You Saved Me Chapter 1: Come With Me, a high school musical fanfic

This is a derivate piece of fiction featuring characters copyrighted and trademarked by Disney Enterprises Inc. It is based upon High School Musical, copyright 2006 by Walt Disney Enterprises Inc., all rights reserved; and High School Musical 2, copyright 2007 by Walt Disney Enterprises Inc., all rights reserved. The author is not connected with nor is this work authorised by Walt Disney Enterprises Inc., or any other motion picture studios. This work is solely intended for posting on Fanfiction, for the benefit and enjoyment of its intended audience. No commercial or financial benefit accrues or is intended to accrue to the author as a result of said posting. Any unauthorised copying or redistribution of this work might subject the party responsible for such unauthorized copying or redistribution to legal action by the owners of the aforementioned copyrights and trademarks.

A/N: Hello to all. Here's my new story that I've been promising for a while. I know instead of this I should be typing up the next chapter to My Life Arranged By You, but I had a small writers block and I've been super busy with school, leading me to kind of distance myself from it. I'd like the new chapter to be up by next week if possible so look out for that and make sure you review. Back to this story though; this one popped into my head one day and it's something I've been thinking of writing for a while. It's a bit different from my other stories, but I hope you all like and enjoy it and don't forget to review afterwards telling me if I should continue or not. Thank you!

Gabriella sat on the living room couch, narrowing her eyes at her mother as the middle aged woman stood in the full length mirror examining herself. "Where are you going?" she asked, bitterness instinctively rolling off her tongue. She already knew the answer though and she already knew she wasn't going to like it either.

"Date." Her mother, Angela answered simply.

Gabriella felt a pain hit her chest at the fact. She hated the thought of her mother dating. It was repulsing and it saddened her. It had only been a year since her parents divorced. The only thing she knew about it though was that they'd "grown apart" and that "they'll always love her." She didn't know that love meant one phone call from her father each week and her mother rarely home as she was always out with a new guy or buried up in her work.

Quiet and shy, Gabriella hardly had anyone. Sure, math club gave her a few people to talk to, but at East High that was nothing. At home it was nothing. In life it was nothing. But it was Gabriella's life and she had to live with it. She was relieved that senior year would begin the coming Monday as she wanted out of Albuquerque. She wanted a new life. One where she didn't have to wait up at night wondering if her mother was coming home or not, wondering if her father was going to call like he said he would and one where she didn't have to worry who she was going to sit by at lunch in order to not be labeled as a "loner."

"What time will you be home?" Gabriella asked, sliding off from the couch and walking to follow her mother into the parlor. Her brown eyes observed her mother slim figure that was covered in a knee hitting velvet red curve fitting dress. She looked beautiful, as always. Gabriella couldn't help, but envy her mother a small ounce, even though she knew it was wrong. There was something to envy though, Gabriella just didn't know what. Was it her beauty? Her confidence? Her smile that could light up a room? Or was it the fact that she was free and didn't care what people thought? All qualities Gabriella wished she had.

Angela shrugged. "I don't know, honey. I'll call you."

Lie, Gabriella thought. If she actually called and stuck to her word, then Gabriella wouldn't be urged to stay up all night, anxious and worried as always. "Tomorrow's grandma's birthday party, so don't stay out too late. It starts at noon."

"Oh God, Gabriella, honey, I'd rather poke my eye out then go. You know me and your grandmother. You can go though, but it'll just prove your loyalty to either one of us. I'd like to think that as your own mother, you'd choose me." Angela said, smirking lightly at her seventeen year-old daughter, who was dressed in a simple pair of denim shorts and a black tank top, staring her blankly.

Gabriella couldn't believe her mother at times. It was always a competition for her in everything, especially in making Gabriella feel either worthless or the one that choose what went on. The pressure to make her mother happy was always on Gabriella's shoulders. Gabriella licked her lips, before pursing them together and stuttering against her words. "I, uh, guess we could just stay here." she replied, quietly.

Angela smiled widely, nodding. "Good." Her head snapped toward the front door, quickly as there was a loud knock at the door. She gripped her black clutch, looking back at Gabriella. "Are you planning on doing anything tonight?" she asked, ignoring the knocks that were coming from the door.

"Probably not." Gabriella answered, shrugging. She nodded her head toward the door. "Have fun, I guess."

"Thanks. See you later." Angela grinned, walking out of the house in swift movement.

Gabriella walked closer to the window that was to the side of the door, watching as her mother hugged the man tightly, laughing. He looked like any other man her mom would date; obliviously younger than her, smug, unkept looking and devious. He wasn't good enough. No man would ever be good enough for her mom. She had no control though. It was what her mom wanted and she couldn't disagree or else it'd be another rampage about the fact that Gabriella's father left and that she's simply trying to find closure through it all. Gabriella's knew that wasn't the case though. Angela wanted to feel worthless and be a simple one night stand. It was the only way she knew how to get a man. She believed that it was love.

"Because tonight will be the night that I will fall for you over again," Gabriella sang softly as she slowly walked around her home's affluent community. This was one of the only ways she found peace. The soft breeze, music ringing through her ears and the dark night that was illuminated by the bright stars. It was as close to heaven that she'd ever get in her life, she believed. She pressed her finger against the pause button on her iPod as she heard her name being called. She turned around, seeing one of fellow math club peers, Heather. Her eyes went wide as the sandy brown haired girl jogged across the street, dressed in a black strapless mini dress and silver high heels. This was something different and new, definitely.

"Gabriella, hey." Heather smiled, as she reached the brunette. She was one of the few people that Gabriella actually talked to, but when that was the case it was only a simple hello and short conversation, before she had to go attend to something else. Something more important. She was the one girl that never hid the fact that she had problems. Everyone knew that her parents divorced when she was twelve, her dad had a drinking problem, her mom had, had eleven boyfriends in the past year and so on. Gabriella couldn't imagine telling the world about her life. It's not like anyone would listen. No one ever did.

Gabriella tucked a stray curl, behind her ear. "Um, hi." she replied, beginning to fidget with her fingers as she stared at the freckle faced girl, nervously.

Heather slid Gabriella's hand into her's beginning to walk quickly. "You're not busy or going anywhere right?" she asked, looking right and left to make sure no cars were coming, before she walked the two across the street. "Good." she said quickly as Gabriella began to open her mouth to reply. "Okay so listen to this. Me and Justine were supposed to go to Chad Danforth's end of summer party, but no, she just had to go with her boyfriend to meet his parents for dinner. Can you believe it? Therefore, I definitely cannot show up at this party alone, especially with Dominic Hughes being there. Therefore, can you come with me? Pretty please?"

"Sure, I guess." Gabriella answered warily, knowing whether she said yes or no, Heather would've made her go. It was Heather for God's sake. She'd heard about this party. How could she not, though. It was swirling around the neighborhood since summer even began.

It took the two a good five minutes to finally arive. Gabriella could feel the butterflies fly into her stomach as she stared at the mansion. Cars parked all down the street, students seen chatting, laughing and shouting both inside and out of the house, music thumping through Gabriella's ears and anarchy everywhere. It looked like a nut house. What was she going to do here, rather than stand in the corner, wondering when the clear was given to leave. She felt her feet dragging her up the trail leading to the front door against her will and better judgement. This wasn't going to be good.

"Okay, what's up everybody in the house? Everyone doing good and having shit loads of fun?" Anthony Williams, also known as DJ AW, the school's aspiring DJ, asked the large crowd that was situated throughout the large living room where his turn tables and stacks of CD's were placed. He grinned as loud hollers and screams were heard. "Nice, nice, nice. Now, I suggest all you gentlemen out here grab your lady or some lady, whatever and lead her to the dance floor as we're gonna get the love flowing through here."

Gabriella sat on the bars chairs watching as dozens and dozens of couples found their way to the dance floor, beginning to dance, letting out all their passion for one another. Gabriella had only had one boyfriend throughout life and that was back in Junior High. She always envied the girls that would receive a rose each Valentine's Day or even just a simple hug and kiss. She always wondered what it felt like to be in love and if she'd ever feel it.

"I'ma take you there, I'ma take you there. So don't be scared, I'm right here, ready? We can go anywhere,"

Gabriella mouthed the words as she tapped her foot against the chair, sipping her cold beer every now and then. Her deep brown eyes moved toward Heather who was standing against the wall, giggling as Dominic whispered into her ear. Score. Gabriella gripped her beer and began to walk toward the front door, knowing now that since Heather was occupied and enjoying life she could leave and go back to her bland life. "Shit." she cursed as she felt her petite body run into a identical body to heres. Her eyes went wide as she looked up to see Sharpay Evans. This wasn't going to be pretty. At all.

"What the fuck?" Sharpay hissed, glaring at the brunette. Her normally light brown eyes were slowly becoming darker and darker by the second. She looked into Gabriella's eyes seeing the fear in them. "Are you blind or something jackass?"

"I.. I'm sorry. It was completely accidental." Gabriella said, barely loud enough for Sharpay to hear. She watched as Sharpay's two friends Kelsi and Taylor came from behind her, curiousness overtaking their features.

"'Cause we only got one night. Double your pleasure, double your fun,"

Sharpay took a step closer to Gabriella, snarling. "Listen, I'm gonna let this one slide as I was planning on getting rid of this shirt anyways. Pull this kind of shit again though and see how fast I-" she was interrupted by a loud cough from the side. She turned, rolling her eyes as Chad was seen with his "posse" behind him. "What do you want?"

"Nothing, sweet cheeks. I was just wondering what's going on around here. Normally, right now, you'd be with me over there." he said, pointing behind him to the dance floor.

"Yeah, well, this jackass spilled her beer on me." Sharpay snapped at her on-again, off-again, currently on-again boyfriend. She scoffed at Gabriella, shaking her head, before sliding her hand into Chad's. "Let's go. I shouldn't even be waisting my time on her."

"Feels like were on another level, feels like our love's intertwined,"

Gabriella blinked, feeling a lump in her throat begin to grow. She slid to the side of the group minus Chad and Sharpay and made her way out of the house. She pushed past a drunken pair of boys, jogging down the mansions steps to the trail that led away from the home.

"Hey, wait up!"

She ignored the deep voice coming from behind her and continued to walk quickly, feeling relief take over her as she reached the sidewalk. She continued to walk, still hearing the voice from behind.

"Thanks for the new iPod, I guess."

Gabriella stopped dead in her tracks, moving her hands to her hoodie's pockets, feeling around for the object. She turned around, walking toward him. "Thanks." she croaked out, taking the object out of his hands. She looked up, staring into his blue eyes, watching as his stared into her glazed brown ones. She quickly turned around, knowing that if he stared into his eyes any longer, she'd get lost in them and never be able to look away.

"Let me walk you home." he said, walking beside her.

"It's not necessary," she replied, walking faster, "really." She'd known him for how long and this had to be the one time and night he actually gave a damn about her. She slid her iPod into her pocket, curling her toes into her shoes. She wasn't supposed to be this nervous around Troy Bolton. It was Troy Bolton of all people.

Troy shrugged, sliding his hands into his pockets. "It's my pleasure. Plus, you look like you could use some company, especially as the bitch came out of Sharpay, but then again when doesn't it?" he chuckled, seeing her smile weakly as she continued to walk in a swift pace, yet slower than before. He sucked in a breath, letting out a loud sigh as a silence came between the two. "So, how's life?"

"Alright." Gabriella shrugged, turning the corner to enter her home's street. "I shouldn't really ask how yours is, considering anyone who's anyone knows about it."

"Then I guess you're someone." Troy grinned, making her blush and shake her head.

"Trust me, I'm not. If I was then I wouldn't be walking here talking to you after how long?" She pretended to think for a moment, before gasping and nodding. "Right, right. Two years since the last time you spoke to me. Shame, really." She stopped in front of her house, noticing how her mother's car still had yet to return. She sighed seeing the pained look on Troy's face. "Thanks again. Monday when school starts again, let's go back to before. Me being the girl who walks the halls with no friends or anything and you ignoring me and walking down the halls high and mighty." She began to walk backwards to her the front door, smiling gently. "See you around."

Troy watched as she walked into her home, quietly shutting the door behind her. He knew what happened to them and he couldn't say that he liked it.

"Gabriella!" Angela shouted as she entered the home. She let out a loud giggle pushing "Brad" away from her as the two made their way to the living room, where they plopped onto the couch. "Gabriella!" she shouted, once again, slipping her heels off.

Gabriella rolled her eyes and slipped out of her bed, sliding her white slippers over her feet. She stepped out of her bedroom, walking slowly down the stairs to brace herself for whatever her mother had in store for her. "Yes?" she asked, annoyance clear in her voice as she stared at her mom who was narrowing her eyes at her daughter.

"Honey, could you go open that bottle of champagne in the kitchen." Angela asked. She arched a brow at the young brunette as she stood there in wide shock. "Be a doll, Gabriella Elizabeth Montez. Now." she gritted through her teeth.

Gabriella nodded, moving her hands to the end of her oversized shirt as she walked awkwardly to the large kitchen. She sighed, leaning against the counter staring at the tile for a moment lost in space. She would never quite fathom how idiotic her mom could be or even how idiotic she was. She grabbed the unopened bottle of champagne and began to make her way back to the living room. "Here," she mumbled, sitting the bottle on the coffee table. She looked Brad up and down in dismay, repulsed by his brown ukept curls, scruffy beard, narrowed green eyes and the list could go on. What the hell, Gabriella thought.

"She's beautiful, Angela. Just like you said." Brad chuckled, moving his eyes away from Gabriella back to Angela.

Angela rolled her eyes as small smirk playing on the corner of her lips. "Well, look who her mother is." she said arrogantly, making Brad let out a loud laugh and nod in agreement.

Gabriella sighed, shaking her head, before jogging back up the stairs and locking her bedroom door behind her. It was time for the normality to set in. Something she'd grown accustomed to in the past year as she did it almost every weekend. She threw her slippers off her feet, grabbing her black flip-flops instead. She turned off her TV and light and made her way toward her French doors. She'd made the mistake of staying here one night while her mother had company and she wasn't going to do it again.

"Dude, I am so getting laid tonight." Chad laughed as he clasped a hand onto Troy's shoulder. He narrowed his eyes at his friend as the blue eyed boy stayed silent, tapping his fingers lightly against his beer bottle. "Troy, did you hear me?"

Troy quickly turned around, confused. "Huh?" he asked, dumbly.

Chad rolled his eyes. "I'm getting laid tonight considering Sharpay's drunk off her ass. You wouldn't care though, you're too preoccupied with something or someone. If it's a someone please, do tell."

"Nothing's wrong with me, man. I'm just not feeling too well, that's it." Troy looked down at his beer, attempting to make his lie as real as it could get. "In fact I shouldn't be having this."

"You're such a little lying bastard. Spill, Bolton."

Troy rolled his eyes, sighing. "Gabriella." he said, simply, watching as people began to slowly walk out of the house as the clock began to hit midnight.

Chad stayed silent for a moment, seeing Troy stiffen up, gripping onto his bottle as he dare not look Chad into the eyes. "She's different now, Bolton. We all are." he mumbled, watching as Sharpay glanced toward him, nodding her head toward the front door. He held up a finger signaling for her to hold for a moment, ignoring the glare that captured her eyes.

"It hasn't been the same since that day, Chad. It never will be. Why did everything have to happen?" Troy asked, feeling a lump begin to grow in his throat at the memory. He swallowed it quickly, shaking his head. "I.. I miss her."

"Yeah, I do too, sometimes. But hey, things change. They have changed. We just have to accept them." Chad replied, soothingly.

Troy sucked in a breath, letting it out as he slid off the chair and rested his beer on the bar counter. "I already have." he said, softly, before turning and walking glumly out of the house.

"But now I'm stronger than yesterday, now it's nothing but a mile away," Gabriella sang as she walked through her homes community park, moving her body slightly to the music as her headphones were tucked away into her ear. On her way to her secret hide out spot, her eyes were closed as she listened to the music, singing the words she knew all too well.

Troy narrowed his eyes at the brunette as he stopped walking toward his home, quickly. He smiled softly, watching as her hips swayed from side to side as she was oblivious to anyone noticing her. He turned toward the cement trail she was walking on, walking toward her in swift movement. He brought his hands to her sides, making her jump up and let out a small screech as he reached her. He bit her lip to stifle his loud laugh, watching as she turned around glaring at him.

"You're such an ass." Gabriella hissed, twisting her earphone's cords around her iPod. She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at him. "What are you doing here?"

"I was on my way home from the party and I saw you." Troy shrugged, nonchalantly.

Gabriella stared at him, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. "I, uh, thought we established the ignoring each other rule?" she asked, watching as he stayed quiet. "Since when do you have a sudden interest in me after all these years?"

"I.. I've been thinking about why we stopped talking in the first place lately. That's all."

Gabriella froze, looking into his blue eyes seeing the sadness begin to pool out of them. She shook her head, trying to erase the memory while turning around, her eyes still on the large cliff that overlooked Albuquerque. She wanted to be in the urban city, know what was happening instead of being secluded and tucked away in some neighborhood that claimed to be "happy and safe." She'd trade a real life, instead of one filled with lies any day, though.

Troy followed after her, cursing the hill that the two walked on as they made it higher and higher. "Gabriella,"

"Go away, Troy. Please." Gabriella croaked out, feeling her lip begin to quiver as tears outlined her eyes. She let out a breath as she reached her destination, plopping in front of a large tree. She sniffled staring at the different colored lights that illuminated from the city to all around the mountaintops. She turned to him as he sat beside her, sadness living in his eyes. "I don't need your sympathy." she whispered, looking down.

Troy brought his hand to her face, cupping her cheek to make her look at him. "I can't help it." He stared into her eyes, waiting for some type of response as the two just sat there for a moment, nothing heard but the breeze circling around the two. He slowly leaned his face closer to hers, resting his forehead against hers. "I'm so sorry." he whispered, hearing her swallow loudly.

Gabriella stayed silent, feeling her tears trickle down her cheek. She watched nervously as Troy leaned his lips closer and closer to hers. Oh God, she thought, wondering if and when her heart was going to pop out of her chest any second. She felt her body grow warmer and warmer by the second, shivering slightly as Troy's hand cupped her cheek, bringing his lips to hers in a split second.

"I dare you to kiss me."

Gabriella narrowed her eyes at Troy, watching as the thirteen year-old boy grinned at her innocently. "No." she snapped, standing up from the grass and dusting off her jeans. She crossed her arms over one another, shaking her head at him disapprovingly. "You're such a perv."

Troy rolled his eyes, ruffling his shaggy brown hair with his hands as he stood up staring at his friend. "C'mon, Brie. We'll be in high school in a couple months. I can't go with never being kissed before. I'll look like a total ass. What better way than to have my friend plant one on me. How 'bout it?" he asked, stepping closer to her.

"I don't want to kiss you. That is so gross. Plus, my dad said that any boy who kisses me must go through him first. He doesn't want me to be fast. Therefore, sorry, Troy." Gabriella scoffed, smirking at him. She'd known Troy since kindergarten when she, her sister and parents moved into the secluded Albuquerque neighborhood.

"Fine," Troy sighed loudly, "I just hope you feel good about me being teased for being a lip-locker virgin." he said, sighing once again hoping that the "sadness" in his voice would change her mind. He stared into her light brown eyes, seeing them continue to looked at him blankly. He let out another sigh, walking slowly past her. "Fine, fine, fine."

Gabriella pursed her lips, suddenly feeling a wave of guilt. She sighed, turning around to him. "Fine." she said, nervously. "I'll, uh, kiss you."

Troy smiled brightly turning around seeing her stand there warily. "Okay." he cheered, standing in front of her with a goofy smile on his face. He puckered his lips, waiting for her with his eyes closed. He opened an eye, seeing her glare at him. "What?"

"This is my first kiss too. I want it to be memorable not crappy, Troy."

"Then kiss me. It's not that hard." Troy shrugged.

Gabriella shook her head. "No. In my mom's magazine they say that a first kiss should be slow and sensual. They also say that the boy should kiss the girl, because it's gentleman like." she explained, watching as he rolled his eyes.

"Fine." Troy said quickly, gripping her shoulders and pressing his lips to hers, making her stand there in shock. He pulled away after a few seconds, seeing her cheeks turn a bright shade of red.

Gabriella smile shyly at him, cursing the butterflies that were flying into her stomach. She'd just had her first kiss with Troy Bolton.

Her father always said to never have sex until she was ready. He even offered her a purity ring, but Gabriella declined. She explained that she didn't need a ring to express her vow to stay pure until marriage. It didn't take a ring, it took commitment. That was before her father left though. She was a different person now. She'd gone through more things than anyone could possibly go through in their lifetime.

Now here she was, making out feverishly with Troy on the small cliff, that looked over Albuquerque. She felt like she was on cloud nine with the way his hands caressed her hands gently making her feel so delicate and the way his lips covered hers allowing her to taste the mint flavor that captured his breath. Her breath hitched as Troy began to shift her tank top up, allowing the breeze hit her bare skin while her pressed his lips onto her neck.

Troy ran his hands down her stomach to her knees where he spread her legs so that she was cradling him in between her legs. His hands ran up her thigh, making her shiver while he captured her lips in a zealous kiss. "Say something," he whispered as the two broke apart after a moment. Not once as had she spoken or made a noise of discomfort or pleasure throughout this whole time. He lifted his head up, pecking her on the lips once again, "please."

"Just.. just.." Gabriella stared into his soft blue eyes, contemplating on what to say. One part of her head was saying stop it right now while the other part said enjoy it. She licked her lips, pursing them together, "just be gentle." she whispered. She saw the shock in his eyes as if he didn't know what to say or do. She expected it though. She just gave him a door to do anything with her. Normally, she would've already pushed whatever guy was on top of her, but she was hurting at the moment as everything from the past blinded her vision. She needed him. She wanted him.

"Come with me."

And that's all she needed to hear.