Hey, this is my second feature-length story. It is set at the beginning of college life for Troy and Gabriella. Hope you like it :)

My Freaky Genius Girl

Crossing the courtyard of Stanford University, Gabriella Montez headed to her first class. Having completed the freshman honor's program over the summer and thoroughly enjoyed it, she had been looking forward to starting the new semester as an official student. As she walked along the halls, trying to locate the correct room, she looked ahead in the distance and froze. Suddenly she could feel her heart pounding in fear. What is he doing here? She thought sheepishly.

Gabriella then realised that she was standing just outside her new classroom, and stood next to it, leaning against the wall. She would recognise the blond-haired, blue-eyed young man she had just spotted anywhere. She couldn't forget that face. Glancing in his direction, she saw to her relief that he was walking away, in the opposite direction to where she was. She let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. Just when she thought she had finally let go of the old Gabriella; something from her past had to turn up. And now she felt she had been transformed back into the old, shy, meek version of herself.

She shook her head and put the thought to the back of her mind, as she noticed the professor arriving and then gesturing her and the other students into the classroom. For the rest of the morning, Gabriella forced herself to concentrate on her classes, and to focus on the initial enthusiasm she had started the day with. Then at lunch, her phone rang and, knowing that it would be Troy, she began to falter as she answered his call. "Hello," she greeted quietly. Troy knew instantly that something was not quite right. "Hey Gabi. Are you okay? You don't sound too happy," he asked worriedly.

Despite her obvious upset, Gabriella managed a smile when she heard how concerned her boyfriend was. She knew that Troy would always be there for her. But she had never told him all the details about her past. He knew that she had moved a lot; but he didn't know what had happened to her in between all these moves. It was a long story that she did not want to go into over the phone. "Hey, Wildcat. I'm okay, really. Just had a bit of a shock this morning, that's all. I'll tell you about it when I see you tomorrow."

Troy wasn't convinced that his girlfriend was okay, as she had tried to assure him; but he knew that she would confide in him eventually, so he didn't push her on the subject. "Okay, well if you're sure," he replied. They spent the next five minutes discussing their plans for the following day. Troy wasn't due to start at Berkeley University for another two days, so he was going to drive the 32.7 miles to see her. First, he would meet her for lunch, and then after her classes were finished for the day they were going to spend the entire afternoon and evening together.

Checking her watch, Gabriella said goodbye to Troy, telling him she would call him later that night. She had twenty minutes until her next class was due to begin, so she went to find somewhere to buy a drink. But as she approached a nearby vending machine, somebody bumped into her. "Oh, sorry," she said, looking up to see who it was. She found herself staring directly at the face she thought she had left behind years ago. And then she heard the voice that had managed to fill her with dread every time she heard it. "Well, well, look who it is," he stated cockily. "The freaky genius girl."

At the mention of her old nickname, Gabriella flinched. But then she thought about how much she had changed in the past few years. Why should she be scared of him? She had been brave enough to stand up to Sharpay Evans, the girl who thought she owned East High. She knew she could stand up to this guy now. A sense of calm washing over her, Gabriella replied coolly, "Hi, Mark." Seeing her easy response, Mark was clearly a little rattled, but didn't give up. "Trying to be brave, Montez?" he asked. She gave him a pleasant smile and replied, "do I need to be? I'm not scared of you, if that's what you mean."

Mark's face changed at this, and anger rose up inside him as he suddenly grabbed hold of both of Gabriella's wrists, grasping them tightly. "Don't think you can talk to me like that, Montez," he whispered. Then, quick as a flash, he left, leaving a stunned Gabriella holding her wrists in pain. Sure, she could stand up to him vocally. But physically, she did not stand a chance. Her old high school bully was back.

Please review!

Next chapter, Gabriella has another nasty encounter with Mark; and Troy visits. Will she open up to him about what she's been through?