AN: Hey guys, thanks for the reviews!
Disclaimer-Don't own HSM
Chapter 1 – New Girl
Gabriella Montez was lying on her bed on LA watching a Lakers game; she smiled when she watched her father's new protégée run up and score. He sure knows how to pick them Gabriella thought. 'You know, they reckon that he may be one of the best players in the NBL in a couple of years,' Carols Montez, Gabriella's father, said as he walked into the room.
'Yeah, I can see that. I am going to assume that you have been given a very nice bonus!' Gabi winked and Carlos chuckled.
'Yeah, with a new challenge,' Carlos said and ran his hand through his hair nervously.
'What?' Gabi smiled, unaware.
'We have to move…' Carlos said.
'Why, dad? I love it here in LA!' Gabi moaned.
'I know, sweetie, me too. But I hear that Albuquerque is a great place…'
'Albuquerque, New Mexico! Dad that is so far away! What about my friends?' Gabi whined.
'Princess, don't make this harder for me please,' Carlos retreated a little.
Gabi sighed. She hated letting down her father. 'What school will I go to…I haven't heard of any private schools in New Mexico?'
'You are going to go to East High School. I want you to blend in with the other kids, not the rich ones.'
Gabriella sighed again. 'What's the basketball like?'
Carlos smiled gratefully. 'I knew you would say that. Fantastic. East High Boys' Varsity is state champions, along with the girls' varsity team. I want to keep an eye on some of the players there…they may have a future with Lakers.'
Gabi grinned. 'Okay, Dad. I will go…but promise me something?'
'What?'
'I help you with your new assignment. After all, I will be going to school with them.' Gabi smiled sweetly.
'Okay, darling. Tell me who to watch.' Carlos kissed Gabi's forehead and left the room.
Gabriella smiled, still slightly sad that she had to leave. She got up and walked to the computer and looked up East High School, Albuquerque on Google. She found the website and looked at the basketball team. She saw a picture of the captain. 'Damn,' she whispered as she stared at the blue eyes and brown hair. 'Troy Bolton, captain of Boys' Varsity. He's fine.'
Troy walked into school two weeks later. Everyone called out to him. Basketball season was starting and everyone was interested in winning the state champions for the second year running. 'Yo, Captain!' his best friend, Chad Danforth called and slung his arm around his shoulder. His girlfriend, Taylor McKessie was attached to Chad's free hand. Troy smiled and they carried on walking.
'Excuse me!' Gabriella said quietly as she walked through the crowded halls of East High. I wish I didn't bring my Chanel school bag Gabriella thought. Everyone looked at her weirdly as they all worked out that she was a new, and even worse, rich girl. She sighed as she unlocked her new locker.
'Oh my gosh! I love your purse!' A girl enthused. Gabi turned around and saw a girl with D&G sunglasses on her head ogling her bag.
'Thanks,' Gabriella said, 'I love your shades. I have a pair similar to those.'
'So, what's your name?' The girl asked. Gabriella noticed two other girls with her.
'Gabriella Montez. What are your names?' She asked politely.
'I'm Brooke Shields,' the girl answered, 'and this is Karen Matthews and this is Susie Brown…she's from England.' Brooke winked.
'Pleasure to meet you!' Susie said in a fake British accent and shook Gabi's hand.
Brooke looked directly at Gabriella. 'Now, I am going to let you join our group. There are not many rich people here and we need to look out for each other! There is one girl who has decided not to get involved, and well, it is her loss. There is one rule: Never ever get involved with the poor folk.'
Gabi stared at them. 'Why not?'
'Because they are just so…ew.' Brooke answered and Karen and Susie laughed.
Gabi didn't laugh back. 'So you are so narrow minded you are scared of people who aren't rich?'
'Come on! You know how it is like…' Brooke laughed.
'No, I don't. I am going now. I think that girl who decided not to get involved with you is completely right for doing so!' Gabi slammed her locker. 'And, by the way Susie. I have been to England, and no one talks like that, so please cut it out. It's offensive.' Gabi then marched off, leaving an angry Brooke at Gabriella's locker.
The day continued and Gabi had Gym class just before lunch. She walked into the gym, changed to find out that she had basketball. The coach came out and called out role call the read out a list of names. 'You are all on one team!' Coach shouted, 'and Chad is captain.' A boy with a lot of curly hair walked out to the front and the rest of the team walked over to join him. Gabi noticed that Brooke was there, without her posse. Coach called out another group of names which included Gabi. 'You are all in the other team. Troy is your captain.' Everyone cheered. Troy Bolton, Gabriella thought as she walked over to the group.
Troy noticed her and recognized her as the new girl who had a Chanel bag in Homeroom. 'Hi!' he said, 'I'm Troy…and you are?'
'Gabriella Montez,' Gabi smiled and held out her hand for him to shake.
Troy shook her hand and then looked around nervously. He was always slightly intimidated by upper class kids. They were never nice to him. 'So…you got game?' Troy asked awkwardly. Everyone listened to hear what Gabi's answer was.
'Yeah…' she answered nervously.
Chad laughed. 'Yeah, sure…rich girls don't have game…' Chad scoffed.
Gabriella looked offended, 'How do you know?'
'Because they are too scared to break a nail,' Chad laughed. Gabriella grabbed the ball off Troy and threw it at Chad's crutch. Everyone laughed and Gabi was grateful that the coach had momentarily left the gym. Chad doubled up in pain.
'Sorry, but you deserved that.' Gabi growled. She then walked off and the coach entered the gym again.
'Right, let's begin. Danforth, get up off the ground, please!' Coach yelled at Chad.
Chad groaned and got up and got into position.
The game started and Troy caught the ball. Chad defended against him and Troy found it hard to get around him. 'Troy! Over here!' Gabi yelled and Troy refused to pass and lost the ball.
'Damn it,' Troy whispered as his father shouted at him for being so stupid.
Gabi groaned and ran after the ball. The ball was passed and she intercepted it with ease. Troy froze in amazement. She just intercepted a great pass between two varsity players! Boy varsity players. Gabi dribbled down the court and dodged past Brooke and jumped up and pushed the ball threw the hoop. Gabi hung onto the hoop before dropping down to the ground. The gym was silent as she collected the ball. She turned around. 'What?' She asked.
Troy recovered and walked up to her. 'Great shot,' he smiled and high-fived her. Gabi grinned back.
The game continued and this time, Troy allowed himself to pass to her. The coach blew his whistle and said that the game was over. 'Great game, kids. You may go. Except for Miss Montez.' Gabi walked over to the Coach and he smiled at her. 'You're a great player. I want you to go to practice tomorrow after school. I want you to join the girls' team. Are you interested?'
'Yeah! Absolutely!' Gabi grinned broadly.
'Have you played for a team before? Oh, and I'm Coach Bolton.' He introduced himself.
'Oh, you're Troy's father? And yeah, I have played for my previous school's varsity team. I was captain.'
'Hmm, well, you might be captain here if you prove yourself. Well, you may go.' Coach Bolton smiled and he left.
'Hey! Gabriella!' Troy called out as he saw Gabi enter the cafeteria. He got up and walked over to her. 'Come sit with us. I think you have already proved yourself to us by seeing you play!' Troy smiled at her.
Gabi smiled back, but faltered a bit. 'I thought your friend hates girls like me…' Gabi pointed at her bag.
Troy understood, 'He just thinks that every rich person is the same…ignore him. To be honest, I was wrong about you myself. Sorry I didn't pass to you earlier.'
'Hey, you're varsity captain, I understand.' Gabi smiled.
'How did you know that?' Troy asked. He doesn't recall telling her.
'Come on, Troy, the way you play, anyone would assume you were,' Gabi laughed, glad she came back with a good cover-up, even though it was true. Troy smiled and grabbed her hand to Gabi's surprise and dragged her to his table.
They sat down and Troy introduced her to Taylor, Sharpay, Zeke, Kelsi and Jason, finishing with Chad, who went red. 'Um. Sorry about earlier Gabriella…and good aim at my private area!' Gabi laughed.
'I'm sorry. It's just I have lived my life with everyone thinking the same thing as you…I get a bit annoyed about it. It was reflexes. I didn't mean to hurt you,' Gabi mumbled, also embarrassed.
'Tell me about it…' the blond girl who Troy introduced as Sharpay mumbled under her breath.
'Huh?' Gabi questioned.
'I have a good lifestyle myself, and everyone thinks that I am a snobby bitch…excuse the language.' Sharpay smiled.
'Wait, are you the girl who stayed clear from Brooke Shields and all that lot?' Gabi asked, shocked. Everyone groaned at Brooke's name.
'Don't tell me she has already spotted you!' A girl called Taylor said.
'Before school even started. I told her to get lost and also told that Susie girl to stop with the fake accent.' Everyone laughed.
'Everybody is too scared to tell those girls the truth. Good thing you came along to shut Brooke up!' Troy said.
'Why are you scared of them?' Gabi asked.
'Well, first of all, they are loaded, they drive around in their convertibles and walk like they own the place…the worst thing is…they do.' Troy said.
'I have a sports car!' Gabi protested, 'and just because they are rich, you shouldn't let them rule everything.'
'Okay, Gabriella, here is the truth. I have to be nice to Brooke. Her father is on the board for U of A, and I need a scholarship, otherwise I can't afford to go to college.' Troy looked down and left the table.
Gabi watched him leave, confused. Chad leaned over towards Gabriella. 'He isn't particularly as privileged as you are, Gabriella.'
Gabi nodded in understanding. 'Okay, I'm going to catch up with him. Oh, and feel free to call me Gabi, Gabs… anything. I hate being formal!' Gabi got up and left.
'Wow,' Chad breathed once she left the lunch hall.
'What?' Taylor asked.
'I have a feeling that she already likes him…' Chad said.
'And he has feelings for her…' Sharpay continued.
'She's a great girl…' Kelsi said.
'But you can tell that Troy is still scared of her,' Jason finished.
Sharpay huffed. 'Well he will have to learn to stop being scared of rich people! He was scared of me!'
'Well, Shar, you were a bit hyper.' Taylor said and everyone laughed, 'But you're right. They have to get together!'
'Troy!' Gabriella called as she caught sight of him down a hall.
Troy turned round and saw Gabi running up to him. He smiled. 'Hey, Gabriella.'
'Can I say something?' Gabi said.
'Sure.'
'You don't need to rely on connections to get a scholarship. You are capable of a full ride for any university based on your basketball skills. And your school work can't be that bad.' Gabi said.
'How do you know that?' Troy asked, confused.
Gabi mentally kicked herself, 'Err, I know quite a bit about scholarships…my father is obsessed about it.'
'Oh, you want a scholarship for basketball as well?' Troy asked.
'Nah, I love basketball, but I don't wanna do it for a job or anything…'
'What do you want to do?'
Gabi blushed. 'I sing.'
'Seriously. Wow, I must hear you sometime. That's the second time you have surprised me during the first day that I have known you, Gabriella.' Troy smiled again.
'Call me Gabi.' Gabi stated
Troy grinned wider, 'Can I call you Brie?'
'Brie? No ones called me that before…sure!' Gabi smiled and looked at Troy. He continued to smile then it suddenly dropped. 'What?'
'I always dream about becoming a b-ball star…but I doubt I will ever leave this town.' Troy looks down.
'You know…dreams do come true,' Gabriella said quietly.
'Not for a boy who can't afford his own basketball…anyway, how do you know?'
'I have my ways,' Gabriella mumbled.
'You seem to know a lot about the basketball world!' Troy laughed.
'Yeah, well, I guess that is another surprising thing you didn't know about me,' Gabi giggled.
'Hmm, you know, there is something else…' Troy said in a hoarse voice.
'What?' Gabi said leaning in towards him.
'By how you have gained my complete attention, when I have known you for a matter of hours,' Troy whispered in her ear. Gabi slightly pulled back to look at Troy in the eyes. They both got lost in each other's eyes and they leaned in, capturing each other's lips.
After a few seconds, Gabi slowly pulled back and leaned her forehead against his. 'Well, you sure know how to welcome the new girl,' Gabi whispered.
Troy's eyes sparkled. 'Welcome to East High,' he whispered back and they both laughed. 'May I walk you home?' Troy asked.
'Sure! Luckily for you, I got a lift into school. I usually drive.' Gabi replied.
'Lucky me? More like lucky you. I don't even own a car!' Troy laughed.
'Then maybe I can pick you up tomorrow morning?' Gabi offered.
'You sure you are okay with driving through the low end of Albuquerque?' Troy asked, unsure.
'Troy! Stop thinking that I care about your class!' Gabi said to him sternly.
'You might be fine with it, but parents might not be…' Troy trailed off, embarrassed.
'Okay, you reserve that judgement. My parents will be home when we arrive. You can meet them.'
'Meet your parents. On day one?!' Troy exclaimed.
'Day one of what?'
'Of…us…' Troy murmured the last part, blushing furiously.
Gabi grinned, 'I'm glad you feel the same way.' The warning bell rang and Troy and Gabriella groaned. 'I'll see you in homeroom. I have to go to my locker. Meet me at the end of school at locker 247,' Gabi whispered and she was off, before Troy could even say a word.
He smiled and walked to his locker to collect his books, then started to walk to homeroom. He was still slightly scared of Gabriella, but he was even more scared about how fast he was falling for her, and that he was going to meet the parents in a matter of hours.
AN: Troyella came into existence really quickly there, but I want to go with the 'love at first sight' sort of thing. I want at least 5 reviews please!
