Summary: Gabriella's mom and Chad's dad get married, making them step-siblings. Gabriella has to leave her school and friends and move to Chad's school, East High. Troy Bolton, a.ka. Chad's rival, makes a wrong move and finds out how Gabriella Montez-Danforth doesn't take any crap. Chad's girlfriend, Taylor McKessie, warns Gabriella about Troy, but (of course) Gabriella has to be herself and stand up for everyone. Things might get a little messy.
Thanks for all the great reviews on the first chapter. I love reading them and special thanks to missefron15 because her review made me smile. She is one of my favorite authors and she read my story… and loved it! :)
Chapter 2—Nervous
"I have basketball practice until five so you can hang out with Taylor until then." Chad told Gabriella as they walked to their lockers after school.
"Sure Hot-Shot." Gabriella replied. Chad had not let her alone all day using the excuse "I need to have someone by me that can kick Troy Bolton's ass so I don't fly to heaven today", but she knew there was more to it.
Chad's bouncing afro disappeared into the red and white hallways of East High as he jogged to the gym. Gabriella turned on her heel and walked over to where Kelsi's and Taylor's lockers were.
"Hey Kels, hey Tay." Gabriella greeted the two girls. The trio had clicked instantly.
"Hey Gabs." They replied in unison. Both girls slammed their lockers shut before flinging their bags onto their shoulders.
"So… What are we going to do until…"Gabriella paused for a second to remember when Chad's basketball practice was over, "five o'clock."
"Well we usually go watch the shirtless basketball guys." Kelsi answered sarcastically. But, Gabriella decided that it could be fun.
"Let's go!" Gabriella said feigning the voice of one of the slutty cheerleaders.
The girls laughed and hooked arms. Gabriella started skipping in the line, pulling the other girls along with her. "I always knew we needed a party girl!" Taylor joked.
"You haven't seen anything yet! Like I said: Even Troy couldn't handle all this!" Gabriella giggled as they walked over to the bleachers. When the girls were about to sit Gabriella noticed that only one guy was in the gym. She guessed that the other guys were still in the locker room changing.
"How do you know that I couldn't handle you if I have never tried?" A deep, male voice came from behind her. She found this voice incredibly sexy; that was until she recognized it. That voice belonged to the sole male in the gym; Troy Bolton.
Gabriella whipped around, only to find her self almost against Troy's chest. Her breath hitched in her throat. He was a few inches taller than her (about three) so she felt small and weak. That she didn't understand. SHE KICKED HIS ASS EARLIER THAT DAY WHY WAS SHE FEELING SO DAMN SMALL!?
He smirked as the locker door opened and basketball players started flooding into the gym. Yet, they all were stopped by Chad's strong arms when he saw the scene between his step-sister and rival.
"Don't count on the saving your ass every time Bolton." Gabriella hissed loudly.
He just threw his head back and chuckled. "I don't need my ass saved Montez." He said out loud before bringing his mouth to her ear. "I plan on seeing if I can handle you or not some time soon." His breath sent chills down her spine.
Her wits came back and she would have slapped him. He stepped back and jogged towards the team, unknowingly saving his cheek from throbbing. "Okay guys partner up!" Troy directed the team.
This was when Gabriella half-figured out why Chad was so against Troy. Troy was captain. And, guessing by how boys are, Troy had beaten Chad out of the competition for captain.
"I thought they were supposed to be shirt-less!" Gabriella said all too loud…for when she said it, the whole team turned to look at her. She quickly clapped her hand over her mouth as she realized she said it out loud. "Oops, that was louder than I planned…"
As if cue Troy smirked and pulled his shirt over his head, revealing toned, perfectly chiseled abs that all of the sudden Gabriella longed to touch. She huffily plopped down between her two buds and buried her head in her hands…life could be harsh, but this was plain torture.
"Montez," Troy exclaimed while dribbling down the court and doing a perfect lay-up, "Pick those eyes up! This is a one time show…unless we-" Troy was cut off by a basketball to the head. He jerked his head around only to find Chad smirking slyly.
"Shut the hell up, Troy." Chad hissed in a dangerously low voice.
"What? Scared of you new sister getting involved with some one like me? Huh?" Troy fired at Chad as he started walking towards him at a very slow rate.
"She wouldn't get "involved" with you anyway!" Chad reprimanded.
"Why? Because I can kick her brother's ass?" Troy growled.
"ENOUGH ALREADY!" Gabriella shouted from the bleachers, causing several unexpected teens to jump in surprise.
Troy and Chad swung their heads around to Gabriella. Her heels clicked as she walked up to the testosterone-filled teens. (lol.)
"Yall are acting like two-year-olds! Just look at yourselves!" She scolded both boys. Gabriella turned her head and spoke to Chad, "I appreciate that you would stand up for me, but I can do that myself. I have had my fair share of horrible boyfriends and I still lived through that. Don't think that I don't know how to protect myself." She smiled to Chad. "I am glad to have you as a step-brother."
Chad opened his arms to Gabriella. She slipped into them and Chad closed his arms around her.
Gabriella pulled out from Chad's arms after the embrace. She brushed a strand of her ebony hair behind her ear and grinned.
Troy coughed from behind the two. Gabriella's expression changed completely. She went from cheerful and loving to annoyed and aggravated. Rolling her eyes, she turned to Troy.
"You just need to get a flippin' life." Gabriella spat at Troy.
Troy just shrugged in response. Gabriella was even more confused. Troy never seemed to show any emotion; unless it was anger. But, even with anger he could banish it away and be back to his emotionless self within seconds.
"Please let me drive?" Chad begged Gabriella.
"Nope." Gabriella answered immediately.
"Come on! Have a little fun!" Chad continued on with his begging. Taylor and Kelsi were in hysterics behind them. They seemed to find Chad begging his sister very funny.
"My car; I drive. End of story!" Gabriella simplified for Chad's smaller-than-a-peanut-sized brain.
Chad huffed dramatically and opened the passenger side door for him to slip in. Taylor slipped into the seat right before he could.
"Thanks babe." Taylor said as she buckled her seat belt.
Chad nodded. "Anything for you babe." He mumbled.
Kelsi and Gabriella laughed at the cute yet hilarious couple.
"Shit!" Chad exclaimed right once he got settled in his seat.
"What now?" Gabriella asked impatiently.
"I forgot my gym bag in the locker room!" Chad wined.
"I will get it. You are too slow and my TV show is on in half an hour and I can't miss it." Gabriella said as she unbuckled her seat belt and slid back out of her car.
"Thanks Gabby… I might even drive you home to return the favor!" Chad called after her sarcastically. Gabriella shook her head in the distance.
The gym doors slammed shut much louder than Gabriella was expecting; almost causing her to jump. Now, where did he say his bag was? Gabriella remembered that it was in the locker room and was thankful that it was a good fifteen minutes after practice had ended. This meant that no dudes should be in the locker rooms.
She pushed the door open nervously. I sure do hope that all the sweaty and smelly guys are gone… Her mocha eyes scanned across the room; searching for a red gym bag.
It was nowhere to be seen so she traveled farther back into the locker room. She saw the red bag sitting on one of the red benches against the back wall. Walking over to the bag, she could not shake the feeling as if eyes were on her.
She picked the bag up by the handle and turned around to leave. Only to find that her assumption was right: some one's eyes had been on her. Yet, she wasn't surprised when she found out who the beholder of these eyes was.
Troy Bolton.
She had made a promise to herself than and there. NEVER WALK INTO A LOCKER ROOM FOR BOYS AGAIN. This was for three reasons: one, Troy just happened to be still in there, two, he was only in blue plaid boxers, and three, they smelled REALLY bad.
"Do you have reading problems?" Troy asked her with one eyebrow kinked.
"Uh...No. Why?" Gabriella replied, utterly confused. What the hell was he talking about?
"Cause this is the GUYS locker room." Troy emphasized the word "guys".
"No shit Sherlock." Gabriella said, "Chad forgot his bag."
"Admit it." Troy cockily remarked.
"God, Stop only saying half of things! It gets me confused!" Gabriella complained.
"That you just came here to see me." Troy said ignoring her last comment, "Admit it."
Gabriella laughed at his cockiness. "Now why on God's great earth would I walk a few feet to see… that." Gabriella pointed to Troy when she said "that".
"You know you love it" Troy said as he walked towards her, still only sporting boxers. "All the ladies do."
"I guess I am different than all the other girls then." Gabriella lied. She had to give that to him. He was hot; yet extremely cocky. "And put some jeans on man!"
"No. I think this is perfectly fine." Troy was only about a foot away from Gabriella now so she stepped back a few feet until she felt the cold locker connect with her back. "Why? Does it make you nervous?" Troy smirked.
Troy placed his arms on either side of Gabriella's head against the lockers, caging her in. "So I do make you nervous?"
"No. You just don't look that good that … exposed." Gabriella shrugged.
"I bet you would." Troy said huskily before crashing his lips onto hers.
A/N: okay these chapters are longer than Unforgiven and Under My Roof, so they a little longer to write but I really like this series. They are so much fun to write!