The whole way to the home Troy had told Gabriella thousands of different stories about his Grandfather and she smiled, laughed and cried with him. Troy had dropped her hand a long time ago and both felt lost at the lack of contact. They walked into the reception and Troy smiled at the middle aged woman behind the desk.

"Mr Bolton, back already?" She smiled brightly at the boy who nodded.

"I brought my friend." He announced and the woman looked down at Gabriella who was now wearing one of Troy's shirts along with her white skirt.

"Hi... I'm Gabriella" She smiled and the woman's smile widened even more.

"Melinda... you can go straight through Troy, he's in the living room" Troy nodded and he and Gabriella walked through the building. Gabriella knew the second Troy saw his Grandfather, his face flooded with hope and there was a slight spring in his step. He sat down in front of a friendly looking man and smiled.

"Hey Grandpa" He smiled and the man looked up blankly at Troy, Gabriella's heart feel at the fallen look in Troy's eyes. She knelt down next to the old man and smiled.

"Hi I'm Gabriella." She whispered and he looked down at her a brilliant smile lighting up his face.

"Well you're simply gorgeous." He grinned and Gabriella saw Troy's face lit up, he hadn't heard his grandfather speak so coherently in a long time.

"Thank you sir, that's Troy over there" She pointed to him and the old man turned to look a smile on his face.

"You're very lucky to have a girlfriend this lovely young man" He smiled and Troy was positively beaming from ear to ear, he was so happy he didn't even bother to correct his grandfather's mistake. Gabriella giggled earning his grandfathers attention once again.

"What's your name?" She asked and Troy's face fell again, his grandfather wouldn't be able to-

"Benjamin Bolton" He smiled and Troy's head snapped up a purely unbelieving look on his face.

"It's a delight to meet you Benjamin" Gabriella continued noticing Troy's awe struck face. "Would you consider me awfully rude if I asked your age?" She smiled and Troy stared at his grandfather waiting to hear his answer. Benjamin laughed and Troy's eyes stung with tears his grandfather hadn't laughed for years.

"Oh my dear... I'm 74" He smiled putting his hand on top of Gabriella's "How old are you darling?"

"17" She smiled

"Oh what I would give to be 17 again... I was in the army you know, what an army we were" He told her all Troy could do was stare... he didn't think it was possible.

"Really? What was it like?" Gabriella asked a smile in her eyes.

"Oh sweetheart it was all fun and games... apart from the fighting but otherwise it was like a massive holiday camp" He explained earning another giggle from Gabriella "Your boyfriend is rather quite isn't he?" Benjamin asked and Gabriella smiled as Troy stared lovingly at the old man.

"Do you like basketball Benjamin?" She asked and his eyes lit up.

"Oh I simply adore it sweetheart!" He replied enthusiastically.

"Troy here is the captain of the local High school's team" She explained and Benjamin's eyes lit up as he looked at Troy.

"Really?" He asked and Troy shook his head to gain composure before smiling.

"Yeah we're gunna win the championships this year" He grinned cockily and Benjamin smiled.

"You'll have to let me know when the game is... I'd love to come and watch you play" He smiled and Gabriella didn't think she'd ever seen Troy happier in his life.

Half an hour later...

The pair walked out the home and Troy grabbed Gabriella round the waist picking her up and swinging her round in a circle as her giggles filled the night.

"Oh Gabriella, thank you so much" He whispered staring into her eyes "So much" He repeated and she smiled.

"Your Grandfather is a lovely man" She replied and Troy let his tears fall, she wiped them away with a smile "Why are you crying?" She asked

"You've made me so happy Ella... so happy" He whispered and Gabriella beamed at the nickname.

"You deserve to be happy Troy." She smiled and he shook his head.

"No I really don't... after all the things I've done to you I don't deserve anything" He whispered dropping his head still holding Gabriella off the ground in his arms. She ran her hand over his cheek and smiled as he looked up at her.

"You deserve it Troy." She whispered and he smiled, this girl was beyond perfect. Slowly he put her back on her feet and took her hand in his.

"Thank you"

Next Day...

Gabriella stared at her reflection in the mirror that hung across the wall in the girl's bathroom. She hated this Gabriella; she was horrible and so... fake. Shaking her head she pushed the door open only to walk smack into, she looked up, Troy Bolton.

The two stared at each other Troy's hands still resting on her hips neither knew what to do.

"Oh look! Captain caught the nerd!" Chad Danforth's voice rang out down the corridor "Aren't you going to say thank you nerd" He spat and Gabriella looked up at Troy.

"Thank you" She whispered and he let go of her waist so she could stand on her own she went to leave when Chad grabbed her bag from her shoulder hoisting it above her head.

"Troy! Catch!" Chad exclaimed throwing it Troy, he caught it effortlessly and looked at Gabriella she just offered a sad smile and he threw it over her head to Zeke who threw it back to Chad once again. Chad laughed like an idiot and Gabriella rolled her eyes leaning against the nearby wall.

"Hey aren't you going to try and get it back?" Chad asked irritated that she'd taken all the fun out the game. She blinked and looked up at him then shrugged.

"To be honest I'm not that bothered that you have my school books. What's the worst you can do? My homework? No thanks I'm just gunna wait until your done" She shrugged earning a smirk from Troy who thought she was rather funny.

"Well maybe we won't give it back!" Chad snapped and Gabriella shrugged.

"Fine with me I'll just tell all my teachers if they want my work you have it... the thing is Chad I really don't care" She replied then walked off down the corridor leaving a very bemused basketball team and a grinning Troy behind her.

"What the hell! I thought Gabriella Montez would be obsessed with getting her school work!" Chad announced annoyed Troy just smiled.

"You obviously don't know the real Gabriella" He replied without thinking earning a look from each of his players.

"And you do?" Chad asked and Troy shrugged.

"What? I mean she's ugly too" He replied thinking fast and making the whole team laugh as they headed off to their separate lessons. Chad thrust the bag to the floor and left, Troy grabbed it and ran after Gabriella. He caught up with her as she was about to go into English.

"El!" He called and she snapped around smiling at the use of the nickname.

"Troy?" She frowned looking around to make sure no one saw them.

"Thought you might want your bag back" He explained holding it out to her; she smiled up at him and took it.

"Thank you Troy" She smiled before pushing the door open to English and walking in leaving a grinning Troy behind her.

Authors notes:

Awwww :) Troy's falling for Gabby! Yay! R&R please my lovely people xxx