A few weeks later Gabriella was in her bakery going over her logistics of her money income. She was so close to zoning in on someone who was stealing from her. She looked up at Sharpay eating all of her chocolate covered strawberries that she just made. She sighed missing Troy. Troy left town two days after New Years to go back to New York to finish some things in his first office. He was planning on closing out some of business there and to try to make a move to staying in Chicago permanently. It has been two weeks.

"You need to get out of this funk thingie." Sharpay said kicking her shoes off. Gabriella looked up rolling her eyes.

"What did I say about taking your shoes off in the store?" Gabriella snapped looking back down a her expenses. Sharpay squealed devouring another chocolate strawberry when a door opened up. Troy stood there waiting to be greeted but rolled his eyes as he looked over to Gabriella writing down notes in a journal.

"Is that how you treat your customers?" He said making Gabriella drop her pencil.

"TROY!" Gabriella squealed running over and jumping into his arms. He held her. "I missed you." She stared down into his eyes hoping for a kiss.

"I missed you too." He let her down and she frowned.

"I have some work to do though, so I won't be long." She ran back over grabbing her note pad and writing things down.

"Don't worry, I have to drop some things off at home." He said sitting down at the table next to the counter Sharpay was on.

"Sup?" She asked chocolate in her mouth. Troy chuckled.

"Nothing." He said looking at Gabriella. "So there's a movie tomorrow night." He said studying her reaction. She lifted a couple receipts.

"Oh?" She said biting her lip and looking down at her journal erasing a few numbers.

"And I wanted to know if you would like to go?" He offered. Sharpay looked up, chocolate on her lips. Gabriella looked up at him pausing her work.

"Me?" She asked looking a customer walk in. "Hello." So this is it, he's asking her on a date. Sharpay looked from her to him.

"Yeah you." He said strongly. A small smile curled up on her lips.

"I suppose... I have nothing better to do..." She said looking at the customer browsing the menu then back down to her work. He smiled gathering his things about to leave.

"I'll get you around seven." He said backing up. She kept punching numbers into her calculator nodding at him. "It's a date." He said smirking as he opened the door.

She kept typing stuff as she murmured, "It's a date." She stopped and looked up quickly. "Date?" She said smiling wide at him. He smirked at her, leaving her bakery. She looked at Sharpay quickly. Sharpay smiled patting her when Gabriella tensed up.

"So it's official." Gabriella said. "Were not rushing this right? Are we mo-"

"Oh just give him a chance." She spat at her. Gabriella closed her mouth looking at her notepad. She sighed.

"I'm just nervous." She admitted.

"Don't be." Sharpay said kissing her cheek. Gabriella felt disgusted feeling chocolate from her best friends lips on her cheek.

He walked up her apartment stairs passing a mirrored window. He took a few steps back checking his outfit. Underneath his big coat, he was wearing a short-sleeved button up grey shirt with blue jeans and comfy grey converse. He fixed his hair around hearing a giggle to his left. He turned to her.

"Checking ourselves out I see?" She asked him. He melted seeing her with a new hair cut. She had long straight hair with choppy blunt bangs. She was wearing a purple spaghetti strapped dress that rested mid-thigh. He looked at her eyes that popped in the smokey eye makeup. She was putting her jacket on.

"You look beautiful." He said smiling at her winning a blush from her.

"Thank you." She said turning to lock her door. He walked next to her as they left the building. He quickly went to his car, opening the door for her. "You know, you can stop acting like a gentleman for once..." She said smiling at him. "I really don't need you to be one." She said sitting in the seat. He shrugged getting in his car.

"I know. But I have to." He started the car, driving into traffic. "When did you cut your hair?" He asked looking at her. She looked up at her fringe ruffling it.

"This morning! I saw this look on a regular at my shop and I fell in love with it." She turned her body to look at him. "I people watch too much." She giggled. He smiled at her.

"You amaze me." He said as he drove to the AMC on Michigan avenue.

"Glad I do." She said smiling.

After the movie, she found herself in his bedroom wearing nothing but her underwear. She was about to do something she has never done on a first date. She heard the door open behind her.

Troy lifted her off her feet making her laugh hard. He laughed so hard when he threw her into the hot tub. She popped up quickly feeling the warmth around her. She smirked throwing her head back feeling comfortable. After a while she looked up seeing him look at her. Okay so they weren't having sex...yet.

"Yeah?" She asked kicking a foot up out of the water.

"You look so happy." He said. She smirked at him.

"I'm happy." She said softly. "Now get in." She said splashing some water. He took his shirt off, getting in the water. She looked up seeing the stars, then looking back at him. He pulled her on his lap wrapping his arms around her waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck. She shivered a little, making him bring them down to their necks in the water.

"Much better?" He asked she nodded. She looked deep into his eyes. "Gabriella." He said bringing them a little closer. She smiled at him. "I can't get you out of my mind. I think about you all the time." He paused. "When I was in New York, I wish I could have stayed up on the phone with you but I had work...I just. I want you to be my girlfriend." He said looking into her soft brown eyes. She sighed.

"I mean I'm terrible with relationships." She started. "But ever since I met you...I opened up to you in so many ways. I think about you more than anything...I just don't want to lose you or mess it up." She rambled off looking up making him chuckle.

"Gabriella, I'm 28. I think it's time I start settling down sometime..." He said making her look down at him. She smiled.

"You mean...?" She asked feeling him press his lips against her softly.

"Yes." He said mumbling against her lips pressing a more deep kiss. She kissed back, having his hands run up her sides. She turned the kiss into a deep open mouth kiss. He pulled away kissing down her neck, to kiss her chest. She blinked and panicked as he kissed her scar. She pulled away squeezing her eyes shut trying to think about what to say. He looked up.

"What's wrong?" He asked her looking concerned. She thought back to her apartment.

"I think we should just take it easy..." She said frowning. He looked confused.

"You gave me a blow job two weeks ago." He said making her wince.

"RIght, um...I'm on my period." She said getting out of the hot tub. "I just...I'll call you when I get home." She said gathering her things and running into his apartment. She ran into the bathroom taking her underwear off and wrapping in a towel to dry herself off. She heard a knock on the door, it slowly opening with his hand sticking out holding a navy hoodie and his flannel pants. She took it from him. "Thank you." She said to him as he shut the door. She quickly clothed herself, leaving the bathroom seeing him sitting on his bed.

"Can I at least drive you home?" He asked her. She smiled.

"I'd love that." He smiled back at her.

Sorry for the lack of updating but college has seriously taken over my life. It's unfortunate but since I'm home for break, I decided to put this up! Anyways, how are my reviewers doing? Well I hope! Happy Holidays!

xo, Nicole.