Hey guys! It's been a really long time. Life kind of just happened, but now I'm back :)

I kinda redid these first two chapters - nothing major, just slight changes.

Enjoy!

-M

Birds twittered quietly outside. The sun was shining - it's a brand new day. The world was just beginning to wake up, but I've been up for hours. I have just been sitting on my new balcony, watching the sun rise above the trees. I love the quietness. No movement or sound. Everything just seemed so… peaceful.

I found the perfect image for my new blogpost. It was a gif I made from a video of when we passed the "Welcome to New Mexico" on the highway.

New city, new school … This latest adventure begins in Albuquerque, NM. Where it will take me? Only time will tell.

Kisses*

I closed my laptop and placed it on the floor beside me. I looked around my bare room with a sigh. There were boxes labeled 'Gabi' scattered about. Looks like I have a lot of work to do this weekend.

"Gabriella! Are you up?" My brother Aiden called from somewhere.

"Yeah I'll be down in a second!" I shouted back. Well, that's my cue. I got up off the floor and walked into my joint bathroom. Behind the door is a full length mirror. I kept it simple today, wearing a red paisley romper and brown ankle boots with a chunky heel. I fluffed my hair and grabbed my lipstick and purse off the counter before heading out to meet my brother.

"So… be nice," I said entering the kitchen and doing a little twirl.

Aiden took a bite of an apple as he looked over my outfit. "It's nice," he said with a mouth full. "Let's hope you don't break dress code."

I rolled my eyes and took the apple he was eating. "Whatever… let's go… can't be late for your first day."

"I think you mean your first day," Aiden said and grabbed the keys out my hands, "and I'm driving missy."

I stuck my tongue out at him and followed him out to his truck, locking the door behind me.

"Have you heard from Joanne?" Aiden asked as he parked his truck in the teachers' parking lot. Aiden was going to be the new History teacher at East High.

"About Lexa?" I asked and he nodded. "Yeah she called me this morning. Lexa is doing well and they'll be coming Sunday."

"That's good. We have two days to get her room ready. I worry about her, ya know? She's so young."

I smiled sadly. "Yeah but ... she's a trooper." I opened my door and hopped out. Aiden walked around and met me in front of his car.

"She's a Montez. She'll be okay."

"Yeah, well thank God for Joanne. If it wasn't for her, this move would not have been possible."

Aiden smiled proudly at the thought of his girlfriend Joanne Nielson. They are head over heels in love with each other. If it wasn't for me, the two of them would be happily married already. But Aiden and I move around a lot. We don't stay in one place for too long, and Joanne just finished her first clinical rotations for med school. They haven't told me anything else, so as far as I know, they're doing the whole long distance thing.

We walked into East High through a side entrance and was immediately greeted by the main secretary. "Ah Mr. Montez, Ms. Montez - what a pleasure to meet you both."

"Gabriella, please," I said and shook her hand.

"Of course. You can call me Ms. Clarke. The office is right this way. Gabriella, we'll get you all set up with your schedule and give you a brief tour. Mr. Montez, Principal Matsui is eager to meet you," she said with a warm smile. Not once did it falter as she hurried toward the main office.

"Sorry I have to cut this tour short. We hope that you will shine brightly here at East High Ms. Montez," Principal Matsui said. It really wasn't much of a tour. He walked us from the office down two hallways and to Aiden's classroom.

"Thank you Principal Matsui," Aiden said and nudged me a little.

"Yes… thank you," I said quietly. Principal Matsui wished us luck on our first day before walking off.

I was just about to go ahead when Aiden stopped me. "Hey kiddo, you think you'll be okay?"

I sighed with a small smile. I'm touched that Aiden still thinks of me as a 7-year old girl who needs her older brother to scare the bullies away. "Yeah A… what can go wrong on the first day?" I gave him a hug and a cheek to cheek kiss. "See you at three!"

My first day was just like any other - just slightly more irritating. Everywhere I went, it was nothing but staring and whispering. It's like there has never been a new kid at East High like… ever.

I turned a corner and there was my locker. The combination was so simple, I don't think I could ever forget it. I opened the locker with ease and put my fourth textbook away. Thanks to Aiden, I'm taking all AP classes. He never lets me slack off for anything.

A hand tapped my shoulder and I whipped my head around so fast you would've thought I broke my neck. Behind me stood a dark-skinned girl dressed like a private school kid. You know, the whole pleated plaid skirt with a button down collared shirt, complete with the sweater vest and knee high socks. She had a smile plastered on her face and a purple binder at hand.

"Hi!" the girl said, "I'm Taylor McKessie… student body president and captain of the Scholastic Decathlon team."

"Right, hi… I'm-"

"The new girl - Gabriella Montez. You're the one who corrected Mrs. Duane during Calc."

"Yeah… that uh...that was me." So that's what I'm being known for… way to go Gabs. I turned back to my locker. I switched my morning binder with my afternoon one and slammed my locker shut.

Taylor squealed and followed me down the hall. She cut me off and said, "We would love it if you joined the scholastic decathlon team here at East High. We're currently number two in the state, but with your help, I think we could finally win."

Ah frack… this is what I wanted to avoid. I led my last school to nationals. This time around, I wanted to be someone different. Not the freaky math girl again. "I don't know…"

Taylor practically forced a paper into my hands. "Just think about it… like I said, you could bring us to victory." I took the piece of paper and folded it into half, muttering a 'thanks'. "What class do you have now?" she asked as the bell rang for the next period.

I sighed. I have lunch and was planning on finding Aiden and eating. Or maybe I'll eat by myself in a bathroom stall. I'd rather do that than eat alone at a table. Hmm… maybe check out the library? "Lunch".

"Awesome! Me too! You could sit with me and my friends." I stood there awkwardly. The last thing I wanted was to eat lunch with a bunch of nerds. As if reading my mind, "Just because I'm on the decathlon team, does not mean that I hang with the decathlon team. I have other interesting friends too." Taylor linked her arm with mine and nearly dragged me towards the cafeteria. As we walked she was naming off her friends, and giving me a brief description about each of them. Taylor was in the middle of describing her friends who are twins (Ashley and somebody), when someone hollered her name behind us.

We turned around and I was face to face with my worst nightmare.

"Char, Tr-"

"Gabriella?" The blue eyed boy cut her off.

I clenched my jaw so it wouldn't hit the floor. I gulped and replied, "Hello Troy Bolton."