"Troy," Amanda Bolton said to her son Troy. "Can you –"
"Get a babysitter to watch Chloe?" Troy asked.
"Fine," Amanda said. "I'll get a babysitter."
Troy sighed in relief. He loved his three year old sister, but, he did not want to spend his Saturday night babysitting her. He brushed his blond hair out of his blue eyes.
"Where are you guys going anyway?" he asked as his father, Jack Bolton reached for the phonebook.
"We are going to a party," Amanda said. "My attendance is compulsory." Amanda was a famous designer.
"Right," Troy said getting up from the kitchen table. "Have fun."
"Wait," Jack said. "What are you doing tonight? And, when will you be home? We can't keep a babysitter past midnight."
"I'll probably be home by then," Troy replied. "There's a party at Zeke's place for the team." Troy was the captain of the basketball team at East High which made him the most popular guy in school.
"Alright, then," Jack said. "Do you know any of these kids? They are listed as babysitters. Rachel Holmes, Katie, Bilson, Gabriella Montez –"
"Wait," Troy said. "I know her. At least, I think I do. There's a Montez in my homeroom. Maybe it's the same girl.
"What is she like?" Amanda asked.
"I don't know," Troy said. "She barely talks. I mean, I said hi to her the other day and she didn't say anything. She just smiled and left. Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever heard her speak.
"I think she'll be good for Chloe," Jack said. "Let's give her a try."
Amanda nodded and Jack reached for the phone. They heard a noise over the baby monitor that sat on the table.
"Chloe must be awake," Troy said. "I'll get her."
Troy ran upstairs to Chloe's room.
"Troyee!" she squealed when she saw Troy.
"Hey, Chloe," Troy said lifting her out of the crib.
"Piggyback ride, Troy?" Chloe said.
"Okay," Troy said and knelt down. "Come on."
Troy took Chloe downstairs.
"Gabriella will be coming at half past seven," Jack said. "But we will be leaving at seven on the dot so, you can introduce her to Chloe and tell her how everything works."
"Sure," Troy said. "I won't be leaving till eight anyway."
At seven o'clock, Jack and Amanda left. Troy lay on the couch watching Chloe play with her toys. Suddenly, she came and climber onto the couch. She curled herself up like a ball and lay on Troy's chest.
"What's wrong, kiddo?" Troy asked hugging her.
Chloe did not answer and he soon dozed off.
At half past seven, the doorbell rang.
"Come in!" Troy yelled, not moving.
A brunette walked into the living room a few seconds later. She smiled slightly.
"Hey," Troy said, getting up with Chloe in his arms. "You must be Gabriella Montez. I'm –"
"Troy Bolton," Gabriella said. "I know."
"Oh," Troy did not know what to say. "Um…this is my sister Chloe. Chloe, this is Gabriella."
"Gab-Gabr-" Chloe tried to say Gabriella's name.
"You can call me Gabi," Gabriella told Chloe.
"Gabi," Chloe repeated.
"Right, what else was I supposed to do?" Troy asked, scratching his head. "Oh, yeah. The emergence numbers are on the fridge if you need them. If something comes up, call me, alright? Don't bother my parents tonight. First impressions are important. I'll be across the road if you need anything. And…Chloe will probably go to sleep in a bit. You can watch the television, use the phone and have a snack from the fridge – there's probably some leftover pasta which you can microwave. Chloe's room's upstairs. She likes to sleep with her toy cat near her and give her a bottle before she sleeps."
"Got it," Gabriella said, nodding.
Troy put Chloe down and she went to her toys.
"I'll see you later, then," Troy said.
"Sure," Gabriella nodded.
Troy walked to the door and then he turned to Gabriella.
"Look, I feel kind of bad leaving you here with Chloe," Troy said. "I mean, you're my classmate and she's my sister. It's a bit weird."
Gabriella laughed and Troy smiled. He liked Gabriella's laugh.
"Bye, Troy," Gabriella said.
"Yeah, bye," Troy said and left.
Three hours later, Troy found himself next to an extremely drunk Chad.
"That's enough," Troy said as Chad reached for another drink. "You'll pass out in a minute."
"Whatever, man," Chad groaned.
"Zeke," Troy yelled over the music. "I'm going home."
"Why so soon?" Zeke asked and Troy pointed to Chad. "Right. See you later."
Troy nodded. He pulled Chad out of the house and led him across the street to his own house. Chad was yelling at the top of his voice.
"Chad, will you shut up?" Troy exclaimed. "Chloe's probably asleep."
Chad nodded and Troy pushed him into the house. Chad stumbled over the carpet. Troy led him to the living room where Gabriella was watching a movie. She got up when she saw them.
"Help me, will you?" Troy said. "Get him to the couch."
Gabriella ran forward. Between her and Troy, they managed to get Chad to the couch before he passed out. Troy set some aspirin on the coffee table. Then, he got a bucket.
"Thanks," Troy said to Gabriella.
"Won't your mom be mad to find him here?" she asked.
"Not really," he replied. "As long as I'm not the one who's drunk, they're cool."
"Well, since you're here, I'll get going," Gabriella said.
"No, stay," Troy said. "I'll just call Chad's parents and tell them that he's staying over tonight."
"Okay," she nodded.
Troy went to the kitchen and called the Danforths. Then, he went back to the living room where Gabriella was waiting.
"So…" he said awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.
"So…" she repeated smiling at him.
"When did Chloe go to sleep?" he asked.
"A few minutes after you left," she replied. "Why?"
"She'll probably wake up in a few minutes then," he said. "She'll have her bottle and go back to sleep, again."
"I'll go make one, then," she said.
"Nah, it's okay," he said going into the kitchen with Gabriella behind him. "I can make it."
"So, what do you like to do?" she asked him. "I mean, other than playing basketball."
"Well, I like to hang out with Chloe," Troy said and Gabriella laughed making him smile. "I also like playing the guitar. What about you?"
"I'm on the school's Decathlon Team," she replied. "But, you probably don't know what that is."
"Oh, give me a break," Troy said. "Of course I know what that is. I saw you on the finals last semester. I had finished practice and you were writing this really long equation on the board."
"Right," Gabriella rolled her eyes.
"I'm serious," Troy said. "You were wearing a red dress."
"Oh," Gabriella looked surprised.
"And, you looked really nice in it," he smiled.
"Thanks," she blushed.
"What else do you like?" he asked leaning across the kitchen counter.
"I like singing," she replied. "Not too many people know that. And, I also write some songs."
"You like music?" he commented. "That's pretty cool."
"You would think so," she smirked. "After all, you play the guitar."
Troy chuckled just as they heard a cry over the baby monitor.
"Chloe's awake," he said.
He rushed upstairs with the bottle in his hand. Gabriella followed, but, he did not know that. Gabriella stayed at the doorway watching Troy.
"Hey, Chloe," Troy said, lifting her out of the cot. "What's wrong?"
"Monster chased me," she sobbed.
"Monster won't chase Chloe again," Troy said. "Troy will chase the monster away, alright?"
Chloe nodded and Troy put her back in the cot.
"Here you go," he said handing her the bottle.
Troy watched her fall asleep.
"Sweet dreams," he whispered.
He switched off the light and turned to go. He stopped in surprise when he saw Gabriella.
"That was really sweet," she said, softly when Troy closed the door.
"Thanks, I think," he smiled.
"You think?" she asked.
"Well, guys and sweet don't really go together," he replied.
Gabriella laughed and Troy smiled.
"You're right," she said. "They don't."
"Thanks a lot," he said moving closer to her.
"But, with you, it does," she finished.
Troy blushed. He leaned in closer to her.
"You know, you're beautiful," he whispered, softly.
"Thank you," she said.
She seemed to have a hard time keeping her eyes on his. They seemed to be dropping down to his lips. Troy's forehead touched hers. They heard the front door open and they jumped apart, both, blushing brightly.
"Uh…my parents must be home," he said. "They're pretty early. Usually they stay out really late if they go to a party."
Gabriella just nodded.
"Mom, dad," Troy said walking into the kitchen where they were waiting. "What are you guys doing here so early?"
"Hey, Troy," Jack said. He noticed Gabriella. "Oh, Gabriella, you're still here."
"Yeah," Troy said. "I just got home a couple of minutes ago."
"Here you go," Jack said giving Gabriella some cash.
"I'll get going," Gabriella said.
"I'll walk you to the door," Troy said and they walked out of the kitchen. "Are you walking home?"
"Yeah," Gabriella said.
"But, it's late," he said. "Can't your mom pick you up or something?"
"My mom's dead, Troy," she said, softly.
"I'm sorry, Ella," he said, softly. "Listen, I'll drive you home."
"But, your parents wanted to talk to you," Gabriella protested.
"They'll understand," he said. "I'll just get my keys, alright?"
"Okay," she gave in.
Troy went back to the kitchen.
"I'm going to drop Gabriella off, okay?" he said.
"Sure," Jack agreed.
"Don't be late," Amanda said.
"And, Chad's in the living room," Troy said.
"We figured," Jack said.
Troy grabbed his keys and was about to walk out of the kitchen when he saw Gabriella's bag sitting on the table. As he grabbed it a small book fell out of it. It said 'Gabriella's songs' on the cover. Troy picked it up and quickly put it into his pocket before going outside.
"You left this inside," he said, handing the bag to Gabriella.
"Thanks," she smiled.
Troy threw the keys into the air and caught it again.
"You like to show off," Gabriella smirked.
"What?" he looked confused and then realized what she was talking about. "No, it's a habit."
"Right," she rolled her eyes.
"I'm serious," Troy said opening the door of his car to her.
"This is a nice car," she said. "Your father bought it for you?"
"Actually, he didn't," Troy said. "I used to work at the Scott's Motor Garage. Kevin Scott offered me a deal. He didn't pay me a salary for three months and if I helped him to fix up this car, I could get it."
"That's pretty cool," she said. "I've never seen you drive this to school before."
"I usually catch a ride with Zeke," he said. "Where is your house anyway?"
"You're going the right way," she said. "Make a right near that coffee shop."
"Is this is it?" Troy asked a few minutes later.
"Yeah," Gabriella said.
"There are no lights on," Troy said looking at the house. "Where's your dad?"
Gabriella did not answer. "I'll see you later," she said. "And, thanks."
"You know, thank you doesn't cut it," he said, smiling cheekily.
"Well, what do I have to do?" she asked.
"I promised Chloe that I'll make cookies for her," Troy said. "And, I'm not much of a baker. I was wondering whether you could help me."
"Sure," she said. "When should I go over?"
"Around nine o' clock tomorrow morning," he said.
"I'll be there," she promised.
"And, Ella," he said.
"Yeah?" she looked at him.
"About what happened upstairs…or what would have happened," he began, awkwardly.
"It's okay," she said, quickly.
"Thanks," Troy said.
"I'll see you tomorrow," she said.
Troy leaned over and kissed her cheek, gently.
"Bye," he said, softly.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Troy asked his parents back at his house.
"I've got an offer," Amanda said. "An offer which could change everything in my career. I get to expand my line."
"That's great," Troy smiled.
"In New York," Amanda finished.
"That's not so great," Troy said sitting down. He was not so immature to go storming out of the house. "Do we have to move?"
"No," Amanda said. "I have to move. And, as Chloe is only three, I have to take her with me."
"And, there's no way I'm letting your mother go alone," Jack said.
"Which leaves me," Troy finished. "I don't want to move."
"We know that," Jack said.
"Which is why we have come down with a decision," Amanda said. "You can stay here, if you can find someone to stay with you."
"Someone responsible, you know," Jack said. "Not like Chad. Someone more like Gabriella."
"Gabriella?" Troy asked.
"Yes," Jack said. "I talked to Ms. Darbus about her and she's quite responsible. But, I doubt her mother will let her move in with you."
"Her mother's dead," Troy said. "So, you're saying, if I find someone to stay with me, I can stay here?"
"Yes," Jack nodded.
"I'll find someone," Troy said, getting up.
"Good night, Troy," Jack said.
Troy nodded and went upstairs. He flopped onto the bed, sighing deeply. As he turned around on his bed, he felt something hard stick into his side. He realized that it was Gabriella's book and pulled it out of his pocket.
He flipped through it and saw that she had written a lot of songs. He started reading. They were really good. Finally, Troy grabbed his guitar and his own notebook. Keeping Gabriella's notebook open to a page with a song called 'I'm not a girl, not yet a woman' he began strumming on his guitar.
Three hours later, the once blank page on his own notebook was filled with music notes. On the top of the page, he wrote 'I'm not a girl, not yet a woman'.
Satisfied with his work, he put down his guitar and glanced at the clock. It was almost half past three in the morning. He closed the two notebooks. He put them on the night table and fell asleep almost immediately, fully clothed.
A/N I don't know what to say here, except, I hope you guys like this new story. Please review and let me know what you think of it. Thanks=)