Chapter 3

After yet another week of intense classes and a few more frustrating meetings with her best friend and the Greek Row player of the year, Gabriella was relieved it was Friday morning, the start of her regular three-day weekends thanks to being ahead of her credits, even being a year ahead of what she was supposed to be at. The Kappa Phi Sigma house was quiet on these mornings as most of the sisters were at classes or dead asleep, most likely hung over or just sleeping in. Not Gabriella though. No, Gabriella was more into making the most of her day, every day, especially when there was peace and quiet.

"Morning Sallie," greeted Gabriella with a smile on her face as she walked into the dining room.

The older woman smiled back at Gabriella. "Your usual breakfast?" asked the house cook who always had a soft spot for the brunette who had just placed her treasured notebook down on the dining room table. "Or can I get you to eat some delicious fresh waffles with crispy bacon? Promise it won't put even a centimeter of fat on your body."

Gabriella laughed at this. "As sweet as that was, you forget who you are talking to. I don't count all those calories and thank you Sallie, that sounds like a lovely breakfast for such a beautiful morning."

There was a snort of laughter from behind Gabriella who knew exactly who it was before Nicole even spoke. "And we can all tell you don't count those calories. Honestly Gabriella, as smart as you are, don't you know that guys aren't attracted to flabby girls who have brains? That's like a double whammy right there. Sarah, low-fat yogurt and pineapple slices please. Don't get the pineapple juice into the yogurt though, okay?"

Sallie just shot Gabriella a look before doing as Nicole asked while Gabriella herself rolled her eyes. "You do know that her name is Sallie right? She's only been serving you food since you started living here freshman year. And as for my looks, what concern is it of yours? If no stupid frat guy is interested in me, that only means more idiots to drool over you now doesn't it?"

"Oh, I could care less, trust me. Besides, it's not like you have any guys lining up to date you anyway. I only take the time to remark because you're a sister and you represent this chapter and sorority. You should take pride in how you look Gabriella, honestly," said Nicole, eyeing Gabriella up and down a few times, scrunching her nose up in disgust as she realized Gabriella was wearing a pair of old looking black sweat pants and a plain green tank top. "How can you honestly wear that outside your room if even then?"

"Perhaps because I'm not on a continuous man or boy hunt like you. I don't need guys lined up outside my bedroom door to feel validated, to feel like a woman, to feel good about myself and I pity the fact that you do," returned Gabriella, ignoring the quiet laughter she heard from behind Nicole, spying her two closest friends in the sorority, Taylor and Sharpay, observing the verbal sparring. "Excuse me, I think my fatty yet delicious food is ready."

Gabriella spun on her feet and walked into the kitchen, smiling at Sallie who had just put the yogurt and pineapple on the counter between the kitchen and dining room for Nicole to get. There was an over exaggerated huff that came from the light brown haired senior before Nicole simply left the dining room all together, allowing Taylor and Sharpay to come in unharmed.

"Quite the fight you gave Gab, gotta say I'm proud. Guess hanging out with me really has done wonders for your spirit after all," teased Sharpay, winking at her best friend who was putting the waffle on a plate herself in the kitchen. "Speaking of yummy food, Sallie can I have one of those too but with whipped cream and strawberries?"

Sallie just nodded her head, briefly laying an affectionate hand on Gabriella's shoulder as Gabriella thanked the cook for what looked to be another great breakfast. Taylor helped herself to some Raisin Bran and milk in a bowl before she sat down across from Gabriella, smiling as Gabriella started writing in her notebook. "Writing some angry poem about the stupidity and superficialness that is our chapter's president?" asked Taylor, knowing by the color of the cover that it was Gabriella's poetry book.

"Nah, why waste my time? How was class this morning?" asked Gabriella, putting her pen aside as she took a bit of the crispy bacon strips on her plate.

"As good as it can be with more than two-thirds of the class hung over from last night's party at Epsilon Nu. I just wish there was a rule where if you were drunk or hung over you couldn't go to class. Either they were snoring in class today or making really sophomoric comments. About drove me nuts," complained Taylor, sighing as she thought of her morning class that seemed like a waste of an hour of her time because the professor had to deal with the antics of her fellow students for most of the two hour long class.

"And that, my dear sisters and best friends, is why I go buzzed," stated Sharpay with a smile, sitting down with her own waffles next to Taylor. "Although going buzzed this morning to design class probably wasn't the smartest idea since we were cutting fabrics today and, well, some of my cutting wasn't so straight."

Taylor and Gabriella both shared a look before laughing together, joined shortly by Sharpay. "So Gab, how has this Advanced Entrepreneurship project been coming along this past week? Bolton still being an ass?"

"That's putting it lightly," murmured Gabriella, sipping some of her tea before taking another bite of her waffle. "Not only was he late to our first meeting, he had the audacity to suggest we write about starting our own call service or strip club. I swear he's just trying to use this class as a way to write a solid business plan for his own whorish reasons, ie his own dream business after graduation. Suits him actually."

Sharpay smirked, knowing how very much Troy was getting under Gabriella's skin, knowing Troy well enough to know that he was increasing it as his enjoyment increased, finding sick pleasure in pissing off Gabriella. "You do know that you are just feeding into what he wants from you right?"

Gabriella gave her friend an incredulous look. "Umm, hello, I am so not sleeping with that guy, ever!"

"Not that silly," replied Sharpay, rolling her eyes. "I was talking about this verbal sparring, hostile environment you two have going between you. Guys like Troy thrive off that stuff, especially if he finds you more attractive all fired up."

"All right, now I know for a fact you're pulling my leg! Troy doesn't find me the least bit attractive," stated Gabriella. "I'm not his type."

"Over easy!" called out Sallie, making all three girls laugh at the incredible timing as Sallie handed one of their sisters her plate of eggs.

"Now that, that was classic," got out Taylor, trying to catch her breath as they continued to laugh. "Seems like you can't get away from him Gabriella. From this project, to being in your sports class with Zeke again, to being at Greek Row events like the BBQ that we're hosting with Zeta Theta Mu this evening. You coming?"

Gabriella sighed, not really wanting to but knowing she had to go or be chastised again by the VP of Sisterhood for not being one with the sorority. 'You would think I'd get used to them after all this time of abstaining from the parties but I think in some ways the rest of the sisters have gotten used to my usual absence from things if they weren't academic or philanthropic related.'

"She's thinking about it, that's a good sign," observed Sharpay, watching as Gabriella debated internally. "Come on Gabriella! Think of it as a challenge. Speaking of, I do have an idea and real challenge for you."

Taylor saw that mischievous glint in Sharpay's light brown eyes and shook her head. "Be afraid Gabriella, be very afraid. This can't be good."

"No, it isn't good," admitted Sharpay. "It's fucking fabulous!"

Gabriella let a groan escape as she sank lower into her chair. "What is it Shar?"

"Since you think you are so unattractive or at least that invisible to Troy and the rest of his frat brothers, I think we should test your theory with a little bit of an experiment, Sharpay Evans style. We can go shopping now and we'll have plenty of time to doll you up just right," exclaimed Sharpay, jumping in her seat with excitement. "This is going to be so great!"

"Whoa, hang on there Ms. Pink and Sparkly! I didn't say yes," protested Gabriella. "This totally would go against everything they think I am. I don't want any of those idiots thinking I've become yet another mindless sorority girl, ready to drool over every flex of their so called muscles."

"Hey!" protested Taylor and Sharpay both, both faking their own offense at her statement, knowing that Gabriella never included them in those type of statements.

"Present company excluded as always, plus some of the other sisters here that deem me worthy to be friends with. It's those others like our dear president who give us such a bad rep, exactly like what I just described," stated Gabriella, rolling her eyes as she heard Nicole's annoying giggle echo down the stairs.

Sharpay laughed at Gabriella's obvious annoyance. "Well, there's even a better reason then, to dress you up and make you every fraternity guy's fantasy. Show them you've got not only brains and spirit but beauty, which they should already see by now, that morphs into pure sexiness at night. Come on Gabriella, please? You haven't allowed me to make you over since high school!"

"And there's a reason for that Sharpay," returned Gabriella, looking into those light brown eyes of Sharpay's that were currently pleading with her. "You had me looking like a complete idiot at your Halloween bash, dressed in that sparkly pink minidress that I still maintain was a tube top."

"Taylor, tell Gabriella she looked hot in it!" demanded Sharpay, huffing a little at the indirect insult. "Montez, I have fabulous fashion sense and you know it!"

"Sharpay, I think what Gabriella is getting at is that she appreciates your efforts but she just doesn't want to look like a darker skinned version of you who pulls off pink so well, right Gab?" interjected Taylor, receiving a grateful look from Gabriella.

"Yeah, that's all I meant Sharpay," confirmed Gabriella, knowing that was mostly the truth anyway.

Sharpay sat, thinking about Taylor's and Gabriella's words, chewing on another piece of her waffle with both a strawberry piece and whipped cream on it. When she was finished, the gleam was back in her light brown eyes as she gazed back at Gabriella. "What if I make a deal with you? No pink, no sparkles. Would you let me dress you up tonight?"

Gabriella almost choked on her own waffle, surprised that Sharpay redesigned her challenge to make it more appealing to Gabriella to agree to. "Does it mean this much to you Sharpay? Like honest to goodness?"

"Definitely. Call up Kelsi and ask her to come to the mall with us. She's coming to the barbeque anyway so she may as well help," added Sharpay, knowing one more person there to support Gabriella would go a long way in her cause.

After a few moments of studying Sharpay and seeing the encouraging look on Taylor's own face, Gabriella sighed, knowing that it was the least she could do for her best friends. "All right, I'm sold. Let me tell Kelsi and we'll head to the mall."

"YEAH!" exclaimed Sharpay, bouncing on her chair and clapping her hands before shoveling the rest of her waffle into her mouth, overly happy about the afternoon and evening ahead.


Later that day, well closer to evening, Troy, Chad, Jason, and Zeke were helping the rest of the Zeta Theta Mu brothers in setting up for the barbeque that would be starting within the next hour. Some of the Kappa Phi Sigma sisters that were on the social committee and the chair of the committee were also helping out but most of the guys hadn't seen majority of the sisters who were presently getting ready.

"So Troy, you hooking up with Nicole again?" asked Jason, making conversation as they hung up some more lantern lights from the trees in the backyard of the house. "Thought you were going to keep your distance for a while."

"Yeah man, what's up with that?" questioned Chad, pausing from tying the string of the lantern in his hands to look at his childhood best friend, puzzlement in his eyes. "Since when are you a one chick guy?"

Troy smirked, shaking his head. "Who says I'm tying myself to Nicole? She's just the flavor of the moment mixed in with many other flavors. I may be getting some from her more often than I intended but I've got at least two other sorority girls, a pianist, and a fashion designer in my pocket. Please, like I'd let go of my freedom like that for some chick."

"All right man! That's what I'm talking about!" exclaimed Chad, pumping fists with Troy before finishing the lantern he was hanging. "So who's the lucky girl tonight? Or should I say girls?"

As the ladder Jason was on wobbled a little, Troy put his concentration on holding the ladder steady before he replied, "Besides those five? There's one I'm eyeing but she's a real challenge."

"Your favorite type," added Jason, chuckling as he thought of the poor female that didn't stand a chance against the Bolton charm.

Zeke eyed Troy as his buddy began to wear a more thoughtful expression on his face. "A challenge you say?" prompted Zeke, having a sinking suspicion who Troy was talking about based on the fiery exchanges that had been going on during their two classes and group meetings with Gabriella.

Troy glanced over and saw the narrowed eyes his good friend trained on him at that moment. He shrugged his shoulders, giving Zeke a lazy smile. "She is a challenge, a real spitfire, but I'm trying to figure out if she's taken or not."

"Like that's stopped you before," called down Chad with a laugh.

"Hey, I was fourteen and didn't know she was dating the high school quarterback!" exclaimed Troy, wincing as if he could still feel the many bruises the older boy had given him the next day when Troy was alone at the local park.

"True," agreed Jason, stepping down the ladder, satisfied with his job with the lanterns given to him to hang. "Well I'm done. How much longer Curly?"

"Done!" shouted down Chad before he too climbed down the ladder that Zeke was still holding, his attention still being used to study Troy. "Thanks Zeke."

Zeke turned his head and gave Chad a smile. "Sure man. I guess we better get going, don't want the girls to see you looking like a slob and all right?"

Chad gave him his best indignant look. "Dude, this is what I'm wearing!" he returned, referencing the dirty shorts, ratty t-shirt, and barely held together shoes on his feet.

"Well, I guess you have no intention of getting with Taylor as she will never come near you with that get up. Guess I'll just have a nice clean shot at her tonight," taunted Jason, laughing as Chad narrowed his eyes at the mention.

"Don't ever fuck with my girl like that, hear me?" threw back Chad, hating the mere thought of Jason touching Taylor, even if she wasn't technically Chad's girlfriend at the moment.

"Hey, easy there," steadied Zeke, distracted by this new argument of sorts enough to leave the suspicion of Troy's real interest behind. "Chad, you know at least as far as the four of us go that none of us would go after the other's girl he was interested in, even an ex, without permission. It's our silent agreement since freshman year at East High."

Jason slowed down his laughter and eventually sobered enough to nod his agreement. "I may be harassing you but I'd never do it Curly."

Chad just nodded his head, showing he understood.

"Good, then let's get ready," said Zeke, relieved that the tension that flared up so quickly died just as fast. He followed Chad and Jason into the house unaware that Troy lingered outside for a few moments longer, watching Zeke with a thoughtful expression his face, wondering what Gabriella and Zeke really had together and whether it could be tampered with if only for a short while.

Within thirty minutes after Troy followed his friends back into the house, Troy was dressed in khaki cargo shorts with a deep blue, green, and red plaid shirt over his white t-shirt, a smirk on his face as he took one last look at himself in the mirror. He checked the drawer in his nightstand to ensure he had plenty of stock of the foil wrapped items he would be needing for sure later that night, closing it when Troy counted at least a dozen. Satisfied he was well dressed and prepared for the night, Troy left his single room on the second floor and walked down the stairs, hearing the music blasting from outside. He grabbed a beer from the cooler and twisted the cap off, sipping it just to wet his taste buds before Troy continued outside to mingle with the fraternity brothers and sorority girls already gathered.

The next week marked the start of a several week process each Greek organization had to build their new members, known within Greek Row as pledges, to be ready for initiation into each fraternity and sorority. The bids and acceptances had already happened in the past week as well, also adding to the craziness of Troy's week, which also meant that fresh meat was around. Troy smirked as he spied one of Zeta Theta Mu's newest pledges already starting his game with a new Kappa Phi Sigma pledge, making a mental note to congratulate the guy later if he ended up successful.

Looking away from the pair, Troy scanned the crowd, smiling in Nicole's direction as she caught his gaze, giving him an over energetic wave of her hand. 'Sorry Nicole, not tonight. You're getting a bit too clingy as I predicted,' he thought to himself as he continued to survey the crowd, his eyes doubling back as spied what he thought was his favorite fiery, passionate toy of the moment.

Troy licked his now dry lips as he watched Gabriella enter the backyard through the side yard gate, walking with Taylor, Sharpay, and some short, brown haired girl Troy had never seen before. His cobalt orbs refocused on Gabriella, feeling every molecule of his body tighten in excitement as Troy's gaze observed every bit of Gabriella, especially the way her black empire waist dress with different shades of blue flowers printed on it hugged her body just right, allowing the v-neckline to show Troy a great deal more of her cleavage than Gabriella would normally wear. Even the way Gabriella's hair was swept up in a half do with her hair left wavy and a bit tousled caught Troy's breath which seemed to hitch even more as his eyes followed the curves of her exposed legs.

Before he knew it, Troy was striding towards the four girls, responding to casual hellos that were thrown his way until he was finally where he wanted to be, standing in front of Gabriella. "You came," he greeted, looking directly into Gabriella's brown eyes that seemed to darken with his presence.

"I did. How very observant of you," returned Gabriella, careful not to roll her eyes at Troy's statement.

"Well, if you just gave me a few minutes of your time, I could share what else I observed about you," suggested Troy, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

"So the rumors are true? You really do finish quite fast, nearly a world record it would seem by your own omission just now," replied Gabriella, smiling innocently at Troy.

Troy felt his grip on his beer bottle tighten as his eyes narrowed on her. "Well, at least now I know you listen to the gossip about me but sadly, you are quite mistaken. I'd be happy to prove to you how very long I can make it, leaving you wanting me even after all that time inside you."

Gabriella's palm was itching to slap that smirk off his face but she held it back, placing her left hand over her right as a way to physically restrain herself as well. "Like I said about a week ago, Troy, I don't do your species. Not going to happen."

"You sure? Dolled up the way you are, it seems like you are asking for it," murmured Troy as he leaned forward, knowing he was chancing that Gabriella's self control would hold to allow him to say this into her ear. "I'd be open to it if you are."

This time Gabriella allowed her instincts to take over and used both hands to push Troy forcefully away from her, a look of disgust on her face. "Not even worth a second of my mind to entertain Troy. Why don't you go find someone who actually finds your boorish behavior tolerable and, dare I say it, sexy, and play your little games with them. I'm not interested in being another notch in your belt and before you say it, no, I don't even think you're sexy."

Instead of seeing anger on Troy's face as she expected, Gabriella was surprised as she saw a gleam of determination enter Troy's now dark blue eyes. "We'll see about that angel, we'll see about that."

With that, Troy turned around and disappeared from Gabriella's view through the crowds of people now in the fraternity's backyard, allowing Gabriella to let go of a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding. She nearly jumped out of her skin though when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. "Zeke! Don't do that!" exclaimed Gabriella, placing a hand over her speeding heart.

Zeke held up his hands in surrender. "Sorry, I was just checking to see if you were all right. Another fireworks episode with Troy huh?"

"I just wish he'd get over himself and grow up," returned Gabriella, shaking her head to rid herself of the memory of their most recent exchange. "It's not like he's God's gift to the female world."

"Unfortunately, too many of the girls on this campus would disagree with you," stated Kelsi, reminding Gabriella that she, Taylor and Sharpay were still around and had witnessed the entire episode. "Zeke is right, that is quite a fireworks display when you two get together."

"It's strangely, and don't hate me Gab, erotic watching you two," said Sharpay, almost in awe at what she had just seen between the two people she never would have expected it from together. "Gabriella Montez, you never told me that you had such chemistry with Bolton!"

"Because I don't! He's just an ass, plain and simple!" protested Gabriella, furiously shaking her head. "There are no sparks, no chemistry, nothing! There can't be! He's like, totally my opposite in every way!"

Taylor could only give Gabriella a small smile then, knowing that her next words would send Gabriella over the edge but they needed to be said as it was the truth. "But the saying is true though Gabriella. Opposites attract and you know this even from science class of the most basic type."

"Taylor is right Gabriella," added Kelsi, giving Gabriella an apologetic look. "Even I felt the waves of chemistry and tension roll off you two."

Zeke saw the uncertainty slowly appear in Gabriella's eyes before they were quickly blinked away, replaced with a steely determination. "Well despite what you all think, I am telling you now that Troy and I will never be what you think we seem to be capable of. I detest him just as much as he detests me. Come on Zeke, let's get a drink," she replied, grabbing Zeke's hand and dragging him away, needing to be away from the words of her friends before she really started thinking of the small ounces of truth in them.

From across the yard, a pair of cobalt eyes watched Gabriella lead Zeke into the fraternity house and felt a wave of jealousy drench his entire body seeing their hands intertwined together. Troy felt stupidly relieved though when Gabriella and Zeke both came back out of the house moments later, red cups in both of their hands, only to feel that green eyed monster again as Zeke whispered something in Gabriella's ear that made her face light up as she giggled. After watching for a few more moments and not seeming to be able to get rid of the feeling, Troy forced his gaze away and instead searched the crowd of people for someone to occupy Troy's traitorous thoughts and feelings, needing a distraction from the one girl dressed so sexily that night who threatened to make Troy question who he was.