The next few days went by really fast for Troy and Gabriella. Gabriella had started school and was trying to get used to Stanford and all of her classes. Troy, on the other hand, was busy with classes and trying to get used to his new basketball team. He realized really quickly that college was way different than high school. One day, Troy picked up his phone as he left his basketball practice. He dialed Gabriella's number and waited for her to answer.
"Hi baby" Gabriella said.
"Hey, how's it going over there?" Troy asked.
"Everything is good. It's kind of crazy. My workload is piling up" Gabriella said.
"I'm sure that you will get it all done" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled into the phone.
"How's everything going with your classes?" Gabriella asked.
"Everything's fine. I got all of my work done for the week that way I will have more time to be with you this weekend" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled. She couldn't wait to see her boyfriend in Berkeley.
"I can't wait to see you. How's your roommate?" Gabriella asked.
"He's not Chad. That's for sure. But I like him. He plays soccer" Troy said.
Gabriella giggled.
"What's his name again?" Gabriella asked.
"Luke. Did you go to meet your clubs that you wanted to join?" Troy asked.
"Yeah, meetings start next week" Gabriella said.
"Sounds like you will have a packed schedule" Troy said as he unlocked his dorm room and walked into it.
"Yeah, but it doesn't feel the same as when I had a busy schedule in high school" Gabriella said.
"You just need to get into the groove of everything. Once you do that, I know that you will be okay" Troy said.
"I guess. How was practice today?" Gabriella asked.
"It's getting better" Troy said.
"That's great. Baby, I have to get some work done, but I will call you tonight okay?" Gabriella said.
"Alright. I love you Brie" Troy said.
"I love you too" Gabriella said.
The couple hung up the phone. Gabriella smiled. She sighed and returned to her never ending pile of homework. A couple days later, Gabriella had packed an overnight bag and was ready to drive to Berkeley to go to see Troy. She couldn't even contain her excitement. Gabriella walked out of her dorm and went downstairs to the parking lot and got into her car and started her drive to Berkeley. An hour later, she pulled into Troy's dorm parking lot and parked her car. Gabriella took out her phone and scrolled to her boyfriend's name.
I'm here baby. Where are you?"
Within minutes, Gabriella saw the building door open and Troy walk out to her car. She got out of the car and smiled. Troy wrapped his arms around Gabriella's waist and kissed her neck softly. Gabriella moved Troy's head so he was looking directly at her and leaned in and kissed his lips softly.
"I missed you" Troy said.
"I missed you too" Gabriella said.
The couple pulled away and entwined their fingers. Troy led Gabriella to his dorm building and the couple walked in and went upstairs. Once they reached Troy's dorm, Troy unlocked the door and the couple walked in. Troy's roommate, Luke was sitting on the couch and looked up and smiled.
"So this is Gabriella that I have heard so much about" Luke said.
"Hi Luke. I've heard a lot about you too" Gabriella said.
"We are going to go into my room" Troy said.
"Alright" Luke said.
Troy took Gabriella's hand and the couple walked into Troy's room. Troy shut the door and looked at Gabriella.
"I love you" Troy said.
"I love you too baby" Gabriella said.
"So, this is it" Troy said putting his arm out, showing Gabriella his room.
"It's nice. It's a lot smaller than mine though" Gabriella said.
"Yeah, but I can deal with it" Troy said sitting on his bed.
"Did you finish all of your work for next week?" Gabriella asked.
Troy looked down at the ground. Gabriella knew that when Troy did that, he hadn't done his work.
"Troy" Gabriella said.
"I was almost done" Troy said.
Gabriella sighed.
"Troy this is college. You have to be more responsible-" Gabriella started but then was interrupted.
"Babe, I have been working on it. I just like to space it out. I'm sorry that I'm not a student who studies day and night like you do" Troy said.
Gabriella just looked at her boyfriend.
"You know what, I'm going home" Gabriella said walking toward the door.
Troy then realized what he had said.
"Gabs, I didn't mean it like that" Troy said.
"Then what did you mean? I work hard for my grades and make time to study. I could be studying right now, but I'm here with you because I wanted to see my boyfriend who I have been crying over every single night about because I missed him so freaking much" Gabriella said as tears started to fill her eyes.
Troy knew how much education meant to Gabriella and he knew that she had every right to be upset with him. Looking at his hurting girlfriend, he realized that he needed to work harder on his classes.
"Brie" Troy said breathlessly.
Gabriella shook her head and wiped the tears that were running down her cheeks. She walked out of Troy's bedroom and left his dorm. Gabriella walked out of Troy's building and went to her car and drove home. That night, Troy had called Gabriella at least thirty times and each time the phone went straight to voicemail. Troy sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. The next morning, Troy was in bed sleeping. He didn't hear his door open. Gabriella walked into Troy's room quietly and got into bed and snuggled into his side. Troy woke up instantly and saw Gabriella lying next to him.
"I'm sorry about yesterday. I overreacted and the things that I said were really hurtful and I knew it" Gabriella said.
"No, I'm sorry. I need to do what I came to college to do, which is study. I'm sorry for the things I said to you. It was wrong and out of line" Troy said.
Gabriella leaned in and kissed Troy's lips softly.
"I love you" Gabriella said.
"I love you too sweetheart. I hate fighting with you" Troy said.
"I don't like it either" Gabriella said.
Troy sighed. He looked at Gabriella.
"Our first fight in college" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded and kissed Troy's chest.
"But we got through it" Gabriella said.
"Yeah. It's only the first week of school and we are already fighting" Troy said.
"We just need to figure things out together" Gabriella said.
"And not blame the other for something" Troy added.
Gabriella nodded.
"I have a team dinner tonight. Do you want to go? You don't have to" Troy said.
"I'll go. I want to meet your new team. But, can you finish your homework before we go, please?" Gabriella asked.
"I'll see what I can do" Troy said kissing Gabriella's forehead.
A couple hours later, Troy closed his book and sighed. He had finished his homework and now he could relax and enjoy the rest of the weekend with Gabriella, who was taking a nap. He got up from his desk and went over to his bed and climbed onto it and allowed Gabriella to snuggle into his chest. She slowly opened her eyes.
"I just finished" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled.
"Thank you baby" Gabriella said.
"No problem. We have to start getting ready to go" Troy said.
"Alright" Gabriella said.
The couple got off the bed and got dressed for Troy's team dinner. They walked out of Troy's dorm and went to the car and started driving to the restaurant.
"Are you busy all of next week?" Troy asked.
"I have a few club meetings but other than that, nothing is going on. Why?" Gabriella asked.
"Just wondering" Troy said.
"Do you have plans?" Gabriella asked.
"No, I just wanted to know what your schedule was going to be like" Troy said.
The couple arrived at the restaurant and walked in. Troy introduced Gabriella to the team and they all ate dinner together. That night, Troy and Gabriella were laying in bed. Gabriella was going to go back to Stanford the next day.
"Troy?" Gabriella asked.
"Hmm?" Troy asked.
"Would you want kids?" Gabriella asked.
Troy looked over at Gabriella. He turned over so he was laying on his stomach.
"We haven't talked about our future that far down the line before. What brought that on?" Troy asked.
"I just was thinking about how you said you wanted to marry me and I thought about what married life would be like with you and the possibility of having kids. It was a stupid question-" Gabriella started.
Troy kissed Gabriella's lips softly. He pulled back and put his hand on Gabriella's cheek.
"No question that you have is ever stupid. I think that I would want kids. But we both have to make the decision" Troy said.
"How many?" Gabriella asked.
Troy smiled.
"Why are you so interested about this? Are you pregnant?" Troy asked.
"No! God, no. I'm not pregnant. Not yet at least. I just want to know" Gabriella said.
"We have years to think about getting married and having kids" Troy said.
"Yeah, do you think about our future together?" Gabriella asked.
Troy nodded.
"All the time. I think about how I have never loved someone as much as I love you and that I want to be with you forever" Troy said lying back down.
Gabriella smiled. She snuggled into her boyfriend's chest.
"I want to be with you forever too" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled.
"Then let's do that" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"I don't want to leave tomorrow" Gabriella said.
"I know. But, you have to go back to school" Troy said.
"When is your first break?" Gabriella asked.
"The end of September. So in like two weeks" Troy said.
"Mine is too" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled.
"Do you want to go home for break?" Troy asked.
Gabriella nodded against Troy's chest.
"I want to see my family and friends and spend time with you" Gabriella said entwining their fingers together.
Troy kissed Gabriella's cheek softly.
"Then we will go home for break" Troy said.
Gabriella kissed Troy's lips softly.
"Okay" Gabriella said.
"Get some sleep okay? You have a long drive tomorrow" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"I love you Troy" Gabriella said.
"I love you too Brie" Troy said.
The couple fell asleep. The next morning, Gabriella drove back to Stanford. The couple had promised each other that they would call their friends and let them know that they were coming home for break. Two weeks later, Troy was driving to Stanford to pick up Gabriella and they would fly back to Albuquerque together. His phone rang and the familiar tune made him smile.
"Hey, I'm almost there okay?" Troy said.
"Okay, wildcat. How far away are you?" Gabriella asked.
"Maybe like thirty minutes. Fifteen if I speed" Troy said.
"Troy! You better not be speeding" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled and laughed.
"I was only kidding" Troy said.
"Ha ha. You are so funny" Gabriella said.
"You know that you secretly loved it" Troy said.
"Maybe" Gabriella said.
"I'll text you when I get to your dorm okay?" Troy said.
"Alright. I love you. Be careful please and no speeding Troy" Gabriella warned.
"Okay mom. I love you too" Troy joked.
The couple hung up. A half hour later, as estimated, Troy arrived at Gabriella's dorm. He picked up his phone and called his anxious girlfriend.
"Are you here?" Gabriella answered.
"Yeah, do you need any help with your bags?" Troy asked.
"Yes please" Gabriella said.
"Okay, I'm coming" Troy said.
The couple hung up. Troy got out of his truck and walked to the entrance of Gabriella's building. Someone was going into the building and held the door open for him to enter. Troy quickly walked up to Gabriella's floor and went to her room number. He knocked on the front door. A few moments later, Gabriella opened the door. She dropped her bags on the floor and wrapped her arms around Troy's neck and kissed him sweetly.
"Hi" Gabriella said.
"Hi, how are you doing?" Troy asked wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Good. How are you?" Gabriella asked.
"Perfect now. How many bags do you have?" Troy asked.
"Just two" Gabriella said looking at her bags that were on the floor.
"Okay, let's get out of here" Troy said picking up her bags.
Gabriella went to Sarah's room and said goodbye to her roommate. She then walked back to where Troy was waiting for her.
"You ready?" Troy asked.
"Yeah, let's go" Gabriella said.
The couple left Gabriella's dorm and walked downstairs to the car. Troy put his girlfriend's luggage into the bed of his truck and closed it. Gabriella had already gotten into the car. Troy walked to the driver's side and got into the car.
"Are you excited to be going home?" Troy asked.
"Yeah. I talked to Taylor and she said that she is off for a week too" Gabriella said.
"Chad said the same" Troy said as he pulled out of the parking lot.
"Are we going to stay at our houses while we are home or are we going to go back and forth from yours to mine?" Gabriella asked.
Troy's eyes widened and a smile crept onto his face.
"Are you talking about moving in together?" Troy asked.
"Yes and no" Gabriella said.
Troy looked at Gabriella.
"Explain" Troy urged.
"I mean since we already spend weekends with each other, doesn't it make sense that we move in together?" Gabriella asked.
"Yeah, but what happens when we have to go back to school?" Troy asked.
"We could leave stuff at our homes with our families and take everything that we absolutely need with us wherever we stay" Gabriella said.
"Let's talk more about this whole moving situation when we get home. I think that we need to really discuss this together and I don't think we should discuss it when I'm driving" Troy said.
"Okay, but you do want to right?" Gabriella asked.
Troy smiled.
"Of course I do. You know that I do. But are we ready for that step?" Troy asked.
"I think we are. But, let's talk about it when we get home" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded. Troy pulled into the parking lot of the airport. The couple got out and pulled out their luggage. They entered the airport and got checked in and waited for their flight. Once they got into the plane and in their seats, Gabriella leaned her head against Troy's shoulder. Troy entwined their fingers together.
"Sleepy Brie?" Troy asked.
Gabriella nodded and inhaled Troy's cologne. She smiled.
"Can we just stay like this the whole week?" Gabriella asked.
Troy smiled.
"There's no where I would rather be" Troy said kissing Gabriella's temple.
The plane took off and two hours later arrived in Albuquerque. The couple got off the plane and sighed when they walked into the airport of their hometown.
"We're home" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. She leaned in and kissed Troy's lips. Troy kissed her back and pulled back slowly.
"Let's get our bags. Mom is probably wondering where we are" Troy said.
"Yeah, come on" Gabriella said.
The couple walked hand in hand to baggage claim and collected their luggage. Once they walked out of baggage claim, Gabriella stopped when she saw her mother, who she hadn't seen for six weeks. She dropped her bags and ran into her mother's arms. Maria, engulfed her daughter into a hug and kissed her cheek. Gabriella pulled away, tears running down her cheeks. She looked at Troy and smiled.
"I missed you so much Gabi" Maria said.
"I missed you too" Gabriella said wiping her tears away.
"Hi Troy" Maria said hugging her "son".
"Hi Maria" Troy said.
"Let's go home. Troy, I invited your family over for dinner and they are at the house waiting for you" Maria said.
Troy smiled.
"Oh thank you Maria" Troy said.
The three adults walked out of the airport and to Maria's car. Troy loaded his and Gabriella's luggage into the trunk and closed it. They all got into the car and started driving to Gabriella's house. Once they arrived, they walked into the house. Lucille Bolton was already out of the house and hugging Troy as soon as she saw him.
"Welcome home" Lucille said.
"I missed you mama" Troy said hugging his mother.
Troy shook his father's hand. The two families walked into the house and sat down in the living room.
"How was your flight?" Lucille asked.
"Uneventful. It was a smooth ride" Troy said as he sat down next to Gabriella.
Gabriella put her hand on Troy's leg. Troy looked down and then up at Gabriella and smiled. The two families ate dinner together and slowly dispersed, leaving the couple in Gabriella's room.
"Can we continue our discussion about moving in together?" Gabriella asked as she snuggled into her bed.
"Okay, where do you want to start?" Troy asked.
"Are we really ready for that step?" Gabriella asked.
"I think we are. Do you think we are?" Troy asked.
"I think so. I mean we are already spending weekends with each other. It's only a matter of time that one of us is going to end up commuting to the other's school" Gabriella said.
"I don't want to pressure you into doing something that you don't want to do" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled. She loved when Troy put her feelings before his own. Gabriella took his hand in hers.
"You aren't pressuring me to do anything. I want to move in with you. But is the timing right?" Gabriella asked.
"Don't we have three months to decide if we want to stay in our dorms or not?" Troy asked.
"Yeah" Gabriella said.
"Then in three months or sooner why don't we get an apartment somewhere in between Berkeley and Stanford?" Troy asked.
"What about when we come back home? Are we going to live together?" Gabriella asked.
"I think we should consider this apartment as our dorm and then when we go home, we sleep at our own homes and occasionally stay over at one another's" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"Can we talk to our parents about it first?" Gabriella asked.
"Of course" Troy said.
"Do you think they are going to approve?" Gabriella asked.
"I think they will. They know how hard it is for us to be away from each other" Troy said.
"I'm sure my mom is going to think we are having sex and that being the reason why we are going to move in together" Gabriella said.
"We need to explain the whole story to them. It kills me when I have to stay goodbye to you when I leave or you leave to go back to school. If we lived together, we wouldn't have to ever say goodbye" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"Let's talk to our parents about it and see what they think" Gabriella said.
"Okay" Troy said.
There was a knock on the door.
"Gabi? Are you awake?" Maria asked through the door.
"I think that is my cue to leave" Troy said.
"No, wait a second" Gabriella said looking at him.
Gabriella got out of bed and opened the door.
"What's up mom?" Gabriella asked.
"Is Troy here? I thought I heard his voice" Maria said.
Gabriella smiled.
"Yeah, he's here" Gabriella said.
"Troy, you couldn't stay away for a day" Maria joked.
Troy laughed.
"No, I can't stay away knowing that she is a block away" Troy said.
Maria giggled.
"I just wanted to say that I'm going to bed" Maria said.
"Okay mom. Good night" Gabriella said hugging her mother.
"Good night, Ms. Montez" Troy said.
"Troy-" Maria started.
Troy smiled.
"Good night, Maria. Sorry it's a habit" Troy said.
"Good night guys" Maria said.
Maria closed the door. Gabriella walked back to her spot in her bed and got under the covers.
"Stay here tonight?" Gabriella asked.
Troy's phone went off.
"If it's Chad, I'll kill him" Troy said.
Gabriella giggled. Troy looked at his phone and saw his mother calling. He picked it up and talked to his mother for five minutes and then hung up and looked at Gabriella.
"She wanted to know where I was. But back to your question. Are you okay with me staying over at your mom's house?" Troy asked.
Gabriella nodded.
"We aren't going to do anything" Gabriella said.
"You don't know that" Troy said.
Gabriella's face turned a shade of pink. Troy smiled.
"So? What is the decision?" Troy asked.
"Stay here" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded. He took off his shirt, which revealed his toned abs. Troy then took off his pants, leaving him in only his boxers. Gabriella lifted the covers so Troy could get under them. Troy went over to the edge of Gabriella's bed and got in. Gabriella immediately snuggled into Troy's chest and sighed contently.
"Better?" Troy asked.
Gabriella smiled.
"It feels like home" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled. He leaned in and kissed Gabriella's lips softly but passionately. Gabriella kissed him and back and put her hand on Troy's face. She pulled back and leaned her forehead against his.
"Home, is wherever you are. I know that sounds cheesy but it is. I love you Gabriella" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled.
"I love you too Troy" Gabriella said.
The couple fell asleep in each other's arms. They couldn't wait to see what their future held.