A/N: So I've decided to try writing a longer Troyella, and this is chapter 1. I'm working on my other stories as well, I'm just really busy right now so it might be a little while until I update. Reviews are welcome and encouraged! Shout-out to 2thirty2 for editing my work! Thanks again!

Disclaimer: I own nothing

"Gabriella!" Her mom's shrill voice rang throughout the house and Gabriella cringed at the sound. "Gabriella, come downstairs!"

"I'll be right there!" She shouted back, and she could hear her mom huff in exasperation. She rolled her eyes; her mom was always so dramatic. Hurriedly she threw a sweater over the horrible dress she was being forced to wear. It wasn't ugly, it just wasn't her style. Her mom had picked it out, and an hour earlier they had a huge fight over whether she would wear it, she refused, but after her mother's constant badgering she finally gave in.

"Gabriella! Troy and your brother are here!" Her mom called out.

"I'm right here mom," she responded, entering the kitchen.

The first person she saw was Troy Bolton. For as long as she could remember Gabriella had hated Troy's guts. She couldn't even remember why, just that she always had, and always would. Unfortunately, there was no escaping Troy Bolton seeing as he was her brother Matthew's best friend.

"Hey Gabs," Matthew greeted her, and her gaze snapped away from Troy to her brother. He wrapped her in a hug.

She broke out into a grin, "Hi Matthew!". Gabriella had always been extremely close to her brother. When she needed someone to talk to, or a favour, she would always call him up. He made up for the distant relationship between her and her mother.

"Hi Gabriella" Troy greeted, in the fakest tone he could manage. His striking blue eyes pierced into her skull, a smirk painted on his lips.

"Troy," she acknowledged, shooting him a glare. Disdain dripped from her voice.

"Gabriella, be nice," Her mom scolded, earning a slight chuckle from Troy. "What on earth are you wearing?" Based on her tone you would've thought Gabriella had just entered the kitchen in a tube top and mini skirt.

"Um, the dress you forced me to wear."

"Don't be silly Gabriella, take that sweater off now," her mom's look warned her not to make a scene in front of Troy. The most important thing in the world to her mom was keeping up appearances. She wanted them to appear as if they were the perfect family, meanwhile they were far from it.

"I'm eighteen mother," Gabriella responded coolly. She looked to Matthew for help, and he shook his head slightly. He was telling her to cooperate, just for tonight. Reluctantly she removed the sweater and smoothed down her dress. Smiling her mom went back to work, busying herself with moving food from the kitchen to the dining room.

"Remind me again how you haven't managed to kill her in the year I've been away?" Matthew laughed, once their mom was out of ear-shot.

"We're leaving tomorrow, I just have to survive another twelve hours in this house," she reminded herself more than Matthew. Troy chuckled.

"Something funny Bolton?" She snapped.

His hand went to his heart, feigning hurt, "Now that's not a nice way to treat your guests Gabriella. After all, I haven't seen you since Christmas; we've got a lot of catching up to do." She was about to respond with a snarky comment when her brother spoke first.

"Look, as of tomorrow Gabs is coming to U of A with us. You two," he motioned back and forth between Gabriella and Troy, "will be going to the same school for two years. You've got plenty of time to fight then."

Matthew and Troy were two years older than Gabriella, and both were currently attending the University of Albuquerque. Gabriella would be starting as a freshman there this year, studying pre-law. She was extremely excited, mainly because she would finally get to move out of the house. Without Matthew at home the past two years had been hell; her mom had been more controlling than usual. The only downside to attending U of A was that Troy Bolton also went there. Apparently he was extremely popular, a star player on the basketball team and got good grades. It hadn't surprised her; he was after all a superstar in high school. Everyone idolized him, she just couldn't understand why. To her, Troy Bolton was her brother's rude, obnoxious best friend. Not Troy Bolton, basketball star and super hottie.

"Let's just make it through this dinner." Matthew repeated, "Troy, your parents are going to be here any minute," As if on cue the doorbell rang, and their mother scurried to the front door to greet the Boltons.

"Gabriella!" Troy's mom greeted her, sweeping her up into a hug. While she may not like Troy, his parents were absolutely amazing. They were the parents she wished she had; always warm and welcoming. They liked her as much as she liked them, in fact Troy's mom had even got her a receptionist job at her office this past summer, and she had saved up a good sum of money. Plus, it gave her an excuse to get out of the house as much as possible.

"Hey Gabriella, all packed up?" Troy's dad asked.

"Just about," she replied warmly.

As Gabriella's parents greeted Troy's parents, Troy shot her a quizzical look. He was probably wondering why she was so close to his parents. She ignored it and continued moving food into the dining room.

"So are you excited about leaving tomorrow?" Troy's dad asked her, they were all seated around the oak dining table.

"Definitely," Gabriella answered.

"Matthew you're going to show her around campus tomorrow right?" Her own dad asked.

Matthew looked alarmed, and right away Gabriella knew her brother would most definitely not be showing her around.

"Well, I kind of have some prior engagements," he said.

"You're going to have to cancel them," her mom's shrill voice returned, "your father and I can't be there tomorrow and it's up to you to make sure she's okay."

"I'll be fine mom," She added.

"You most certainly will not be fine," her mom answered. That's encouraging, Gabriella thought. "Matthew you have to help your sister tomorrow."

"But mom, I already have plans," he said again.

"Troy can show her around," Troy's dad offered, and Troy nearly choked on his asparagus.

"Oh, no it's fine really. I don't need anyone to show me around," Gabriella responded quickly.

"Nonsense, it's a big campus. Troy would be happy to, right Troy?" His mom said. Everyone turned to look at Troy.

"Um, I mean I guess I could show Gabriella around," he said quietly. Gabriella's mom clapped her hands enthusiastically.

"Great, that settles it then," She said. Silence fell over the table for a few seconds, and then Gabriella's dad started talking about his job and the adults fell back into a dull conversation. Gabriella snuck a glance at Troy, who looked about as thrilled as she felt on the whole tour situation. It would be okay though, she told herself, once they arrived tomorrow she would tell him he didn't actually have to give her a tour. She could manage navigating the campus by herself, maybe.

"You don't have to give me a tour," She told him, leaving the door open so that he could walk in. She went back to unpacking more of her clothes, sliding them into the tiny dresser in the corner.

"I do have to give you a tour," He said firmly. "I promised my parents and your parents I would, and knowing your mom she would kill me if she found out I hadn't," Gabriella laughed a little.

"She would never kill you; you're the perfect in every way Troy Bolton. She loves you."

"Just like how my parents love you?" He asked.

"Your mom gave me a job, so I ended up spending a lot of time with them over the summer."

"I know, she told me all about," he said, "on multiple occasions." She froze momentarily. They talked about her? Now that made her anxious.

"She's really nice," she said. Something felt off in their conversation, he hadn't insulted her at all and vice versa. For some reason it made Gabriella feel uneasy. "unlike her son," the snarky comment came out easily. He sighed and ignored the dig.

"So this tour," he began again, getting back on topic.

"Like I said, you don't have to show me around. I'll tell our parents you did, it's a win-win situation."

"Look just let me give you a tour. I promised I would and let's face it, you're terrible with directions, you need someone to show you around or I can guarantee you'll get lost on your way to class," he said.

"I'm excellent with directions!"