it took me foreverrrr to update, sorry peoples :(

but i finally got it done and its been boring for me

to write because i am just building up for the good stuff...

like the introduction of sharpay, and more of ryan and kelsi.

yeahhh, anyway... enjoy (:

xoxo;

sky

Gabriella moved through the hallway, maneuvering through every clique. For some reason it seemed like everyone else was frozen in time, and she was the only one moving. It made her feel like collapsing in the middle, just to see if she'd get a reaction. Her stomach churned making her feel absolutely nauseous. Gabriella didn't know where she was going, she was given the message to report to room 210, but she'd never been there before. Gabriella was waiting for what would come next; she had no idea why she was being called down to this "mystery classroom".

"Hey Tay!" Gabriella said as she grabbed onto someone familiar to her, while passing by in the hallway. "Do you have any idea where room 210 is?"

Taylor eyed her curiously, "You mean the tutor center?" Gabriella's eyes widened. There were people watching them now. Girls looked to see what Gabriella was wearing, so they could make a mental note to wear it another time, and if they already were wearing it they were covering themselves up. Boys stared with interest, like they did every other day. Most of the students just stopped to admire.

'The tutor center? As in, the place where people go who need help with their classes?' Gabriella thought to herself, shaking her head as she was becoming distracted. She turned her attention back to her friend, who was now examining her nails, bored with the whole situation.

"Why would they be calling me down there…?" She asked to no one in particular, thinking it over. "I gotta go, see you at free period," Gabriella said as she turned the complete opposite way she was initially headed, singing a song to herself that had been stuck in her head. She'd never even heard it until the night before, when she decided to listen to Troy's mix CD. "Burning bridges baby, burning bridges, making wishes. You're a chance taker, heart breaker, got me wrapped around your finger," she sang in the now deserted, hallway. Incessantly, she began replaying 'Heels over Head' in her head as she wandered the vacated halls.

Finally she stopped as she gazed up at the room number on a classroom's door before entering. 'Ok, this is it,' Gabriella thought as she took a deep breath and turned the knob slowly.

"Miss Montez?" A teacher at a desk questioned while raising her head from her work on her desk. Gabriella nodded nervously. "I've been expecting you," she said as she motioned to the seat in front of her, "Please take a seat." Before Gabriella could even ask why she was brought there, the teacher turned her attention elsewhere. "Troy? Can you come over here for a second?" She said over her shoulder.

'Troy!' Gabriella thought as she perked up to see who the teacher was calling. Sure enough, Troy rose from the floor, where a younger student sat surrounded by books. Gabriella began putting the pieces together. 'Oh no,' She thought as she closed her eyes.

"Yes…" Troy began to answer but his voice trailed off and he could no longer speak.

"Gabriella, I'm aware that if your grade slips anymore, you will not be able to participate in any extra curriculums," the teacher began to say, looking back and forth between Gabriella and Troy, sensing the tension. Gabriella's eyes widened, absorbing what she was being told. "Yes, I am assuming you know what that means, no soccer. Luckily, we have an excellent new student who is willing to work volunteer hours at our tutor center." She continued informing Gabriella who stood there in shock. "So, Troy meet Gabriella. Gabriella, meet your safety to staying on the soccer team." The teacher finished and left them to go about their business while she continued with her work.

'You're joking,' Troy thought, resisting the urge to scream in frustration. He shook his head and deviated back to the student he was already helping.

Gabriella rolled her eyes, he couldn't seriously be mad at her, right? 'Uhm, excuse me. I'm still here,' she felt like saying so someone would recognize her presence. She didn't have time to play these games, she wanted to stay on the team, and it was as simple as that. 'Stupid math grade,' she thought to herself. Gabriella convinced herself it was now or never, so very slowly and hesitantly, the made her way to Troy, and sat down next to him. "Listen, Troy I really am sorry about last night…and I would appreciate it if you'd help me out with this," Gabriella basically pleaded, which caused Troy to smirk.

'She's depending on me,' he thought mischievously. "Fine, how about free period?" He said nonchalantly, still not even looking at her.

"Can't," Gabriella said, sounding defeated.

"Oh, too bad. That's the only time I have to offer, good luck with soccer, though," Troy replied cockily. Gabriella groaned and she rose to her feet and left the room angrily, in disbelief.

"Dude, I know you're new here and everything," the student Troy was tutoring began to say, "But that was Gabriella Montez!" Troy didn't say anything, just continued flipping through pages of a worn out textbook. "The Gabriella Montez!" The boy rambled on, trying to get a reaction. "No one talks to her that way!" He said, still shocked by the scene he just witnessed.

Troy shrugged, honestly, he felt horrible for treating her that way. Despite his true feelings, he put up a front and remained smirking. "I just did."


"Gabriella, get your head in the game," Coach Montez bellowed during their free period practice. Gabriella nodded, understanding, and quickened her pace as she led the line of girls around the gym.

"Sorry, dad." She muttered after she felt herself slowing down again. Gabriella wasn't sure what had gotten into her. She didn't feel like doing any of this anymore, she wanted to bring her math grade up desperately.

"It's coach," he retorted. Gabriella gasped, knowing the slightest thing would set her off at that moment.

"Are you serious?!" she snapped back, and came to a stop, causing the entire team to get jammed up behind her.

Coach Montez noticed this, and walked over to Gabriella, trying his best to stay calm. "Not now, Gabriella. Just do what you're told." Without saying another word, she grabbed her bag on the sidelines of the gym, and retreated to the locker rooms. Coach Montez shook his head and blew his whistle. "Come on girls, I never said to stop!"

Gabriella walked out of the locker room, now calmed after a refreshing shower.

She felt that if her father wanted to do what she was told, she'd leave before she'd get in any more trouble. But now, it was still free period and Gabriella had time to waste and didn't know what to do. As she strolled through the empty school, she approached a secluded looking door. Gabriella looked to her left and right, making sure no one was watching her before she entered. She ascended up the staircase that was on the opposite side of the door, to her secret spot on the roof of the school.

She sighed as she stared past the sea of plants, and over at the town that lay before her. As she gazed, Gabriella felt a strong pricking at the back of her eye, like she had felt before, the feeling as if she was about to start crying. She had no idea what was getting into her, making her so miserable. Maybe it was just the fact that she was back at school, and was already being treated the way she hoped not to. Maybe it was because she felt she had no real friends. Whatever it was, Gabriella couldn't hold back anymore, and let the tears fall freely down her face. She sat down slowly on the bench, and remained that way until she heard the muffled sound of footsteps coming up the stairway. Quickly, she began furiously wiping at her tear-stained cheeks and her red puffy eyes, before she whipped her head around to see who was there.

"Jeezz. Troy, are you stalking me?!" She exclaimed sarcastically, trying to hide her face so he wouldn't see that she had been crying. Gabriella hated when people thought she was weak, she always tried to be the strong one.

Troy jumped a little, he wasn't expecting anyone to be up there, especially Gabriella. "No, I'm sorry I thought that I was the only one who knew about this place."

Troy had found the entrance to the roof the day before while he was exploring the school. He had thought it was deserted and only used by the Science club on certain occasions.

"Oh…no one knows about this place. At least that's what I thought," she replied bitterly. Troy sensed that something was wrong with her, so he turned to leave. "No wait, stay," Gabriella stopped him. She didn't want to feel like she was alone, at least not right now. Troy nodded and sat down on the bench beside her, wondering if he should bring up the night before or not. For a while, they both sat in an uncomfortable silence. "Troy," Gabriella said softy, "Are you mad at me?"

Troy shook his head, his way of saying "No." Inside he was angry, but there was something in her eyes and in her voice that made him feel like she had done nothing wrong at all, and he was the one who hurt her. But troy couldn't hold in his anger any longer, "Did you have fun last night?"

Gabriella sighed and turned to face Troy, she looked into his blue eyes that were full of pain. "Troy, I am really, really sorry. Those girls, they're just not used to seeing me out with guys… it's a whole reputation thing."

Troy was confused now, he didn't get how Gabriella Montez, who seemed to be the most popular girl at East High, didn't hang out with guys. "You don't hang out with any guys?"

"No, no, no, I mean I don't really get serious…" she started to say but stopped herself. "Wow I mean I don't have relationships. Not that we are in a relationship, that's that what I meant. I mean, ughh! I am just going to stop talking." Gabriella mumbled after fighting back and forth with herself.

"Oh I see you're one of those people who always has flings…" Troy began to say but really he was thinking, 'Player'.

Gabriella rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what Troy was getting at. "No not flings… fun." She finished for him. "I have fun," Gabriella confirmed, but wasn't sure who she was trying to fool, herself or Troy. Gabriella watched as a smirk formed on Troy's face, as he started to shake his head. "What?" Gabriella asked becoming annoyed.

"Gabi, I know you." He said as he continued to smirk.

'Did he just call me Gabi?!' She rolled her eyes in annoyance. "What's that supposed to mean?" Gabriella asked even though she was almost positive she already knew the answer.

"You're the type who acts like they're always the strong one, even if they are truly breaking inside. The type that has everyone's eyes on them, but really doesn't even stop to look and their selves. The type that no one really knows, but think they do." He started to say as Gabriella began shaking her head to protest. "And last but not least, the type that always acts like they're ok, no matter what the circumstance." She raised her hand, looking like she was either about to defend herself or slap him, Gabriella wasn't sure which one she wanted to do more. Troy grabbed her hand swiftly and stared coldly into her eyes. "Like I said, I know you."

Gabriella fumed, who did he think he was anyway? "Troy, I don't know who you think you are, but you have no right to just waltz right in here and think you have everything all figured out!"

"I never said I had everything figured out, but I've got you figured out," he said realizing he still had a firm hold on her hand, and released.

"You can't do that! You can't just judge me!" Gabriella snapped but found herself being pulled closer to him.

Troy had his hands on her shoulders now, his eyes were burning into her own. He held his gaze and Gabriella wasn't sure what he was about to do next. But all he did was smirk and say, "I just did."