A/N: Alright well I've been reading FF for a really long time but never really got around to writing one myself, so I figured it's about time! I used to do videos of a story on YouTube but it just got to be too time consuming. I can type quickly this way so it'll take less time : ). So here's the first story attempt, play nice please! Honestly, any feedback at all would be SO appreciated.

The Half of Us, The Least of You, The Best of Me

She couldn't believe this was happening. AGAIN. Here she was, new year, new school. Not only was everyone and everything completely foreign to her, but there was no escaping it. She was now enrolled as a student at East Academy Prep, a boarding school filled with the children of the rich and famous from all over the states. She took a deep breath as the limo rolled up in front of her "new home" as her mother liked to call it.

"Oh come on Gabi," her mother said, pulling her out of her reverie, "I thought this is what you wanted. You know that the company can't promise to keep me in the same place until you graduate. At least this way you won't have to switch schools again."

"Yes mamá, this is exactly what I want. To be separated from you, the only constant in my life." She mumbled as she turned back to the window, her mother oblivious to what she had said.

"Alright querido, it's now or never. I have a flight to catch so unfortunately I can't help you settle. I called the school ahead of time though and they said they'd send some boys down to help carry your stuff. In fact that's probably them waiting over there. You understand right?"

"Of course Ma," Gabriella lied, "I'll call you in a few days. I love you"

"I love you too Gabi, and don't be a stranger. I'm only ever a phone call away."

"Yeah, only." Gabriella thought, mentally rolling her eyes. She smoothed the hem of her white sundress, slipped on her aviators (A/N pictures in profile) and ran her fingers through her long wavy hair; mentally and physically preparing herself for what was waiting for her once she slid out the limo door.

"Well," She thought, "Here goes nothing."

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Troy was annoyed. In fact, he was more than annoyed. He was pretty fucking pissed off. Why did he have to help lug stuff around for some new chick? Head Master Matsui had come and interrupted his game of pick up ball with Jason, Zeke and Chad, telling Troy and Chad he had a "special job" for them. Troy rolled his eyes.

"I should have known to run as soon as he started coming towards us." He thought to himself.

As Troy looked around him he couldn't help but smile a little to himself. He wasn't sure he would ever really get used to the attention he got. Girls lusted after him; guys envied him and wanted to be his best friend. Of course, his real best friend, Chad, was oblivious to the looks of jealousy thrown his way. He just sauntered along gabbing on about God knows what, as per usual.

"Dude? DUDE?! I'm talking to you ya know?" Chad snapped, bring Troy back to reality.

"Wha? Oh sorry. What did you say bud?"

"I SAID, do you reckon that's her car? Matsui said her limo arrived didn't he?"

"Uh yeah. I guess we'll just have to wait and see who comes out. This is so messed up though. Why do we have to carry her stuff for her?"

"Whatever dude, suck it up. It'll give you a chance to show off your muscles to the entire female population of the school. Not that they don't already fawn over you too much anyways"

"Shut up Chad." Troy said, flipping his dark brown hair out of his eyes so he could glare at his friend.

Chad quickly fell silent. Both boys turned back to the car in anticipation just as the door opened. In that moment Troy could have sworn everything around him started to move in slow motion. First a red shoe (A/N pictures in profile), followed by a long, toned and tanned leg. Troy couldn't help but feel anxious, it felt like was taking forever for her to fully reveal herself. Finally the owner of this beautiful leg fully slid into view turning her back to him as she said something to whoever was still in the car.

"Dude..." Chad said quietly reminding Troy where he was "She is..."

"Shut up Chad." Troy demanded, stopping his friend from finishing that thought. He really didn't want to know what Chad thought of this girl. It was pretty obvious; how anyone could not feel intoxicated by her beauty was beyond him. Suddenly Troy straightened and pretended to be busy doing something on his phone, realizing she was walking towards them and he was quite blatantly staring at her. He allowed himself one quick look up again, just to catch a glimpse of her long wavy hair flowing behind her and her swaying hips as she walked. His breath caught in his throat as she arrived in front of him. She slid her sunglasses on top of her head revealing a pair of deep chocolate hewed eyes, displaying her stunningly white teeth in a dazzling smile.

"Hi. I'm Gabriella." She said offering her hand to Chad, who obviously shook her hand a little too hard because Troy could see her wince. She then turned to him, doing the same. However Troy couldn't move, mentally kicking himself for being such a loser. She slowly retracted her hand, her smile faltering replaced by a look of confusion as she looked back and forth between the two boys.

"Ummmm, this is Troy, and I'm Chad. You're new here right? The Head Master sent us over to help carry your stuff."

"Oh. Great. In the car. Room 423, Leonard House." She said as she turned to walk away.

"4-, 423?" Troy finally stammered, regaining his composure. "Isn't that Taylors room?"

"Oh yeah bro!" Chad said. Honestly, Troy couldn't believe that he recognized the number before his friend did. He was honestly so dense sometimes.

"Who's...who's Taylor?" Gabriella asked curiously, turning towards Troy who suddenly tensed up again when he realized her gaze was on him again.

"She's my girlfriend, she's amazing. You'll love her." Chad said, butting in but all the while rescuing Troy. Something about her made it impossible for him to talk. He had known this girl all of 3 minutes and he already felt seriously vulnerable. With that the 3 of them were off towards Leonard House, with Chad chattering away to Gabriella about Taylor as Troy fell silently behind, never taking his eyes off of the exquisite girl walked ahead of him.

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Over the next few hours Troy and Chad stayed in the girls room, helping Gabriella unpack. Just as Chad predicted the two girls hit it off right away and were now lying on their stomachs on Gabriella's bed flipping through magazines and giggling while the boys finished putting together Gabriella's new bookshelf.

"Bro," Chad said quietly, leaning over to Troy so that the girls wouldn't here "She is...F-I-N-E. Like seriously hot."

"Chad, quit it." Troy said, obviously annoyed with the choice of conversation topic, however Chad didn't quite pick up on that. Surprise, surprise.

"Honestly dude, that girl is smoking. Look...look at hers legs.

"You know Chad, I really don't think you should be saying this. ESPECIALLY with your girlfriend in the room."

"Hey, I'm a faithful guy. I would never stray from my little Taylor Schnukums" Troy had to fight the urge to vomit when Chad said this.

"Yeah, whatever Chad."

"Just because I can't touch doesn't mean I can't look. And hell, that is some good looking. I mean look at that little dress she is wearing...God I hope she dresses like that every day."

Troy felt an odd sense of anger and loathing growing within him knowing that Chad was looking at Gabriella that way. Finally Troy had had enough of this conversation and smacked Chad on the back of the head. The noise caught the girls' attention as they looked up in confusion. Just then Chad's stomach let out a thunderous growl, indicating that it had been to long since his last feeding. The other three looked at him for a minute and then burst out laughing. Troy could have sworn Gabriella's laugh was the most beautiful laugh he had ever heard.

"Guys it's not funny! I'm starving! Can we please, please, PLEASE go get some eats?"

"Alright Chad, let's go before you start whimpering like a lost puppy." Taylor said as she jumped off the bed to grab Chad's' hand. As the two were walking out the room Gabriella hopped up to follow. Just as she was about to walk out the door, Troy grabbed her wrist spinning him towards her. She gasped in surprise and looked up at him. Finally REALLY looking at him for the first time, Gabriella saw just how amazing looking he really was. She had of course noticed as soon as she stepped out of the car, but now that she truly looks she sees that the way his eyes sparkle and the intense blue of them makes them look like an ocean. And the way his hair falls on his face accentuates his manly features and sturdy jaw line. Plus, being crushed up against him as she is no w she can feel how muscular and toned he is, matched with the golden of his skin conjures up images of Greek Gods in her head.

Having her so close to him, Troy swore he could feel sparks between the two of them. For a moment while she searched his eyes he almost lost control and kissed her. But he knew he couldn't. That would just scare her off. Plus he had to remember the reason why he had stopped her in the first place, to doing something about the fact that he knew that if he had to sit through a whole meal of guys looking at her like Chad was, he was fairly sure he would punch something...or ever worse someone. Which of course he couldn't have happen, that would get him kicked off the team. Before Troy could figure out what exactly to say, Gabriella broke the silence first.

"Why don't you talk? Are you shy or something? I'm sorry...that was rude. It's just...I'm trying to figure you out." Troy chuckled to himself. The thought of him, Troy Bolton, being shy was rather comical. Little did she know that he pretty much ran this school. At least the social aspect of it anyways. Troy leaned in even closer, causing Gabriella's breath to hitch.

"You know, you should really put more clothes on. You wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea." Troy whispered in a low and husky voice into her ear. Gabriella jerked away and glared at him, seething.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" She asked with more than a little bit of a hint of venom in her voice. "You know what? Never mind. I liked it better when you knew how to keep your mouth shut." And with that she turned on her heel, only to pause again in the door frame to look back at him.

"Gabriella I-"Troy tried.

"No. You better think twice before you ever utter another fucking word to me again Troy Bolton." She spat at him before storming off, leaving him standing stunned alone in her room.

"Shit." Troy said to himself. "That REALLY did not go as planned...I'm screwed."

A/N: So there it is! PLEASE review. Honestly, if I'm going to do this whole FanFic thing I want to make sure I'm doing it right.

Thanks guys

xox Em