"I seriously thank God for summer vacation." Taylor said, closing her pink locker door. "I don't have to step foot in here until September."
Gabriella nodded, "I'm just glad we survived freshman year."
"It wasn't too bad."
"Yeah, for you. Freshamn year kind of sucked for me."
Taylor rolled her eyes, "Who's being dramatic, now?"
"Shut up. Are you coming to Danielle's party later?"
Taylor scowled at the question, "No thank you. I'd rather stab my eye out. I don't know how someone as nice as you hangs out with Danielle Asher."
Danielle Asher was Gabriella's best friend, since they were six. They met the first day of first grade and had instantly hit it off. Everyone had questioned their friendship, and for obvious reasons. The two were polar opposites. Danielle was blonde, Gabriella was brunette. Danielle loved sports, Gabriella had absolutely no idea how to throw a football. Danielle was tall and skinny. Gabriella was tall, and...not so skinny. Gabriella wouldn't say she was ugly, but on a scale of 1 to 10, Danielle was a 27. Everyone worshipped the ground Danielle walked on, while Gabriella was left in the dust. Long story short, Danielle was perfect, Gabriella was not.
"Come on, Tay. Danielle isn't so bad."
"She isn't bad, she's horrible." Taylor said. "She's horrible to everyone and everything."
Gabriella shook her head, "No she is not." She closed her locker. "I have to go. Can you at least consider coming?"
"Absolutely not. But I really hope you enjoy yourself."
"I have to go meet Danielle."
"Have fun."
Gabriella walked off and turned the corner, looking for Danielle. She saw her standing against her locker. "Hey, Dani."
"Hey Gabriella. What's up?"
"Nothing. I was talking to Taylor."
"Ugh. I don't know why you waste your time talking to Taylor."
"Taylor is great. You two could be really good friends."
"I'd rather die than be friends with Taylor McKessie."
Gabriella was about to say something when someone walked over. "Hey Danielle."
Gabriella looked up and saw Troy Bolton standing next to her. She quickly looked down. Troy Bolton had only been the love of her life since she had first laid eyes on him.
Danielle looked up, "Hey Troy. You know my friend, Gabriella, right?"
Troy looked over, "Yeah. She totally helped me in algebra last week."
"It's alright. Not everyone is cut out for logarithms."
Danielle rolled her eyes, "Right. Anyway, Troy, are you coming to my party?"
"Yeah. Wouldn't miss it for the world, Danielle. Everyone is coming."
Danielle smiled, "Yup. Gabriella, what time is your flight tomorrow? I hope you can stay out late?"
Troy raised a curious eyebrow, "Flight? Where you going?"
"Los Angeles." Gabriella replied. "I'm going to be out there for the summer."
"Really? That's so cool."
"Yeah, I can't wait."
Danielle rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Not interesting anymore, G."
Gabriella frowned. "Harsh."
"Honest." Danielle corrected.
Troy looked at his watch, "My brother is going to be pissed if I'm not outside in the next 5 minutes."
"Ok. Bye." Danielle gave Troy a kiss on the lips.
Gabriella's stomach dropped to her feet. What the fuck was that? "You guys are dating?"
"Yeah." Troy replied.
"I asked him out yesterday." Danielle explained. "Isn't that great, G?"
Gabriella stared at Danielle, intently. She had a look in her eye. Something mischievous, and taunting. Like she picked Troy out just to piss Gabriella off.
"Yeah." Gabriella lied. "Fantastic, actually."
"Great. I knew out of everyone, you'd be the happiest."
Gabriella swallowed the urge to scream, "Well, I definitely am, Dani. Well, I have to go. I think my sister is waiting for me."
"Bye. See you tonight, Gabriella."
Gabriella just turned around and walked out of the building. She had to get out of there immediately.
Gabriella had known Danielle for years. She'd seen Danielle steal female's boyfriends and crushes since 6th grade, but stealing the guy Gabriella had been pining for for years was a new low.
She spotted her sister's black Audi in the parking lot and quickly sprinted over to it and got in.
"Hey sister." Lola greeted.
"Get me out of here." Gabriella ordered.
"What?"
"Just drive, Lola!"
Lola took her keys put of the ignition. "No. Tell me what's wrong. You're visibly upset."
"Guess who Danielle is going out with?"
Lola shrugged, "I don't know. The girl had a good dating year. She went through everyone on the JV baseball team. Has she moved on to the lacrosse players? Or is she going in alphabetical order?"
"Troy Bolton." Gabriella answered.
"Your Troy Bolton?"
"He isn't my Troy Bolton, but yeah. My Troy Bolton."
"That bitch."
"Its like she did that just to hurt me. The way she looked at me. It's like I'm not even her friend."
"Maybe they aren't dating." Lola said, trying to be optimistic.
"They kissed right in front of me and Danielle said they were dating."
Lola frowned, "Gabs, I'm sorry."
"It's whatever. Let's just go home."
"At least we are going to Cali tomorrow, right?"
Gabriella nodded. They were going to LA. And she couldn't wait.
Gabriella walked into Danielle's house later that evening with Lola by her side. She decided that she wasn't going to let Danielle's current relationship status ruin her day.
"Danielle!" Gabriella greeted, spotting Danielle in the hallway.
"Hey." Danielle greeted, back.
"Can I talk to you?" Gabriella asked. "In private?"
"Can it wait?"
"No. It's important."
Danielle sighed, and pulled Gabriella into the guest bathroom. She locked the door. "What?"
"You and Troy?"
"Me and Troy, what?"
"When did you start dating him?"
Danielle sat atop of the counter, "I asked him out 2 days ago. Does it matter?"
"Did you forget that I've had a crush on him for, I don't know, forever?"
"You were serious about that crush thing?"
Gabriella nodded, "Yeah. When someone says they have a crush on someone, they tend to be serious."
"Gee Gabs, why don't you pee on him and mark your territory." Danielle teased. "This is high school! Don't get your panties in a bunch over a guy."
"But he isn't just some guy, Danielle!" Gabriella stated.
"I think you're taking this too seriously. Troy and I aren't even as serious as you're insinuating."
"But out of the millions of guys that are in love with Danielle Asher, you pick the guy I like. It's fucked up."
"Look, Troy likes me and I like him. That's it. And it's not like your his type, anyway."
"What's his type, Danielle? Blonde?"
"Skinny."
Danielle had might as well punched Gabriella in the gut, because that's what it felt like she did. Danielle knew Gabriella had weight issues. "I knew you were a bitch, but I thought I got a pass from your wrath because I'm your best friend."
Danielle sighed, "You know I didn't mean it like that, G."
"How many ways can you call me fat without really meaning it, Danielle?"
Danielle threw her hands up in aggravation. "Sorry. Look, I'm sorry you feel so upset over all of this, but come on, you're being over dramatic."
Gabriella bit the inside of her cheek, "Apology accepted."
Danielle hopped off the counter. "Now let's go enjoy my party." She waltzed out of the bathroom, leaving Gabriella stunned.
Gabriella stared at herself in the mirror. She was still trying to wrap her mind around what just happened. Danielle obviously didn't care that she just crushed Gabriella.
A tear rolled down Gabriella's cheek. She quickly wiped it away. She refused to cry. Gabriella wrapped her hand around the locket around her neck. It had a picture of Danielle and Gabriella on the first day of school. Gabriella ripped it off and dropped it into the trashcan. She walked out of the bathroom.
On her way out of the house, someone grabbed her hand. "Hey! Algebra girl."
Gabriella turned around, "Hi Troy."
"You leaving? The party just started."
"Yeah. I got a headache so I'm gonna go home. Plus I have to be early to go to L.A."
"Oh right. Well, I hope you feel better."
Gabriella smiled, "Thanks. Have a nice summer."
"You, too."
Gabriella started walking again and didn't stop until she was outside. Danielle's words were the nail in the coffin to their friendship. And for some strange reason, Gabriella wasn't upset.
It was summer. And it was time to make some drastic changes.
Gabriella groaned as she put her sunglasses back on. It was way too bright and she was way too hungover to be starting school.
School. Gabriella shuddered as she looked at the school one more time. She missed her high school in L.A. She missed her friends in L.A. Being out there had been the best year of her life to date.
After spending the summer in Los Angeles, Gabriella begged her parents to let her stay with her Aunt Linda for the school year. She did not want to go back to Albuquerque, New Mexico to be Danielle Asher's bitch, and pretend like she was still her best friend.
While in Los Angeles, Gabriella made some changes about herself. The number one thing she changed: her weight. Spending months and months in the gym, everyday would do a person wonders. Someone who hadn't know Gabriella for years would have thought she was a super model.
She was so happy in California. Then her parents fucked it up by making her move back to New Mexico. In Gabriella's opinion, it was the dumbest idea on earth.
"Excuse me? Are you lost?"
Gabriella turned around. She was staring in the face of Troy Bolton. "Lost?"
"I've kind of been watching you wander aimlessly for the past three minutes." Troy explained. "You look a little lost."
"No, not lost. I was caught up in thought." Gabriella replied. "And I have a major headache."
"It's ok if you're lost. I won't tell anyone new girl didn't know where she was going."
"I'm serious. I wasn't lost." Gabriella insisted.
Troy laughed, "I'm totally joking. Relax."
"Right."
"First day here?"
Gabriella smirked. He obviously didn't know who she was. She could play the new girl for a few minutes. "Yeah."
"Cool. What's your name and where are you from?"
"Elle." Gabriella lied. "And I'm from L.A."
"That's cool, new girl."
"Are you the welcoming committee?"
"No. Just thought I'd be nice and make conversation."
"That's sweet of you."
"Oh stop it, you."
A loud bell went off. Gabriella rolled her eyes, "Well, Mr. Welcoming Committee, I have to get to class."
"What's your first class?"
Gabriella pulled her schedule out of her purse. She quickly scanned the paper. "Biology with Harrison. Room A-11."
Troy smiled, "Oh, we have first period together, new girl."
"Then I guess it's my lucky day."
"It is." Troy agreed. "I'll show you where it is."
Gabriella was about to say she knew where the classroom was, but decided against it. If Troy wanted to walk her to class, she wasn't going to stop him.
The two walked together to class, receiving strange looks from everyone that they passed by. What was Troy Bolton doing talking to a random girl?
"If looks could kill, I would probably be dead by now." Gabriella joked, looking around the hall.
"Not too many girls talk to me, at least while the girlfriend is near." Troy said.
"Well who's your girlfriend?"
"Her name's Danielle Asher."
"Oh. Well I don't want you to get in trouble for talking to me."
Troy shrugged, "Danielle is a bit territorial, but it's cool."
Troy opened the door for Gabriella as a shrill bell rang.
"You're late!" A sharp voice said. It was their teacher, Mrs. Harrison. "It may be the first day of school, but I do not except tardiness."
Troy held his hands up, in surrender. "Sorry." He pointed to Gabriella. "She's new, and I was helping her."
"No excuses!" Mrs. Harrison said. "You're staying after class. What are your names?"
"Troy Bolton." Troy answer.
Mrs. Harrison pointed to Gabriella, "And you Miss?"
Gabriella took off her sunglasses, "Gabriella Montez."
A gasp was heard from the other side of the room. Danielle stood up from her seat, "Gabriella?"
Everyone in the classroom turned to Gabriella. It was Gabriella! What was she doing back? What happened to her?
Gabriella ran over to Danielle and gave her a giant bear hug. "Miss me, bestie?"
"What the hell happened to you?" Danielle asked, sitting her bag down at her lunch table. "You just dropped off the face of the planet. No calls, or texts. Nothing."
"My parents let me stay in Los Angeles for my sophomore year." Gabriella answered.
"You look so..."
"Skinny." Gabriella finished. "I know. It's amazing how everything changes when you drop like 60 pounds, dye your hair, and get contacts."
"Well you look great, Gabriella." Taylor complimented. "And I missed you."
"I missed you, too, Tay. A lot."
"Why didn't you tell me you were algebra girl?" Troy asked.
"You didn't ask if I was algebra girl, Troy." Gabriella answered, sarcastically.
"Well can you start saving my ass in calculus? It may be the first day of school, but I can already tell the odds aren't going to be in my favor."
Danielle, picking up on the friendliness between Troy and Gabriella, cleared her throat loudly. "Well you look great, Gabriella. Seriously."
"Thank you."
Troy's phone rang. "I'll be right back, guys." He got up from the table to answer his phone.
Danielle turned to Gabriella. "Gabriella, i know our last conversation didn't end so well, but we've both had a lot of time to think and cool down. And I'm sorry. I was a bitch."
Got that right, Gabriella thought. "Apology accepted, Danielle. I'm completely over it."
"Great. Now we can go back to being best friends?"
Gabriella nodded, looking past Danielle. She glanced at Troy. "Of course. It'll be like I never left."
Gabriella paced around her bedroom, cellphone at her ear. "Lola? Lola, can you hear me?"
"Yeah, I can hear." Lola replied. "Weak cellphone reception."
"Where are you?"
Lola sighed, heavily, "Oh, just wandering around campus. I'm definitely going to need a map to navigate around UCLA."
Gabriella frowned, "Don't remind me of the fact that you're in California and I got shipped back to Albuquerque."
"Sorry. How was your first day back?"
Gabriella picked a dart up from her nightstand and twirled it around in between her fingers. "It was pretty eventful. Everyone was shocked to see that Gabriella Montez was back and she was skinny."
"What was Danielle like?" Lola asked.
"She hid her suspicion behind that fake smile of her's. If this was Gossip Girl, I'd be Serena and she'd be Blair."
"Good for you."
"And get this: she wants to go back to being best friends."
Lola laughed, "Really? What did you say?"
"I said yes."
"Why?"
"Don't worry, sis. I'll have my fingers crosses behind my back the entire time."
"What about Troy? Is he still dating Danielle?"
"Yeah."
"Do you have a plan?"
Gabriella threw the dart at her wall. It stuck to a picture of Danielle. "Of course I do."
