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: Thanks to Kristen for reviewing each chapter. I love ya. Thank you to all that are reviewing my work, I really appreciate it. I have no knowledge of flight times or the possibilities in flying between these places so don't shoot me.

"Goodnight Troy, see you tomorrow," said Gabriella with regret in her voice.

"Night Gabi. Sleep well."

Footsie

Gabriella left the radio station in a hurry, skipping down the front steps eager to get to Troy. She was relieved that the interview was over and she was happy overall with the phone calls that had come through from fans all enthusiastic about her single and keen for her album to hit the stores so they could go out and buy it. She loved her fans for the unwavering support they showed to her and her music, she felt she was blessed. Ryan had asked probing questions, as she knew he would do, once the main discussion on her album had taken place.

Chat: Ryan/Gabriella

Flashback

"So you'll be extremely busy over the next few weeks promoting your new album. Are there any plans for a tour in the near future?"

"I am currently discussing the possibility of one with my management at the moment and we are hopefully looking towards the end of the year."

"What is planned in the near future?"

"I am helping a friend with a fund raiser tomorrow night for the local children's hospital so if anyone wants to come along and support a worthy cause tickets are still on sale, I believe."

"That's good to hear," Ryan said approval lacing his voice.

"I really love your new single and album, Gabriella and I am sure it will reach the top of the billboard 100."

"Thank you,"

"Are the lyrics an indication that there is something special happening between you and Ryan Evans?"

"No, Ryan is just a very good friend who produced my album."

"Really. I'm surprised as there have been a lot of pictures of you two bandied around the Internet." Ryan said in a tone that clearly said he didn't believe her. Gabriella giggled at the thought, imagining Ryan and Kelsi listening to this and rolling about in fits of laughter.

"No, seriously we are just good friends," Gabriella replied with a shrug.

"So if Ryan isn't the man in your life, is there one? Someone special?"

"Not at the moment. My career is taking up all my time."

End of Flashback

She jumped in her car and sped out of the car park, filtering into the noontime traffic as she headed for their rendezvous. She pulled into the little car park of the pizzeria that Troy had discovered in their first week of dating twenty minutes later. She stepped from the car, slamming and locking it as she scanned the area for Troy's car, spotting it in the far corner, she smiled and walked quickly into the restaurant. As the door closed behind her she removed her sunglasses and glanced around the interior before spotting Troy at a table in the far corner. Troy was staring straight at her, a beatific smile on his face. Gabriella grinned back as she made her way to him, slipping into the seat opposite.

"Hi," she said with a smile.

"Hey yourself. I was just thinking you were going to stand me up." Troy greeted her.

"As if, the interview went on longer than expected and then the traffic getting here was manic," she explained heatedly.

"Gabriella, chill! You're here now and that's all that matters," he replied as he reached over to hold her hand across the table. Gabriella squeezed his hand in response, letting him know she was glad she was here.

"I've missed you," she whispered across the table.

"Me too." Troy replied gazing into her warm brown eyes while she stared into his electric blue pools.

"How did the interview go? I'm so mad I missed them playing your record but training didn't finish early enough." Troy added with a grimace.

"Not to worry, you'll be fed up of hearing it soon enough," She said with a self-depreciating giggle. Troy shook his head in disbelief.

"The interview was okay I suppose. Ryan was his usual charming if somewhat intrusive self." Gabriella commented with a giggle.

"How do you mean?" Troy asked puzzled.

"Well Ryan likes to get the inside scoop of celebrities lives so he always asks pointed questions about their personal lives including yours truly," she answered with a sigh. Troy laughed.

"Yeah I heard that bit. So do I have to be worried about Evans?" Troy asked with a smirk. Gabriella hit him playfully on the shoulder.

"What do you think? I'm not sure how Kelsi would feel about that," she replied with a giggle. Troy chuckled as he rubbed his thumb against the back of her hand sending a tingle of awareness up her arm.

"What I heard sounded really good and I loved that plug for Taylor's benefit tomorrow. I hope it brings in more funds for a good cause." Troy added with a smile.

"Hopefully. I know they have sold a lot of tickets and there are some really large prizes that have been donated from across the business community for an auction that she has organised. She's really worked hard on this." Gabriella commented.

"I just wish I could support it in person but I'll be playing then however I know Chad has got a Lakers kit and a basketball signed by all the team for her to auction," he replied with a sigh, wishing he could be there to support Gabi.

"Hey that's awesome. Thanks a lot." Gabriella said gratefully. The waitress came over at that point and they order the club sandwich and a club soda each.

"This is going to be a horrible couple of weeks without seeing you," he said sadly. Gabriella felt a lump in her throat feeling exactly the same.

"I know but we can phone each other all the time and it will fly by," Gabriella replied softly a sadness showing in her eyes then a mischievous glint appeared, "and just think of the making up later."

"That's the only thing that is keeping me going," Troy groaned. Gabriella slipped a foot from her sandal and ran it up his leg under the table. Troy gasped aloud just as the waitress appeared with their order. Troy glared at Gabriella promising retribution as a soft blush stained his cheeks. Gabriella giggled in amusement. They were part way through their food when she placed her foot on his shin again rubbing it up and down his leg. Troy nearly choked on a mouthful of sandwich and had to reach for his drink quickly. Gabriella burst out with a soft laugh covering her mouth to keep it low. Troy stared at her cuteness. She slid her foot further up his leg touching his crotch letting her toes curl on the bulge that was growing harder by the minute. He groaned deep in his throat.

"Are you sure you can finish what you're starting?" Troy threatened.

"I'm not doing anything Troy," she replied huskily an innocent smile on her face. Troy slipped his hand beneath the table and rubbed his hand over her foot gently caressing each toe in turn. Sensations shot up her leg; her eyes grew wide as he ran his hand up to her calf, massaging the muscle at the back before edging even further up. He slipped a foot around her chair and dragged it nearer to the table giving him ample purchase to continue his exploration as his hand fluttered over her knee and up towards her thigh. Troy leant against the edge of the table bringing him nearer to his goal. Gabriella gasped and looked with shock into his sparkling eyes as he went higher and higher, skimming her upper leg, a finger touched her wet mound and she jerked in response. Troy smirked at her, his eyes darkening as he probed her lacy barrier. Her breath hitched in her throat and her breasts rose and fell rapidly as she felt his fingers slip inside and rub against her folds. She tried to pull back but he put his free hand on her knee anchoring her in place as he teased and tormented her with his fingers as they touched her clit. Gabriella moaned low in her throat trying to be as quiet as possible while her body was on fire, flames licking every nerve ending she possessed. Troy licked his lips knowingly as he slowly pushed a finger into her velvety softness. Gabriella's eyes widened even more as she stared into his eyes, unable to do anything but feel him slipping in and out before adding a second finger, expanding her walls, his strokes getting faster and faster as she felt the tension build within her. Troy watched her eyes grow ever darker loving the smouldering looks she was giving him, knowing he and only he could make her feel like this. He felt her walls tighten and her body shuddered as she reached her climax, a strangled groan escaping through her suddenly dry lips that she quickly licked with her tongue. Troy groaned at the action and she smirked loving the power she had over him. Troy slowly removed his fingers and slid down her thigh as he moved slightly back in his seat. Gabriella gripped his hand as he reached for his drink holding him tightly as she leant over and briefly brushed her lips against his swiftly slipping her tongue into his slightly open mouth and back out again so quickly that he thought he'd dreamt it. Gabriella reached for her drink and took a large gulp as Troy did the same. She put her hands in his as they rested against the table holding them tightly in place as she ran her foot up his leg. Troy smirked as Gabriella reached and felt the full hard-on that had grown while he'd been pleasuring her. Her eyes grew wide as her eyes flicked to his in shock. He shrugged and looked brazenly at her, daring her to continue. Gabriella's toes pressed and kneaded his hardened member watching as his breathing increased and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat, her hands held him fast against the table like handcuffs and her toes worked their magic rather like a geisha girl until Troy groaned and shuddered, coming in his pants. Gabriella smirked satisfactorily at him rather like a cat that got the cream, Troy grimaced as he quickly rose from the table and went in search of the men's room. Gabriella remained sitting a gentle smile pulling at her mouth as she calmly finished her club sandwich. Troy returned about five minutes later, a blush still tingeing his cheeks.

"So when do you have to leave?" Gabriella asked sadly. Troy glanced at his watch amazed that two hours had already passed.

"I have to be back at the apartment in about an hour then Chad and I will head off to the airport. I packed last night so it's just a case of picking up Chad and the bags and we're off. The flight is at 6pm." Troy replied softly. Troy picked up her hand and put it to his lips gently nibbling at her palm. Gabriella ran her fingers down his cheek needing to touch him any which way she could.

"So you fly out on Sunday?" Troy queried his breath brushing against her palm tickling her and causing tingles to run up her arm.

"Yea, I'm booked on the 1pm flight to JFK," she answered softly.

"Damnit! We don't arrive back until 3pm so I won't even see you at the airport." Troy said in disgust. "How long are you there?" Troy enquired trying to memorise her itinerary.

"Tuesday evening, then it's off to Chicago until Thursday, flying to Washington Thursday until Saturday afternoon, then it's Miami until Monday evening when I finally reach Houston and back home Wednesday evening. I'll be so tired, I'll need a week to get rid of the jetlag before the launch on the following Friday." Gabriella finished with a moan.

Troy groaned at the length of time she would be away from him.

"The only good thing is due to the delay, I have a little time to recover from all this cross country flying. I would have been a wreck if it had been the proposed date," Gabriella said putting a positive spin on the delay. Troy looked at her with new eyes, surprised by all the promotions that went into an album launch. He hadn't really thought about it before, he just went and bought a CD when he liked a song or the artist in general.

"You'll do fine Gabi. You can do anything you set your mind to," Troy raised his eyebrows wickedly referring back to before. Gabriella blushed and giggled as she read his meaning. Gabriella finished her drink and Troy suggested leaving.

"Are you leaving a tip?" Gabriella asked as she stood up. Troy put his arm around her and put his lips against hers and kissed her gently before moving his lips to her ear, his breath tickling her as he did so. She felt his lips curve into a smile.

"Your toenails are a little sharp."

Sorry this is a little short but I didn't want to get into the charity fundraiser nor them saying goodbye. I hate goodbyes.