Rehabilitation:

Her Mum was a social worker, dealing primarily with young offenders not a career Gabriella could ever foresee herself following but, she found her Mum's work stimulating nevertheless; getting to meet and learn stories from all walks of life and be grateful for what her mother had graced her with. It was the kind of job, in which confidence was required in order to excel something which, Gabriella lacked at this particular point in life- she was an outcast although this didn't stop her enthusiasm for helping out at the youth centre every night of the week. Hundreds of young offenders had been through the double hinged doors many of whom, had gone on to be respectable citizens of the community whilst others had gone back to jail or further measures however, it was one story that attracted her, standing out from all the others.

His name was Troy Bolton.

She was graced with his presence on the first Tuesday of July, working in conjunction with Mum her attention had been distracted by him when he was forcefully pushed through the double hinged doors by two older men, neither of which seemed pleased to be with him and Troy didn't seem enthused by their company either. The men didn't loiter for long, a hushed conversation was exchanged with one of them and Troy before they vacated the premises leaving Troy to complete his community service alone. Gabriella watched as Troy ran his hands through his hair pushing it away from his face before stuffing his hands in his pockets and disappearing into the crowd.

"Hi, what's your name?" Gabriella questionned boldly as she passed him, unsure where this sudden confidence had emerged from. She wasn't the kind of person to approach and interact with people, let alone a guy, let alone a guy as gorgeous as he was.

Troy frowned looking up to see the Latino girl in front of him, her petite form shading him from the brighter light which illuminated the large room as he painted the wall. She nervously tucked a loose strand of brown hair behind her ear, her chocolate eyes glistening as she stared at him.

"Troy," He murmured intrigued by her. "Yours?"

"Gabriella," She responded kneeling down beside him and grabbing a paint brush.

He smiled faintly, biting at his bottom lip as silence befell them whilst Gabriella's courage seemed to fluster under the intense scrutiny of his electrifying blue eyes, seemingly piercing through her.

"Err... Surname?"

"Bolton," Troy answered knowing what the reaction was going to be immediately and he was right- silence.

"As in?" Gabriella started painting a section of the wall.

"As in Troy Bolton," Troy interrupted coolly not paying particular attention to her, his eyes instead fixed on his phone rather than painting as he responded to a text sent by one of his close friends. He expected her to leave at this knowledge but, what she did surprised him when he looked up a minute later- she was still there.

"What relation are you to Jack Bolton?" Gabriella queried.

Troy surveyed her curiously, wondering why she hadn't left and more so why he felt he could talk to her rather than being his usual closed off self, enforced on him by his upbringing.

"He's my father," Troy answered.

"Oh..."

"Oh?"

"I'm sorry, it's just your father is a notorious violent mafia boss," Gabriella explained.

"Allegedly," Troy murmured.

"...And I didn't expect you to be so..."

"So what?" He frowned sitting up interested.

"Well a lot of things... Nice, normal," Gabriella stuttered.

"Suppose I should take that as a compliment," Troy shrugged returning his phone into his jeans pocket. "So now we've established my family origins, why don't we learn more about yours?"

"I'm a Montez"

"As in?" Troy interrupted.

"As in Gabriella Montez," Gabriella imitated boldly, hoping the move wasn't too bold and that the conversation could continue further. To her relief, a smile crossed his face.

"Any relation to the owner of this joint?" He queried.

"She's my mother," Gabriella concluded.

Troy nodded, their eyes connecting for a moment before a cough broke their eyeline and Troy looked up, seeing the two men from earlier loitering in the doorway, their eyes boring into them.

"I've... er... Gotta go," Troy mumbled.

"Why?" Gabriella questionned before her answer was revealed as she looked over her shoulder in the direction of the door. "Oh... Who are they? If you don't mind me asking?"

"My Dad's friends," Troy muttered as he grabbed his stuff. "Later."

"You're coming back right?" Gabriella asked catching his wrist. Troy frowned glancing down and Gabriella lessened her grip somewhat, conscious.

"Thursday," He informed her shortly pulling away and soon he had disappeared with the two men.

The next time Gabriella saw Troy wasn't on the Thursday as he'd promised but, on the following Friday.

"Can you help out on the refreshments today hunny?" Gina Montez asked.

"Er... I was kinda in the painting mood," Gabriella blushed.

"Oh? Ok..." Gina shrugged.

"Thanks Mum," Gabriella smiled bounding over to Troy.

She settled down beside him grabbing a discarded paintbrush and began her painting duties. He didn't acknowledge her so, it was left to her to begin a conversation if she wanted to engage in one

"So where were you yesterday?" Gabriella questionned.

Troy glanced across at her disinterested.

"Had stuff to do," He murmured.

Gabriella nodded biting subconsciously at her bottom lip as she racked her brains for anything to stimulate conversation.

"So what did you actually to do to get community service?"

"You got allday?" Troy questionned.

"I guess that's your way of telling me to mind my business?" Gabriella smirked. "Or that you've done too much to list?"

"Take your pick," Troy murmured tossing his paintbrush down bored of the mundane task.

"Want to get out of here?" Gabriella asked.

"And double my community service?"

"I can get you out of here..." Gabriella started. "Without you getting in trouble. Interested?"

Troy smirked

"You can really do that?"

"Being the owner's daughter does have it's perks," Gabriella responded. "So you interested?"

"Yeah..." Troy smiled.

Gabriella boldly grabbed Troy's hand and hauled him up, leading him away from the other people through the back rooms.

"So... Do you regularly spring guys from the community centre or am I just special?" Troy queried once they were outside.

"I'd say you were special," Gabriella laughed relaxing in his company.

"Which way?" Troy questionned as the path they were following split into a fork.

"Left," Gabriella replied and they changed direction. "So you going to tell me what you got community service for?"

"What do you think I did?" Troy responded.

"Well your father has been known to kill and drug deal..."

"Allegedly," Troy interrupted.

"So I'm hoping it's nothing bad," Gabriella continued. She glanced across at Troy for any hint but, he gave off nothing. "You hit someone?"

"Well... Sort of," Troy answered quietly and Gabriella noticed that his confidence seemed to have evaporated on the subject.

"Then what?" Gabriella queried.

"I did a few things."

"Tell me," She urged.

Troy sighed softly as they came to a stop at a bench and sat down.

"I did get in a few fights," Troy admitted.

"But that's not it?"

"I jacked a few cars," He shrugged.

"But no murder?" Gabriella inquired.

Troy laughed smirking.

"No, no murder."

"Well, that's good to know," Gabriella responded.

"Why? Feel safer?" Troy taunted.

"I could kick your ass anyday..." Gabriella declared boldly.

Troy raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah... I doubt that," He responded. "Although you could probably take a guy I know."

"Bring him on!" Gabriella laughed. "So, anyway tell me about you..."

"Not really much to tell," Troy murmured looking out over the view, Gabriella waited for him to continue but he didn't.

"Have I done something wrong?" Gabriella inquired.

Troy turned round to glance at her.

"What makes you say that?" He replied coolly.

"It's just whenever I ask about you or your family, you go quiet..."

"Not everyone's proud of their family," Troy mumbled.

"But, still they're your family," She frowned walking to stand beside him.

"Yeah unfortunately but, just because they are doesn't mean you have to associate yourself with them."

"So Bolton by name, not by action?"

"Something like that," Troy mumbled glancing at the time on his phone. "I better get back.."

"Oh ok..." Gabriella sighed folding her arms as they started to walk back. Troy was still a mystery to her, and she didn't like that- the whole point of breaking him out of the community centre had been so, she could get to know him better as she found herself drawn to him not only on an intellectual level but, sexually as well- something she had felt before, it was like butterflies inhabited her stomach when she spoke to him, he could just as easily bring her out of her shell as he could indirectly force her back into it. His body was amazing by anyone standards, she could define his six-pack through the tight shirts he wore, his biceps were distinguishable and he had fairly muscular features without overdoing it. The clothes he wore flattered his frame and co-ordinated with his piercing blue eyes that, Gabriella found to be the most captivating- combined with his tousled chestnut brown hair she felt he would be far more suited to Hollywood than a back handed New York antique community college.