A/N: This focuses mainly on Chad's character and a bit of angry Troyella and then a bit of Gabriella's personality.

Disclaimer:

I don't own:

HSM

This is me - Demi Lavato (That may be spelt wrong)

I do own:

Storyline


Chapter 2 – Lying

Gabriella joined the lunch queue, after being told by Ryan what everyone was waiting for, and was stood behind a tall boy with big and bushy hair. She giggled to herself at the thought of having hair like that. No one had hair like that at home. She jumped when he turned around.

He smiled at her. "Hey. You're the new girl, right?"

"Like I said to Troy Bolton in homeroom, I prefer Gabriella." She smiled back.

"I'm Chad." He held his hand out and she stared at it. "You're supposed to shake it."

"Why?" Gabriella asked in confusion.

"Never mind. So, I'm guessing you're not enjoying your first day?"

"How'd you guess?" Gabriella mumbled as she took a tray from the pile.

"Well, let's see, Troy nearly trips you up while making out with Sharpay, you get pelted with dodgeballs in gym and Sharpay has already started a joke that you're from Pluto!" Chad exclaimed, taking a plate of fries.

Gabriella giggled nervously and copied. "Well, it's not great. But, luckily, I'm going away as soon as possible."

"Why?" He asked.

"We're not even supposed to be here. It was an accident. And Troy and Sharpay aren't making it any better." She muttered. "I've met a lot of people in my life and they're the worst."

"I could've told you that."

"Aren't you his best friend?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Well, people know me as his best friend but I just need my place on the basketball squad and my life." He nodded his head as picked up and apple.

Once again, Gabriella copied, not really knowing what she was doing. "So you're friends with him for basketball?" She said slowly.

"It's the only thing I'm good at. I'm not smart, I can't sing, Ms Darbus hates me… And I'm only going to get into college on a basketball scholarship."

Gabriella giggled as Chad paid for his lunch. "Well, I think you were the only one who listened in Physics when I corrected the teacher about the moon."

"How did you know that anyway?" Chad asked, standing with his lunch as Gabriella paid for her lunch.

"It's part of the territory. It's my parents. They love space and have forced me to watch the stars too many times." Gabriella laughed as she put her wallet in her jeans pocket and carried her tray to Chad.

"That must be really cool."

"It's alright I guess. But, the stars are amazing. You know that each star is a sun in different galaxies millions of light years away." Gabriella said in amazement.

"Really?" Chad asked.

Gabriella nodded. "They're really not all that small. And because of the distance between the Earth and the stars, you're actually looking into the past. So, the light you see is actually light being shined about a hundred years ago. And the light from the sun you see is actually six minutes old."

Chad chuckled. "You really know your stuff."

"Yeah. I guess. I'm already known as the freaky genius girl." She muttered, sighing.

"Well, as I'm failing every part of science, and I need to get at least a C to stay on the basketball team and to keep myself un-grounded, could you tutor me?" Chad asked desperately.

"Yeah. That would be cool. I thought you were like Troy Bolton but I'm glad you proved me wrong." She smiled up at him.

He sighed. "If only Taylor saw that."

Gabriella smirked. "You like Taylor?"

Chad nodded. "Since kindergarten. And that's another reason to improve my grades. She's always seen me as a dumb jock."

"Well, that will change. I promise." Gabriella nodded her head for emphasis.

Chad smiled. "Thank you so much. When can we start?"

"Free period?"

"Basketball practice. What about after school?" Chad asked.

"Fine but can it be at your house? We're still sorting ours out." Gabriella explained.

Chad laughed. "Sounds good. Do you need a ride?"

Gabriella nodded. "Yeah. I do."

Troy approached them and clapped Chad on the shoulder. "Hey, dude. What are you doing talking to this loser?"

Gabriella laughed sarcastically. "Do I look like a mirror?" She could see Chad attempting to stifle a laugh.

Troy turned to him and glared. "Dude, that's not funny."

Chad nodded, his smile dropping. "I'm just going to go over there." He quickly walked past Troy towards the jock lunch table.

Gabriella laughed to herself and turned around, looking for Taylor, Ryan, Martha and Kelsi in the cafeteria. Despite having to listen to Troy's voice, that was pretty funny. And she made another friend. And he found space interesting…even if he was failing Science.

"Hey Montez!" A voice called.

Gabriella rolled her eyes. She had been at East High for half a day and that voice was all too familiar. "Yes, Bolton?" She asked, not turning to face him.

He stepped in front of her. "What were you talking to Chad about?"

"The stars." She replied.

"Why?" He asked impatiently.

Gabriella shrugged. "No reason."

"Well, don't talk to my best friend." He demanded.

"He talked to me first!" She said indignantly.

"Well, don't talk to him again." He ordered.

"He's his own person. He doesn't have to do what you say!" She said defensively.

"I'm not telling him to do something, I'm telling you to!" He said, anger visibly boiling inside of him.

"Well, I may be new here but I'm not doing anything you say to me." Gabriella sighed before pushing past him, heading for a table.

Troy grabbed her arm and she turned her arm. "What is your problem?"

"Where do you want me to start? I moved to this god-for-saken place where I'm not supposed to be, I want to go home a see my friends and I've met you. My life is hard enough without you stick your self-centred nose in!" Gabriella yelled, tears in her eyes. "You know what? Here," She handed him her lunch tray, "have a lunch for free. I'm not hungry anymore." She turned around and slowly made her way out of the cafeteria.

She stepped into the hallway and wiped her eyes. She walked towards the music room and locked the door. She sat down on the piano stool and looked around at all of the instruments. These were so retro! "Mom would love this." She whispered. She reached into her jeans pocket and took out a small oblong and pressed a button. She waited a few seconds before a hologram popped up of her mother.

"Honey, why are you using the whiz tek?" Salina asked.

"Don't worry, Mom, no one's around. I called because I want to go home." Gabriella cried.

"Well, it's nearly the end of the day." Salina said.

No!" Gabriella snapped. "I mean Venus! Where my home is and my friends are and where I don't have to hide who I am!"

Salina sighed and Gabriella saw the hologram sit down on a chair. "I know, honey. Well, your father and I will pick you up later."

"Oh, I won't need picking up. I'm going to a guy's house to help him study science. Is that okay?" She asked.

Salina nodded. (A/N: Remember, it's like a webcam so they can see each other) "That's fine sweetie. He doesn't know, does he?"

Gabriella shook her head. "Of course not. But, I have made a few friends."

"Oh sweetie, that's great." Salina grinned.

Gabriella laughed. "I know."

"Do we get to meet them?" Salina asked.

"Yeah. When you learn how to act like Earthlings." Gabriella laughed. "Well, I'm going to go now. I'll see you later."

"Good bye, Sweetie." Salina said.

Gabriella pressed a button and the hologram disappeared. She slipped it into her pocket again and sighed. She looked around at all of the instruments. They had music on Venus but no played pianos or drums anymore. However, she was slightly old fashioned and played the guitar. She picked the nearest one up and got comfortable. She started singing a song she wrote on her first day of high school on Venus and was name the freaky genius girl there. She figured that this was a good time to sing it again.

This is real, this is me
I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be, now
Gonna let the light, shine on me
Now I've found, who I am
There's no way to hold it in
No more hiding who I want to be
This is me

She stopped playing and thought about it. She was happy with who she was. She just hated the fact that she had to be someone else while she was here. Chad seemed like he could keep a secret. Well, no one knew he practically hated Troy Bolton, right? And Taylor seemed cool.

Gabriella put the guitar back and stood up, leaving the music room, walking towards math. Hopefully she wouldn't have to lie much longer.