CHAPTER 1

[PIP] = Picture In Profile

(Troy is 18 years old, Gabriella is 17)

Gabriella's POV

How could something as amazing as life turn into a hell in one second? How could 3 simple words change your whole life, just in one second? I didn't know, but it did. 'Your father died'. Those 3 words. They turned my life, which used to be perfect, upside down.

It happened two weeks ago. It was exactly 6 PM when my dad was driving back home from work and got hit by a car. He died instantly. He was my hero, the reason behind my smile, the person I could tell everything, the person I loved more than anything in the world.

From: Troy Bolton

To: Gabriella Montez

Subject: I miss you

Hey Gabs,

1 week? Seriously? Are you dead or something? I am deeply disappointed in you that you didn't respond to my last e-mail for 7 days :(.

I miss you like crazy, you've no idea. What's going on in your life? Please mail me back as soon as you read this, I'm worried.

Your worried friend,

Troy.

I stared at the screen of my laptop. Troy. The second person I loved a lot. It was different though. I'd never seen Troy, never actually met him or seen a picture of him. We both found it more fun if we didn't know what we looked like. I had to admit though, that I always thought of the change of him not being the person who he said he was. He actually seemed the perfect boy.

My eyes wandered over the message on the screen. I hadn't e-mailed him back for 1 week and that was quite strange for me. I loved talking to him, but I just hadn't been in the mood since my dad died. I bit my lip and slammed my laptop shut, leaving Troy's message unanswered.

Troy's POV

I was worried. It was crazy but I really was. What if something was wrong? There was definitely something wrong, otherwise she would've responded already. It was now 1 week and 1 day since I heard from her and it was making me sick. I had to do something, but I didn't know what.

''You thinking about that girl again bro?'' my 15 year old brother, Liam's voice interrupted my thoughts. I looked up and lifted my head off my head where it had been for the past few minutes. ''No. What makes you think that?'' I mumbled as I continued eating my cereal. ''Well,'' Liam chuckled, ''you've been staring at your cereal for about 15 minutes now and you only do that when you're thinking about that girl. So what's up Troyboy?''

I sighed and looked at Liam. He was the only one who knew about Gabriella. My parents would think I was crazy if I would tell them. ''I haven't heard from her in 1 week, and it worries me'' I told him. Liam chuckled again. ''1 week? Wow. That's pretty strange for her'' he laughed. I glared at him, and I suppose he got the message because he stopped laughing. ''Sorry'' he mumbled as he took his spoon and continued to eat his own cereal.

''You know what man, I think you should go look for her. I mean, it had been 2 years, it's about time you two meet'' Liam spoke up again. I glared at him again, this time in a surprised way. ''Look for her?'' I repeated unsure. ''Yes! Come on Troy, you know you want to'' Liam said with a slight smile.

Look for her. Meet her. It sounded amazing. ''That's actually a pretty good idea'' I said slowly, more to myself than to Liam. ''I know right, I'm amazing'' Liam laughed. I got up and dropped my now empty bowl in the sink before I ran upstairs.

Without thinking, I began stuffing random clothes in the bag I usually used for basketball. After that, I wrote down the name of the beach where Gabriella told me she had a summer job and grabbed my purse. I ran back down again and grabbed my jacket and car keys. Just when I wanted to open the front door, somebody stopped me.

''Where are you going?'' I turned around and saw Liam. ''I'm going to search for Gabriella'' I told him excitedly. ''But what about mom and dad? For how long will you be gone?'' Liam asked in confusion. ''Don't worry Liam, I'll be back in a few days'' I said and then hugged him.

''See ya'' I called before I walked over to my car and got in. ''But what about mom and dad?!'' I heard Liam call after me as I drove away. For a second, I felt quite guilty for leaving like that, but I knew Liam was smart, he would think of something to explain it to my parents. Right now, all I had on my mind was Gabriella.

The next day, I woke up in a hotel bed. When I remembered why I was here, I smiled. Today I was finally going to meet the girl I had been talking to for 2 whole years. I jumped out of my bed and after a long, hot shower I got dressed in swimming shorts and a tank top [PIP].

After I'd had breakfast, it already was 1 PM and I knew Gabriella's shift had started this morning. I walked out of my hotel room and closed it before I walked down the stairs and outside. While I walked down the street to the beach, I became more and more nervous with every step I took.

When I finally arrived at the beach, I smiled, it had been so long since I had breathed in the salt scent, had felt the sand between my toes and had heard the sound of the waves crashing onto the shore. I stood still for a few minutes, taking in the beautiful sight of the white sand and bright blue ocean. The beach was filled with people who were enjoying their summer holiday. Kids were running and playing around, building sandcastles. A group of teenagers was playing volleyball and enjoying their freedom.

I smiled and started walking down the beach. It didn't last long when my eyes caught a white building with a platform in front of it where some people were enjoying their drinks. My stomach turned, this had to be the beach restaurant Gabriella worked for the summer. I bit my lip once, could I actually do this? Could I just walk in and tell her I was Troy Bolton, the guy she had been talking to the past few years?

Before my insecure side could get to me, I forced myself to walk. Without thinking, I made my way up to the building. When I reached the glass doors, I took a glance inside. All the tables were empty, everyone was outside enjoying their food and drinks in the bright sun. I opened the door and silently crept in.

I felt my heart pounding as I looked up. My eyes fell onto a brunette girl behind the bar. She was busy cleaning off, her long, dark hair falling in front of her face. That must be her. That must be Gabriella. The thought of turning around and just leaving, went trough my head but I was too startled to move. The girl who I supposed was Gabriella, was far from what I expected her to look like. In a good way though, she was absolutely gorgeous.

''Can I help you?'' a sweet, soft voice interrupted my thoughts, and I only needed a second to realize it was the girl's voice. My eyes shot back to her, catching her brown orbs. She was smiling at me happily, but her eyes told me she was far from happy.

I quickly forced myself to look away, before I lost myself into her eyes. ''Um, yeah'' I stuttered as I walked over to the bar, sitting down on one of the bar stools. What now? What should I say? I took a glance at the big menu behind the petite girl. ''A coke, please'' I said. I watched the girl who I still hoped was Gabriella, as she disappeared, coming back a few seconds later, now with a bottle of coke in her hand. She reached down, grabbing a glass from under the bar an placed them both in front of me.

''Thanks'' I smiled at her and handed her the money. She smiled back, fake smile. I started wondering why she seemed so sad. If this beauty in front of me actually was Gabriella, it could have something to do with the fact she didn't e-mail me. But how did I ask her?

''So, what are you doing here, all alone?'' I looked up after I had sipped the cold drink and caught her eye again. I shrugged my shoulders. ''I don't know.. Just... Looking for someone I guess..'' my voice trailed off as I looked back down and twirled the glass filled with coke between my fingers. ''Sorry, what did you say?'' she asked with a kind smile.

''Nothing, it's nothing'' I shot her a smile and she smiled back. ''So what's your name?'' she asked, breaking the awkward silence. ''Oh, yeah, sorry. I'm Troy'' I said with a grin as I placed my hand in front of me for her to shake. She slipped her small hand in mine, and looked at me. Something in her eyes seemed to change. For a second, they lightened up when I said my name. Then, her face went confused. ''What's wrong?'' I asked concerned. She quickly took her hand out of mine and held her hands in front of her face, rubbing her forehead like she had a headache. ''Nothing, I uh..''

Yes, this definitely was Gabriella Montez. Why else would she react like this? ''Troy Bolton'' I told her softly. She slowly removed her hand from her face and looked at me startled. ''Troy Bolton'' she repeated in a whisper. ''Yes Gabriella, I'm Troy Bolton''

Gabriella's POV

Troy Bolton. The guy who just walked into the cafe, the guy who I had considered as cute just a few minutes ago, was Troy Bolton. The guy I had been talking to for 2 years without knowing what he looked like. ''Are you okay?'' he asked, looking at me with gentle eyes. His eyes were like the ocean, they were bright blue and amazingly beautiful. I had to remind myself not to get lost in them every time I looked into them.

''Um, yeah. I mean, I'm so confused. O god this is so strange'' I rambled with a slight smile, this time a real one. I looked at Troy again, he was really there. ''I can't believe it'' I laughed and ran my hands trough my dark curls. Troy chuckled and took a sip of his coke. I watched him, his sandy brown hair fell a little into his blue eyes, and his white tank top hugged his muscular upper body perfectly, making him look extremely hot.

''What are you doing here? Not that I don't want you here, I mean it's amazing I finally get to meet you. I just mean, wha-'' Troy stopped my rambling by placing his hand on my bare arm, chuckling. Electricity shot from the spot his fingers touched me up to my arm and trough my whole body. I looked down at his hand placed on my arm and a slight smile formed on my lips.

''Easy there Gabs, I'll explain okay? If you promise not to start rambling like that again'' he chuckled at me. I looked back up and nodded with a giggle. ''Sorry'' I said.

Troy let go of my arm, and finished his coke by taking a big gulp before speaking up again. ''At what time does your shift finish? This isn't really a good place to talk, you know'' he said, placing the empty bottle in front of me. I took a glance at my watch, half past 1. ''In a few minutes, but I have to work again this afternoon'' I told him.

''Can I have another coke, then?'' he asked, his lips curled into a smile.

Troy's POV

A few minutes later, we were walking along the water. Gabriella had changed her working clothes into shorts and a top [PIP]. When we reached a more quiet part of the beach, we sat down in the white sand. There was a long silence, not an awkward one, but a nice, comforting one.

''So.. Now tell me, why didn't you e-mail me back?'' I asked with a pout, making her giggle. My heart melted, her giggle had to be my new favorite sound ever. ''First you tell me why you're here'' she said as she pulled off her sunglasses. I smiled and pulled my knees up, resting my arms on my knees. ''Well, I was worried. I wanted to know what was wrong'' I said, turning my head to her. She was looking down, her smile was gone and her eyes had lost their twinkle.

''So you just decided to go see a girl you talked to for 2 years without knowing who she was, just because you was worried because she didn't e-mail you back?'' she asked, not looking up. I nodded, but then realized she didn't see it. ''Basically, yes'' I said softly.

After another few silent minutes, I spoke up again. ''So what's up?'' I asked softly. She started fingering her sunglasses and still didn't look up. ''My father died'' she whispered as her voice cracked. I watched as she quickly put on her sunglasses, hiding her tears. ''I'm so sorry'' I whispered softly. I moved a little closer to her, slowly putting my arm around her small figure, watching her carefully.

She didn't move back, I think I even felt her lean into me a little. A small tear appeared from under her sunglasses, ans she quickly wiped it away. I reached up and carefully took the pilot glasses off, revealing her tear filled eyes. My heart aches when I saw her like that. I may met her an hour ago, but I had known her for 2 years, and I cared about her.

I reached over and gently wiped the tears away which were falling down her cheeks. She looked up at me with sad eyes, before resting her head on my shoulder.

Heyy! :)

So this is my very first chapter on here, I'm so curious what you all think! So please tell me, I don't bite, ;)

xoxo V.