Troy, The Mighty!

Sophie picks up her tray of food and makes her way to her usual spot. She sits at the lunch table across from Alexa and Dylan. Troy sitting down next to her. Numerous conversations are heard throughout the cafeteria as students begin to sit and eat next to their friends.

Sophie sneezes repeatedly as she makes herself comfortable in her seat, making the three chuckle. "Seriously Soph! You don't look so good today honey. Are you sure you're not coming down with a cold?" Sophie stares at Troy with an annoyed glare.  "I'm not getting sick. I told you that already." She turns, grabbing her burger and getting ready to take a bite when she suddenly sneezes again.

Troy chuckles and nods his head. "Ok! If you say little miss stubborn ass."

"So, anyway. Troy? How did it go yesterday with um, you know." Sophie glances at Dylan and cautiously chooses her words. She knows that even though Troy is ready to tell his parents about him, he's still not ready to let everyone else know.

Troy coughs, choking on his food. He fists his hand, covering his mouth as he coughs. Sophie chuckles and grabs the soda, passing it to him and tapping him on his back.

He takes a few sips, clearing his throat. "I um," he clears his throat again, staring at Dylan. "I'd rather not talk about it." He sighs, pursing his lips and hanging his head low. He slowly grabs his own hamburger and takes a bite.

"Oh no. Troy! I'm so sorry hon!" She says in a low voice, turning her body and hugging him from his side.

"It's ok. Can I come over today to your house? I really don't want to go back to my house. Not until I know they've gone back to New York." He says in a low voice looking at her with a sad expression on his face.

"Honey, of course. You know you are always welcome at my house. My brothers and my parents love you." She smiles, pursing her lips, and hugs him tight again.

Logan clears his throat behind her. Both Troy and Sophie turn and see him next to Steven. His hands crossed over his chest and his eyebrows narrowed.

Sophie, though she suddenly feels the unfamiliar invasion of butterflies in her stomach as she thinks back to the almost close-to-be kiss encounter between them yesterday; she rolls her eyes and turns her body towards him.

"Did you lose something, Spencer? What do you want?" She asks sarcastically making him tilt his head, nodding and chuckling.

"So I see you made plans for today to hang with your second boyfriend. Did you forget we have to work on our project? Or are you the type that doesn't keep her word now?" He squints his eyes, tilting his chin to the side.

Sophie's eyes widen as she remembers the book report they have to work on together. Needless to say, she didn't have time to go through the list or read any of the books last night.

"What? Pff. Of course, I didn't forget Logan! I just, I thought maybe we could meet at my house today. Is that alright? Troy doesn't have anything to do after school today. So, I can go home after school and wait for you there, while you practice." She says to him nervously, evident she had completely forgotten about their meeting today.

He looks at her sternly, and sighs, unfolding his hands and nodding in disbelief. "Whatever Soph. We'll just call it a day. Let me know whenever you have time." He says sternly in a low voice and turns on his heel, walking away.

Sophie looks at Troy, he looks at them curiously. He's known Sophie so long, he knows there's something she's not telling him.

"Sophie?" He says slowly, glancing at Dylan and seeing him and Alexa laughing and engulfed in their own conversation.

Sophie sighs, tilting her head back and closing her eyes. "Sophie?" He raises an eyebrow making her stare at him. His tone lets her know he's not letting it go until she talks.

"Ugg! Can we just talk about this later? Please!?" She says in a low enough voice only the two can hear.

His eyes widen and he gets up quickly pulling her up with him. "Oh my god, Sophie! " He covers his mouth and apologizes quickly.

He looks at Dylan and Alexa who stare back at them in amazement. "Uh, sorry guys. I need to go, talk to my uh, my old art teacher. I'll see you guys later ok? Sophie comes with me." He pulls her along making both of their friends shrug their shoulders in confusion.

Troy pulls Sophie by her wrist and pushes her lightly into an empty room, closing the door behind him. "Spill it! I know you are hiding something from me. And don't you dare lie to me, Patterson! I know when you're trying to hide something from me." Sophie gasps, scrunching her face, wrinkling her nose, and crossing her hands over her chest.

"Wha- Jah- I- I am not hiding anything from you." She tilts her head to the side, throwing her chin up and closing her eyes.

She glances at him from the corner of her eye and sees him staring at her in disbelief. He rests against the whiteboard with his hands on the sides resting on the rail holding the markers.

She unfolds one hand, pointing at him. "No! Don't you give me that look! I am not hiding anything from you, Troy!" She narrows her eyebrows, pouting and whining like a five-year-old.

"Mmhm!" He gestures, pursing his lips and crossing his hands on his chest.

She grunts and looks away toward the window. Out the window, she sees Logan smiling and talking to some of the football guys. Amber comes behind him, hugging him from behind around his waist. She feels a sudden surge of jealousy. A feeling she doesn't want, nor desires to feel over him.

Troy realizes what she is looking at, and sighs. He pulls her into a hug, resting his chin on her forehead.

"Oh god, no! Sophie, please tell me you're not starting to feel something for Logan Spencer. This is only going to end in a big disaster, you know that?" She sighs and looks up at him.

"No. Of course, I'm not. He- we're just partners for a project. That's all." She nods her head, but she knows there is more she doesn't want to say.

"You're lying to me, Soph. You know you can't lie to the all-mighty Troy! Troy the Mighty knows all about Sophie! He knows when she's lying to her best friend!" She giggles and pushes him away on his chest.

"Oh does he now, huh?" She giggles and looks out the window again. Logan is already gone, and Amber is there arguing with Carter, unaware his girlfriend Emily is behind them hearing the whole conversation.

She groans and rests her body against the desk behind her. "Baby girl, you know you can tell me anything. I'm not just your best friend you know? You're the sister I always wished I had!" He says softly, taking her hand in his.

"I know. You're right. You're the best friend a girl can have! And you're right. There is something I'm not telling you, and it's freaking me out, and making me feel completely awkward and confused!" She nods in disbelief, hanging her head low and slowly raising her head to look at Troy.

"You don't have to tell me if you're not comfortable. But, am I on the right path to what I'm thinking?" He looks at her in concern. He knows how bad the relationship between her and Logan has been throughout the years.

They've done nothing but fight and constantly be at each other's throats. The least he wants is to see her getting hurt.

She sighs and glances away. "Logan, almost kissed me last night." She takes her time to utter her words. Hoping that Troy takes it lightly and doesn't overreact.

"What!?" He yells and places his hands in tight fists.

"Did that asshole try and make a pass at you? He better not be trying to get in your pants just to make you feel miserable afterward. I will kill him!" Sophie laughs and holds his hands to calm him down.

"Calm down Troy the mighty! Nothing happened ok?" She looks at him and squeezes his hands. "I promise you, nothing happened. His sister came in. I guess he felt awkward, and, then he took me home." She shrugs her shoulder and pursed her lips. Her stomach flutters uncontrollably again, as she thinks back to that moment.

"Well, it's a good thing Ashley came-, wait! What do you mean she came in? You really went into the lion's den Soph? Oh my god! What were you thinking?Sophie?" She giggles at the way he's so protective of her.

"Shut up! He was not as bad as we thought you know? He actually has a good relationship with his sister. He did not once try to make a nasty move on me. Well, as for say, you know?" He studies her every move, looking at her with caution.

"You're falling for him!" He says, making her eyes widen and mouth gawk open.

"Wh- no!" She looks away from him, unwilling to meet his eyes.

"Oh, Sophie! Look, I get it. He's hot. He's popular, the football captain, and on top of it all, he's actually a smart guy! But, Sophie, may I remind you of how bad you two have gotten along in the past?"

"I know ok! I know. And, don't worry. Nothing will ever happen between us. He probably just got caught in the moment, and he'll get over it. I bet you anything that by the end of the month if he's not back with Amber, he'll probably be dating one of the other cheerleaders. So, don't worry about me. Ok?"

He looks at her with concern, but as the bell rings signaling them the end of lunch, he decides to let it go. He pulls her into a hug and they both walk out of the class, with his hand over her shoulder.