Part 1:
What if?
"Gabby, there's something I've been trying to tell you for a while, but I just haven't been able to find the right time and place to do it, yet," Troy Bolton, captain of the East High School basketball team told me.
"Well," I said, patting the grass around me. "How about right now?"
He stopped momentarily to clear his throat, before taking a seat beside me and pulling me into his arms.
"Gabby, I…"
"You what, Troy?" I called, watching in amazement as he drifted away from me. But it was no use. Troy was gone forever, lost in oblivion, and no matter how hard I tried, I simply could not reach out to him.
"Gabriella!" her mother shouted, ripping the sheets and blankets from her bed angrily. "Were you planning on waking up today, or did you expect everyone to just stop everything they were doing and let you sleep?"
She decided to ignore the question. "What time is it, Mom?"
"Well…" she paused, flipping the face of her diamond-studded Rolex watch over on her wrist. "You've got ten minutes. So get up, now!"
Gabriella reluctantly obeyed the command, though her head was throbbing and her cheek was swollen. "I think I'm sick, Mom," she lied. "Can I stay home from school today?"
Maria Montez snickered. "What, are you serious? We're not gonna leave you in this house all alone."
Gabriella was awestruck. Did her mother actually… care? About her safety? Wow. That was new.
"Who would protect all of our finery," she continued.
False alarm, Gabriella thought. The only thing she cares about is her stupid jewelry and all of that excess money. She came out of her thoughts just long enough to hear her mother slamming the door behind her, shutting out all possible conversation about the way she treated her own flesh and blood. But what did she care, anyway?
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"Gabby!" Troy shouted, lifting her off of the ground and spinning her excitedly. "It's senior year, and it's sooo gonna be worth going through classes!"
"Ya think?" She rolled her eyes, staring self-consciously at her nail buds. "Because I'm still the geeky genius girl, and I'm afraid I always will be."
"Yes, but that is you," he answered, hugging her with a great deal of satisfaction.
"And you are our geeky genius girl," Taylor called, coming from behind and embracing her. "Jeez, Gabs! Can you even believe that we made it to senior year?"
Gabriella looked down at her shoes, causing an awkward silence to spread over the elated group of friends. Taylor's expression changed from one of delight to one of concern as Troy gingerly wrapped his arms around Gabriella's shoulders.
"It's gonna be ok, Gabby," he whispered, letting her rest her head on his chest.
"I know."
"What's wrong?" the ever-oblivious Chad Danforth exclaimed stupidly, earning him a swat on the arm from an angry Taylor. "Ouch! What was that for?"
"Don't you remember Gabby's boyfriend, Adam? You know, from this summer? Man, Gabs, I feel terrible. How could I have been so stupid?" she asked herself, tapping her forehead with the heel of her hand. "Stupid, stupid Taylor!"
"No," Gabriella finally answered, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I'm just gonna have to get over it, anyway. Might as well be now. Hey! Why is everybody looking so sad? It's our first day of senior year at East High School, and it's gonna rock! Right Taylor?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I guess so. Forget about stupid Adam Johnson, and let's have some fun, ruling the school!"
Gabriella laughed quietly in response. "Now there's our Taylor McKessie. Besides, Adam has his own problems this year."
"Yeah, like probation," Troy added, laughing at his own mediocre joke.
Gabriella hugged him again, silently offering her gratitude. Troy Bolton, ever the conversation starter.
"I know you guys are saying nice things, because I heard my name!"
Gabriella cringed. "Adam?!" she spat disbelievingly. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be… but you were… and I thought… what about…"
"Wow, Gabby! You haven't changed a bit," he cackled, adding something else under his breath. "You never could finish a sentence, could ya?"
Troy shot Chad a you-had-better-restrain-me look, encircling Gabriella's waist protectively.
"My, my," Adam said contently. "Is this your new excuse for a boyfriend? Troy Bolton, captain of the wimpy basketball team, and his geeky, gullible girlfriend, Gabriella Montez. How did you ever stoop to her level, Troy?"
It took all of his will power to keep Troy from pounding this loser on the spot. There was a list of things that he simply could not tolerate, and the first was people tormenting Gabriella. And worst of all was that, instead of fighting back, she looked as if she was ready to break. He knew that he needed to say something, anything, on her behalf, but what could he say.
"Hm," he said, silently counting to ten. "Guess he's just jealous that Gabby was too good for him. Isn't that just pitiful?"
"Listen, punk!" Adam shouted, gritting his teeth belligerently. "I should just…"
"Yes," Gabriella interrupted, knowing what he was going to say. "But you won't. C'mon guys. Let's go pick up our schedules before we're late for first period."
"You'll be sorry for that, you little good-for-nothing liar!" he called after them, shaking his fist furiously.
But something inside of Gabriella told her that she wouldn't be sorry for anything anymore, not with Troy protecting her.
A/N: Ok, so I had a lot more to say in this chapter, but I thought it was about time to end it. lol. But don't worry; I'll post more chapters, as long as you make sure to REVIEW!! Besides, I already have parts of chapter 2 in mind. So tell me what you think, and if the reviews are good, I'll continue the story. Thanks!!