Hey everyone! It's Mollie! Well, clearly, so this is a new story, once again. But this time it's different, this is a collaboration. The plot is Kingdomainia's, I'm just putting it into words. Of course we don't own any of the characters or the actors that play them…sigh…
Moving on, here's chapter one!
Chapter 1: Slide
"Turn." Obediently, the brown haired, blue eyed pop sensation turned, all the while hopping impatiently from foot to foot.
"Stop moving." Looking down the singer glared at the top of the head of the young woman who was mindlessly doing the alterations on the jeans for his next music video.
"Turn." The singer sighed dramatically, but did as he was told.
"Cathy aren't we almost done?" Troy whined.
"Stop whining and if you move I'll poke you and you'll cry like the baby you are." Cathy didn't look up from her work and her face remained stark cold.
"Thanks for being so caring." He muttered under his breath before letting out a scream as a pin poked him in the leg.
"Be nice to the woman with the needles." Cathy warned, her voice unchanging.
Two long hours later, with aviators perched on his hard angular face, he was out the door.
"Turn, stop moving, turn, turn, turn, stop moving! I swear Troy does she ever say anything else? Or is she like a robot or something?"
Troy Bolton, music's latest sensation looked over at his best friend with arched eyebrows, "I don't know Chad, why don't you ask Cathy next time you tag along with me."
"Don't make it sound like I don't have a life now Bolton." Chad Danforth hit his best friend's bicep. "I'm just trying to get your lazy ass back out on the court."
Troy snorted, "Yeah my lazy ass, you know one of these days I'm gonna have you shadow me. Then you won't call me a 'lazy ass' ever again." Troy sighed as a single flash blurred his vision, followed by a series of a dozen or more flashes with piercing screams and questions hurled his way.
Pushing his way through the crowd, Troy made it to the driver's door of his Audi, waiting for Chad to stop in front of the passenger's side before unlocking the car. After both were safely tucked inside, Troy faced the problem as to how to get out of the parking spot in the studio lot.
Laying on the horn for a minute did nothing, which wasn't really a surprise, it was just the warning he was used to emiting before he backed out of the space without a care for a single esteemed member of the paparazzi or the a screaming fans.
Putting the car in reverse, he narrowly missed hitting a photographer as he whipped the car around and sped out of the lot.
"Dude, I don't know how the hell you do that." Chad smacked his back, his still untamable curls bouncing with disbelief.
"Neither do I, sometimes I wonder if it's worth it." Troy closed his eyes for a moment as his car caught a red light.
"Dude, you should give it up and come coach the Redhawks with me." Chad nodded his head, liking the solution he'd come up with.
"Dude, you still get followed around to this day." Troy shook his head, "And you haven't played for the Knicks in 3 years." Pressing the accelerator, Troy skillfully maneuvered around an elderly driver, "Thanks, but I'll pass. You stick to coaching ball and I'll stick to singing, it's what we do best."
"Whatever man, you're still the best player in the country and you don't even train anymore, it's sickening really." Chad's face drew up disgustedly. Changing the topic ever so slightly, Chad sighed, "What are we going to do without you for a whole month?"
Troy chuckled, "You'll be fine, it's a short vacation anyhow, I just need some time to myself. Australia's the perfect place for that."
"Still doesn't answer the question. I mean dude, you're leaving me with Jason." Chad sighed, "Jason, how the hell am I supposed to deal with him?"
"You make it sound like you're married or something." Troy rolled his eyes, though it couldn't be seen behind his glasses.
"Don't roll your eyes at me mister, I know what you're doing behind those sunglasses." Chad playfully waged a finger in Troy's direction. "Thank God we're here." Chad sighed dramatically as Troy pulled into a parking spot at the Redhawks' gym.
Snatching the ball out of Chad's lap Troy laughed, "And Alan and I are going to kick your ass."
"Hey! Troy give him back!" Chad screeched, referring to the basketball that had been glued to his hand since his freshman year of high school.
"Man you gotta chill. I'm so getting you a new ball for your birthday or something, Alan's ready to kick the bucket." Troy shook his head as he tossed the ball back to Chad.
"You do not need to say that while he is present." Chad directed.
"When is he not present?" Troy countered, opening the gym door, leaving Chad to follow deep in thought.
"That's great darling!" Joel Davis snapped the camera again, "The camera adores you! Give me more! Something ferocious!" Joel clapped his hands together before picking his camera up again, "Oh Gabriella you're just fabulous, now do something fun and spunky!" His British accent streamed throughout Albuquerque State Park, "Oh you're just amazing I love you doll!"
Gabriella giggled, her infectious laughter floating airily through the trees.
"And let's wrap it up people!" Joel stood up from his spot on the ground, "Gabriella my love that was brilliant, you're a natural born model. You really should give up singing for modeling." He paused, closing his eyes, his hands rose dramatically, as if painting a portrait, "Just think of all the products we could sell with you as my main model."
Gabriella Montez shook her head, her long curls flying every which way, "Now don't go getting any ideas Joel Zachary Davis, this is just for the new album."
Joel trotted over to Gabriella and dropped a kiss on her cheek, "But you know Jeffery and I expect a call every time you need a photoshoot."
"That we do!" Gabriella and Joel turned around to see Joel's partner and boyfriend jogging over, "Now I have this one amazing outfit left, how about one more roll of film?""
Gabriella's eyes lit up as they landed on the sparkling blue dress that would most likely make her olive skin glow. "Oh my Jeffery it's beautiful."
"It's settled! Go change!" Joel ushered both Gabriella and Jeffery away as he turned around, "More film now please! Thank you so much!"
As Gabriella changed from the tight fitting white pants and into the light blue dress she had to smile, it had been fate the day she walked into work at Baylor's Pantry. Something she'd never change for anything.
Gabriella giggled as she donned her black apron, "You know I'm pretty sure that new concoction you're trying out is illegal Zeke."
"Oh nonsense Ellie, you know it's perfectly safe." Zeke Baylor took a long sip of the newest drink he's prepared at his new bakery and coffee shop in town. Spitting it out he scrunched up his face in disgust, "Maybe you were right Ellie, maybe it's terrible."
"Told you so." Gabriella sang out idly.
The doorbell chimed over the door as it opened, revealing two men arguing about something, "I'm telling you Jeffery, all we need to do is find that one perfect girl."
"I think it's harder than that Joel. We need supplies and clothes." The other man began counting off different items that he needed on his fingers.
"Let's just get some coffee and sit down and we can figure this all out." Gabriella looked at Zeke and giggled, motioning that she'd handle the bickering couple.
"Good afternoon welcome to Baylor's Pantry, can I get you anything?" The two men looked up and simply stared at her. "Um, can I get you anything?" She repeated the question.
"Excuse us." The dark haired man motioned her away, "Jeffery are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"I'm sorry I didn't realize that you thought Joel."
Gabriella opened the gate that led behind the counter, "Um they wanted a minute."
Zeke chuckled, "They're an odd duo."
"I'm so sorry I'm late!" Gabriella and Zeke giggled as their friend Kelsi Neilson flew through the front door apron in hand and ready to work. "Accident on Main Street, you know how it goes." She waved a hand absently. It was hard to believe that Gabriella's best friend used to be a shy quiet girl. Sometime between junior and senior year she had really perked up.
And Gabriella loved it.
Tapping her pencil impatiently, Gabriella idly listened into the conversation of the arguing couple as she watched Zeke continue to try new drink mixes out. Zeke Baylor was a full 5 years older than her; he was her older brother's best friend and somehow had become one of her closest friends. With Michael off writing for the New York Times, Zeke had taken over his overprotective role, along with being her boss. With his parents death during his third year of college, he'd taken his inheritance and opened up a successful little café. And she and her best friend worked for him.
Oh how interesting life was.
As a new song floated onto the radio, Gabriella began idly singing along. Noticing a new table had cleared, she grabbed a rag and went to wipe it down.
Could you whisper in my ear
The things you wanna feel
I'd give you anything
To feel it coming
Do you wake up on your own?
And wonder where you are
You live with all your faults
I wanna wake up where you are
I won't say anything at all
So why don't you slide
Yeah I'm gonna let it slide
Moving from the table, Gabriella grabbed the bin for dirty dishes and began piling the plates from the next table up before she cleaned it too.
Don't you love the life you killed
The priest is on the hone
Your father hit the wall
Your ma disowned you
Don't suppose I'll ever know
What it means to be a man
Something I can't change
I'll live around it
I wanna wake up where you are
I won't say anything at all
So why don't you slide
Slide
The door chimed open and Gabriella looked up, before connecting eyes with Kelsi, who silently told her she'd take care of the new customer.
And I'll do anything
You ever dreamed to be complete
Little pieces of the nothing that fall
Oh May
Put your arms around me
What you feel is what you are
And what you are is beautiful
OH May
Do you wanna get married
Or run away?
And I'll do anything
You ever dreamed to be complete
Little pieces of the nothing that fall
Finishing up the tables, Gabriella took the bin into the back kitchen and stacked the dishes in the sink, smiling at the dishwasher Carlos.
Oh May
Put your arms around me
What you feel is what you are
And what you are is beautiful
Oh May
Do you wanna get married
Or run away?
I wanna wake up where you are
I won't say anything at all
And I'll do anything
You ever dreamed to be complete
Little pieces of the nothing that fall
Coming back out, Gabriella picked up her discarded pencil and pad, before opening up the small gate to see if the odd couple was ready to give their orders.
Yeah slide between the sheet
Of all the beds you never knew
Why don't you slide into my room
Just slide into my room
Oh, we'll run away, run away, run away
"Are you ready to order?" Gabriella smiled at the men.
"We have something we'd like to ask you." The first man looked straight at Gabriella.
"Joel, she's not going to say yes."
"Shut up Jeffrey," Joel held his hand up, "We're an aspiring team, we just opened up a photo shop, I take pictures and Jeffery does clothes, hair, make-up etc. Anyhow, we'll do headshots, photoshoots, whatever. We need a model, we have to get our work out there. You're perfect. You're beautiful and full of life."
Gabriella looked at the two men hesitantly. "Els," Gabriella looked over at Kelsi, who was waving her over.
"I'll be right back." Gabriella held her hand up, "Yeah Kels?"
"You see what you did you idiot, you scared her away." Jeffrey hit Joel upside the head.
"I'm not so sure Jeffrey, she was considering it." Joel rubbed the back of his head lightly.
"Els this is David Hardy, he's a,"
David Hardy stood up, showing all his 6'7" height. "My name is David Hardy, I manage singers. And right now I'm looking for fresh talent. I work with Hollywood Records and their Albuquerque branch. I just heard you singing, would you be interested in setting up a meeting to have some people at the studio hear you sing?"
Gabriella stared open mouthed at the man.
"I'll take that as a 'yes', you'll need a headshot and a resume if you have one. Let's say a week from today at 4:30?" When Gabriella mutely nodded, accepting the card. The man sat back down, "Now I'll take a coffee and a blueberry muffin."
Gabriella looked at the card and then at the strange couple a few tables over. Sprinting over she came to a skidding halt in front of them, "How about a headshot to start with?"
And that was how she ended up here, with her first single hitting iTunes and the radio the following day, doing an album shoot for her upcoming album, which would hit stores in a months time.
"Gabriella Nicole Montez get your cute ass out here and give me some feisty poses now!" Gabriella giggled as Joel's voice penetrated the tent that she was changing in.
As she and Jeffrey simultaneously rolled their eyes Gabriella called out, "I'm coming Joel darling!"
"And Kelsi and Zeke just arrived!" Joel's dramatic and formal tone perked up as he announced the arrival of Gabriella's two best friends.
Dancing out into the open Gabriella did a little spin, "What'd ya think?" She asked in a cutsie voice.
Zeke let out a whistle, "Mike would want to hide you Ellie!"
"You look fantabulous!" Kelsi squealed excitedly.
"Come on you three, how about some group pictures?" Joel began hustling them towards the fountain in the center of the park.
Song: Slide by The Goo Goo Dolls