Here's the first real chapter, thanks for all the reviews, you guys!

Disclaimer: I still do not own any of the characters here, except the ones that I make up. (And I still wish I did. Because they I would have worked for Disney Channel and would have gotten to meet Zac Efron. –fangirlswoon-)

NOTE: The rating is subject to change. Some time in the next few chapters or so I might add some mild cussing, like crap and crud, and "Oh my god." I'm not a fan of cursing. There is also to be mild romance as well. I suggest that if you're a young reader, please check the rating every so often, and if it changes to "T," I suggest you stop reading if you're below the age of 11. Just a little advice.

As she drove, Gabriella's thoughts swirled around in her mind, and she remembered how perfect everything had been, well, almost perfect, just 1 week ago…

One week ago, Sunday, the day before school starts, Gabriella's Point Of View (POV)…

I smiled as Troy and I shared a smoothie in the Smoothie shop that was just across the street from the College Troy, Taylor, Chad, Zeke, Jason, Martha, Sharpay, Evan, basically everyone I knew, would be attending. Oh, and me.

I loved the times like these, when Troy and I would sit at a corner booth that had plush, fake-leather red seats with dark wood. The whole store looked similar to this, grand and fancy. It was a strange setting for a smoothie shop, but it gave you a homey feeling, like being back in the 1800's. The fire place (with a fake fire, as heat isn't needed much in Albuquerque) was always lit and casting shadows to the walls. I always speculated over the site whenever I walked in, but once I refocused, Troy and I would order a Black Strawberry Smoothie, a mix of strawberries and blackberries, sweet but sour. We both loved it. So we'd buy a large, get two straws, and sit at the booth that practically had our name on it. I never saw anyone else sitting there. It always seemed to be free for us when we came.

So there we were, sharing a smoothie on our last day of vacation, the sun shining brilliantly through the stained glass window, causing our table to dance in multicolor joy, when Troy stopped slurping and sat up unexpectedly. "Um, Gabi," he said, almost nervous.

I eyed him suspiciously, wondering what would make him act like this. "What?" I asked, titling my head at him.

He glanced out the window, towards the school. "Um, you know, at College, it's worse than High School. Everyone's really pressured and they take it out on people. At least, that's what Dad said. So, erm, if I act, you know, a little… different," he cleared his throat, "don't be too hard on me. The others might expect me to, you know…"

It was as if he couldn't finish the sentence when I got it.

"They might expect what? That you ignore me, Kelsey, Taylor, and Martha? Did I mention me, your best friend? And that you'll have to treat us like we're not friends, but nerds, geeks, freaks, shall I go on?" I had blurted out shrilly, an unexpected wave of fury and sadness washing over me. Angry tears pricked my eyes before I realized how stupid I must be acting, and I quickly tried to blink them away as fast and casually as I could. It seemed as though the sun was on my side, and it momentarily hid behind the clouds, causing the bright reflected colors on the table to dim visibly.

"Gabs, please don't be mad at me. I know its hard being smart, how everyone treats you differently. But it's also hard being at the top of the ladder, you know? Everyone expects you to know what to wear, how to act, where to sit, and it's just. So. Hard." He said, the end of his speech slow and almost painful. Rain started to lightly patter on the window, the gray drops' reflection appearing on the table.

I had nodded, believing him when he added, "And after a while, no one will care if we hang out. And then everything will be back to normal. Just wait a day or two, you'll see." He had finished that with a slight pinch to my cheek, causing me to grin. A very weird feeling over came both of us when the rain stopped suddenly, and the sun started shining.

The manager came over to our table. He always did, to give us the latest news and such. The man's brow was furrowed, and his rough voice said, "That was one of the strangest showers I've ever seen in all of my years here." He took one glance at the couple, whose arms were reaching across the table, their hands links in the middle, and let them be. Neither were ever happier.

He could always cheer me up when I was sad. But then school started, and after the first day, it was clear that our friendship would not survive. Take one glimpse at first period:

As soon as we entered the class room, Troy was crowed around by his friends, or else people that wanted to be his friends. Sharpay struts in, grinning, walking up to him like some lioness on the prowl for a mate. She clearly had her flirty face on when she said,

"Hey Troy, I had a great summer, did you?" She breathed the last two words right in his face. I would have thought he would've backed off, pushing her away with disgust like usual. But the Troy whom I knew would do this wasn't there anymore.

The Troy I saw grinned and laughed, nodding. The rest of his "new posse" started talking, and when I tried to catch Troy's eye, he shot me a dirty look that the rest of the crowd followed. Sharpay just smiled, her eyes twinkling with that usual malicious look she always carried around.

I felt heartbroken, and I was so relieved when Taylor hugged me, saying, "Don't listen to him. He's turned back into that basketball lunk (times 2, no, 3) from 10th grade." I nodded and tried to smile. But I could literally feel my heart break in two when Troy grabbed Sharpay's hand, smiling, his charm in full-force .

End flash-back

She continued driving, her hands drumming to a random rhythm on the steering wheel. Gabriella remembered what her dad has said years ago when she came home from school in second grade, crying. She had explained how the kids had teased her about being smart. She had gotten all the spelling words right on their worksheet, and even gave a different spelling for one of the words, causing her to receive a 101. Not one other kid got 100.

He had told her: "Inside of everyone, there's a whole other person waiting to break free. When the time is right, that person will break free."

I had asked, "When?

His simple reply was "wait."

I had waited long enough. I knew that now was the time to let her break free.

Read and review, please! Thanks for all your support, guys. ;)