A/N: Hey guys! SORRY FOR THE WAIT! :( I really apologize my fault. Got caught up with going back to school and now I'm taking midterms and what not. Seriously it sucks. But I LOVE all your reviews from last chapter all of you readers are amazing. Hope you enjoy this chapter, please REVIEW and tell me what you think. There might be a few spelling errors I tried my best to revise but I might not have seen all of them but just excuse them please. Anyways hope you love it. And there is a cliffhanger so got to wait and see what happens next. Mwahahaha! Love ya - Amber xo

Chapter 11

A couple of days had past since Gabriella agreed on letting Troy stay with her till he was able to get his own place. Gabriella couldn't lie but she was beginning to love waking up and seeing his bronze colored face every morning, especially enjoying the view of his perfectly sculptured body. His presence alone was amazing to have everyday. Everything was turning at well for her, she regain her independence got herself a beautiful house, her career was taking off in a great direction and as for her love life she was beginning to heal. Her heart was coming back together slowly, the pieces were being put in place and patched up, thanks to Troy. Her and Troy were not in a relationship but just the things he would tell her and the little things he did for her were enough for Gabriella to realize that Austin doesn't deserve her shedding tears over him or being depressed because of how bad he hurt her. Austin was worthless to Gabriella, he was simply shitty and Gabriella realized that she was not going to let Austin ruin her point of view on men because Troy on the other hand showed her other wise. Troy showed her that there are worthy men out there, men who would do anything for their women, men who actually love and care for their women, and men who want to spend the rest of their life with just one woman and mean it. Troy made Gabriella feel the unexplainable, he was her reliever of stress, and her cure of pain. He was helping her become the girl she was before she met Austin. The care-free, happy go lucky, loving, and spontaneous female she once was. Troy was reviving Gabriella bringing her back from the dark place she was once at.

Gabriella heard the front door shut knowing exactly who it was entering her house. A smile immediately crossed her pink lips as she waited for him to enter the lounge. She bit her bottom lip in anticipation as she heard his foot steps getting closer and closer. She tried to focus her eyes on the television show she was formerly watching but just knowing her savior was about the enter the same room she was in was overwhelming. Gabriella turned her head to side as she saw the man standing in the doorway. His once colored chestnut shaggy hair was wet and a deep dark brown stuck to head. Beads of sweat trickled down his forhead and those perfect dark brown shaped eyebrows. His lips were tilted upwards in his million dollar smile, making Gabriella's breath hitch. His ocean blue eyes sparkled with delight. His black tanktop stuck to him showing off his perfect broad chest and his pecks. He held an orange ball in his hands. As a chuckle came out those perfect lips.

"You okay?" Troy asked amused.

Gabriella coughed turning her head around quick, hiding her crimsom cheeks. "Mhmm.."

Troy walked over to where she sat taking a seat next to her, placing the basketball down on the floor. "You sure?" He asked still smirking.

She stared intently at the television trying her best not to the glance at him. "Yes. I'm fine."

"Hmm.. then why are your cheeks so red?" His smirked only grew as he asked her the question.

She felt as if her cheeks were flamming hot, she buried her face in her small hands trying to hide away from the handsome man who was teasing her.

Troy chuckled wrapping an arm around her to pull her close to him. "Come here, there's nothing for you to be embarrassed about."

Gabriella still hid her face mumbling. "Whatever."

"It's understandable. I'm hot and you can't help but check me out all the time." Troy chuckled squeezing her sides.

Gabriella lifted her face narrowed her eyes. "Not all the time."

Troy smirked. "Yes all the time.. you practically do me with your eyes."

She gasped smacking Troy playfully on the arm. "That's not true!"

"Yes it is Montez and you know it." He wiggled his eyebrows.

Gabriella giggled leaning her head on his shoulder staring back at the television. "Whatever Bolton, you wish I had eye sex with you."

Troy sighed pulling her body closer. "Yeah I do"

Gabriella giggled. "So how was basketball with your friend?"

Troy laid his head on her own inhaling her scent. "It was good, I need to get my butt back in shape before I know it pre-season will begin."

"Yeah.." she said.

"What's on the agenda today for you Miss Montez?" he asked playing with her soft curls.

"Ummmm... grocery shopping is one cause we hardly have any eggs or drinks. And I don't know what else because I don't have work today." she answered.

"Want me to come grocery shopping with you?" he asked.

Gabriella tilted her head up towards him, locking blue with brown. "That would be nice." she smiled.

Troy chuckled placing a kiss on her forehead. "Alright well let me go shower and then we can go."

Gabriella watched as Troy arose from the couch heading toward the stairs but before he made it the steps he turned his head back towards her, giving her a wink and causing her to giggle. Yep, she was definitly loving it.

"Troy you're making this complicated than what it really is. Do you want it or not?" Gabriella sighed.

Troy stared intently at the bag of chips Gabriella held within her hand, debating in his mind weather he should get it or not. "UGH! I don't know!"

Gabriella shoved the bag of chips back on the shelf. "Fine then were not getting it."

"No no I want it, I've made up my mind!" He spoke sounding as if he was a seven year old kid.

Gabriella narrowed her eyes before grabbing the bag of chips once again and throwing it in the shopping cart. "You will never come food shopping with me ever again."

Troy chuckled pushing the cart down the aisle following her lead. "Why?"

"Because it's either you want it or you don't want it not I don't know for every single thing." Gabriella said.

"Troy?" a voice questioned.

Troy turned his head and froze at the figure behind him.

"Troy...hey.." the female smiled softly.

Troy choked out. "h-hi."

Gabriella turned around once she had heard Troy's name called. She saw how tense and stiff Troy's back was and moved out of his blockage to take in the girl who said his name. Gabriella's chocolate orbs widen as she took in a stunning female. She was slim and tall. Almost about the same height as Troy maybe an inch or so smaller but she was definitely taller than Gabriella. She had the figure of a model, her face was simply flawless. She had the lightest skin that brought out her brunette hair and beautiful blue eyes. She had high cheek bones and nice sized plum lips. Her hair was straight and long falling down her mid back. She was beautiful there was no doubt about that. Every man would dream to have a woman who looked like her on there lap. Gabriella bit her bottom lip feeling a bit insecure at the beauty standing in front of her and Troy.

The female narrowed her eyes slightly as she saw Gabriella came into view, but switched her gaze back to Troy. "What are you doing here?"

Troy cleared his throat before answering. "Food shopping.. with Brie."

"Brie?" The woman raised a thin eyebrow.

Troy quickly turned around looking down at the brunette beauty he adored slipping a hand on her small back. "This is Gabriella... Brie this is Victoria."

Gabriella looked up at Troy now remembering who this girl was. She was his soon to be ex wife. Gabriella looked back at the woman wanting nothing but to tell her how could she be so stupid in letting a man like Troy go, but she held herself and just held out her small hand and a fake smile.

"Nice to meet you." Gabriella spoke softly.

Victoria shook her hand and returned a fake plastered smile. "Like wise."

"So we gotta go... um good seeing you." Troy stated quickly with a wave before turning back to the cart pushing it and pulling Gabriella along. He sighed in relief as they made it quickly out of that aisle without engaging in further conversation with his ex. Troy really did not want to see her, she was a heartless selfish bitch to him. And all he wanted to do was spit in her face for making him ever think she actually loved him. He wasn't ready to see her until their court date.

"You okay?" Gabriella asked softly.

Troy looked down at the raven haired beauty and smiled sincerly before placing a small kiss on her forehead. "Yeah." He was happy to have Gabriella in his life. She helped him, she exactly knew how he felt and comforted him. Even by the way her big beautiful eyes looked at him Troy knew she actually cared for him. And she was there for him.

After the supermarket run in they had with Victoria, they bought a couple of more things they needed for the house before heading back home. Gabriella and Troy began cooking dinner. Troy was chopping up some vegetables while Gabriella began cooking the meat. Gabriella enjoyed how Troy would actually help her do things around the house, like cooking, cleaning, and now he went food shopping with her, even though she rather him not go again but it was nice how he helped her. Austin never did these kind of things with her. Hell he was never home half the time.

"Troy?" She said softly.

"Hmm?" he continued chopping the vegetables.

"Thank you." she smiled at him.

Troy raised an eyebrow looking over at the latina. "For what Brie?"

"For always helping me out... it means a lot Troy." She smiled.

"You shouldn't be thanking me.. I should be thanking you for letting me live in your house." He smiled back.

"Well if you put it that way.. You're welcome." She smirked.

Troy grinned placing down the knife and moving in one swift movement to Gabriella. He placed his large hands on her curvy hips, pulling her against him as he leaned down his head to touch his lips against hers in a soft but sweet kiss.

Gabriella smiled into the kiss before returning it wrapping her thin arms around his neck, pulling her broad body closer to her own. She kissed him back eagerly wanting to taste his sweet mouth she constantly craved. Troy parted his lips feeling her small tongue enter his warm mouth. He stroke his tongue along hers and entered her mouth sweeping every corner in his mouth, wanting to taste all of her.

After a few moments Gabriella pulled away, gasping for oxygen she didn't notice she desperately needed. Her brown eyes gazed up at his and smiled at him wanting nothing more to feel his lips against her own again. And feel those sparks every time he touches her.

"Don't burn the meat." Troy smirked.

Gabriella's eyes widen as she turned back to the meat realizing it was still okay. She turned back to Troy and playfully hit him on his chest. "Stupid!"

"You love this stupid." His kissed her forehead before returning back to his chopping.

Gabriella scoffed turning over the meat.

Suddenly the doorbell rang, Gabriella turned to Troy and sighed. "It might be Shar."

"I'll get it." Troy said before leaving the kitchen and heading to the front door. The door bell rung once more before Troy finally opened it.

Troy froze as he looked at his brother Austin... the last person he really wanted to see.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Austin's green eyes narrowed as he looked at Troy.

Troy saw how his eye had swelled down, his noise had a bandaid over it but moise of his cuts and bruises were fading. "Don't worry." he said sternly.

"Whatever. Where's Gabi?" He asked trying to look in the doorway.

"Why don't you just leave. She doesn't want to see you." Troy said.

"Gabi!" Austin yelled.

"What's going on? - - Austin..?" Gabriella's eyes widen as she walked to the front door.