OCEAN EYES ☾ { TROY BOLTON }

14 ~ 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚔 & 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜

𝐻𝐴𝑌𝐷𝐸𝑁 was convinced that Gabriella's house was by far the most coziest and beautifully decorated home she'd ever stepped foot into. Just by emerging from the driveway in Martha's Volkswagen beetle and coming upon the view of the math whiz's perfectly trimmed grass and abundant clean rows of freshly bloomed stargazer lilies lining alongside her white, two-storied house, the two girl's could already tell that the Montez home would feel nothing if not welcoming.

Stepping in, after reading Gabriella's text saying that the door was unlocked and to just go ahead on in while she finished up helping her mom out with something, the two brunette's presumptions were quickly found to be accurate.

The first thing to capture Hayden's attention when promptly stepping over the threshold, was a savory essence—the smell being very sweet and borderline nectarous. It even resembled to be something of aromatherapy for her as she unwittingly found herself to just stand completely still in the middle of their living room—as that's where the front door oddly led into—repeatedly drawing in deep breaths of the calming scent that second-by-second, seemed to've been consciously taking her places beyond the depths of relaxation.

The colors of the walls and homey furniture surrounding the pair were also few of the things that played a hand in the teen's little stimulating moment. Mainly it'd been the paint color; for the warm, lime green coat reminded her purely of a fresh spring field before the blooming of it's dangerously, pollinated flowers, that brought nothing but misery to those with allergies.

A rather sharp jab to the side of her ribs had been what broke the Zara from her small rejuvenating trance, and she'd irritatingly shot a glance over to Martha, throwing her a 'what the hell' look, in the time she found the girl's eyebrows pointedly raised in question, possibly even concern, before motioning in front of them with a hurried sweep of her chocolate eyes.

Hayden had followed the gesture, shortly after finding her own eyes to all of a sudden widen in surprise towards the two, light-eyed Hispanic women unawarely standing before her, homing rather amused expressions on their equally tanned faces.

"The aromas of pitaya and Maracuyá, commonly known as passion fruit, is what your smelling," The light accented voice of the older woman Hayden presumed to be Gabriella's mother spoke with a kind grin.

Hayden had simply nodded, lips tightening into a grimace all the while trying to shake the embarrassment of getting caught in her momentary reverie. "Well," She started, softly clearing her throat. "It smells amazing—really, really takes you places."

The woman chuckled. "Yes, I could tell. Though you're also most likely smelling the lavender cookies I have baking in the oven," She glanced over to her daughter. "Gabby here wanted the snack selection to solely be fruit and vegetables, but I know not everyone's a health-nut like her so I made some cookies for you guys as another option."

"Fruits and vegetables can be just as tasty as cookies are—if not tastier, as a matter of fact." Gabriella persistently contradicted, tossing a brassy look right back to the similarly featured woman.

Hayden and Martha were quick in grumbling incoherent disagreements, prompting in Ms. Montez to crack a smile. "Sure, honey, whatever you say," Her sights crept over to the mumbling teens, making point to catch their attention before giving a rigid shake of her head, lips contorting in unmistakable disagreement.

The two neighbors laughed, overlooking their friend's confused expression as her brown eyes danced between them and her mom. She looked as though she wanted to question the unknown exchange, but before able to do so, the snickering woman beside her had already begun talking.