Chapter 1
"Mom, I don't want to go to school today," Gabriella complained. She came downstairs to the kitchen and grabbed an apple.
"Why don't you just go and see how it goes. If you don't feel well, you can come home," her mom replied.
The reason why Gabriella felt sick wasn't because of the flu. Mr. Montez, Gabriella's dad, passed away Friday night. If that wasn't burdensome enough, Gabriella's mother does not work. She was a house-mom and her dad always brought in the money. Without him, they had to sell their home, their cars, everything.
As Gabriella was driving to school, she couldn't help but worry about what would happen to her and her mom.
At School
"Troy, you missed the party after the game Friday night! I missed you, where were you?" Amy, the head cheerleader, said. This was not unusual for Gabriella to hear. All of the pretty girls were always at Troy's locker, either waiting for him, making out with him, flirting with him, and much creepier stuff, too. Troy and Gabriella have had their lockers next to each other since freshman year. Even more so, they have been next door neighbors before they were born. It wouldn't seem so, but the Bolton and Montez family were almost one kin, except for the fact that Troy and Gabriella have never spoken a word to each other. Their excuse was that they were just both too different.
Troy is the captain of the basketball team; Gabriella is the captain of the academic decathlon team.
Troy has a new girl to hook up with every night; Gabriella has never had a boyfriend before.
Troy is the most popular guy in the school; Gabriella is only known by her two best friends.
Troy is a bad boy, he's the life of the party; Gabriella likes to volunteer and go to church.
It is almost certain that Troy barely knows her name.
"Sorry Amy, some family stuff came up," Troy replied to Amy. That was kind of a white lie. Troy was at the hospital when Mrs. Montez called the Bolton household when her husband was hospitalized. Troy read the text his mom sent him after his game and he left the school without any hesitation to visit Mr. Montez. Without waiting for Amy's reply, he looked at Gabriella with some sort of sorry look, and left. And that look he gave was enough to crush whatever debris was left of her heart.
Montez House
"I just don't know how we're going to make it," Maria, Gabriella's mother, said. "He didn't have life insurance, his funeral is costing us our entire savings, Gabriella needs to go to college after this year, and I have to start looking for a job and a new home. This situation's impossible!" Maria was crying as she buried her head into her hands.
"Well let's not jump to conclusions yet. You have options. First off, Gabriella is a smart, smart girl. I can guarantee that scholarship programs will be harassing her soon, so do not worry about funding her college tuition. Second of all, you have a teaching credential! I know that Oak Hills Elementary School is hiring teachers for the next school year, so call them today and see if there's any way you can get a job there. As for your living situation, until you find a part-time or full-time job, our home is available to you guys-"
"Are you crazy? We can't live in your house, that's your home!"
"We have a five bedroom house. Two rooms are open. Jack and I discussed this over the weekend and we would feel discouraged if you do not accept the favor."
"I don't know Martha… that sounds like a bit too much, and I should ask Gabi about this…"
"It's not like you are moving out of state! You're moving a few feet to the right, Gabriella will have her own room, I promise you she'll love the idea that you will not be struggling financially!"
"Is there anything I can do for you? This is an incredible gift that I would not be able to afford to return to you at this moment but I promise as soon as- "
"No. This is me being a good friend to you after all that you have done for me. You saved my marriage, Maria. You talked me out of divorce with Jack. You raised Troy as your own son. Living in my house is not a burden, but it's a gift to me as well."
"Thank you, Martha. Just… thank you."
"Mom?" Gabriella yelled.
"In the kitchen!" she yelled back wiping away her tears.
"Hey, Mrs. Bolton! Hey, Mom. Sorry I couldn't stand it after 1st period, I had to come home."
"Oh that's alright, Gabs! Well, I have news for you."
"No news could be worse than Friday night, what's going on?" Gabriella monotonously replied.
" Gabs, we have to move. We can't afford this house without your dad's income." Maria said uneasily.
Gabriella's face fell even more. "Oh… yeah… well of course, Mom. I should have seen that coming. Whatever is convenient for you, I'll have to accommodate, I guess."
"Well accommodate to this: We're moving next door!" she exclaimed.
"To Jane and Jim's? But Mom, they're grandparents. That's weird!"
"The other neighbors, Gabi. The Boltons!" Gabriella's eyes widened. She looked at her mom, then at Martha.
"W-wh-what? How is that possible?" She stuttered.
"We have two open rooms. You will have your own room, but you will share a bathroom with my son, but other than that, it won't be much different than your home!" Martha exclaimed.
The first thought in Gabriella's mind was not the fact that she has to move out. It was the fact that she is living with Troy Bolton. THE Troy Bolton. She wondered if he knew about his new living situation.
A/N: So if you read this, thank you for reading and please review so I have an idea of how many people are reading! PLEASE give me constructive criticism or any ideas you want. I have most of the story mapped out, but I could always add a few details in here and there. Thanks for reading. I know this chapter is lacking a lot of detail and super boring, but I have a lot in store for this story. I'll post the next chapter tomorrow!
