It was warm and sunny, 8 year old Gabriella was riding in the car with her friend Annie who's father was coming from lond to take her to a family that she was spending christmas with. they pulled up to a small house in the quiet neighborhood of Alberquerque. George, Annie's father, held her hand and walked her to the front door. George knocked on the door, and a tall man and woman answered the door. "Good Evening, I'm George Ashton Holmes, and I bring you Gabriella, the child that will be living with you for the remander of christmas holiday."

Gabriella looked up at the tall people as George gave them the suitcase. The woman smiled, "Hi sweetie, I made you some cookies, come on in." she brought her into the kitchen to find two boys sitting at the table. "Andrew... Troy, This is Gabriella..and she will be staying with us for a little while." Gabriella sighed, and looked at the two boys."have fun sweetie, and tonight for dinner, were going to order in some pizza." Gabriella smiled softly, "Thank you Miss Montez.." she spoke gently. she smiled, "No problem." and she left the three kids alone to eat cookies.

Andrew smiled, "So you're going to be my little sister for while." Gabriella blushed, "I'm Gabi..." Andrew smiled, "I'm Andrew, and this is my best friend Troy." Gabriella looked at Troy, "Hi..Troy.." Troy looked at her, "It's nice to meet you.." Gabriella smiled, "Is...Is Alberquerque fun?" Andrew nodded, "It's the funniest, where are you from?" Gabriella bit her lip, "I'm from London.. I've lived in a small orphanage since I was 2."

Troy looked at her, biting his lip; she sure was...pretty. But, if Andrew got wind of him actually liking a girl, he'd be made fun of. 'Girls are icky!' Andrew tells him, 'yeah! They have pointy teeth!' she didn't look icky, and she doesn't look like she has pointy teeth.

Andrew smiles, "Well, welcome to my house! I'm going to get cookies...want some?" Gabriella smiled, looking down at her feet, as she nodded. "Yes...please.." Andrew grinned, bouncing off to the kitchen. It was her and Troy, "Do you have pointy teeth?" "Huh?" "My friend's say that girls are icky with pointy teeth..."

Gabriella giggled and smiled at him, "Do I?" he looked at her teeth, and he smiled, "Nope." he said popping the 'p'. Gabriella giggled as Andrew came back with a plate of cookies, "Take one Gabi." Gabriella took one off the plate, "Thank you." she said taking a bite of her chocolate chip cookie.

**Home Is Where The Heart Is**

For the past 2 weeks, the three of them had grown used to each other. Gabriella was accepted into their group of friends. but time was almost up for her to go home to london and back to the orphanage. James and Lilly Montez were sitting in the kitchen. "James, I love her, I have fallen inlove with that little girl." James sighed, "I have too, but...but what if she's not happy here-" "James, I think she would love it here.. better then being stuck in a orphanage." James sighed, and he saw Gabriella walk in, "Gabriella.. may we speak with you." she smiled and ran to them and took a seat, "Yes sir?"

He smiled, "Call me james honey, I keep telling you that." Gabriella giggled, "I'm sorry." Lilly hugged her, James smiled down at the little girl, "Sweetie, these past 2 weeks have been fun, but you do know you have to go back to london pretty soon.." Gabriella nodded, "I know...I had a lot of fun here with you guys." James smiled, and took a deep breath, "Gabriella, Sweetie, we love you, and you fit in with this family, what do you think of us adopting you?"

Gabriella gasped, "you mean, I..I can have a family?" he smiled hugging her, "You can call us daddy and mommy, and Andrew can be your big brother..how does that sound?"

Gabriella jumped up and down hugging him, "Thank you! Yes! I want to be adopted please.." he hugged her tightly, "I love you baby girl." Gabriella smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck, "Is it still okay to talk about my other parents sometimes?"

Gabriella smiled hugging her new parents once more, and running towards the backyard, "TROY! ANDREW! GUESS WHAT! GUESS WHAT!" she screamed with delight coming over to them. they looked at her, "what?" "I'm adopted! I'm adopted!" She jumped up and down, "I'm adopted!" Andrew and Troy both smiled, "Congrats, who adopted you?"

Andrew asked. she smiled, "Your mom and dad!" she smiled. Andrew's smile grew bigger, "That means your my little sister! that's awesome!" they hugged and jumped up and down. and that was the day that Troy Bolton knew that he wasen't ever going to lose his best friend.

9 Years Later

The alarm clock went off, Gabriella Montez who turned 16 today slammed her hand on the clock, and woke up and smiled. she went over to her closet and sang to herself, "this is me, can't ignore it, reaching out, breaking free, this is me." she put on some skinny jeans, with a long sleeve grey shirt and letting her curly brown locks fall to her shoulders.

And slipped on her brown boots, and walked downstairs. When she got downstairs she saw her her Dad eating breakfast, she came up behind him, "Good morning daddy." she kissed his cheek. he smiled at her, "Hey baby girl, Happy Birthday."

She giggled, "Thank you so much." and she sat down beside Andrew. he smiled, "Happy Birthday little sister." she smiled hugging her brother and kissing his cheek, "Thank you." she smiled, "So who's all coming to my party tonight? and staying for the sleepover?"

Andrew chuckled, "Well, our friends." she smiled taking a sip of her coffee, "mmm this is good coffee momma." Lilly laughed, "Well, thank you sweetie." she took another sip, and then her phone rang.

She picked it up, and smiled, "it's Troy." she giggled and answered the phone, "Helllllo.." "Hello, Is there a birthday girl around?" Gabriella giggled, "Why yes there is, and what does Mister Troy Bolton think of her turning 16 today?" she giggled.

"I think that...she needs to start dressing like an unattractive nun-" "Hey!" Gabriella laughed, "your really mean!" Troy laughed through the phone, "Uh huh, you know you love me." Gabriella giggled, "Hmm yeah...sure, like a pet pig."

"Ouch that really hurt." She giggled, "coming to my party tonight? Of course you can't stay for the sleep over.." "Damn...and here I am packing my overnight bag."

Gabriella giggled, "Well, you can stay with andrew-" "That's cool, I just might do that." she laughed, "Your hilarious Troy..how can I not live without you?" she got up going to the living room to get her backpack. James smirked, "When are those two going to admit their feelings for each other?" Andrew laughed, "When Troy has the courage and balls to tell her."

Gabriella was slipping on her backpack and walking outside, "Hey, I'm outside your house." he chuckled, "I'm coming out." she looked to see him coming down the stairs. she smiled, "Hey!" she hugged him. he smiled kissing her forehead, "Hey Happy Birthday." she smiled, "Thank you..." they began walking to school, "So umm tonight, wanna do something before my party?"

Troy shrugged, wrapping an arm lazily on her shoulders, "what'd you have in mind?" She giggled, shoving him playfully. "Whatever your thinking it's not that." He chuckled, "how do you know what I was thinking?"

She laughed, "cause I know you, dipstick." "Hey," he said, "watch with that name calling." She stopped in her tracks, crossing her arms over her chest. "Or...what?" "I'll have to chase you down to tickle you."

Gabriella stuck her tongue out and then he grabbed her by the waist and began tickling her. Gabriella giggled, "Troy! Stop it! put me down!" he chuckled, "Never!" and he brought her down on the ground and began tickling her.

Gabriella giggled, "Troy! stop!" she couldn't catch her breath cause he kept tickling her. he chuckled, letting go of her, and helping her up, "Sorry." he said. she giggled once more. he smiled at her, God She Was Beautiful.

When they got to school, Troy walked Gabriella to her locker and she smiled at him, "So later, wanna get a bite to eat?" Troy nodded, "I'd love too.." she smiled, "I'll see you later?" she nodded and they hugged and went their separate ways.

Gabriella went into her 1st period and took a seat by Koby. "Hey Gabriella.." "Oh Hi Koby.. How are you?" he smiled, "I'm good.. Happy Birthday." she smiled, "Thank you." koby smiled, "Listen, I know we only talk everyday in this period, and I like you alot, so I was wondering maybe, would you consider maybe being my girlfriend.?"

Gabriella smiled, "Koby, that's so sweet... of course I'll be your girlfriend..." he smiled, "Really?" she nodded, "yeah, do you wanna come to my party tonight?" he nodded, "Yeah I'd like that alot."

Andrew,Troy, and Chad were walking out of the gym after a long practice. "So, I'm just curious about something Taylor told me.." Chad spoke. Troy looked at him, running a towel through his damp hair, "what?" Chad sighed, "Well, she said that when you put a peanut in pink lemonade, it explodes..is that true?"

Troy shrugged, "I don't know." Andrew chuckled, "Why won't you try that at lunch and see what happens." Chad nodded, "You know what! I'll do that!" Troy and Andrew rolled their eyes.

Chad's eyes landed on Gabriella and Koby walking out of the classroom hand in hand. "Andrew, when did Gabs get a boyfriend?" the two boy's head snapped to see Gbariella and Koby kissing softly on the lips.

Troy felt his gut curl in a tight knot. Seeing Gabriella with..Koby. "Come on..." he said, "let's get to class." He walked pass Chad and Andrew, who shake their heads and follow him. Well, Chad follows him,

Andrew continues to stare at Gabriella, her and Koby pulled apart, they were now walking hand in hand again. "Hey Andy." Gabriella said, using his nickname that she had given him when they were close. "OH..uh..hi."

That day later after school, Gabriella was looking for Troy. she usually met up with him at her locker but he wasen't there today. Sharpay walked up to her, "Hey Girly, when should me and Tay be over?" Gabriella looked at her smiling, "umm 6, have you seen Troy around?" Sharpay nodded, "His in the gym." Gabriella raised a brow in confusion and walked towards the gym.

When she entered she found Troy throwing basketballs at hoop in frustrations. she walked over towards him, "Hey." he looked at her under his lashes, "Hey." he muttered. Gabriella looked at him, coming closer, "I missed you at my locker." Troy just kept shooting baskets. Gabriella looked at him, "Okay. did I do something?"

Troy kept his eyes on the hoop, he shot the ball and it missed the net and the rim, hitting the backboard and bouncing off before hitting the floor hard. "Troy..." Gabriella said, she reached to put a hand on his arm but he jerked away and picked up the ball and started to squeeze it between his hands before he throws it at the nearest wall.

Gabriella flinches at the loud sound, "Troy what's wrong-" "You know what? Just leave me alone all right." With that, Troy goes to the bleachers and grabs his backpack, he digs through it as he walked to her. "Here. Happy fucking birthday." with that, he turned and stormed out of the gym.

Gabriella stood there looking at the CD and a note inside. Gabriella bit her lip, opening up the note, Gabriella, You're my best friend, have been for 9 years, and will be for the rest of our lives. Happy Birthday Brie... I love you..

Gabriella bit her lip, looking back at the door he lef out of. what did she do to make him so upset? Gabriella walked out of the door, and bumped into Andrew. "Woah, Hey gabs." she looked at him, "Andy..I..why is Troy mad at me?" she sniffled, "He really hurt me.."

Andrew sighed, "Well...ask him that." Gabriella looked at him, "Andy...he-he won't talk to me." Andrew shook his head, "then figure it out." He said, walking around her. He...he feels a blatant disappointment; he thought that Gabriella liked Troy. He knows Troy is head over heels for her, but...

"Andy!" Gabriella called after him, catching up with him and grabbing onto his arm. "Seriously, tell me why's he mad at me? What did I do?" Andrew looked at her, "he hurt you? That's what you said.." she nodded slowly, "I just...I went to ask him why he didn't meet me at my locker." "You hurt him." with that Andrew walked away.

Gabriella bit her lip back, Was Troy mad that she was with Koby? But why would he be mad? he don't have feelings for her right? cuase she knew Troy would tell her something big and important like that. she sighed, She was going to have to figure out what was up with him, she didn't wanna lose him.