N/A: Hey guys. So, I have no idea what you may have been wanting or expecting out of this chapter (since not many of you reviewed) so I took a guess and went with my instinct with this one. I'm going on holiday in 2 days for two weeks so won't be able to post anything until after that. It's finally summer! YAY! If you guys are extra nice and leave a review if you liked this, then that may give me the incentive to write you a chapter while I'm away and then I'll post it when I get back? And I may include aspects you want me to into the next chapter if you're extra EXTRA nice ;)

LOL. Anyway, I'm signing off for now, but hope you like this one and it's Troyella action! (Oops, gave some stuff away!:L)

Keep me posted and review please! Thank you!

–LilMissEfronJackson, aka, India Rose x x x x x x

Disclaimer: I own nothing. No disney characters, locations. NADA.

FYI, I'm going to start writing down what day of the easter holiday -or vacation if your Amercian ;) - it is before each chapter, that way you'll be able to understand the changing time scale better. It moves around a bit, in case you hadn't noticed.

Easter (Spring) Break Job - Day 7

Awakening

Gabriella followed Troy and Emily down the corridor towards the restaurant area. She watched intently as the two laughed at something unapparent, and felt the unfamiliar pang of jealousy as she watched how Troy became a different person in Emily's presence. Before she could even consider the reason why, she felt herself envying how close the two obviously were.

She knew she was obviously going to have to speak up, as she was being lead to help Troy but she didn't know what with. Her nerves were churning.

What if he asked to do something that her disability meant she couldn't do?

What if she embarrassed herself in front of him?

The possibilities of failure were endless, and Gabriella, as a practiced pessimist, was nervous and mentally preparing for them all.

Just as her thoughts pulled her further away from reality, Troy turned and called to her. Instantly her stomach knotted with anxiety so tightly that she was sure she was having an attack. She quickly gripped her apron in her hands to try and wipe away the cold sweat that gathered in her palms. She must have, god forbid, let her emotions cast across her features, because Troy went from dismissing Emily who had temporarily walked away, to looking at Gabriella intently as they stood out of view at the back entrance to the restaurant. The was a small 'V' that formed on his brow as he frowned. "Gabriella. You okay?" He could see something was causing her distress, as he knew the signs very well through sport such as basketball. His frown only deepened as she turned away from him and took a deep breath.

"What was it you wanted?" she asked, her voice betraying the fact she wasn't really concentrating on the question or the answer he gave. He sighed.

"Do you speak Spanish, Gabriella?" He licked his lower lip cautiously as she turned to face him. Her face displayed confusion.

"Yes. I do." He sighed with relief.

"Great. There's something I really need your help with."

She turned to him, her voice slightly more confident this time. "And what is that?"

"There's a Spanish family over at table two who don't seem to speech much English. Could you help translate? Please?"

Gabriella felt slightly relieved that the favour he was asking was in fact nothing physical. Anything to do with her mind, she could do, and could do well. "Sure," she said. "I'll go now. Table two did you say?"

Troy smiled. "Table two," he confirmed.

Gabriella turned and walked toward table two, feeling Troy follow close behind. She felt heat rise to her cheeks knowing that he was so close behind her, and that all he would be able to see from where he was was her fat ass sticking out because of the way she walked...

Oh god, he could see her legs completely from where he was. She felt anxiety creep up again.

Oh lord, she thought to herself, please please say he's not freaked out by my walking like everyone else.

She didn't have any more time to worry about that though as she approved the table of beautiful looking Hispanics. They smiled as she approached, recognising the Latina blood in her straight away. She walked right up to them, forgetting her anxieties for a moment and focusing on the one thing she could always trust: her knowledge.

"Ah, Hola! Gusto en conocerte. Me llamo Gabriella y me va a ser servir tu día de hoy. ¿Puedo conseguir cualquier cosa por ti? Cualquier bebidas?" She smiled, asking him if he wanted to order any drinks.

He man smiled at her and she smiled back. He had happy eyes, much like he father had had.

"Voy a tomar una cerveza. Mi esposa tendrá un café con leche y vamos a tener dos Coca-Colas también," he said, and she quickly noted down his drinks order of a beer, two Cokes and a latte.

"Habeis decidido sobre las comidas todavía?" she asked politely if he had decided on main courses, and the man nodded, quickly ordering four meals for his family.

Gabriella noted them down hastily and then flashed her best smile at the kind man. "Bueno, está bien si eso es todo, entonces yo te dejo en paz. Déjame saber si hay algo que pueda hacer por usted." She let him know if they needed anything, all they had to do was ask.

The man thanked her for speaking to him in Spanish and for being so helpful, as did his wife, and Gabriella accepted their praise before turning away towards the kitchen. She did this just in time to catch a wink from Emily across the room.

She inwardly grinned at the accomplishment she felt within her, and would have almost believed she could be happy this way ––that is until she stepped outside and hit her major nemesis straight on.

"Oh, why hello.. Gabriella."

Gabriella turned to find a verysparkly, and very blonde Sharpay Evans in front of her. Gabriella easily caught how Sharpay deliberately paused before saying her name, as though to initiate even more the fact that Gabriella Montez had momentarily forgotten: she didn't belong here.

The blonde may appear air-headed and, well, blonde, but Gabriella was not as naïve as Sharpay would have her think. She knew that the rich heiress in front of her was nothing short of cunning, by the mere gleam of determination and stealth in her deep cocoa eyes.

Gabriella had known that the Evans' owned this country club, and many alike, but she had not, however, realised Sharpay would be at all in residence.

She cursed herself.

Sharpay most likely had eyes and ears everywhere around here, so of course she'd know if Gabriella The Spaz enrolled as an employee.

Gabriella smiled despite herself, but chose to stay silent. It was always the best bet with Sharpay Evans.

"I heard that you had signed up for a vacation job here, and well, to be quite honest, I didn't really believe it. I had to see it for myself. I mean, can you blame me?We're talking about you walking around in front of paying customers? I still can't believe Fulton chose to hire you. I mean, what was he on?" she laughed, though Gabriella could see no reason to. She looked at Gabriella innocently. "I really don't see what you have against me, Gabriella, because there's obviously something. First you spaz up my school hallways and English classes, and now you're spazzing up my country club, and drawing guests away while you're at it?"

Gabriella tried her best not to grimace at Sharpay's cutting tone and blunt language. Normally, Gabriella was good at making it appear as though comments such as these bounce right off, but lately she'd noticed that it hadn't been so easy. She decided right then and there to blame the one thing she could never be in control of: hormones.

"Are you listening to me?" Sharpay barked, though her tone had gone from demanding and arrogant to low and somewhat frightening, and Gabriella found it hard to look her in the face. "My family's pristine country club and it's customers do not want to be repulsed by your presence, Gabriella. Waitresses are supposed to be like me, and do you know what I mean by that?" Gabriella stayed silent. "By that I mean, pretty and perfect." She swished her hair over her shoulder. "But since I'm just too, well, fabulous to be working help, that is what people like Emily–whatever–her–name–is and, of course, Troy Bolton, are for."

Gabriella looked at her and murmured, "Can you just get to the point, Sharpay? I have work to do."

Sharpay wasn't looking at her, but was looking down at her perfectly manicured nail beds, evidently getting bored of the little game she had created. She looked up and jabbed her pointer finger into Gabriella chest, startling her. "My point is, Montez, since I can't fire you as we speak without consulting greater sources, I want you to keep your pathetic, disabled ass away from me and my people. Understand?"

Gabriella looked at her, dumbfounded, but nodded her head quickly, hopefully she'd leave. She sighed with relief when that was exactly what she did ––dramatically though of course. She stood there at the back entrance a few seconds longer, trying to sort the mumbled and confused thoughts and anxieties running riot in her brain. She suddenly had not orientation at all as she turned and saw none other than Troy Bolton heading out the door, and towards her.

How long had he been stood there?

"Gabriella. What did she say to you?" Gabriella shook her head as she realised her body was trembling fiercely.

"What?" she managed to utter, her voice but a whisper. The 'V' appeared in between Troy's eyebrows again, only it was a frown even more embedded than she'd ever seen before.

"Gabriella. You're shaking," he soothed, resting a hand on her forearm to steady her body as he felt it convulse with emotion under his palm. "What did she say? Did she upset you?" His question alarmed her, as she had no idea how to answer. She looked at him and bit her bottom lip, desperate not to let the suddenly ever-threatening lump in her throat to transform to salty tears.

Gabriella took a shaking breath, sniffing, and used her free hand to whip her eyes before any tears would fall. "Troy, I––" she stopped and tried to turn away, but his hand gripped her arm even more. She looked up and saw his soothing blue-eyed gaze that had no intent visible within other than comfort and concern. She couldn't help herself any longer, as she felt salty tears brim in her eyes, and remembered the words that Sharpay had forced upon her only minutes before.

Sharpay had been right, she didn't belong here, but at this moment, Gabriella couldn't find the will to care.

"Troy, I––I don't know what to say... I let her s-say those things because.. I didn't–– She's right, I–– I..." By this point there was no reversing the tears as they began to set a trail down her cheeks and sobbed began to rack her body that was already shaking. She hadn't cried properly in, she couldn't remember how long.

Troy pulled her into a hug and she was immediately calmed by the feeling and warmth of his uniformed body against hers. She sobbed as he gripped her, and he ran a hand up and down her back as she convulsed with the sobs that left her gut mercilessly.

"Shhh," he husked. "Shhh, Gabriella, it's alright.. It's okay, I promise you." She nodded against him, as she did truly believe him, but she couldn't stop the series of sobs hit her hard and she shook and her face rubbed against his blue dress shirt. He gripped her again. "Hey, hey," he coaxed. "Shh... Gabriella. Gabriella, look at me."

She looked up at his soft features and noticed his truly magnificent square jaw, perfect cheekbones, and those famous bright blue eyes that glittered when he smiled. He looked down at her and wiped her tears with the pad of his thumb.

"You'll be okay... I won't let her hurt you..."

She blushed fiercely at the sight of Troy Bolton being a stunningly perfect gentleman, and she smiled back at him. He nodded in confirmation as her tears stopped falling, and she blushed again. Troy let her go, but kept a hand on her arm.

Quickly he sensed the need for a change of subject, but knew that soon they would have to return to the subject of why Gabriella just broke down. For now, however, he chose to ignore that. "Gabriella, I, uh, meant to say, that Spanish you did.. that was really impressive. Pretty awesome stuff,"

She rolled her eyes.

"What? Are you surprised that I do in fact have a skill other than algebra, Troy Bolton?" she laughed.

She balked at her own statement then.

Since when did she make such outgoing comments? And since when did she make them in front of Troy Bolton?

She watched as the corner of his lips tugged in an amused, harmless smirked. He smiled just enough to reveal a row of straight white teeth as he looked down at the floor. Gabriella watched him still, mesmorised in those few mili-seconds by the way his dark lashes fanned across his eyes as he looked down during his smirk. His dark eyebrows rose and disappeared under his bangs at her comment. He then looked back up at her with those bright blue eyes, and she realised that in the last few minutes she'd let her guard down again.

To Troy Bolton, she was the 'quiet and collected' girl from school no longer.

She watched him as he moved to enter the restaurant again. He suddenly turned toward her and answered her, and after all that had just happened he yet again left her wondering who on earthTroy Bolton really was.

She smiled as his concluding reply hung around her in the air, along with a complete and wholesome Bolton smile.

"You never seise to surprise me, Gabriella Montez."

Incase you didn't understand a word of my Spanish - here is the rough translation :)

Spanish translation

(Hello. Nice to meet you. My name is Gabriella and I will be serving you today. Can I get you anything? Any drinks?)

(I'll have a beer, and my wife will have a latte, and we'll have two Coca-Colas as well.)

(Have you decided on food yet?)

(Well, okay if that's all, then I'll leave you alone. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.)

REVIEW PLEASE IF YOU LIKED THIS CHAPTER! 3