Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the High School Musical world, which is trademarked by Disney. I do not claim any ownership over them or the world of High School Musical. The story I tell here about Troy and Gabriella is my own invention, and it is not supported or believed to be part of Disney story canon. This story is for entertainment only and is not part of the official story line.

She was homeless.

Terrific.

"What do you mean new management?"

"New owners, as in a new landlord," George said as he made his way down the hall.

"But I've lived here for three years," Gabriella picked up the pace to keep up with him, her ponytail bobbing from side to side. "I baked you Christmas cookies."

"And they were fantastic." George said pausing to hang a letter of notice on the next door. "But my wife is tired. I'm tired. We're old. We want to travel. You're young. You don't understand."

"So take a stinking vacation." Gabriella tossed her hands up in the air the notice crinkling in her hand. "Why sell the building to these people?"

"Because I don't want to unclog toilets for the rest of my life," George huffed as he continued down the hall. "You're not the only one trying to live a better life kid."

At that Gabriella frowned, "My rent has been controlled all this time, I still have one more year of school to pay for and I don't know if you know this or not, but the economy is currently a shit hole."

"It's been a shit hole since some idiot invented the internet," George moved onto the next door not once looking her in the eye. This entire conversation was just some bothersome chore rather than the epic destruction of her entire college career.

"Will you at least look at me, while you ruin my life?"

At that he stopped and rolled his eyes as he looked down at her small stature. "You have two week Gabriella, get a roommate or find a new place."

Gabriella frowned as she watched George continue on down the hall. Turning around she made her way back to her apartment and let herself in. Now what was she going to do? She couldn't find a roommate on such short notice or an apartment for that matter. It was mid semester, everyone was settled in. All the affordable apartments available in town for the college student had been swept up by now.

God. Would she had to get another job?

Gabriella let out groan as she came over to her refrigerator and retrieved a water bottle. She loved her job. It gave her the chance to pursue the things she wanted, like college and food. Her life was good, better than it had been when she took the job at Wal-Mart. She had a routine. She got up in the afternoon, had something light to eat, and met Chad at the library to study. She went to class and then came home to work her shift. She finished her homework while she was on the phone and was in bed by daybreak.

It was an unconventional life, but it was good one until now.

The phone rang.

She'd have to think about all this later, for now she had to work. Gabriella picked up the phone her voice soft as she sat in her single chair, "Hello?"

At first the idea of whispering dirty words into a stranger's ear scared her. She'd worried about being appropriately creative, about fabricating a believable performance for the men who dialed her number. She even called a few hotlines herself for research purposes because prepared was the keystone to any successful venture. That and she had an obsession with doing everything to the absolute best, even something as seedy as phone sex.

The research had been a wasted effort and she'd worried needlessly about conjuring up a suitable performance. In fact she learned that the less she said the better. Besides at $3.99 a minute, where the average call hovered around the twelve minute mark that was roughly $240 an hour. Phone sex was definitely better than retail.

Listening to her male caller she picked up the nervous voice on the other end. "Is this Cindy?"

"Yes it is. Who's this?"

"This is Caleb. I'm a little nervous about this. I've never called one of these lines before."

Sure, Gabriella rolled her eyes, like she hadn't heard that line a million times before. "It's really easy. All I have to do is get a little information from you and then we'll be able to talk." For an extra humph she added. "I promise to be gentle."

A lot of people had a habit of thinking that phone sex operators were con-artist. She could never understand why. If she went crazy with shy little Caleb's credit card and racked up purchases all over the internet, it could be easily traced back to her. After all she'd be the one signing for deliveries.

The truth is that the opposite is actually the reality. Men were more likely to deny a charge for services rendered, especially if their wives found out that they had a little phone friend. If that happened, the company was fined, and she got a deduction in her paycheck.

"I'm a little nervous to tell you this. It's a little freaky." Caleb said.

A special-needs boy. Everyone always thought that "their thing" was different, always afraid that they'd be a little bit freakier than the others.

They weren't.

She'd talked to men who wanted her to be their own private giantess, who smashes them until they squirt like jelly between her toes.

She never got it either.

One caller wanted her to read passages of Treasure Island to him. It was something that reminded him of his Babysitter. So really, the chances that Caleb could come up with anything that might shock her were slim.

"Trust me Caleb, nothing you can say is going to shock me."

"Okay, well… I'll direct things, and you can just go along, okay?"

That should be easy enough, boring but possible. She'd actually have to pay attention to get her "Ahhh" and "Oh baby's" in the right places.

"Okay, you're on a spaceship."

Oh, a Trekkie. The thing she'd have to figure out was if he was fantasizing about being Captain Kirk or Spock.

Three days later.

Troy leaned on the door frame as he watched Mitch pack up the last of his things. It was the start of something new. Granted it was mid semester but what can you expect when someone graduates a little behind schedule.

Troy eyed the room greedily with a knowing smirk. At last his time had finally come. A new year, a new room, new possibilities. Crossing his arms over his chest he let out a breath made his presence known. "It's not going to be the same without you."

"Something tells me you'll manage," Mitch sighed as he zipped up his duffel bag and tossed it over his shoulder. Mitch was an outgoing senior, he was everything Troy wanted to be. Minus the graduating a little later than usual. Mitch was cool, he always got the girl, the grades, and he was a star player on the college's football team.

And now that Mitch was leaving his super large bedroom with attached bathroom was up for grabs.

"You're right, I totally will." Troy pulled out his measuring tape. "I'm only here to figure out the measurements for my new room."

"A little sure of yourself there Bolton?" Mitch let out a laugh as he began walking towards the door. "You know the house still has to vote on it."

"Right," Troy said with a cocky grin, "But come on, like anyone else has a chance?"

Mitch picked up his nerf football from the dresser on his way out. "True that."

"Exactly," Troy began to follow Mitch down the stairs. "I have the GPA, the popularity, the seniority and you've said it yourself. I'm your little mini me."

Mitch tossed his nerf ball up in the air and caught it as he came down to the landing. "Well then I'd say the room's as good as yours, use it wisely."

"You know I will," Troy smiled as he came to a stop on the last stair. He watched as the front door opened and Chad came in with his notebooks in one arm and a pen in his mouth and the house keys in his other free hand.

"Hey bro," Mitch greeted. "Just in time to see me off."

"Hey," Chad looked at his bag as he removed the pen from his mouth, "Leaving already?"

"Got to. Besides you boys can handle things from here," Mitch held out his hand to Troy and then Chad once the secret handshakes were passed around he let out a sigh and turned towards the rest of the house. "I'm going to really miss this place."

Chad smirked as he shifted his messenger bag over his shoulder, "It's not like you can't come visit."

"You know that's right," Mitch said tossing his nerf ball to Chad. "Keep this numb nut out of trouble," he said motioning towards Troy.

"Ha, ha, ha," Troy mocked as he grabbed the nerf ball from Chad. "I keep myself out of trouble just fine."

They both watched as Mitch opened the door to and let himself out. Leaving them quietly in the front entrance.

"We have to talk," Chad said immediately.

"Whoa," Troy jerked back a little as he began making his way to the kitchen. "Is this the part where you tell me we need to see other people?"

"This is serious man," Chad followed dumping his things on the sofa in the living room.

In total there were five boys that lived in the house, it was put together by Mitch three years ago after his freshmen year. It was off campus but close enough, four bedrooms and wide open living areas which was a bit rare this close to the college. The place was prime real estate.

"Yeah I'm listening," Troy strolled into the kitchen and made his way to the fridge. "What's up?"

"I have a friend and they need a place to stay."

"Perfect," Troy took out a two litter of RC and reach for a glass out of the cabinet, "Can they afford the rent?"

"Yes."

"Done. Move him into my old room." Troy began to pour his drink. "I won't need it for long anyway."

"Not done," Chad took a breath. "I was hoping that she could move into Mitch's old room."

"Whoa," Troy paused. "She?"

"She's being forced out of her place tomorrow and she really needs somewhere affordable to stay." Chad placed his hands on the counter. "Head of household can overrule a roommate's application. It's not a secret that as of this evening you'll be deemed head of the household."

"So what you're asking me to give up the room and override everyone else's vote all on my first night?"

"No," Chad tried to reason, "I'm sure no one else is going mind."

"I beg to differ."

"I know that her moving in would be against everything we originally wanted for this place but-"

"You'd be right. No girls allowed. That's the first freaking rule."

"But I also know that if you say your fine with it everyone else will be too."

"But I'm not fine with it. I'm losing out."

Chad let out a breath as he rubbed the top of his head pushing some of his hair back. "Look her mom was friends with my dad and her mom died last year. She really has nowhere else to go."

"Oh well in that case," Troy said putting the two litter back in the fridge.

"Really?"

"No." Troy pushed the fridge shut with a bit of extra force. "This is ridiculous; this place is an all boy's residence."

"We're off campus, and lots of places on campus are co-ed."

"We still have our own rules."

"But they are rules you can change."

"She's a girl!" Troy frowned. "I don't care what you say. A female in an all boy's residence is not ideal for her or for us. That's like always being a step away from a sexual harassment suit at all times."

"Trust me she isn't like that."

"They're all like that," Troy shook his head. "Let's say even if I said it was okay. There are three other men in this house who are gonna not be okay with it."

Just then Jason strolled into the kitchen. "Be okay with what?"

"I have someone who's ready to move in and can afford Mitch's half of the rent," Chad began.

"Sounds awesome."

Troy let out a breath, "It's a girl."

A pause filled the room as both Chad and Troy waited for Jason's reaction.

"Can we do that?" Jason said finally as he came over to the counter table in the middle of the kitchen.

"We can if she takes Mitch's old room. It has its own bathroom and living space she can be perfectly comfortable," Chad said.

"Well yeah, but that room is supposed to be reserved for the head of household," Troy argued.

"So?" Jason shrugged his shoulders, "aren't you the head of house?"

"Not officially." Troy smirked.

"But you will be," Chad supplied.

Troy rolled his eyes, "I don't even know this woman. Why am I getting the shit end of the stick?"

Jason rolled his eyes, "So this isn't about her being a girl, this is about you giving up your room."

"I didn't say that," Troy defended, "I just said we don't know her. Some nobody comes in here suddenly and takes the biggest room? That's not gonna go over well with Ryan or Zeke."

"Zeke's fine with it," Chad held up his phone with a text from Zeke.

"I don't even think Ryan cares," Jason shrugged.

Troy shook his head. "This is a house full of guys, there are parties here almost every weekend? What makes you so sure that she even wants to be here?"

"She's desperate."

"Really," Jason made a face. "What like, she doesn't have any friends?" Jason asked reaching for a box of cookies from the top of the fridge.

"No one with a room to spare."

Troy gritted his teeth as he put his glass down. "Seriously, this is how it is. If I don't give this random stranger my room, which I've worked my ass off for … I'm an asshole."

"Yeah," Jason and Chad said in unison.

Troy tossed his head back and let out deep breath. "Fine."

Chad and Jason high-fived in victory.

"Let the others know before you move her in here." Troy said sternly.

"Thanks man," Chad pulled out his cellphone.

"One pink whatever in the main living space and she's out." Troy said sternly before making his way out of the kitchen, before he was out of the kitchen he turned around. "And she's your responsibility."

"Of course."

Later that evening Chad called Gabriella with the news and she was more than eager to meet him for a snack in one of the coffee shops just off campus.

"Oh my god, I seriously don't know how to repay you!"Gabriella let out a breath of relief as she leaned back in her chair. "Seriously, if the idea of kissing you didn't make me want to vomit, I'd totally kiss you."

Chad smiled, "It's the least I can do." Chad shoved another cookie into his mouth.

"I just can't believe all this happening to me. I've been living in that apartment for three years."

Chad rolled his eyes. "You mean, you've hiding in that apartment for three years."

Gabriella frowned as she looked up at Chad, "It's not hiding. I've never into the party scene. You know that."

"Doesn't mean a one or two wouldn't kill you."

Gabriella frowned, "Chad you know that's not how I am. I'm just not like that."

"Your profession says otherwise."

"Shut up," she let out a huff. Chad was the only other person in the world, other than her boss and few people on payroll, who knew what she did for a living. The idea of people knowing made her cringe. She was definitely not a beauty queen, or particularly popular, but she always done well in school.

She'd never been one for trouble, she gotten mostly A's and she kept to herself. On the outside all of her friends and neighbors thought she was the most pulled together person they'd ever met.

She didn't feel that way. Nothing about her life was pulled together most of the time, but it was nice that people had such an impression of her. But if they only knew.

"You're a phone whore."

"Phone actress," she corrected.

"Phone whore. You're talking nasty for money, right?" Chad let out a laugh as she picked up a cookie and took a small bite. "You know you can't do this forever, maybe it's time you got a normal job? I heard Wal-marts looking for your replacement still."

"This pays more, there are incentives and a bonus and…"

Chad held up a hand to silence her, "I don't want to hear what your bonus is. Jesus!"

Gabriella eyes narrowed as she playfully reach across the table and gave him a shove. "Grow up, it's not like I'm asking you to ask me about my boobs." At one point in middle school, her mother and his father were dating, so Chad came close to being her stepbrother. Only her mother had been to strong willed for his father and they had broken up.

She'd been crushed at the time because she worshiped Chad, he was always so easy going and wise. She desperately wanted him as a bother. But life is life, as her mother would often say. So she and Chad remained close as best friends over the years.

"The less I know about your boobs the happier I am."

"They aren't my boobs. They're Cindy's boobs. She my character, I told you: its acting."

"Tell yourself what you want." Chad looked around the shop ensuring they weren't being overheard. "You're kind of like a hooker."

"AM NOT," Gabriella tossed a wadded up napkin at him.

Chad laughed as he swatted the napkin away, "Fine, you're an actress. Happy now?"

"Excited," Gabriella let out a sigh as she settled into her seat. "I need more friends. People who understand me."

"You do. I won't disagree with that."

Gabriella smile lifted at the corner, "yeah, well if only people liked me."

"They like you; the reason you don't have any friends is because you don't put yourself out there. You hide away in your room all day and you never taking any risks."

"I don't hide away," she defended. "I work at home. I go to school, I do errands, and I hang out at the coffee shops to study. I am around if people want to find me."

"And men?" Chad added as he grabbed another cookie, "When was the last time you went on a date."

"Stop it," Gabriella rolled her eyes.

"Girlfriend then?"

"You think I'm a lesbian?"

Chad shrugged. "Are you?"

Gabriella leaned back in her seat. "No. I like men."

"Then talk to one." Chad lifted his mug, "go to a party and meet one."

Gabriella rolled her eyes, "Don't start that bullshit with me, even if I did go hang out at some stupid party, I'm never going to meet the right guy while people are dancing to songs about trap queens and twerking."

Chad let out a laugh, "Fair enough."

"So do I really get my own bathroom?"

"Yup, your own room and bathroom, did I tell you or what? I could hook you up."

"And they really don't mind me moving in, you know? Being a girl and all."

"No one even brought it up," Chad shrugged his shoulders.

Gabriella smiled as she leaned back, "Well, now I have so much to do." Getting up from her seat she came over to where Chad was sitting and wrapped her arms around him. "Really I can't thank you enough."

Chad settled back in his chair as he lifted his coffee cup to his lips. "I'll be by tomorrow morning to help you out." He called out as she ran off towards the door.