Authors Note - Hiiii everyonee! Thanks for the support in the last chapter and I actually couldn't help but to update but don't worry the right here with you chapter will be up relatively soon I'm just trying to perfect it! I know this is insanely long but just break it up if you want and I wanted to portay how close Gabriella's family unit is :) So let me know what you think from that little button that's on the bottom of this page! It's really appreciated. Oh and because I'm from England I don't understand how the American education system works so if AP music isn't a AP subject sorry :)

"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get"

Forrest Gump – Forrest Gump

She was pretty sure her lungs were tied into knots and forced into the back of her mouth. The nerves were spouting through the roof.

Her long slender frame was staring back at her in the mirror and she had gotten up two hours earlier than she normally would have in San Francisco so she had a head start on what to wear for today.

The worst day of her life.

At that moment in time it was.

She had a pair of white pink and blue plaid shorts and a white vest cami clothing her as she was holding different outfits up by the hanger against her petite frame, becoming frustrated and lunging them all over her newly furnished bedroom.

It was spacious. There was a bay window situated where she could fix her chocolate gaze out into the front garden. The light was beaming through the window currently causing a spotlight to be formed throughout the middle of the room. She had a walk in closet where all the boxes were, the door currently open with all of the boxes opened and clothes were lightly dotted all over. The bed was situated in the middle of the room. A queen sized bed which currently just had a duvet and pillows.

All she needed really.

A familiar light tapping on the door was followed by the creaking of the old fashioned wooden door making a creaking sound which then signalled tiny footsteps echoing on the varnished floor. "It's only me. I brought you some coffee"

Gabriella let out an aggravated groan and with force the hanger she was holding left her hand until she heard a clanging against the floor. "Shit Gabi. An inch closer and I'd be wearing your coffee"

Phoebe's voice was attempting to calm her but it wasn't doing anything. Gabriella was known to be in denial when she was nervous and at this particular moment, it wasn't an exception. Gabriella turned on her heels to meet the gaze of her elder sister. "Was there something you wanted?"

Gabriella could tell that Phoebe was stifling a laugh and she put her hand to her face to hide the grin. "I brought you some coffee. Alyssa wanted to make you some toast but I said not to"

She walked into the closet and grabbed a blue jumper dress with white frills down the front, walking back out she held it up against her frame, shifting her head to either side in the mirror. "You did right" She murmured quietly.

As soon as she held it up she knew it wasn't right for her. Throwing it across the bedroom and when it didn't make a sound she assumed it had landed on the bed. "So you nervous" Phoebe called into the closet to Gabriella who was rummaging through boxes.

OF COURSE! She was absolutely quivering in her 'boots' at that moment in time but she wasn't going to admit that. Denial. That's what she was. In a state of absolute denial. "No"

She heard Phoebe laugh loudly at her denial. "You could've fooled me!"

Gabriella let an irritated scoff originate from the back of her throat. "Shut up! Okay" A few more boxes were opened and their contents spilled on the floor. "Okay Phoebus! Help me!"

From her ears she could hear the footsteps echoing followed by a sigh. "Phoebus?" She questioned with a crooked grin on her face. Gabriella's chocolate spheres were doubled in size at how calm she was being. "Okay. I'll help. Go drink your coffee"

Gabriella placed her boney hands onto her thighs to pull herself into a standing position. Phoebe switching positions with her. "Go!"

Gabriella held up her hands surrendering to Phoebe's proposition. Her legs carried her to the chest of drawers situated near the door, picking up the mug she felt the hot liquid burn down her throat, instantly making her feel at ease. "Did you drug this or something?"

Phoebe's footsteps carried her from the closet carrying from what Gabriella could see was two items of clothing. "Yeah. I thought hmmm new day. Gabriella's first day at her new school. What better way for her to fit in than to slip a few drugs into her morning coffee"

Gabriella let a smile slip her face for the first time that morning as the knots in her stomach were finally loosening. "You're good"

She had arranged to see Taylor when she had gotten to school that day when she saw her. As Gabriella had to take Alyssa in with her for a meeting with the principal and she had to get her schedule. "Come here"

Phoebe beckoned. Gabriella obeyed and walked over to her bed where the clothes were placed. Phoebe placed an arm around Gabriella's shoulders which she succumbed to and let her heavy head drape on her shoulder. "Okay. So what I want you to do. Is put these clothes on. NO buts. You're gonna look flawless in whatever you wear. And I also want you to come downstairs, EAT some breakfast and then Alyssa and I will take you to school"

She looked down onto the bed and saw a pair of skinny jeans and a black ribbed vest that Gabriella knew hugged to her curves perfectly. "I haven't got a..."

Phoebe held up her index finger and signalled for Gabriella to shut up talking. "Stop worrying. Now chop chop. You don't wanna be late."

Her eyes doubled in size. She hadn't even considered being late. She couldn't be late. The humiliation of walking in a new classroom, with new people, being late. All of them turning their heads to look at her and stare at the 'new girl'. She could feel bile collecting in the pit of her stomach at being called the new girl. And that's what she was going to be called.

15 minutes later she found herself breathing shallowly to calm herself. She was ready. As ready as she could be. She had washed. She had showered. She had a little application of make up on her features. She had spent 45 minutes freshly curling her hair with tongs and it was now bouncing full of life against her shoulders as she walked down the stairs. The black cami she was wearing was tight. But not too tight, it stuck to her flat stomach and the swells of her breasts. The denim jeans were hugged to her long legs and she had decided to wear dark chocolate brown boots that matched her eyes, calf length.

She could hear the echoes of laughter and the sound of her nephew making newly found infant noises. He was going to talk soon. There was something in the pit of her stomach telling her so.

"And here she is" The echo of Cheryl Montez's voice confidently announced to the rest of the kitchen. Gabriella breathed deeply and let a smile crack the moulds of her face.

Gabriella shrugged her thin shoulders loosely while she sat down on the tall stool. "Okay. I guess I've been a little crazy this morning huh?"

Alyssa walked over to Gabriella with a plate that contained pancakes which made Gabriella hurl at the scent of them and the thought of them digesting in her stomach made her stomach want to explode. "A little?"

Gabriella lightly pushed the plate away from her line of vision, and heard humming echoing from the walls. "Good morning all" Phoebe cheered.

"Okay maybe alot. But I'm just. I'm freaking out. Okay!" Gabriella exclaimed and watched everybody narrow their gaze's on her.

Alyssa picked up a dish filled with what Gabriella knew was mush. How a 2 year old found that appealing she would never know. "Pheebs do me a favour and feed Lucas for me"

She handed Phoebe the dish and watched her pull up a stool to feed her nephew. "Gabriella. I don't understand what the big deal is. You go to a new school. You rock. You rocked at you're old school"

The truth was at her old school Gabriella had everything she had ever wanted. She was popular. Extremely popular. The most popular girl in school. Everybody knew who she was. Guys practically drooled over her and girls would kill to be her friend. People would invite her to their parties just to say that Gabriella Montez had attended their party. She had a tight circle of friends who all knew that Gabriella hated the whole superficial thing.

"Eat your pancakes." Alyssa ordered and pushed the plate back towards her.

Gabriella knew that she wouldn't win against pissed Alyssa. She picked up the fork and started to tuck into the pancakes that as soon as they touched her lips she groaned. "They're good" She stated with a mouth full.

"Okay shoot" Cheryl fired at Gabriella and placed a glass of orange juice in front of the plate.

More pancakes were placed in her mouth. "Okay. So what if they don't like me? What if they don't accept the new girl? What if I'm late? What if I get there and I fall and I violently hurt myself and humiliate myself in front of the entire class. And what if. And what if, I'm a geek and all the popular kids they bully me out of the school" She took a deep breath at her sudden outburst.

"You done?" Cheryl questioned.

Gabriella sighed again and looked down at the empty plate of pancakes and instantly felt her stomach bulge at how fast she had eaten.

"Pancakes make everything better" Alyssa smiled convincing Gabriella that she could see this day.

"No. Lucas. No" Phoebe chanted, Gabriella looked over and saw Phoebe's hand momentarily dip into the food and she wiped it on Lucas' face.

"And that Luke is your 25 year old aunt" Alyssa announced and took a cloth to wipe Lucas's face which was radiant with an ear to ear grin. "So missy I like to throw breakfast over my 2 year old nephew. What are you going to do today?"

Gabriella had now completely calmed down; the nerves in her stomach were settling along with the pancakes that she had just eaten. "All will be revealed"

Her eyes shrunk in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"You'll soon see"

"Gabriella" Taylors enthusiastic voice announced as she felt her icy palm touch her boney arm that was now covered in a tan coloured leather jacket that Cheryl had given to her earlier that morning.

A beam radiated on Gabriella's face. She had just recently gotten from the principal's office where she had gotten her schedule and a map and she was now trying to make sense of this whole building.

There were red and white beams everywhere. Bulletin boards were plastered on every wall she looked at, advertising various different clubs, sports. It intrigued Gabriella. There were so many different kinds of people. And none of them really stopped to stare at her. A few guys turned their heads but it wasn't what she had expected.

She was wearing a high wasted black pencil skirt that hugged to her legs and hips perfectly and a white vest tucked into the rim of the skirt and she was carrying what looked like a black cardigan in Gabriella's eyes.

"Taylor, Hey." She waved enthusiastically in front of Taylor's face which beamed at the shaking girl.

"How you doing?" She questioned and grabbed onto Gabriella's arm again and started walking indicating for Gabriella to follow.

Gabriella inhaled deeply. "I'm still trying to catch my breath"

Taylor grinned tightly at the 'new girl' before turning a sharp corner which lead to an actual quiet corridor. "Don't worry. It's always like this on the first day back, even more so now because it's senior year" She explained, she held out her long extended arm indicating for Gabriella's schedule that she was holding in her left arm. "Can I?"

Gabriella happy obliged and handed her the schedule. "Sure"

Taylor narrowed her almost black eyed gaze onto the piece of paper as she inspected the piece of paper intently. "Oh my god. You are in the same homeroom as me and..... AP music? You took AP music?" Taylor grinned mischievously and Gabriella watched as two guys walked down the corridor wearing red tracksuit bottoms, and white vests with red tracksuit tops.

"Yeah" She responded distantly and watched the two guys look at the two girls stood beside the lockers.

"Most people think that's crazy. Why?" Taylor interrogated Gabriella while she was inspecting the walls that were red and had white streamers hanging from the walls.

"Why do people think its crazy or why did I pick it?" She teased and Taylor handed the schedule back to Gabriella.

"Why did you pick it" Taylor grinned and Gabriella let a small laugh escape from her throat.

Gabriella had always been interested in music since she was a little girl it was always how she lived her life. She had always written down her feelings and managed to make a song out of it. "Have you ever heard a song that totally reflects how you're feeling? And in some way it speaks out to you and it helps you. You know?"

Taylor's black slender plucked eyebrows rose as did her lips. "I think you're my sister"

Gabriella laughed enthusiastically before a familiar ringing pierced right through of her body. Her chocolate spheres were doubled in alarm and surprise. "That's the warning bell right?"

Taylor nodded enthusiastically as she grinned at the olive skinned girl. "Yeah. It takes a lot to get used to that loud noise. I've been here nearly four years and it still scares the shit out of me...... I love your jacket"

Gabriella brought her boney hand up to sweep through her midnight hair and it then followed down to the jacket sleeve. "Thanks. My sister gave it to me"

Taylor started to walk with Gabriella following behind. "So you just live with your sisters huh?"

Oh no. Avoided topic. She was going to ask about her parents. Something she really wanted to avoid. "Um and my brother in law. And my nephew"

Taylors narrow eyebrows narrowed in what Gabriella knew was curiosity. No. She couldn't ask. "No parents?"

Bingo!

Gabriella sunk her perfectly white teeth into her bottom lip nervously, so hard she thought it might bleed. "Um, no"

Taylor nodded solemnly. And then her lips parted... she was going to say something. She was and no doubt it was going to be... "So this is home room"

Gabriella exhaled in relief at Taylor's announcement. Maybe she sensed Gabriella's insecurity and thought she'd pass on it. Either way Gabriella was happy. "I daren't go in"

Taylor laughed enthusiastically at Gabriella who was stood at the door who was peering around the door frame at everybody who was sitting or talking around the classroom.

"Tay. Taylor!" A masculine voice boomed entering through her ears. Both of the girls turned to see a tall guy. He was around 5 ft 11 inches according to Gabriella. His hair was... the only way to describe it was crazy. It was a shade darker than Gabriella's but a shade lighter than Taylor's. It was in ringlets and it bounced up and down as he walked closer to the two girls.

His milk chocolate eyes were looking at the two girls intently and closely but also kind of narrowed at the unfamiliar girl who was standing outside the classroom. "Hey" He announced and wrapped an arm around Taylor and Gabriella crossed her leg infront of the other looking down to the floor in a state of awkwardness.

"Hey" Taylor responded. If Gabriella had to guess she would have guessed that he was Taylor's boyfriend. "Oh. Chad. This is Gabriella Montez. She's new"

Gabriella's timid chocolate spheres lifted to see Chad glaring at her with a grin on his face. "How you doing?"

Gabriella smiled tightly at the guy. "Hi"

Taylor seemed to be amused by Gabriella's shyness as Gabriella was shifting and her teeth were sunk into her bottom puffy lip. "This is Chad Danforth. He's in homeroom too"

Technically she had a new friend. Well acquaintance. "Whoa. And you've not prepared her for Mrs D?"

Gabriella's eyes narrowed in confusion. Should she be scared of Mrs D? Who was Mrs D? "Chad stop it. Gabriella you are gonna be fine"

She sighed deeply. And the nerves kicked in again. The pancakes she had eaten this morning were violently threatening to erupt from the back of her throat. "Yeah. I was just kidding. You're gonna be a hit"

Gabriella looked at the boy sceptically. She was going to be a hit? What did that mean? "Excuse me?"

Both Taylor and Chad were grinning down at the unknowing Gabriella. "With the guys. You're hot" Chad announced.

Gabriella immediately felt her cheeks flash pink and she looked down at the dirty tiles on the floor. "Chad. You don't tell another girl she's hot while you're girlfriends here. We talked about that"

Gabriella's head rose and smiled at the two people she now knew was a couple.

"Come on"

And that was the start to her day.

"So wait you've been together a year?" Gabriella questioned as herself and Taylor walked through the door that she knew was now AP music.

"Yes" Taylor grinned. They had been talking about her and Chad since they had left homeroom, and from talking to Chad in the class and from talking to Taylor. She couldn't have found two opposites. But opposites attract right?

"Gabriella" A harsh whisper entered her ears. Her eyebrows furrowed. Who knew her name? As she turned on her steps there she was.

Her eyes jumped too many sizes bigger than they were supposed to be. There she was. Her sister. In her classroom. Oh no. "Phoebe. What are you doing here?"

Phoebe seemed amused at Gabriella's sudden outburst. "Like I said all will be revealed"

Taylor was still standing next to Gabriella with confusion written all over her features. "Taylor you remember my sister? Phoebe?"

Phoebe had a warm inviting smile on her features and Taylor matched nodding her head in agreement. "Yeah"

Annoyance was rising in her blood stream and she felt steam was coming from her ears. "Phoebe what are you doing here? You can't be in my class"

"Summer is over. Unfortunately for you this year isn't. Please sit down" The teacher from what Gabriella remembered was called Mr White so Taylor had told her.

"Gabriella you can come sit with us" Taylor motioned to the table that was in the left hand corner. It had 4 seats around the table and there was currently a girl sitting there.

Gabriella and Taylor took their seats in the left hand corner of the classroom.

"Hey" The girl greeted but Gabriella didn't know whether it was to Taylor or the both of them so she just smiled timidly.

"Hey. This is Gabriella" Taylor introduced and Gabriella smiled brightly at her for what felt like the thousandth time.

The girl was small. Petite. Even though Gabriella couldn't see her full size or figure she could sense she was a small petite girl. She looked timid and shy. Just by looking at her Gabriella could tell she was probably going to get on with her. She had light brown hair; Gabriella would even have dared to say a sandy brown. The light was shining on it and there was a tint of blonde present. As she gave Gabriella a closed mouth smile the dimples were tight on her features. She had light blue eyes, so light they looked grey.

"Gabriella. This is Kelsi. I think you two are going to get along well" Taylor commented before she was interrupted by...

"Okay. Let's get on. Kids this year's going to be different. We're gonna do a project. But truth be told this project is going to be equivalent to 75% of your final grade that you'll finish high school with. You and the people on your table are going to work together. And as you know who Phoebe Montez is I'll hand over to you Miss so you can explain to the class" White explained and Gabriella sunk her head down and feeling her cheeks gradually become a light shade of crimson.

And that is what Phoebe Montez did for a career.

She was the owner of a major record label.

She had done well for herself. Really well.

And she had left her company in the hands of her number two in San Francisco in hope to find some talent here in Albuquerque so she could build an office here.

Phoebe was like Gabriella in a lot of ways. Gabriella had always offered a helping hand and she had been told that sometimes that was a problem for her. She had always seen the good in people and she had been ended up taken advantage of in the past. And now Phoebe here wanted to help everyone who she believed had a chance.

"Okay. I'm Phoebe Montez. Some of you may have heard of me some of you may not. My little sister is actually sitting in the back left hand corner of this room"

Oh no. Shit. Fuck. No. Her face was as red as a beetroot; it was something you saw in the movies when everybody turned around as if on cue to stare at the new girl. Gabriella fired daggers in Phoebe's direction who was smiling contently with her accomplishment.

"However, the school here has asked me to help you guys. What this project consists of is you and you're tables working together like Mr. White said. You're going to produce 5 songs. And like there are 5 people on each table with one exception. You all have to write the songs and I will get time for you with a recording studio where you can all record. And then you will put on a performance of what you think is your best song and then" She paused and took a deep breath. "You will be judged on it and the best one will get a record deal with our company. But... you still get graded on your material, before the whole competition thing"

Phoebe finished her speech and lent back on the teachers desk. From the corner of Gabriella's eye she could see that some guys who were sitting in the right hand corner of the room were practically drooling at the 25 year old woman who was standing at the front of the classroom.

"Thank you. Miss Montez. Does anybody have any questions?" Mr White concluded and the four arms in the right hand corner shot up as if their lives were depending on it. Phoebe had a content smile on her face but Gabriella knew the questions they were about to ask were nothing of the sort about music. "Yes. David"

"Miss Montez. Are you single?" A round of sniggers erupted from around the classroom and Gabriella gazed down at the floor in a state of being uncomfortable.

"That's enough David" White scolded and Gabriella watched her sister walk over to a seat in the corner of the classroom. Right next to her. "Okay so we're going to go around the class and ask everybody what music means to them"

"What are you doing?" Gabriella hissed.

On the other hand Phoebe seemed rather amused by what had just occurred. "I'm helping out"

She could feel a red haze being placed infront of her eyes, embarrassment and annoyance at her sister being at HER school. HER school. No wonder she had avoided the subject of what she was doing today. Bitch. "Yeah but here?"

"Miss Montez. Gabriella?" Oh no. She wasn't even listening. What was the question again? Something about music. A sudden light bulb flickered on in her mind. What music meant to them.

"Um, I guess that music inspires me. I guess there's always some song that reflects how you're feeling and it somehow helps you through the day. I've always aspired to write songs and stuff because I guess I'd want to be that person who reaches into someone else's life y'know?" White seemed content with her answer as he nodded solemnly with a grin on his face.

"I think we can all learn stuff from the new girl" There it was again. NEW GIRL! "Okay guys we'll leave it from there and you can go and sort you're music out. Oh and Miss Mckessie" Taylor looked up at the calling of her name. "Tell Miss Evans to not miss my lesson again"

Gabriella's eyes furrowed as confusion crossed her adorable face while everybody was packing away and running out of the classroom as quick as they could. "Miss Evans?" She whispered.

She didn't know why she was whispering because everybody was shouting and talking to get out of the classroom. "Yeah, that's Sharpay. You'll meet her soon enough"

"So Gabi? Have you seen any guys that you think are hot?" Her elder sister's voice entered her ears.

"Phoebe. Its first period. And plus. Why are you still here?"

Little did she know that she would see the guy of her dreams later that day.