Title: The Breakdown

Rating: T

Genre: Drama/Romance

Summary: Gabriella's a famous singer, who finally has the chance to go to regular school. Troy is the jock who is only worried about basketball and keeping his girlfriend, Sharpay, happy. So what happens when he and Gabriella are paired up in English class?

Disclaimer: I don't own High School Music, and I don't own the song lyrics used in this chap, which is 'Not Like That' by Ashley Tisdale.

Chapter One: Not Like That

"I feel oh, so glamorous

Lookin' super fabulous

Sometimes I'm insecure

Something I can't ignore

All the flashy cameras

Try my best to handle it

I'm just the girl next door

I can hear the rumors take off..." Gabriella groaned and turned the car radio off.

"What, sweetie? Don't you like that song?"

"I love it, mom. After all, I wrote it. It's just it's so played out. Just like us moving."

"Gabi, I think this move is for the best."

"You always say that when we switch companies." Gabriella was moving from New York City to Albuquerque, New Mexico because her contract for that record company was up and she had gotten a new better contract offered to her by Albuquerque Records.

"I think so too mom," she replied after seeing the regretful look on her mom's face. "But this is the third time." It was indeed the third time; Gabriella was a famous popstar and has been since she was twelve singing her first number one hit 'Best of Both Worlds'. "I don't have any friends."

"You'll make some." Her mom turned the corner. "You always do."

"But they like me for Vanessa not for Gabriella Montez." Vanessa was Gabriella's stage name, her grandma's name was Vanessa and that's where she got it from.

"You are beautiful in both ways. You'll find some friends that'll accept you for you."

"But not if I'm getting tutored."

Gabriella's mom sighed. "You always bring this up."

"Come on, mom. I'm seventeen, I'm going to be a junior this year. Can I at least go to a public high school?"

"You need to concentrate on your music."

"It's always music!" Gabriella pouted.

"Don't use that tone with me, Gabi."

"Sorry, but in order for me to write new songs don't you think I should go to high school and have the experiences to write about?"

"What about when you have to go in to record?"

"I will, I need to work on the writing process first mom. Then, when it's time to record, I can go to the studio straight after school, and on weekends. It's perfect."

"I haven't agreed yet." Mrs. Montez looked at the street signed and smiled before making a left and coming to a stop. "Ah, we're here."

Gabriella looked at the house, it was in a suburban neighborhood, and of course her mom had brought it with her money, she wasn't surprised. It was the biggest house on the block. She got out of the car and then noticed the front door of the house opened. Gabriella gave a goofy grin and ran to the man coming out of the door.

"Dad!" she ran into his arms and he held her tight, cherishing the hugs he rarely gets from his baby girl.

"How are you, pumpkin?"

"I'm good. I didn't know you were going to be here."

"Your mom called me to help with the move when the stuff arrived. I knew that I was going to see you so I decided to help, even if I hate your mother."

Gabriella's parents had got a divorce when she was 14 and because of her music career she barely got to see him.

"I'm glad you're here daddy."

"Not staying long, though." He told his daughter.

"Why not?"

"Because he needs to get back to his wife." Gabriella's mother said.

"Come on Rochelle, don't be such a bitch in front of our daughter."

"I'm going to go see if my room is how I like it." Gabriella replied before going into the large house. She made her way up the beautiful staircase and then began looking for her room. The house had about five bedrooms, one for her, one for her mom and three guest rooms.

Gabriella gave a triumphant smile as she found her room. She opened the door and walked in.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x

"What's that?" asked Chad Danforth as he heard two people arguing, loudly.

"I don't know." His best friend, Troy Bolton answered him.

"Must be my new next door neighbors. I hope they have a hot daughter." Chad replied as Troy stole the basketball from him.

"I'm sure she won't be hotter than Sharpay."

Chad shook his head. "Everyone's hotter than the Ice Princess."

Troy rolled his eyes and did a lay-up with the basketball. "Whatever you say."

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be meeting her at four?"

Troy nodded and looked at his watch. "Damn, I'm late."

It was 4:15.

"No kidding." Chad replied.

"I have to go." Troy told his friend before throwing the basketball at him, which Chad caught, and running thru the back gate.

"No goodbye?" Chad muttered before taking the ball and shooting it into the hoop.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x

"Hello, hello, hello Miss. Vanessa."

"Jake!" Gabriella exclaimed as he gave him a hug the next day. She and her mom were meeting with the record company people. She was talking to Jake her producer and her mom was talking to the man in charge about something.

"How are you? Do you like it here in Albuquerque?"

"I'm good, very good. I've only been here for a day."

"I bet you have lots of friends."

"None actually."

"You'll make some. You know, there's this hot party tonight."

"I can't."

"Baby V turning down a party? Nothing new." Jake smiled at her.

Gabriella pushed her dark brown hair out of her face and smiled. "I can't wait to start writing songs for this album."

"Album number five right?"

"You know I work nonstop." Gabriella flashed him a grin. She had released her first CD when she was 12. And then the other ones dropped when she was 13, 15 and 16.

"I can't wait to get you into this studio."

"So we can make some magic." Gabriella laughed but stopped as the studio door opened and her mom and the owner of the record company walked in.

"Nessa, you know Mr. Nielson."

"I do, it's nice to see you again." Gabriella held out her hand for him to shake and he did, smiling at the girl.

"Pleasure is all mine."

"Baby, we've been talking about you going to a public High School."

Gabriella bit her bottom lip. "…and, you've decided?"

"We think you deserve to have fun." Mr. Nielson spoke. "Yes, you can go to a public high school."

Gabriella squealed with excitement before hugging her mom.

"Thanks! Thanks! Than--." She was cut off.

"There are conditions, Nessa." Her mother spoke. Gabriella broke the hug and frowned.

"You are to keep your singing identity a secret. If anyone finds out you could get a lot of press and then we'll have to take you out of school and get you a tutor again."

Gabriella nodded. "Okay."

"You're going to be attending East High, with my daughter, Kelsi. And we feel that one person should at least know who you are so you can have someone to cover for you if need be. You'll be meeting Kelsi the day before school starts."

"I'm sure we'll get along just fine." Gabriella grinned.

----

A/n: Hey everyone, this is my first HSM fanfic ever, I'm really excited about it. Review please and let me know if I should continue. - Parker.