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After another intense physical therapy session for them both, Gabriella and Troy were driven over to the Montez household by Ms. Montez, who had volunteered to take the two today. Both of their parents had been alternating when to take the teens to their appointments when they had them together in the past few weeks. Troy felt much stronger than he did two and a half weeks ago while Gabriella's back pain was residing but still did spark up every now and then.
"Thanks Mom, for the drive," said Gabriella before she and Troy went inside the house and then up to her room.
Troy set down the bag he had been carrying for her up the stairs on her bed and took a seat next to her. "So what am I to work on today, tutor Montez?" asked Troy.
"Umm, didn't you mention a short essay that you got an extension on? We should work on your back work that you have left first and then work on the current stuff," responded Gabriella as she pulled out her own homework assignment book to look over what she had due for the rest of the week.
They worked together in silence, Troy asking Gabriella a few questions here or there, but most of their time together was spent completing their assignments. When Troy was done with his short essay two hours later, he had Gabriella take a look at it.
As Gabriella went over it a few times, making marks here or there, Troy took the moment to lay back on the bed on his back and watch her as she concentrated. He smiled as he just watched her eyes roam back and forth over the lines and as she nibbled on the pen in her mouth when she wasn't correcting something. Gabriella looked over eventually and caught Troy staring with a smile on his face.
"You're doing that staring thing again," remarked Gabriella with a smile.
"What staring thing?" asked an innocent looking Troy before he chuckled. "I so can't pull off that look like you can, huh?"
"Nope, but that was a good try anyway," kidded Gabriella. "All right, well here's the short essay back. I think that you've definitely come a long way from the start of the year. It is definitely structured well and the content is pretty good. I would just add more support in paragraph one and two while making a stronger conclusion. Other than that, I don't think you really need a tutor anymore, at least in English."
Troy took the paper back and grinned. "Maybe I don't need a tutor anymore, but I definitely need you."
Gabriella found herself drawn in closer to him and smiled as she kissed Troy back in a gentle, sweet kiss. "Mmm, I love those little kisses."
"Me too," he murmured before he captured her lips for a second, little bit longer lasting, kiss.
Gently, Gabriella pulled herself out of his grasp and got up from the bed. She dug in her closest and came back out with something in her right hand behind her back. Troy took in that mischievous look of hers and was curious as to what she was hiding.
"So it dawned on me late last week that this week was the last week of March," started Gabriella.
"Uh huh, so?" asked Troy.
Gabriella tsked. "You don't remember what happens at the end of March every year at East High?"
Troy thought back to that time for the past three years and couldn't remember anything. "Umm, flowers start to bloom?"
Gabriella laughed at this but shook her head. "Think harder. Friends, music?"
It took Troy a few moments before he remembered. "Sadie's! I can't believe I forgot about that. Well I can since my mind hasn't really been on school, but still, wow, time has flown by."
"Yup, and that's why I am asking you, Troy Bolton, if you would be my date this Friday. I know it's short notice, but I picked out our shirt and everything," said Gabriella.
"Well, with a date like you, I'd be a fool not to go. Is that our shirt that's behind your back?" questioned Troy.
"Uh huh," answered Gabriella. "Promise you'll wear it? Even if you don't like it?"
Troy took a moment to decide on whether or not to give his word to the unknown. "I guess, if you picked it out, I'll wear it, but you've got me scared, Gabriella."
Gabriella giggled as she pulled the shirt from behind her back and tossed it at Troy, who caught it. He unfolded it and groaned before he said, "You have to be kidding me! Gabriella, you want me to wear a t-shirt, although I do like the blue color, but a t-shirt with the picture of your favorite former boy band singer who is now a solo artist? No freaking way!"
She forced a disappointed look onto her face. "You mean you are breaking your promise? I thought you said you didn't do that anymore."
Troy looked at Gabriella and saw the hurt look on her face before he sighed. "Fine, if this is what you want, I'll wear it, I did give you my word. I can't believe you are going to make me wear this t-shirt of Mr. Sexyback to a high school dance, full of my peers, who are definitely going to never let me down. I know one big poofy haired guy who won't for sure."
"Does it really make you that unhappy?" asked Gabriella as she walked over to the bed and sat on his lap.
Troy wrapped his arms around Gabriella's waist and pulled her closer to him so she was more settled. "If this is what you want, I'll wear it. I won't like it, but I'll wear it because you picked it out and it's what you wanted. That's how much I love you, Gabriella."
"Aww, that was so sweet. I guess I must love you too because that isn't the real shirt," revealed Gabriella with a grin. "That is one of my favorite night shirts for bed, but I wouldn't dream of making you wear it. I know that Jason, Zeke, and Chad are prone of teasing you for even slighter provocation."
"Really?" questioned a now excited looking Troy. "So what are we wearing?"
Gabriella leaned down and grabbed her backpack. "I actually brought it to school with me because I didn't know what we would be doing today after PT, so I had it in case I needed to ask you before we let you out of the car. Here," stated Gabriella as she handed Troy the white t-shirt that was folded up. "That one should be yours."
Troy took it from her and unfolded it. "Aww, Gabriella, that's a great picture."
On the white t-shirt was a picture of Troy and Gabriella from their junior year, one afternoon at the park with the gang. Gabriella was on Troy's back as she held onto him around his neck. Both were wearing huge grins and looked to really be enjoying themselves. "Remember what happened that day?"
"How could I forget," returned Troy with a smile as he continued to look at the picture that had the words "True & Everlasting Love" over and under the picture.
"Troy Bolton, I will never forgive you!" exclaimed Gabriella with a pout on her face before she began to run away from the blankets the gang had laid out for their picnic an hour earlier at the park.
Troy laughed as he got up and followed her. "Come on, Gabriella, it was just one stupid cookie! You can't possibly be mad at me for eating it."
"But it was my favorite! Zeke made it for me!" shouted Gabriella back before she ducked into the jungle gym on the kids' playground. "You know I love those oatmeal cookies he makes!"
"Gabriella, you're being silly! Honestly, I'll spit it back up if that's what you want," offered Troy before he chuckled at the disgusted look she had on her face. "Come on out of there. You know I'm not small enough like you to get in there."
"Exactly," pouted Gabriella. "I'm safe from you and your mischief. Yes, I can see that in your eyes, Bolton."
"What? I'm not doing anything, especially because I can't get to you right now. What if I do something to make it up to you?" suggested Troy.
Gabriella dropped her pout and stared at him wondering what he was suggesting. "Like what?"
"Piggyback ride? I know you love those," stated Troy.
Gabriella got a smile on her face before she dropped it. "But you dropped me last time!"
Troy laughed. "What a good memory you have! I only dropped you last time because you insisted on tickling me. If you promise to behave, I'll give you a piggyback ride all the way back to the gang and give you my word that I won't drop you. Will that make up for eating the cookie?"
"Gabriella, we found another oatmeal cookie!" called out Taylor from a few feet away. "Troy hid it under his plate."
Gabriella took the cookie from Taylor and gave Troy a dirty look. "You hid it from me?"
"What? Did you really think I was going to eat the very last one of your favorite cookies? God, how low do you think I am?" asked Troy with a pretend hurt look on his face.
Taylor lightly slapped his arm. "Be nice to her, you know how she loves those things," admonished Taylor before she ran back to the group.
Gabriella took a bite from the cookie and got an instant smile on her face. "Mmm, that is delicious, even more so because I know it is the last."
Troy shook his head and laughed. "All right, now that you have your precious cookie, my offer still stands if you want it since I guess I was being a mean boyfriend by hiding it."
She looked at him warily and then cautiously made her way out of the jungle gym. As soon as she did, Gabriella knew it was a mistake because Troy started tickling her and chased her down further into the park. Eventually, Gabriella slowed as she started to feel the cookie crumble and stopped, which made Troy run right into her since he wasn't expecting it. Before she could fall though, Troy reached out and wrapped his arms around her to catch her and then brought her back up right. While she stared at him, Troy smiled and took a bite, a small one, from the cookie, which woke Gabriella up from her trance. "Hey!" she protested.
"Come on, silly. You can finish that on our way back," said Troy before he crouched down and let her climb onto his back, wrapping her arms securely around his neck as she nibbled some more on the cookie.
Troy took his time getting himself and Gabriella back to the gang, zigzagging all the way there to make the time he had her with him alone that much longer. Gabriella shared the remainder of the cookie with him during the trip and started to laugh more as he picked up speed, twirled in circles, and then stopped in front of the gang. Taylor snapped a few pictures of them before Troy kneeled down on a blanket and let Gabriella off his back before he pulled her down next to him. "Have fun?"
"Definitely," confirmed Gabriella with a giggle. "And I guess I have to forgive you now for supposedly eating the last cookie."
"Yeah, you better," agreed Troy with a smile.
Gabriella leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Thanks for the piggyback ride. You totally made my day."
"Oh you and those piggyback rides. Too bad I can't give you one right now," said Troy as he remembered how much Gabriella enjoyed them.
Gabriella shook her head but smiled. "No need right now. With both of our backs not being in their usual state, it's a good thing we haven't tried it. Maybe another time, when we are both feeling better physically."
"Speaking of, when are you getting your cast off?" asked Troy as he looked at her arm in its little sling.
Gabriella unconsciously put her hand on her left arm and thought. "Actually, I think it should be coming off this Friday. Yay! I totally forgot about it!"
Troy took in an excited Gabriella before he said, "Obviously, you are excited about it, how did you forget that you had an appointment to get it off this week?"
"I claim too busy to notice," stated Gabriella. "And it's true. With all the catching up I had to do myself, the regular studies since I've been back, helping you catch up, going to PT, practicing with the team for the Decathlon in one month, sitting on my hands and waiting for news from the colleges, I think there's a lot on my mind besides the cast but yes, I will be greatly relieved to get this itchy thing off!"
"I didn't know it was that bad. You never complain about it," replied Troy.
Gabriella shrugged her shoulders. "Why complain? There's nothing anyone could do to help it while my arm healed."
Troy shook his head as he smiled at her. "You know, Gabriella, you are one amazing, adorable, and lovable young woman."
"Why thank you," said Gabriella with a smile of her own. "You aren't so bad yourself."
Troy laughed at this and turned his attention back to his forgotten short essay next to him. "I guess I better get working on fixing this puppy up. Do you need me to type something up for you while I'm at it?" asked Troy as he got up to turn on Gabriella's computer.
Gabriella shuffled through the papers she had in front of her before she shook her head. "I have a rough draft of an essay due in two weeks but I want to tweak it a little more. Thanks for offering though, that was sweet of you."
Troy nodded and turned his attention back to the computer where he opened up a word document program and started typing. The couple continued to work together on their schoolwork for the rest of the afternoon until Ms. Montez called the two teenagers down for dinner where they silently challenged each other to a race downstairs, Gabriella getting a jump start but Troy being the victor.