Chapter 1

26 year old Troy Bolton shifted in his seat. He gazed tiredly at the dark road in front of him. He glanced over at his sleeping girlfriend, Bella Madison; she had talked him into this. Moving back to his home town was not what he had in mind of a pleasant marriage.

That's right, marriage; even though he had been scared out of his mind and almost peed in his pants just during the proposal. He had reluctantly agreed to living nearby his parents and his dad was taking it as some kind of "just in case she throws you out" sick joke, but that was his dad for you.

He let out another yawn and his vision blurred for a second. It was a lucky break that they made it to the hotel minutes later because Troy wasn't sure he could drive another two miles without passing out at the wheel, (and no one wanted that).

Troy parked the car and picking Bella up and they both went inside the hotel.

Troy fell asleep as soon as he came in contact with the bed that night. The next morning he got up early to make the call to the moving company like Bella had asked to make sure their stuff had all made it in one piece. As soon as he did he returned to the bedroom for more sleep.

2 hours later….

"Wake up!" Troy felt Bella smack a pillow across his face playfully. He pretended he was still asleep and when she tried to hit him again he grabbed her hand and pulled her down into a hug. She struggled away and hit him with the pillow again. "Oh, you're gonna get it now," he said lunging toward her but missing. "You've gotta catch me first," she teased throwing the pillow at him and running out of the room.

Meanwhile….

She sat in the corner beside the dresser; not the best hiding place but it was the only one she had. She pushed herself back as far as possible out of his sights. He was still asleep on the bed. He most likely would wake up soon and if he saw her there would most likely be a repeat of last night; she cringed at the thought.

She couldn't take this anymore. She touched one of the bruises on her arms and jerked her hand away. It was already purple and throbbing with pain. With anxiety and courage clawing at her at the same time she went over to the window.

She pulled on the latch and began to slowly pull it up. She held her breathe and made a silent desperate plea for him not to wake up. She hulled herself up onto the window sill and grabbed out for a bush to keep her balance.

Her courage failed her altogether when she heard a nearby clatter then the words, "Gabriella, what are you doing girl?!"

Gabriella pulled her hand away from her face with a small whimper. A large part of her face blaze hot and red. He, also known as Jake, had gone out. She knew in the early hours of the morning he would back and drunk at that. She hated him when he was that way. One minute he was all cuddly and nice to her and the next; well. Gabriella touched her face once more, and then was that.

Finally pulling herself together she looked out the window that she had almost made it out of earlier and her eyes met the stars. Every night alone she had had since she had been there she had wrote the stories that she had printed in her mind in them. Everyone that she had used shined down on her brighter than the others now knowing that they had a purpose: holding her past and keeping it away from her.

"So this is where it all started?" Troy and Bella walked into the East High basketball gym. To Troy it felt strange just seeing it all again; the stainless floor that they played on, the bleachers that held their fans every game, and even the walls that held countless numbers of posters all holding their mascot the Wildcat.

"Yeah, I guess you can say that," he joked back the reply accompanying it with a soft chuckle, "I remember when we were trapped in this sweaty place every day after school and when we had an upcoming game…," sighs, "my Dad is so competitive." "You really miss this place a lot don't you?" Bella asked. "Yea," Troy breathed out in whisper. Bella walked over to him and gave him a comforting hug from behind. Hearing her let out a sigh of her own Troy craned his neck to look at her following it with the question, 'what?'

"Troy!" An all too familiar voice echoed through the gym. Troy's hallow feeling quickly faded as he whirled around with excitable pleasure. There standing in their high school colors from head to toe was his best friend since forever, Chad Danforth.

Bella loosened her grip on Troy as he jogged-nearly ran-over to Chad. Troy greeted him with their old handshake. "What are you doing here?" Chad asked almost as cheerful as he always had been at 4. "What NBA thinks they can do without their star player this season?" "Yeah right," Troy laughed. He heard footsteps and peered behind Chad. "Taylor!" He shouted out. Taylor McKenzie had appeared at the far side of gym. She was wearing a red blouse with a matching purse. Chad quickly waved her over with a big grin on his face.

Troy had never been the kind of guy who was always into his friends' business, but as Taylor came up to them he clearly knew something was up and he knew exactly what it was. "Hey Troy," Taylor reached over and hugged him, "it's so good to see you." Troy smiled, "It's so good to see you to, all three of you." Troy eyes glanced at Taylor's stomach and then back up to her. "How long?" he asked. "7 months," Chad answered. "Congratulations," he said, "you know we're moving back in town?" Chad gave him an astonished look, "what?" "I know she talked me into it though." Troy looked back at Bella and she walked over to them. "I overheard; you two are still coming to the wedding aren't you?" Troy frowned but Bella didn't see; she was to busy waiting for an answer from Chad and Taylor.

Taylor faked a smile and replied sweetly, "if the baby's not born yet." She put her hand on her stomach. "I have to go find Sharpay," she said to Chad. Chad gave her a broad smile and his eyes followed her as she left.

"Uh, Chad," Chad turned back to Troy at the sound of his voice, "We're gonna go get a table. You wanna come with us?"

Chad had always been the type of guy that worried about his friends easily and as he looked at Troy, Troy could clearly see this was one of those moments.

"Bella, why don't you go ahead? I'll catch up," Troy gave Bella one of his looks as if saying 'can we be alone for a minute?' "Oh, yeah sure. See you guys later."

Bella walked off. Her poka-dotted black dress and brown hair swished from left to right at each step she took. When she was finally gone…

Chad gave Troy a disfigured look, "Do really think this is right?" he asked. "What's right?" Troy shrugged. "What do you mean 'what's right?' You know what I'm talking about, you and her," Chad replied unpleasantly with worry in tone. Troy threw Chad an angry look, "what do mean 'you and her?' Bella and I are just perfect, thank you, and we don't even need your support on the engagement at all. And if you're gonna be like this against her don't even bother showing up for the wedding." Troy purposely hit Chad's shoulder with his own as he past him and left leaving Chad stunned and confused.

Troy had never just went at him like that. He would at least give him a chance to explain his side. Chad thought for a second and knew that the old Troy would never yell at him like he just did, but the new Troy…

The celebration went exactly as planned. Within two hours they arrived at the restaurant and after a brief speech from Troy and his dad, Jack, Troy's mom led the prayer. Just before they began to eat Chad stood up to give a toast to Taylor and to give thanks again to all of them who could be there and whom could not but they were thinking about.

Troy shot him a bitter look as he said this. Chad glanced at him in an indifferent fashion. He knew what he was thinking. There was really no stopping Troy as he felt a mixture of resentment and hatred rise towards his friend.

Standing up and banging his fist on the table he shouted out: "Dang-it Chad what the he** do you want with me?"

A.N. I think this is not one of my best of chapters, but it took me a few days to write. If you think that you have an idea that can go well with this story can you please notifiy me.