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 for all the amazing reviews. They are much appreciated and encourage me to write more and more. Good luck on your trip Kris, you're missed already.
"Yes! There is a god," she whispered punching the air in victory with her free hand in the silence of the apartment, "You are so busted."
Fall Out
All the earlier tiredness left Taylor after her startling discovery; she wanted to whoop and holler and do a happy dance instead she walked back into the kitchen with a decided spring to her step. She put her cup down on the counter and pondered what to do, a mischievous smile spread across her countenance as she debated her options. She delved into her purse and pulled out her cell phone and speed dialled a familiar stored phone number.
"Yo, this better be good," growled Chad his voice thick with sleep," I was having an amazing dream and it was just getting juicy."
"Aw! I'm sorry sugar, are you tenting?" Taylor whispered huskily into the phone.
"Now that would be telling, Beautiful," he drawled wickedly.
"Ooh! I hope dreaming of me put the lead in your pencil?" Taylor teased him still whispering.
"Well if you're offering to sharpen it…" Chad shot back throatily breaking off his suggestion as he heard Taylor giggle quietly.
"I'm sure that could be arranged," promised Taylor quietly.
"So wassup and why are you whispering?" Chad said puzzlement lacing his voice.
"You'll see, come over for breakfast now," ordered Taylor in a firm tone, "I have a surprise for you."
"Will I like it?" Chad asked hope evident in his voice.
"Abso-fucking-lutely, it will float your boat for sure." Taylor promised in a whisper. "I'll leave the door open." Chad's eyes widened as he disconnected, his mind racing thinking all his fantasies had come at once conjuring up Taylor in all forms of erotic poses waiting for him to get there.
"Wonder if she's going to tie herself to the bedposts?" Chad thought as he leapt from the bed, hastily throwing on a pair of sweats and T-shirt and brushing his teeth, grabbing his keys and running out the door.
Taylor put her phone back in her purse, a cunning smile on her lips as noiselessly as possible she took all the ingredients and utensils needed to make pancakes. She'd promised Chad breakfast and she wasn't one to break a promise plus it gave her time to marshal her thoughts on how to deal with those two secretive little bastards squirreled away in the bedroom down the hall.
Earlier, Troy awoke from the most relaxing night's sleep he'd had since Miami. He glanced sideways at the beautiful creature still asleep next to him, a gentle smile curving her lips. He lay for a few minutes just drinking in her beauty, the swell of her breast rising and falling, brushing against his arm and sending tingles down his spine to his cock. He turned his head to check the time on the clock resting on the bedside cabinet.
"Holy shit! 7.45am, it can't be?" Troy thought shooting out of the bed and gathering his clothes together.
"Fuck! Where are my boxers?" Troy looked round franticly, his eyes searching the floor wildly and even under the bed but to no avail. They were nowhere in sight. He dropped his clothes back onto the floor, glanced at the still sleeping Gabriella before slipping out the door. He walked into the lounge his eyes rapidly scanning the entire room; he snatched up the cushions on the sofa one by one, throwing them back down randomly in frustration but there was still no sign of the missing item. He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck nervously.
"Shit! Where the hell can they be?" His nose twitched. "Is that coffee? Oh! Shit, Taylor must be back, I am so screwed." He looked apprehensively towards the kitchen before scooting back into the bedroom, leaning back against the door his chest heaving in panic. He walked slowly over to the bed debating whether to wake her up or not but he knew he had to let her know that they were in a tricky position. He leaned over and kissed her forehead but Gabriella just turned over. He groaned, gently pulling her back round to face him.
"Gabi, come on wake up," he whispered as he looked down on her. Still nothing.
"Gabi, aw come on baby, you've got to wake up," he groaned as she mumbled in her sleep. He knelt on the bed and leaned closer until their faces were nearly touching, "Taylor's home." Whoosh! It happened so fast, one minute he was staring down at Gabi sleeping, the next he was flat on his back seeing stars, the most excruciating pain coming from his nose. His hands clamped down on his face in a reflex action, letting out a muffled yelp of pain as he felt a trickle of warm sticky liquid seep through his fingers. Gabriella who had shot up like a rocket at those two words looked at Troy in terror, her face drained of colour when she saw the blood and she fell back against the pillows in a dead faint.
"Fecking hell! That'sh all I neeb," he ground out quietly feeling light headed, concern in his eyes at the sight of a passed out Gabriella. He ran into her bathroom grabbing a pure white towel, turning on the faucet and soaking it in cold water before putting it over his nose to stem the flow of blood. He pinched the bridge of his nose trying to hurry the process up. Five minutes later he gingerly removed the towel to inspect the damage wiggling his nose and wincing with the effort. He didn't think it was broken but it was damn sore and throbbed like a bitch. He selected another towel and soaked that in cold water before going back into the bedroom. Gabriella was still spark out on the bed as he approached. He sat on the side of the bed and gently dabbed her forehead with the moist towel. She moved her head and muttered as her eyes fluttered open. Recognition hit her quickly, her eyes widening in panic.
"Oh god Troy, I head butted you didn't I?" she asked for confirmation. Troy nodded wincing with the action.
"Aw Babe, do you think it's broken?" Gabriella asked softly her voice full of regret.
"I don't think so, maybe bruised," shrugged Troy trying to be nonchalant. Without thinking Gabriella put her hand on his face.
"Ouch!" Troy cried as even her gentle touch sent pain through him.
"Ooh Troy I'm sorry," she cried as she snatched her hand away. He grabbed her hand and kissed the palm.
"Don't be, accidents happen," he replied softly trying to ease her distress.
"It doesn't look too bad," she offered softly, "Just a bit red and kinda swollen." Troy tried to smile but his face wouldn't let him.
"What are we going to do?" he queried trying to get her mind off the accident and focus on the pickle they were in.
"I don't know," she bit her bottom lip and looked worriedly at him.
"Maybe she doesn't know I'm here?" Troy ventured wistfully. Gabriella stared into his eyes hope transmitting between the two. She sighed then climbed from the bed scooped up her wrap from off the floor, slipping it on she tied the sash tightly round her.
"With any luck she may have gone to bed, she has just done a double shift," commented Gabriella hopefully, "but there's only one way to know for sure," she said firmly walking to the door, as she put her hand on the handle Troy spoke,
"If she's gone to bed can you get me some Tylenol, I've got a bitch of a headache," he moaned. Gabriella nodded and slipped from the room closing the door firmly behind her. Troy sighed and fell back on the bed, he heard voices and all hope faded. He sat up and quickly dressed in his clothes, tucking his privates carefully inside his jeans and zipping them up slowly before throwing the soiled condom in her small trash bin.
Gabriella walked through the lounge and into the kitchen looking surprised to see Taylor there.
"Hey Tay, I thought you'd be in bed by now," Gabriella greeted with a smile.
"I bet you did," muttered Taylor. Gabriella looked startled, flicking her gaze to Taylor who stood beside the hob looking intently at her.
"Don't blush for god's sake, brazen it out. You can do this," Gabriella gave herself a pep talk.
"Aw, did you have a hard night Tay?" she asked innocently. "Fuck! Wrong word."
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Taylor fired back smirking at her. Gabriella looked at her with a bewildered frown.
"I don't know what you mean. What are you cooking?" asked Gabriella changing the subject.
"Shit! Burnt pancakes by the look of this," Taylor moaned as she swiftly moved the pan from the hob emptying the contents into the trash can inside a bottom counter. Gabriella in the meantime picked up a glass tumbler and reaching into the refrigerator for the filtered water jug, filled the glass with ice-cold water. She opened a drawer and took out a bottle of Tylenol tablets, emptying two into the palm of her hand. Taylor watched her actions as she poured fresh mixture into the skillet.
"Have you got a headache?" she asked with a gleam in her eye.
"A bit," replied Gabriella softly.
"Surely you should get the headache before rather than afterwards?" Taylor commented wryly, "or has he banged your brains out?" Gabriella's eyes flew to Taylor's, her mouth dropped open in shock at the stark question, guilt written all over her face, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Taylor chuckled at her reaction, her eyebrow kinked knowingly.
"I…. wha…. how," stammered Gabriella hanging her head.
"Oh there were a few tell-tale signs left about Gabi. Very careless," tutted Taylor turning as the pan sizzled. Gabriella glanced at her saw her opportunity and edged out of the kitchen hurrying quickly back to the bedroom. She shut the door behind her with some force making Troy jump off the bed where he'd been waiting for her. Gabriella silently handed him the tablets and the glass staring at him silently communicating with him.
"She knows doesn't she?" Troy sighed, stating the obvious. Gabriella nodded.
"Yeah she does and she is going for the kill too," warned Gabriella. "I guess I can't blame her, I'd be pissed if she didn't tell me about Chad but she did, well kind of but I kept us from her and she's looking for blood." Troy swallowed the tablets and washed them down with the water while she spoke putting the empty glass on the bedside table.
"I guess," shrugged Troy who never understood how the female mind worked, with guys it was different, they weren't so touchy or got hung up over silly things like girls did. He walked over to Gabriella and hugged her kissing her softly on the forehead.
"Well on a positive note I guess that's one bridge crossed," Troy stated trying to be upbeat, Gabriella looked at him.
"How do you mean?" she queried a frown crunching up her forehead.
"If Taylor knows I don't doubt it will be long before Chad does too and that will be the second obstacle covered. Maybe we can persuade them to keep quiet about us, at least for a while?" Troy pondered clutching at straws. Gabriella looked hopefully at him.
"Do you think so?" Gabriella asked.
"Maybe, if we appeal to their good nature and point out to them that we wanted to see how we really felt about each other before telling anyone," Troy explained.
"Do you think that will work?" Gabriella replied doubtfully. Troy smiled crookedly at her a glint of humour in his eyes.
"Nah, but it sounded good. Jeez Gabi can you see them two keeping quiet, they'd burst keeping that juicy titbit to themselves. It may be fun watching that happen though," Troy chuckled. Gabriella giggled at the thought.
"Let me get dressed first then we'll go and face the music," said Gabriella as she moved towards her closet. Troy sat back down on the bed watching her get changed in front of him. He felt his pants tighten as his member throbbed at the floorshow.
"Ready?" Gabriella asked as she walked over to him looking apprehensive.
"As ready as anyone going to a firing squad," Troy replied dryly pulling her until she stood between his legs as he reached up and touched her face pulling her down until their lips met. Gabriella returned the kiss gently careful to miss his nose that shone like a beacon.
"Come on, we'll do this together," she said softly as she edged away pulling him into a standing position. They interlaced their fingers as they walked out onto the battlefield.
Chad bounded up the stairs two at a time eager to find out what Taylor had planned for him. He pushed ajar the door to the apartment and closed it behind him before walking up the hallway. He glanced in the kitchen and frowned.
"Damn! There goes my fantasy," he squashed his disappointment although Taylor was looking really hot in her scrubs standing on the opposite side of the kitchen the wonderful aroma of pancakes permeating his taste buds. He walked over and slid his arms around her making her jump, a pancake she had been about to toss flipped up off the spatula and landed on top of Chad's afro.
"What the fuck Tay?" Chad shouted as the edge of it fell over his eyes burning the bridge of his nose. Taylor doubled up laughing at the sight as Chad brushed the pancake off his head and it splattered to the floor.
"Oh I'm sorry Chad, you just surprised me is all," Taylor explained through gulps of laughter.
"Hmpf! I thought I was the one getting the surprise," he huffed rubbing his burnt nose looking pissed. Taylor walked up to him and put her arms around him, reaching up and kissing him soundly.
"Don't worry you will and it's a humdinger too," she promised when they broke apart. "Now what about breakfast?" she asked as she picked up a plate that he hadn't seen before. She turned around and placed a huge plate of stacked pancakes on the island.
"Christ, Taylor I won't be able to eat all them. I have to be able to run round a court not roll around it," gasped Chad at the size of the mound. Taylor smirked.
"You won't have too, I've made enough for everyone," she supplied as she turned back to pour out two coffees. Chad looked at her as if she'd lost it.
"What do you mean, everyone?" he asked looking perplexed, "there's only us Tay."
"Is there?" Taylor teased him kinking her eyebrow at him. She placed serving plates beside the pancakes, picking up the top two and placed two pancakes on one and four on the other before carrying them over to the bistro table that had already been set. Chad followed carrying the coffees.
"I'm confused Taylor," he whined as he sat down heavily.
"You won't be soon I promise and you're going to love it," she finished as she heard footsteps coming towards the kitchen.
As they rounded the corner into the kitchen they stopped dead in their tracks as they saw Taylor and Chad sat at the table. Gabriella looked gobsmacked.
"How the hell? He wasn't here before," she groaned looking apologetically at Troy. Troy groaned inwardly but shrugged outwardly at Gabriella throwing her a wry smile.
"I should have guessed, fucking Batman and pissing Robin. This might not be so bad at least I hope not." Troy thought silently gripping Gabriella's hand tighter.
"Well, well what have we here?" Taylor taunted causing Chad to swivel his head round, his mouth dropped open in amazement before Taylor reached over and pushed his jaw up.
"Not while you're eating dear," she admonished. Gabriella couldn't help it, she giggled and Troy chuckled at the scene.
"But, but, I don't get it, why are you here?" stuttered Chad clearly confused with the sight of Troy.
"They've been making bacon together Chad," explained Taylor.
"You what!" Chad was flummoxed.
"Troy's been parking his mayonnaise launcher in Gabi's tunnel of love," Taylor smirked. Chad laughed, Troy didn't.
"Enough!" Troy growled, glaring at Taylor with narrowed eyes. Taylor glared back not backing down.
"Ignore her Troy," Gabriella pleaded thinking world war three was about to take place. She put a hand on his arm and looked at him, trying to calm him down. "Do you want some breakfast?" she asked in another attempt to change to topic. Troy just nodded to please her, not really wanting to eat at all but grab Gabi and get the hell out of there. Gabriella collected two cups and filled them with coffee taking them over to the table as Troy followed behind. Chad was still imitating a fish, bug eyes and all.
"Wha…how…wow," Chad stammered still taking it in. Troy smirked at him.
"So how long?" Taylor enquired. Troy and Chad breathed in sharply and looked at Taylor flabbergasted.
"Tell me she did not just say that?" Troy thought shocked by her temerity as he sat down with a thud. Both Chad and Gabriella spoke at the same time.
"Say what?" burst from Chad.
"Excuse me?" Gabriella cried looking aghast at Taylor. Taylor blushed realising what she'd said.
"No I didn't mean that," Taylor interjected hurriedly. "Well unless you wanted to tell me Gabi," she giggled as Gabriella sank into a chair. Gabriella gave her an evil stare.
"I meant how long has this been going on?" Taylor quizzed them once they'd settled at the table. Gabriella looked at Troy and Troy looked back at her.
"Hey dumb and dumber, I'm talking to you," Taylor snapped. Troy rolled his eyes.
"Er…three days after we met," Gabriella answered hesitantly, "about five or six weeks?" She posed the question, her eyes darting from Troy to Taylor to Chad and back to Troy who nodded in agreement.
"Say what!" Taylor gasped, "in-fucking-credible! How did I not know?" Taylor looked annoyed with herself.
"I knew it, I fucking knew it," Chad shouted bouncing in his chair. Taylor slapped him on the back of the head.
"Hey! What was that for?" he grumbled glaring at Taylor. Gabriella and Troy chuckled at the pair as the mood lightened somewhat.
"Sure you did doofus, you knew at the nightclub did you?" Taylor. Chad looked blankly at her. Taylor smirked, "My point exactly." Taylor said with satisfaction. She speared her gaze back at the guilty party.
"So the night I nearly called the cops, frantic that you'd been kidnapped, you were together?" Taylor ground out mad that her supposed best friend had duped her. Gabriella hung her head.
"I'm sorry Tay, can you forgive me?" she mumbled. Taylor watched her squirm loving the power it gave her and she wasn't letting her off the hook just yet, him neither.
"I'll think about it," she said stiffly her eyes boring into Gabriella's as she raised her head to look at her.
"That's where you kept disappearing to," muttered Chad suddenly glaring at Troy. Troy glared back at him.
"Like I said before Chad, you're not my mother," he drawled. Chad glared back at Troy when his eyes suddenly glinted, a thought coming into his head.
"Talking of your mother," Chad paused to watch Troy's reaction and was pleased to see him close his eyes and groan; "it was strange that you went two weekends running when you don't go for months at a time?" Taylor thought back trying to remember where Gabriella was at that time then gasped and looked at them seeing guilt written all over their faces.
"That guy…in Miami…it was you!" she exclaimed spluttering to get her words out. Gabriella and Troy went crimson. "Well," Taylor was totally flummoxed and didn't know what else to say.
"Jeez Troy, you like living dangerously don't you," injected Chad, "You nearly got snapped, you idiot." Chad knew what the paparazzi were like and also knew what Troy thought of them. He realised then that this was no quick fling with Gabriella Troy just wouldn't risk his privacy for a quick roll in the hay.
"I know, we got lucky," agreed Troy with Gabriella nodding in agreement.
"So what are you going to do now," Chad asked them. They looked at each other before Gabriella answered.
"We were hoping we could keep it quiet like we have been doing," she said her eyes pleading with Taylor and Chad. Taylor looked at Chad and smirked.
"Looks like we've got them by the short and curlies," she said delight written all over her face. Chad smirked at Taylor. Troy groaned and Gabriella put her hand in his and squeezed.
"This is going to be a nightmare," Troy moaned.
"Oh I don't know, I think it will be fun," Taylor said snickering.
"What about Sharpay, are you going to tell her?" Chad asked him with a smirk.
"Hell no!" Troy shot back, "and you can't tell her. We're not ready for all her shit yet." Taylor burst out laughing.
"And the debt grows Chad," she commented dryly rubbing her hands. Gabriella groaned knowing Taylor was not going to let this drop so easily.
"Dude, what happened to your face?" Chad asked Troy looking at his nose. Troy had forgotten about his accident during the grilling, put his hand to his nose and winced. He shrugged as if it was nothing but Gabriella knew it wasn't.
"I…hit him," she answered hesitantly. Taylor gasped and narrowed her eyes at him.
"If you've hurt Gabi, I'll kill you," she threatened knowing there must be a reason why Gabriella had hit him. Troy stood up to give him some space from Taylor looking embarrassed and rubbing his suddenly sweaty hands down his sides.
"Look, it was an accident Tay, she butted me in the nose alright," confessed Troy. Chad and Taylor shook with laughter, tears streaming down their faces. Gabriella looked cow-eyed at Troy remorse in the brown depths; she stood up to walk over to him and kissed him.
"I'm not even going to ask," Taylor hiccupped as she tried to bring her laughter under control. Troy looked at Chad who was still in fits.
"So who hit you Dumbass?" Troy smirked looking at the red mark between his eyes. Chad stopped laughing instantly and glared at him.
"What mark? Taylor is there?" Chad looked worried. Taylor nodded looking guilty.
"Yeah but it's not too bad," she replied hurriedly. Chad looked at her and sprinted off to the bathroom. Gabriella and Troy looked at Taylor questioningly.
"So what did you do?" asked Gabriella with a smirk just as Chad came back.
"Frigging hell Taylor, have you seen what you've done," he moaned. Taylor rolled her eyes.
"That'll teach you to creep up on someone when they're cooking," she warned unsympathetic. Gabriella giggled.
"What did you do?" she asked curiously. Taylor giggled.
"I hit him with a pancake." Now it was Troy and Gabriella's turn to laugh.
"Yea, well it was hot," mumbled Chad glaring at Taylor.
"We better go, we have a practise session in," Troy looked at his watch, "an hour." Gabriella turned to him reaching up to kiss him goodbye.
"I'll see you later?" she questioned.
"You bet," Troy replied with a grin. Chad and Taylor were busily saying goodbye.
"Ready Chad?" Troy queried. Chad broke away from Taylor and nodded as they turned to walk out the door.
"Bolton," Taylor shouted. Troy turned back and raised an eyebrow. "Forgotten something?" she asked her eyes looking pointedly at his groin.
"I don't think so," he said cautiously. Taylor pulled an object from her pocket holding it aloft with a finger. Gabriella and Troy both gasped knowing what it was.
"You better take your banana hammock, we wouldn't want you free balling Troy and damaging Gabriella's new toy, now would we?" she taunted laughing at him as she flung his boxers at him.