Okay, please don't say how much of a horrible person I am…. but I'm alive, and I'm sort of back. This year has been insane…. We had some issues within the family and school came and it was just… But I'm back!

Thanks so much for all the love and support on the old story, I'm gonna try to update and put up the epilogue as soon as I can. But for now…Enjoy this new story I wrote and tell me what you think! xoxo, C:

"Gabriella I'm sorry. I have to take you back… I don't even know what to do with you anymore…"

That was the last think Gabriella Montez's former foster mom had said to her. In a room filled with kids between the ages of nine and nineteen Gabriella sat, in a corner reading a book.

"Gabriella!" Karen, the director of the orphanage, called.

The raven-haired girl sighed, closing her book and walking towards the too-familiar path to her office.

"There is a really sweet mother here, she volunteers here a lot." Gabriella knew that meant she probably donated a shitload of money every year. "And she's considering adopting you, okay?"

She frowned. She was starting to tire of that 'routine'. Acts like she was as happy-go-lucky girl be an angel in front of the foster parents, and then once the papers were signed, she was under the control of her new "parents". In the four years that Gabriella had been without her parents, she hadn't called another soul 'Mom' or 'Dad'. All of her fosters wondered the same thing after a few months with the girl – 'what happened to the angel who was at the orphanage?' Reality had already set in for Gabriella. She had watched her parents being hit and seen them taken away with her own two eyes. She knew that her life would never be the same way it was.

"Don't worry, sweet pea, she's not like those other people," Karen comforted. "I know her personally, she's a great mom. She has a little boy, but after he was born she was unable to have more children and she was yearning for a girl. You'll love her…" Karen said, picking up the phone and telling her assistant to send the woman in.

A few seconds later, a beautiful, middle-aged, medium-height woman walked in. She had sparkly eyes, deep brown hair and caramel colored skin.

"Hi! I'm Shauna Danforth. You must be Gabriella!"

This woman was most definitely not like the other women that have been potentials. To Gabriella, Mrs. Danforth seemed like a good woman – happy, cheerful – and even better, a good mother.

Gabriella, dumbstruck about this woman, was unable to speak.

"Yes, this is Gabriella Montez."

After a few hours of talking and going out to lunch and getting to know each other, Mrs. Danforth decided that Gabriella was perfect for her and her family; exactly what she was looking for in a daughter.

Now the girl sat in the passenger seat of Mrs. Danforth's car as it pulled out of the Adoption House.

"You'll just adore Chad, my son and your new brother," she said, driving off to the house.

After reaching the house and collecting herself and her stuff, Gabriella followed Mrs. Danforth into the house.

"Chad! Will you come down here for a minute please?" Mrs. Danforth yelled up the stairs.

A few seconds, a puffy-haired boy wearing a pair of dark washed jeans and a t-shirt appeared at the bottom of the steps.

"Yes m- Who's this?" Chad asked, gesturing to the blushing Gabriella.

"Chad, this is your new sister, Gabriella. Gabriella, this is Chad."

"Right! Cool! Nice to meet you! Bye!" he said hurriedly, racing back up the stairs.

Mrs. Danforth shook her head, laughing at her son. "That means Troy's here… Come along, honey, I'll show you your room and you can unpack and then I'll take you shopping, okay?"

Gabriella nodded and followed Mrs. Danforth up to her room. Gabriella opened the door and walked into her fairytale bedroom.

"I wasn't sure if this would be okay…. We could change it-"

"It's perfect," Gabriella whispered, hugging her new mother.

Mrs. Danforth smiled and hugged her back. "I'll let you unpack," Mrs. Danforth left Gabriella to her room, closing the door behind her.

Gabriella turned around and looked around her room. White walls, hardwood flooring, a matching bed and dresser set with lavender sheets, and a very lightwood desk. She smiled and unpacked the few things she had brought with her. About 10 minutes later, Mrs. Danforth knocked on the door of the room.

"Gabriella, sweetheart are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'm coming!" she called, opening the door and walking out. "Thanks for taking me shopping…"

"Oh sweetie, don't mention it. Come on." They started down the stairs. "CHAD! TROY! WE'RE GOING OUT!" she shouted on the way to the door….

After about 3 hours of intense shopping, Mrs. Danforth and Gabriella walked back into the house to find Troy and Chad in the living room watching basketball.

"Will you be staying for dinner, Troy?" Mrs. Danforth asked, putting the many bags of clothes on the floor.

"If it's okay with you, Mrs. D."

"Of course it is! Chad, will you please help your sister put this stuff upstairs? Do you need help unpacking, dear?"

Gabriella shook her head, gathering the bags she had. "I've got it, thanks," she said, heading up the stairs, Chad on her heels with the other bags.

"Thanks Chad… Just leave 'em outside the door," she smiled.

"No prob…" Chad dropped the bags and went back downstairs.

Little did Gabriella know, as she headed up those stairs, the blue-eyed boy was no longer watching the basketball game.

At dinner that night, Gabriella met her father, Mr. Charlie Danforth. He was a bit of a heavy-set man, bald, glasses.

"So Gabriella, tomorrow you'll be starting your junior year with these lunkheads at East High."

Gabriella nodded. "Can't wait," she smiled, looking down at her food, her stomach churning. She was so nervous she couldn't eat. Going to new schools had always been the hardest thing for her. She was never someone who just 'fit it'. At her last school she was 'freaky math girl'. At the one before that she was 'Einsteinette'. She continued to push around her food.

"Are you gonna eat that?" Chad asked, eyeing her chicken.

Gabriella shook her head. "I'm actually not hungry. May I be excused?"

"Of course," Mrs. Danforth said, watching the girl get up and go up the stairs. They all heard her turn on the shower and close the door.

"You too look after her at school, okay? Mr. Danforth said.

"You got it Dad."

"Of course Mr. D."

After taking a long, hot shower and fully moisturizing herself, Gabriella sat in her room, staring out the large balcony doors. She turned to the closet, looking at the outfit hung neatly on the door. She had chosen the perfect "debut" outfit: A light denim miniskirt, a bright pink camisole under a knitted white pullover to dull the vibrancy and a pair of silver flip-flops. She laid back and turned on her side and saw the electronics that Mrs. Danforth had insisted on buying her. A shiny pink Blackberry charged on her nightstand and the sleek silver Macbook sat on the desk. She sighed and turned back to the balcony. It overlooked a calm scene – trees gently swaying in the breeze over the backyard's pool and the swing set.

"Hey Gabs, Can I come in?" Chad asked, standing at Gabriella's door.

"Yeah, sure, she said, standing up to get her computer so she could add music to her new iPod Touch.

"Nice phone," Chad commented, pulling out a black one like it. "Lemme see yours?" he asked, plopping himself on the end of her bed.

Gabriella tossed him the phone, pressing play on her computer.

"So, you excited for the new school year at our school?"

"To be honest…No."

"Aww, why not? East High is great, you'll love it!"

"I dunno, I've never really been "popular" and no one ever really likes me because they all think I'm too smart…" she mumbled.

Chad snorted. "You won't have a problem fitting in at East. Trust me."

She looked up at him. "Thanks Chad."

"Don't mention it. Now, tell me more about yourself."

The two spent the rest of the night joking, laughing and bonding over old stories about the both of them until Mrs. Danforth walked it.

"You guys, it's going on midnight, please go to bed. Goodnight!' she said, kissing both of their foreheads.

"Goodnight," Gabriella said, shooing Chad out of her room. She quickly put one of the few oversized t-shirts she had bought that morning on and nestled into her sheets, quickly falling asleep.

Gabriella's first days passed fairly quickly and everyone at East High, as promised by Chad, grew to love her. 3 days into the school year, Gabriella was sitting down with Taylor McKessie, Chad's girlfriend and the captain of the Scholastic Decathlon team, at the large red lunch tables of the cafeteria.

"I see you get along with Tay," Chad said, putting himself next to his girlfriend of 8 months.

"Yep!" Gabriella giggled. So East High wasn't as bad as she had expected it to be…but little did she know, it was about to get a whole lot better.

"Hey Chad, Taylor," Troy greeted, sitting across from Gabriella. "Gabriella, right?"

Gabriella nodded, stunned that the beauty sitting across from her knew her name.

"Pretty… I'm Troy, by the way."

"Nice to meet you," Gabriella said, taking out her vibrating phone.

Gabby & Troy sitting in a tree… : O

She shot a dirty look at Chad, who sat smirking smugly.

"So Gabster," he started as if nothing was up. "Are you trying out for any athletic EC's? You seem really fit…"

"Yeah, one of my foster parents was a totally yoga-freak, so I did it once a day, every day. But I don't know…. maybe…"

"You should try for cheerleading, I'm sure you'd make it."

"I don't know Chad, I've never heard of a smart girl on cheer," Taylor teased, "which is exactly why you should join the Decathlon team!"

Gabriella giggled. "Now I should try out…"

Gabriella's phone vibrated again from its spot on the table.

"Chad, I swear if you don't stop!"

Chad burst out into laughter. "Alright, alright, I'm sorry."

"Nice phone, Gabriella. What's your number?" Taylor asked, taking out her phone.

"Yeah, what is your number?" Troy asked.

Gabriella gave them her numbers and visa-versa, then continued to eat her sandwich. After the lunch bell rang, Gabriella walked happily to her locker and gathered her books for her first biology class at East. Going to the noted classroom, she sat down at a desk in the middle of the room and put her notebook down.

"Someone sitting here?"

She looked up from her notebook doodles to see Troy standing at the other side of her table.

"I guess not…" she said, returning to her drawings.

Troy chuckled and sat down next to her.

"Alright class, settle down!" Their teacher, Mr. Booting walked in. "This is Gabriella Montez, a new student this year."

Gabriella looked up at the sound of her name and was met with 28 pairs of eyes trained on her. She shrunk down, blushing redder than a tomato, murmuring "Oh no," quietly. She snuck a glance at Troy, who was laughing almost silently at her.

"What so funny?" she wailed in a whisper.

"You," he breathed in between quiet chuckled.

She glared at him, her eyebrows furrowing. "Aren't you just so sweet."

"Yep!" Troy chuckled.

"Alright class, your task for the day is to figure out what each of this slides are." He went around handing out a container of slides to each table.

"Okay, ready Troy?" Gabriella placed the slide under the microscope and turned it on. Pushing it to Troy, she said, "You can start."

He tensed noticeable. "Okay…?" he moved it closer to himself wearily and looked into it. "This is… uh… definitely some kind of… uh… red thing. Food coloring, maybe?"

Gabriella eyed Troy suspiciously. "Do you mind if I look?" she asked, taking the microscope before he could answer.

He sighed as she looked into it. "How could you possibly tell what this is? It's completely unfocused!" she said, cocking an eyebrow at him.

"I knew that…"

She rolled her eyes and turned back to the microscope. Focusing it, she peered back at the slide. "Um… This would be a red blood cell, Troy."

"Psh… I was just checking to see how good you're bio skills are." he lied, scratching the back of his neck.

"Troy," she stated knowingly.

"Okay, okay, so I barely understand Biology. But shh! If my mom finds out I'm completely screwed over and benched for the season…"

"Benched?"

"Oh right. I'm captain of the basketball team. Ever since I can remember I've been playing. My mom swears I was born with a basketball in hand. My dad is just happy I joined the team."

"Does he coach or something?'

"Yeah…"

"And he doesn't know about your obviously low Biology grade yet?"

Troy glared playfully at her. "Just put in the next slide."

Gabriella smiled and did as Troy said, bringing it into focus.

At the end of class, Troy and Gabriella had put away their microscopes and slides and were walking out of the classroom.

"You know, if you want I could tutor you in Bio…" Gabriella stated, walking next to Troy.

"Really? You would do that for me?"

She nodded, walking up to her locker.

"You are just.. amazing!" he exclaimed, kissing her check.

Gabriella blushed and opened her locker. "Call me later and we'll work something out, okay?"

"Sounds good!" Troy said, winking at her and walking away.

Gabriella couldn't help but swoon at his beauty as he walked away.

Later that night as Gabriella was laying on her side on her bed, her computer next to her and her phone on her side. Her plan was to collect her thoughts before Troy came over. About fifteen minutes into the process, her mother walked it.

"Ella? Are you okay, hun?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just gonna head in the shower before Troy comes, okay mom?" Gabriella's eyes bulged as she slid past her mother and into the bathroom. That was the first time since her real mother that she had even considered calling someone else mom. And she just did it. It just came out, all naturally like that.

After a quick shower, Gabriella dressed in a black tank-top, a green hoodie and a pair of black sweatpants. She walked downstairs, her wet hair pulled into a braid at the side of her head. She walked down to see Troy and Chad fully engaged in a game on the X-Box.

"Hungry Elle?"

"No thanks… Ready Troy?"

"Yeah, just give me one second," he said, playing against Chad.

Gabriella walked into the kitchen and got herself a bottle of water and came back out.

"Alight Troy."

"Okay, one more second."

"No, now!" she said sternly. "or else I'm calling you m-"

"Okay!" he said, interrupting her loudly and dropping the controller. Picking up his bag defeated, he followed after Gabriella.

Smiling triumphantly, she led Troy to the study. Sitting next to Troy as he pulled out his books, her phone vibrated. She looked down and saw a quite inappropriate text from Chad. She blushed and stuck the phone in her sweatshirt pocket. "Uh, start reading on page 230 and write down the main points. I'll be right back," she said, leaving the room and darting the steps. "Chad Danforth!!"

He snickered from his spot on the couch.

"Cut it out!" she threw a pillow, with perfect aim, at him head. Darting back up the stairs and into the study she closed the door behind her.

"Sorry about that…" she said, slipping into the chair.

After a few hours of Bio, Troy closed his textbook and put it in his bag.

"Gabriella, I don't know how I could possibly repay you! Thank you so much!"

"I know how you can repay me…" she replied flirtatiously. "You could take me out to a movie…"

"Okay… How About tomorrow, at 7?"

"Sounds good!'

"Good, I'll see you tomorrow, and thanks again!" he kissed her cheek and left.

"Two kisses in one day!" Gabriella sighed dreamily, her head leaning against the doorframe.

She collected herself and pranced down the stairs to spend time with her family, happier than she had been in a very long time.

So that's it! Please review and tell me what you thought of it :)