I don't care, I'm still real
No matter how many records I sell
After the show or after the Grammys
I like to go cool out with the family
Sippin', reminiscing on days when I had a Mustang

GLAMOROUS -- FERGIE

Chapter 1: Glamorous

It was a normal Friday afternoon really. I was up in my room on the second floor watching CSI: Miami, a favorite of mine though I doubt you care. I knew that my brother, Zeke, and Chad were playing basketball on the court the Evans had put in for us, and I knew it because I could hear the rhythmic bouncing of the ball outside my window. And as far as the others went, I could only guess, but I do pride myself in being a very good guesser. I heard the door open and close, and with the ball still bouncing outside, I figured it was someone else...most likely Troy back from his accounting class. That's right, golden Troy boy was the one getting a business degree, but he keeps reassuring us it's just a fall back. Somehow, I just don't see Troy sitting in a stuffy old office.

I was getting hungry anyway, so I started my decent downstairs, and sure enough there was Troy sucking face with his newest blonde bimbo. Why he always went for blondes I'll never know. Sharpay was positive that it was his way of showing her that he wanted to be with her instead of Zeke being with her, but the rest of us know that is just Sharpay's hopeful nature.

The truth is Sharpay had been trying to date Troy since they were like thirteen, but Troy kept telling her to him that was like incest. She didn't listen. I don't think she ever listens. Even though she says that though, we all know how much she really loves Zeke.

Unable to hold back my teasing nature, I start making kissy faces at them as I made my way downstairs. I didn't hold back my laugh when Troy broke the kiss to glare at me. Instead I continued on my way to find Taylor perched on the kitchen table with about six books surrounding her and her laptop.

"Having fun?" I inquired as I grabbed an apple out of the refrigerator, and plopped myself beside her.

She gave me that famous, 'I know you're kidding but seriously' look of Tay's. "Oh yeah, I'm having a blast. You know how I live for studying for a test that could very well screw over my high educational path."

"Geez, sorry Tay. It isn't my fault you picked a crazy hard major, Troy isn't having any trouble with business, but you go and double major in business and pre-nursing," I pointed out to her. Aren't I a ray of sunshine? "I'm just saying..."

"Go suck face with your boyfriend," Taylor spat, but I know she just wants to pass. Being here on a full ride academic scholarship couldn't be easy. Not that I'd know or anything, but Taylor 

has been stressed a lot more lately because of it. Still, we all love her and remind her to have fun once in a while. That's what friends are for.

I just smile getting up and leaving her to her work, but not before getting the last say, "I would but he's sucking face with some other girl."

I love Ryan. I really do, which I think is why him being a musical theater major and kissing other girls on stage all the time doesn't bother me. I know at the end of the day he'll always come back to me. Plus, he always does things to remind me I'm his and not those other girls. I do enjoy the presents and dinners and romantic gestures I must say.

Peaking out the window on the lower level, I see the boys are still outside playing basketball which leaves me to annoy Troy some more. Oh, it is my lucky day. Starting back upstairs, I take another bite out of my apple only to almost spit it out when I see that Troy and the blonde have moved onto the couch, and she's already gotten his shirt off.

Now, growing up with mostly guys' as best friends, I'm used to seeing them half naked or walking in on them completely naked. However, me and Troy have...issues when it came to incidents like this. I don't want to talk about it like that. But I will tell you this. Despite the fact Troy is one of my best friends, I'll admit he is smoking hot! Any girl would be stupid to tell him no. Those abs, that hair, but what kills every girl (including myself but shhh) are those gorgeous blue eyes that draw you in from miles away.

"You know," I pondered aloud after I successfully digested my bite of apple, "I don't think Sharpay would like you fucking on her favorite pink couch Troy boy."

The grin that crossed my lips was to be expected when I heard him groan and roll off the girl. The next thing I saw was a, still shirtless, annoyed looking Troy Bolton glaring at me. "Can't you mind your own business Montez?"

"Nope."

I watched as Troy rolled his eyes and helped the blonde up who immediately straightened her clothes and her hair. Turning she smiled at me a little smile I would learn later on, that is faker than plastic surgery. "Um hi."

Already I could tell there was something off about her, but then again I was never one to judge someone immediately. I don't like being judged so I try not to judge others, but hey, I'm human too. "Hi," I say walking over and extending my hand, "I'm Gabriella. Gabriella Montez."

"Oh right," Troy said realizing he hadn't actually introduced me to his new girlfriend. How do I know already he calls her girlfriend? Because he wouldn't have brought her here otherwise. Usually he goes to their place, unless they have earned the title of Troy Bolton's girlfriend. "This is Whitney Tillman. She's studying to be a physical therapist...right?"

"That's right," she assures him as she shakes my hand. "It's nice to meet you Gabriella."

"We'll see," I say, and I can almost hear Troy rolling his eyes. "First I need to ask you three questions." She looks a little out of place, but they usually are. Over the years I've picked up a bit of bluntness from Shar, so it's really to be expected. "What's your favorite sport."

"Basketball of course."

"Favorite team?"

"LA Lakers."

"Favorite musical?"

"Uh...Phantom of the Opera, I guess."

I looked at Troy raising my eyebrows and shrugging my shoulders commenting, "fifty fifty," before continuing back to her room. I could almost see Whitney or whatever looking at Troy with a strange look on her face, and then I heard Troy speak up, "the right answer was Hairspray."

So I do read a book by the cover a little bit. The questions weren't about whether I thought whatever girl it was and Troy were suitable, the questions were how well I thought the girl and I would get along. If they didn't like basketball they were screwed in both my and Troy's eyes, and the musical thing was to see what kind of person she was. My guess was that little miss Whitney had never seen a musical in her life, instead she just watched the movie Phantom of the Opera...although that was a good movie. Of course this always gave Troy a good idea about how long the two would be dating. He'd never date someone that didn't get along with me one hundred percent (that was before at least).

Me and Troy had a special relationship at this point. We both had histories and secrets with each other that we didn't talk about...ever, but we were a lot closer than most of our friends thought. Most of the time I would go to Taylor or Shar if I had a problem, but there were certain types that I knew only Troy could help me with. We all play our parts in our little group.

In the distance I hear my phone blaring Sharpay's ring tone which effectively pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Hey Pay," I answered wondering what she could possibly want.

"Red or blue?"

Pulling away from the phone I give it an odd look before shaking my head and putting it back to my ears. See what I mean about Sharpay's bluntness? "Red or blue what?"

I could hear her sigh loudly on the other side of the line, "Red or blue dress silly! I'm buying your dress for tomorrow night!"

"Shar I thought I was just going to wear those blue jeans and shiny sliver top you had picked out?"

Yeah, tomorrow we are playing our first gig since the summer ended, and it was November. We were playing at the grand opening of THE NEON, which was a club that got burned down last year. It was the "it" club last year until it closed. The owner knows the Evans family personally so Shar pulled some strings and got us playing opening night. I have to admit I'm a little excited.

"I changed my mind. I can't having our lead singer looking...average."

You could literally hear the disdain dripping off her tone when she said the word average. Nothing was ever average or normal or plain or causal with Sharpay. She was bigger than life, and expected everything else to be the exact same way. You got used to it...or at least that is what we keep telling people.

"Fine, blue sounds good."

"Great! Actually I'll buy both and you can wear the red another day."

"Whatever you say Shar."

"Toodles!"

I hung up the phone without replying, because I knew it would be useless. She wouldn't be paying attention anyway. I just gave her free reign to buy clothes. Now that was all she was thinking about, guaranteed. That was the one thing none of us would ever admit to Sharpay: she was scarily predictable.

After I plugged up my phone to charge, because god knows what would happen if I let it die and she couldn't get in touch with me, I collapsed on the bed with a groan. It was then I hear a chuckle behind me and heard an oh to familiar voice, "rough day?"

"It shouldn't have been."

"Let me guess...Sharpay."

"Why can't she just leave things alone?" I ask snuggling up to the figure that has now sat himself beside me. Why were guys so naturally warm? It was like the drug that kept girls chasing after boys, I was sure, their warmth.

"Because she's Sharpay," he said stroking my hair, which I'm sure is gross considering I hadn't washed it today yet. I didn't really see the point. Tomorrow, Shar would put me through my paces so I looked perfect for the club opening. Seriouly, I wouldn't be surprised if she dragged me to the spa or something, and let me tell you now I don't do spas. If painted, my nails are 

black...because they just look weird in any other color. I hate people touching my feet, and as good with physical pain as I am...I don't do wax. Just the thought made me shiver.

"No shit," was my simple reply.

And then another entered my room, "You know Cross, if I didn't know better I'd say you were trying to steal my girlfriend."

My step brother, who I was currently laying on, rolled his eyes, "That's gross Evans. She's my sister."

Again I felt the need to roll my eyes and say "no shit."

The two laughed at me as Ryan climbed onto the other side of the bed, so I obligied and rolled over so I was snuggling up to him. "You smell like Sharpay."

"There's a compliment," Troy commented from the door, this time he was here without his new girlfriend. She must have gotten sick of being interrupted and went home. But like always, I felt the need to ask, "where's your girlfriend?"

This cause Jason and Ryan to look at Troy strangely. "Girlfriend?" they asked at the same time.

"She went back to her dorm to study, and yes girlfriend. You guys can meet her tomorrow at the gig," he said falling onto my bed by our feet which I used to my advantege...shoving my feet in his face. He didn't like that too much, and eventually started tickling my feet which caused me to whither and accidentally knock Jason off the bed with a BAM! Then it took all of five seconds before we heard someone coming up the stairs and down the hall to my room, and in walked Chad with his crazy afro and shirts with the stupid sayings. Today was 'I LOVE ME...DON'T YOU?'

"Taylor said you are being too loud," he commented without any passion really to his words. Knowing Chad, he was probably just glad to get away from his study crazed girlfriend which proved to be true when he collapsed in my red round chair, "And I thank you for being too loud."

We all chuckle at that and then we all groan at his next question, "what's for dinner?"

I look at him completely serious, "Chad, seriously, do you ever think about anything other than food?"

Really, I asked for it. I should have known better than to ask a guy with a hot girlfriend who I grew up with since I was five that question. I was the second one to know the day he lost his virginity...along with the entire Albuquerque mall. No, he just grinned at me like an idiot and said, "Of course I do, but I thought you didn't want to hear about me and Tay's sexual exploits Gabs."



That's when I smacked my forehead causing all the guys to laugh especially Troy. He laughed the loudest which drove me to shove him off the end of the bed. Yep, and there came Taylor marching, no stomping, up the stairs and bursting through my door, "Could you people please tune it down?!"

"It was Gabby!" the guys said simultaneously pointing at me.

All I could do was shrug and apologize, but it was half hearted and I'm pretty sure she knew it was half heart too. Although she didn't seem to care, or protest as Chad pulled her onto his lap. Instead she just kind of fell into his lap, and sighed. Yep, she was down for the count, "So what are you guys up to?"

"Talking about you had Chad's sexual exploits," Jason stated not thinking twice. Poor Chad…Taylor can hit really hard and you could hear that slap a mile away, and you could hear Chad complaining about being hit a mile away.

"Thanks a lot Jase," he mumbled rubbing where Tay slapped him.

I wouldn't have even noticed Kelsi coming in if she hadn't bumped into my dresser making it shake. "Hey Kels."

"Hey guys," she said in her light voice as she perched on her normal seat atop my desk. Now how does she fit on my desk you ask? Cause the only reason it's there is to hold my printer. I hate sitting at desks so I do my studying on my bed, so it makes a good sitting place for Kelsi.

"Um," Jason started making me look at him. He is never one to say um. Simply because he usually says things before he thinks about them, "Why don't you sit with us Kels? There's plenty of room on the bed."

Is Kelsi blushing? I'll defiantly have to check out that later. Kelsi on the other hand doesn't have time to answer before Sharpay comes barreling through the door loaded down with one too many shopping bags. You can barely see Zeke trailing behind her. "HERE YOU GUYS ARE!" she exclaimed a little too loudly dropping her bags on my already dirty floor.

"Wonderful deduction Pay," Troy commented sarcastically, completely ignoring the look Sharpay gave him. He really was the bravest one when it came to standing up to Sharpay, next was Taylor and then myself. The worst part was that Zeke was the last one to ever stand up to Sharpay. We think he just doesn't want to take the chance of losing the love of his life.

"So everything is set for tomorrow! And Gabby go to bed early because we have appointments to get our hair done at nine."

"Are you fuckin kidding me Pay? You know I don't do that kind of stuff," I complained sitting up off Ryan to look at her.



"Too bad, so sad," she said plopping down on the only other chair left, only after shoving Zeke into it first.

This really was a typical night for us. Just the nine of us all holed up in one room talking about what was our past, present, and future. We all knew our lives were different and weren't perfect, but what we could always count on was each other. That was the most important thing to us, or at least that was the most important thing to me anyway. We could all be dirt poor begging on the streets for money, I wouldn't care as long as we were together. It was a stupid unrealistic sentiment in the world we live in, but it was my sentiment so whatever.

"Gabby is going to look smoking hot in the new outfit I bought her," Sharpay's shrill voice brought me out of my thoughts.

There was nothing more important in Shar's mind than looking smoking hot, or acting smoking hot whatever. "Great just what I need."

"Shar! That's my girlfriend. I really don't want to spend all night fighting off all the guys," I hear Ryan's voice come from behind me. Turning my head I look up at him and smile, before leaning up and kissing him, only to get smacked by pillows being thrown at us.

Now, this is where I leave you. You know most of my thoughts and ideas, but here's the story. I hope you enjoy, and don't think I won't be popping in from time to time. Just sit back and enjoy.