Heya! First fan fic evar! Hope you like it.

Disclaimer: Don't own HSM, never will.

Fifteen Minutes to Midnight

I slid the microphone back into the stand, and took a step back. The boy who sang with me - Troy- did the same, and we smiled at each other for a moment, before he hopped down from the edge of the stage. He started to leave, but stepped back, and offered out a hand to help me down. I took it, trying to keep my own from shaking.

Thank god that's over, I thought to myself. That was so embarrassing!

"You were really great up there," Troy told me, still holding onto my hand.

"Thanks," I said, trying not to blush. His hand was warms in mine, and when he let it go, I missed the feeling, for some reason.

"Gabriella, right?" he asked me. For some unknown reason, I could feel a blush spread across my cheeks, and I nodded, not trusting myself to speak unless I blurted something horribly shameful out, like I want your babies!

Not that I do, of course…or do I? This guy was incredibly attractive, and by the way he looked at me I could tell there was a similar thought process running through his head. His eyes were amazingly blue, and I once he looked at me, I found myself unable to look away.

"And you're Troy, aren't you? I've seen you around here before. Who are you here with?" For some reason, my tongue was put onto autopilot, and a confident persona took over, and the words just flowed off my tongue, even though it felt like a ratty old rug in my mouth.

"My parents. We came here to do some snowboarding and stuff. What about you?" he asked me.

"I came with my mom. We wanted to get away from everything, because New Year is just so hectic at home, and we've got boxes everywhere. So we decided to come here for the week, and then we'll settle in after the New Year," I said quietly. The noise of the bar threatened to drown me out, so Troy motioned to the door, and we went outside.

"So, where are you from?" I asked him, trying to make conversation as we settled into two spare chairs outside. The patio heaters kept it from being too cold outside, and I was glad for them, because my jacket was in the hotel room.

"Albuquerque, New Mexico . I go to East High. Captain of the basketball team," he said, puffing out his chest as he did so. I could tell he was proud of himself. Wait a minute, I thought.

"I'm transferring to East High!" I told him excitedly. At least I'd know the Basketball Guy when I got there.

"Really?" he said, just as happy as me. After a brief moment, he regained his composure, and said, "Cool."

Five Minutes to Midnight

Troy and I had been talking for what seemed like an eternity when the man-with-the-microphone announced 5 minutes till the New Year.

"Wow. We've only known each other for ten minutes but I feel like I've known you for a year," he told me. I smiled happily.

"Maybe we're meant to know all about each other. Plus we won't have to do the awkward 'getting to know Gabi' sessions at school," I smiled shyly and looked away from him as I talked. I was getting to know the guy, sure, but I was still shy. He's cute!

"I'll need to find my parents after midnight, and I'm leaving early in the morning, so…can I get your phone number?" he asked, rushing the end part nervously, hands jammed in his pockets.

I nodded, trying not to giggle (such a girly thing to do) and the near-permanent blush on my face grew even redder.

I whipped my phone out, and snapped a picture of him beaming at me, before he did the same of me, and we traded phones to put our numbers in, before we gave them back.

I had to stop myself from hugging the phone in joy. I have popular guy's number in my phone! That had never happened to me before.

Instead, I snapped my phone shut, and pushed it into my pocket.

30 Seconds to Midnight

We began counting down the numbers with the rest of the people in the resort, and I eventually grew acutely aware of his eyes on me.

20…

"It was really nice to meet you," I told him, unable to control my mouth. "I'll see you at school?" I asked smiling at him.

10

"Definitely." He said, moving closer to me slightly.

"I'll phone you every day," I promised, smiling softly, but looking down.

5

I knew he was looking at me, so I looked up.

4

Wow. His eyes are so blue, I thought to myself stupidly. Somehow, they had managed to turn me to jelly with a single look.

3

Without me realizing it, we had both taken a step forwards, and were inches away from one another.

2

My gaze flickered down to his lips for the briefest moment, before I leaned upwards.

1

Our lips met as the fireworks began to go off around us, and people cheered. Not for us of course. For the New Year. Fireworks began to go off in my stomach, head and heart as we leaned closer together. My eyes were shut because I knew that if I opened them, even if it was just for a moment, I'd become too dizzy to stand. His arm snaked around my waist, and mine around his shoulders as a strange, warm sensation flooded through me. I liked this. I could get used to this.

And then it was over. We both seemed to come to our senses, and pulled away from each other slightly.

"I'm sorry," he said to me quietly, but his arm was still around my waist as he did so.

The blush was back in full force.

"I don't mind," I told him. "I might even let you do it again, one day." I winked at him.

"Well, that's the best New Years kiss I've ever had," he told me as his arm slipped from my waist. Without the support, I felt weak and shaky, a common symptom, I am told, of infatuation.

"I'd be offended if you'd had better," I joked.

I took his hand in mine, being bold for once, and leaned into his shoulder as we both looked at the fireworks display.

"I was told my first kiss would have fireworks," I mumbled. "And it did."

"Mine too." I looked at him for a moment, not quite sure if he'd just told me I was his first kiss. I didn't mind.

I settled back against him for a moment, before it was wrecked.

"Gabriella?" my mother shouted from within the complex. "Gabriella?" She came out of the sliding doors, and saw me with my arms wrapped around a strange boy.

"Gabriella, who's this?" she asked me, looking him up and down, as if to discern his credibility.

I pulled away from him quickly, and tried to rectify the situation.

"Mom, this is Troy Bolton. He goes to East High," I told her. She looked confused for a moment, before her eyes lit up in recognition.

"Oh, the new school?" Troy and I nodded. "Nice to meet you-"

"Troy!" came a voice from behind us. Troy looked up, and nearly winced in recognition. He straightened up visibly, and called out "Right here, Coach."

Your dad's the coach? I mouthed to him, having put the pieces together myself. They don't call me the Einsteinette for nothing.

He nodded awkwardly to me, before he looked up. His dad automatically reached out to ruffle his hair, but Troy dodged him easily. And that was when he caught sight of me.

"And who's this, Troy?" He asked loudly.

"Oh, this is Gabrielle," he said fairly non-chalantly. Almost immediately I could tell that he was the parent who pushed Troy to succeed.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Bolton. But we have to go pack now, so I'll see you at school, Troy."

Troy stepped forwards and hugged me, and as he did so, he whispered to me I'll call you tomorrow.

As he pulled away, I grinned happily.

"Bye, Gabi," he said as Mom pulled me away.

"Bye, Troy."