Wow. I have just read my reviews and they are amazing. You put such a big smile on my face. I noticed I have some new reviewers too so please keep commenting, it really does make my day.

Dessertluver, I often think the same how in the heck do I come up with this stuff lol.

Nikki, thank you so much for your comments as you caught up, I was particularly pleased you mentioned about the newlyweds part because no-one else commented on that :)

The next couple of chapters will be a bit boring but stick with it please!

CHAPTER 22

"Hi mom" Gabi smiled as her mom opened the door and immediately grabbed her in a huge hug.

"Oh, Gabi, I missed you sweetheart" she said "But you're too skinny, you need food" she chided.

"Sure why not? I've been eating crap all week." She sighed as she lugged her bags in and relished the familiar surroundings.

"How is my son in law?" she asked as she took Gabi through to the kitchen.

"Oh mom, no" Gabi rolled her eyes "Do not call him that, PLEASE" she begged.

"Okay, I'm just asking. I want to meet him" she said.

"I'm sure you do, but I'm not sure that he's ready for that yet, we're barely dating" Gabi stressed.

"Okay honey, don't get angry at me" her mom teased.

"I'm not, I just wish everyone would butt out of my life and let me at least TRY and have a normal relationship for once!" she argued and grabbed one of her cases, dragging it up the stairs with difficulty as Maria watched her go, twisting her mouth in concern.

Gabriel had obviously upset her again and she wasn't helping matters by putting pressure on. She pulled out some ingredients from her cupboard for cookies and began to weight them out.

---

"How long is it acceptable to wait to txt u?" Gabi's phone buzzed as she relaxed on her bed like a cat enjoying the sun. She'd thrown a few things around her room like a petulant teenager and then she had showered and changed into her softest clothes.

She checked her watch.

Gabi: You managed 4 hours.

Troy: Are you proud of me?

Gabi: Very.

Troy: You hate me right?

Gabi: Totally. Mom says hi.

Troy: I know she called me to ask when your flight was getting in.

Gabi groaned.

Gabi: I'm sorry my parents are weird.

Troy: Apparently I'm her new son in law.

Gabi buried her head under her pillow and screamed. She was going to kill her mom!

Troy: Stop hiding.

Gabi: I don't know what to say.

Troy: Tell me you hate me. I know all is right with the world then.

Gabi smiled at his message. How could this initially infuriating guy turn into such an adorable man?

Gabi: But I don't hate you.

She took a breath for courage as she pressed send.

Troy: Oh god, it's that bad? I'm on the next plane!

Gabi: I know everything is crazy.

Troy: Damn, I wish I could call you but I have to go again…

Gabi: Ok. X

Gabi lay back on her bed and let her eyes close as her exhaustion overtook her and she slept until her mom called her for dinner. She was just washing up her plate after dinner and looking in the fridge for a tasty treat when the house phone rang and her mom went to answer it.

As soon as she heard her mom laugh she knew it was Troy and she headed out into the hallway to spy on her.

"Oh that's very sweet of you, thank you." her mom said warmly "Oh, here she is now" she said as she saw Gabi poke her head round the door frame and as Gabi came toward her, she stroked her plaited hair "Mm-mm. I'll make sure she does" she said then "Bye now" as she handed Gabi the receiver

"Such a lovely young man, calling the house" Maria beamed and Gabi planted her face in her hand as she sat on the bottom step of the stairs.

"Hi" she said flatly.

"Hey, you okay? You want me to call back another time?" he checked worriedly.

Troy had missed Gabi from the moment she had left and the film was keeping him busy but he had this little gnawing fear that she wouldn't come back and he couldn't bare the thought of her sitting there worrying about things when he could just put her mind at ease.

"No, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude" she sighed .

"I just wanted to make sure you were ok." He said as he chomped on his pizza.

"I just need to get away from my parents" she admitted.

"Oh, your mom is so awesome" he said warmly .

"She called you her son in law, Troy. That's not normal." She reasoned.

"Ah, you're afraid she's going to scare me off" he guessed astutely.

Gabi dipped her head into her hand again; thinking was anyone on her side? Did they all think she was being silly? Was she over-reacting or shouldn't she be able to expect her family of all people not to embarrass her?

"Hey, talk to me" he said gently, realizing he had hit the nail on the head and she was really fighting with herself.

He realized then that she must be feeling something for him or she wouldn't be so afraid of losing him. And he had presumed she was nonchalant about the days apart. Which was only a few days, but it seemed she had other things to worry about and in the grand scheme of things a few days could, to Gabi, potentially make or break their fledgling relationship.

"How was my dad with you today?" she asked carefully.

"Oh you know, bright and cheery" he joked and it fell flat again as he cringed; sitting in his hotel room. "My mom called me today. She asked me who was this girl that took a puck in the eye for me?" he shared quickly.

Gabi smiled despite her raging thoughts "She did?" she asked hopefully.

"Yeah. She said you must be special" he added.

"Well it takes a special kind of person to hate you, Troy Bolton" she pointed out.

"Why thank you Gabi, I do look forward to these wonderful chats" he complained.

"Well I would hate for you to get a big ego again, we all know how much trouble you were before I deflated it" she said matter-of-factly.

"That's true. I could be a megalomaniac without you" he said gravely.

"I can see it now- King Troy." She added .

"Ah but would you be my queen?" he asked with a grin.

"Mm. I would have to think about it"

"What? You get to live a life of luxury and you want to think about it?" he checked.

She scoffed in mock insult "I'm not that fickle thank you very much! You need a serious..." she was about to say 'beating' but Troy cut her off.

"…amount of your kisses?" he hoped.

She had to concede she enjoyed his kisses. It was nice to hear he felt the same. She smiled as they finished their chat and she headed back up to her room to unpack the rest of her things.