East High, Senior Year
Gabriella Montez slung her bag over her shoulder and waved goodbye to her mom. She stared up at her high school, East High. She was a senior, finally and could not wait to start the new school year. This year was going to be different then last year. For one thing, she was starting at the beginning of the year. Not joining right after winter break. Another thing, she knew people. Lots of people. Last year she had started the school without any friends. Now she had her boyfriend, Troy Bolton. Star of the basketball team, and the guy that made her knees weak and her heart melt with just one of his smiles. He always knew just how to cheer her up and make her feel special. And after last summer at the country club, when she almost lost him to Sharpay (who was now one of her best friends), she realized just how much she loved him and how much she needed him. She hadn't told him that she loved him. But she knew that she did. Gabriella fingered the necklace with the "T" around her neck and smiled to her self. Just as she was about to daydream about Troy more her thoughts were interrupted by a scream of…
"Gabi!" (that's what her friends called her). She turned around and found herself about to be knocked over by her other best friend Taylor McKessie with her boyfriend Chad Danforth in tow. Before Gabi had a chance to smile or say hello, she was grabbed into a hug by Taylor and swung around.
"I can not believe we are back here. Ugh, I can not wait to graduate. Right?" Taylor asked. "I mean, and then it's off to college and then the real life and when you start thinking about that then you realize just how lucky we are to still be here. But for now, we have the Scholastic Decathlon to think about and you have the musical and student council and…"
"Whoa, Taylor calm down" said Chad, coming up behind Taylor and giving Gabi a hug. "Let Gabi respond or rather just breathe" Gabriella looked up at Chad, smiling in thanks. Gabi had always loved Chad, ever since she had first met him. He was always nice and kind and a great friend to talk to. Gabi understood why Troy and Chad had been best friends since forever.
"Thanks Chad" Gabi responded. "I missed you guys in the two weeks since I last saw you." Gabi had just gotten home last night from a two week vacation to New York with her mom. "And yes Taylor, I am excited for the decathlon, the musical, and everything else this year. But I was wondering, have either of you seen Troy? I got in late last night and I wasn't able to talk to him, or see him." Both Taylor and Chad shook their heads.
"You'll see him in home room" said Chad. "I'm sure he's excited to see you." Gabi smiled and blushed but she hoped it was true. The last time she had seen him was the day after the talent show, after their kiss on the golf course. That was their most romantic kiss ever, and the fact that their closest friends were there didn't make it awkward at all. It made it kind of special. A moment Gabi knew she would never forget.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Taylor saying "Oh no, not Darbus. I had kind of forgotten about her during this summer." Chad and Gabi laughed together.
"I haven't" said a girly voice.
"And I sure hope she hasn't forgotten about us. Now that we have stiff competition for the musical, we'll need all the favoritism we can get" continued a laughing boy's voice.
"Sharpay! Ryan!" yelled Gabi and Taylor together. The three girls squealed and grabbed each other in a tight hug. Thy started talking about the last two weeks and how excited the three of them were to see each other and all that stuff girls talk about after not seeing each other for two whole weeks.
Ryan looked over at Chad and they said together in unison "Girls." Chad shook his head as Taylor lightly punched him in the arm.
"Hey!" protested Sharpay. "Being my twin isn't so awful. You love it, you know it."
"Yea, now." Muttered Ryan jokingly. Everyone laughed and Sharpay had the knowledge to look down and blush. She had fully acknowledged the fact that she used to be a little evil and was being really god about how she acted now and also how she took the comments. But everybody loved her fully and was glad to welcome her into their group of friends.
"Come on you guys, lets head inside." Said Ryan.
"But, I haven't found – " Gabi started.
"I'm sure you'll find him inside. C'mon Gabi." Said Ryan, slinging an arm around Gabi's waist. Sharpay walked on his other side, gabbing away about all the shopping she did for her back to school wardrobe. Chad looked pointedly at Ryan's hand around Gabi's waist, but only Taylor caught his look. She grabbed his had and squeezed it.
"He's just being friendly. I'm sure it doesn't mean anything." Whispered Taylor to Chad as they trailed behind their friends. "They just got really close over the summer, because of the talent show. You know that. You and Ryan too, over baseball. He's probably just really excited and happy to be in school and having more friends then just Sharpay."
"He better be." responded Chad in a gruff whisper. "She's Troy's. Everyone knows that."
"Hey, she can make her own choices. But she picked Troy. Don't worry about him. He can fend for himself." Taylor responded before placing a sweet kiss on his lips.
"You guys, hurry up!" yelled Gabi over her shoulder. "We have got to find Troy, go to our lockers, and make it to home room before the bell!"
"Do you want me to walk you to your locker Gabi?" Asked Ryan over the noise of the hallway. "I already put all my stuff in mine".
"Sure, that'd be great." answered Gabi. "You can tell me all about your last two weeks while we walk."
"Gabi," Ryan said "Taylor can go with you, right?"
"Uh, yea, sure!" said Taylor "No problem. This way Ryan can go to homeroom with Sharpay and get their usual seats, and uh... say hi to MS. Darbus!"
"No, that's okay. I can go with Gabi" said Ryan. "C'mon Gabi" He slung his arm around her waist and steered her towards her locker which was towards the music wing.
"So, I just wanted to tell you how thankful I am about how you treated me this summer. You trusted me and made me feel like a part of the group. So, um, thanks" Said Ryan.
"Oh, honey, of course. I mean, I am also really glad we became so close over the summer. You were there for me, and supported me, and was the sweetest guy ever. You are one of my greatest friends Ryan. You're the best." responded Gabi.
Ryan placed his other hand on Gabi's hand. As he grabbed hold of it, he said "Gabi, I had such a great time. I really wanted to tell you – "
"TROY!" Gabi screamed and took off towards her locker where Troy was leaning with a bouquet of lilies and look of shock on his face as he looked at Ryan. But Gabi didn't notice, as he switched his expression to a huge smile as Gabi flew down the hall towards him. He threw his arms around her, being careful to not crush the flowers. She pulled him into a long and passionate kiss without letting go. Ryan stood to the side, looking at the two of them. Troy and Gabi had stopped kissing, and just stood looking at each other, their foreheads pressed together, whispering words of love to each, neither wanting to let go. However, Ryan cleared his throat. Gabi and Troy sheepishly broke apart. Troy looked over at Ryan, not saying anything. Gabi nudged him in the ribs.
"Hey Ryan." Said Troy, in a neutral voice.
"Hey Troy. Good to see you." replied Ryan. "hey, Gabi, I'll see you in home room, okay?"
"Okay" replied Gabi. But she wasn't really paying attention. She was trying to open her locker with one hand while playing with Troy's hair with the other.
As Ryan started to walk away, he heard Gabi scream in delight. He turned around to see Troy with his arms wrapped around her from behind, looking into her locker which was decorated with pictures of her and Troy.
"Oh Troy, it's beautiful" Ryan heard Gabi say.
"Just like you" Troy replied before grabbing Gabi into a huge hug and kiss. Ryan, with his hand shoved in his pants, walked off to home room.
As the late bell rang for homeroom, Troy and Gabi slipped into their seats in Ms. Darbus's home room. Troy in the front, next to Martha (they exchanged quick hugs), in front of Chad (who wasn't actually in his seat as he was sitting on Taylor's desk, which was behind his, kissing her) who sat in front of Jason, who was sleeping like usual. Kelsi however was sitting on his desk with his head in her lap. It was cute. After a quick kiss from Troy, Gabi slipped into the seat beside Jason. At that moment Ms. Darbus entered the room. Kelsi slid off of Jason's desk, causing him to wake up abruptly and shout "Dishes! Drying!". Everyone giggled. Ms. Darbus had to clear her throat in order to get Chad to get into his seat (him and Taylor were very involved). Zeke hurried back to his seat too, he had been talking to Sharpay. They had got together after the whole trying to steal Troy thingy. She told him she had always liked him, but didn't know what to do about it. And that whole, "tall person" comment, she felt bad about that. But she liked he was tall, this way she could wear heels.
As Ms. Darbus began to drone on about her theater summer and the upcoming projects, Gabriella looked around the room. She was happy. Happier then she had ever been. She had a loving boyfriend, great friends, and couldn't wait for this year to start. As she looked around, she saw Martha staring at Ryan who was busy listening to Ms. Darbus. I should set them up she thought. All her other friends were in couples. And she knew Martha liked Ryan. And Ryan should like Martha. They were both dancers, fun, and smart. And they were friends. Besides, ryan wasn't dating anyone so she was sure he probably liked her (she was the only unattached girl and vice versa with him). Oh! She was excited! Gabi turned to the seat next to her and noticed it was empty. At that moment the door to the room opened and in walked a cute boy with spiky black hair and green eyes in a pair of jeans and a tee shirt.
"Ah! Yes. You must be the new boy. Jordan isn't it?" said Ms. Darbus.
"Um, yea that's me. Sorry I was late, I got lost and – "the new boy, Jordan replied.
"This time I'll let it go," Ms. Darbus said, "But next time you shall find your self painting sets in detention. Take a seat in the back next to Ms. Montez."
As Jordan made his way to the back, several pairs of eyes followed him, most of them female. But there was one pair, a blue pair that narrowed as he sat down next to the eye's girlfriend.
"Mr. Bolton! Eyes up front!" Ms. Darbus shouted.
As Troy turned back to the front, Gabi leaned over towards Jordan and whispered "Hey, I'm Gabriella but my friends call me Gabi".
"I'm Jordan and my friends call me Jordan" he replied. Gabi giggled, causing Troy to turn around again quickly but turned back to the front.
"That's my boyfriend, Troy Bolton, captain of the basketball team." She whispered, pointing him out.
"Oh, I want to try out for the team, do you know when try outs are?" Jordan said.
"Today after school, in the gym. Are you any good? Our team won the national championship last year" She whispered back.
"I hope so, I used to be a West High Knight. I know how good you guys are, and how good Troy Bolton is." He said.
"Well, I'll introduce you after home room. What class do you have next?" Gabi asked.
"Senior English" Jordan said, looking at his schedule.
"Oh, me too! Great. I can show you –"
"Montez! Riglo! Stop talking at once! Just because it's the first day doesn't mean I won't give you both a detention!" Ms. Darbus yelled.
Gabi and Jordan exchanged smiles and looked front. Troy and Chad exchanged looks. Martha looked at Ryan, Ryan pretended not to be looking at Gabi, Sharpay was looking at her mirror but secretly looking at Zeke, Taylor was playing with a lock of Chad's hair, Jason was sleeping, Kelsi was writing a song about her and Jason, Zeke was staring at Sharpay and Ms. Darbus was talking about the theater. Welcome to Senior Year, East High Wildcats of 2008.
Tell me of you want me to keep going with this. One person will keep me going. I got a whole story planned with drama and angst and love. Yes? No? Comments? Suggestion?