Chapter 1

I sat on the couch, upside down, my feet hanging over the back. The couch was imported from some foreign country I couldn't pronounce, but it was nice as far as I know. Everything in my house was nice, thanks to my father's money.

I stared at the television in front of me. I rolled my eyes, recalling how terrible Nicole Richie looked during the first season of The Simple Life. Chubby, and the colored streaks in her hair. Can you say gross? How could you let yourself out in public looking like that? With her father's money, she should be able to afford someone to make her look good.

"Gabriella!" A voice screamed, followed by a slamming front door. Obviously, Sharpay was here. Usually, she walks right in, uninvited, unplanned and without warning. But, we still loved her and her mother's clothes. We've been wearing her mom's clothing line since we could fit into junior sizes.

"Hey, Shar," I greeted, not even bothering to look up. No one else screamed my name like that, so I knew it was her.

"Gabby!" I heard her running over to the couch I was lounging on, and she jumped on it. Thankfully I moved my feet before she landed on them. "Do you have any idea what tonight is!"

"Saturday," I said, glancing at her.

She shook her head, a grin appearing on her tanned face. "Besides that."

"Then, no." I sat up, making more room for ourselves.

"It's Veronica's party tonight, and you know who's gonna be there?" She asked, practically shaking with eagerness. And she always addressed her mother with her first name, Veronica.

"Who?" I said, growing with excitement.

"Luc Senn!" she squealed.

My eyes widen, as my jaw made it's way to the floor, and a scream escaped it. Luc Senn is a model we've been in love with since he did his first ad for Sharpay's mom four years ago. He's been a regular model, for Sweetface, but we never got the chance to meet him.

"Wait, Shar," I said. "We're not fashion designers, or models, how are we going to get in?"

"Don't worry," she smiled. "I got it covered. So, stop being such a downer, go get ready so we can go look for some cute outfits for tonight."

"Okay, chief," I mumbled, getting up from the couch and running up the winding stair case.

Skipping down the hallway, I got interrupted by my little fourteen year old sister. "Do you and your annoying friend mind? You squeal like mice."

I rolled my eyes at Dakota. She always seemed like an outcast to the family. She wasn't petite, with long dark, curly hair, and bright brown eyes. She was tall for her age, with straight blond hair and dark blue eyes. She looked more like my mother's father, our grandfather. He was Irish, with pale skin and blond hair. But our mother, looked like her mother; short, with tan skin, and dark hair and eyes.

"Stop being such a loner. You sit in your room, listening to your music, which is obnoxious, and the only time you leave the house is to like go to school. At least I have friends," I snapped. She always complained about me and Sharpay. It was getting old.

"Uhm, I have friends, Gabriella. But, I'm embarrsed of your immature behavior, so I don't bring them here."

"And you can't go to their house?" I shrugged, cocking my head.

"I do," she spoke slowly, like I was a moron. "But since you are always being stupid and a bitch, I don't tell you about the stuff I do with my friends."

"Whatever," I put my hand up. "I have plans, unlike you, I have to get ready." I glared at her, before storming down the hall and into my room. She was such a little asshole sometimes. An asshole who didn't have many friends.

She wasn't my only sibling. I had an older brother, but he tended to stay away from the family when he graduated high school two years ago. He only comes home for holidays. Maybe. Andrew wasn't very family oriented.

--

Sharpay and I arrived at one of our favorite boutiques. A man walked up, greeting us with a perky voice. "Afternoon, ladies! Is there anything you wee looking for today?"

"Just a dress or two," Sharpay answered, smiling politely. It was always important to be nice to the employees at a store. How else are we supposed to get free stuff?

The obvious gay guy showed us all the dresses they had on display, and then he went to the back grabbing some. They were cute ones, ugly ones, and the ones that anyone that would wear them in public should be fined. Looking around, a black dress caught my eye. I walked over to the mannequin that was wearing it. This was the dress. It was strapless, and plain, but perfect. It poofed out just a little at the bottom. It was gorgeous, and it would definitely make me look old enough for a model.

"Shar, I found my dress," I said to her. She looked over at me, smiling.

"You'll look great in that! Now help me find one," she giggled.

After about ten more minutes of looking at the dresses, I heard Sharpay gasp and in her hands she held a red silk dress. She looked at me asking if I approved. I nodded, encouraging her to try it on.

When we were finished trying our dresses on, and deciding what shoes, and other things we would wear, we went to pay. I dug through my Chanel purse for my wallet. Pulling my dad's credit card out, I handed it to the man. He ran it through the slider, a disapproving frown on his face. One more time, he ran it through. He looked up at me, and said those words no rich girl wants to hear in her life.

"Sorry, it's declined."

"What?" I asked, confused. "Run it through again."

He did as I told, and repeated those horrible words. He grabbed scissors, and snipped the card in half right in front of my eyes. My jaw dropped. What was I supposed to do?!

Sharpay glanced at me. "Did you parents cancel it?"

"No," I shook my head, "they would have told me."

"Just call your dad and see what's up. I'll buy your dress."

"Aw, thanks, Shar," I smiled, already dialing my dad's number.

"Hello?" His voice sounded stress.

"Daddy, I'm trying to buy a new dress, and the guy said it was declined..."

I heard him sigh. "Gabriella, come home now. And don't buy anything on your way home."

"But, dad-"

"Come home now, Gabriella," he ordered.

I hung up the phone and turned to Sharpay who was just collecting the bags. "Can you take me home?"

"Sure."

--

Sharpay turned into the paved driveway, parking her car. I guess she was going in with me? We both got out of the car, and made our way up to the front door. I turned the door knob opened, and Sharpay closed it behind her.

I saw my family all in the living room. My parents were on the couch, and Dakota was sitting in a chair, looking emotionless. My mother's eyes were a little red, a hint that she's been crying, and my father had a deep frown on his face.

"Okay, who died?" I asked, making my presence known.

My dad looked up, with an expression saying that comment was uncalled for. "Gabriella, please take a seat," he sighed.

Okay, now I was a little scared. My family was in the same room, sitting down, and there wasn't even a party going on. Either someone really close to all of us died, or someone had cancer. I took a seat in the chair, my sister wasn't in. Sharpay made her way over, and I shifted on the chair making room for her.

"Okay, what is going on?"

"Gabby," my mother sniffled. "What your father is about to tell us, is a big change for all of us, but just know that we have everything under control, and you don't have anything to worry about."

"Okay! Just tell me!" I was growing angry. Can't they just spit it out?!

"We've lost almost all our money," my father said.

I felt my eyes grow wide, and the bag that had my dress in it, dropped out of my hand. Sharpay gasped next to me. What was my dad trying to say? We were poor?! What was I supposed to do? All my friends have money. They won't talk to me, if I can't keep up with the latest fashion, and all the things that are new. This can't be happening!

"What-are-when-how," I struggled to get a proper sentence out of me.

"I was stupid, and I gambled. A lot. The bank just called. And-" he stopped mid-sentence looking at the floor where my bag was lying. "What did I tell you?! No shopping, Gabriella!"

"I didn't buy it! Sharpay did. The credit card wasn't working."

"Obviously, genious. Didn't you hear what dad just said?" Dakota asked, rolling her eyes.

"Okay, you don't have to have such an attitude, you-" I began my rant, but my mother interrupted.

"We don't need your fighting!"

I sighed, mad. Everything I had would be gone. The clothes, the fame, the vacations, the parties. Everything was going to vanish like that, and I couldn't do anything about it.

My life was being taken away from me.

A/N: Okay so hopefully I haven't been forgotten on here, and people will still read and review my stories. I have a lot of ideas for this story, so please give it a chance. Review?