Troy smiled at Gabriella, daring her to follow him. She cautiously took his hand and allowed him to lead her upstairs. As they neared the top for the stairs Gabriella slowed down, suddenly nervous at what was bound to happen once she entered Troy's room. He noticed her slowing and moved to beside her, still holding her small hand in his. As they passed Troy's parent's room Gabriella glanced in.

"Where are your parents?" she asked curiously, almost stopping.

"Away." He answered passively, then looked at her and continued. "I think my mum had a conference thing and they went to stay wherever that was for the night. They won't be back until about midday tomorrow." Gabriella nodded and continued walking, her mind racing in confusion as they neared Troy's mercilessly open door.

"Did your parents know that I was coming over?" she asked, automatically choosing to delay rather than face the inevitable.

"Probably, I mean, they must've expected it," Troy said, shrugging the question off as he led Gabriella into his large bedroom.

"Did they know I was going away for the whole holidays tomorrow night?"

"Yeah, I guess." Troy answered, sitting on his bed. Gabriella stayed standing.

"And you never considered that-"

"They just went away so that I could spend tonight with you? Yeah, I did consider that, but I decided that I don't care." Troy interrupted, letting go of Gabriella's hand and leaving her standing in front of him.

"And that doesn't bother you?" she asked, trying to sound understanding.

"It did at first." Troy admitted. "But then I decided that I don't care." Gabriella looked questioningly at him. "I'd prefer if my parents knew, or thought that… we'd… you know…." He looked away, embarrassed and Gabriella couldn't help but smile.

"Is he wildcat superstar… afraid?" she asked in mock confusion. Turning her back to him.

"I'm not…" Troy began, but stopped when he saw Gabriella take her jacket off and turn back to face him. "Yeah, I guess I am." He smiled and stood up from his bed, reaching for Gabriella immediately. She let his hand fall around her waist and kissed him lightly, barely letting her lips brush his. He stayed still as she walked back past him, and stopped behind him, pulling both his hands behind his back.

"What are you-" Troy began, but stopped when Gabriella shushed him quietly. She ran her hands up his back to his shoulders, and slowly pulled his jacket off, lying neatly on the floor nears hers. Then she turned and sat down on his bed, once again nervous and unsure of what to do next.

Troy wheeled around to face Gabriella taking in the sight of her innocently sitting on his bed with some satisfaction and some nervousness; that meant that she was leaving the rest to him. Troy took a deep breath and sat next to her, all too aware of her bare arms against his. Out of instinct Gabriella lay her head on his shoulder, appreciating the soft cotton of his shirt against her cheek. Troy let his head fall on top of hers, letting the moment create itself. The two of them sat together for a while, solely appreciating and acknowledging each other.

Eventually they pulled their heads up, and took to staring lovingly into each others eyes; Gabriella losing herself in Troy's deep blue and Troy seeing a new type of love and a slightly different personality in Gabriella's dark brown. Slowly Troy felt one of his hands creep to Gabriella's soft cheek, caressing them delicately with all of the love and affection he had for her. Gabriella's eyelids fluttered and closed, unable to stay alert from Troy's loving touch. Troy leant forward slowly and his lips brushed Gabriella's, she ignored instinct and kissed him back, trying express all of her love in one single kiss. Troy smiled as he felt Gabriella's effort to sat everything that he already knew. He let the kiss finish and pulled away, opening his eyes.

"You could just tell me," he said, trying hard not to sound too croaky as his emotions altered his voice.

"Tell you what?" Gabriella asked, still confused at more than half of feelings she'd been trying convey.

"I love you." Troy answered, feeling an uncomfortable twitch in his stomach. Gabriella was silent for a second, amazed at how easily Troy had managed to say something that had been in her mind for the last month.

"How can you say that so easily?" Gabriella voiced her thoughts nervously, pulling away from Troy's hand, still cupping her cheek.

"Because I know I do." He answered immediately, placing his other hand on the back of her head to prevent it from escaping.

"But how do you know?" Gabriella sighed, more to herself then to him.

"You just know, you either love someone or you don't, it's simple."

"Not for me."

"That's cause you're a girl." Gabriella raised her eyebrows; half disappointed half relieved as Troy's hand fell from her cheek. "You over-dramatise things. Something as simple as expressing how you feel about someone is so hard to do." Gabriella was silent.

"Do you want me to voice what's on my mind right now?" she asked, looking for the easy way out.

"Yes." Troy answered; if there was anytime when they'd have time to discuss this, it was now.

"Okay, I'm thinking: wow, Troy's skin is really warm; whoa, Troy's biceps are really… existent; oh my goodness, tonight we're probably going to-; Troy has a good point with the over-dramatising thing; Troy's so… hot, why would he go out with a nerd like me; why did Troy take his hand off my face, it was nice; why do I have so much trouble saying I love Troy when…" she paused, and her hand covered her mouth. "I just said it…" she realised in almost horror.

"Well done." Troy said, smiling again contentedly. "It wasn't so hard, was it?" Gabriella shrugged and looked down at her lap, trying to control the blush that creeping into her cheeks.

Troy smiled to himself, beginning to stroke Gabriella' hair when he realised that his hand was still there. He felt whole body relax as he continues stroking, gradually burying his hand deeper and deeper into her thick hair. Soon, his hand bumped her scalp and they both started at the sudden closeness.

"Is this as far as we're going for now?" Troy asked. Gabriella shook her head quickly, trying not to make eye contact. "Are you sure?" Troy asked again, desperately wanting for her to look at him so he could tell what she was really thinking.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Gabriella answered nervously, shivering slightly as she subtly leant away from Troy, unsure of what to do or say. Troy sighed.

"You don't to," he said, standing and walking away from her, facing the open window through which a cool breeze was blowing. "And if you don't, then I don't. Go, I'll see you-"

"Troy!" Gabriella almost yelled in a strangled voice. "I do want to! I just… I just don't know what I'm supposed to do; I don't know how I'll feel or anything… I'm scared." Troy turned, amazed at everything that Gabriella had said.

"I don't know either. All I know is that I love you, isn't that what matters." He said, watching helplessly as tears dropped down her face, each feeling like a dagger in his heart.

"I love you too." Gabriella whispered through her tears, unable to speak any louder. Troy quickly walked over to Gabriella, stopping in front of her. She still sat nervously looking at her knees. Troy thought for a second, then leant down and kissed her, letting his tongue nudge her delicate lips. She pulled back in surprise, but Troy moved with her and continued his soft nudges. Gabriella nervously opened her mouth, and felt her heart beat faster as she felt the eagerness in which her boyfriend's tongue explored her mouth. As quickly as it had started, Troy pulled away and walked back to the window, not sparing a backwards glance at Gabriella, who stayed sitting on the bed, stunned at Troy's sudden forwardness.

After a moment of recovery, Gabriella stood quietly, and moved towards Troy. He felt her approach and moved to make room for her beside him at the window. For a minute, the two of them stood at the window, staring out at the empty basketball court in the quickly dimming backyard. As the last rays of sun were swallowed by the dark horizon, Gabriella reached for Troy's cheek and turned his head to face hers, looking him directly in the eyes. They both smiled as their lips met, neither bothering with nudges as they immediately deepened the kiss.

Troy eagerly turned his body to face hers, and began backing her towards the bed. Gabriella laughed and changed the course of movement, forcing herself into a corner. They continued kissing as Troy pushed his body against hers, running his hands over her hips and waist. Gabriella kept her eyes tight shut, worried that if she opened them her dream would end, while longing running her hands through his soft hair.

Troy lessened the pressure against his girlfriend's body, pulling her back towards his bed carefully. Gabriella felt his action and stayed with him, letting herself be pulled to his bed. She glanced behind her quickly, breaking the kiss for a moment. When she looked back at Troy he was smiling slyly, still massaging her hips. She laughed and stepped forward so she was next to him. His smile faltered as she stepped again to behind him, tugging his shoulder around with her, forcing him to face her, his back to the bed. She smiled playfully and ran her hands up his chest, pushing him back onto the bed. They considered each other for a moment, but almost immediately Troy grabbed Gabriella's hips and pulled her down on top of him. They both laughed as their lips collided together and began kissing again.

After the first bout of kissing had ended, Troy flipped Gabriella over so that he was on top, then they continued their make-out session. Gabriella could feel Troy's eagerness to continue, as well as the normal excitement when things began to get hot between them. She had no control over any part of herself, her hands were roaming all over Troy's body, jumping from his hard chest to his soft hair with every new kiss. Troy let his body follow instinct; his hands slowly crawling up Gabriella's back, nervous to do anything more than caress her smooth, dark skin.

Soon, Gabriella felt that she couldn't resist running her hands under Troy's shirt, and feeling his abs. She quickly ran her hands back down and began pulling at the base of his shirt. Troy broke the kiss for a moment as they both sat up, pulling his shirt off over his head. Gabriella waisted no time in going back to making-out, preferring to act rather than think about what her hormones were making her do.

Less than three minutes later, Troy's hands had reached the appointed location, and after a confirming look, he was allowed to tug her shirt off too. Barley acknowledging that this was only the second time that they'd reached second base, they continued.

Troy's clock struck eleven, chiming quietly on his mantle piece. In unison, the couple stopped making-out, both staring at the small clock as its eleven chimes ended. Troy stood and walked over to his door, closing it quickly. Gabriella sat up, leaning against t bed-head, still only wearing jeans and a black bra. They looked at each other for the longest yet, taking in every (visible) detail of one another. They both wanted to talk, but neither could think of anything to say that wouldn't ruin the moment, so they stayed silent. As the silence stretched on, Gabriella slowly stood, walking over to her boyfriend, still standing motionless by the closed door. She paused for a moment, then leaned against his bare chest, her hands resting around his neck. Troy snaked his arms around her waist, stroking her flawless skin lovingly.

"Gabriella…" he began softly, but she shook her head, brushing her lips over his shoulders. He took a deep breath and let it out, bending to kiss her neck. Gabriella felt a tingling feeling spread through her body from where Troy's lips touched her neck. The backed towards Troy's bed, both squirming under the loose sheets immediately.

Their kissing continued, and slowly more layers of clothes were removed. Gabriella's next clear memory was laying her head of Troy's chest and falling asleep with him stroking her hair. Troy lay awake for longer, watching as Gabriella's breath slowed to a rhythmic, soothing pace, slowly sing him to sleep as well.