Title: Doing Time

Summary: Troy and Gabriella never sung at New Year. They're stuck in detention together and it's earthquake weather.

Disclaimer: If I owned High School Musical, I would make my fan fictions into movies, wouldn't I? But yeah, I don't own it. My stories aren't good enough to get made into movies.

Chapter Title: Chihuahuas and Tremors

Gabriella tapped her fingers impatiently. She was watching the clock. Her top teeth nibbled nervously at her lower lip. She had a Biology assignment waiting for her on her computer at home; it was in for tomorrow.

Troy listened to the steady beat of Gabriella's fingers. He wasn't watching the clock; what was the point? As long as it was quiet and he wasn't sitting in front of homework, he was happy.

Ms Darbus watched them suspiciously. She kept turning her wrist discreetly, peering at her watch. She didn't want to be here. She sipped her mug of coffee.

Gabriella sighed. Was there any point in trying to make time go faster? Surely she could pass the time with something. She looked around. She caught sight of that basket boy. She rolled her eyes, turning away. She'd heard enough from Taylor about him.

Troy stared at the tip of his nose, trying to touch it with his tongue. He caught sight of Ms Darbus staring at him, and fought to keep a straight face. He tapped his foot, trying to figure out why Chihuahuas had enormous ears.

Ms Darbus finally let her boredom get the best of her. She stood, telling her students to stay put. She left, walking out of the school, soaking in the nature.

Gabriella's mouth twitched. Now what? Her nails were still tapping at a constant speed.

'Apparently it's earthquake weather.'

She frowned. Her head turned slowly to get a view of basket boy. 'What?' she said irritably.

'Just something to break the ice.' Troy said, shrugging.

Gabriella rolled her eyes and turned back to the clock. 7 minutes and 33 seconds left. She really hoped Ms Darbus would come back soon; the ice sure wasn't broken in her books. As she started to calm again, a voice broke her thoughts.

'Why do Chihuahuas have huge ears?'

Gabriella breathed in deeply and turned back round resting her arm across the back of her chair. 'I don't know, Troy. Why?'

'I don't know. I was asking you.' Troy was taken aback by her sharpness.

Gabriella peered at the clock – 6 minutes and 21 seconds. Did she really have to talk to Troy Bolton for a whole 6 minutes and 21 seconds?

'So…earthquake weather, huh?' Guess she had nothing better to do.

'Yeah.' Troy nodded. 'Heard it on the news this morning…during breakfast.' Troy smiled, as if he was remembering it clearly. 'Peanut butter and jelly sandwich.' He said dreamily.

Gabriella looked away uncomfortably. 'Right…' He stood up. 'Where are you going?'

Troy bent over and picked up his bag, slinging it over his shoulder. 'I'm leaving. There's no way she's not coming back.'

'But you can't!' Gabriella said, standing up also.

'Why not?' Troy said, reaching for the door handle.

'Because it would be violating the rules of the school.' Gabriella said, glaring at him.

'Look, Gabriella…' Troy started. Gabriella raised her eyebrows. '…why do you think I'm here? For being too good?'

Gabriella didn't say anything. 'True, but still.'

'Still nothing. I'm leaving.' Troy rested his hand on the door handle, but brought his hand back like it was red hot. 'Whoa.'

Gabriella looked over. 'What?'

'The handle was sh…' Troy trailed off. '…shaking.'

Gabriella snorted, about to retort, when she heard the knocking of ceramics against wood. Her eyes followed the noise to Ms Darbus' desk, where the coffee mug was shaking ever so slightly. She looked at Troy, who raised his eyebrows.

'What the…'

Suddenly the tremors got worse and Gabriella had to grab the nearest desk to steady herself. Troy grabbed a shelf, but it didn't balance him very well.

Gabriella flinched as the clock fell from the wall and crashed down behind the desk. Ms Darbus' coffee cup inched its way closer to the desk and dropped off the side of the table, the coffee splattering Gabriella's shoes.

But then, just as quickly as it began, it stopped. Gabriella breathed deeply, clutching the edge of the table tighter.

'I told you so.'

Gabriella slowly turned to Troy, glaring at him with every inch of anger in her body. 'Look, basket boy, I don't know who you think you are but –'

But before she could even start, the tremors started up again, only harsher. She watched the lights above her shake and she could see the glass starting to shatter and fall down. Gabriella wanted to scream and run, but found herself glued to the floor.

It was only then she realised she was about to be hit by falling glass when a body flew at her and she got knocked over the table and onto the floor, Troy Bolton shielding her body with his own.

She still had 5 minutes and 18 seconds left of detention.

Please Review. I'm actually quite pleased with this, and I'm thinking that this could be my best Troyella story yet. But I'll know if you review.