Ryan's sister? That explains it then," she said.

"Do you know her?" Troy asked puzzled because he was sure Sharpay would have told him if they'd met.

"No, not know, know her, just know of her." Gabriella smirked recalling Ryan's comments yesterday.

"Best to stay that way," Troy said with feeling. "I know she's my best female friend and I've known her for years but she's way over the top." Troy finished with a grimace. Gabriella giggled at his expression.

"So I understand," she commented. Troy looked puzzled and raised his eyebrow.

"Ryan and I were at lunch yesterday and he had to phone her but he couldn't get a word in." Troy chuckled.

"Yeah! That's Sharpay alright, doesn't come up for air."

"Hmm! She likes to be in the 'know' Ryan said." Gabriella inferred with a frown. Troy looked at her.

"What's the matter Gabi?" Troy asked using her nickname that Taylor used. Gabriella glanced up at him when he used that name.

"It sounds so sexy on his lips, like a caress," The thought springing into her head.

Troy reached over to hold her hand. The jolt of sensation shot up his arm again. Gabriella felt the tingle too as she locked eyes with him, her fingers unconsciously caressing his hand.

"Hey you can tell me," he encouraged.

"When…when Ryan came off the phone, he questioned me about you," she whispered. Troy frowned.

"Was he rude to you?" He growled, ready to go and thump Ryan.

"No! No, Ryan could never be like that." Gabriella insisted softly with a small smile playing around her lips. Troy's gut clenched at her tone, jealousy gnawing at him.

"He asked about you that's all but it was random and totally off topic from our previous conversation. I refused to comment at first but I think he was under orders to get at the truth so I finally admitted to it." Gabriella explained with a groan.

"Yeah well if he'd just spoken to Sharpay, he would have had to comply. She's a hard lady to refuse as I know to my cost." Troy moaned with a sigh shrugging his shoulders in defeat. "You should try being friends with her. Believe me, it's murder if she thinks she missing out on something," he added rolling his eyes.

"So I believe. Ryan said you had his sympathy." Gabriella murmured. Troy squeezed her fingers and smirked.

"Believe me Gabi, it was pure torture," he groaned a wounded expression on his face. She giggled again.

"Are you done?" Troy queried pointing to her coffee cup. She nodded.

"Let's get out of here, fancy a walk in the park?"

"I'd love to," she replied huskily. Troy beamed at her before replacing his Ray Bans. He glanced out the window and frowned.

"What's the matter?"

"Stupid paps," he groaned. Gabriella looked worried then glanced at the manager of the café.

"Hey Marian, can we get out the back way?" Marian nodded indicating with her finger the way. Gabriella put on her own glasses and grabbing Troy's hand led him down the corridor and out the service entrance.

"Good call Gabi. They drive me insane with their pointless questions." He growled.

"Me too and it seems to be getting worse. Dread to know what would happen if they saw us together." She commented as they walked through the alley and opened the side gate to the park. Troy nodded.

"We'll just have to be sneaky then because I'm not going to stop seeing you." Troy stated with a smile. Gabriella smiled back.

"I'd like that too but I want to keep it on the down-low from everyone, at least for now." Gabriella said hesitantly. Troy agreed with a nod.

"I think that can be arranged Ms Montez." Troy promised interlinking their hands and pulling her in for a heated kiss to seal his promise.

Sorry this is a bit shorter than normal but I liked how it finished. Hopefully I can get another update done this weekend, as it is Easter. Happy Easter Everyone.