A/N

Hi guys!

Okay. This is my first HSM fanfiction, one that's been in my head for a while. From what I've been planning, it's going to be pretty long and I'll try to update as often as I can. I hope you enjoy it, and please review so I know how it's going!

This story is NOT canon. Please keep this in mind, though I hope I stay mostly true to the characters Disney created. This is rated M for language and possible later sexual encounters. DO NOT READ if that makes you uncomfortable. Please feel free to make suggestions, corrections, and please leave comments.

Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Jackie

Disclaimer: The author of this fanfiction DOES NOT have any official affiliation with Disney. She does not own any characters, locations, or brand names in this fanfiction, although she wishes she owns Zac Efron.

"Mami, do I have to go to the party?" Gabriella whined, "I'll just stay here with Jonah and we'll count down together."

"Gabi, please. You're a young adult and it'll be fun! It's New Year's Eve. Just go, and try it. I'll be in the adult's lounge, and if it's really bad after one hour, you can leave," Teresa Montez said, sighing at her daughter.

"Gabi, I don't want to go alone and I want to play foosball with you in the kids room," ten year old Jonah said, standing next to his older sister.

"Okay… I'll go," She said begrudgingly. "But I'm bringing my book."

"Okay Troy, take it around town and go up. Got it?" A panting Jack Bolton said to his son Troy, who was crouching in front of him.

"Got it." Troy dribbled around and delivered the basketball into the basket.

"Boys!" Lucille Bolton called from the edge of the gym. "We did NOT fly all the way to Colorado to play more basketball. Troy, go shower up right now, because you're going to the kids party."

"Kids party?" Troy rolled his eyes and wiped sweat from his forehead.

"No questions. Just go. Jack, you too, we're going to the adult party down at the bar."

Both Bolton men rolled their eyes and headed out of the gym.

"Ha! Beat you!" Jonah yelled triumphantly, across the table from Gabriella.

"Okay. Enough, I'm done playing with you! You beat me every time, I know you cheat somehow," Gabriella joked, affectionately ruffling her little brother's hair. They were at the New Year's Eve party, surrounded by people, the air filled with holiday spirit, karaoke and a rumble of people talking. Suddenly, a bright light shone on Gabriella and she looked around for the source, blinking her eyes.

"Congratulations!" a young man said with a microphone in his hands. "Looks like you've been selected for a round of karaoke… Come with me…"

Gabriella looked at Jonah fearfully and then began protesting as the young man grabbed her arm, leading her towards the makeshift stage. "No, I really can't. I really can't sing. Please don't put me up there."

After arriving at the kid's party, Troy wandered around and picked up a drink. He milled around, and began chatting with some girls about the slopes and snowboarding. He was laughing at a guy who had just walked past, wearing a Viking hat, when a bright light blinded him. Then, he felt an arm tugging at him and the owner of the arm began leading him towards the makeshift stage.

"Hey man, what's going on? Let go of my arm!" Troy said, trying to loosen his arm.

"Buddy, get up on stage! You've been chosen to do our next round of karaoke." The man holding Troy's arm pushed Troy up onto the stage and said, "One day, you're going to thank me for this. Or not."

Gabriella hated performing. She hated the bright lights, but most of all, she hated everyone watching her. She often sang while doing her homework, but rarely in front of people. Standing on a makeshift stage in front of a bunch of teenagers and pre-teens was the last place she wanted to be. Then, she had an epiphany. "Gabriella. If you get off the stage it'll look like you're a coward. You know how to read music! You've sang in church! You can do this! You can do this," she chanted silently.

"Alright, Troy. It's just one song," Troy thought to himself. He looked at the words appearing on the screen and tentatively began to sing.

"Livin' in my own world… Didn't understand… that anything can happen… if you take a chance…" okay! One line down. That's all I owe them.

"I never believed in, what I couldn't see… I never opened my heart… to all the possibilities…" Someone next to him was singing. Troy glanced over at his singing partner and grew more confident.

"Hi, I'm Troy," Troy said, shaking the hand of the girl next to him on the stage.

"Gabriella." Gabi said, taking his hand.

Helping her off the stage, Troy said, "Wow, you were… incredible. That was… um… I have to admit, I didn't wanna be up there." Troy was having a hard time speaking, as he had just taken a good look at Gabriella for the first time. She had ebony curls and wide brown eyes, long eyelashes, and a dimpled chin. Perfect.

"Okay, you were better! Have you done that before?!"

"Um… in the shower. You?" Troy said, leading her outside.

"The only time I ever sang in public was at church, and I nearly fainted beforehand. Doesn't count.

"Oh look, it's almost midnight!" Gabriella exclaimed, as people around them began to count down.

"Happy New Year," Troy said, looking down at Gabi.

"Happy New Year," Gabi said softly, looking into Troy's beautiful blue eyes. "I should probably go and find my little brother and my mom, and wish them a happy new year."

"Yeah, I should go find my parents too…" Troy said. He didn't know why, but he didn't want her to leave so soon after meeting her.

"It was… really nice to meet you." Gabriella said, blushing.

"Yeah. I'll um, see you around?" Troy said, and on a whim, he put his arms around her to give her a quick hug.

They fit together, like two pieces of a puzzle.

And then she was gone.