Gabriella leaned on her locker as she watched the amazing Troy Bolton and his group of friends high five each other. Her throat was tight, her legs showed promise of weakness. She gripped her books tighter to her chest. If only they'd never been assigned to work on that history project together, he was failing and the basketball team was in danger of losing their star player so she offered her assistance. Gabriella bit her lip this is the part that the romance novels and romantic comedies don't tell you about. This is the other beauty and geek story that mothers keep hidden from their daughters.

Gabriella took a step forward as Troy's group began to disburse. Sharpay leaned over and kissed his lips and Gabriella ducked into a classroom doorway. He'd been dating Sharpay for two years, and in one night she became a home wrecker. If only she hadn't wore that pink dress, if only the strap never fell, if only his hand hadn't touched her skin. Gabriella felt her shoulder spark with the same tingles it did when he touched her. Leaning over to look she was walking away and Troy was walking her way.

Gabriella stepped in his way, "Troy?"

He froze, "Brie,"

She like that name, if only he hadn't given her, her very own nickname and said in a way that made her inside shake. "Troy we have to talk?" it hurt to talk; she almost struggled to make noises.

"I'm late for class," he said nervously looking around. "I have to go,"

"Troy about the other night," Gabriella said but her mind she knew it was exactly 14 days 8 hours and 45 seconds since that one moment.

"Look, I didn't know you were a virgin," he said in a low voice, "I'm with Sharpay, I'm sorry but I just, I messed alright." Troy said placing a hand on her shoulder. "The projects over and we both got A's let's just leave things alone."

"I.."

"We just got a little carried away is all," Troy let out another breath. "Schools almost out and soon we'll all be going our separate ways, it's pointless to make this a big deal."

Gabriella felt a cold sweat climb through her body and attack her from the inside out. "But Troy,"

"Brie, I really just want to be friends."

Gabriella swallowed and felt her body slowly disappearing in embarrassment. She nodded, her voice to constrain by her rapidly closing throat.

"I knew you'd agree," he said with a smile. "Chin up, hope to see you in the stands tomorrow." He said as he moved backward winking her way and then turning around to leave.

Gabriella placed an open hand over her small flat stomach, she was 6 days late and no signs of her period, she didn't know what to do, she didn't know what to say, a sob escaped her lips and Gabriella brought the same hand over mouth. Quickly she ducked into a nearby bathroom where she sat in the bathroom stall and cried.

9 years later.

"Dad?" Gabriella grabbed her keys off the hook. "I'm going to the store to get milk, do you need anything?" Gabriella looked at the pile of mail on the table as she waited for a response. When she didn't get one she put the mail down and walked into the living room. "Dad?"

Luis opened his eyes and looked over at his daughter, "I'm sorry sweet pea you say something?"

"Dad, if you're tired go to sleep in your bed," she said bending over to pick up some clothes from the floor. "It's not good for you back to be sleeping in that old chair."

"Leave an old man alone will ya, I've taken naps in this chair since you were 5 years old." he said pushing himself up from it.

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "I'm going to store do you need anything?"

He thought for a moment and then held up a finger. "We need milk."

Gabriella let out a sigh as shook her head. "Jake?" she called as she walked into the bathroom to place all the clothes into the hamper. "Jake, wanna come with me to the store?"

"Coming mommy," The sound of his little feet came running down the hall. "Can I get cereal?" he asked looking up at her with his blue eyes.

"Yes, and we can stop for ice cream on the way, how does that sound?"

"Amazing!" he said jumping up his shaggy dirty blond hair shifting about as he play an invisible air guitar.

Gabriella watched her son as he made noises for his invisible instrument. Six years ago she was sure her whole world was over; looking back she knew her world was just starting. With her father's help she was able to go to the community college and get herself a business degree, she was now in the process of taking over her father's hardware store and working part time at a garage in town fixing up cars. Gabriella smirked, "Go get your shoes on, and get a clean shirt." she said as he ran off. Gabriella looked back at her father who was hunched over a bit holding his back as he moved slowly to the kitchen.

Gabriella looked back at the chair, as he got older his body couldn't bounce back as it use too. Gabriella knew what was coming; she knew there was only going to be misfortune in her future. Her father had diabetes, which he wasn't fully taking care of, his bones were in constant pain and he refused to see a doctor. Gabriella crossed her arms as she pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind and when to go check on her son.

The bell rang over the door as she and Jake walked into the ice cream shop. "Jake what kind of ice cream do you want?"

"Bubble gum, bubble gum, bubble gum." He chanted as he jumped up and down. Gabriella laughed as she ruffled his hair and reached into her wallet for some money.

"Gabi, have you heard?" Martha gave a costumer an ice cream cone and flew down the counter to where Gabriella was standing.

"Heard what?" she said leaning on the counter as Jake little eyes looked over the counter at Martha. His fingers came up over the counter and Martha couldn't help but smile, when he was 6 she couldn't even see him over the counter.

Martha looked at Jake, "What will you be having this afternoon Jakey?" Martha smiled as she looked over the counter at him.

"I want one scoop of bubble gum ice cream."

"Coming right up sir," she said with a smirk. Martha got a cone and then looked back at Gabriella, "He's coming to town."

Gabriella who was looking at ice cream flavors herself looked back at Martha, "Who's coming to town?"

Martha scooped up the ice cream and placed it in the cone. "Mr. L.A. Lakers himself." She said smiling as she gave the cone to Jake.

Gabriella stilled as she watched Jake grab his cone with two hands and give it a good old fashion lick around the bottom.

"Why?" she asked looking back at Martha.

"He got injured in last week game, doctors are saying he needs some time off to heal so naturally those reporters are saying that he's coming here. It's something about missing his old time town." Martha rolled her eyes. "Didn't know we were so old fashion."

"Well that's just a crock and a half?" Gabriella said looking away and at the windows. It was annoying how faster her heart was beating, pulling at a strings of hope, nine years ago she prayed he would come back that he'd see the light and realize it was her he wanted to spend his life with. That somehow his future saw her in it, but Gabriella grew since then, at least she though she did. Nowadays she wanted to be left alone. She didn't date, didn't make the effort, as far as she was concerned her son was the only man she had to make happy. So why was there suddenly a flame of excitement at the idea of seeing him after all this time?

"See that's what I thought, I even thought that it was just a bunch of baloney, but then I heard Ryan on the phone with Chad who says that he going to be visiting his parents and that he misses this place which for the life of me I don't understand seeing as how he couldn't leave fast enough." Martha said getting another cone. "What will you be having this afternoon?"

"Do you have anything that might make me invisible?" Gabriella said in embarrassment. Jake had Troy's signature blue eyes, he had Troy's hair, her son no matter how much she tried to not think of Troy, he son looked and walked like Troy Bolton. Gabriella bit her lip looking down at Jake who was about four giant licks in. She needed to relax, no one was going to find out, what were the chances that the in 9 years Troy would even remember her name.

"Calm down, it's not a big deal it's not like he knows or like he's going to come looking just for you." Martha said with a shrug as she scooped up some Vanilla ice cream. "You're going to be fine, you'll see it's like he won't even be here."

Gabriella nodded along with Martha. "Your right, I mean he's got so much to deal with he's probably doesn't even remember me or that night."

"What night mommy?"

Gabriella looked down at Jake, "Nothing sweetie eat your ice cream." Gabriella looked back up at Martha. "I got get going to the market, I'll call you later tonight."

"Alright, be good Jake, no giving mommy a hard time you hear?"

"Yes maim," Jake said with a smile as he followed his mother out the door.

Gabriella licked her ice cream as gentle breeze brush along her skin. Taking Jake's hand she began to cross the street. "You want a peanut butter and Jelly sandwich for lunch tomorrow?" she asked her son.

"Yes please, Sarah had one yesterday but her mommy cuts the brown off." he said taking another lick.

"Well not all mommies have that kind of time," Gabriella pushed open the door to the market and let Jake go ahead of her. She had a hard enough time managing her father's store her job at the garage and her family. Gabriella took a deep breath and now this whole Troy thing.

"Miss Montez you're looking good," Ernie said with a smile as he lean on the counter. He was an older man, a friend of her fathers and he'd owned the market for the last 23 years. Her father would tell her that Ernie was one of the main reasons he opened up the hardware store on this street. There just no beating a small town friendly face feeling.

"Thank you Ernie, I can always count on you for flattery." Gabriella smirked as she walked pass the front counter and to the back. "I got those door hinges you order last week, if you come on by the store a little later I'll make sure their ready."

"That's sweet of you girl." The old man said. "How the single world this days?" he asked as he turned the page of his magazine. "You know that Selena and Justin kid finally admit their getting down."

"That been the word on the street for a few days now Ernie, you're getting rusty on me." she said with a laugh. Ernie loved celebrity gossip, he read all the tabloids and all the magazines in his store.

"Well then it was the word now there saying it's a real deal, pregnant rumors and everything." He called out as he flipped the page again. "You hear about that basket ball player who's coming to town. Troy I think his name is."

Gabriella rolled her eyes as she carried her items in the basket to the front of the store. "I went to high school with him," Gabriella replied. "he's a prick." She mumbled.

"What's a prick mom?"

"Never mind and don't repeat what I say." she said taking the jelly off the shelf on the way to the front.

"He ruptured some tendon, might not be playing for a while if at all." He said pulling the basket closer to him as she put it on the counter.

"He hated this town, said it was too small for all those dreams he had in mind." Gabriella reached for her wallet and took out her money while Ernie began to ring things up.

"Well I remember there was a time your father came in here one time talking about a little girl who wanted nothing more than to leave this old sleepy town."

"I was a kid," Gabriella said watching Jake lick his ice cream, and licking her own. "I thought I was meant for something."

"You are meant for something," Ernie said with a smile.

"Something more than just running the hardware store and working at Lou's car shop, I just thought I'd be doing something with my life by now."

"But you are, young boys don't grow up on their own." he said looking at Jake who was too involved with his ice cream to care. "You were born for greatness, making sure that little boy has everything he needs."

Gabriella let out a sigh, "Thanks Ernie" Gabriella looked up at the kindness in his eyes and she smiled. "You're a charmer Ernie,"

"So I'm told," he said with a chuckle.

Gabriella placed her hand on Jake's shoulder. "We should get going my shift starts in an hour," She said pulling him closer. "I come by the shop on my break and install those hinges myself." She said looking back at Ernie.

"Alright, I keep an eye out for you." He said with a nod.