A/N: Writer's 1st Story :D I'm so exciteddd -- my first full length. quick disclaimage, I don't plan on typing the words "don't own" every chapter because my fingers will eventually bore so once and for all (let's make it formal and underline)...
DON'T OWN ANYTHING BUT THE PLOT. kthnx. :)

enjoyy!

CHAPTER ONE

A gasping breath suddenly released itself from her pursed lips. She let her eyes wander around the illuminated office. It was filled with people and mini-televisions that seemed to monitor the world outside of the large, red office.

A woman clad in business-like attire welcomed her to East High School with a hug, leading her out of the sheltered office she had come to, in only ten minutes, love. The woman walked her down the long, white hallway, relinquishing her in what seemed to be her new home room. There, another woman with blonde hair and perfectly rounded glasses rose from her seat, that was situated above the rest of the room on a miniature stage.

She smiled warmly and openly, quickly introducing herself as Mrs. Darbus.

"Gabriella, Gabriella Montez." she replied, holding out her hand.

Very few words were exchanged, only giving Mrs. Darbus enough time to explain where all of Gabriella's classes were. She briskly handed her a map and then excused herself from the room.

Unsure of what to do, Gabriella picked a seat at random and sat down. Glancing up at the clock, hands pointing at seven and eight, she sighed. According to her schedule, home room didn't begin until eight o' clock and right now it was only seven-forty.

She heard the screams and laughter of her newly founded classmates coming from the hallway. Sighing once again, she pulled out her schedule and attempted to memorize it.

Meanwhile, the laughter and giddiness outside in the hallway was being carried on by a group of girls surrounding one of East High's best, and cruelest. They continued on, batting eyelashes and giggling foolishly, leaving their bombarded victim disgusted and completely unphased.

He simply rolled his eyes and grabbed his books swiftly out of his locker, pushing each and every ridiculous girl out of his way. Swinging his brown locks from his eyes, he rammed into a boy much shorter than his statue.

"Move." he mustered, "Watch where your going." he stated cooly, looking harshly into the student's frightened eyes. The boy nodded immediately and scampered off into the crowd.

He would never admit to it, but deep-down inside he hated that. The way students dropped at his feet, hailing his very presence. It disgusted him at how commiserable his peers could be. Had they no self-respect or dignity? Their actions and procedures stroked him with anger. He treated them just as he would treat a goldfish. Yet they dismissed his actions and praised him nonetheless.

Leaving him to enjoy his authority and sulk in his pride, full-filling his egotistic rule.

Though somewhere inside his conceited heart, was a boy who yearned for someone to stand up to him; call him out on his ruthless actions and absurd behavior. He craved confrontation, for someone to hold up their end of an argument, their end of a fight. Nevertheless, he knew that day would never come. No one had the guts to point out his wrong doings. They were all too busy trying their best to please him and his every need.

And he was still unsure if he was alright with that or not.

"Well Troy, you've definitely got the freshman population wrapped around your finger." a boy standing next to him said freshly, nodding. His brown, curly hair bobbing with the sudden motion.

"Chad, please. I've got more than the freshman population." he claimed, rather sure of himself. "C'mon." He clutched his books and rammed through the crowd. Muffling 'Move.' and 'Get out of my way.' every so often. Around him girls smiled libidinously and dramatically fainted whenever he looked their way.

Walking into his home room, girls trailing behind, he stopped abruptly, forcing the group following behind to push against him. A blonde girl, dressed considerably colorfully, gasped loudly, her books falling to the ground.

"She's in his seat." she mumbled.

"Quiet, Sharpay." Chad quickly stated, looking towards his friend. "He's gonna blow."

"Poor girl." someone muttered.

Troy tossed his books to the corner nonchalantly, sternly approaching the girl in his self-designated seat. He looked her over, up and down. Her head was directed to the window, away from the students that had surrounded themselves around her. Unaware of the situation she turned towards the seemingly angry boy advancing in her direction.

Giving himself time to take in her appearance, he came to the realization that he had never seen her before. He knew he would've remembered a girl that attractive, a girl that beautiful. Her highly emphasized cheekbones, big brown eyes, and perfectly curled hair – all things he knew he would've remembered.

He grabbed a chair and swung it over next to her, sitting down to her level. All the while she stared at him, consumed with utter bewilderment.

After moments of an unofficial staring contest, she spoke up.

"Can I help you?" she asked, noticing his blue eyes glazed with anger.

"You're sitting in my seat, get out." he ordered.

"No. Find another one, there's twenty-plus around you. Pick one of them." she said, returning back to her previous position to gaze out the window.

He grabbed her chin and turned her face towards his. A harsh yet ruthless look appearing on his face. She opened her mouth to speak but he was quick to cover it with his hand.

"I'm assuming your new here, so I'll let it slide..." Her eyebrows raised in enjoyment. "this time. But here's the deal, you never, under any circumstances, sit in this seat. And smart comments like that one, don't do it again. I tell you what to do, not the other way around."

Without warning, she bursted out laughing; whipping her head out of his grasp. She quickly stood up, almost knocking him out of his chair. Her sudden amusement with his order caught him strictly off guard, though strangely he liked it. He too stood up. As he did so, she grabbed his chin with her hand, pulling it closely to her face. Holding strong eye contact, she spat out, "Have it." She released her grip, swinging his head to the side.

Grabbing her bag and walking four seats over, she received dumbfounded looks from everyone around her.

So much for making new friends, she thought to herself.

Mrs. Darbus pacingly ushered into the room, scattering the dazed students to their seats. Within minutes, the bell rang and everyone rushed off to first period. Gabriella being one of them.

Heading out of the classroom, she checked her schedule once more.

"English." she said to herself, turning in another direction in search of room two seventy-five. Her unexpected movement caused her newly established enemy to bump into her, knocking the bag off of her shoulder.

"Watch where you going." he snapped.

"News flash!" Her tone rising with each word, "You ran into me." The students around her noticed the new conflict, knowing his temper they hurried off to class.

"You better watch it next time." he yelled, heading off to his class.

"Oh yeah, I'll be sure to do that." she muttered sarcastically to no one in particular. Bending over to pick up her bag she saw two hands pick it up for her. "Thank you."

"No problem. Gabriella, isn't it?" the girl said, smiling cheerfully. Her skin a beautiful chocolate color. Gabriella nodded in response, returning the courteous smile. "I'm Taylor."

"It's nice to meet you, Taylor." She held out her hand for Taylor to shake. "After the whole incident in home room, I didn't think anyone would talk to me." Gabriella said with a laugh.

"Ah, yes. An incident it was. No one has ever been known to do what you did. Most teachers don't even have what it takes to stand up to Troy Bolton." Taylor replied, nodding.

"What's the deal with him?" Gabriella asked.

"Who? Troy?" she grimaced, walking down the hallway with Gabriella following by her side. "He practically rules the school. Well, no. Not practically, he does rule it. Everyone falls at his feet, girls black out at his very presence. His dad is the center coach of the basketball team, which he's the highlight of. I guess that all just adds to his ego."

"Oh wow, that bad, eh?" Gabriella said, looking above each doorway they passed. "Can you show me where two seventy-five is?"

"Sure, I'm going there myself."

The next six periods were rather boring for Gabriella's liking. Each class only re-covered information she had learned in previous years at her old schools. The only good thing about her classes was that Taylor was in each and every one of them. It was easier for Gabriella to get through her classes haveing someone to talk to, especially someone she had so much in common with.

It was seventh-period lunch and she was headed to Taylor's table when she heard someone yelling from behind her. Sitting her tray down on the table, she turned around only to see her newly established enemy.

"You!" he yelled from his table, pointing in her direction. His voice silenced the whole cafeteria. "Come here."

"First of all, it's not nice to point." she answered, resting her hand softly on her hip. "And second of all, you want me, you come here. I'm not a dog." she shouted back, with as much authority as he. She sat down at the table and introduced herself to the people around her. Gasps filled the air, echoing from table to table. The same thing was being said everywhere she looked, 'She's the new girl that back-talked Troy Bolton.'

Simultaneously, across the cafeteria at Troy's table, the only discussion presented was one surrounding Gabriella. "See what I'm saying?" he snarled, glaring in her direction. "She's..." he trailed off, thinking of the best adjective to describe the disobedient beauty. Perfect, he thought. "Oh shit, snap out of it, Bolton." he muttered inaudibly to himself. "Jason!" he shouted, directing his full attention to the boy sitting across form him. Jason's eyes perked up from his bologna sandwich. "I want to know everything you can find out about that girl."

"Her name's Gabriella." Jason replied, nodding in command.

"That's a start. But I need more." he emitted, standing up from his table and walking away, slamming the cafeteria doors behind him.

As the day came to an end, Gabriella was pleased with how it all had turned out. She accomplished her first goal – friends. She had definitely made more friends than at any of her other schools. She had gotten invited to a party, and been asked out all in one period. Although she turned down the date, she gladly accepted the party invitation. Everything that had happened earlier, with East High's self-proclaimed God, was pushed to the back of her mind.

The last bell had rung almost an hour ago, but Gabriella decided on giving herself a tour of the school. There was no one around, but a teacher or two, making it the perfect time for her to find her way around the building. It was so big and spacious, she was positive, without Taylor's guidance, she would certainly get lost. Walking out of the Auditorium, she took a quick glance at the large clock hanging above the stage.

"Four fifteen?" she murmured under her breath. "Mom's going to kill me!" She was sure of it. Her mother had taken a day off from her highly anticipated international book-tour to spend the rest of the day after school with her. She sighed, scurrying to grab her things.

Slamming her locker shut, she decided on taking a shortcut through the gym. The only place she had steered clear of, positive of the fact that the basketball team was in practice. She carried herself down the hallway, positioning outside of the gym door when she saw someone still inside. No, not just someone... Troy.

He dribbled the ball vigorously, scoring with every attempt he made. Wanting immensely to avoid confrontation she changed directions, heading for the main doors. But as she walked away, her foot caught the door, slamming it shut.

"Dammit." she blurted, hurriedly walking down the halls.

However inside the gym, it was impossible not to notice the door banging closed. Troy dropped the ball and ran out of the court, curious as to who was out there.

Wandering through the halls, he heard the main door open. As he peered around the corner he saw her walking out of the school. Her small petite figure and gorgeous dark hair made his eyes blink rapidly. Surely he had seen beautiful girls before, but never one like her.

"You!" she heard coming from behind her. "Stop!" he ordered, running towards her.

She winced, knowing exactly who it was, and ignored his every command. Though her attempts to escape his uncanny wrath failed as he reached her, grabbing her arm.

"You deaf?" he questioned.

"No, just late." was his reply.

"Gabriella Montez, right?" he said, completely emotionless still grasping her small forearm.

"Jackass Bolton, isn't it?" she said, just as rudely.

He didn't laugh or show any sign that an actual human being remained inside of him, he only loosened his grip on her arm.

"Hey, you were the one watching me." he barked, staring into her eyes. Big, brown, doughy eyes, surrounded with long dark eyelashes.

"I wasn't watching you."

"Alright, staring. You were the one staring at me."

"No, son, staring is what you were doing at lunch. Remember? You were gawking at my table. Now that, my dear, is staring. And besides, I was not staring at you. I was going to take a shortcut through the gym, but saw you and was so utterly repulsed I changed my mind." she groaned, pulling her hand out of his grasp and heading towards her car.

"Where are you going?" he asked, though rather more demanded as he reached for her arm once more, stopping her from going any further.

She turned around, eyes glazed over with annoyance. "Wouldn't you like to know?" she said, marching back towards her car.

"I'll be seeing you around." he declared, making it seem more has a commandment than a statement.

"Not if I can help it." she yelled back, facing him for only a second.