Author's Note: Hey! Ro10tom8os here! This is my first HSM fan fiction, though I have written a few Harry Potter fan fics here and on Portkey. I'm really excited about this story. It's been stewing in my brain for about two weeks, and I finally had time to write it. Bear in mind that I am writing it like a musical, so there will be songs interspersed into the story. While you don't have to read them, I encourage you to listen to them/read them. They include some of my favorite songs, as well as others that I felt fit well with the story. I'm warning you that my updates are going to be sporadic. I just started my senior year of high school, and am in the middle of college applications. I'm hoping that I'll be able to update every two weeks or so, at the least, but I really can't say with my schedule. According to my outline, this story should be about ten chapters long, with each chapter about this length, or a little longer. Anyway, I'm really in need of a Beta; so if any one has the time, let me know in a review. Speaking of which, please read and review! As this is my first HSM fic, I would love to hear what you think! The song is "Outside Looking In" by Jordan Pruitt.
Author's Note #2: To quickly explain the theatre class, at my school, you sign up for the "fall production" or musical, it is given to you as a class. This means that auditions are limited to those who are in the class. I used this system because it worked well with what I had planed. If you have any questions, let me know!
Disclaimer: I do not own High School Musical in any way shape or form. Nor do I want to. Except maybe for the money… Anyway, I am actually amazed that I am ever writing this, considering how ridiculous I find HSM to be.
Caught In The Act
Chapter 1: Outside Looking In
With Gabi:
Gabriella sighed as she entered through the doors of East High. As much as she loved school, she hated coming back to school after breaks. She smiled as she thought of her holiday. It had been the most relaxing vacation she could ever remember having. She loved sitting in front of a warm fire with her mother, opening presents on Christmas, and just taking a chance to unwind. A smile came to her face as she let herself be washed with peaceful memories of her vacation.
Unfortunately, Gabriella was jolted out of her thoughts as a gang of her peers knocked her forwards. She rolled her eyes as she saw the retreating forms of Chad Danforth, Jason Cross, Zeke Baylor, and Troy Bolton. Of course none of them had noticed her. She smiled sadly as she walked through the halls towards her homeroom. While not many people knew, Gabriella harbored a crush for Troy Bolton. While she knew that she and the school's star basketball player would never get together, she always kept hopes that one day he might notice her.
Outside Looking In
(Gabriella)
You don't know my name
You don't know anything about me
I try to play nice
I want to be in your game
The things that you say
You may think I never hear about them
But word travels fast
I'm telling you to your face
I'm standing here behind your back
You don't know how it feels
To be outside the crowd
You don't know what it's like
To be left out
And you don't know how it feels
To be your own best friend on the outside looking in
If you could read my mind
You might see more of me that meets the eye
And you've been all wrong
Not who you think I am
You've never given me a chance
You don't know how it feels
To be outside the crowd
You don't know what it's like
To be left out
And you don't know how it feels
To be your own best friend on the outside looking in
Well, I'm tired of staying at home
I'm bored and alone
I'm sick of wasting all my time
You don't know how it feels
To be outside the crowd
You don't know what it's like
To be left out
And you don't know how it feels
To be your own best friend on the outside looking in
You don't know how it feels
To be outside the crowd
You don't know what it's like
To be left out
And you don't know how it feels
To be your own best friend on the outside looking in
Gabriella inwardly groaned as she walked into homeroom only to be embraced by a very excited Taylor McKessie.
"Oh my god! Hi! It so good to see you! How was your break? Have you gotten your schedule yet? Do we have classes together? Did you get anything cool for Christmas? My parents got me a car for Hanukah and good grades! I know I can't believe it either! I also can not believe we didn't see each other at all the break!" said Taylor, very loudly and very quickly.
"Whoa! Taylor, slow down, I can't understand a word your saying! Hold on a minute while I grab my schedule from Mr. Richards," said Gabriella with a laugh. She didn't realize how much she had missed Taylor's excitement during break. With another smile to her best friend, she walked over to her teacher, to grab her schedule.
"Hello Ms. Montez, I hope you enjoyed your break, here's your schedule. Let me know if you have any complications. We need you studying hard for the Decathlon!" said her teacher with a flourish.
Gabriella took her schedule and politely thanked her advisor. "He's a little off sometimes," she thought to herself, "but at least he loves his job."
She walked back over to Taylor, and sat down next to her. After comparing schedules, they found that they had AP Chemistry together again, as well as AP Lit, Honors Precalc., AP US History, and AP Spanish. The only difference was that while Taylor had painting during last period, Gabriella was enrolled in the Musical Theatre class. They looked at the class in shock.
"Well, you can always try and transfer into painting with me," said Taylor.
"No, I think I'll give it a try. It can't be all that bad. Ryan and Kelsi are both doing it, as well as Sharpay. I know you don't exactly get along with them because they are 'drama freaks', but they are really nice people."
"What ever you say. At least it will look good on your college apps."
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Is that all you think about?"
With Troy:
Troy shook his head as he saw Chad knock over a fellow student. Sometimes he just didn't understand Chad. It was like he believed that he was superior because of basketball. And while it was true that as jocks they did rule the school, Troy didn't think it gave them the right to step all over everybody. Troy glanced over and Zeke and Jason, and they shared a silent laugh at Chad's expense. Zeke winked at Troy and pointed to a bag of cookies poking out of his bag. Troy's eye lit up in excitement. He loved Zeke's cookies.
"So how do you think this season is going to go, captain?" asked Chad loudly, bring Troy, Zeke, and Jason back to the present.
"I think we'll do well. The team is working really well together. And those open gym practices during break really helped. Not that you would know, Mr. Hawaii," said Troy, good naturedly.
"Yeah man, Hawaii was awesome. Great surf, hot girls, and room service galore. Heaven. Speaking of room service, did I see some of your mom's chocolate chip cookies sticking out of your bag Zeke?"
"Actually they're–"
"OATMEAL chocolate chip!" cut off Zeke with a glare at Jason. "My mom decided to try a new recipe."
"Sweet deal. Lemme try one," said Chad. "You know I'm a great judge."
"Yeah, because you love anything that is remotely edible," muttered Troy under his breath.
The gang continued their walk to homeroom, munching on Zeke–er–Zeke's mother's cookies, and entered just as the bell rang.
"I'll grab everyone's schedules," offered Zeke, who was obviously going over to Mrs. Darbus to talk to Sharpay. Or rather, to stare at her. Troy glanced over at Zeke and nudged Jason, only to find him stealing glances at Kelsi Nielson. Troy laughed under his breath. Seemed that love was in the air.
Deciding that they would never get their schedules at the rate that Zeke was going, Troy walked over to Mrs. Darbus. He politely collected the schedules from a scowling Mrs. Darbus, and handed them to their respectful owners before looking at his own. His academic classes AP French, English, Precal, Biology and AP Gov. While Troy wasn't the smartest person in the world, his father had stressed the importance of academics, and had made sure Troy worked hard academically from a young age. Hence his AP classes. Looking down at his schedule, he was shocked to see that his final period was Musical Theatre. Deciding he didn't want to deal with Chad finding out, Troy excused himself to use the bathroom. This was going to be a very interesting term.
So Troy and Gabi are going to be in the musical together. I wonder what will happen? Please review