It was midnight when she snuck into the kitchen, after they had gotten home he went to his office and she to her bedroom, both doors locking behind them. Gabriella cringed as she opened the fridge and light filled the room. Double checking the hall she didn't hear anything. He must have been a sleep by now. Her stomach growled again this time louder and the cramp in her side made her wince. Pride came at a heavy cost that was for sure. Bending over she looked down into the fridge for something quick and filling with a frown she let out a sigh, there seemed to almost be nothing to eat.
"So you are hungry?"
The voice made the hairs on her neck stand up and she spun around quickly pulling her robe shut. Gabriella looked at the figure leaning on the kitchen counter. His hair was mused a bit and he was in pajamas which was completely weird to her because she'd only seen him in various suits.
"Sorry for scaring you once again, I promise I'm not doing it on purpose." He said holding out a hand in surrender.
"Its fine," Gabriella let out a sigh, "it's your house."
"Our house?" Troy corrected. "Take advantage of the 'what's yours is mine' dear, we're married remember?"
"I'm alright," Gabriella said closing the fridge and walking around the counter to return to her room. Stomach still grumbling and her sides in pain, she'd give anything for a cheese burger.
"Hold on," Troy stepped out in front of her and held out an arm to block her, "You can hate me but I won't have you going to bed hungry."
Gabriella looked down at his black sweat pants and blue shirt, he looked so normal out of a suit. She thought about it for a moment and then looked back at the fridge, "There really isn't anything to snack on,"
Troy looked around the kitchen and shrugged, "Do you eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?"
"I'm surprised you do." Gabriella said looking at him taken aback by his knowledge of such a sandwich.
"I was a kid once too." Troy said looking at her with a smile.
Gabriella breathing seemed to stop; he was smiling at her, and what a smile it was. She blinked as if maybe it was something of her imagination. He was an attractive man after all and Gabriella wasn't blind she just didn't understand him. One moment he smiled and he was an adoring husband the next he'd snarl and morph into the politician of the wicked west. "I guess so,"
"Also give me a chance to talk to you about the interview." He said walking around her to the cabinets.
"What interview?" Gabriella asked her ears perking up, was she getting her job back?
"Times magazine wants to interview us," Troy said gathering all the items needed for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "They want to know about marriage and how we make it work."
"So what do I have to say," Gabriella asked taking a seat at the counter.
"To be honest I have no clue, I suppose their going to ask about how we fell in love or what it's like being married to a senator." Troy shrugged, "Probably snap a few shots and be on their way."
"You make it sound so easy," Gabriella's stomach began to rumble again and the sharp pain was back making her gasp as she held her side.
"It's as simple as eating when you're hungry," he said beginning to make her sandwich. "Tomorrow you can give a list of the things you eat to Megan; she'll go shopping and get what you need."
"You don't do your own shopping?" Gabriella asked watching as he spread the jam on the bread. No he probably did wonder the aisles of food for less like she did trying to decide on the health choice and reality of her appetite. No he probably never even had to choose between calories and taste or the right kind of shampoo that makes split ends go away.
"No time." He said putting the two slices of bread together and handing the sandwich to her.
Gabriella took the sandwich and wasted no time taking her first two bites. The flavor mixing perfectly, to say it was the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich ever was an understatement. The creamy peanut butter wasn't sticky or thick, and the amount of jelly between the slices was even and slick bringing in that moisturizing taste. How did he do that?
Troy stood there in the dim lighting watching as she devoured her sandwich. He'd never seen anyone so eager about a peanut butter and jelly before, then again Sharpay said that she refused to have lunch earlier that day as well. Her hair was tied back not lose like it was before, when she was in that red dress. Troy began working on a second sandwich, assuming she'd still be hungry. He suddenly found himself thinking about her, wondering about her, wanting to know what she was thinking about as she chewed and stared off into the distance. "So why did you move to Washington?"
"Needed a change," she said quietly then finished her sandwich.
"Change from what?" Troy said handing her the other sandwich.
Gabriella held a hand to it, "I'm okay."
"Eat," Troy said re-extending it her way.
Gabriella mumbled something in spanish that he couldn't hear and she took the sandwich and let out a sigh, "My parents are little controlling, my job was a little boring, I mean, here I am with a college education asking people if they want coffee?"
"So you took a job answering my phones and making me coffee?" Troy asked knowing there was more to that story.
"Maybe I'm running from the law," she shrugged taking a bite of her sandwich.
Troy capped the peanut butter, "I read your background check you don't even have a traffic ticket." Putting things back in place he eyed her as she looked down at the table. "Care to try that again?"
Gabriella leaned back a little, "Why do you care anyway?"
Troy leaned back towards the counter taking in her facial features in the dim light, "You're my wife, dear."
"I wish you'd stop calling me that?" Gabriella said looking at him a little annoyed. "you and I both know I just happened to be the female in the room when you decide to get married to better you campaign."
Troy stood straighter and let out a sigh, "I'm trying to get to know you."
"Well it's a little late for that, most of the getting to know someone is done before the marriage?" Gabriella said placing the other half of her sandwich on the table. "You know what I think?" She said standing up from her seat. "I think you really don't care about me at all. Sharpay takes me out and when your here you stay in your office,"
Troy crossed his arms and watched as she left the room and disappeared into her bedroom in the hall. Troy shoulders fell and he lifted the other half of the sandwich off the table and took a bite himself. He was beginning to think this was an extremely bad idea.
The next day Gabriella sat in the living room drinking coffee and watching as two men hoisted a wedding photo of her and Troy up above the fire place. Gabriella let out a sigh, Sharpay was coming in a little while so they could go to bed bath and beyond together. At least she was making one friend, granted she couldn't be honest or say anything she was really feeling but having someone to talk to was a plus, wasn't it?
Troy came into the living room and Gabriella paused. "What are you doing here?"
Troy lifted his own coffee cup, "I'm on vacation dear, remember?" he said looking up at the picture and the men looking down at them. "How's the redecorating coming along?"
"Fine," Gabriella said giving him the eye. She hated being called dear, she was sick of it. "Just waiting on your sister so we can get started on the bedrooms."
"Well, I called Sharpay, told her I was going to go with you today, there be lots of cameras out there today can't let you face that alone." Troy smiled at her disappointment, even if she didn't like him she was still cute when she was ticked. "Come on, get through this and Times magazine should be a breezes." He said coming up beside her and wrapping an arm around her.
Gabriella rolled her eyes and looked off to the side." Just great, just fabulous," she said lifting her cup to her lips.
Once the men were gone Troy came out of the room and walked over to the guest bedroom that Gabriella was using for a bedroom. "Are you ready to go?"Gabriella step out from the spare bathroom, she was wearing a casual dress. She'd clipped up her hair, more like an adult, someone serious. Oddly enough he didn't like it.
"Is this alright?" she asked ruffling out some of the dress. "You said there would be cameras?"
Troy walked into the room, "You might just want to get rid of this," he said reaching inside her bun for the clip, after a thorough search he pulled the dark crisp waves free. "There, it looks much more causal." He said ruffling it a bit. "We want them to think we were making love all morning don't we?" he smirked.
Gabriella took a deep breath and turned to see herself in the mirror, Sharpay had made her buy many dresses, and to her surprise she hadn't hated all of them. Looking down at her bare feet she wiggled her toes they were still perfect from the wedding. Nothing like how her old feet use to look, looking back in the mirror she looked into the blue eyes watching her examine herself. Her dark curls spread out around her face a slight blush on her cheeks from being watched. She could almost fool herself, make herself believe that instead of reading her book she spent the morning rolling around in his bed. The idea made her blush a little more noticeable.
"Are you ready now?" His voice broke the silence and looked down at her feet.
"I don't know what to do about shoes." She said with a sigh, it was as if he popped her dream balloon. Welcome back Mr. Politician of the wicked west, maybe she should call it Mr. PW for short. A smile tugged at her lips and she giggled.
Troy rolled his eyes and turned to leave the room. "I don't care what you do with your feet put them in something and let's go."
Troy pushed the cart while she walked ahead looking at curtains. Just as he thought there was a camera man at the store snapping random photos of him and Gabriella. He was fine, already use to many years of be followed by men in bushes or finding a photo of him from a window in a tabloid. It didn't faze him; if you had nothing to hide they couldn't get you. However Gabriella, stiff as a door nail, all her movements robotic in some way, she was hiding something. She was Trouble.
Troy smiled politely as he took an opportunity when he was close enough to come up from behind her he wrapped his arms around her pulling her against his chest and holding her there for a moment their backs to the camera man.
Stunted by the sudden touch she remain perfectly still until she felt his lips on her neck. However it wasn't a kiss, "Your stiff, relax, you need to forget he's there."
"How can I all I can hear is his stupid shutter going off whenever I move." She said bringing her arms up to hold on to his forearm and what a forearm it was. He worked out that much she could tell, no one was that lucky.
"When I let go turn around," he said, "And don't nod." He quickly added.
Gabriella caught herself about to nod and stopped. "Okay."
Gabriella turned around as she was told, not exactly sure what was going to happen or what to expect. The moment she was facing him he covered her lips with his own, pulling her into a kiss. Her breath stopped her body froze, and he pulled her closer forcing her lips to part and bringing a hand into her hair. She never been kiss like this before, granted she'd had her share of stolen kisses and make outs under her belt. But this moment, a kiss without promise, a kiss that was for show and dramatic appeal, like a kiss in a movie. Her hands against his chest his arm around her waist, it wasn't real. Was this what actresses felt like?
Troy pulled away slowly and then reached out to touch the curtain behind her. "The guest room should be a neutral color," he said with a shrug.
Gabriella relax a little, the kiss was over. Turning back to see the tan he was touching she looked next to it. "What about this one," she said short of out of breath and touching a green one. Were they going to pretend that didn't happen?
"It's called guacamole?" Troy said with a small frown.
She nodded; couples don't normally discuss kisses after they happen? "But it's neutral and comforting. Green makes you happy." She said looking at the curtain.
Troy shook his head and tucked his hands in his pockets. "Whatever you want I guess?"
He became Mr. PW all over again right before her eyes and she let out sigh as she made selections putting things in the cart. Stopping every so often, leaning on him, holding his arm, all those things you'd expect a good wife to do. Things you expect someone in love to do.