Chapter 1

A.N. Ok, at the moment it's 2:03 am. I'm bored out of my mind and don't plan on going to sleep so I'm writing a new story to get my mind off boredom. I know I have a bunch of stories already started but I'm bored and I came up with this idea.

Summary: Gabriella Montez lived with her drunken dad for a year after her mom died. Then came that fateful day when she turned eighteen, she soon moved to Albuquerque to finish her Senior year of High School. There she meets Troy, the basketball boy, could he be her savior or her worst nightmare?

Gabriella's P.O.V.

I had barely survived that year, I still had scars from the way he hurt me. My father was a careless drunk. My mother, Maria Montez, had been killed in a horrible car crash. No survivors. I was left to live with my father until I was eighteen. He could've killed me, but he did far worse, he didn't kill me. It would've been so much easier, and it would've caused way less pain, but none the less he would hurt me, but never enough to kill.

By the day I turned eighteen at 11:04 AM I was already packed with a plane ticket and all. I was going to Albuquerque, New Mexico, the place my mother had grown up. Although my Grandmother had died five years ago, it was still a place filled with fond memories of both my mother and hers.

"Calling flight 29B." I heard my flight being announced. Today was the day, I was finally free, from not only my abusive father, but of the place that haunted my every waking moment, the street corner on which my mother had died on site. She had no chance to survive, by the time I found out, she had been dead for ten long hours. No one had come fast enough, her life was over just like that.

I tightened my hand which lay on the strap of my backpack. I stood and walked over to my gate, today was the day. I'm finally leaving this life behind...

The first day at East High

I stared up at the large building that lay in front of me. My hit the lock button for my car on my key chain. I had a nice car, it was an Infinity. I now lived in a rather large apartment, but an apartment none the less. Though some teenagers would find it stupid, it was heaven on earth for me. Just being away from Chicago and my dad made me feel more at home than ever.

I made my way across the crowded parking lot, which was now filled with many teens talking to various others. They could each easily be categorized by their attire or what they were talking about. There was a group of cheerleaders, obviously given away by their skirts, in school colors, which were at least two inches too short in my opinion.

Then came the jocks, greeting the cheerleaders and them melting at their smiles. They of course were milking it, taking in any attention thrown at them.

Of course there were the punks and skaters, mostly dresses in black, or other dark shades. What I found rather disturbing is the men as well wore dark black eyeliner, too much of it if you ask me.

Then there was my usual group, the nerds. Many of them talking about Math or Science, a tad bit too eagerly. I, of course fit into this group, being smart. But I enjoy talking about other things more than school work at times, which could not be done when you fit into that category.

Those are the main groups although there are always some new additions when you come to a new place. There are always little divisions inside of the larger groups as well, though. Sometimes you'll see a drama geek and a computer geek acknowledging the others presence but never anymore than that.

I stepped inside the large building looking at the students that had already filed inside, either getting things out of their lockers or chatting with their friends...or acquaintances. That's what I call it anyway, when you like someone, but you don't know if they like you even as a friend. For me the answer was always no, and even if they tried to be my friend they always failed miserably when they got to know me.

I guess you could say I'm unusual. I'm not the type who's afraid to show people who I am. I'll be shy at first, on occasion, but it never stays that way for long. Some call me weird, I say energetic, friendly, confident (sometimes), and strong. I never let anyone mess with me. I'm never mean about it but if someone starts attacking me, verbally or physically, I'm not afraid to fight back.

I looked down at the schedule I'd gotten from the principal a week before. My homeroom class was with a teacher named Ms. Darbus. Room 324. I looked at the closest classroom door to see the number, it read 319. 'Good,' I thought, 'I'm close.'.

I walked down the hall glancing at each room's number to see where I was. 322...323...324! I finally found the room I'd been looking for.

I turned the knob slowly before pulling slightly and going through the tight space I'd made to enter the room.

"Um, Ms. Darbus?" I asked the blonde lady who had her attention directed to the blackboard, it looked as though she was explaining something to a brunette boy who had a rather confused look on his face. Her head spun around quickly, she looked at me expecting me to say something first.

"I'm Gabriella Montez. I just transferred here." I said.

"Ah, yes. Welcome to East High." She said and waved her arms dramatically. I found out then and there I was always going to have an interesting start to the day.

"Thanks. Anywhere?" I asked, referring to the seating. She nodded and turned back to the boy. The room was crowded with many desks, most of which were occupied. I spotted a desk in the last row, I attached my backpack to the back off my seat.

The bell eventually rang, after what seemed like hours, though it must have only been moments to rest of the teens. Just as the loud ring came a boy who looked my age with shaggy dirty blonde hair rushed into the room, panting. His eyes were one of the first things I noticed, piercingly blue, almost turquoise in my opinion.

"Sorry...Ms. Darbus...car..." she cut him off mid sentence, "Yes, Bolton. Just find a seat." He nodded and slid into a desk in the second row. A bushy haired guy next to him nodded at him in greeting, he returned it, but added a smile.

At that moment, I actually wanted to know more about this guy. For once, I actually took interest in finding out more about a guy rather than a guy in me. I got asked out constantly, but dumped just as quickly once they saw past the pretty face...

OK! That was the first chapter! Tell me what you think.