So here you are folks, just a little snippet from the near future of our fave couple, then I'm done. A million thank you's to all who have read and reviewed, since this was my first ff, it's meant a lot that people like what I write. It's the very first time; I've shared anything I've written. Anyway enough from me . . . on with the show. Love Tink.xxxx

Gabriella jumped as she heard a rustle from beyond her patio doors, her heart rate increased as she realized what it was. She smiled to herself as something or someone rattled the door handle, trying to get in. Checking her appearance one last time in the mirror, she hurried to the door and pulled it open with a huge smile.

There on the other side hidden behind a large bouquet of red roses stood her boyfriend of eight months, Troy Bolton.

"Bolton, can't you use a door like everyone else?" she giggled as a face appeared over the roses.

"Why when this is so much more fun?" he smiled at her leaning down for her kiss, before he handed her the bouquet.

"Happy birthday beautiful"

Gabriella beamed, blushing as she lifted the roses to her nose "Thank you Troy, so where are you taking me?"

"I thought maybe a little dinner, then a walk, maybe a little studying" he grinned wickedly.

Gabriella slapped his arm "Troy!" she pretended to sound scandalized. Studying was Troy's code word for making out, his second favorite activity

after basket ball.

"Well can you blame me, when I have such a beautiful girlfriend?" he said charmingly, planting a soft kiss on her cheek, then her lips. It was like a match to a flame, what started out as a tender kiss, suddenly changed and became hotter, wetter, deeper. Gabriella pulled away from him

"That's enough lover boy, my mom will be expecting you" she said pushing him in the direction of the balcony edge.

"See you in five" he said with a wink.

Gabriella waited until he had disappeared from view and then took a little box from her bedside table and transferred it to her purse with a smile, imagining the look on Troy's face when she gave it to him.

Seconds later she heard her mom calling and raced down stairs to meet Troy.

They had dinner at Gabriella's favorite restaurant and then drove out to the beach to take a walk.

"Are you ok?" Troy asked as they strolled bare foot along the beach "you're a little quiet"

Gabriella smiled "Yeah, just thinking"

"About?"

"Us, you know how things have changed since we've been together" she said softly "how I've changed"

Troy nodded "but good changes right?"

"Uh huh" she was silent again lost in her thoughts.

Gabriella was no longer the shy, nerd she once had been, she was confident and happy and it was all thanks to Troy. They had been officially together since the night of the Spring Fling, and were still going strong. Some things never changed however, Gabriella was still innocent and Troy was still horny. They snatched time to be alone whenever they could and Troy had introduced Gabriella to parking but he was always careful when they were alone together not to push her for anything. Although the incidents with Cody were in the past, the scars they left behind were not. She sometimes suffered nightmares or flashbacks but Troy was patient with her, told her she was worth waiting for. There were times when she worried Troy would leave her for another girl, someone who could give him what he wanted, but then he would reassure her, tell her it didn't matter to him and she would fall a little further in love.

They walked along the surf, carrying in their shoes when suddenly Troy pulled Gabriella to a stop.

"Turn around" he instructed softly, smiling mysteriously.

Gabriella did as she was told and seconds later she felt the weight of a chain being fastened around her neck. Glancing down she saw she wore a delicate chain and hanging from it a tiny key.

"Happy Birthday Gabriella, that's the key to my heart" he whispered turning her in his arms and looking into her eyes "I love you" he said and Gabriella felt tears begin to form in the corners of her eyes. Although she'd guessed that he cared for her, he'd never actually said the words.

"I Love you too Troy" she whispered through her tears and cupped his face with her hands before kissing him gently, tasting her own tears as they slipped down her cheeks.

"I have a present for you too Troy" she smiled shyly and reached into her bag.

"For me? Brie it's your birthday"

"I know, but I want you to have it" she handed him the box and stared down at her toes.

Troy opened the box slowly and for a second there was a look of confusion on his face, then a slow grin appeared on his face and he lifted her chin to make her look at him.

"Are you sure?" he asked

She nodded shyly "Yeah, I'm sure"

Troy leant towards her and placed a tender kiss on her forehead, before looking back at the box with a wicked smile. There nestled amongst stark white tissue paper, lay one fat perfect cherry.

Yes it's short and no I'm not sure if I like it, but the idea just wouldn't go away, I wanted to show their relationship progressing but without being nasty about it.