A/N: Okay people, all your reviews asking for the date have made me work faster ;) I'm really hoping you'll like it. Seriously, I swear I've had goose bumps in my arms while I was writing so I hope you'll feel what I've tried to express here :D

I warn you this is the sweetest, the most romantic and the fluffiest chapter I've ever written, but it's something I wanted to do. It's not a very long chapter, but I kinda wanted to leave it like that, only explaining the date because, though the chapter is not long, I think is SUPER full of emotions and feelings, and I didn't want to overdone the update, if you know what I mean.

I've re-read it a few times and, I don't know if that's because I'm the writer or what, but I swear every time I've read it I've felt touched by it :blush: so I really hope you'll enjoy it the same way I've done while writing it. Like always, if you could give me your feedback, it'd be amazing ;)

Thanks for your reviews and your support with the other chapter's drama; you guys rock and I love you all lots! :hug:

Here is chapter 18. Enjoy! :)

At 6 o'clock, Troy exited from the guest room of the Montez's household already dressed for his special date with Gabriella, with the ring safely placed in his pocket, and he found Taylor stepping out of Gabi's room.

"Wow Troy," Taylor giggled. "You don't seem you dressed this way…"

"So funny Tay," Troy rolled his eyes. "I know it's weird but I need this date to be unforgettable for Gabriella."

"Oh, and it will be," Taylor said placing her hand on his forearm in a friendly way. "If you do what you told me, Gabriella won't forget tonight ever."

"Thanks Tay," Troy said softly. "Do you want me to go with you downstairs?"

Taylor shook her head. "Gabriella is waiting for you; no worries, but thanks anyway."

Troy nodded once. "Okay, see you then." He said hugging the girl who returned the hug gladly.

"Bye Troy," Taylor waved and went to the stairs but Troy's voice stopped her and made her to turn around.

"Tay, wait!" Troy went to stand beside her. "Have you told Gabriella to wear the dress I've told you?"

"Sure," Taylor grinned. "At first she didn't want to wear it but I've insisted and in the end she's caved."

"Is she suspicious?" Troy asked worriedly.

Taylor shook her head. "No, no, don't worry. I think she's so excited she is not paying attention to the details…"

"Thank God," Troy sighed.

"Don't worry," Taylor said softly. "Everything is going to be okay."

"I hope so Tay," Troy answered.

"You'll see," Taylor smirked. "I'm going now so you have some privacy. See you!"

Troy smiled at her and turned around to Gabriella's room. Stopping there, Troy took a deep breathe and knocked three times, waiting for Gabriella to open the door.

His breath itched in his throat, the air of his lungs evaporated and his heart skipped a beat when Gabriella appeared at the doorframe. The short red dress still hugged her perfect curves perfectly showing her toned and long legs and the right amount of cleavage and the shoulder off added more sexiness to the already sexiest girl he knew; her make up was only a little more intense that which her usual was, making her features to seem mysterious but so attractive at the same time; her long and silky hair fell over her shoulders naturally, in soft waves that were screaming for him to run his fingers through it; and her perfume mixed with her natural scent brought to his nostrils the most amazing smell in the world, making him shiver in a mixture of emotion and pleasure.

To say she looked breathtaking beautiful would be the understatement of the century; her natural beauty was accentuated in the most right way, making her seem a Greek goddess fallen from the heaven directly to his arms.

"You look…you look…" Troy stuttered with his eyes wide in awe. "Incredible…"

Gabriella smiled at his reaction and took her time to analyze his appearance, understanding in a second why Taylor had been insisting so much for her to wear that dress. She didn't want to wear it because it was an old dress; it seemed new, of course, because it was a dress she'd only worn once in her life, but it still was an old dress and she'd wanted to wear something new, or at least something not so old, but seeing the way Troy was dressed made her thank the heavens she'd trusted Taylor.

"Our first date…" Gabriella whispered touching the soft material of his jacket.

Troy nodded with a serious face. "You remember?"

"How could I forget the best night of my life?" Gabriella whispered really touched by his gesture. "I can't believe it…" She said stepping closer to his strong frame and wrapping her slender arms around his waist.

Troy embraced her softly. "Believe it because this is only the beginning of the new best night of your life baby," he said lowly.

Gabriella pulled away and leaned up to kiss him softly, already feeling the butterflies invading her stomach; Troy returned the kiss with the same amount of softness, making the kiss unhurried but passionate; innocent but full of promises of what was waiting for them; one kiss of thousands but one of the most special at the same time.

Troy pulled away and leaned his forehead in hers. "What have I done to deserve you?" He whispered closing his eyes and inhaling deeply her scent to keep it in his memory forever.

"Be you." Gabriella answered placing her petite hand on his cheek.

"I love you," Troy said in a strangled with emotion covering the hand that was still on his cheek with his own.

Gabriella smiled feeling his tenderness overcame her. "I love you too."

Troy opened his eyes and locked his eyes with hers for a moment; it was amazing how he wanted to say a lot of things but still he didn't have the strength to say them. "Are you ready?"

"More than ready," Gabriella whispered feeling how the butterflies in her stomach went to spiral mode.

Troy stepped away and grabbed one of her hands in his, smiling at how effortlessly their fingers interlocked together. "Shall we go then?" He asked already walking to the staircase pulling Gabriella with him.

Once they were sure the house was all locked, Troy pulled her to the passenger's seat of his car, where he opened the door for Gabriella to go in, closing it softly behind her and going to the passenger's side of the car afterwards.

Gabriella took a deep breathe taking advantage of those seconds alone inside the car. She was beyond amazed with all the efforts Troy had put in this date; the detail about the clothes was so silly but also special at the same time and she wondered what more he had planned for them. She couldn't believe he remembered what she wore in their first official date; the dress was special because she had worn back then but also because it was a gift from Lucy, who had accompanied Gabriella to buy it and teased Troy with no end about how gorgeous Gabriella looked. It became a secret between the two of them; a special bond they didn't have with anyone but the other.

And, of course, Troy wore the same jacket he worn that day too; the jeans and the shirt were different because he was stronger and more toned now, so he needed another size, but the jacket was still the same. She recognized the scent of that special jacket at once; the material was as soft as she remembered and now that Troy had a more defined back and shoulders, the jacket looked even better on him.

He and Lucy had bought it for their first date too; he needed an adult-jacket because that first date was the first of the last dates he would have he'd told his grandmother, and Lucy had agreed, so they'd gone to the mall one afternoon, looking for the perfect jacket. Lucy told her that they had been more than four hours searching The Jacket; the old woman told her that they'd been in more than 20 shops and still Troy didn't seem to find the jacket he wanted, a detail which had made Gabriella dissolve in giggles. But then, in the last shop he'd seen it and he'd known that he'd found what he was looking for, and of course, he had been right, because the jacket had something that made it very special, very unique.

"You ready?" Troy asked turning on the engine of the car, snapping Gabriella out of her reverie.

Gabriella nodded. "Where are we going?"

Troy chuckled. "Come on, you've been behaving so well until now…don't mess this up! Only a few minutes more and then you'll know…"

"Okay," Gabriella sighed. "I know sorry, but I'm more curious now!"

"And why is that?" Troy asked amused.

"Because we're wearing the same clothes we wore in our first date," Gabriella whispered squeezing his fingers with hers when she noticed Troy covering her soft hand with his, driving only with one hand. "And because this seems more a dream than real life…"

"Well," Troy smiled softly at her. "I can assure you this is actually happening."

Gabriella grinned with him and lifted their intertwined hands to her mouth to kiss his palm, earning a wide smile and her special wink from Troy.

After thirty minutes or so, Gabriella couldn't wait more. "Come on Troy…we've been in this car thirty minutes already! Where are we going?"

"We're almost there," Troy said stopping the car. "But first, I'm sorry but I have to cover your precious eyes…" He said retrieving a silky foulard from the pocket of his jacket and signalling to her that she had to turn around.

"No way Troy!" Gabriella pouted. "That's not fair!"

"Only for some minutes," Troy said softly. "Please?"

She caved in when she saw the special twinkle in his eyes, nodding her head briefly and turning around. Troy put the foulard so it covered her eyes and then kissed her nape, talking with his lips against her skin. "You're ready to go now…"

Gabriella sat back again and sighed paying special attention at all the sounds Troy was making. She heard how he turned on the engine of the car and then how the put the car on the street again. Deciding to let it go knowing Troy wouldn't say anything, Gabriella decided to close her eyes and relax, listening to the soft music which came from the stereo of the car.

She didn't know how more minutes passed; she'd felt the car turning left and right more than once and she had no clue about where they were, but she had the feeling it would be amazing.

The engine of the car was turned off and then Troy reached for her hand. "Wait here until I open the door for you, okay?"

"Okay," she whispered softly already feeling how the butterflies flied wildly in her stomach. Troy opened his door and closed it behind him, so Gabriella didn't hear anything but her own breathing and heartbeat for a while, until the warm breeze touched her skin again.

A hand she knew very well reached for hers. "Can I look now?" Gabriella asked unsure. "I don't want to fall…"

"Do you trust me?" Troy asked softly.

"Yes," she answered straight away.

"Then you won't fall," Troy said grabbing her both hands and helping her to step out of the car. Gabriella reached for his forearms when she stood up and felt Troy tightening his hold on her. "I have you, baby."

Gabriella relaxed and stood as still as possible waiting for Troy to do something. Suddenly, a warm hand on the small of her back pushed her a little towards she-didn't-know-where and she wriggled one of her hands when her body gave the step the little push made her made. "Give me your hand," she whispered sighing when the comforting touch of Troy covered her hand.

Troy stepped closer to her and guided her until they arrived at the place where everything was settled. Gabriella noticed they'd stopped and tensed again when Troy's touch vanished. "I'm here, don't worry…" He kissed her forehead and guided her forwards a little more.

Stopping, Troy situated himself behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "You can look now," he said kissing her temple.

Gabriella took a deep breath and took off the foulard, gasping when her eyes saw what was in front of her, recognizing the place in only one second. "Troy…" She whispered in awe admiring the view.

"I love you," he whispered still from behind her.

Gabriella tilted her head up and kissed his lips. "I love you too."

And the words got a more special meaning between them, because Troy had taken her to the place where he told her he loved her for the very first time.

"Why are we at the lake Troy?" Gabriella asked from her place between Troy's legs.

Troy shrugged. "Here is where dad took me and Mark to fish when he thought we needed a only men-plan…"

And Gabriella understood the special meaning of the place; it was one of the few places where Troy had memories of him with his dad and his old brother together. "Thanks for sharing it with me," Gabriella said lowly tilting her head up to kiss his jaw.

"I remember one time," Troy began with a strangled voice. "We'd been here for three hours and we hadn't fished anything yet, and I and Mark got tired. Dad told us to keep silent because if we were too loud the fishes would run away from us."

Gabriella smiled at the memory and snuggled closer to Troy's chest, who tightened his arms around her waist. "What happened then?"

"You know how Mark was…" Troy said softly. "We decided to be as noisy as possible; we began to sing as loud as we could, clap our hands…everything. Dad got mad and began his sermon about how we had to obey what he said and other typical-father-stuff. He was so absorbed about his father's duties that he didn't hear Mark whispering a plan into my ear…" Troy chuckled.

"What did he tell you?" Gabriella asked softly smiling.

Troy looked down at her and pecked her forehead. "He decided it would be a good idea to push dad out of the boat."

"Oh!" Gabriella giggled. "Did you do it?"

Troy nodded chuckling louder this time. "Yep, when dad was looking I don't know where, I and Mark stood up from our chairs and pushed him. His scream was hysteric; he cursed us and god's mother and he threatened us with the worst punishment, but neither me nor Mark paid attention because we were too busy laughing. We didn't see him jumping into the boat again until we felt one of his hands in our backs and then we were the ones who fell into the water."

Gabriella laughed again. "Seriously? He pushed you and Mark out of the boat?"

"I swear," Troy said laughing. "The water was super cold and me and Mark wanted to return to the boat but then dad jumped into the water splashing us and we forgot everything about the fishing trip and simple began to swim, splash water…it was amazing…we were alone here so we could do whatever we wanted."

His voice lowered and Gabriella looked up to see his eyes directed towards the lake; she placed her hand on his cheek and he looked back to her. "Thank you for sharing this with me Troy; I…I…I don't know what to say…"

Troy kissed her then and Gabriella manoeuvred herself so she was straddling his legs. The kiss got steamier when he kissed her lower lip with his tongue asking for entrance and she obliged, intertwining it with hers. Though they'd kissed like that a lot of times, Gabriella felt something special in the way Troy was kissing her; she didn't know why, but it was a more serious kiss, a kiss which had a special edge.

When the need of air was too much, they pulled away but kept their foreheads together; Gabriella still had her eyes closed and so she didn't saw the way Troy was looking at her, as if she was the most precious thing in the world, which for him she was. "Open your eyes baby," he said softly with a voice laced with emotion.

Gabriella opened her eyes only to meet his, looking directly into hers, as if he was able to see her soul and he liked what he was seeing, and then he spoke. "I love you."

"Ah!" Gabriella gasped, her eyes already letting some tears fall. "I…I…I love you too Troy…"

He kissed her tears away and then hugged her with all his might, crushing her body with his, and sealing with the hug the final union of their souls.

The memory brought fresh tears to her eyes and she turned around so she could bur her head into the crock of his neck. "Thank you." No more words were needed because they knew exactly what the other was feeling, but Troy embraced her tightly and kissed the hollow under her ear. "You're welcome."

Silently, the couple remained snuggled together admiring the lake; the night was super clear and not only they could see a thousand stars shining in the sky but also the moon was full, and its reflect in the water made the place shine in a special way. It was almost magical; the mountains, the trees…everything was quiet and it seemed as if everything had been waiting for them to arrive there. Only the sound of the water, some nocturnal animals and their even heartbeats could be heard, and the feeling of intimacy between the couple, the feeling of to be alone there with whom each of them loved the most, got deeper.

"Hungry?" Troy asked softly after some minutes. "We're eating here…"

Gabriella nodded into his chest. "Fantastic," she sighed contently.

He pulled away and took her hand, guiding her until they arrived at the tree where he declared his love for her for the very first time. Once there, Gabriella couldn't help but gasp in awe at what she found in front of her: Troy had settled a picnic for the two of them, so they could eat under the exquisite light the moon and the stars made, surrounded by the magic of the night.

Troy sat there and pulled her with him, so she was sitting closely beside his body, and then he grabbed a basket he had hided there, placing the meal in front of Gabriella but leaving the dessert still inside. "What's for dessert?" Gabriella asked trying to peek inside the basket.

"That's a surprise," Troy grinned. "Now, shall we eat?"

"Another surprise?" Gabriella gasped. "Please Troy, you've done more than enough…I don't know what to say…"

Troy silenced her pecking her lips. "Then don't say anything and simply enjoy."

Gabriella smiled sweetly at him. "Ok, I'll behave…"

The couple fed each other, sharing sweet kisses then and there, talking quietly only for themselves trying not to break the peace which surrounded them…it was as if they had been brought to another world; everything was so beautiful, so magical… it seemed impossible they were still in their real life because the only one word that could describe what they thought was PERFECT: no problems, no worries…only two hearts tied together for life.

"Are you still hungry?" Troy asked pulling her body down so her head was resting on his lap when the food disappeared.

Gabriella thought for a minute; the food had been amazing, and she felt full, but her curiosity about the surprise dessert was being too much. "Well…it depends on what is for dessert…" She blushed.

Troy chuckled. "Close your eyes then," he said pulling away her hair from her face.

"Again?" Gabriella whined. "Come on baby…"

"Close your eyes," he said sternly but winking at the same time. "You'll like it, I promise."

"Okay," she sighed and then she heard Troy like searching for something and muttering something incoherently. "What are you doing?"

"I'm looking…where the fuck are they?" Troy was talking mostly to himself and Gabriella frowned. "Oh, here they are!"

Gabriella cleared her throat trying to gain his attention but Troy didn't say anything, making some more weird noises. "Ok, open your mouth." His demand made her to lift her eyebrows and Troy rolled his eyes. "I swear you'll like it, come on, trust me."

"Okay, okay," Gabriella whispered opening her mouth a little, hesitantly.

"Open your mouth a little more babe," Troy said playing with one of her curls. "But you can't open your eyes until I tell you."

Gabriella obliged and tensed the muscles of her back, waiting for this special dessert. Suddenly, a sweet and cold substance fell into her mouth and she gasped at the surprise of its temperature. "Bit," Troy commanded softly.

She obliged again and then the mixture of the chocolate and the strawberry's juices invaded her mouth, making her moan in pleasure at the sweetness of its taste. "Another?"

Gabriella sat then, and opened her eyes to look at Troy still savouring the delicious taste of the fruit mixed with chocolate, and nodded her head. "But first…"

When Troy was about to ask what she wanted, Gabriella kissed his lips, sharing with him the special taste of her mouth. Troy didn't hesitate, introducing his tongue into her mouth, intertwining it with hers and moaning at the contact and at the new taste of their kiss.

Gabriella pulled away, grabbed another strawberry and put it into the bowl full of chocolate, placing the fruit in front of Troy's mouth then, and waiting for him to take a bit. When he did so, she ate the other half, and the couple continued feeding each other the dessert until the last strawberry was gone. "Gosh, that's been delicious…"

"I'm glad you've liked it," Troy smirked pulling her body between his legs so she was leaning on his chest.

"Why is that smirk for?" Gabriella asked suspicious.

"Nothing," Troy shrugged smiling. "I wasn't sure if strawberries with chocolate were still your favourite dessert…"

She smiled and kissed his jaw. "It'd been perfect." Snuggling more into his chest, Gabriella sighed and whispered. "Everything has been perfect…"

Troy reached his hands to hers and intertwined their fingers together, squeezing theirs lovely and sighing in pure content. The couple rested embraced together thinking sharing the perfect silence hung between them.

Gabriella didn't have words enough to express what she was feeling at the moment; everything had been so exquisite, so magical, so perfect…she thought her heart couldn't be fuller of love than how it was at the moment. The fact that, after all those years, Troy still remembered those little details he'd remembered, like the clothes or the place where he told her he loved her, made everything better, and she was sure her heart was about to explode of pure happiness.

Troy, on the other hand, was ecstatic at her words; of course he'd thought about all the things that could make the date the most special date ever, searching for every small detail that could have a huge significance between them: the clothes of their first official date, the place where they shared their firsts I love you, her favourite dessert…and now what he hoped would be the cherry on the top of the date.

Clearing his throat, Troy tangled one of his hands into her curls, keeping the other intertwined with hers. "Baby," he began tentatively.

Gabriella noticed the change in his voice and looked upwards to him. "What?"

"I need you to know how grateful I am that you're here with me, and that you've been beside me all these years. Without you, I'm sure I wouldn't have survived; I've been a mess in the total darkness but…in that mess, I've always seen the light of a very special lighthouse. You and your love have been my lighthouse, Gabriella." Troy took a deep breathe and wiped the tears that were falling from her eyes. "I need you to know that I love you with all my heart, and that I'm yours forever. Nothing has sense if you are not there; life has no interest if I can't share it with you…"

"Troy…" Gabriella whispered with a strangled voice.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is that…" Troy locked his eyes with hers; he needed for her to see the truth behind his words. "My heart is yours, only yours, always has been, and I promise you always will be." With that, Troy took the velvety box off his pocket and placed it in front of Gabriella. "Be my official girlfriend…"

Gabriella turned her face to see what Troy was holding in front of her and sat up, turning her body so she was looking at Troy and at the box. "What's that?" She asked in a petite voice letting her tears fall free now.

"My promise," Troy said softly opening the small box. "I told you once that one day I'd take you to Hawaii, and here is our first step together." Retrieving the ring from its place, Troy grabbed her hand and Gabriella noticed how the shivers were overtaking his body. She gulped and observed silently how Troy put the ring in his finger, returning her hand to her so she could admire it.

"Kuuipo…" Gabriella whispered in awe at the engraved word. "You've remembered…"

"I can't forget it." Troy corrected her speaking in a very low voice.

"I love it," Gabriella said turning to look at him. "I love you…"

"I love you too." Troy said leaning down to connect their lips together in a very sensual kiss, moving Gabriella so she was sitting on his lap. "Forever."

"Forever," Gabriella agreed leaning up to kiss him again.

They'd been lying on the blanket Troy brought with them for hours now. They hadn't been keeping a straight conversation, but they'd been talking randomly, sharing sweet kisses and mostly sweet gestures. Their legs were tangled together and Gabriella was resting her head on his strong chest, while Troy had both his arms wrapped around her, squeezing her petite frame from time to time as if he was checking if she was there or everything was a fantasy.

But no.

They weren't in a fantasy; they were actually lying there, as closer as possible, sharing their love, and neither of them could believe it was real.

"Do you want to go?" Troy murmured into her curls.

Gabriella nodded. "It's late now…" She said tightening his jacket over her shoulders.

Troy stood up and helped her to stand up as well, and then the couple grabbed everything so they could return to Gabriella's house. "You ready?" Gabriella asked running her eyes along the spot they'd been eating checking if they were forgetting something.

"Yeah," Troy nodded reached down for her hand, intertwining their fingers again and pulled her towards the car.

When they arrived at Gabriella's, the couple was silent. The trip from the lake had been absolutely silent, keeping their hands intertwined. It wasn't uncomfortable, it was peaceful and full of meaning; because they were registering the new step they'd taken together, and neither wanted to break the magic they were surrounded with, neither wanted to break the bubble their love provided.

Locking the house again when both were inside, they went to the kitchen to leave there the basket and the bags and then they went upstairs, to her room, but always silent, keeping their eyes connected. Because their eyes were having their own conversation; a conversation full of feelings and emotions: love, lust, passion, care, adoration and everything in between.

Stepping into her room, Gabriella went in first and Troy followed her, closing the door softly behind him.

"Gabriella, I…" Troy began from beside the door looking at her back.

But he couldn't finish because Gabriella chose that moment to turn around and to run to him, kissing his lips with everything she had, trying to convey everything her heart had inside in the kiss. Troy returned the kiss with equal fervour, feeling the same amount of emotion that she was feeling overtake him.

Soon clothes disappeared and the couple fell on the bed with their limbs tangled together, keeping their eyes intently connected. No words were expressed; they talked with their eyes, with their bodies, with their gestures, letting the love and the passion they felt for each other guide their actions, connecting their bodies, their souls and their hearts in the most amazing, special and unimaginably way.