"Chad! Troy! Over here!" Taylor called out, motioning for the two boys to join her and Gabriella at their usual lunch table. Chad smiled and took a seat next to his girlfriend, leaving Troy to sit next to the new girl Gabriella. The two made brief eye contact leaving them both with butterflies.

"Mmmm, Taylor, I love your mom's hummus," Chad exclaimed, reaching over her to take a spoonful of her lunch for himself.

"Where'd you guys run off to during homeroom? I thought you'd come back before the bell."

"Nah. We went to shoot some hoops," Chas explained.

"Do you guys play basketball?" Gabriella asked, aiming to get to know the two boys a bit better.

"Hah! 'Do we play basketball?'! Woman, you are looking at the co-captains of the East High Varsity Basketball team," Chad bragged.

"Oh really? That's cool. How long have you guys been playing?" Gabriella directed the question towards Troy, but he continued to stay silent as Chad answered her once again.

"Well Troy's dad has been the coach here since before we were born. He's been training us for this since we were old enough to hold a basketball."

"I tried learning to play basketball once in middle school. It was embarrassing," she admitted, giggling softly. Troy couldn't help but smile at the sound of her laugh. "I could barely shoot a basket."

"It couldn't be that bad," Troy offered, finally speaking.

"Maybe you could teach me sometime?" Gabriella asked hopefully. Troy noticeably hesitated before answering.

"Sure. Sounds like a plan. So where'd you move here from?"

----

The more Gabriella revealed about herself during lunch, the more Troy wanted to get to know her better. By the end of the hour, he was so overwhelmed by the new surge of emotions that he felt the urge to ditch another class and head back towards the gym. Chad, sensing his best friend's desire to miss Calculus, pulled him aside before the bell rang.

"Troy," Chad began.

"Chad. I can't. I can't do that to Katie," Troy argued before Chad could even say anything.

"You're not doing anything to Kaitlin. You're moving on… you have to eventually. It's been two years, Dude."

"I know. But I just feel like I'm cheating on her. And what about Katie?"

"Katie is a good girl. And I'm sure if she could talk she'd tell you she wants you to be happy."

"And what if she finds out about Katie and freaks out?"

"Than she's not worth it anyway. Troy, I saw the way you were staring at her. I haven't seen that stare in years."

"I know. I like her," Troy sighed quietly.

"Than do something about it."

"You ready to go?" Taylor asked, coming up behind the boys.

"Yeah," Chad smiled, putting his arm around his girlfriend.

"Troy, Gabriella has English with Davis. Could you walk her on your way to Calc?" Taylor inquired.

"Yea, no problem," Troy smiled nervously. Chad gave him one last look of confidence before he and Taylor left the two alone.

"So. English with Davis?" Troy began, leading the way.

"Yup."

"He's pretty advanced stuff."

"I know," Gabriella smiled shyly. "My mom thought it would be a good challenge."

"That's cool. Are you good in English, then?"

"I'm alright. I'm better at math."

"Gabriella?" Troy stopped suddenly, looking at her straight in the eyes.

"Yes?"

"I haven't done this in a while, but… would you like to go out with me this weekend?"

"I would love to," she smiled.

---

"What was I thinking?" Troy groaned that night as he rocked his little girl in his arms.

"You were thinking that you like this girl and you wanted to see her outside of school. That's normal, Troy," his mother offered, trying to comfort him.

"Well I don't exactly have a normal situation, do I?"

"No, but you still deserve to be happy."

"I am happy," he sighed, calming the baby as she began to whimper. "Shh… Baby Girl. Go to sleep…"

"Well you may be happy, but you could be happier. Troy, you're seventeen years old. You should be having a little fun. When's the last time you went out on a weekend for something other than a basketball game?"

"I can't just go out and party every weekend, Mama. You told me that yourself."

"I know that, Troy," she said, admiring Troy has he put his sleeping daughter in her crib. "You are such an excellent father. And I promise if you go out for a few hours this weekend that won't change."

"Troy?" Mrs. Bolton asked worriedly as she entered her son's room. He was sitting on the bed staring at the newborn in front of him.

"Is she supposed to do anything?" Troy asked, looking up at his mother.

"Not much more than this. Did you pick a name yet? The hospital needs a name to put on her birth certificate."

"Katie."

"Kaitlin it is."

"No. Not Kaitlin. Katie."

"Okay… Katie it is."

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"I'm afraid if I pick her up I'll break her."

"I promise you won't break her, Sweetie," his mother laughed softly. She made her way over to the infant and scooped her up, placing her in her father's arms.

"Oh," was all Troy could manage.

"Does she know about Katie?"

"No. Not yet."

"Are you going to tell her?"

"Well it's not like she's a secret. Everyone at school knows about her."

"Yes, but she's new."

"Let's just see if I make it through the date."

----

The rest of the week went by slowly. Every day Troy walked Gabriella to her English class, and while Gabriella felt herself getting more and more excited for their date, Troy was getting more and more nervous.

"So. We're still on for tonight?" Gabriella asked as they arrived at her classroom.

"Yup. I'll pick you up at seven. Where do you live?"

"You can pick me up at Taylor's. She's insisted upon preparing me," she giggled.

"Sounds good. I'll see you tonight," Troy smiled.

----

"Ma?" Troy called out worriedly as soon as he walked in the front door. His voice was drowned out by the sound of Katie crying, however. Troy rushed upstairs and into his daughter's room. "Dad? What's wrong with her?" He asked upon entering the room and seeing his father holding his little girl. Troy hurried over and took Katie from his father's arms.

"Shhh… Baby Girl… what's wrong?"

"Your mom thinks she's just overtired."

"She's a little warm," Troy observed.

"That could just be from her crying."

"I'm not going out tonight," Troy decided out loud.

"Oh no you don't. You are going out, and your mother and I are babysitting."

"No. Not when Katie is sick."

"She'll be fine, Troy. You should go. It'll be good for you."

"Do you promise to call if she doesn't calm down?"

"Yes. I promise."

"Fine. But I'm not going unless I can get her to sleep first."

----

"Troy!" Taylor exclaimed angrily as she allowed the boy into her house. "You're almost fifteen minutes late!"

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. I couldn't get Katie down," he explained. "Is she mad?"

"No. I don't even think she noticed, she's so nervous. She's up in my room changing her hair for, like, the millionth time."

"Okay, well whenever she's ready," he sighed, leaning against the staircase.

"Gabriella!" Taylor called up the stairs. "Troy is here!"

Gabriella gracefully walked down the stairs with a nervous smile plastered on her face.

"Wow," Troy smiled back. "You look beautiful," he said honestly.

"Thank you," she smiled shyly.

"You're hair looks really nice, too," he added for good measure, earning a smirk from Taylor. "You ready to go?"

"Yea," she grinned, allowing Troy to lead the way.