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: I'm so excited filming starts on Saturday. Are we happy? You can bet on it. I love the film poster too. All I'm hoping is that we get the behind the scenes clips we had for 1 and 2. I loved watching them so much and I guess you all were too.

"Yeah we're good. Come home soon babe."

Marks

Gabriella stepped out of the relative safety of the plane and breathed in deeply ready for the onslaught from the Paparazzi that were bound to be hanging around like vultures waiting for their next meal or in their case their next big pay check. Gabriella pulled back her shoulders and walked confidently through Customs before going to retrieve her luggage. She walked down the corridor leading to the main concourse, the thick opaque glass partition shielding her from the masses and dulling the hustle and bustle of airport life for a time, the volume rising considerably as she rounded the glass and stepped into the main body of the airport terminal. Bulbs flashed in her face as she walked forward long before the prying questions started.

Looking good Gabriella. How was your trip?

Hey Gabriella, over here please, your single sounds good. Good luck with it.

Is it true you've dumped Ryan? "Duh! It never happened so how could I?"

Gabriella, You're so pretty. "Yuck! That creepy girl is back again."

Is it true you have a new boyfriend?

Gabriella, who's the guy in Miami?

"Shit! Total fucking morons. Beam me up Scotty," she prayed as she kept her head down and walked through the fifteen or so paparazzi as best she could with the cameras flashing left and right. She breathed a sigh of relief when Marcus appeared at her side and guided her out to the car, taking her flight bag from her grasp.

"You're a life saver Marcus. Thank you." She sighed as he opened the back door and helped her into the car. He stowed her case in the boot then jumped behind the wheel.

"Caroline called me and warned me they'd be worse than ever after some pictures appeared. Are you okay?" Gabriella smiled wanly at him.

"Yeah, I'm fine although it doesn't get any easier," she sighed shaking her head. "Let's go home." Caroline had phoned yesterday curious to hear about the mystery man and to see how the promotion was going but mainly the 'man'. Gabriella smiled thinking back on how put out Caroline had sounded having missed meeting the guy and not wearing her new bikini. Gabriella pretended innocence so Caroline had to confirm what Troy had already told her. She pleaded not guilty and brushed it off as one of the guys from the last radio station which seemed to appease Caroline's insatiable curiosity. They'd spoke about the forthcoming launch and the little niggles that still needed to be ironed out, agreeing to meet up later in the week to get to grips with them. Marcus turned the corner and parked up outside her apartment block. She felt liked she'd been away for months, so much had happened. It would be good to sleep in her own bed and live normally for a while.

"Gabi, you're home," greeted Taylor with a big smile as she walked over and hugged her best friend. Gabriella hugged her back.

"Look at you, you're positively glowing," Gabriella commented with a smile. Taylor blushed.

"Well you're not. You look like shit." Taylor said with some concern. Gabriella did feel jaded, but hassle from the paps took it out of her too.

"I feel like it too. If I never see a plane again it won't be to soon," she grumbled.

"It can't be that bad," Taylor said with a frown. Gabriella sighed and flopped down onto the sofa.

"Oh it is believe me. I guess I shouldn't complain, I know it has to be done but I think it is just the timescale, you know, different hotel rooms, different cities, different radio stations, same interviews. My voice croaked at the last interview for god's sake. I seemed to be constantly getting on and off planes doing the same old, same old within a relatively short span of time. Totally fucking knackering," Gabriella moaned running a hand through her brunette locks.

"Let me get you a caffeine fix then you can tell me all about it," soothed Taylor.

"Do I have to?" groaned Gabriella. Taylor glared at her and nodded before walking into the kitchen.

"I'm going for a shower Tay, be back in ten," shouted Gabriella as she pushed herself up from the sofa, heading for her bedroom.

Twenty minutes later a rosy cheeked Gabriella, damp tendrils running down her back and dressed in her comfy Juicy Couture sweats and a black T-shirt, curled up on the sofa telling Taylor about the various cities and the shopping and the near miss Caro had had with the waiter. Taylor had tears running down her face by the time she'd finished.

"I wish I could have been there to see that," she said once she could speak coherently.

"You'd have done the same," Gabriella pointed out rolling her eyes.

"Would not," blustered Taylor.

"Would too," reiterated Gabriella with a smirk.

"Don't try and distract me lady. Who's the guy in Miami?" Taylor pinpointed her with a stare. Gabriella shrugged a small smile playing around her lips.

"Just a guy," she said vaguely.

"Just a guy?" Taylor queried piercing her with the 'I don't believe you' glare. Gabriella shrugged once more.

"Yeah, he was just a guy I met who invited me to dinner. No big deal." Gabriella replied finality in her tone. Taylor sniffed, "look if it was important, I'd have told you wouldn't I," Gabriella added. Taylor nodded somewhat mollified.

"Anyway what's been happening back home?" Gabriella asked innocently.

"Er! Nothing much Gabs," Taylor replied a blush belying her words.

"Really? So 'nothing much' makes the hardened Taylor McKessie blush?" Gabriella queried using her fingers as quotation marks then shook her head, "Uh-uh! I don't think so. Give," Gabriella ordered spearing Taylor with a look. Taylor sighed.

"Promise you won't be mad but Chad and I are an item." Gabriella rolled her eyes.

"Tay, I knew that before I left."

"Uhm! We've...er… took it to the next level," Stammered Taylor her blush increasing and running down her neck.

"What! You're sleeping with him?" Gabriella was really enjoying this.

"Well yeah," Taylor confirmed in embarrassment.

"Wow! Quick work, I'm impressed McKessie. How long has it been? Two weeks?" Gabriella baited her.

"Fuck off Gabi, it felt right so yeah, we did it." Taylor snapped. Gabriella laughed out loud, happy that she'd got a rise out of her.

"I'm really happy for you Tay," said a delighted Gabriella as she leaned over and hugged her.

"You were winding me up weren't you?" Taylor pouted.

"Yeah! It was fun too," Gabriella laughed gleefully.

"You're a bitch Montez."

"But you love me," she said confidently, blowing Tay a kiss.

Troy switched on the radio, put his car in gear and zoomed out of the Staples Centre car park after a really hard practise session that lasted well into the afternoon. Coach had made them work out in the gym for two hours before their feet even touched the court. His phone rang from the passenger seat, the ring tone indicating a text message. He stopped at the next interchange waiting for the lights to go green and glanced at it.

Aroma Café now?

He smiled drumming his fingers against the wheel waiting impatiently for the lights to change.

"Yay! I can't wait. Had it only been 3 days, it felt like 3 weeks?"

Troy parked on the block next to the café, checking in his mirrors for any paparazzi, before slipping on his sunglasses and his baseball cap pulled low over his forehead, leaving his car and walking back. He pushed open the door and looked around, smiling when he spotted her sat at 'their' table. Gabriella smiled and watched him walk over as he slid into the chair next to her.

"Hey babe, it's good to see you. God! I just want to kiss you and it's so hard not to just go with my instincts," he groaned in greeting. Gabriella smiled and touched his thigh under the table.

"I know. When I saw you I wanted to run over and just wrap my arms around you and make out right in the middle of the shop," she moaned in response. Troy put his hand over hers under the table and kinked an eyebrow.

"I could have gone with that," he confirmed with a grin. Gabriella giggled.

"Can you imagine the customer's faces," said Gabriella.

"What customers? I've only got eyes for you," Troy replied smoothly. "Have you ordered?"

"No, I was waiting for you," she replied.

"Let's get one to go, my car's only a block away and we can go for a drive," suggested Troy knowing he needed to kiss her desperately but also knew he couldn't do it here. Gabriella smiled and nodded in agreement.

Troy drove inland on Golden State Freeway, turning off at Burbank before parking up in a secluded tree covered parking area at Wildwood Canyon Park. Troy turned to Gabriella and kissed her deeply.

"Whew! I needed that," he uttered when they broke away. Gabriella sighed.

"Me too, you don't know how much. This is getting really hard after being spoiled in Miami," she groaned.

"With your mystery man, you mean," Troy teased, smiling at her giggle.

"We were so lucky to get off with that so lightly," Gabriella murmured relief showing in her voice. She passed Troy his coffee and sipped her own as they chatted about their days apart.

"I got a rise out of Taylor, you'll be pleased to know," she said with a smirk. Troy chuckled.

"It feels good to have something on her for a change," he agreed. "Chad is besotted, it's Taylor this and Taylor that all the time," he added with a groan.

"Tell me about it. She's even talking of going to a game," Gabriella commiserated. Troy glanced at her.

"That sounds like a good idea. I like the thought of you watching me play," he said with a beaming smile. Gabriella rolled her eyes.

"Sounds okay until you do something amazing and I forget and start shouting your name. Can you see Taylor's face?" Troy chuckled imagining it happening and loving the thought.

"I'd like that," he replied excitedly.

"Duh Troy! They'd know something was going on then," Gabriella pointed out.

"Oh Yeah! I forgot for a minute," Troy looked crestfallen Gabriella reached over and squeezed his hand.

"Maybe one day," promised Gabriella finishing her drink.

"Fancy a walk?" Troy asked as he crumpled his empty cup in his hand. Gabriella nodded and they exited the car and strolled up a tree-lined bridle path hand in hand. The only other person they saw was a middle- aged woman walking her dog and that had been over fifteen minutes ago. The late afternoon shone down on them, the birdsong the only sound as they strolled along in a comfortable silence, stopping once or twice to watch the odd rabbit scuttle into it's burrow at their presence.

"This is so peaceful, who would have thought that Los Angeles was only a short distance away," commented Gabriella as she glanced up and smiled at Troy. Troy smiled back before glancing around furtively.

"What are you up to Bolton?" she queried as she noticed his actions. Troy smirked, pulling her off the bridle path and into the undergrowth, following a lightly trod pathway until they came to a sun dappled glade, the overhanging trees natures canopy.

"Aw! So pretty," declared Gabriella, opening her arms and swinging them around. Troy smiled at how carefree she looked.

"Yea, you are," he complimented as he took her in his arms, slamming his hungry lips on hers, licking her lower lip with his tongue waiting for access to her hidden nectar. Gabriella wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him in closer, her trim contours fitting his hard body in all the right places as their tongues danced to their own tune. Troy felt himself harden with need, his cock throbbing painfully against his tight fitted jeans. He ran his hands down her back, slipping under the base of her blouse and skimming her back. Gabriella moved a hand down his chest, feeling the firm contours of his chest beneath her hand. She touched the top button of his plaid shirt, flipping it open easily then continued down his front until his bare skin was revealed to her. Gabriella pulled away from him and ducked her head, kissing the base of his throat, following his body down until she reached his nipple, attaching her lips to first one and then the other sucking and dancing around the tip with her tongue until Troy groaned. Troy felt her lips curve into a smile against his chest. His questing hands could not resist anymore and made light work of the buttons on her blouse, stopping to kiss her stomach as more flesh was revealed. Gabriella's breath hitched in her throat as his roving lips reached her breasts, his lips kissing up one curve and coming down the other. He picked her up off the ground and Gabriella wrapped her legs around his waist, her lips kissing the curve of his neck, sucking the rapidly beating pulse that vibrated beneath her lips. Troy carried her through the glade until Gabriella felt a hard rough surface against her back, the gnarled bark grazing her skin through the thin fabric of her blouse. Troy removed his hands and Gabriella had no option but to let her legs slip to the floor. Troy slipped his hands behind her back looking for the clasp to her bra. Gabriella smirked.

"Front," she supplied huskily. Troy shot her a puzzled look. "Front fastening. "

"Thanks, that's handy," he replied with a grin. He unhooked the hidden fastening, sighing with pleasure as her firm breasts spilled from their confines. He looked into Gabriella's eyes as his hands reached for his prize, cupping her breasts in his hands. Gabriella moaned as his thumbs flicked over her nipples, loving the sensations he was sending around her body, feeling the nubs harden even more as he replaced his thumb with his mouth. Gabriella put a hand on his head pushing his face into her soft flesh. Troy sucked and pulled, licked and nipped on each rosy nipple in turn. Gabriella writhed against him, making his member push hard against his jeans. Gabriella reached down and quickly opened the buttons on his Levi's, pushing them over his hips until he stood before her in his briefs, his bulge evident for all to see. She ran her hand over it softly and Troy let out a guttural moan.

"Touch me baby," he groaned. Gabriella smirked and inched his briefs over his hips until his manhood burst forth. She took it in her hands gently running her hand up and down the hard shaft, his pubic hair tickling her hand as she stroked him.

"Oh! That's so good," cried Troy as if in pain. He crashed his lips back onto hers as his hands quickly unzipped her jeans and roughly pushed them over her hips, taking her thong with them. He plunged his hand in between her legs, caressing her inner thigh until she spread her legs further allowing him to run a finger through her tender wet folds, teasing her clit until she shuddered.

"Troy, please, I need you inside me now," she begged pulling him close. Troy quickly bent down and pulled a condom from his back pocket, ripping the packet in half and flinging it into the bush in his haste. He smoothed the latex over his knob until it reached the base. Gabriella stepped out of her jeans and briefs, wrapping her arms around Troy's neck as he pulled her close, lifting her from the ground until she wrapped her legs around his hips to support her as Troy pushed her back firmly against the tree trunk. His penis pushed against her upper leg until Troy guided it into her vagina, her moist walls welcoming him into to her private place. Troy thrust deeply into her, Gabriella moaned from the waves of pleasure that washed over her as Troy slipped in and out, thrusting harder and faster, their laboured breathing the only sound in their hidden paradise apart from the birdsong. Gabriella flung her head back groaning as Troy sucked on her sweet spot as he pushed harder into her. She dug her nails into his shoulders, crying out as the waves rocked her, her walls convulsing against his cock, squeezing him tighter and tighter until he released his seed into the latex covering groaning with pleasure as he came. Gabriella kissed the sweat from his upper lip as their breathing slowed back to normal.

"Wow! That was tremendous," Gabriella cried against his chest. Troy laughed out loud at her pun as he hugged her tight.

"Yeah it was Treeeeemendous," he shouted into the glade happily. Gabriella joined in when she realised what she had said before slipping her clothes back on.

"Troy, how do I explain tree burns if Taylor sees them?" Troy looked at her in alarm then burst out laughing.

"The same way I explain the finger marks on my shoulders," he retorted with a smirk. Gabriella blushed then giggled again.

Sorry this is a bit shorter than my previous one but I loved how I ended it. Will the marks give them away? You have to read on to find out. My lips are sealed.