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"So what are you and Troy doing tonight to celebrate Valentine's Day, Gabriella? And you and Chad, Taylor?" asked Kelsi as she joined Taylor and Gabriella, who were sitting down in the library preparing for the day's tutoring session.
"Well, since it is a Wednesday night, Chad and I are just going to go to a dinner, I think. Nothing too special with school tomorrow and then our red eye tomorrow night. I still can't believe we're actually going this weekend!" exclaimed Taylor.
Gabriella nodded her head. "I know, seems like only yesterday we were even thinking of what schools to apply to. Hopefully, these campus visits and interviews will help us decide. And as for tonight, Kelsi, I honestly don't know what Troy has planned. He wouldn't tell me much. What about you and Jason?"
"Jason and I decided since it was a school night to go to an early dinner and watch a movie at my house. Simple, but we're at least spending time together. Speaking of, I better go get that book I came in here for. Enjoy your night!" said Kelsi before she got up in hunt for the book.
"So you really don't know what Troy has up his sleeve, huh?" asked Taylor.
"Nope, he wouldn't tell me," replied Gabriella. "Probably doesn't help either that we are trying to work through our little spat from last week."
"I've been meaning to ask you about that. How's the recovery going?" questioned Taylor. "It looks like you guys are pretty normal again."
"We are for the most part, but there are certain moments where it gets a bit tense again. I don't know, Taylor. It's like we both had a valid point but still, it sucks to be hurt like that," stated Gabriella. "Like if Sharpay could go away and transfer to another school, I think I would have a better time coping, especially after that look she gave me last Wednesday after that little stunt of hers. I just, I really, really don't trust that girl."
Taylor nodded her head in agreement. "As you shouldn't. We've seen what she can do and she has made it clear she intends to do it again. I know after your confrontation with her at Winter Ball Chad promised you we would help you with her and I am renewing that promise. We aren't going to let her get away with this again, not this time."
Gabriella smiled gratefully at Taylor. "The only way we can prevent what we don't know about is to keep our eyes open but even then, it may be too late. And here's my quandary, I know that Sharpay is determined to make Troy hers again for the sake of the chase and making sure I am not happy with him, but it still doesn't make it any easier for me to accept the fact that he falls for her traps."
"Like you still get hurt at the idea that he would kiss her back or touch her in anyway after her prompting? I don't blame you, Gabriella, not one bit," replied Taylor. "If it were Chad she was going after, which I can safely say it never will be, but if it were, I would feel the same way. I know what you are saying though. I trust Chad as much as you trust Troy, but if Sharpay was involved and I caught him doing something he shouldn't be, I'd be just as hurt, even knowing it was her doing. It takes two in every situation unless he's being held up at knifepoint in my opinion."
"Well I'm glad I'm not going crazy then," returned Gabriella. "But I really hope this all doesn't come down to that. I really don't want that and I realize I can't keep thinking this way. It'll drive me crazy."
"Exactly, so push it aside for right now, enjoy your afternoon and evening with Troy and let it be for now. She's not going to do something today, I overheard Tara and Joanna talking about some date she has with some college guy, another victim no doubt," stated Taylor. "Remember, live for the moment today, not tomorrow."
Gabriella smiled at their shared phrase. "All right, agreed. Don't forget to pack tonight for the trip! My mom is psyched to be going back to New England for a little extended weekend."
"It should be a good trip. Are you sure you want to come with me to Dartmouth though, Gabriella? That's like a two and half hour drive from Boston," commented Taylor.
"Don't be silly. I'd love to see a potential school that my best friend may be going to. Besides, you're going with me to Harvard on Saturday before MIT. It's only fair," replied Gabriella.
Taylor reached over and hugged Gabriella. "God, I don't know what I'm going to do without you if it comes down to it."
Gabriella hugged her back and smiled as she pulled away. "Don't think that way. We still have common schools, maybe we will. Come on, enough future talking here! I think your student is waiting anyway."
Taylor looked over and saw Gabriella was right. "I guess I better go then. If not tonight, I'll talk to you tomorrow, k?"
Gabriella nodded and opened her notebook to start writing notes from today's Anatomy class but stopped as soon as her first student showed up late. She greeted the young freshman and started to go through her first real research paper and the process it involved.
Gabriella had just finished getting ready when she heard the doorbell ring. Troy had dropped her off at home an hour ago to get ready for their mystery date and all Gabriella knew was that it was semi-fancy. "Mom, can you get that please?"
"Sure, hun," called back Ms. Montez from downstairs. She smiled when she opened the door to find a dressed up Troy in a nice pair of black pants, white shirt, and red tie. "Hello, Troy."
"Hi, Ms. Montez," greeted Troy. "Is Gabriella ready?"
"Umm, I think she's close if not. Come on in, I don't want you freezing outside in the meantime," invited Ms. Montez.
"Thanks," he said as he stepped through the doorway and stood in the entryway. "So you are going to Boston with Taylor and Gabriella this weekend?"
Ms. Montez nodded. "I'm going to go visit a friend at some point while we're there, but this trip is more about the girls. You must be going on your own campus visits."
"I am, but not until after State Championships if we make it that far. Dad doesn't want me distracted by the trips," revealed Troy.
Ms. Montez was about to say something when she spotted Gabriella making her way down in a simple spaghetti strapped dress that fell mid-thigh. Troy spotted her too and felt his throat tighten at the sight of his simply dressed but beautiful girlfriend. "You look gorgeous," uttered Troy, which made Gabriella smile as she finished walking down the stairs.
"Thanks," she replied as she kissed him lightly.
Troy brought out the dozen red roses he had in his hands behind his back and presented them to Gabriella. "I didn't want to give you them at school since they'd mostly die that long out of water but these are for you. I love you, Gabriella."
Gabriella smiled back at him and accepted the bouquet. "I love you too, Troy," she returned and found she meant every word.
Ms. Montez stepped up to the couple and held out her hands. "Gabriella, why don't you give me those? I'll put them in a nice vase in your room next to the yellow ones that are blooming so nicely."
Gabriella nodded her head and handed them over. "Thanks, Mom," she said before she kissed her cheek.
Troy and Gabriella soon left the Montez house and got into Troy's truck. He started driving on the highway and pulled off at an exit shortly after they left the city limits of Albuquerque. Gabriella watched the scenery and smiled as Troy pulled up to a little restaurant that was a little separated from the town it was in. Troy got out of the truck and ran over to help Gabriella out but never let go of her hand as they entered the restaurant. "Reservation for two for Troy," told Troy to the host.
The gentleman smiled at the couple before he walked them to the back of the restaurant and had them sit down at a small table for two that was dressed up nicely with nice white linens and two burning tall candles in the middle.
After they ordered their drinks from the waiter, both Gabriella and Troy started to look over the menus. "This is an interesting restaurant," commented Gabriella as she saw the food offerings. "Greek and Italian in one place?"
"Yup, I thought it would be an interesting place to try and the reviews online weren't lying, this is a really romantic set up," stated Troy, which made Gabriella giggle. "What?"
"You found this place on the internet? That's so cute!" replied Gabriella with a smile.
Troy just grinned at his girlfriend and made sure he memorized that look on her face just then. 'This is the Gabriella I want to always remember, smiling and giggling, not the heartbroken one from last week.'
After they finished the chocolate gelato they shared for dessert, Troy paid the bill and escorted Gabriella back out. "I know it is a school night and all, but since it's Valentine's Day, would you allow me to take you for a short drive?" asked Troy as he helped Gabriella back into the truck.
"Sure," replied Gabriella with a smile. "I can do with some more romance tonight. It'll have to last me a long weekend, after all."
Troy grinned at her before he shut the door and then got into the truck to drive to the spot his dad told him about late last week when he went to him for advice about the date and Gabriella. Troy drove out a distance away from the two to where it was just the road, nature, and the two of them in the truck. Once he pulled off at the destination, Troy got out again and helped Gabriella out.
"Troy, it's so dark," whispered Gabriella as she held onto his hand tightly.
"That's the point," replied Troy. "Why are you whispering?"
"I don't know, just seemed appropriate at the time," stated Gabriella with a laugh. Her eyes were adjusting to the darkness but she still gripped Troy's hand in fear of falling.
Troy felt out the truck's lift gate handle and pulled on it to open it. He reached in with his right hand and grabbed one of the blankets he had put in the truck's bed earlier in the day. "I know you're scared of the dark right now, Gabriella, but I need both hands. Can you let go for a few seconds?"
He heard her laugh a little before she said, "Yes, I think I can."
Troy smiled to himself as he got up on the truck and spread the blanket out and put two pillows on it. He went back to the edge and got down and found Gabriella's waist. "Ready for a lift?"
"Yes," she replied as she felt herself lifted onto the back of the truck. She scooted back and smiled as she felt the softness of the blanket. Gabriella felt the truck shift as Troy got up as well and then moved towards the back of the bed of the truck as he settled down.
"Come here," invited Troy as he grabbed her right hand and gently guided her back to him.
They both laid down on the blanket that was laid out, their heads on the pillows, as Troy shook out the second blanket he brought and put it over the both of them. They laid like that for a while, staring up at the clear sky with the twinkling stars while Gabriella enjoyed the feeling of being in Troy's embrace once again.
"What are you thinking?" asked Gabriella as she spotted what she thought was the North Star.
"How wonderful it is to be here with you like this tonight," answered Troy. "And how very much you mean to me. I know we hit a problem last week and I don't know if you'll believe me now, but I want you to know that there is no one else in this world that I would rather be with than you, Gabriella. You've stolen my heart from almost that fateful day at the ski lodge and never gave it back."
Gabriella shifted so that she was now on her side. She couldn't see his face but she saw the outline of him. "Just as you have stolen mine," admitted Gabriella. "And my heart has taken over tonight instead of my mind and it believes you, Troy. It desperately believes in our love and is hopeful for the future."
Troy felt his heart soar at these words and reached over to pull Gabriella closer to him. She nestled her head in between his shoulder and his chin, her favorite spot, as they continued to watch the stars shine. He ran his hand down her spine and back up, which caused Gabriella's body to shiver in a good way. Both gasped though as they saw a single shooting star streak across the sky, easily outdoing the other stars up there.
"Wow, that was beautiful," commented Gabriella.
"You know what they say about two people who share a shooting star, right?" asked Troy.
"No, what?" questioned a curious Gabriella.
"The couple that views a shooting star like that, and that one," said Troy as another shooting star cross the sky, "are meant to spend the rest of their lives happily together forever."
Gabriella giggled at this. "You are so making that up!"
Troy shook his head. "I'm not, honestly. My mom told me that story when I was little. And even if it isn't true, that's what I am hoping for us, that we will be together for the rest of our lives, Gabriella. You truly make me a better man by just being here with me, understanding me like no one else can. I love you."
"I love you too," murmured Gabriella before she leaned down and kissed Troy softly on the lips, or as close as she could get without seeing him.
Troy shifted so that he was kissing her back on the lips and smiled as she ventured to kiss him on his cheeks, his forehead, and his neck. He returned the favor as he gently pushed Gabriella back onto her back before he covered her body with his. Troy slipped his hand down after a while and slowly inched it up Gabriella's thigh, under her dress. Before he got too far, Gabriella reached down and placed her hand on top of his. "I'm not ready, Troy," said Gabriella, her nervousness and fear evident in her voice.
Troy took a deep breath and another before he finally nodded his head and withdrew his hand. "I'm not going to force you, Gabriella."
"I know but I'm just scared you're going to be disappointed. Is this why you brought me out here tonight, Troy?" asked Gabriella.
"No, I just wanted a romantic night for us, away from all possible distractions. If you aren't ready, I can try to understand," replied Troy.
Gabriella could tell that Troy was trying his hardest to harness the lust and passion he felt at that moment. "Thank you," she said. "Troy, I may not be ready now but I will be in the future, eventually. It's just, I want to make sure our first time is special and that both of us want it, not just me giving into you because I think I'll lose you, which is a feeling I'm battling right now."
Troy leaned his forehead against hers before he replied, "You shouldn't feel that way, Gabriella. I'm not going to leave you just because we aren't having sex tonight or whenever I feel the urge and you aren't ready. That's not what love is about."
"I agree but I guess it is a deep fear of mine that one day you might. I just, I want it to be special, Troy, and I want us both to want it just as much. Right now, as special as tonight is, it's just not the right time for me, not yet. I hope you understand," explained Gabriella.
After a moment, Troy let out a deep breath and said, "I'm trying to understand and I can say that my heart does already. It's the rest of me that's trying to come to terms with it." Troy rolled off of Gabriella and laid on his back, staring up into the dark sky. He felt Gabriella shift as she sat up, still tucked away under the blanket.
"You're angry, aren't you?" asked Gabriella.
"No, not angry. Just frustrated a little but, Gabriella, you must know that I would never force you into anything you don't want to do, honestly. I love you too much for that," answered Troy.
Gabriella allowed Troy to pull her back down to him so she was resting her head on his chest. "I love you too, Troy," she murmured as she closed her eyes to listen to his heartbeat.
"Do you hear that heart beat so quickly, Gabriella? It's for you, every single beat is for you. When you are ready, we'll cross that bridge together, but until then, I just want to hold you for a little bit," stated Troy as he kissed her forehead.
"I'd like that," whispered Gabriella as she snuggled back into his embrace.
Eventually, Gabriella and Troy started to kiss again, but Troy didn't push it further than that. Instead, they alternated sharing kisses and just holding each other until Troy felt Gabriella relax into him completely. He looked at his watch and was able to see the hands a little bit by the light of the moon and sighed, it was 10 PM already. Troy gently got up from under Gabriella's sleeping form and scooted towards the end of the truck's bed. He gathered Gabriella up in his arms with the blanket still around her and carried her off the bed of the truck to the cab where he put her in and buckled her.
Troy drove all the way home while Gabriella slept against his shoulder with his right arm around her. He smiled despite his still raging frustration inside himself over wanting to be closer to Gabriella than anyone else but knew deep down that holding off until she was ready was the right thing to do. Troy took his eyes off the road for a moment to study her peaceful face. 'No, I wouldn't force her or do anything that would change the way she looks at me now, the way she trusts me. Nothing in the world would be worth seeing that pain on her face again and the love in her eyes gone forever.'