Dare to Dream

AN: So here's the first chapter! A huge thanks goes out to my partner in crime; Mya, better known as minixoxmya. Without her this story would simply be just another abandoned story idea. Thanks Sweets! xxx

Also thanks to my new beta: hugsxkisses!

This is a derivate piece of fiction featuring characters copyrighted and trademarked by Disney Enterprises Inc. It is based upon High School Musical, copyright 2006 by Walt Disney Enterprises Inc., all rights reserved; High School Musical 2, copyright 2007 by Walt Disney Enterprises Inc., all rights reserved, and High School Musical 3, copyright 2008 by Walt Disney Enterprices. The author is not connected with nor is this work authorised by Walt Disney Enterprises Inc., or any other motion picture studios. This work is solely intended for posting on Fanfiction, for the benefit and enjoyment of its intended audience. No commercial or financial benefit accrues or is intended to accrue to the author as a result of said posting. Any unauthorised copying or redistribution of this work might subject the party responsible for such unauthorized copying or redistribution to legal action by the owners of the aforementioned copyrights and trademarks

Chapter 1: City of Angels

Twenty-eight year old Gabriella Montez sighed in annoyance as the moving company once again apologized over the phone. All of her furniture had been scheduled to arrive earlier that day, but only a few of her items had actually showed up. Among the missing pieces was her bellowed book cases and her much needed desk.

"I know you're sorry, but do you have any idea where my things are?" she asked exasperated. "I didn't pay this much money only to have to buy myself new furniture as well."

"We truly are sorry, Miss Montez, and we are trying to find out where this shipment took a wrong turn. If we don't find your things, you will of course get compensation from us so that you can replace the items."

Gabriella groaned and scratched the top of her head before letting her fingers run through her hair.

"Thanks."

"It's the least we can do, Miss. I will contact you as soon as I know anything, does that sound ok?"

"Yes, thank you, sir."

"You're welcome. Have a nice evening."

"You too. Goodbye."

With that she snapped her phone shut and glanced around the almost empty Los Angeles apartment.

The late afternoon sunshine bounced off the whitewashed walls of the living room and she squinted her eyes against the bright light. Aside from a creamy white couch, her TV and a coffee table, the room held no other furniture, but it was all hers.

Carefully moving a box of pictures, she looked out of the open window and down at the busy street below her. A warm breeze brushed against her face, and a lazy smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. The contrast between the sun-kissed streets below, and the chilly Michigan city she had left behind could not be any bigger, and as she watched people hurrying along on the sidewalk, she could not help but wonder if she had made the right choice.

The shrill ringing of her phone made her jump and she quickly flipped it open, ready to greet whoever was on the other end.

"Hello, Gabriella speaking."

"Miss Gabriella Montez?"

"Yes, that's me."

"We are from Furniture vision. We're here to deliver your bed."

"Oh! Yes! I'll be right down!" she exclaimed, grabbing her keys before stepping into her shoes.

"Ok, we are right outside the main entrance."

"I'll be down in two seconds."

Gabriella quickly hung up and shoved her phone into her pocket. At least she'd have a proper bed to sleep in tonight.

---HSM---

An hour later, Gabriella thanked the delivery guys and shut her front door. The new bed had successfully been placed in her bedroom along with two bedside tables, and all she had to do now was make her bed with the new sheets she had bought.

With a smile adorning her face she walked back into her bedroom and turned on the radio that had been placed on the chest of drawers by the door. Seconds later music filled the room and as she busied herself with sheets, blankets and throw pillows she gently sang along to the familiar tunes.

She had a week to organize her apartment before she started in her new job. The fact that she had gotten the teaching position she had wanted so much still felt slightly surreal to her. She had a feeling that it wouldn't really sink in till she walked down the hallways of Santa Monica Montessori.

After finishing her degree in Classical Ballet, with a Latin American minor, it quickly became clear that dance alone would not bring in sufficient money to live a comfortable life, and so she had turned her attention towards her second passion; Children.

The prospect of teaching had always had an appeal to her, and at age twenty-five she had received her Elementary Teacher Certificate from Michigan University. A few months into her teaching career she had taken a course in the Montessori Method, and quickly realized that that was the route she wanted to take.

Hours upon hours had then been spent online looking for, and applying to numerous schools across the country. She had been prepared to be let down, as there were rarely openings in the Montessori schools, but this had not kept her from hoping. Four of the schools she had applied to had sent her positive letters back, asking for either a face to face interview, or one using web-cameras. With a slight smile, Gabriella remembered how nervous she had been the day she had gotten ready for her Santa Monica internet interview. All day she had been restless and when the time came to actually talk to the principal she had been so nervous she could hardly move a muscle.

The principal had picked up on her nerves and somehow managed to coax the real Gabriella out of her little shell.

That night she had gone to bed feeling certain that the interview had gone badly, and so it had been a great surprise when the letter from Santa Monica had arrived by mail only days before her contract expired. With excitement flowing through her veins she had called the school to accept the position they had offered, before packing up her things and heading for California and the city of angels.

A place where the sun seemed to shine a little brighter and opportunities were hidden around every street corner.

For once it seemed like life had handed her a good deck of cards. And as she sat down on her newly made bed, she just hoped she would be able to play them well.

-----HSM-----

"Daddy…"

Troy Bolton groaned silently as the sweet voice of his daughter entered his dream. Everything around them seemed eerie quiet and he highly doubted it was time to get up yet.

"Daddy...wake up Daddy."

"Violet…what time is it?" he asked, voice hoarse from sleep.

"I don't know," the five year old answered as she climbed onto the bed and lay down next to him.

Feeling her head on his shoulder, he instinctively wrapped an arm around her body and pulled her close. A small hand came to rest on his stomach and he slowly opened his eyes to take a peek at the clock.

"Peanut…its 5.30 in the morning… What are you doing up?"

"Couldn't sleep any longer. I start 1st grade today. I'm going to be with the big children. Do you think they will be nice Daddy?"

Troy sighed and kissed the top of her head gently.

"Why wouldn't they be, sweetheart? Has anyone told you stories?"

"No, but they…" a yawn interrupted her. "Are so much bigger than me."

"No one is going to be mean to you Vi, and if someone says something that isn't nice, you just tell a teacher and everything will be fine. Now close your eyes. We don't have to get up for at least another hour," he said and started stroking her bare arm, knowing it would lull her back into dreamland.

"Ok…"

Sighing softly he relaxed against the soft pillows and brushed one of Violet's blond curls off his chest. The little girl's steady breathing told him she was already asleep, but it wasn't as easy for him. Her question rang in his head and he couldn't help but worry if there was a reason for her nerves. As far as he knew no one had ever picked on her, but she was going to be around older kids now; kids that might take advantage of the fact that she was quite shy and reserved.

Inwardly groaning, he shut his eyes and forced the thoughts out of his head. There was no use in worrying prematurely. The only outcome of that was making Violet even more hesitant than she already was, and that was the last thing he wanted.

---hsm---

Putting the purple brush down, Troy reached for a hair elastic and carefully secured Violets long tendrils in a half ponytail.

"And the ribbon," she said firmly and handed her dad the light blue ribbon she'd been clutching in her hand.

"If you say so princess. It's your big day today," he said as he tied it into a bow, hiding the black elastic below. "There you go. Now go find your dress while daddy finds your backpack."

"Ok, but I can't do the zwipper thing."

"Zipper, and I will help you with that. Just bring the dress to the living room," he chuckled. A smile spreading on his face as he watched the little girl skip out of the bathroom. Putting away the brush, elastics and ribbons, he took a glance at himself in the mirror and ran a hand through his unruly locks.

"Dad?!"

"Two minutes Vi," he yawned and reached for his toothbrush.

"Ok!" came her reply and he silently thanked the gods for giving him a child that actually listened to him. Making quick work of his teeth, he simply shook his head and watched the locks fall in whatever position they felt like. I'll never win over my hair, he thought as he stepped over the threshold and walked towards the living room.

Violet stood right in the middle of the room, her long purple nightgown replaced with a blue and purple plaid dress that hung loose over her shoulders.

"Don't you look pretty lil' princess?"

"Aunty Taylor bought it." She stated, turning around so he could pull the zipper up.

"Aunty Taylor is good at shopping pretty dresses isn't she?" Troy asked, grinning as he thought of the dress collection that filled her closet. Taylor had made it her mission to make sure 'her little angel' didn't turn into a lunk-headed basketball girl, the moment Troy had announced he was getting a daughter.

"Yeah, and pretty shoes too!" Violet beamed.

"Where are your shoes Peanut? You can't go to school barefoot now can you?" he asked and squeezed her bare foot in his hand.

"I'll find them!" she exclaimed as she turned around and ran out of the room.

"Careful on the stairs!"

"Yes Daddy!"

---hsm---

Feeling the suns warm beams on her face, Gabriella bolted up in bed, heart beating rapidly in her chest. What time was it? Her hand flew to the nightstand, knocking over a glass of water before her fingers wrapped around her phone.

"Fuck!" she exclaimed as the blue glass shattered against the wooden floor. The last thing she needed on her first day was a cut from broken glass. Averting her eyes from the mess on the floor, she slid her phone open and glanced at the clock.

6.45am

Letting out a breath she didn't know she had been holding; she fell back amongst her pillows. She wasn't late after all. It was exactly one and a half hours till she was expected at school, and with extreme effort she carefully kicked off her thin duvet.

She needed a shower.

And a towel to soak up the water on the floor.

But most of all she needed something to calm her nerves.

---hsm---

Wrapping a big fluffy towel around herself; Gabriella stepped out of the bathroom and into her bedroom. The outfit she had picked for the day hung neatly on hangers at the back of her door, the only thing remaining was to put it on. That. And sorting hair out.

As she reached for fresh underwear, she let the towel pool at her feet, shivering slightly as the cool air hit her bare body. Wet tendrils clung to her back and she quickly grabbed the towel from the floor and wrapped it around her hair, squeezing out as much water as possible.

With her hair secured, she slipped on a pair of white panties with a matching bra before walking towards her dresser where her blow-drier and makeup waited for her.

---hsm---

At exactly 7.30 she walked out of the apartment complex dressed in a black high-waisted skirt with a white shirt neatly tucked into it. A pair of black high-heeled sandals adorned her feet, and her long dark curls had been pulled into loose ponytail over her left shoulder. If anything, she wanted to look smart, but not overly dressed for her very first day at Santa Monica Montessori.

---HSM---

AN: There you have it! Hope you liked it :) and i'd be very happy to hear what you think, whether it be praise or critisism :)

Caroline