Disclaimer: I do not own HSM or the songs that are mentioned in the stories.

Chapter One: Chemicals React

Well the planets all aligned

When you looked into my eyes

And just like that

The chemicals react

The chemicals react

"Come on, Gabi. Wake up." Her mom said.

Gabriella got up, but sat in her hotel bed for a few minutes pondering what she had just dreamt about. In her dream, she had met someone really special, but she pushed it aside and got ready for the day. Today was December 31. New Year's Eve. The year had gone by so fast. It was hard to believe that it was almost the New Year.

To pass the time, she grabbed the book that she had brought along with her. She made her way over to the fireplace and sat there reading. The only time she left her book was when she went to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and when she had to get ready for the New Year's Eve party the hotel was throwing for the teens. She arrived at the party and sat down by a lamp once more to read her book. Too bad it didn't last for long, because suddenly a spotlight was on her, and she was being led toward the stage where some people were doing karaoke. She didn't even have time to protest. When she got on the stage, she saw a boy on the other side of her. She hated being the center of attention. The boy on the other side of her looked equally terrified.

The emcee whispered to them, "Hey, you know what, someday, someday, you guys might thank me for this. Or not."

The boy gave the emcee a resentful, questioning look, but before he could say anything, the music started. Reluctantly, he started singing the first few notes. He was about to get off the stage when suddenly

she followed with the next few notes. He again took his place next to her, and they alternated with another, each singing the next part of the song. They didn't dare look at the crowd, but looked to the other, to try and play off their partner. Each looked at the other for a quick second before looking away just as fast. They did that for a few moments before actually gaining the courage to look at the other for a longer period of time, and both felt something they had never felt before.

They were nervous at first but suddenly started getting caught up in the music and into the each other's voice. They were actually enjoying themselves. As the song ended, applause could be heard, and introductions were made.

"Troy." The boy simply said.

"Gabriella." She replied.

As Troy and Gabriella left the stage, they received a knowing look from the emcee.

"Hey, you wanna grab some hot chocolate and head outside?" Troy asked.

"Sure. Just let me get my book." Gabriella retrieved her book got some hot chocolate with Troy before heading outside.

"But seriously, you have an amazing voice. You're a singer, right?" Troy asked.

"Just church choir is all. I tried a solo and nearly fainted."

"Really? Why's that?"

"Well, I took one look at all the people staring at me, and the next thing I knew I was staring at the ceiling. End of solo career."

"Well, with the way you sang tonight, that's pretty hard to believe."

"Well, that was the first time I've done something like that. I mean it was so cool."

"I know. Completely."

"Well, you've sounded like you've done a lot of singing too."

"Yeah, sure, my showerhead is very impressed with me."

They both laughed, each thinking their own thoughts when the countdown started. Everyone was chanting, "10! 9! 8!..."

This was a great end for the year. This party was awesome. Troy thought.

"7! 6! 5!..."

I can't believe all I wanted to do was read a book during this party! What an amazing night. Gabriella thought.

"4! 3! 2! 1! Happy New Year!!!"

The sky was lit up with fireworks. Everyone was so happy. Troy and Gabriella felt awkward, and Troy was taken with the sudden urge to kiss her.

"I can't kiss her," He thought "I only met her a few minutes ago."

Gabriella was feeling the same way. She thought to herself "He looks like he wants to…but we only met a few minutes ago."

They both looked in at each other and then at different directions before Gabriella smiled and said, "I guess I'd better go find my mom and wish her a happy new year."

"Yeah, me too. I mean not your mom," He laughed relieved that the tension was gone, "My mom and dad. Uh…I'll call you. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Yeah." Gabriella said enthusiastically.

"Here. Put your number in. Uh…there." He took a picture of her.

"You too." She said as she put her number in.

"Oh, okay." Troy took a picture of himself and put his number in before handing back her phone. "There you go. Well, just so you know, singing with you was the most fun I've had on this entire vacation. So…um…where do you live?" When he turned around she was gone. "Gabriella." He said to himself.

"Troy." She said looking at his picture as she made her way to her room.

PAUSE.

(Author's Note: Okay, I assume that you have already seen High School Musical, considering that you're reading this at this very second, so I will not attempt to restate the movie. It would take to long. So I'm going to fast forward to after the Wildcats won the championship game. Okay.)

PLAY.

Troy and Chad were making their way to the Danforth's for the after party. Troy was walking in silence as Chad kept talking about the game. His trance was interrupted by Chad.

"Dude, you okay? Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong, Dude. Why would anything be wrong?"

"Troy, I've known you since, what pre-school? You're my best friend. You're like my brother. I know when you're lying to me." He suddenly got the feeling that it was about him. "Did I do anything?"

Troy hesitated before he said, "Well, before you handed me the game ball, I was just about to kiss Gabriella and ask her out on a date."

"You were serious about liking her?!" Chad asked in pure astonishment. Troy simply glared at him.

"No, Chad, I just wanted to kiss her and ask her out on a date just to get a kick out of it." he replied sarcastically before saying, "Of course, I was serious about liking her!"

Chad gave him the best hurt expression he could muster, "Ouch, Hoops."

Chad watched as Troy calmed down before giving him a less sarcastic answer.

"Sorry," Troy apologized, "I guess I just really like her."

"But she's a braniac." He replied harshly.

"She's more than that. Besides being smart, she's funny, great to talk to, and it doesn't hurt that she's really, really cute. Hasn't this week taught you that we're all in this together?" He asked Chad.

"Since when did you get so deep?"

"Since Gabriella showed me that we're not confined to just being jocks, skaters, braniacs, and drama geeks."

"Okay, okay, Hoops. Chill out. You're really freaking me out with all this 'we're not who people think we are' stuff." He paused. "So this means you really like her?" He asked once again.

"Did you not hear me pouring out my heart a second ago, Dude? Do you ever listen to anything I say?"

"When have I done that? And if I did, how many times have I done that?"

"Approximately 6,980 times."

"Well, if you're really serious about asking her out, it sounds like you need a little help from the 'Date Doctor'."

"The 'Date Doctor'?" Troy asked skeptically. "Dude, whatever. Every single date that you've been on, the girl ended up leaving you in the middle of your date, with at least something dumped on your head. So the advice isn't necessary."

"How did you know that I was going to offer you advice?"

"Like you said, we've known each other since pre-school. I know you." Troy commented.

"Dude, come on. When has my advice ever failed you?" He asked.

"Counting the bad advice that you're about to give me, approximately 7,892."

"What is this 'I no exactly how many times Chad has ever done anything' night? That was supposed to be a rhetorical question." Chad said with a "duh-of-course-you-weren't-supposed-to-answer-that-question" look.

"Wow, Chad. If Taylor were here, I'm pretty sure she would've fainted after hearing you use such a big word. How did you know that word anyways?" Troy replied jokingly.

"She used it when I answered a question that apparently didn't need to be answered, but you're getting off the subject. Now about that advice," He was about to continue, but Troy gave him a look that made him think otherwise, and he stopped himself from continuing, "Fine then, Hoops. You can just forget me giving you any advice on this subject."

"Fine with me." Troy said victoriously. "Besides, I want to figure this out on my own."

Troy and Chad arrived at Chad's house in a few minutes. Music could be heard from the back yard. The house was decorated in red and white streamers and balloons. Troy spotted Gabriella sitting with Taylor by the barbeque pit. He grabbed two sodas and gave one of them to Gabriella. "Hey." He said.

"Hey, Wildcat." She replied affectionately.

"Wildcat? New nickname? You called me that after the game." He added.

"No one's ever called you that before?" She asked.

"No. I like it though." He replied. "I distinctly remember you calling me that before we were so rudely interrupted." He said that last part as obnoxiously as he could, hoping that the guilt would sink into Chad, but when he turned to see the look on Chad's face, he was nowhere to be found.

"Then that's my nickname for you. Wait. Didn't you come here with Chad? Where is he?" She asked.

"I was just wondering the same exact thing." Troy scanned the crowd for his best friend. "He's right over there. Wait. What's he doing?"

Chad was where the DJ was trying to get everyone's attention.

"Hey, can I have everyone's attention?" He yelled loudly. Everyone stopped dancing; the DJ stopped the music; and they gave him their undivided attention. "I just need to propose a toast to Troy. He has been my best friend since pre-school, and we've been talking about this for a long time. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be having this party celebrating the ultimate Wildcat victory. To Troy!"

Everyone clapped and cheered. Troy beamed. This was what he had been waiting for the whole season. The applause died down as Troy was getting ready to speak.

"Thanks, Buddy." Troy said. "Umm…I'd just like to say that without the teamwork that we used in the game, we never would've pulled this off." He paused to look at Gabriella. This had nothing to do with the championship, but he decided to say it anyways. "I'd umm…also like to thank a special person here who helped me realize that we're not limited to what people think of us, that we can be whoever we want to be. Give it up for the lead in the upcoming musical 'Twinkle Towne' Miss Gabriella Montez."

There was a new wave of applause, and Gabriella blushed, turning her cheeks a light crimson. The cheerleaders were clapping half-enthusiastically as Troy acknowledged Gabriella. After the applause died down, everyone got back to the dancing and food.

"Would you like to dance?" Chad asked Taylor when the DJ started to play a slow song.

"I'd love to." Taylor said.

Troy looked over at Gabriella before smiling at her and extending his hand for her to take. She smiled and reached for his hand. He led her to where everyone was dancing and pulled her close.

School on Monday was in a different atmosphere than it had been on Friday. On Friday, the campus was excited but also nervous and anxious. Monday the campus was celebrating. Red and white banners were hung everywhere reading: "Wildcats are Champions!" or "Congratulations Wildcats!"

A limo arrived in front of the main building, and Ryan and Sharpay Evans arrived at a different school than they had on Friday. Ryan seemed to be enjoying it. Sharpay, on the other hand, was not taking the change very well. She looked around and saw that everything was as it was after the game on Friday. She had thought that this "We're All in Together Wildcat Spirit" was only a weekend thing. She hoped she wasn't expected to follow suit.

"Ryan! What's happened?" Sharpay demanded.

"What are you talking about?" Ryan asked.

"Look. Everybody is not where they are supposed to be. Why is our drama club scattered and mixed with everyone else?"

"Maybe because of what happened on Friday?" He replied.

"But everyone is so…and…" Sharpay thought, "Wait. If the school is still like this, then that means that Troy…"

She rushed past all the students and her locker, not that she used any of the books she needed, to get to Ms. Darbus's homeroom. She saw Troy in his usual place talking to Chad, Jason, and Zeke.

"Good." She thought. "At least Gabriella's not with him. She's in the back with her braniac friends Taylor and Martha. Wait. Why is Kelsi with her?"

She was about to wave to Troy, but…

"What's this?" She said to herself.

Troy was in his usual place, but he was staring at Gabriella with a twinkle in his eye like…

"This cannot be happening."

The warning bell snapped her out of her train of thought, and she made her way to her seat.

"He's staring at her like he like likes her. What does he see in her? I will not have all my efforts for Troy to be in vain." She said to herself.

Ms. Darbus started class and started reading off the morning announcements.

"Settle down. Congratulations to our Wildcats on winning the state championships." Everyone turned to look at her, because she never, never said anything about sports. She didn't notice and continued announcing, "Today will be our first rehearsal for our Winter Musicale. Congratulations, by the way, to Mr. Bolton and Miss Montez who are playing Arnold and Minnie. I will need you two in the auditorium during free period to go over things, since I assume you have never done this before."

Sharpay rolled her eyes, but Ms. Darbus continued. "Sharpay and Ryan, be sure that you are at rehearsals as well."

Sharpay sent a glare at Gabriella, but Gabriella was having a "silent conversation" with Troy. She sent him a look, and he sent her his own look. Ms. Darbus, unfazed, again continued. "Ryan, I will need to go over some choreography with you. We also have after-school rehearsals. Lastly the school is having a dance in the gym this Friday. Any questions? No? Good? Let's get on with it."

After homeroom, Troy met up with Gabriella.

"Hey, so excited to go over 'things' with Ms. D during free period?" She asked him.

"Well, it beats going in there to serve detention." He replied.

"Point taken. So I'll see you at free period?"

"Yeah. See you, Gabriella."

"Bye, Troy."

"Dude, where are you going?" Chad called.

"Auditorium." Troy said.

"I thought we were going to do free period workout."

"Chad, the season's over."

"But there's no harm in preparing for senior year. I refuse to lose to the Knights next year."

"Whatever you say. I have to go, or I'll be late. See ya."

"Yeah, sure. See ya."

Troy walked into the auditorium to find Gabriella talking with Ms. Darbus. She was apparently going over the script with her.

"Nice of you to join us, Mr. Bolton. Here's your script." Ms. Darbus handed him a pamphlet. "All right. I wanted to go over some scenes with you privately. I can assume that you've never done this before."

Both Troy and Gabriella nodded, and Ms. Darbus continued. "All right."

"Wait, Ms. Darbus." Troy said.

"Yes, Mr. Bolton."

"Could you describe our characters? It would help a lot."

"Do you not know what this Winter Musicale is about?"

Troy blushed. "I…I only had time to notice the music."

"Very well then. Your character is Arnold. This you know. Miss Montez is Minnie. Your characters met after Minnie moved to Twinkle Towne. Shortly, thereafter, you feel a connection. Though you recognize this, your friends and family do not accept it. The rest you can infer from the script. Now please turn to page 25. We will start with the scene right before 'What I've Been Looking For'. Miss Montez, please start at the top."

Gabriella got into character. "Arnold, we just met. We've only known each other for a few weeks. You can't possibly know what you seek."

"Very good, Miss Montez. Mr. Bolton, continue."

Troy got into character as well. "Minnie, I'm not seeking anything anymore, because I've already found it. I've found her. I've found you. You know me better than anyone. It's just taken me a little while to realize that."

A door swung open, and Kelsi and Ryan walked up the aisle.

"Ah, Miss Neilson, Ryan, thank you for coming on such short notice. Please take you place at the piano. We were just about to get into 'What I've Been Looking For.' Ryan, please stand here and decide on the choreography. Mr. Bolton, while Miss Neilson sets up, please, repeat the last line before the song."

"Sure…uh…Minnie, I'm not seeking for anything anymore, because I've already found it. I've found her. I've found you. You know me better than anyone. It's just taken me a little while to realize that."

The piano started, and Troy and Gabriella started to sing.

Troy sang first. "It's hard to believe that I couldn't see, you were always right beside me."

Gabriella took the next part of the verse. "Thought I was alone, with no one to hold, but you were always right beside me."

They sang in unison, their voices harmonizing, "This feelings like no other; I want you to know, that I've never had someone that knows me like you do, the way you do. And I've never had someone as good for me as you. No one like you. So lonely before I finally found what I've been looking for."

Ms. Darbus interrupted. "Thank you. Ryan, what would you like them to do."

"Well, Ms. D this scene is in a garden am I correct?"

"Yes, you are correct."

"So there would be a bench and a path. When will we have that set up?"

"As soon as possible."

"All right. Well, this is a slow song, so we don't need to have as much choreography. Maybe just some walking and twirling. Um…let's see. Ah…Kelsi, would you mind if I used the piano bench for a little while?"

"No. I can play while standing."

"Thank you. All right. Let's have the piano bench as the bench. Okay, Gabriella, come stand over here. Okay, Troy, as soon as you finish the line before the song starts, I want you to take her hands. Go ahead and do it." Troy took Gabriella's hands, and Ryan continued. "All right, let's start with that. You know what? Let's just make it up as we go along. Do what feels right. Start from where Ms. D told you and just do what feels right."

Gabriella took a deep breath before repeating her line; Troy repeated her action before saying his line. As the music started, he took Gabriella's hands in his own and looked into her eyes. He really didn't understand how he ever got the words out, because he was mesmerized. He led her over to the bench to sit and just sang. He really didn't do anything. He just sang, and she did and felt the same. Something happened when their eyes met. Something neither of them could explain at the current moment. They ended where Ms. Darbus stopped them earlier.

Ryan was contemplating what was happening between Troy and Gabriella. "Bravo. You know, Ms. D, I don't think we're going to need choreography in this scene. I don't think we need to add anything. Their chemistry is good enough for this scene." He winced at the thought that his sister was going to have to see this (Troy and Gabriella) during rehearsals, and he winced at the tantrum he knew Sharpay was going to throw at home.