Chapter 6: A Great Idea

That night, Gabriella recieved a phone call. "Hello?" she answered. "Gabby, it's Sharpay." Sharpay said quietly. "Hey. Why are you so quiet?" Gabriella asked. "Um..well, Ryan's sleeping and it's Friday night." Sharpay explained the reason for her "quietness". "Oh," Gabriella nodded, even though Sharpay couldn't see the nod. "Troy told me that he's going to um, transfer to West High. He's going there on Monday and introduce yourselves to him. Please?" Gabriella asked before saying good-bye. "Of course. Tay and I will do that for you. Sorry we didn't notice you earlier, but we didn't want to be seen talking to you." Sharpay apologized. "That's okay. But, I have to go. Bye!" Gabriella hung up as her mom entered.

"Hey mom. I was just getting ready to go to sleep. What do you need?" Gabriella got into bed. "I got an earlier flight, so I'll be leaving tonight instead. Sleep well Gabriella." her mom kissed the top of her daughter's head and walked out the room while closing the door. Gabriella smiled and turned off the lights. During the middle of the night, Gabriella was downstairs for a snack because she couldn't sleep. Then she heard someone knock on the backdoor and Gabriella went to open it. "Troy, Chad...what are you guys doing here?" she let her two friends in. "Hey, I asked Troy the same question. All he told me was to come with him to your house." Chad explained.

Gabriella closed the backdoor and locked it. "My mom left Friday night, so I'm alone for 3 weeks." Gabriella sat down at the kitchen table. "Wow, how can you handle it alone?" Chad asked. "It's already Saturday morning and my birthday's on the 27th." Gabriella said. "I'm perfectly capable of being alone." "Yeah right. Remember when we were 12, we dared you to stay alone at Troy's house for one night and you couldn't do it." Chad reminded Gabriella. "Well, I was 12. So what if I was scared at that time. I'm not scared anymore and I'm turning 18." Gabriella spat.

"But you guys have to tell me why you're here." "You know on Friday, when I couldn't say anything about Nick." Troy started. Gabriella nodded. "Mmhmm. I remember." "Well, his family and my family hated each other since both of the school principal's were brothers." Troy continued. "Wait," Chad interrupted. "Principal Matsui has a brother? Man!...I didn't know that." "Well, nobody knew that except for all the staff members. Including my dad. Anyway, they hated each other and so they decided to go to different schools. East High and West High. My mom went to West High when she was 15 and my dad went to East High. So, my parents met when my mom transferred to East High and they started dating.

But after their Sophmore year, they couldn't see each other again because Principal Matsui's brother put up a rule saying that no one from East High should enter the school of West High. Years later, when I was 15. Nick used to go to East High, but moved to West High when he was a Sophmore. His dad and my dad used to be best friends, not until one Thanksgiving that ruined their friendship. My mom used to date Nick's dad, but she loved my dad instead. So from then on, Nick's family has hated my family for years. Until now, we still hate each other." Troy finished. "Wow. Troy, I can relate to that." Gabriella said. Chad and Troy both looked at me. "Well, the Montez family has a history too. The only difference was that..."

Gabriella paused. "They hated Troy's family." "Why Troy's family?" Chad asked. "Well..." Gabriella started.

-

Flashback

The Boltons and the Montez's were having a lovely Christmas dinner at the Bolton's house.

"Mom, Troy's late again." Troy's older cousin, Nicole said. "He always is." Jack Bolton replied.

"So is his so called 'friend' Gabriella." Nicole added. "Gabriella is a nice friend of Troy." Lucille said.

Both families heard the front door close. Gabriella's mom looks at Gabriella with anger in her eyes.

"Mom, sorry we're late." Troy said. "That's alright. Come and sit down." Lucille motioned her son to sit with them.

"Can I come to eat too?" Gabriella asked her mom politely. It was suddenly quiet from the time Gabriella asked the question.

Gabriella sighed and walked into the living room. Troy got up and sat down next to her.

"Don't be sad Gabs. I'm sure your mom will understand." Troy said, trying to comfort her.

"You don't know my mom like that Troy. She's different from your mom." Gabriella stood up and grabbed her coat.

After the Christmas dinner, Gabriella and her mom were walking back to their house.

When they finally entered their house, "How can she be okay with her son being late?! He should be punished."

Gabriella's mom, Inez said angrily. "Look, it was snowing mom. How can we possib--"

"I don't want you to ever see that boy again. Do you hear me Gabriella?" A tear rolled down her cheek.

Gabriella nodded silently.

-

As the months passed by, Gabriella hated Troy Bolton or at least showed that she did in front of her mom.

They never arranged dinners together or let their kids play together.

Deep down inside Gabriella's little heart, she always knew that she loved Troy Bolton and he would love her back.

-Flashback Ends

"So, do you think that your mom would hate me?" Troy asked Gabriella after she finished telling her story. "I have no clue Troy, but maybe she'll forgive you and your family." Gabriella smiled. "It's been almost 6 years since she's seen you, but we'll have to arrange something on Christmas eve so we can have a Christmas Eve dinner. This time, we'll have to do all the arranging and this time, it'll have to be at my house." Gabriella said. "Do you think your guys' parents will find out?" Chad asked. "No. All we have to do is write an invitation from my mom saying that the dinner will be held here and it'll have to be signed by me." Gabriella said.

"I think that's a great idea Gabs. When are we going to start?" Troy asked. "Starting December 15th." Gabriella said. "Then we will have 9 days to set everything up." Troy liked the idea, but he was still thinking wheather he should ask Gabriella to be his girlfriend. When would be the right time and where would be the right place, but suddenly he thought of it.