Chapter One

Gabriella Montez sighed tiredly as she got out of her car which was vibrating due to the loud music coming from the house. She was not a big fan of parties so she could not understand what possessed her to actually come tonight. There were people on the lawn dancing in a fashion she would not dream of doing in her life and felt her face turn slightly green as see takes in sights that were mean for closed doors. Shaking herself back to reality she made her way into the house that belonged to her boyfriend Darren. She was greeted with big loud cheering and applause from the people inside and when she remembered that party was for the Glee Club winning another championship. She felt the blood rushing to her face due to the attention she was receiving at the moment. Even though she sang in front of thousands of people she was never really used to it and it often made her quiet nervous and sometimes she finds herself feeling a bit faint from it all. She did not want to be rude so she walked in smiling nodding as she passed people in hopes to get out of the firing range.

Gabriella quickly walked through to the less crowded kitchen where she felt herself relax as she looked around looking for something to drink as there were many choices of different sodas and beers. She pulled a Dr. Pepper out of the icy contents pulling the tab and taking a hefty swig wincing a bit at the strong burn of the carbonation which she loved.

"Ahh," She said with a satisfied grin as she turned to go to out to the back yard where the was a game going on of basketball and her boyfriend was in the mixed she shook her head as a basket was made making the group cheer. There was an excitement in the air with the big win and the impending summer upon them.

"Gabi!" yelled a girl named Madison as she sprinted over to Gabriella wrapping her arm around the girl.

"Hi!" said Gabriella as she could not help to grin back as the victory now sinking in and the rest of the club joined them as she high fived Jimmy and her best friend Ronnie as they began to jump up and down as they formed a group hug.

The school year had been brutal with competitions from start to finish with competition after competition. This is the first year that they had done so well with each victory that would lead them to this exact day.

"Look at the guys," Ronnie said licking her voice as they watched the guys run down court to where they would battle for the points.

"I know," said Gabriella as she eyed a certain player. She caught his eye and he grinned at her as he threw the ball into the basket. She was never a big fan of sports and new very little about him as she was more into the academic world of the school. She would even bring her books to the games as she was never really interested in them even with her boyfriend playing.

The Glee Club was one of the things that she looked forward to in the afternoon after school as they would meet three times a week to discuss what numbers they were going to perform and to rehearse to get them good enough for show time. They all grew very close to one and eventually became one big family who were all very protective over one another and in times of need they were there. If you crossed one you crossed them all. Darren made his way off the court walking by Jimmy, his brother, play punching him in the arm.

"Darren," he yelled as he wiped frantically at his sleeve. "I just pressed this today," He said placing both hands on his hips shaking his head.

Gabriella could not contain the laughter from the look on Jimmy's face. He was so serious about as Darren wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Are you having fun?" He asked as he wiped his brow of the sweat that was now covering his forehead.

"I am," She nodded honestly as she felt at ease as she took another sip of her drink.

"You were really great tonight" smiled Darren as he took her over to where the kids were dancing.

"It was nothing," She blushed. "But you picked the song and that was a great choice."

"Well it made me think of you," Darren said softly as he brushed her cheek making her heart swell as he pulled her on to the dance floor. "Dance with me?"

"I guess I can honor your request," She said flirtingly as she was awarded a big grin and he twirled her to the music. They danced for a little while until Gabriella needed a break as her feet were killing her. She yawned as the day events caught up with her and felt a headache beginning and she placed her head in her hands.

"Are you okay?" asked Darren with concern.

"Yeah," She said rubbing her head. "I think it is my sinuses acting up again." They walked hand in hand to a free table that was filled with their friends chatting happily among each other.

"I'll go get you a drink," offered Darren.

"Water would be great," She asked softly before Darren disappeared leaving her with the group.

"Gabriella," says a girl to her side, Allie Michelson, looking at her. Allie and Gabriella did not get along well as Allie and Darren dated freshman year, but they broke up for unknown reasons before Gabriella transferred to East High the summer before their sophomore year. "How do you hit high notes like that?"

"It takes practice," She answered honestly. "It took me years to get that pitch and sometimes it can make my throat burn."

"Hmm. You just make it so easy," She said with a hint of jealously. Next to Gabriella, Allie was one of their best singers and they often compete against each other for solos.

"You'll get there if you keep using those exercises that I taught you," said Gabriella smiling softly before her attention was adverted by Darren coming back to the table making her miss the glare in Allie's eyes.

"Thank you," smiled Gabriella as she took a sip. The cool water feeling refreshing along her throat as it was beginning to get sore as it often did after a competition. She did what she would to take care of her voice as she was afraid that one day that she would lose it. Even though she did not want to pursue a career with it she still loved to sing and would like to do it on the side. She really wanted to follow her mother's footsteps and become a lawyer. She had seen what her mother had been able to do as she help many people and Gabriella wanted to do the same.

Thinking of her mother, Gabriella pulled out her cell phone to check the time as she needed be home by curfew as the last day of school was tomorrow. She sent a quick text to her mom to let her know that she was alright and she would be home soon as it was just the two of them and her mother often worried about her only daughter.

'Have fun.' She read as the night was still early and her headache was only getting worse. She would only stay another hour before she would go home so she could take something and go to bed.

She got up to throw her cup away, but was met by a dizzy spell which made her grab for the table. She smiled at the group who were watching her worriedly as she made her way over to the trash can she turned to see Darren following closely.

"What was that?" he asked as he looked over her and her headache got worse at that moment and she suddenly felt very tired.

"I don't feel so good," She said to no one.

"Why don't you go up my room and lay down for a bit?" he suggested as he looked back at the table

"I can't be late going home," She said as she looked at him.

"I will wake you up before hand to take you home," He told her and she looked at him before nodding. "Let me help you up there."

"No no, stay and enjoy the rest of the party," said Gabriella softly. "I can find your room myself."

"Are you sure?" he asked worriedly.

"I promise. Stay and have fun," she nodded to the party as she turned to go inside. She was met by the loud music once again that made her head throb even more as she slowly mad her way up the stairs. Once she found his room which was thankfully empty she pulled off flip flops before lying on the bed. She quickly fell into a deep sleep.

"Gabriella!"

Her eyes snapped opened to see Darren standing over her with a shocked looked covering his face. She sat up quickly making the room spin as she noticed that they were not alone. There were several people inside this room as she looked at Darren again confused.

"What's wrong?" she asked groggily.

"You tell me!" he said angrily as he nodded at something. She looked over to see a naked guy laying next her sound asleep like she had been seconds ago.

Flash!

Flash!

The shock of the light made her jump as she realized that she was wearing nothing but her underwear. She looked around as she could see all her friends, most wearing an angry expression and she realized what this was looking like. She shook her head.

"Darren-" she began as tried to find words, but nothing came to her. She shook her head as she looked around for her clothes as she felt herself getting choked up.

"I can't believe you," said Darren before he looked to their audience. "OUT!" he screamed. People quickly found their way out from the frightening yell as Gabriella got out of the bed looking for her clothes which lay crumbled in the floor it tight balls. She quickly pulled on her pink dress that she had chosen to wear for the party.

"I didn't," She cried as tears slid down her cheek as she felt completely bewildered and mortified.

"I said you can come up to here to lie down, not to go screw someone," He said shaking his head as he turned from her.

"I came up here alone," She said her voice thick with tears she tried to figure out what had happened. "I was alone and there was no one in here."

"I guess the rumors were true," said Darren.

"What rumors?" asked Gabriella confused as she wiped her cheeks.

"That you have been cheating on me," He said with hurt laced in his voice.

"But I didn't cheat," She said as she looked her watch as it was way past her curfew and she cursed silently to herself. There were too many things going on at once and she felt for her phone as her mom would be calling frantically. It was not it her pocket where she put it after texting her mom earlier.

"I never thought you would be the kind of person that would do this. First Allie and now you," said Darren his eyes stricken with hurt. "

"Darren listen to me," said Gabriella as she stopped looking for her phone turning her attention to him. "I did not cheat on you!"

"I don't want any explanation. I just want you out," He said hotly.

"Where is my phone?" She cried out in frustration as she felt her heart going into overdrive making her slightly dizzy. "Darren I came up here alone. I don't even know this guy." She pointed to the bed. "I was alone." Allie walked in to the room and she was holding something in her hand. Her phone!

"This says otherwise," said Allie looking to Darren.

"The last person I texted was my mom," said Gabriella turning to Darren as Allie handed him the device.

"The last text was you arranging to meet up," said Darren shaking his head.

"How could you Gabi?" said Allie angrily. "We all looked up to you."

"Give me my phone!" said Gabriella as she held out her hand. "This has got to be a setup of some kind. I would never even think of doing something like this. I was not raised to be this way." She waited a minute before grabbing the phone herself and reading the text. She could not believe her eyes as the exact words stated what he read.

'Let's meet upstairs in about ten minute.' She gaped and then read the reply.

'Can't wait to have your sexy body again.' She looked up Darren loss for words again.

"I want you out of here," said Darren as he could not look at her. "And you can walk home."

"But it's like six miles to my house," said Gabriella as she could not believe these turn of events. There has to be someone screwing with her. There was no way but she did not know how to explain it.

"Well you should have thought about that before screwing someone else," said Darren as he stepped out of the way for her to leave. She did not know how to fix this as they had all this proof of this offense and all she had was her word. She looked at Darren wanting him to believe her but she could tell that he was having a hard time looking into her eyes. "Please leave."

Defeated she nodded as she walked out to the hallway where the whole glee club had been listening She looked to Ronnie who was giving her a disappointed look and she looked to Jimmy who arms were crossed and she fled down stairs to get way from everyone's gaze. As she landed her hand on her door knob she felt someone behind her. She turned to see Allie staring at her with the same glare.

"I don't know how you can live with yourself," said Allie with disgust.

"I did not do anything Allie," said Gabriella in a weak voice. She could the pain of tonight through her as her body begged her let go the sobs that she was holding back.

"How could you do that to him? He deserved better than that," said Allie shaking her head.

"I don't know how many times I can repeat myself," said Gabriella knowing it was useless.

"He was such a good guy to you and you repay him like this. In my opinion, you deserve nothing more to live the rest of your life alone and you definitely don't deserve another go at love," said Allie coldly.

Gabriella stood there as the pain of the words wash over her as she yanked her arm from her before leaving the house without looking back. By the time she reached the sidewalk she was walking in a daze as all the events crashed down upon her. She walked for miles and miles before falling to her knees in tears and sobs.

"Gabriella," she heard her mother's warm voice as she felt her warm arms envelope her. She found herself crying even harder as she laid her head in her mother's lap.

'Gabi what happen?" asked Maria Montez as she stroked her daughters long brown locks. She had been waiting up frantically for Gabriella to get home. She was never late for curfew and she was considering calling the police as she could not get a hold of her through her phone, but then she heard the uncontrollable sounds of sobbing only to find her daughter crying her heart out. The broken sobs shook her deep to her core as she never heard such a cry.

"Shh," she whispered as she would when she was a baby as Gabriella came to with softer sobs. "What happen my Mija?"

"Darren and I broke up," explained Gabriella not wanting to go into full detail about it.

"Ah," nodded Maria as she pulled her daughter up off the ground. "Come inside and we will talk about it."

"I just want to go to bed," said Gabriella as her body ached for her bed.

"Alright," said Maria as she closed the door behind them not wanting to push her daughter to talk until she was ready.

Gabriella relished in the feel of being in her own home guarded from the cold uncharted world outside. She forced a smile to her mother as she went up stair to the confines of her room. Walking to her bed she glanced at the clock wincing when she knew that she had to get up in about 5 hours for school which she would not be looking forward too. She quickly did her night time routine before settling in her bed turning to her side to look out her balcony doors watching the tree sway to the breeze as it lulled her into a deep sleep.

Several hours and hard time getting up out of bed later, Gabriella pulled in the school parking lot quickly landing a spot that was not too far from the door. She pulled down her mirror to check her reflection and groaned at her appearance. Her eyes were still very red from crying and lack of sleep and there were circle under her eye making her look almost haunted. She rubbed her tired eyes which burned for more sleep. She ran a brush through her hair hoping to make it look fairly decent by putting it up in a high pony tail. Once she was pleased with how she looked she made her way inside.

East High was very large school with the student body number reached several hundred as each graduation lasted about two to three hours. Once she crossed the threshold she could feel every eye turn to her. She looked around as she silently gulped as several students looked as if they were ready to pounce on her. In high school it did not take long for news to travel from ear to ear. She lowered her head and quickly made her way to her locker wishing it was after three already then she would be able to get away from the stares for a whole six weeks.

The rest of the school day flew by without indecent as she had many classes free of the members of the glee club and before she knew it she was entering the choir room for the end of year Glee club meeting where she was met with grim faces and looks. The teacher had yet to show up so she quickly found a seat. Darren looked painfully at her and she could not meet his eye and heard the door closed as Allie came into the room.

"Alright," she greeted as she clapped her hands. "We have some serious business to attend to before Ms. Gusies arrives. As you know last night one of our very own members had his heart broken." Gabriella sank down deep into the chair wishing that the ground would swallow her whole. She could not believe this and she felt tears coming back into her eyes, but refused to let them fall.

"This was a serious offense Gabi," said Allie as she turned her gaze upon her as well as everyone else in the room. "You didn't just hurt Darren, but the rest of us. How could you do this to us?"

"I did not do anything," said Gabi as she looked around desperate for someone to believe her. "Ronnie?" She turned to her best friend who was wearing the similar disappointed look that she had been wearing last night.

"I don't know what to say Gabi," said Ronnie shaking her head. "You were nearly naked in his bed. I don't know how else to explain it."

Gabriella could not believe what she was hearing. Her own best friend was not even on her side when she needed her the most. "Come on guys," She said getting out of her seat to face her club, "I would never do something like this!"

"Sit down," said Allie as she looked around. "We all talked about this at lunch."

"You guys had a secret meeting without me?" said Gabriella in all her time here at East High that only happened when something urgent needed to be discussed.

"We did and we decided not to let you sing in any solos in the upcoming school year," said Allie as the rest of the club. "You can sing with the group and for your grades but no solos during the competition runs."

"You can't do that," cried Gabriella. She shook her and felt her shoulders drop as she was so tired of fighting.

"We can and you are no longer co captain of the Glee club as well," said Allie.

"This is so unfair it is my senior year next year," said Gabriella and knew she would get nowhere and her shoulders sagged. "Fine." She shook her head as she was so disappointed in her team as she took a seat. Her senior year was now ruined and it has not even started yet. She could not wait until the meeting was over so she could leave a start her summer and hope for the best. She knew one thing even with the setback she would have an awesome senior year and then next year she would leave this place behind. Just watch.

Wow this was an intense start! How can people be so cruel? Poor Gabi! There will be a time jump in the next chapter just so move he story along. I hope you enjoy this story as we begin a new journey.

Please leave reviews after you read and I can wait to give you the next chapter!

As always,

Luvergirl!