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. Song mentioned is by Taylor Swift.
A/N: Thank you so much to Kristen for checking my drivel before it gets unleashed on you guys. I am over the moon with the response I've had to this story and I am so happy that you are all enjoying it.
"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.
Lies Will Find You Out
The telephone rang and Taylor answered.
"Hey Kels, how are you?" She listened, a smile on her face.
"Gabs…no I've not seen her today, only just got off shift but she's not home. I know; I want to go too." Taylor moaned.
"I have no idea. No, it's weird but I haven't really seen her all week." Taylor said thinking back over the last week. They'd spoken to each other in passing but not really spent any time together.
"Have you tried her cell?" Taylor suggested.
"That's strange," she replied with a frown.
"Leave it with me. I'll tie her down if I have to, to get her to come." Taylor finished with a laugh.
"Bye Kelsi."
"Yo," Chad greeted, picking up the phone that had been ringing incessantly for the last 10 minutes.
"Hi Shar, what do you mean? Hey is it my fault I was catching Z's? Troy? No idea, I've only just surfaced. Hang on, I'll check it out." Chad replied walking around the apartment looking in each room.
"No Troy isn't here," he said into the mouthpiece.
"What am I? His mother?" Chad snapped.
"Calm down Shar, I'm sure he's fine. Come to think of it apart from training sessions, I haven't seen much of him lately." He paused to listen.
"Well he was alive yesterday. Try his cell…yeah right, whatever." Chad slammed the phone down.
"Shit! Just what I need to wake up to." Chad groaned to himself walking back into his bedroom. The bed invited him back but he was too awake now and in a foul mood to boot. Nobody would appreciate being woken with a tirade from Sharpay.
The past week had been wonderful. They'd met again the morning after at Aroma Café and repeated their walk in the park. Unfortunately Troy had to be with the team in the afternoon so it was only a short date. They couldn't see each other the day after as they both had commitments they couldn't get out of. Troy had managed to find a quiet pizzeria in the suburbs the night after, well away from prying eyes. So far it was working just fine but how long could they keep their burgeoning romance private was anyone's guess?
Troy held Gabriella's hand as they strolled along the beach. The beach itself nestled in a secluded cove sheltered by a high cliff face. A zigzag set of steps hewn out of the rock was the only access to the beach. Besides them there were only four other people and a dog on the entire beach.
"How did you find this?" Gabriella asked in wonder curving her free arm around to indicate the almost deserted beach.
"I have my ways," Troy smirked. "I discovered if you drive far enough out of Los Angeles, you could find a lot of places like this."
"Well I think it's perfect," Gabriella sighed reaching up to reward him with a kiss. He returned the kiss before continuing their walk.
They perched on a rocky outcrop looking out on the ocean. Gabriella leant against Troy with Troy's arms wrapped firmly around her waist. She sighed.
"What's the sigh for?" Troy murmured in her ear. A delicious sensation ran down her body causing goose bumps on her arms.
"I love having you all to myself but it's not going to last. Taylor is asking questions already and I hate trying to think up excuses why I can't do this or that. She's been on at me to go to this new club for a girls' night out. Part of me wants to go but most of me wants to be with you as much as possible." Gabriella explained.
"I know how you feel Gabi. I've had Chad and Sharpay on my back demanding some time with me. Sharpay keeps phoning my cell constantly. She's driving me insane. I've even started turning it off when I'm with you so there are no distractions." Gabriella giggled.
"I know. I do the same. If it's not Taylor, it's Kelsi and if it's not Kelsi it's Ryan. So what do we do?" Gabriella asked. Troy shrugged.
"I don't know. Maybe we should see our respective friends one night a week and that way they won't ask too many questions." Troy replied looking for an easy solution.
"We could do that I suppose. I know I'm going to have to go and check out this new club because Ryan is trying to arrange my launch party there. That's what he rang Sharpay about the other day." Troy looked at her with interest.
"I'd like to go too and see you perform and offer support." Gabriella blushed.
"I thought we were keeping it on the down-low?"
"We still can. I know it will be hard for me especially if I see you with other guys but surely we can carry it off?" Troy queried hopefully.
"We can try I suppose although you know I'll be working, right?" Gabriella warned. Troy nodded, hugging her again, pulling her even closer against his chest, his lips dipping down to kiss her neck hitting her pleasure point and making her groan. Gabriella twisted her head and their lips connected. He nibbled her bottom lip until she uttered a strangled moan and opened her lips. He slipped his tongue into the opening drinking his fill of her sweetness. Her tongue caressed his sending sensations shooting to his nerve endings. He pushed his hand under her top, caressing her skin with circular motions, inching up to brush against the underneath of her breast. Gabriella groaned deep in her throat. He flicked a finger across her hardened nipple making her jump in shock. She lost her balance and toppled from the rock onto the soft sand. Troy couldn't help himself he burst out laughing. Gabriella looked up at him and scowled.
"You are so for it Bolton," she threatened him. He put on an innocent face and threw his arms wide.
"Me! What did I do? Can I help it if you have no balance?" He smirked. Gabriella stood up brushing sand from her backside, glaring at him but with a twinkle in her eye belying her annoyance. Troy jumped off the rock, looking at her tentatively at her trying to read her mind. She giggled at the look on his face.
"Play it cool girl. Just bide your time." She thought to herself as she reached for his hand. Troy looked relieved that she was taking it so well and squeezed her hand before they carried on walking along the shoreline. They'd walked half the length of the beach before Troy said teasingly.
"So, do you forgive me for something that wasn't my fault?" Gabriella looked at him and smiled innocently.
"Sure, as much as you'll forgive me for doing this." She said pushing him into the surf. She watched him try to regain his balance but failing miserably, he fell into the water. She stared at him in wide-eyed amazement before she saw his eyes narrow.
"What did you say about balance?" Gabriella shouted before turning tail and fleeing up the beach towards the steps. She heard feet hitting the hard sand and tried running even faster. Unfortunately she was now hitting the softer sand that sifted beneath her feet and she couldn't get the same purchase. Suddenly she felt arms tackle her from behind and she was sent sprawling into the softer sand. She was trapped by a body in a wet shirt and even wetter jeans, his hands planted firmly at each side of her head. Both of them were panting hard. Troy shook his head and droplets of ocean fell onto her face.
"Eww! Troy," she moaned, giggling despite herself. He gazed down at her, noting her sparkling brown eyes and parted lips, her breasts rising up and down beneath her shirt. He bent down and captured her lips in a hard kiss, forcing his tongue inside, their tongues duelling. Gabriella wrapped her arms around his neck, threading her fingers through his hair at his nape and pulling him even closer. Troy broke contact to take in a gulp of air, his lips sliding across her cheek before connecting with her neck. She moved her head to accommodate him, moaning low in her throat when he hit the spot. She slid her hands down his back, slipping underneath his wet shirt before running her hands over his firm back, muscles rippling beneath her touch. Troy groaned in response.
"Gabi, we have to stop. I don't envision our first time being on a beach in front of an audience," Troy muttered. Gabriella blushed pulling her hands from his body quickly. Troy kissed her on the tip of her nose before sliding off her and pulling her to her feet.
"Me neither," she husked. He smiled at her.
"That's promising. Sounds like she's thought of it."
"I'm glad we're on the same wavelength," she thought, a warm glow in her heartGabriella started giggling.
"Come on, you look like a drowned rat," she said pulling him towards the steps.
"Oi! And whose fault is that Missy?" Troy huffed, slapping her on her butt. He laughed when she yelped.
Gabriella let herself in her apartment quietly and crept down the hallway to the lounge hoping to get into her bedroom safely.
"Hey Gabi, where have you been? Kelsi was trying to get you on your cell but there was no reply?" Taylor questioned coming from the kitchen area, a steaming cup in her hand. Gabriella jumped out of her skin.
"Hey Taylor, I didn't know you were in," Gabriella stammered with a smile. "I've just been for a walk to get some fresh air, you know," she added nonchalantly. "Maybe the reception was bad or my cell is low on battery." Gabriella offered as an explanation. Taylor stared at her.
"Looks like you've been through a hedge backwards or just crawled out of bed to me." Taylor stated looking at her intently. Gabriella blushed.
"Damn! Why does she always make me feel like a guilty schoolgirl?" Gabriella groaned silently. Taylor moved nearer.
"Is that sand in your hair?" Gabriella gulped.
"It might be Tay, I walked along the beach." Gabriella admitted.
"See that's no lie."
"Really. I noticed your car in the underground park so how did you get there?"
"Jeez! What's with the twenty questions? Eek! What do I say?" Gabriella thought in panic.
"I…er went with Ryan just to clear our thoughts. Did I tell you he's trying to arrange the launch party at that new club you want to go to?" Gabriella said trying to deflect her.
"Hey that will be great Gabs. It's the 'in' place to be. We really must go and check it out?" Taylor squealed excitedly.
"Good save Gabs."
"Yeah, I was thinking of tomorrow night if that's okay with you, Kelsi and Martha?" Gabriellaqueried knowing she was between a rock and a hard place. Taylor beamed.
"Suits me. I'm off until Sunday which will give me a day to recover." Taylor said with a smirk. Gabriella smiled, glad that she was making her friend happy.
"Great, let me get a shower then I'll ring Kelsi and Martha to see if they can make it." Gabriella replied heading towards her bedroom.
Troy cautiously opened his door and tiptoed down the hall, praying that Chad was elsewhere. No such luck.
"Jeez Bolton! Look at the state of you. What happened to you man?" Chad shouted looking in shock at a wet and dishevelled Troy. Troy glanced around guiltily.
"Bloody hell! Why for once couldn't he be out?" Troy groaned silently.
"Erm…I slipped on a rock and fell into the ocean." Chad burst out laughing.
"Since when do you like the ocean?" Chad spluttered trying unsuccessfully to get his laughter under control. Troy looked uncomfortable.
"Damn! How do I get out of this?"
"Look let me get a shower and into dry clothes then we can talk." Troy pleaded.
"Sure Troy," Chad allowed a smirk on his face and a cunning look in his eyes. Troy breathed a sigh of relief and hurried into his bedroom. He took the longest shower known to man trying to come up with a feasible explanation. By the time he was dry and dressed it was a full three quarters of an hour later. He left his bedroom to the sound of voices.
"What the hell!"
Chad had brought in reinforcements in the shape of Zeke and Sharpay.
"Troy! Where have you been hiding yourself?" Sharpay squealed running over to him and flinging her arms around him.
"Hello to you too Shar, Zeke." Troy greeted throwing daggers at Chad. Chad looked back innocently and shrugged.
"Why aren't you answering your cell phone? I've been worried about you." Sharpay questioned looking at him sternly. Troy licked his lips.
"There must be something wrong with it Shar. It could have been low on battery," he offered as an explanation. He could tell by her glare that she didn't believe him.
"Chad tells me you've been to the beach and fell in the ocean. I didn't know you liked the beach?" Sharpay asked. Troy glared at Chad again. Zeke chuckled.
"I'd loved to have seen that dude." He said and Chad nodded bursting into laughter again.
"Oh you are so for it." He promised silently
"Erm! Sometimes. It helps me think and it was a lovely day today." He offered feebly. Sharpay looked puzzled but nodded her head in acceptance.
"Well I'm glad I've caught you both. How about going to that new club Equinox tomorrow night?" Sharpay asked excitedly. Troy gulped.
"I'm not going to be able to get out of this. I know I'm not." He groaned to himself.
"Great idea Shar. I've been itching to go there since it opened." Chad replied.
"I've got to see Stuart Sanderson, the owner and check it out for an event Ryan is trying to organise so it kills two birds with one stone." Sharpay divulged.
"Sure. Sounds good to me." Troy agreed trying to show some enthusiasm. Sharpay beamed happy to have got her own way. Troy's cell beeped at that moment. He glanced at Sharpay and went brick red. He took it out of his pocket, glanced at the caller ID and walked into the kitchen to read the message.
Can't cu tomorrow. Tay making me go 2 club. Gabi x
"Strange how your phone seems to be working now." Sharpay commented with a scowl when he went back into the lounge.
"Yeah, really strange must have something to do with the ozone." Troy replied thinking fast on his feet. Sharpay nodded, seeming to accept his explanation.
"Phew! Good thinking Bolton." He thought silently patting himself on the back. Chad looked disbelievingly at him, a smirk playing around his mouth. Troy glared at him.
"Right well we'd better go. See you tomorrow. Toodles." She said sweeping out of the apartment with Zeke on her heels. Troy breathed a sigh of relief and sunk into the sofa. Chad glanced at him knowing Troy was lying through his back teeth.
"I'll be watching you buddy. I know something is off, my hair's tingling." Chad promised silently.
"Want a beer?" He asked aloud. Troy nodded and Chad went into the kitchen to get them. Troy quickly took out his cell and tapped in a message.
Want 2 bet. Shar is making me go 2. cu there. Troy x
He pressed send quickly when he heard Chad come back and stuffed it back into his pocket. Chad passed him a beer just as the phone beeped to confirm receipt in his pocket. Chad smirked at him and raised an eyebrow questioningly. Troy groaned.
"Shit!"
Gabriella was curled up on the sofa and although the TV was on she wasn't watching it. Taylor came in carrying two cups, setting them down on the coffee table before settling into the other corner. Gabriella's cell phone started to dance across the table playing 'I'd Lie'. Gabriella grabbed it quickly and read the message, smiling slightly before closing the flap. Taylor stared at her.
"Appropriate tune." Taylor said sarcastically. "Obviously not low battery then."