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Chapter 1: The Colorado Ski Lodge

Gabriella Montez. Categorized as a nerd. Quiet by nature. Long midnight black locks that came down her back. Big mocha eyes they held a glimmer of light. A smile that could light up an entire room if anyone bothered to notice her. Beautiful in a natural way. She didn't need make up, her features were naturally flawless.

She sat, curled in a tiny ball, by a fireplace in Colorado Ski Lodge (really not creative I know), ready Blow Out for the millionth time. It was one of her favorites, that's what she'd tell anyone that bothered to ask anyways.

Her purple Juicy sweat suit hugged her curves as she tucked her Ugg covered feet underneath her. She leaned back even more to get comfortable as she quietly continued reading. The Christmas music flowed around her along with the smell of hot chocolate and cookies from the snack bar in the room.

Troy Bolton. A god. A basketball superstar that was adored by all. All guys wanted to be him and all girls wanted to date him. It was the way the universe worked. His shaggy brown hair fell slightly into his eyes. His eyes. That was another story. They were like storms. A bright blue that was swirled with an undefined emotion that no one could pinpoint. And no one was sure they wanted to be able to. He was masculine in every aspect of the word. With a built body that wreaked confidence. He simply was the Golden Boy.

He walked into the 'Activities Room' of the Colorado Ski Lodge, where he was spending his Christmas Vacation with his family. A basketball tucked under his arm, his muscle shirt defining each defined curve and his strong arms. He was intent upon getting a bottle of water. Ready to get away from the Christmas music and the over-powering smell of hot chocolate and cookies.

The room was too hot for his likes. The intense workout he'd just ensued with his father still causing even his fit heart to race. He walked up to the little wooden bar that was settled in the corner of the room. He waited in line, jumping restlessly from foot to foot. His stormy eyes scanning the room carefully. Taking in each individual present.

Two girls gossiping by the fire while they sipped on a hot beverage. One winked at him. He threw them his overly confident smirk. Two guys playing chess. Weird. A large group of teens loudly talking over the overbearing Christmas music.

His eyes fell on a lone girl. She was sitting on the sofa with a book clutched tightly in her hand. Her eyes focused on the small page. Even in the sitting position she was in, he could tell her sweat suit hugged each curve of her body perfectly. And her long hair looked silky and luscious, he briefly wondered what it'd be like to run his hands through.

"Dude?" Troy looked up, it was his turn in line, "What do you want?" The younger man looked tired and like he didn't want to be there.

"Bottle of water." Troy muttered, his gaze roving back over to the pretty girl sitting on the sofa. Troy absently handed the guy his room card to scan for the beverage. Picking up the bottle and his room card, Troy nodded a curt thanks and made his way confidently over to the sofa.

"Mind if I join you?"

Gabriella jumped about a foot at the voice that loomed above her. Her eyes swiftly moved from her book to the young man. Her bitter chocolate eyes catching his stormy blue ones. "I guess." She replied.

Troy nodded and sat down, watching as her eyes tore away from his and moved back to her book. "What are you reading?"

Gabriella groaned inwardly, all she wanted to do was be invisible and read her book. "Blow Out by Catherine Coulter."

"Not exactly a classic." Troy pointed out.

"Just because a book isn't a classic doesn't make it bad." Gabriella retorted.

Troy nodded, "Touché." He responded easily, "Troy Bolton." He stuck his hand out.

Gabriella grasped it. It was rough compared to her silky flesh, "Gabriella Montez."

Troy nodded, "It's nice to meet you." He gave her a smile.

She returned the smile, "So, what made you decide to come bother me?" Her voice held amusement and her tone was teasing.

Troy gave her a smirk, "You looked lonely. And a pretty girl should never be lonely."

Gabriella blushed slightly and nodded her head, "I see. So you're just after my looks?" Even though she was serious, she managed to keep her tone light and easy.

"Well that and your book." Troy sighed, "You caught me red-handed."

Gabriella caught that he was kidding, "Well if you wanted it so bad you could've just asked." Her eyes traveled to the basketball, "But I'd need some sort of collateral." She reasoned.

Troy's eyes moved to his basketball, "Here." He handed her the orange ball. His eyes held a sparkle that captivated her.

She accepted the ball and gave him the book, "That was ridiculous." She shook her head, a giggle slipping from her plump lips as she gave him his possession back and snatched the book away.

Troy grinned at the sound of her laugh. It had a musical lilt that made his nerve stand on end. He could listen to that laugh all day long and never grow tired of it. Silence fell between the two of them for a moment before Gabriella's ring tone filled the air. Smiling apologetically she answered it, "Hello?" She nodded into the phone, "Yes ma'am. I know mom. I understand. I'm coming. No in my next life. Well of course now. Bye mom."

She grinned up at Troy and rolled her eyes, "I gotta go. Dinner with my mom. I'll see you around though Troy."

"Bye Gabriella." He watched as she stood up and walked away, with her book clutched tightly in her hand. Maybe the vacation wasn't going to be so bad.

Sighing, Troy stood up and headed off to his cabin to get showered and changed for dinner.

Gabriella woke up the next morning and sighed. Her mind had been floating back to Troy Bolton and his eyes for the rest of the previous night. For some reason she couldn't take her mind off of him. Getting up she looked over to her mother's bed and found it empty. She walked over and picked up a note.

"Mija,

I went to breakfast with a nice man I met yesterday. Order room service or hang out with friends. It doesn't matter. Just enjoy yourself and we'll have dinner tonight.

Love,

Mom"

Gabriella sighed and went to take a quick shower. Getting out, she pulled on a black sweat suit and grabbed her book. Walking outside, she made her way to the 'Dining Cabin' and went to get a table, ready to enjoy a leisurely breakfast with her book.

"Table for one?" The hostess asked her with a sympathetic smile with Gabriella chose to ignore.

"Actually that'll be a table for four." Gabriella turned around at the familiar voice.

"Morning Troy." She gave him her radiating smile. "And what makes you think I want to eat breakfast with you?"

"Cause I'm that fucking amazing. And I can read your mind." He shoved his hands in his pocket as he followed the hostess to the table, pulling Gabriella's chair out for her he leaned down and whispered in her ear, "And I want you to."

Gabriella giggled, "Well when you put it that way." She smiled at him as he took the seat next to her.

"So Brie," he looked at her, "I can call you that right?" She nodded, "So Brie, do you go anywhere without your book?"

She giggled, "When I'm alone no I don't."

"I see and why are you alone?" He held his hand up in the air and flagged down a handsome older couple, most likely his parents.

"Cause Mom met some guy and decided breakfast with him would be more fun than breakfast with me." She shrugged her shoulders, "But what else is new right?"

Troy frowned and stood as his parents came over, Gabriella smiled up at him. He seemed to have great manners. "Mom, Dad, this is Gabriella Montez. Brie, these are my parents. Brie's going to join us for breakfast." Troy made the introductions light.

"It's very nice to meet you Gabriella." The older woman smiled, "I'm Lucille Bolton, you can call me Lucille, and this is my husband Jack." Her voice was light and musical. Beautiful. Her blue eyes shimmered as she spoke, clearly glad that Troy had introduced them.

"And as my wife said, I'm Jack." She shook hands with both of them.

"I'm Gabi." She gave them both a small smile, "I didn't mean to intrude, Troy kind of made me though." She shot him a playful glare.

"Brie, Brie, I thought we covered this. I'm better than your book." He gave her a grin that would've melted the snow outside.

"Yeah, or so you like to think." Gabriella stifled a laugh at his look.

Once everyone was settled and had ordered drinks, Jack looked up at Gabriella, "So are you here with your parents?"

"With my mom." Gabriella informed him with a smile.

"And where is she?" Lucille asked.

"She left me a note saying she was going to breakfast with some guy she'd met yesterday." Gabriella shrugged it off like it was nothing, "No big deal though." She held up her book, "I was fine alone." She rolled her eyes, "But yes Troy, you're much better than a book." She cut into his near protest.

Troy nodded at her, "Damn right." Jack and Lucille watched the exchange between the two as the waiter placed their drinks in front of them and took their orders.

"So Gabi where do you live?" Jack asked her.

"New Jersey, but Mom and I are moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Well technically we've already moved, but that's where we'll be living." Gabriella rambled on.

"Wait, Albuquerque? Where will you go to school?" Troy seemed way too excited for Gabriella's liking.

"What's so great about Albuquerque?" She asked, "And I think I'm going to East High. Or maybe it's West High. I don't know, whichever one has the panthers or wildcats or something as their team animal."

"Wildcats! East High! That's where I go to school. We live in Albuquerque!" Troy's eyes held a shimmer of excitement that his parents had never seen before.

Gabriella giggled, her soft laugh hovering over the table as their food was placed in front of them. "Well at least I'll know someone. It'll make this move easier than the others."

Troy looked at her, "Do you move a lot?"

She nodded and commented dryly, "Every summer. Mom's job transfers her everywhere. This is just another dot on the map for us." She rolled her eyes, "Although, her company promises not to transfer until I graduate." Her voice was slightly mocking.

"Sounds like you've heard that line before." Troy commented.

"Try every single move we make." She sighed, "But it's no big. Mom just wants us to have the best life possible. Even if it means she works all the time." Gabriella stabbed pointlessly at her eggs. Her eyes shot up and connected with Troy's sparkling happily, "But it will be nice to know someone going in."

Troy laughed, "You'll love East High. It's not too bad for school."

Gabriella rolled her eyes, "What's so bad about school?" She asked.

"The entire definition of school." He muttered. Gabriella giggled again.

"What are your plans for the day Brie?" Troy asked, changing the subject away from all thoughts of Darbus.

She shrugged "Who knows."

"I do, we're going ice skating." Troy informed her.

Gabriella giggled, "Okay, I guess that sounds like fun." When the plates had been cleared away and Gabriella had thanked the Boltons profusely for breakfast, she allowed Troy to walk her to her cabin so she could change into warmer clothes. "This is me. You can wait if you want I'll only be a second."

Troy nodded and allowed himself to be led inside. Gabriella grabbed her skinny jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. Two minutes later they were heading out to the ice skating rink.

Sliding into their skates they stepped onto the ice. Troy was surprised at how graceful Gabriella moved on ice. As if the skates were simply extensions of her feet. Gabriella and Troy skated around for about an hour, pushing each other around and generally having a good time.

"How about some lunch?" Troy asked, skating over to her, he caught her hips before she could skate away.

Gabriella giggled as her arms laced easily around the back of Troy's neck. "That sounds pretty good to me. I could use something warm."

Troy shook his head, "You cold Princess?" He asked her playfully.

"Yes, this princess is cold." She joked back.

"Okay then, let's head inside." Lacing their hands together, Troy led her over to the edge of the rink. They turned their skates in and put their shoes back on to go grab some lunch.

Once seated in the dining room again the two began looking over the menu. They got water and hot chocolate and were just ready to order when Gabriella noticed her mother enter the room with a man attached to her arm. She rolled her eyes and motioned to the couple. Troy looked over his shoulder and then at Gabriella's eyes. The sparkle was gone. They looked tired and worn, like this was too common.

"Your mother?" he asked. She nodded and smiled at him.

"That must be the guy she met." Gabriella muttered under her breath. Troy and Gabriella watched as the two sat down together. They began nibbling at the food placed in front of them and Gabriella choked on her French fries at the scene playing out in front of her.

Troy turned and watched as his parents sat down across from Gabriella's mother and 'friend'. What was going on? When had they met? And why hadn't they said anything at breakfast?

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Mollie XOXO