Summary: Can a pizza and movie lead to a question that leaves Gabriella breathless? Written in response to ZA Angels write-off challenge.

Disclaimer: I in no way, shape or form own HSM or any related characters but we can all dream, cant we??

Breathless

It had been just over a month since the day the students of East High had named “the triple win”. Troy and Gabriella were two weeks into rehearsals for Twinkle Towne and thoroughly enjoying spending time together.

Friday afternoon had been a particularly gruelling rehearsal where Ms Darbus had insisted that the pair perform the same routine over and over until she deemed it to be perfectly wonderful.

“Perfect, just wonderful at last. That will do for today people, next rehearsal will be on Monday immediately after school. Go now and enjoy your weekend but remember practice makes perfect” and with that being said Ms Darbus gathered her belongings and left the auditorium.

As the numerous other members of the Twinkle Towne cast and crew were collecting their possessions Troy and Gabriella looked at each other relief crossing both their faces.

“Thank god that’s over” Troy said rolling his shoulders and sheen of sweat glistening on his face, his light brown hair matted against his forehead.

“Yeah, I know” Gabriella smiled back at him bring her left hand up to rub a tense spot on her right shoulder “I didn’t think she was ever going to let us go tonight”.

“Well she did eventually, thankfully and no more rehearsal until Monday. So Miss Montez what are you planning on doing with you Twinkle Towne free weekend?” he asked silently praying that the answer would be nothing as he was hoping that they could get together at some point.

“Nothing really.” A slow smile stretched across Troy’s face as he heard the answer he had hoped for. “Taylor is coming over tomorrow to catch up with some studying for the next decathlon but she has a date with Chad later so will probably be away by about four. Then I plan to relax and watch some movies. What about you Mr Bolton?” Gabriella asked while silently praying that maybe he wanted to do something with her.

“Basketball practice with my dad and the guys and then I was hoping that maybe…..” “come, man do it just ask her” he thought to himself “….maybe you would like to come over for pizza and a movie?” Troy managed to just about stutter out the last of the sentence.

“Yeah that would be nice” Gabriella replied with a wide smile.

“Cool, come over for about 6” Troy said flashing the smile that made most girls at East High go weak at the knees and Gabriella was not exception.

Gabriella and Taylor were sat at the table in Gabriella’s kitchen on Saturday afternoon, open books completely covering the surface in front of them. The actual studying had long been forgotten as the two were in deep conversation.

“He invited you over!” Taylor exclaimed after Gabriella had told her about what had happened after rehearsal the day before.

“Yes, but we’re just friends Tay, its not like we haven’t watched movies together before” Gabriella protested.

“Come on, its been twice and all of us have been there, tonight it going to be just you and him” Taylor retorted knowing that Gabriella had been desperately hoping that Troy would ask her out.

“Just friends” Gabriella stated again.

“But you want more and so does he. You have to be blind not to see the way that boy looks at you!”

“Tay. Stop. Troy and I are just friends. I’m not going to pretend that when he tried to kiss me after the Championship game, I had hoped it would lead to something but Chad interrupted and ……. I don’t know….. I think Troy just wants to be friends, nothing more.”

“Pfft, nothing more ….. Yeah OK then” Taylor said with a sarcastic tone, then added “I think that maybe tonight is the night”

“Nope, I don’t think so” Gabriella replied shaking her head “Its been over a month Tay and Troy hasn’t done anything to say he wants to be more than friends, tonight is going to be no different”

“Just keep an open mind” Taylor pleaded.

Troy and Chad were in the locker room at East High, basketball practice had finished thirty minutes earlier, the team were slowly filtered out biding their “see later man” and “goodbyes”. Chad noticed that Troy seemed to be a little on edge, something was bothering him but being a guy he just shrugged it off. If Troy wanted him to know he would tell him.

“Gabriella’s coming over tonight” Troy announced breaking the silence while staring inside his locker trying to find a clean shirt.

“Dude, aren’t your parents away tonight?” Chad said pulling on his sneakers.

“Yeah, got the house to myself” echoed Troy’s voice from inside his locker.

“That’s whats bothering you,” Chad chuckled “your nervous, you gonna ask her?” turning round to look at the back of Troy‘s head, suddenly everything was falling into place.

“Ask her what?” Troy replied pulling out a semi-clean, extremely crushed wildcats t-shirt and pulling it over his head.

“You know what I’m talking about”

“I know and yes I am, but you have to promise me something” Troy said looking at Chad seriously.

“About time man, seriously and what?”

“Do not under any circumstances tell Taylor what I’m planning on asking and do not call me tonight, I don’t want you interrupting again. OK?”

“Cant promise anything, Captain” Chad replied with a devious smirk.

“CHAD!” Troy exclaimed a look of horror coming across his face at the thought of Chad interrupting again.

“OK, OK, I promise” laughing at the look on Troy’s face.

“Thanks man” Troy managed to relax a bit now that he had managed to get Chad to promise not to interrupt.

Gabriella was standing in front of her closet wrapped in a towel fresh from the shower, mulling over what to wear. Now before Taylor had put ideas into her head Gabriella was quite content to stroll over to Troy’s in the her usual comfy jeans, baggy hooded sweatshirt and flip flops just as she had when the gang had previously met up for movie nights, but Taylor was right about one thing, as she pointed out this would be first time her and Troy would be together alone, so she wanted to put in a bit of effort just in case Taylor was right and tonight maybe would be the night.

Eventually deciding on grey skinny jeans and a simple loose fitting, low neck black top and black ballet flats. She left her hair down and naturally curled before adding lip gloss. Glancing at the clock and giving herself one last check in the mirror she left for Troy’s.

Troy was nervous, so nervous that he had actually tidied his bedroom to keep his mind occupied while he waited for the minutes to slowly tick past. He was pacing back and forth across the now clutter free floor of his room mentally trying to prepare how he wanted to ask her. A knock on his bedroom door roused him from his thoughts.

“Yeah” he called while coming to a stop in front on his window.

“Hey so…” Jack Bolton was stunned into silence. He hadn’t seen his son’s bedroom this tidy since he had finished redecorating it a year and a half earlier. The place was spotless “wow….what’s the occasion?”

“Hmm…. What I just felt like tidying. Got fed up with the mess, you know” Troy said shrugging his shoulders trying to sound convincing.

“Mmm.. OK” Jack answered not quite believing the words coming from his sons mouth. “Anyway just popped in to say that your mom and I are leaving. We will be back by lunchtime tomorrow and there is money in the usual place for take out”

“OK Dad, have fun and I’ll see you both tomorrow”

“See ya tomorrow son, and oh you know the rules”

“I know, now go before mom decides the try on another outfit and your stuck here for another hour.” Troy laughed as Jack Bolton nodded his head and closed the bedroom door behind him.

Once Troy heard the front door click shut he turned to look in his closet to change from his sweat pants and wildcat t-shirt into loose fitting jeans and a white and dark blue striped polo. He had just finished trying to tame his hair, thinking that maybe it was about time for a haircut when he heard the doorbell.

Troy let out a long slow breath “well here goes nothing” he said to himself as he walked towards the front door.

A while later an empty pizza box and two glasses of soda were lying on the coffee table in front of couch were Troy and Gabriella were sat close together watching Pirates of the Caribbean, just over halfway through the movie Troy felt something fall against his shoulder. He looked down to see that Gabriella had fallen asleep. Troy smiled to himself lifting his right arm he gently draped it over her shoulders and felt her snuggle in closer. Troy felt sparks of electricity run through him as Gabriella buried herself into his side. Troy complete forgot about watching the movie playing on the TV as he became utterly engrossed in the sleeping beauty cuddled into him and as he absently rubbed his hand up and down her bare arm loving the feel of her soft skin against his hand occasionally running his fingers through the strands of her silky soft hair that were lying across his stomach.

Just as the movie was coming to an end Gabriella slowly started to come to. She felt warm, comfortable and safe, when she awoke a bit more she realised that she was snuggled into Troy’s chest and that he had his arm wrapped around her. Gently she pulled herself upright. Troy shifted slightly to help her but never removed his arm from around her.

“Sorry” she said quietly a pink ting coming to her cheeks.

“No problem” Troy whispered back. His bright blue eyes locking with Gabriella’s deep brown orbs. Troy quickly looked from her eyes to her lips then back to her eyes and noticed that Gabriella was doing the same thing. Slowly they began to move towards each other, their lips meeting in a soft and gentle kiss. Gabriella’s stomach was full of butterflies, as they pulled apart briefly to look at each other, coming together again almost straight away, this time the kiss was just as soft but with more pressure. Troy was loving the feeling of Gabriella’s soft smooth lips gliding against his own. Gabriella felt Troy run his tongue along her bottom lip and opened her mouth to allow his tongue entrance. As their tongues caressed and explored the other mouth, Troy moved his one of his hands to rest on Gabriella’s cheek and the other on her waist, while her hands were round his neck playing softly with his hair. They parted as the need for oxygen overcame them.

Gabriella could believe this was happening, she was nervous, she was excited. She had waited nearly two months for that kiss.

After a minute Troy spoke while looking into her eyes “Gabriella, would you like to be my girlfriend?”

Gabriella gasped on hearing the one thing she hadn’t expected to hear, he had left her breathless and this time without kissing her, all she could do was nod her head yes in response and pulled him towards her for another kiss that would no doubt leave her breathless again.

A/N: Not sure if like how this turned out…. Anyway hope you all enjoyed it.