Hello! I felt bad that the first chapter was a bit short. So here's the next chapter :)

Disclaimer: The High School Musical franchise and the characters included in this story are not mine, except for characters that you do not recognize from the movies.

Enjoy! :)

Chapter Two – Strawberry-flavored shampoo

Oh, hello, dreadful Monday, and goodbye sweet, sweet, bed, I will see you tonight. If what Taylor said was true, then the only other people who knew about her and Danforth's relationship are me and Bolton. Period. I don't need to over think it. The royalties of East High will not send death threats to my best friend. The peasants of East High will not distrust and disown us in their clan. And the teachers will not give us detention for failing the system. Okay, breathe, Gabriella. It was just a dream.

I said a cheery goodbye to my mom and told her to have a great day, before closing her car door and walking to the front doors of East High. Second week back from summer vacation and the school's still buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming school year. The cheerleaders were by the grass area, doing their usual activity, cheering for the Wildcats. Some guys and girls with glasses and braces were by the steps next to the statue of the school founder. Skateboarders had their beanies on even though the weather was still warm and humid. The students, who did not consider they to be part of any cliques, sang the school's cheer song alongside the cheerleaders.

As students of East High did their typical back-to-school-from-the-weekend, I did mine, which was to go to my locker and wait for my friends. I opened my locker when I reached it, and a folded paper found its way on the floor before I can catch it. Unfolding the paper, it read, "Montez, need to talk to you. –Bolton"

Huh, he did know my name and my locker number, apparently. Unfortunately for me, I don't know his locker number so I have no idea how to contact him. I can talk to him. No, too risky. I can't be seen with that lunkhead and he can't be seen with geeky Gabriella. Oh well, we'll figure it out later. I stuffed the piece of paper in my pants pocket before anyone can see the note and as I did, Sharpay Evans, one of my best friends, walked towards me.

"Hey, Gabriella. How was your weekend?" she greeted.

"Sharpay, we talked on Saturday and nothing much happened on Sunday. It was just me being me stuck in my room all day. Tell me yours, I'm sure you've had a pretty interesting weekend," I said.

"Actually, I didn't do anything exciting. Mom and dad are on a 'business trip' to Paris. On which I call bullshit because if I didn't know any better, I'd believe them, but I did, so I don't believe them."

"I'm not even going to ask what you think they're actually doing there," I said with a scrunched up nose.

Tipping her head back, she giggled and said, "They are on a 'romantic escapade', Gabs. I wonder where Ry is." On 'romantic escapade', she motioned with her index and middle fingers to make the air quotation gesture.

As if on cue, Ryan Evans, with Kelsi Nielson on his side, headed towards us. They had smiles on their faces and I can Kelsi giggling about something Ryan said to her. Our group of friends believed that Ryan and Kelsi was a couple, they just would not admit it. And they were perfect at being a couple. They would always sit next to each other, whether in the classroom or in the cafeteria. They would hold hands, and they probably didn't know that. At the end of the day, they would always wander off without us. Also, they had a lot in common, such as, music and theatre work for Ms Darbus. While Kelsi composed, Ryan sang. They were a perfect couple, they complimented each other well.

Just as the two were a meter from us, Taylor appeared next to me with a big smile across her gorgeous face, making her eyes twinkle with excitement.

"Woah, someone woke up with glitter on their face," Sharpay declared.

I laughed, and greeted Taylor with a hug. The bell rang, marking the time for homeroom. Taylor, Sharpay and I scuttled to our classroom before Ms Darbus could give us detention. We made our way in just before the second bell.

My day at school ended with me not talking with Troy Bolton. Sure, we were in a few classes together but with him being on the other side of the room with his friends. During lunch I hung with my friends and he sat with his basketball teammates. After school, he had basketball practice until 4:30 and I couldn't wait for him because of my job. We were just too busy and too many people were around so we couldn't actually talk without spiking up some silly gossip.

So here I was, behind the counter of a music store, wondering how I could possibly talk to Bolton. I took out my Biology book instead. Not far into the page, I heard someone clear their throat in front of me. I look up from my book, ready to address my customer, only to find the one and only Troy Bolton. He was in a gray shirt, with water (or sweat) on the neckline, and was still in his East High basketball uniform. His hair was unkempt and wet from a shower; I knew this because I smelt the strawberry flavored shampoo. Why Troy Bolton, hottest guy around, basketball star player, had strawberry-flavored shampoo, I did not know.

I raised a brow, waiting for him to speak. When he did not speak, I kind of got the idea that he was waiting for me to say something. I didn't know what to say to Mr Star Player, so I said what I say to my customers, "How may I help you?"

He laughed. What was so funny? He must have seen my expression and stopped. He ruffled his hair and replied, "I didn't know you worked here, Montez?"

"Uh, now, you do?" it was supposed to be a comeback, but I guess I didn't have it in me.

He laughed again. Seriously, what was so funny? Before he could reply, I said, "Glad I amuse you so much, Bolton. Now, what do you want?"

I did have it in me!

"Aren't you supposed to address your customers with respect, Montez? Actually, I'm here to pick up some orders, a Dunlop black and deep blue picks," he said.

I closed my books and bent down to the counter shelf to look for the package. It was covered in brown paper and on top it had a sticker that had Bolton's name and his order. Mr Brien, an old man who owns the music store, must have forgotten to inform me about Bolton's order. Lately he had a lot in mind. I place the package on the counter in front of Bolton. He handed me two ten dollar notes as I type in the amount on the register. Woah, who pays ten bucks for a guitar pick?

Bolton took his receipt from the register and was about to walk off when I asked, "Hey, what did you want to talk about with me?"

"I almost forgot about that," he replied. I looked at him expectantly, so he added, "I wanted to ask if you can tutor me for Physics."

I must have inhaled too much of his strawberry-flavored shampoo because I wasn't sure if I heard him correctly. Troy Bolton, Mr Star Player, East High's Most Valuable Basketball Player, the King, wanted my help for school?

That was not what I was expecting.

A/N: Hello, hope you had a happy reading! Please review, it's deeply appreciated!

Hope all is well,

sjustine98