Disclaimer: I do not own HSM or any of the characters from it.

The cold shower room water splashed onto his well built body. He stood there letting the water do the work. He did this every time before a game whoever it was against. It was his routine and everyone had to wait, before the match could start and no one would go against it. It's not that they didn't have a problem with it, it's just no one had the guts to stand up or to speak up to him. Most people knew if they did, their bones would be broken as no one told him what to do. He was his own boss, not his dad, not his teachers, not his friends, he was.

He turned off the shower and wrapped his towel around his waist. He slowly walked out of the shower room with each step he took water dripping off him. As most girls would say he looked hot in a murderous way. He was a cold person. He was a person who wouldn't show his feelings. Some people thought he didn't even have any feelings. When people thought he was showing his feelings it was always in a bad way such as when he was bullying someone which was a way of getting rid of anger for him or when he was having a fight which was usually when some one had pissed him off. Also the girls thought he was showing his feelings when he was messing around with them but it really meant nothing to him. If people really did know him well enough -which most people didn't even if they said they did - would know that even if he was smiling his eyes were always a dark icy blue. The only real time a glint of happiness would be in his eyes was when he was playing basketball that was his only true joy.

He tied his shoe lace and got off the bench and slammed his locker shut. He throw his towel into the towel basket and started walking at a slow pace towards the gym as the water still dripped from his long shaggy brown hair. That was the way he liked it and so did many girls but he didn't care about that. He was a pure lady's man. He had the looks many girls liked in guys with great hair, great body, great looks and he knew they liked it so he would use them for his benefits.

He opened the door to the gym. He saw his team the West High Knights on one side of the court warming up and one the other side were the East High Wildcats. He knew this wasn't going to be a tough match as it was against one of the poorer schools of New York or as he would say they were a 'Ghetto School' as his school was for the rich kids of New York. His dad was coach of the West high Knights as well as having his own basketball clothes and equipment company, giving him plenty of money to spend. He was a selfish person and didn't care if he showed it. Anyone that wasn't rich as him, he would call them tramps, worthless people or waste of space or he would say much much worse.

Kids from his school had already started to chant his name loudly. The lights went off and the spot light started move around. The grin on his face grew. This is what he liked, he was in control. He didn't have to do anything or ask for it, he always got an entrance. The spotlights had moved a bit ahead of him and he knew what he had to do.

"West High Knights get ready to welcome your captain, the one, the only.....TROY BOLTON!" the announcer announced. All the Knights were screaming and cheering him on. He stepped into the spotlight and raised his arms above him and clapped along with everyone. He was Troy Bolton, the captain, the player, the bully, the fighter, the golden boy, the King.

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The score was already 96-34 to the Knights and they still had 15 minutes to go. Troy looked over to the East High cheerleaders. The girl that was leading the others in Troy's opinion was hot and was incredibly sexy as she swayed her hips. Her wavy, curly hair bounced up and down as she danced which made hair against her tanned complexion look great. Her petite, curvy body moved gracefully along with the music. But Troy knew he couldn't meddle with her but he was going to have some fun.

As Troy dribbled past the East High cheerleaders, he quickly glanced at the girl who was right now standing on top of two other girls. When there eyes met he winked at her and carried on towards the basket.

Gabriella Montez was the girl at the top of the girls and couldn't believe what just had happened. Troy Bolton had just winked her. She thought to herself, How dare he just wink! Who does he think he think he is? I'm not one of his stinking cheerleaders he can mess around with. Gabriella had totally lost her concentration and lost her balance. She fell off the two girls and landed on the floor with a thump. All the other cheerleaders had gathered around her to see if she was okay. The West High students were all laughing their heads off and so were the basketball team. The East High's basketball team had gone over to see if she was okay but were moved away by the referee.

"Boys everything is being sorted here. So get back on court. Smith she's fine," said Coach Baxter.

Troy looked over to the cheerleaders and saw Gabriella sitting on the bleachers rubbing her elbow. She had realised someone was looking at her so she looked up and saw Troy looking at her so glared at him. Instead of getting mad, he smirked at her and winked at her again and turned his attention back to the game.

Gabriella was mad right know. She had suddenly become his victim of teasing but she wasn't going to let him get to her.

"Gabi are you okay?" asked her African-American best friend Taylor as she sat down next to her. They had known each other since they were two when Gabriella had moved in next door to her. Automatically they become friends and the two of them grew up together going through crushes, boyfriends, first day of high school, break ups whatever it was they were there for each other.

"Yeah Gabi are sure your fine and why was Troy Bolton looking at you?" asked her other best friend Sharpay who sat on the other side of Gabriella. Unlike Taylor, Gabriella hadn't known Sharpay that long. The two of them had met on the first day of High School and had automatically clicked as well had did Taylor. Sharpay could be a mean person if someone was rude to her or to her friends but really she was a great person. That was how she got the nickname Ice Princess; she hated the nickname because people were just judging her.

"Troy Bolton was looking at you!" said Taylor.

"I'm fine and he was looking at me be.. because.....,"hesitated Gabriella as she spoke.

"Spit it out girl," said Sharpay.

"Okay but promise you won't tell Nathan," said Gabriella.

"What are you going out with Troy Bolton?" shrieked Sharpay a bit too loud that all the other cheerleaders turned towards them.

"I'm not going out with that jerk and why would when I have Nathan," explained Gabriella.

"Then why did Sharpay say you were?" asked Tiffany.

"Because Sharpay jumps to conclusions quickly, don't you Sharpay," said Gabriella as she looked at Sharpay.

"No I don't," said Sharpay as she folded her arms. All the girls looked at her. "Okay I do."

They laughed and went back to there own conversations.

"I was going to say that he was the one that distracted me to make me fall. He winked at me and caught me off guard. And he was staring at me so I glared at him then he smirked at me and then winked at me," said Gabriella.

"He's such a jerk, trying to make a fool out of us. Hey why don't we make him look like a fool," said Taylor

"Yes, let's do that," said Sharpay.

"I have an idea," said Gabriella. She whispered into Sharpay's and Taylor's ear her plan. "Got it?"

"Yep now lets wait for Mr Bolton to move past us," said Sharpay.

Five minutes were left till the game ended and the score was 121-46. Troy thought he'd have some fun again. So again he dribbled the ball past Gabriella and when he made eye contact, he winked at her. But this time instead of getting mad she winked back at him which made trip over a bit making the wildcats laugh. When Troy looked at them again while he was dribbling, Gabriella, Taylor and Sharpay blew him kisses which shocked him like mad and this time made him lose his concentration making Nathan able to take the ball and do a lay up and score which made the East Wildcats to cheer him on.

"Troy, what the hell was that!" his dad yelled from the bench. "Get back into the game right know."

While he was running to the other side, he turned his head back and glared at her with pure anger in his eyes and this time like him she just winked at him and got back talking to Taylor and Sharpay.

The game ended with the Knights winning with 130 and Wildcats 50. All the East High cheerleaders went over to the team. Nathan went over to Gabriella and wrapped his arms around her and asked,

"Are you okay? How come you fell over? I've never seen any of your routines go wrong."

"I'm fine. I just got a bit distracted that's all," lied Gabriella. She didn't want to tell Nathan the truth because she knew he would get mad and would get into a fight with Troy and would lose. It wasn't that Nathan wasn't strong it's just that Troy was stronger and she knew that from his past fights.

"Okay," said Nathan grumpily and looked down at his and Gabriella's intertwined hands.

"Hey what's wrong?" asked Gabriella.

"Nothing. It's just we just lost our first game of the season," answered Nathan.

"It's only the first game and you still have the rest of the season and you never know what could happen. You have great team behind you," said Gabriella.

"I guess so," said Nathan.

"Good and this should make you feel better," said Gabriella who tiptoed and kissed Nathan on the lips. She had been dating him since her sophomore year at East High and it would be there two year anniversary next week but she still was unsure if he was the right one for her. She did feel sparks with him but they were only sparkles not fireworks. He did have a great personality which Gabriella loved but he could be a bit controlive which Gabriella would get sick. Also he could be way overprotective as well. One other thing that made Gabriella unsure was that he always says he loves her. She did like him a lot but she didn't love him. Nathan licked Gabriella's bottom lip for him to enter but she broke away.

"Gabrieeellaa," whined Nathan.

"No that's all you get," said Gabriella.

"I'll just find another way to let me later," whispered Nathan in Gabriella's ear.

"Whatever, you just try," said Gabriella. Nathan took Gabriella's hand and led her to the rest of the team.

"Ah you guys finished your small make out session. I'm glad you kept it PG-13," said Chad. Chad was vice captain of the basketball team. He was great guy who also had short fussed temper but rarely ever had to show it. He was like a brother to Gabriella and was a great friend to Nathan. Also he had being going out with Taylor since freshmen year and Gabriella knew that was true love between them.

"Shut up Chad," said Gabriella as she blushed.

"You know its true Gabs," said Chad. Just then Troy and the Knights basketball team and the cheerleaders came up to them.

"Nice match don't you think Danforth?" asked Troy who smirked at him.

"What do you want Bolton?" said Chad who really didn't want hear Troy's crap.

"Hey I just wanted to say it was a good match. No other ghetto school has scored that much against us so you should be proud of your self," said Troy as slapped Chad's cheek gentle. Chad shoved Troy's hand away and stepped closer to Troy so they were face to face.

"What did you say we were?" said Chad through his clenched teeth.

"I said you were a ghetto school. So why don't go back to your ghetto area and dream of what it would be like to live the rich life where you will never be. This isn't a place where you belong," said Troy. Chad about to launch his self at him but was stopped by Gabriella who had stepped in between them.

"Chad don't he's not worth it," said Gabriella as she held him back.

"Ah look Danforth your girlfriend has to stick up for you," said Troy. Gabriella held back Chad again as try to go towards Troy.

"Gabriella I didn't see you at the cheerleader championships were not good enough to get in," said the head cheerleader next to Troy with shortest skirt Gabriella had ever seen which didn't cover much.

"That's because we aren't cheerleaders we only take that place when were cheering on the basketball team. We are actually dance team so we went to the dance championships," explained Gabriella.

"And wear did you come, dead last," said Troy which made the Knights team howl with laughter.

"No actually we came first," said Gabriella.

"Well at least your school's good at something," said Troy which made Nathan, launch his self but Gabriella held him back.

"Ah look you lot are that much of tramps that you share the same girlfriend but see why she is quite hot but I'm not that bad to share a girl," said Troy as he checked Gabriella up and down. Chad and Nathan had it and both there self forward at Troy moving Gabriella out of the way. They throw punches at him but luckily he ducked in time. Troy's temper had gone as well so he start to throw punches at them luckily Chad moved out of the way but Nathan was unlucky and got punched in the head making him hold his head. Now Troy had him he left Chad and kicked Nathan in stomach making him stumble over. Nathan went forward and punched Troy in his stomach making him lean forward.

"Nathan stop!" screamed Gabriella. "You guys stop him." The basketball team pulled back Nathan and the other team pulled back Troy.

"Get the fuck off me!" roared Troy as he pulled his self away from the guys.

"Let me go so I kill him," said Nathan as he tried to move his self towards Troy.

"Well you aren't going that far we."

"Shut your fucking trap," Nathan shouted back.

"Would you two just shut up," said Gabriella. "I'm going and Nathan once you're done you can meet me outside." Gabriella finished her sentence and walked out of the gym. As she walked out of the gym tears started to drip down her face. She did care about him and hated it when he had fights. Also he had promised he would try not to have fights but he would always do it. Gabriella got out of the school, breathing in the cold evening air. She sat down on the step outside the school hoping Nathan wouldn't be too stupid to carry on the fight.

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In the gym after Gabriella left...

"Oh it looks like your girlfriend mad at you for being a bit stupid," said Troy as he smirked.

"Shut up," said Nathan. He pulled his self away from the basketball team. He had suddenly had calmed down. Gabriella had that type effect on him. He started to head towards the direction Gabriella left but was stopped by Chad as he put his hand on his shoulder.

"Dude, get changed first, then go see her. She needs some time alone. You know how she is," explained Chad.

"You're right," said Nathan. The team followed Nathan towards the changing room. As they walked Nathan hoped he hadn't screwed up with Gabriella again.

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As Gabriella waited outside, the cold air taking over her body as she sat there. Gabriella rubbed her arms, trying to warm herself up. Just then a young boy came up to her and said,

"I was told to give you this." He handed Gabriella a brown hoodie.

"Thanks, but who told you to give you this?" Gabriella asked the boy.

"I was told not to tell you," answered the boy.

"Well give him this as my way to say thanks," said Gabriella as she took her ring off her small finger and gave it to the boy. "And this is for you." Gabriella lent forward and kissed the boy on the cheek making him blush.

"I will," said the boy and ran off. Gabriella slipped the hoodie over her. It was too big for her but it felt perfect. She hugged the hoodie tighter. The smell of the hoodie was different it felt gentle at the same time as dangerous which gave Gabriella more goosebumps then she already had. The smell wasn't like Nathan's it was different and she liked it.

After a couple of minutes the East High Wildcats came outside in there own set of clothes hoping the bus had arrived. Gabriella noticed them and stood up and joined them as they towards the car park. Nathan walked over to Gabriella with her stuff in his hand.

"I brought your stuff," said Nathan as her tried to make some conversation but failed as Gabriella just took her bag and put it over her shoulder and carried on walking.

"I'll carry your bag I don't mind," said Nathan but Gabriella ignored him.

"Gabriella, please talk to me. I'm sorry," moaned Nathan. Gabriella turned towards him and looked at him.

"You always say that but you don't mean because if you did you wouldn't have fights every time after a basketball game," explained Gabriella. Everyone had carried on walking and left them two as they knew they shouldn't get involved.

"Gabi I am sorry. What else am I suppose to do? Wrap my arms and legs up after a game," suggested Nathan.

"That wouldn't be a bad idea," said Gabriella.

"Look listen I am sorry and this time I mean it and I'll also I'll go to the counsellor to get some help. Are happy know?" said Nathan as he looked at Gabriella.

"A bit," said Gabriella.

"Does that mean your talking to me, then?" asked Nathan as he took Gabriella's hand.

"I guess so," said Gabriella.

"Yes!" said Nathan as he took Gabriella into his arms. Gabriella leant her head onto his shoulder, hoping they wouldn't have an argument again. When she looked up she saw Troy getting into his black Audi R8 with the head cheerleader. Gabriella's eyes meet with Troy's; his were full of anger and lust as he watched the two of them. One thing he hated was couples and relationship; that was why he never kept any. Gabriella broke the eye contact when she broke away from Nathan.

"Come on lets," said Gabriella took his hand and walked to the bus. When she was about to get on the bus she turned her head to see if he was still there but all there was, was an empty car space.

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Gabriella stepped out of the city's library. She started to walk down the street with the crowd of people who had either left work or were out shopping. When people said it was the city that doesn't sleep it wasn't a joke. The shops were open, the restaurants were full of people enjoying there selves having a good time; the city was still fully awake even if it was 10. (I know no libraries are open till 10 but in this story they are.)

Gabriella hugged her books to herself as she moved through the crowd. When she got to the more open street she loosened her grip on her books. She did care about her education even if she didn't get education that challenged her at her school. She did do stuff herself as she had learnt she couldn't rely on everyone, she had to do things herself. As she walked on she felt like someone was following her but she didn't turn around to see who it was because she thought it was just her imagination. But she still felt it as she walked so she turned around and only saw a black Audi. Gabriella knew who it was so she went up to the car and knocked on the window. The person in the car rolled the car window down and it was no other than Troy.

"Yes can I help?" asked Troy.

"Yes why are you following me?" asked Gabriella.

"I wasn't following you. I have better things to do," said Troy.

"Good then it was just me thinking someone was following me. Goodbye then," said Gabriella and she started to walk away when Troy started the car and followed along with Gabriella at a slow pace.

"You know since your here you can come along with me and keep me company," suggested Troy. Gabriella looked at him then straight forward and said,

"Didn't you have the head cheerleader for that," remarked Gabriella.

"Nah she wasn't that good of company not as much as you would be, like before," said Troy as he brought up the past. Gabriella looked at Troy with disgusted. He still acted like he did in front of her as he did in front of everybody else even if Gabriella had seen his real side before; he wouldn't show that any more. Gabriella carried on walking, at a faster pace. Troy speed up his car as well.

"You know I need a date for the dance this Saturday, you could be that person if you want?" said Troy. Gabriella stopped walking, turned towards Troy and lent her arms on edge of the window and said,

"What I remember you saying in the gym today to Chad and Nathan was that they were sharing the same girlfriend and that made them tramps when they weren't. But what are you doing your trying to get some else's girlfriend to go to some dance with you which I think means the same thing making you a tramp as well." Gabriella could see the darkness and anger inside of Troy's eyes. She was about to walk away when Troy grabbed onto her wrist.

"Troy let go of me," said Gabriella as Troy tightened his grip. "Troy, please."

"Your stinking little bitch," said Troy through his teeth.

"Troy, please let go of me," cried Gabriella. Troy noticed that water had started to appear in her eyes so he let go. When he let go Gabriella ran away. He wanted to go after her but then he noticed where he was. He was on edge of getting into the poor part of town. He shuddered on the thought of going into a poor place. That was one thing he wasn't going to do. Little did he know was that he would have to live there in a week.

So there you go that was the first chapter. I know some things are a bit confusing but it will all become clear later on. Please tell me what you think so R&R. Thanks.

So Ciao!