Chapter 1-

The room was crowded when Troy entered. The music was loud and the lights were dim. Sweaty dancers were smashed together on the dance floor swaying to an upbeat tune.

He turned to his right and quickly made his way to one of the many more private alcoves. He was meeting with well-known director, James Fairway, and several of his associates. Many other actors would be there as well.

The mid-sized table was already half full. Tina Carter, Lydia Watson, and Jeremy Andrews, all well on their way to becoming full-fledged stars, were already seated.

Tina sent him a flirty smile, which he ignored.

He sat down next to Jeremy.

Jeremy grinned. "About time you got here."

Troy smiled. "Is James here yet?"

Lydia shook her head. "Of course not, he's always fashionable late."

Tina giggled her high-pitched laugh and Jeremy rolled his eyes.

"Sorry, to keep you waiting," a smooth voice said from behind them. "Gabriella insisted on being fashionably late."

Troy turned and nearly dropped his drink when he saw her. She had changed since high school. She no longer held the girlish beauty and innocence that had once attracted him. In its place was a fragile beauty. A beauty that looked like it could be broken at any moment. She had lost weight and her hair was shorter, but the thing he noticed the most was her face. It held a tense, anxious look that may not have been visible to someone who had not known her before.

She was dressed simply in a maroon dress that complimented her dark hair and tan skin.

"Ahh, Troy, it's great to finally meet you," James said while he shook Troy's hand.

"You too, James," Troy replied.

James wrapped an arm around Gabriella and pulled her forward. "And this is Gabriella."

Troy smiled. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Gabriella."

She nodded and he saw her quick glance at James.

"You've met?" James asked with confusion.

Troy kept his smile in place and nodded. "We went to high school together."

Behind them Jeremy laughed. "Well, if that isn't a coincidence I don't know what is."

James's charming smile fell back into place. "I have to agree there, Jeremy." He motioned to the table. "Let's all sit down."

Troy followed his lead and found himself across from Gabriella. He tried to catch her eye, but she kept her gaze focused on James or the table.

Finally he gave up and began listening to James's proposal.

"The movie is a drama about a group of soldiers that were in Iraq," James was saying. "It pretty much revolves around loyalty and sacrifice and all that stuff that audiences love."

"What are the leads?" Jeremy asked curiously.

James smiled. "The lead is Luc Williams a thirty-something commander. Determined. Courageous, etc."

"Why are you telling us?" Troy asked as he leaned back in his seat. "Why not sell it to some big studio?"

James smiled cunningly. "Actually, the studios won't back it unless I get some big names involved with the project."

"So, you need us to promise ourselves to the movie," Lydia mused.

James nodded. "Exactly."

"I'm not going to jump on aboard until after I've read a script," Jeremy warned.

James glanced at Gabriella. She reached down and pulled a stack of papers from her purse. She obediently handed them to James. "I expected that, so I brought copies of it with me," he handed them out. "Take them with you and read them over," he said. "We can meet again and discuss it."

………………………..

She heard the door slam and flinched at the noise. She wished Troy wouldn't have brought up high school.

Her bedroom door opened and her back stiffened.

"Why didn't you tell me you were related to Troy Bolton?" James demanded.

She swallowed hard. "I didn't think it mattered."

The door closed and her heart began a wild beat.

"Were you close in high school?" James asked jealously.

She closed her eyes.

"You were," he said. He strode over and yanked her up from her vanity table.

She bit down hard on her lip. No matter how many times it happened she was never prepared for this. "It was a long time ago," she whispered breathlessly.

"Obviously he doesn't think so," James sniped. "I saw the way he looked at you!"

His breath was hot against her cheek. She winced when his hand touched her cheek.

"You belong to me, Gabriella," he warned. "I bailed you out of all our troubles remember."

She nodded.

"He better not come between us," James warned. Then he flung her to the floor.

She threw her arms out, but couldn't stop the fall.

"You know what I can do," he said. "I don't want to hurt you, but you bring it upon yourself." Then he turned and left the room.

Gabriella shivered and backed up against the bed. He was probably right.

Thanks so much to all the people who reviewed the prologue!! I really appreciated it. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter as much (or more!). Please Review:)