Title: Fire And Ice
Summary: They repel like magnets; he's the mysterious boy, living the perfect life in LA, she's the determined girl, struggling as a journalist. Their worlds clash, one hiding, one digging. Fire and ice were never meant to be together, were they?
CHAPTER ONE
"I'm going to miss you!" Ryan Evans said, pulling his friend tighter in his embrace. "Four years of crazy college life, almost one year of work together in that tiny crappy office, and now look at you! My Gabriella Montez, all grown up!" He laughed, ruffling her dark curls affectionately. Gabriella smiled, punching him lightly. She memorized the way one of her best friends' arms felt around her, the way his blonde hair glinted in the sun, and how his brown eyes shone.
"I'll miss you too, Ryan," she murmured, burying her face into his chest.
"Alright, alright. Remember, you know Sharpay. She'll meet you at the exit. And as her former roommate of 18 years, I will warn you this—beware of pink. And sparkles. Oh, and designer stuff. It grows on you," Ryan chuckled at the memory of his dramatic twin. "You'll love LA, Gabs. And we all know you deserve the post."
Gabriella smiled, pulling away. "Thank you so much, Ry. For everything. Come visit me, okay?" She sucked in the tears that were threatening to leak out, blinking up at Ryan. He nodded, then pushed her towards the doors of the Logan Airport in Boston.
"Good luck!"
Gabriella looked back one more time before pulling her simple black suitcase through the glass doors. After methodically going checking in, going through security, and quietly boarding the plane, she finally was able to sink down in her seat and relax. The last few weeks had been hectic, between getting ready to move and saying goodbye to Ryan. Closing her eyes, she pushed her emotions down. She would miss Ryan, her close friend all through college, and one of her only friends still in Boston. She would miss Boston, and its cold winters. But she was excited to be taking this new step in life, moving across the country to pursue her dreams as a writer for the LA Times, a job offer she'd gotten a week before. Gabriella Montez would soon be living her dream. She'd given up so much to be a writer. She was dizzyingly excited for this new change of events in her life.
She didn't know exactly how much the change would mean to her.
The piercing sound of Coach Anderson's whistle pierced the air, drowning out the sound of all the sneakered feet pounding on the floor and the basketball echoing off the walls.
"Alright boys, that's all for today! Good job," he grinned at them, pausing a bit longer on their captain, the tall, sandy haired, blue-eyed basketball machine confidently standing amongst the other basketball stars. "Get some rest, and we'll meet here tomorrow at 8am." With that, he turned on his heels and headed for the locker rooms.
The team, all in their twenties, started cheering and headed for the showers, Troy Bolton in the lead, laughing and joking with his teammates. No matter how hard he laughed or how drunk he got, Troy Bolton always kept his cool, something that made the team and the rest of the world respect him and want to know him even more. He never smiled with his eyes, he never laughed with all his heart, and he never, ever lost the calm, collected look in his icy blue eyes. Very few people knew the real Troy Bolton, the person behind the statuesque figure and seemingly perfect life. Exception: Chad Danforth, his best friend since preschool, and his basketball buddy since elementary school.
"Hey man, you're coming to the party Shar is having tonight, right?" Chad said, drying off his thick mane of curly brown hair with a towel.
"Of course," Troy replied, rubbing gel through his hair and spiking it. "What's the party for, again?"
"Eh," Chad shrugged, "It's Shar. She has parties. It's like, the way of life." They laughed, thinking about the almost weekly parties their friend Sharpay Evans held.
"Is that one of the reasons you date her?" Troy smirked, glancing at Chad.
Chad grinned cheekily. "Nah, it's because she's gorgeous and talented and funny and caring and…"
"A goddess in bed, yes, you've told me." Troy laughed as Chad turned pink.
"Oh yeah, I remember now!" Chad suddenly exclaimed, "Gabs is coming today! She's going to be Sharpay's new roommate for the time being."
"Gabs?" Troy asked confusedly. Their little group of friends consisted of people that most of them had known through college, and the name "Gabs" was unfamiliar to him.
"Oh yeah, you don't know her. Gabriella Montez? She went through high school with me and Taylor, and then went to college with us at UCLA before transferring to Harvard before we met you. Now she's a journalist for The LA Times," Chad said proudly, taking out the keys to his truck as they walked out of the courts and waved at their teammates.
Troy nodded. "Ah, right. I think you've mentioned her before—"
"MR. BOLTON! A FEW QUESTIONS?" "MR. DANFORTH! WE HEARD THAT YOUR GIRLFRIEND SHARPAY EVANS CHEATED ON YOU!" "MR. BOLTON! WHAT IS THIS ABOUT A BABY?" "SMILE, TROY, SMILE!" "MR. DANFORTH, IS IT TRUE YOU STOLE A RABBIT FROM THE PETTING ZOO AND GAVE IT TATTOOS WHEN YOU WERE DRUNK?"
Troy and Chad, with the skills of experts, quickly dodged the paparazzi, sliding into Chad's BMW before speeding off.
Chad sighed. "Don't worry, Gabriella isn't that kind of journalist. She's actually kind of… Intense."
Troy shrugged. "Rabbit?" He chuckled, his icy blue eyes melting a little.
Chad rolled his eyes. "Please. It was a FROG."
Gabriella has forgotten how much she missed Sharpay. She's also forgotten how different she was from her twin brother Ryan and how… Dramatic she was. Her mansion was enormous and was incredibly tastefully done. Tall ceilings, crystal chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling windows, yet richly furnished, modern and classic, warm and spacey at the same time. It was amazing. And currently, the house was filled with all the "it" people in LA, the most artistic actors and actresses, the most creative film directors, the sexiest models, the hottest athletes, and the best journalists. Of course, almost an hour into the party, and all of them were drunk, or at least slightly buzzed, including Gabriella. She worked her way from group to group, a glass of champagne in her hand, smiling and laughing and mingling before moving on. Her mind, however, was still focused upon her job the next day.
"GABSTER!" She twirled around, and immediately was engulfed in a pair of familiar muscular arms. She could feel his afro tickling her cheeks and she laughed.
"CHAD! Oh my God, it's been ages. I've missed you so much!" She glanced up at him, noticing the small changes in his appearance; older, wilder hair, bigger muscles. Same cheeky grin.
"Gabby, Gabby, the little reporter," she heard from behind her. Again she twirled around, and squealed when she saw Jason Cross and Zeke Baylor who were standing with a big, beautiful cake in their hands.
"Zeke! I knew you'd do it!" She giggled, glancing pointedly at the cake. "I think that I may have to write a few articles about how you're such a successful owner of Baylor's Bakery while juggling being a star," she sang. "And Cross! Mr. Cross, I believe that you have gotten shorter." Gabriella grinned up at the now quite nicely dressed class clown that had teased her for her height in high school. Both Zeke and Jason couldn't help but laugh and enclose Gabriella in hugs.
"GABRIELLA MONTEZ!" "TAYLOR MCKESSIE!" Gabriella could barely breathe as she was yanked out of the boys' arms and again drowned in another hug, but softer. She closed her eyes, breathing in the familiar smell of Taylor, all citrus and clean dryer sheets. As they parted, both girls had tears in their eyes. They all stood in a circle, just like in college, as Sharpay had reappeared with bottles of champagne. She had already engulfed Gabriella in a sparkly and sweet-smelling hug at the airport, but she did so again just because. Gabriella committed the moment to memory: her best friend Taylor, her dark skin radiant against her white dress, her personal drama queen Sharpay in a short, jewel-encrusted pink halter dress, her boys Chad, Zeke, and Jason in their button-down shirts and of course, basketball shoes. She smiled, her warm chocolate brown eyes glowing like embers of a fire. She radiated happiness.
Troy Bolton, on the other hand, looked on the group as an outsider. It was strange how this one girl came and all his friends migrated to her like a fire on cold night. He didn't like the feeling of being excluded, and it brought back memories that he hastily shoved back deep inside him. He stared at the new brunette, Gabriella. She was petite, slender, with soft curls running down her back. Her tan skin glimmered against her flowing yellow dress. She was gorgeous, and she practically glowed. He looked on, feeling a sudden jealously of this mysterious stranger. He wanted to go talk to her, to tell her these were his friends, and maybe ask her out at the same time? A waiter passed by, and he took a random glass full of colorful liquid.
"Hey Troy," a blonde whispered, strutting up to him in a skimpy dress. "You're looking lonely tonight. How bout I help you with that?" He nodded at her full figure appreciatively, before gulping his drink down and locking his arms around her waist.
That's when the night really began.
A/N: Alright. Painfully long and slow first chapter. Bear with me, okay? It gets dramatic and slightly less dragged out later. I'm kind of rusty, so please, constructive criticism and anything you have to say will be extremely appreciated! Thank you so much for reading : )
If you have any questions, please ask. I'll update soon!
Lexi.