Disclaimer: It is such a given that I don't own any of this...

Chapter 1

"AND YET ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE WILDCATS!" The announcer stated confidently although the ball hadn't made it pass the net, he was sure it was a done deal. Merely seconds ago, Troy Bolton, had intercepted the ball from the opposing team, drove it down the court aggressively, and slammed into the basket violently, right in the same moment that the buzzer went off. He landed back on the hardwood floor, greeted by his teammates who were still on the adrenaline high of winning.

"Hell yeah! That's what we're about!" Chad clapped his back with a big grin plastered on his face, "And that is how we're going finish out this senior year."

"Dude, how did you do that?" Zeke's confused eyes scanned the court and glanced up at the basket, "Where did you learn that?"

"He is just that good," Jason threw his arm around Troy's shoulder and handed him the ball, "That's why he's the captain."

"Speaking of the captain," Chad stretched his back and nodded ahead, "Your girl is here."

She was walking towards them, stopping every now and then to greet people, until she locked eyes with him. "That was was incredible," she stopped a few inches before him, "Troy, I didn't know you played like that."

He shrugged and pulled her in, tugging the hem of her cheerleading uniform's top. "Well I do," he smoothly rested his hand on her waist and leaned into her ear, "All we have to do tonight is figure out how you like to play." He smiled slyly.

"Well what are you waiting for?" The beautiful brunette grabbed his arms and tugged him in the direction of the gym's exit.

"Damn, damn, DAMN!" One of their teammates rushed in and interrupted them, "Troy, did you see that girl up in the bleachers?"

"Michaels, dude, I'm in the middle of something." He waved off the junior and kissed his girlfriend, letting her lead him away from the guys.

She smiled at his kiss, tugging at his red and white jersey, "Where do you want to go?"

"I'll take you anywhere, baby," He smirked and pulled apart for a minute to grab his duffel bag.

She watched him for a minute and laughed, "I'm going to say bye to girls first, I'll meet you in your truck in a little bit."

"Alright," He spun the car keys in his hand and made his way out of gym, Troy pushed the exit door opened and spotted a group of teenagers, who were probably from West High since he didn't really recognize any of them, except for a few of guys in their basketball jerseys.

"Troy Bolton," one of them called loudly.

Troy turned his attention to them for a minute.

"Good game, Dude," their team captain emerged from the crowd and grinned, "That last dunk? That was ace."

"Thanks," Troy gave them a half-smile and continued to walk past them, until his sight was set on a familiar face.

At first he didn't really even believe that it was her, but when Adrian, one of football players from East High had called her name, it started to become too much a coincidence. She spun around and smiled brightly. He stopped in the middle of parking lot with his eyes set on her, so much questions forming in his head. Watching her, he noted the way she looked in that pale moonlight. The way the soft glow of the streetlamp highlighted her smiles. She was wearing dark skinny jeans, with a black tunic, black heels, and her beautiful hair in light curls trailing her back.

She gave him a hug and turned around to find her ride, not expecting to come face to face with him. Her lovely brown eyes met his piercing blue stare. She shifted nervously, studying his facial features and things that had changed since sophomore year.

He stood a little taller now, a little more prideful in his posture. His confidence seemed to have just poured out of him.

Troy stood before her, his car keys in one hand and his duffel bag in the other, not sure of what to say. He cleared his throat and shoved his hand into the pockets of his letterman. "Hi," he lamely greeted her, wondering how the news of her return had escaped him.

"Gabriella, you ready?" David Grantham, a senior who had transfered to their school last year, interrupted their staring contest.

She broke away staring at Troy and glanced up, smiled weakly, "Yeah... I was waiting for you."

He nodded towards the car, "Lets go."

Troy watched as she took his arm and held onto him. Not realizing that the gnawing feeling grew in his stomach was jealousy, he so far into his thoughts about her that he didn't even notice David congratulations nor did he really care for them anyway.

And although David was leading her away from him, Gabriella couldn't help but turn around one last time. Her face grew soft and behind her lovely eyes while she hid her innermost feelings trapped underneath the current circumstances. She finally turned her attention back on David, quickly putting him behind her again.

He watched her figure leaving him, noting the way she clung to him. "Babe?" Troy's girlfriend of the week, finally freed herself from her cheerleader captain duties and found him.

"You done?" He asked coarsely.

"Yeah, so... where are we going?"

Troy's breathed out heavily and pulled his duffel bag onto his broad shoulder. "Actually, tonight I... I just want to..."

She studied him skeptically, "You want to go to Chad's after party don't you?"

He shrugged and unlocked his pick-up truck.

"Whatever." She muttered under her breath and climbed into the passengers seat, wondering in her head what he was thinking about that had him so distracted suddenly.

Vivian Whitfield was never one to wonder about boys and where their thoughts would linger to. She always knew that the led to her. Except, whenever it came to Troy Bolton, he confused her. She never knew if he was really that into her, or if it was just his charm that captivated so many other girls. The only thing that she was certain of was his moodiness. He could be on top of the world for months and then somehow, Troy would unexpectedly shut himself off to the world and disclose everyone from his personal thoughts. Like now.

She put down the red plastic cup full of unknown liquor in her hand and studied him. He'd been holding the same beer can that he had since he first arrived two hours ago, and she doubted that he was halfway done with that.

"Viv, what is going on with your boyfriend?" Sharpay Evans, pulled herself up onto the barstool and leaned against the counter. "He's not talking... at all."

"Yeah, it's weird... especially after the big win right?" The cheerleader pointed out. The truth was he wasn't her boyfriend, everyone just referred to them as a couple because their relationship was always on and off.

They watched as he got up and left the beer can on the coffee table, he was heading towards them. Troy pushed his way through the crowd and gave Vivian a look. "Think I might head out for minute, Call me if you need a ride home." He leaned in and kissed her forehead.

He dug out the keys to his truck. "You're my friend right Sharpay?" He directed towards the other blonde.

"Yeah, Troy." She answered, slightly put off at the fact that he even had to ask.

He didn't even look at her, "I think a friend would've given me at least a heads up about her being back here," he walked away indifferently.

Suddenly the reason of his moodiness stuck out like a sore thumb. Sharpay jumped up and caught his shoulder pulling him back, "Troy, I didn't know how to tell you... I mean the way you two left things and I just didn't want to get into any of-"

"Save it." He shrugged her off and left her sitting there trying to figure how he found out. Troy in all his athlete's glory walked out of the house party and climbed into his pick-up truck, slammed the door shut, and brought the engine back to life. In a heated hurry, he carelessly backed up and drove aimlessly, only satisfied of ridding himself of people at the moment.

The next monday morning was an awkward one for Troy. After the big win last Friday, everyone would be in his face to talk about it. After trying to find some down time while sitting in the bed of his pick-up truck that morning, he waited for the bell to ring before grabbing his daily spiral notebook and duffel bag and heading into the school.

"Good morning, Handsome," Vivian grew bright as soon as she saw him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"Morning babe," he grinned and brushed her off slightly, and unlocked his locker shoving all of the contents in that he held into the space.

"You alright now?" She tried again, knowing that he could still be in the same moodiness from friday night.

Troy turned around and glanced at her. He smiled and nodded, "Yeah, I was just tired about stuff."

Her assurance restored, Vivian kissed him once more before going to her first period class, "I'll see you later then."

"Later," he muttered and ruffled the top of her head. She turned around and frowned, fixing her hair.

Troy laughed to himself once she left, he closed the locker and turned, somehow surprised to see Gabriella on the other side of the hallway, pulling out books from her locker. Somehow he'd forgotten that she was back that morning although he'd spent all weekend thinking about it.

"I call dibs on the new girl," Cody Michaels, out of nowhere stood next to him and was scanning her hungrily.

"No, you don't," Deciding to take the long way to homeroom, Troy turned around and grabbed his teammates collar.

"Okay, okay," Michaels winced and took it back, "fine, I don't call dibs on her." He hurried his steps trying to keep up with his captain.

Troy laughed, "Good, because she's not available." He let go as soon as they were at the stairwell and Gabriella was out of sight, "and make sure everyone else knows if they didn't already."

"Kind of... possessive over this one aren't you?" He gave him a quizzical glance, this sort of behavior was unusual for their captain. "I mean you usually don't care about new girls."

He shrugged, "She's an old friend." He climbed up the stairs.

"She's an old girlfriend," Chad was at the top of the stairwell and interrupted, already knowing what they were talking about.

"Damn, THAT'S HER?" Troy stopped and the two seniors turned around, they glanced down skeptically at Michael's sudden outburst. The junior raised both hands in surrender, "I'm sorry, but the girl is TOO FINE to be a bookworm, and I'm pretty sure Grantham's already..."

"Shut the hell up," His expression grew cold at the thought of the Gabriella and the Varsity quarterback.

Cody closed his mouth and backed off immediately. Chad laughed and pushed his friend towards their classroom, "He didn't mean it, let it go dude."

Troy shook his head, "Later dude." He brushed off the comment, it was probably just stupid gossip that was flying around.

"He wasn't lying about Grantham though," Chad warned him cautiously, trying to avoid a sensitive nerve, "That kid has been all over her."

And sure enough as he turned the corner and glanced up the hall, she stood outside of their homeroom with the football star.

"Thanks for the help though," David tucked the paper in the back pocket of his jeans, "See you at lunch?"

"Yeah, I'll see you then." She took her books back from him, "Thanks David."

"Got a thing for captains, I see." Troy muttered and walked past her with a smirk on his face. He dug his hands into his pockets and disappeared into the room and left her outside.

She rolled her eyes and followed into their homeroom.

"Ms. Montez," The drama teacher paused at the front of the class and smiled, "What are you doing here?"

Gabriella shifted and pulled out a small yellow slip, "I'm back."

Ms. Darbus took the note and studied it, "Yes well, apparently you are... you may take your seat in the back of the classroom, the one you had before... and you also have detention."

The brunette frowned and looked at her teacher with frustration.

"You were ten minutes late, dear," Darbus turned around and walked towards the blackboard, "the rules haven't changed."

She took her seat grudgingly.

"Maybe if she wasn't outside messing around with David Grantham, she wouldn't have been late," Troy remarked snidely, he stretched his back and acted as if it were a normal day.

"Mr. Bolton, you also have detention, I wasn't so distracted to notice that you arrived late also," Ms. Darbus didn't hesitate to reprimand him. The rest of the class fell quiet, they all glanced back and forth from Troy and Gabriella.

He shrugged, "Thats okay... I'm fine with detention, it's not like I've got anyone to hook-up with this afternoon."

"Absolutely UNAPPROPRIATE," Darbus spun around and gave him a warning, "That is fifteen more minutes."

Troy turned his head around and glanced at her. She ignored him. The first thing that he noticed was her long tanned legs, which was probably a result of spending time on the California beaches. She was wearing a ripped up jean skirt, that wasn't so short to make her look easy and neither too long to make her look like a prude. It would be foolish to say that she wasn't beautiful, because to him she left all the other girls in the dust in that department. It was that fact that she made him uncomfortable, as if he couldn't read her anymore and she was a different person than the one who left the summer before junior year. "One man's trash is another one's treasure... right Gabriella?" He didn't bother to whisper.

"Ugh, asshole," Sharpay muttered and felt a sudden urge to shove him down the stairs.

The bell rang. The beauty rose from her seat and rolled her eyes as she walked past his desk, making it obvious she didn't have anything to say to him. He smirked and watched her walk out, noticing that she seemed a little leaner.

"Dude," Chad gave him a disapproving frown, "That was fucked up."

He shrugged, "Yeah... it was."

"You look like... beach barbie."

She laughed and shut her locker, faking a frown at Sharpay, "a Beach Barbie?"

The blonde shrugged, "A smart one?"

"Okay... thanks," she pulled her Dior bag onto her shoulder, "Anyway, I'm not so sure that I've got time for lunch toda-"

"No."

Her mouth fell open, "Seriously... I have calls that I need to."

"Other people can take of," she grabbed her arm and dragged her down the hallway, "Come on."

After being pulled away towards their usual lunch table (that was exactly how fast Sharpay walked), Gabriella found Troy with his feet propped up on the table, a girl underneath his arm and an enormous smirk on his face.

She pulled her friend aside, "Are you serious? I'm not sitting here... I'm not talking to him."

"You don't have to," she promised, "I swear we'll make him behave... besides, he's already seen you... you don't want him to think that you're running away."

"Ugh," Gabriella grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the table, she sat down squarely in front of Troy.

He stretched out his arm further across Vivian's shoulder and pulled her in closer, "Where's your boyfriend?"

She rolled her eyes and pulled out her cell-phone.

He snorted and shook his head, "Oh that's right, he was probably just a random f-"

"Shut the HELL UP, Troy," Sharpay glared at him dangerously.

He bit his lip and leaned back, temporarily looking busy with the abundance of math homework in his textbook, while watching Gabriella in his peripheral. She wasn't eating anything, just texting away on her phone.

"Montez, you're not eating anything," David appeared on the other side of the cafeteria, emerging from a table full of his football players. He looked strikingly different from the rest of them, with a tattoo at the base of his neck peaking out from underneath his favorite 'Threadless' shirt, he approached her with a skeptic grin.

Troy noticed the bright smile that grew on her face when she moved over to make room for him, the rest of the girls watched them nudging each other.

"Not hungry," she shrugged her shoulder and bit her lip.

"Okay," not fully convinced, he glanced up and smiled at Sharpay who was on the other side of Gabriella, "Hey Sharpay."

Her suspicious expression faded as she took note of him, she smiled back, "Hello David Grantham, how on earth do you know Gabriella so well to be talking to her?" The one question that had been burning in Troy's mind since the night he saw them together.

Gabriella coughed, she turned around and laughed at the blonde, "You haven't changed a bit."

"I'm just saying," She shrugged, "It's weird that you guys know each other." She looked up at David and waited for his answer.

"We hooked up." He answered flatly.

Troy coughed, loudly... and Sharpay's pretty green eyes grew wide. Gabriella jabbed him in his ribs.

A sly grin slowly grew on his face, "Oh... was I supposed to lie about that?"

She gave up and looked at her best friend, "He's just joking... we've never been together like that before."

He laughed and threw an arm around her waist, "Seriously though," his face straightened out, "When she's ready to have kids, we're going to make a superior race of humans."

Gabriella rolled her eyes.

"Hey," he looked down at her, "you said that..."

"I was drunk."

"The truth comes out when your wasted."

"I didn't have that much tequila."

"You DRINK?" Where was Gabriella the goody two-shoes? Sharpay mouth dropped, "Gabs... you NEVER get wasted with us."

Her checks blushed with a hint of embarrassment, "I don't think it's such a good idea for you to be friends with my school friends." She turned around and bit her lip.

"Cause all of your bones come flying out of the closet huh?" He nodded understandingly and perched up, "We were friends from a long time ago... before her mom started moving her around to all of these different states." He finally admitted to Sharpay.

"Oh," She her shoulders fell, they were really only friends.

"Anyway, I have to go... I promised Neely I'd help with her Physics stuff," He got up and gently touched Gabriella's soft curls, "Hair looks good today."

"I told you... Paul Mitchell is a hair god," she hugged him quickly and let go, "Bye David."

David let go her arm, "I guess so... later ladies, Troy." He nodded and left them, soon being distracted by another teammate of his.

Taylor, who came out of nowhere, put her books on the table and sat down on the other side of Gabriella, waiting for a response. While Sharpay, Vivian, and Troy kept their eyes on her.

"Don't start."

"On the fact that he's ridiculously gorgeous?" Sharpay was first to make a breach on the silence.

Taylor was always second, "How do you know him? He's the new football captain."

"How could you stay friends with a guy like that and not..."

"Oh God, Shar have you seen his tattoos?"

And even Vivian, who knew nothing about Gabriella and Troy's history joined in. "He is really hot," she agreed.

Troy slammed his math book shut, he threw down his pencil and got up, "FUCK MATH." With a stormy exit, Troy Bolton kicked aside the blue chair and walked out of the cafeteria, leaving the crowd watching his silhouette disappear behind the doors.

Annoyed, she crossed her legs and rolled her eyes. Catching the subliminal message that he was conveying only to her.

'Fuck math' she repeated in her head, remembering the light-hearted joke on the rooftop about being the 'Freaky math girl'.

"He's been like that ever since Friday," Vivian stole a glance at Gabriella, not sure of who she was but making a subtle connection about Gabriella's return and Troy's moodiness.

Taylor decided to change the subject, "Anyway... Carter's party is in two weeks. You feel like going?"

Carter, as in Wes Carter, who was Albuquerque's own version of Brandon Davis, always threw legendary house parties, where the most-discussed gossip topic of the year took place.

"Not really... that guy is sort of an ass." Gabriella had a blank expression, she glanced up and saw Vivian, "I'm sorry... I haven't really met you yet. I'm Gabriella."

The brunette smiled, "It's okay... I've heard plenty about you in the last three days. I'm Vivian." She stuck her hand out and shook Gabriella's hand.

"Are you going to Carter's party?"

Vivian moved Troy's jacket and showed her the cheerleading uniform underneath the letterman, "I kind of have too... I'll just steer clear oh him though."

Gabriella nodded, "Yeah, he tried to feel me up the last time I was there."

"Gross."

"I know." She laughed, "Troy kind of took care of it for me though... he gave that guy a black eye."

"So I guess you and Troy used to be friends?"

Gabriella hesitated to answer, actually she didn't even mean to bring him up. She chewed on her bottom lip, "Yeah we used to be friends."

Vivian could sense her uncomfortable tone.

Sharpay pulled them out of the conversation, "Oh look, there's Zeke and Chad." She tugged Gabriella's elbow, "You can tell all of us about how you know Grantham so well."

Gabriella scoffed and she smiled.

"Okay, who pissed off Troy today?" Chad looked around expectantly and his eyes fell on Gabriella, "Oh. Nevermind."

"Hi Chad." She raised her eyebrows.

A smile grew on his face... "Good Morning Gabriella," He kissed the top of her head and sat down next to Taylor. "What happened?" He mouthed when he thought Gabriella wasn't looking.

"Morning?" Sharpay looked at him strangely.

Zeke shook his head, "The dude just woke up right before the bell rang in Crain's class. Dude, you're going fail once you take that mid term."

"Have you forgotten that my girlfriend is basically a freaking Chemistry genius?" He pointed at Taylor, "It's like we're sharing a brain."

"Oh god, Taylor's IQ has dropped like a million points," Sharpay muttered and turned to her boyfriend, "You brought me anything today?"

Zeke shook his head, "Troy snatched the cookies from out of my hand and threw them in the trash."

Her mouth fell open, "Okay, NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM..."

"It's okay, Shar, I'll bake some more this after school." He patted her back.

She shook her head, "I can't believe he would get this upset over..."

"Man, that is one mean kid today," Jason, who had just got to their table, dropped his backpack on the linoleum and sat on to the chair next to Vivian. "Did you say something to him?"

Vivian laughed nervously, "I swear I wouldn't even know how to get him all mad like that."

They saw the logic in that, and the rest of the group turned around at looked at the other brunette, who was in another world. She was currently noticing Martha Cox's weight loss, and the girl looked good now, apparently she'd missed a lot in the last year. Gabriella glanced back at the people at her table, they were all staring at her. With a confused expression, her shoulders fell, "What?"

"What did you say to Troy?" Chad raised an accusing tone.

She scoffed, she looked around at the rest of her friends, "Are you kidding me?"

"You must've said something," Sharpay added, "He threw away my cookies."

"And it's my fault?"

"Indirectly."

Her mouth fell opened, "I haven't said a word to him since I've been here... and all of you have heard the little pathetic insults he throws out at me."

"Well then, maybe you could throw some insults back?" Taylor suggested.

"No, I'm not wasting my time with him." She shook her head and glanced up at Vivian, "No offense."

She shrugged, "I just want old happy Troy back."

"Me too," Chad added.

"Me three," Zeke was next.

"Me fou-"

"Okay, I get it," She interrupted, "But we don't mean the same things to each other anymore. I'm sorry, but there is no way that I'm going to get back on that emotional roller-coaster." Gabriella grabbed her bag and got up, escaping the cafeteria.

'But we don't mean the same things to each other anymore,' Vivian watched her intently, realizing that maybe this girl wasn't just an old friend to Troy, and strangely Gabriella understood how it felt to be with him like none of his other friends did. With a few words she described how it felt like to be with him.

"Think they'll ever be friends again?" Taylor thought out loud as the rest of them watched her leave. She walked away going through her phone again, checking for any missed calls and not noticing the people watched her. Since Gabriella returned, their senior year was going to become a little more 'eventful'.

Review please... :)