Why do you want to help me

Why do you want to help me?

DISCLAIMER: As much as it pains me, I do not own anything to do with High School Musical, except for this plot.

Gabriella's POV

Today started out like any other. I mean, I woke up, got ready for school, had breakfast, said goodbye to my mom, and I reluctantly headed of for school. But, as soon as I stepped into to home-room this morning, something happened. Something that I never thought would happen to me...I mean, why would Troy Bolton want to help me?

Just as the bell was about to ring, I skidded into home-room after running all of the way from the entrance of the school. My best friend, Taylor looked at me with raised eye-brows as I shuffled to my seat at the back of the class.

"What happened to you?" Taylor asked in a hushed tone, trying not to draw attention to us, which was very unlikely as seeing as everyone else in the room were pretty much doing their own thing.

Four boys sat at the front of the classroom, one of them had very bushy hair and was effortlessly spinning a basketball on his finger. Chad Danforth. Another one of the boys was gazing dreamily at Sharpay who was staring at her self in a mirror, as she usually did. That was Zeke Baylor. The third boy, Jason Cross had his head resting on his arms and was trying to blow a bit of his fringe out of the way of his eyes, and the fourth boy was staring…at me. Why was he staring at me? Troy Bolton was sitting on his desk, looking more gorgeous as ever, ignoring his frustrated, bushy haired best friend who had been trying to catch his attention for the last few minutes. Ignoring the sharp pokes that he was receiving in his arm, Troy was simply sitting there, looking right at me, with his stunningly perfect blue eyes and a small smile playing on his lips.

Trying to ignore his insistent stare, I answered Taylor.

"Jasmine stole my bag…again." I muttered, still aware that Troy was still looking at me. Jasmine Anderson was the head cheerleader, and for some reason, she had something against me. Why? I have no idea…then again; Jasmine doesn't think she needs a reason to hate me. She just did. I would never make it through one day of school with out Jasmine and her cronies pulling some sort of prank on me or hurting me. Her favourite torment at the minute was tripping me up and running off with my bag and hiding it somewhere impossible for me to find.

Taylor let out a frustrated sigh, and just as she was about to mouth off about Jasmine, Ms. Darbus entered the room, as dramatically as she could.

"Unless you all want after school detentions, I suggest you all sit in your correct seats!" Ms. Darbus warned, looking menacingly over her big glasses. Troy jumped at the sound of her voice and immediately slid into his chair. There was a frantic scramble as most people in the room desperately tried to make it back to their desks.

"Now…on with the announcements!" Everybody groaned as Ms. Darbus picked up a piece of paper and sat behind her desk, and began to read.

Rolling my eyes and slumping my chin into my hand on my desk, I listened to Ms. Darbus drone on about some anonymous students who kept drawing additional 'pictures' onto the theatre props, and how frustrating it was becoming. Chad and Zeke were sniggering behind their hands, secretly high-fiving each other. I shook my head. 'Anonymous' students my ass.

The ringing bell made everyone jump, and there was a sudden mass of students, desperately trying to make for the door, to escape from this hell. Taylor and I waved to each other and we each made our way to our first class.

I had gotten no more than half way down the hall, when I felt a hard shove in my back and I fell to the ground. Laughter erupted from behind me as I felt my bag being pulled away from my shoulder, and I looked up in time to see Jasmine and three of her 'followers' disappearing around a corner, dragging my bag behind them. Sighing to myself, I wiped the tears that were threatening to fall, from my eyes and I rubbed my aching knee. Opening my eyes, I gasped. There was someone standing in front of me, wearing dark jeans and red trainers. I looked up and gasped again. Troy was standing there, his hand outstretched towards me, smiling comfortingly at me.

"Need some help looking for your bag?" he asked softly as he bent down to help me up. Unsure what to say, I rose to my feet slowly, and timidly nodded my head. Troy smiled at me again and led me down the hallway, still holding my hand. After I was certain I could say something, I spoke.

"You do know that you're gonna be late for class don't you?"

Troy laughed softly.

"Nah…it doesn't matter. Me and you have the same class anyway. We can just say that we needed to talk to a teacher about something…that way, Miss Tyler can't get mad at us." He replied, looking around the hallway, trying to find my bag. I smiled gratefully at him and began to help with the search.

Why was Troy helping me? I was pretty certain that Troy didn't even know that I existed. I mean…sure, we would exchange the odd word in class, but that was it. But then again, he had been staring at me all through home-room this morning. But why now?

"Troy, if you don't mind me asking, but why are you helping me?" I asked as Troy had stopped to look in one of the storage cupboards. He turned to look at me, his eyes filled with serious-ness.

"I've seen Jasmine pushing you around lately and it was beginning to get to me, sounds weird I know. You haven't done anything to annoy or upset her, so Jasmine doesn't even have a reason to be picking on you. She's just being a bitch." Troy said, shaking his head. "And plus…I like you Gabriella. You're a great girl. Smart, funny, sweet…and rather gorgeous, if you don't mind me saying." He grinned sheepishly at me, causing me to smile, blushing furiously.

We continued to search in silence, but in a comfortable silence. Seeing something looked rather familiar poking out of one of the bins, I sighed in relief and dashed over to the bin, with Troy right behind me.

Reaching into the bin and grabbing my bag, Troy frowned when he saw a note attached to the front of it.

"LOSER!" Was written in block capitals, in handwriting that was without a doubt Jasmines. Shaking his head in disgust, Troy scrunched the note up and threw it into the bin, before handing me my bag.

"Well, here you are Gabi…" he said sweetly, before taking my hand and leading me down the corridor towards our classroom. Just as we reached the door, Troy stopped suddenly, causing me to walk into the back of him. He turned to look at me, a mischievous smile on his face, and before I knew what was happening, Troy was ushering me down the hallway, before opening a door that I had never noticed before.

"Troy what are you -!" I began to ask him what he was doing, but Troy simply put his finger on my lips, shushing me.

"Our class is almost over, there's no point going in there now." He whispered before dragging me up some stairs that lead me outside onto the school roof. I gasped. Surrounding me where hundreds of plants and flowers, all different colours and were dancing in the wind.

I stared in awe at my surroundings and noticed that Troy had sat down on a small bench, gesturing for me to join him.

"This, Gabi, is my top secret hideout." He smiled at me. "I like to hide here when things get a bit too much…all the girls, especially the cheerleaders." I smile sympathetically at him. It must have been hard for Troy. I mean, he was the most gorgeous guy in the entire school, heck, maybe even in Albuquerque! Every girl would simply swoon over him or almost pass out every time he walked past. To be honest, I don't blame them. Every time Troy smiles at me, I feel slightly weak in the knees. His smile is too perfect!

Realising that he is watching me day-dream, I blush slightly. Troy just laughs and holds my hand.

"It would mean a lot to me Gabi, if you didn't tell anyone about this place." He said gently, giving my hand a slight squeeze. Staring at our joined hands, and back up at his face, I see that he is serious.

"Of course Troy. Your secret is safe with me." I smile at him, and he immediately looks relieved.

"Well, since you now know about it…maybe it could be our secret hide out." Troy suggested, caressing my hand lightly with his thumb. I smile shyly at him and nodded in response.

"That would be great…" Before anything else could be said, the bell rang, signalling end of first period.

"Thanks so much for helping me find my bag Troy…I don't know how long it would have taken to find it if you weren't helping." I smile gratefully at him. To my surprise, Troy blushed.

"It was no problem Gabi." He replied, slipping out of the door into the hallway, to make sure that nobody noticed us. I couldn't help but smile as I noticed that Troy had taken to calling me 'Gabi', not 'Gabriella'. Interrupting me from my slight reverie, Troy spoke.

"Well, I'll see you at lunch Gabi. We don't have anymore lessons until then." Smiling at me one last time, and giving my hand a final squeeze, Troy turned away, and disappeared into the crowd of students that was slowly starting to grow.

Well what do you think? It would mean a lot to me if you reviewed, but please, no flames! This is my first story and so I kind of need encouragement. I will probably add on to this chapter, but only if you guys seem to like it! PLEASE REVIEW x x x