A/N

Hey Guys!

Thanks for stopping by! This is my second HSM fanfic (working on the first simultaneously… I'm a bad girl) and I hope you enjoy!

Rating: Please note that this is rated M for a reason- Abuse, language and sexual depictions are a factor. If any of those make you uncomfortable, then this story may not be for you.

Summary: Read and find out!

Disclaimer: The author of this fanfiction does not have any affiliation with Disney, Kenny Ortega, or any of the actors who portray the amazing HSM characters in the movie. She does not own any characters except for the original ones. She really wishes she owned Zac Efron, though. At least his lips. And his eyes. Or just all of him.

Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Troy slowly awoke on Monday morning, feeling a warm figure curled up against his body. Feeling far too early to wake up, he heard his daughter's voice through his dreamy haze.

"Daddy…" Christine, called Chrissy by everyone around her, was five years old and small for her age. She fit perfectly into Troy's arms, and she snuggled deeper into his side.

"Chrissy, what time is it…" Troy groaned, waking up a little more.

"It's 6:00, Daddy…" Chrissy replied sweetly.

"Baby, it's too early to be awake… Do you want to sleep for another half hour?"

"Daddy, I can't be late for my first day of school," Chrissy said, poking her dad in the stomach.

"Okay, okay… I'm coming," Troy said, sighing. It was going to be a long day.

*/*/*/*/*

"Chrissy," Troy said, glancing at his daughter's reflection in the mirror, then focusing back on the road as he drove her to school. "Are you excited for school?"

No response.

"Chrissy?"

"I'm scared, Daddy," Chrissy whispered, tugging at a piece of her slightly curled blonde hair.

"What are you scared of, Peanut? If anyone isn't nice to you, you know you can tell a teacher, right?"

"Yes," Chrissy said in an even smaller voice. Troy sighed, reaching his arm back so that Chrissy could grasp his hand while he drove. It was times like these, when Chrissy's incredible shyness showed, that Troy wished her mother was still around. Troy stopped the car in the school's parking lot, and held out his hand for Chrissy to hold.

"I love you, Chrissy, you know that, right? I'm so proud of you," Troy said lovingly, leading her to the front entrance of the school.

"I love you too, Daddy," Chrissy whispered.

In the foyer of the Montessori, a groups of children were scattered around, gathering around their teachers. Chrissy held her father's hand tighter.

"Hi," a kind voice said to their right. "Are you in kindergarten?"

Troy turned to face the voice, and standing in front of them was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen.

"I'm Ms. Montez," the teacher said, crouching down to Chrissy's level. "What's your name?"

"I'm Chrissy," she whispered, hiding her face behind Troy's leg.

"Hi Chrissy, it's very nice to meet you. Are you in kindergarten?"

"She's very shy," Troy explained as Chrissy didn't answer. Gabriella rose, smoothing her skirt.

"Hi, I'm Gabriella Montez. I'm one of the kindergarten teachers," Gabriella explained as she noticed the man's cerulean blue eyes. She extended her hand.

"Troy. Troy Bolton," Troy said, shaking her hand. "I'm Chrissy's dad."

"Well, it's very nice to meet you," she said sincerely, feeling a tingling feeling run through her body. "Chrissy, would you like to go meet your classmates?" Chrissy shook her head no.

"Chrissy," Troy said gently, bending down to his daughter's level. "Be brave… You're such a good girl, I'm so proud of you. I love you so much… Can you go with Ms. Montez? Can you do that for me?" He asked as Gabriella marveled at his kind tone. Too often she had seen impatient parents leaving their children on the first day of school without a second thought.

"Okay," Chrissy agreed.

"Come with me, Chrissy," Gabriella said, already having developed a soft spot for her.

"Thank you," Troy said, handing Chrissy to her. "I love you, Chrissy."

"I love you too, Daddy," Chrissy said, then she followed Ms. Montez away from the group and down the hall.

"I'm home," Gabriella called wearily. She had ridden the train all the way home.

"Hey baby," She heard Drew's slurred voice as she placed her bag on her desk.

"Are you drunk?" Gabriella asked, moving towards the kitchen.

"Wha-? No," Drew slurred. "Babe, I just had a few drinks…"

"C'mon, Drew, let's get you into bed."

"You know I'd like to get you into bed," Drew said as Gabriella supported him towards their bed.

"You smell like booze, Drew, I'm not having sex with you," Gabriella replied.

"Now you're all a kindergarten teacher at some fancy-ass private school," Drew said. "But that's not gonna stop me from getting what I want."

*/*/*/*/*

How did I get here? Gabriella thought to herself over the snores of her boyfriend. Gabriella had had a boyfriend; one she took with her from high school to college, someone she had been in love with. Then he cheated on her, and her life felt shattered- the sting of rejection had been too much for Gabriella, and she began burying herself in work and took up two jobs- one at the local campus bookstore, one as a professor's assistant. She had been working at the campus bookstore, and in the last months of her time there, Drew started appearing every day, trying to woo her. Brokenhearted, still, Gabriella let Drew in. The Drew that had showed up at the bookstore was not the alcoholic Drew that lay next to her every night after sex. After college, Gabriella had gone to Stanford ed school, while Drew began partying with all of his buddies before (and after) his 'work' at the bar. She had tried to leave; every time, she found herself back in his arms, for she didn't know where else to go. She couldn't bear living alone; her best friend Taylor had gotten married and all of her friends were back in Albuquerque, having moved back there after their years at college ended. Albuquerque, or New York, Gabriella thought, grinning at the thought of her friends Ryan and Kelsi. So with Drew she stayed. That Troy Bolton is nice, a voice said, startling her. Where did that come from. Gabriella smiled at the thought of his daughter- Chrissy had been so sweet, Gabriella slowly coaxing her out of her shell…

"Hi Chrissy!" Troy said, scooping his daughter up as he walked through the door. "How was your day at school?"

"It was so much fun!" Chrissy said enthusiastically, wrapping her arms around Troy's neck. "I did so much and we read a story and we played in the playground and-"

"Whoa, Peanut, slow down!" Troy chuckled, surprised that his daughter was so enthusiastic about her day.

"Hi Troy," Lucille Bolton said, smiling at her granddaughter's laughter.

"Hey mom!" Troy said, putting Chrissy down. "Thank you so much for picking her up… Ran late at work!"

"No problem, my son," Lucille said fondly. "Always a pleasure, especially when my granddaughter is so happy. How was work today?"

"It was busy," Troy said, running his hand through his chestnut hair, his other hand being tugged by Chrissy into the living room. "A few surgeries, a couple check-ups…" Troy was in sports medicine, specializing in orthopedics. He was very successful, having made his way out of medical school top in his class and finding a place at the hospital right out of his residency.

"I'll never get used to you as a doctor, Troy," Lucille admitted, laughing. "You wanted to be in the NBA when you were little…"

"Yes, yes, I know," Troy said, rolling his eyes.

"Anyway, I should get going," Lucille said, checking her watch. "Traffic should be okay right around now."

"Alright, safe drive home, mom," Troy said, kissing his mother on the cheek. "Thanks again."

"Anytime, Troy."

"Daddy!" Chrissy called impatiently.

"Coming, Chrissy!" Troy called.

"Daddy, I had so much fun today at school. We started at the alphabet and we learned how to write the letter 'a', see?" Chrissy said.

"Wow, that's very good, Chrissy!" Troy said. "So what did you like best about today?"

"Ms. Montez!" Chrissy said excitedly. "She's so nice and beautiful," Chrissy said in awe.

"I'm glad, Peanut. Are you excited for school tomorrow?"

"Yes!" Chrissy replied. "Ms. Montez said that we'll be alphabet journals and bigraphies!"

"Biographies," Troy corrected gently. "Did you play with anyone today?"

"Yes. Naomi and Spencer," Chrissy said.

"That's wonderful, Chrissy!" Troy said, delighted that she was making friends.

*/*/*/*/*

After tucking Chrissy into bed, Troy plopped down on the living room coach and turned on the TV, low volume setting. It wasn't easy being a single dad- especially not with a young, incredibly shy daughter. A young, shy daughter who seemed to be coming out of her shell, all because of… Ms. Montez.

A/N:

Please tell me what you think! Next chapter coming soon!