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On Friday, Troy was sitting back on those same bleachers to support his two friends as they played an actual game, this time with Jason and Zeke by his side. The three boys continually commented on how they thought the game was going as the innings progressed, none of them surprised that the Wildcats didn't have to play the second half of the seventh inning since they were up by five runs.
"If anyone had told me last year that Ryan was so athletic, I would have laughed in their face," commented Jason as Ryan and Chad met with their team and coaches in their dug out. "I mean, he really can play baseball and basketball well."
"Yeah, I think it's a pity we found out this summer and this year how good he was," added Zeke. "We could have used him on our teams earlier."
"Well we didn't suck without him either, but Ryan was definitely a welcomed addition this year especially, both him and Charles," replied Troy. "Maybe the baseball team will do just as well this year as we did championship wise."
"Could be, never know," returned Zeke.
Chad and Ryan emerged from the dugout and waved to the guys, indicating that they were going to go get changed in the locker rooms in the gym. The three got up and followed sometime after and lounged in the familiar gym, waiting for the two to finish.
After ten more minutes, Ryan and Chad both emerged with grins on their faces. "Ready to get this party started?" exclaimed Chad.
"A whole night without the girls? God, we haven't done this in ages," remarked Jason.
"Well that's my every Friday night but hey, I'm not complaining," returned Zeke with a smile. "What did you four bachelors for the night want to do?"
"Definitely food," replied Chad.
"And that doesn't surprise me why?" joked Ryan. "How about we start off the night at the pizza place, the really good one on 8th street?"
"I knew I liked you for a reason, Evans. Let's go!" chimed in Jason.
The five guys piled into Chad's car since it had the most space for all of them and started the drive to the pizza place. Knowing he had some time, Troy pulled out his phone and texted Gabriella:
Hey, what are you up to?
A few seconds later he got a text back:
Bored, sitting at home on a Friday night, wonder why. ;)
Troy chuckled and sent a text back:
Well, I miss you and love you.
Jason caught onto what Troy was doing though and grabbed his phone out of his hands right after Troy sent the last message. "Hey! No contact with the girls, remember? Tonight is all about us!"
Chad turned his head from looking at the road to Troy, who was sitting in the middle seat in the back. "Dude, you just talked to her a couple of hours ago! This is what I mean when I called you whipped!"
Troy just rolled his eyes, trying to reach for the phone as he heard the alert that meant he got a text. Jason wouldn't give it up though but decided to read it out loud. "I miss you too and love you more. Have fun with the boys!"
Zeke and Jason promptly started kissing sounds, which earned them both smacks on the arms from Troy, an easy thing to do as they were on his right and left. "All right, enough. Can I have my phone back now?"
"No texting or calling her, promise?" said Jason.
"All right, promise," muttered Troy, who took the phone back and slipped it in his pocket, smiling as he saw Ryan shoot him a sympathetic look from the passenger seat up front.
Gabriella had just tucked herself under a nice fleece blanket on the couch in front of her TV after a filling dinner when her cell phone rang on the coffee table. She reached over, knowing it wasn't Troy from the ring tone, and picked it up, seeing it was Rob.
"Hey Rob, how are you?" she greeted.
"I'm good, bored on a Friday night. The cool crowd of West High is having this party and I really don't know if I want to go. We had such a good conversation on Wednesday night, I was hoping that you and I could maybe hang out tonight. It's comforting getting to know someone else who is going to the same college as I am before all the chaos of being in a new state and school happens. Are you by chance free or do you have plans with your boyfriend?"
Gabriella thought for a moment before she agreed. "No, he's out on a guys' night or something like that. If you can give me twenty minutes, I can get ready. Do you mind picking me up? I don't drive."
Rob chuckled. "Yet something else to learn about you. Sure, I think I remember how to get to your house. So twenty minutes?"
"I'll be ready."
After she hung up the phone, Gabriella scooted off the couch and ran up to her room to get changed. She threw on a pair of jeans and a floral top then ran to the bathroom to fix her hair and apply lip gloss. Gabriella had just finished clipping some of her hair back when she heard the doorbell ring.
Gabriella grabbed her purse and ran down the stairs, smiling as she saw Rob on the other side of the door. "Hi! Give me one second, I just need to put on some shoes."
Rob nodded and waited until Gabriella appeared again and stepped outside to lock the door. "Ready?" he asked.
She nodded her head and followed him to his BMW, smiling at him gratefully when he opened and closed the door for her. When Rob slid inside and started the engine, Gabriella asked, "So, where are we going?"
"Well, I was thinking that we could go to this billiards lounge that I know. They have great smoothies and other drinks as well as finger foods if we get hungry later. The prices aren't too bad either," suggested Rob.
Gabriella nodded her head in agreement. "Sounds good to me."
"Excellent, let's get going then!"
An hour after they arrived, Gabriella and Rob were finally given a billiards table in the corner of the lounge after having to wait. Both didn't mind though as they were able to get to know each other even more while they sipped on their smoothies. Gabriella grabbed her strawberry smoothie and Rob's tangerine and blueberry smoothie while Rob grabbed the tray of billiard balls from the registration/cashier desk. She set the drinks down on the small table while she searched for a cue stick that was shorter than the rest.
Once the table was set up, Rob did the same while Gabriella eyed the table. 'Wait until he figures out I suck at this. His impression of me is so going down the drain, but Rob does seem like a nice guy. Maybe he won't laugh too hard.'
Rob returned a short while after and motioned to the table with his arm. "After you, mademoiselle."
Gabriella chewed a little on the corner of her bottom lip before she got off the chair she was sitting on. "Umm, maybe you should break."
"Do I detect something that Ms. Gabriella Montez is actually not good at?" teased Rob.
She blushed, hating he pegged her already. "I'm not good at a lot of things, this being one of them. But if you insist, I'll try, but no laughing if I scratch."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
Gabriella eyed Rob for a few moments before she shook her head. "You are such a guy."
With that, Gabriella lined herself up to the table and the cue ball and took her best shot, resulting in the cue ball bouncing off the table and into Rob's fast hand, which prevented it from hitting him where it would have hurt for a few days. Gabriella flushed with embarrassment and quickly said, "Sorry! I totally warned you!"
Rob just shook his head. "Scratching is one thing but completely causing the ball to jump off the table all together? That's a whole different story. I can't believe a girl who got into MIT on a scholarship can't be good at a game where math is the key, the angles and everything. We've got to fix this now before we get to college!"
Gabriella found herself able to laugh at his joke, feeling rather comfortable with her first college friend. From their previous talks at the MIT events and even from their talk so far tonight, Gabriella knew Rob was a good guy who shared a lot of things in common with her. 'At least I know he won't ever call me the freaky math girl.'
Rob walked over and placed the cue ball back on the table. "All right, I'm giving you a second shot at this because I really don't want to believe you suck this badly, and, I'm going to help you."
"By closing your eyes and letting me swat a few of the billiard balls into the pockets?"
He chuckled but shook his head. "No, I'm going to show you how to properly line up and follow through." Rob grabbed his cue stick and lined up next to Gabriella, showing her the motions, which she imitated as she watched him. "Good, now let's try it with the real cue ball instead of this imaginary one."
Eyeing the cue ball, the white glossy ball that reflected the lights from above, Gabriella lined herself up like Rob showed her and tried to hold the cue stick the proper way. Seeing that she was uncomfortable, Rob stood beside her and helped place her hands in the right position, the left on the green felt of the table with the stick resting between two of her fingers, and then her right hand actually holding the stick between the middle and end. Gabriella, feeling better with this, looked over and smiled at Rob. "Thanks."
"Don't thank me yet, you still have to make one successful shot."
Gabriella rolled her eyes but turned her attention back onto the table. After a deep breath, she pulled back the stick and made her shot, cheering as she managed to get a solid ball into the right corner pocket. "I DID IT!" she exclaimed, jumping with a smile on her face.
"Yeah, you did, but you also managed to lose the game. You just sank in the eight ball," returned Rob with a smile, trying very hard not to laugh at her disappointed look. "But, since I'm a nice guy, we'll try that again and I'll ignore I beat you at a billiards game without even trying."
Rob and Gabriella together racked up the balls and set the cue ball back down on the opposite end of the table. "This time, you are going first, mister."
He laughed and nodded his head. "Figured so. Watch and learn," joked Rob as he lined up and took his shot, knocking two striped balls in and scattering the rest.
"You so weren't joking," murmured Gabriella as she surveyed the table.
Rob chuckled at this and said, "Don't you know? Guys never joke about their favorite sports ever, and this is one of mine."
"Should have known," returned Gabriella with a smile. "Should have known…"
After all five guys pigged out on pizza, they headed over to a billiards lounge that Ryan knew about to continue their bonding. Chad, Zeke, Jason, and Ryan walked ahead of Troy as they arrived at the place. Ryan went up to the desk and put their name on the waiting list, reporting a wait time of forty minutes to an hour.
"Worth the wait for you guys?" asked Ryan.
"Fine by me. I have nowhere else to go," returned Chad. "You guys?"
Zeke, Jason, and Troy all agreed to wait it out and sat down on a few couches and chairs in the middle of the room that had just been vacated while Ryan and Chad ran to get drinks. The guys started talking about sports, of course, but eventually moved onto getting Zeke a girlfriend.
"Hey now, just because I'm the only single guy here does not mean I have to have a girlfriend right now. Maybe I don't want the commitment that I'll have to break when fall rolls around," defended Zeke.
"That is a good point, but we're talking about at least looking around this room," replied Chad. "There are a number of girls here to at least look at and maybe date if you don't want to get involved in a relationship."
"Besides, who said the girl you choose would want to date you anyway?" teased Jason.
Ryan just shook his head. "Guys, be easy on the guy. He's just waiting for the right one, no problem with that."
"Sure, Evans, whatever you say," replied Jason. "But, I still think we should scope out the room."
"Umm, we all have girlfriends," returned Ryan. "Why would we do that?"
"For fun," said Chad with a grin. "Check out that hottie two tables down. She's with four of her friends it looks like."
The guys turned their attention over to the table Chad had spotted and all had to agree he had a good pick there. Troy started looking at everyone in the lounge, getting a good view from the taller stool he sat on. His gaze froze though as his eyes landed on his girlfriend with another guy's hands on her as he showed her how to properly play. Troy felt his heart speed up while his stomach twisted into knots, watching as Gabriella made the shot and looked excited one moment and then pouted the next. 'What is going on? I thought she was home and now she's here with Rob?'
Chad saw how pale Troy had gotten and stood up to look at what Troy was staring at. It was then that he understood as he watched Gabriella and some guy laugh while racking up the balls on the table. "Troy, it's probably nothing. Didn't you say they were friends?"
"Yeah, they are, but she also told me she was staying home tonight. There's something going on and I'm going to find out what it is," murmured Troy as he got off his stool.
Ryan jumped up from the couch and stood next to Chad, blocking Troy's path. "Troy, come on, think about what you are about to do. You and I both know Gabriella, she's probably just being her friendly self and getting to know someone she'll be going to college with, nothing more."
"Then why did she lie? Huh? If you have the answer, then I'll happily stay where I am," replied Troy, finally looking away from the two in the corner and at his two friends who stood in front of them.
When neither Chad nor Ryan said anything in the next few seconds, Troy walked right around them and approached the table where Gabriella and Rob were playing just as Rob finished taking his third shot.
Gabriella's face brightened as she saw Troy approaching. "Troy!" she greeted as she scooted off the chair and walked over to her boyfriend. Gabriella hugged him but felt how tense his body was so she pulled back, seeing the upset look on his face. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? Gabriella, you tell me you are staying in for the night at home and then I find you here at a pool hall? Why'd you lie about coming here with that guy?" demanded Troy.
"Hey Troy, I'm not one for interrupting, but I did call Gabriella to hang out rather late in the evening, after dinner. Don't be upset at her for a lie she didn't commit," stated Rob. "And we're just playing a friendly game of billiards, no harm."
Troy dragged his gaze from his concerned girlfriend to the guy he knew two days ago was going to interfere with their relationship. "Rob, is it? Mind your own business!"
"TROY!" scolded Gabriella. "What is wrong with you?"
"What is wrong with me? I found you here with some strange guy I don't know when I thought you'd be at home. He had his hands on you!"
"He was helping me learn how to handle the cue stick better. You did much more than that this past summer when you were supposedly teaching Sharpay how to golf! I never once said anything about that because at the time I believed it was just that, helping her, which is what this is with Rob tonight!"
"Don't you dare bring up this past summer. It's not the same, Gabriella, and you know it!"
Gabriella blinked back some tears and shook her head. "You're right. I'm actually not cheating on you with Rob and I don't have any intentions to either. You, on the other hand, well this summer you didn't cheat, but you moved on awfully fast, choosing Sharpay and her world over us, over our friends. Yes Troy, you are right. This isn't like this past summer, not one bit."
"God, Gabriella! You are never going to get over any of the past are you?"
"I thought I was but if you can't get past it yourself, how am I supposed to?"
Troy watched as Gabriella ran through the crowds of people and out the door, Rob following her and catching up with her outside of the door. Troy's body trembled as the anger quickly left his body, misery and heartache taking its place as he watched Gabriella cry into Rob's shoulder. Soon, Ryan was also out there, taking Gabriella into his arms from Rob as he whispered something into her ear and continued to stroke her hair in an attempt to soothe her. 'Just perfect, her ex-boyfriend and possible new boyfriend on the horizon outside with her together. What have I done this time?'
Seeing that one of Gabriella's friends was now comforting her, Rob returned back into the billiards lounge and walked over to the table they had been playing at. He eyed Gabriella's boyfriend and just shook his head when he just received a glare from him. "Don't be giving me any of your looks, Troy. You are the one that screwed up here."
"Actually, I beg to differ. Gabriella and I were fine until you came into the picture," bit out Troy as he watched Rob start placing the billiard balls back onto the tray. "Are you really one of those guys that gets off on taking another guy's girl when he isn't looking? Is that the draw here for you?"
When Rob finished putting all the billiards balls back together on the tray, he placed the chalk in the middle and finally looked back at Troy. "The draw for me here, Troy, is a friendly girl who has a nice personality and is obviously intelligent. Gabriella is going to go very far in life and will be successful at MIT, I know this already, but I didn't bring her out here tonight to try to take her away from you if that's what you are thinking. Honestly, right now I'd say Gabriella is a friend and just that."
"Only because you know she has a boyfriend," murmured Troy.
"Actually, no. I hate to break it to you, but if I really wanted Gabriella's affection, just like any other guy here, a boyfriend wouldn't have stood in my way. However, I'm not interested in her because I just got out of my own relationship with a girl I thought I'd be with forever. We just broke up two weeks ago in the face of this long distance relationship change and we knew it wouldn't work for us. I'm not on the market for a girl, Troy, just a friend."
Troy eyed Rob and recognized the West High guy was being honest with him. "Then why were you checking her out the other night?"
Rob flushed a little but said, "I'm guilty of admiring Gabriella's beauty, I admit that, but I haven't done anything that would tamper with your relationship. She's told me about her hopes of you two trying to work out the long distance thing and I honestly can say that I admire that, but if you are going to make it, you are going to have to learn to trust her. Gabriella, from the little I know of her already, is an amazing girl, Troy. She wouldn't do you wrong like that but it sounds like you may have done it to her."
Troy just shook his head at this. "You don't know what you're talking about and I really don't want to talk to you about this."
"That's fine, but I would suggest you talk to your girl out there before permanent damage is done," replied Rob as he took out the receipt for the table and went over to the desk to turn in the table.
Deep in his heart, Troy knew that Rob was right, right on a lot of accounts. Troy looked out the windows again and saw that Ryan still had Gabriella in his arms, rocking her back and forth as she appeared to continue to cry. He took in a deep breath and let it out, focusing on making it out there and pleading with Gabriella to forgive him for his jealousy. As he opened the door, Ryan spotted Troy and gave him a look that made Troy think twice about approaching them. 'But if I don't talk to her now, this could get a lot worse tomorrow morning,' thought Troy as he decided then to step up to the plate and talk to her tonight.
He cleared his throat, which had constricted on his way out of the lounge, and approached the two, Ryan's eyes flashing a warning at him. "Gabriella, can I talk to you alone? I want to talk to you about what just happened."
"I think you've said enough," mumbled Gabriella, not even turning her head to look at him.
"Come on, Gabriella. We agreed not even a few weeks ago to always talk out our problems when bumps like this happen. Remember? We talked about how essential it was for us to be together to be able to communicate and trust," responded Troy in the softest voice he could manage.
Gabriella turned her head so that she was finally staring back at him, pain and heartache evident in her eyes. "Then maybe you should know right now that I don't know if I want to be with you anymore and it seems like you don't trust me."
Nothing else she could have said would have ripped Troy's heart apart any more than those words. He literally felt his chest start to hurt, wondering silently if maybe he was having a heart attack instead of just heartache.
"Gabriella, maybe you should talk to him," whispered Ryan, as he slowly unwrapped Gabriella from his arms.
"But Ryan…" she started.
"I'll be right inside the door. If you don't want to anymore, just come get me and we'll hire a cab home or something, okay?"
Gabriella nodded her head slightly and turned to watch Ryan go back into the lounge, leaving her to face someone she wondered if she could ever truly be happy with again. She avoided his cobalt blue eyes for as long as she could, knowing that the emotions probably evident in that gaze would be her undoing.
"Did you really mean that?" asked Troy finally, breaking the silence. "Did you mean it when you said you didn't know if you wanted us to be together anymore?"
"Yes," whispered Gabriella in response, still avoiding his gaze.
Troy could feel the tears choking his throat and tried to clear them away. "Why?"
"Because, no matter what we do, Troy, something always happens to tear us apart. First it was Sharpay, then college, and now Rob? I'm starting to wonder if we're fighting so hard for nothing at all."
"How can you say that though, Gabriella? Aren't you happy when we are together?"
"I have been but if you can't trust me or are constantly defensive about the past, how are we going to make this work, Troy?"
"Look, I know I jumped the gun back there about Rob…"
"No, you didn't jump the gun, you practically steamrolled over the idea that we could just be friends and went after the thought that I was cheating on you. How could you even think that after everything we have done to build us back up, after all the bonding we have done since the accident?"
"I have no true answer for that but that I was admittedly jealous at the sight of you two together."
"Then you don't have any faith in me."
Troy stared at Gabriella as she finally stared back into his own eyes, seeing the anger and confusion among other emotions she was feeling. "Look, it's clear that neither of us is willing to really talk this out right now. Can we maybe talk this weekend?"
"It's finals week, I'm studying all weekend," responded Gabriella.
"Okay, what about we talk before studying together on Monday? We already planned that earlier on this past week."
Gabriella sighed before she nodded her head. "Fine."
Both stared at each other, unwilling to let it end this way but neither knowing the right words to fix everything. Without touching, the two walked back into the lounge and found Chad, Jason, Zeke, and Ryan who were sitting where they had been before the whole incident. Ryan threw a questioning look towards Gabriella, who mouthed that she was all right. Their attention was drawn though to Rob and what looked like some guys from West High's basketball team, judging from their letterman jackets and their familiarity to the East High guys. They were standing only a few feet away and looked to be in a discussion of sorts, Rob being the minority.
"So, you actually are dating East High's basketball god's girl, huh? Didn't think you had it in you, man," commented the tallest of the four guys, the captain of the West High basketball team. "Is she good in bed?"
"Mike, you've got it all wrong. Gabriella is just my friend, we're going to MIT together," answered Rob, hating his friend at the moment for saying that.
"But you plan on tapping that right?" asked the red headed guy. "That will be sweet victory for West, living through you buddy."
"Yeah, she looks like that easy, sultry type of girl. We should take pictures and send it to her ex. It'll rip his heart out," stated Mike.
"Enough! All of you listen to me right now. She's with Troy, and she'll stay that way as far as I can tell. Gabriella is a good girl. Leave her alone and if you respect our friendship, you'll drop this right now."
"But Rob, come on man, obviously the chick digs you. You should take advantage of that and hurt East High's star at the same time," returned Mike.
Troy felt his fists clench at the words he was hearing and moved towards the group before he even realized what he was doing. "Look, Mike is it? If you've got a problem with me, deal with me. Don't start bashing in my girlfriend or your friend because of it."
He felt Chad's, Jason's, and Zeke's presence right behind him, somehow feeling better that they were there with him for this.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't East High's finest. Must suck to know our boy Rob here got your girl, Bolton," said Mike rather nastily. "From what he has indicated, she's a fine piece to taste."
Troy shot a look at Rob, who shook his head, denying it, before he looked back at the tall guy in front of him. "Leave him and Gabriella out of this. If it's me you want, you've got me, but I don't want you laying into my girlfriend simply because she's with me. Gabriella doesn't deserve the slander you've just spit out about her. She's none of those things, and I for one should know."
"So, the rumors are true, you still haven't lost your precious virginity together, huh?" teased the red head. "Pity that. Maybe I can fix that for her."
"GUYS! Knock it off!" exclaimed Rob, seeing that Gabriella was listening to every word that was going on with her blonde friend's arm supporting her. "Mike and Gerald, just leave. You are my buddies, but I haven't the faintest clue what has gotten into you guys tonight."
"Maybe it's seeing that Bolton has a soft spot we can exploit and that we could take one last shot at him before graduation, payback for all the humiliation he and his boys have brought West High," replied the red head, Gerald.
"Actually, if it is the humiliation aspect you are addressing, you best look at yourselves first. We never cheated out on that court, just played our hearts out. However, if taking one last shot at me is what you want, take your shot at me," stated Troy. "Just leave Gabriella alone."
"Aww, isn't that sweet? Bolton's defending his lady love," taunted Mike. "Well I think that is just so noble but I don't think it's going to save him from what's coming."
Chad saw that look in the head captain's eyes before Mike swung at Troy and connected his fist with Troy's stomach. Troy doubled over in pain but got in one big swing at Mike's face, feeling pain shoot through his hand and arm as he connected with Mike's nose and mouth, which immediately started to bleed. Rob and Gerald quickly pulled Mike back as Chad and Jason did the same with Troy, who was still clutching his midsection.
The group of guys were now starting to draw attention from everyone in the lounge and Rob spotted some bouncers coming their way. "All right, now that you macho guys have had at it, it's time to go." Seeing the determined look on Mike's face to go after Troy one last time, Rob put some more steel into his voice. "NOW MIKE!"
Mike looked over at his friend and saw the anger there that was unusual for his rather level headed friend. "All right."
Mike, Gerald, and their friends headed out the door, leaving Rob behind with the East High guys. "I'm sorry," stated Rob, looking at Troy and his friends and then at Gabriella. "Gabriella, do you need me to take you home?"
Gabriella stared at Rob, then at Troy, who was also now looking at her. She returned her gaze back to Rob and shook her head. "I'm going to stay here. Thanks though, Rob."
"Sure," answered Rob, feeling bad that he had placed his new friend in this situation. "I'll call you tomorrow, all right?"
She nodded her head in agreement and watched as he left the lounge before she turned her attention back to Troy, who was currently wincing as he gingerly touched his abdominal section where he had gotten punched. Gabriella walked over to him slowly, and gently placed her hand over his on his midsection, making him look up into her brown eyes that shined with care and love again.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
"I've been better," returned Troy.
"You didn't have to fight with that other basketball captain, you know."
"I did though. He was defaming you when you didn't deserve it just to egg me on. If anything, that captain should have been going after me, not you. I'm the flawed one here."
Gabriella gave him a small smile before she kissed him on the lips softly. "You're not flawed, you're just human. I still don't like how jealousy ruled you a little while ago, but I know that you did it out of love, which still doesn't make it right, but seeing you stick up for me, it kind of reminded me of that."
"Gabriella, I'll always love you, no matter what happens, no matter where we are."
She closed her eyes as she enjoyed the sensations that warmed her body at his words. When Gabriella opened them again, she stared back into those loving blue eyes of his. "I love you too, Troy. Come on, we better get you home before you cause more trouble."
Zeke smirked at this and patted Troy's shoulder. "She's right. Besides, I'm guessing your hand right now could do with a nice ice pack. That was a nice punch you threw."
"Especially when you were already in pain," added Jason. "That guy had it coming."
"I couldn't have done it better myself to defend Gab," commented Chad. "Are we all going to fit in my car?"
Ryan eyed the guys and realized that there was one too many. "Gabriella can sit up front with me, she's not that big or anything or I can take a cab home."
"No, she'll sit back with me, granted I can sit on the side instead of the middle this time. It'll be easier to disguise her in the backseat anyway," said Troy.
"You just want her on your lap," teased Zeke, which earned a blush from both Troy and Gabriella.
Jason, Chad, and Ryan chuckled at this as they headed on out. Once they settled into Chad's car, Gabriella securely wrapped in Troy's arms on his lap, they took off for Chad's place where Zeke, Jason, and Ryan promptly left in their cars. Troy and Gabriella came into his house though so that Troy could put some ice on his hand while Gabriella held an ice pack to his stomach. Chad sat with them and kept them company as the ice started to numb Troy's pain.
"So, I guess you are finally a real knight in shining armor saving his princess, huh?" teased Chad.
Troy groaned at the joke. "I guess," he replied. "I just think of myself as a proud boyfriend who wouldn't let some jerks ruin his girl's rep just out of hurt pride."
"And I thank you for that," said Gabriella. "And I do love you for it but I'd rather you not get involved in those type of fights, Troy. You could have been seriously hurt. Nothing is worth that."
"You are worth it though, and so much more," returned Troy while he heard Chad making gagging noises. "All right, Danforth, if you can't stand it, leave us alone!"
"Don't have to, my house," replied Chad with a grin.
"He does have a point, Troy," commented Gabriella with a smile. "Look, I have to get home because of curfew but I want to make sure you're all right."
Troy nodded his head. "I'll be fine. Some more time with these ice packs and I'll be as good as new, or at least able to drive home and then do it again there, hopefully without my parents seeing. Last thing I need is for Dad to find out I met knuckles with West High's captain."
"All right," replied Gabriella as she stood up. "We'll talk on Monday though, as we promised. We still have a lot to talk about but with finals, I don't think either of us really needs to worry about it. Just some things we still need to discuss."
"Agreed. Can I get a good-bye kiss for your hero?"
"Oh, you want me to kiss Chad?" teased Gabriella, laughing as Troy looked angry at the words. She slowly bent down and kissed Troy gently on the lips, smiling as she saw that goofy look on his face. "Good night, Troy. Night Chad!"
"Night Gab," returned Chad as he got up and walked her out the door. "Are you sure you don't want a ride?"
"Nah, it's only a few blocks and I'm going to call your girlfriend right now and talk to her all the way so I have company. Take care of him for me, will you?"
"Always," replied Chad before he shut the door after hearing Gabriella greet Taylor on her cell.