A/N: So this is just a preview. If you like it, we continue. If you don't, we won't. This was co-written.

Gabriella smiled genuinely as she gazed out at the wide sapphire expansion of deep waters. She surveyed its inhabitants, which seemed like mere dots from her post, making sure that they didn't drown or get eaten up by sharks. The yellow sun was balmy and intense, beating down on her harshly in the boiling summer heat. Her toned back was scorching in the immense summer roast, and she felt like she was sitting in an oven. The skinny fire-red live saver float lay across her lap, an aid with double use as she leaned over the plastic-coated sponge and squinted out into the sea.

"Hey, Gabi." Gabriella whipped around at the familiar voice, grinning widely at the sight of her boyfriend, decked in his lifeguard and ready-to-save-a-life swimsuit on. He shook the sandy hair out of his, joining Gabriella on the lifeguard stand, playfully nudging her as a signal for her to scoot over.

"Hey, Troy," Gabriella replied finally, her cheeks becoming rather rosy with flush. She couldn't help but break out into giddy smiles whenever he was around.

"Not much action around here, I'm guessing?" Troy asked knowingly with a sigh, his eyes scanning over the vast cobalt waters. Gabriella shook her head, sighing.

"Well, I mean, that's not such a bad thing, is it?" Gabriella smiled leisurely, twirling a lock of dark hair between her thin fingers. Troy nodded understandingly, his eyes decreasing to slits as he squinted in the steaming sun. He looked over at his gorgeous girlfriend, taking a second to appreciate and fawn over her natural beauty. Thoroughly entranced, he smiled admiringly at the way her ravenous tendrils flowed down her back, her mesmerizing chocolate eyes glinting in the sweltering rays of sun. Sweat beaded on her burning forehead, and throughout all the hardships of such excruciatingly high temperatures, she still managed to look flawlessly beautiful. A pleased grin burst on his attractive face at thought of his adversity. He had no idea how he was so lucky to have her. "Stop staring, Wildcat," Gabriella smirked cheekily. "I can feel those eyes boring on me. What are you thinking about?"

"No, I was just remembering…I was meaning to tell you…that while I was coming down here, I saw Taylor check in to the hotel," Troy answered, quick to dodge her smart remarks and switching the subject. It seemed to work as he braced himself for his fellow lifeguard explosion of excitement.

"Taylor's here!" squealed Gabriella ecstatically, her wonderful mocha eyes engorging in eagerness at the pleasing news. She loved her boyfriend more than anything, but she hadn't seen her colleague since the last day of school. And considering it was July third, that was an awfully long time for the two eternal best friends. They chatted on the phone and kept in contact by email, but that was no match for the authentic one-on-one, face-to-face interaction.

"I was wondering after work if you want to have dinner together—and she's gone…" Troy heaved a tired sigh as he watched Gabriella's tiny figure sprint back to the hotel, his sizzling forehead crinkling as his shoulders dipped low. He wasn't even sure if she heard him. Troy rubbed his neck, swiveling around on the splintery wooden bench and peering out into the endless cerulean ocean, which seemed limitless and empty of boundaries. He just wanted to get through the long hours. Save a few lonely lives, rescue an old lady from a shark, salvage a seven-year-old from drowning, and then lecture the burdened lot about the dangers of the water. Oh yes, it would be an extremely eventful day, just like all the others. Troy glanced briefly at the clock tacked up on the marina wall, only just a few yards away, biting his lip anxiously at the time.

Ten o'clock. It was only ten o'clock. Twelve was lunch. Three was break. Five was the end of his shift. Troy knew this would be an especially long day. He wanted to ask Gabriella to dinner. He wanted Gabriella all to himself, for just one night. They always seemed to be interrupted. They never got alone time—time for themselves. Troy was strongly determined to have her alone for the night, despite any of their friends' objections. It just didn't seem fair. Troy was bringing Gabriella to dinner, and that was that. He was going to find a way. He had to, and no one could change his mind.

"Hey, Troy!" Troy glimpsed down below him to see who had produced the sickly, feigningly sweet voice, and was not surprised to see Sharpay, sporting a striped tennis dress with so many gems and sparkles that it was blinding. Troy groaned internally the instant he saw Sharpay peeking up him, and she smiled in an almost evil way. "Hey, Troy, what are you doing? How many lives have you saved today?" she probed testily.

"N-None," Troy squeaked queasily, his dislike for the wealthy Ice Princess skyrocketing at an alarming rate.

"What?! Do you just…let them drown?!" Sharpay sputtered in disgust, throwing up her arms for effect. Troy wiggled in his seat, feeling tremendously uncomfortable in the platinum blonde's presence. "What?! Am I bothering you, or something?!" Troy knew very well that if he said something to annoy Sharpay, Sharpay would complain, and he would be fired. And that certainly could not happen. He needed this job. He needed this money. He needed to be around Gabriella as much as possible. Even though they would be close in distance, they would be too busy with their hectic college schedules, and Troy was trying to take advantage of their much more free itineraries now while he could. "So…?!"

Troy didn't answer, jumping down from the wobbly lifeguard stand and setting the plush live saver float on the side. He hastily jogged over to the marina, ignoring Sharpay's screeching protests and quickly informing Jason to instruct Kelsi to cover up his shift. Troy simply couldn't take it anymore. He just couldn't. His head was spinning wildly with thoughts of Gabriella. He just wanted to see her. He needed to. He couldn't wait until possibly five o'clock. That was insane, and he knew he perish before then. Troy raced to the hotel, his feet sinking in the sand as he sped through the beach, down the cluttered boardwalk, and finally into the marble-floored, air-conditioned lobby. He immediately took the elevator up to the sixth floor, his and Gabriella's floor, charging into room 6901 and throwing open the door.

Troy felt his stomach flip at the amazing angelic sight of Gabriella, perched on the bed and flipping through magazines. He swore that she was glowing, a magical radiance emitting from her petite form. He barely noticed the dark-skinned girl to her side. Troy didn't waste a moment, running over to Gabriella and engulfing her in an enormous hug, Gabriella's magazine falling to the floor as she smiled and wrapped her arms around him in response. Troy buried his face in her hair, inhaling her perfume and pulling away to peck a kiss to her lips.

"You couldn't even wait fifteen minutes?" Gabriella murmured tenderly, her face an inch away from his.

"I just had to ask you—Do you want to have dinner tonight? You know, just us? Alone?" Troy asked bravely, gulping at the exhilarating glimmer to her eye.

"Of course! Troy, that would be absolutely lovely," Gabriella whispered, closing the gap between them in another loving kiss. They didn't notice Taylor, whom was still seated on the bed, and she suddenly grew very awkward and uncomfortable as she watched her two friends begin to heat up.

"Um, G-Gabriella! Troy!" Taylor stammered embarrassedly. Her face was beet red when they didn't stop, and she rolled her eyes, exiting the room and dialing Chad.

"Chad?" she asked longingly. "Why aren't you as romantic and caring as Troy?"

"Because I'm not whipped!" Chad sniggered on the other line. "I mean, come on Tay, that boy has it so bad, he'd jump off a cliff for that chick."

Taylor suddenly felt a stab in her chest. "And you wouldn't for me?" she whimpered.

Chad sighed, immediately knowing he had made a serious mistake. "Listen…how about lunch is on me today?"

"Chad, that's not the same!" Taylor burst into tears, and Chad felt his throat seal, as he had no idea what to do. He was clueless when it came to girls and relationships. That was not his department.

"Um, well…I'll talk to you later…um, Taylor," Chad muttered quickly before snapping his phone shut and tucking it away safely in his pocket. Taylor, however, was infuriated on the other end, her breathing irregular, as she knew what she had to do. She had had enough of this. She was breaking up with Chad Danforth.

A/N: Thoughts?