Disclaimer: Okay, you know I don't own HSM. You don't have to keep rubbing it in :p

By Wednesday afternoon Gabriella had begun to relax in her new environment. Her friendship with Taylor continued to flourish, and the girls had already begun to fall into the habit of hanging out together almost every day. Admittedly, the two girls were equally dedicated to their studies, so most of their time together was spent poring over their books. But underneath their scholarly veneers was something most people never thought of in conjunction with the duo – ordinary sixteen year old girls. Within their newfound friendship, Gabriella and Taylor had instantly felt at ease expressing this side of themselves. Gabriella was alone, however, as she made her way towards her locker after last period on Wednesday.

She was walking along the long, bright hallway, her eyes running over her notebook where she had been taking notes during class. Social Science was not something she had been enrolled in at her previous schools, and she had found the semester outline engrossing.

Gabriella's ballet flats moved soundlessly along the glossy floor as she rounded the corner. The din created by students making their way to their lockers and leaving the campus had begun to recede by this time, allowing the sound of people singing to carry sweetly through the suddenly much-quieter building.

Two people singing, to be exact.

A curious smile began to play around the corners of Gabriella's mouth as she stopped to listen, and then tiptoed towards the doorway a few yards from where she stood.

Auditorium, she read on the shiny silver plate beside the door.

Her interest piqued, Gabriella slipped through the doors into a short corridor, which opened into the back of the auditorium. She slid part of her head around the corner to catch a glimpse of whoever was singing, leaving the greater part of her body hidden behind the wall adjoining the door. Her left hand rested lightly on the doorjamb.

Up on the stage, a blonde haired boy and girl were singing and dancing energetically to show music pumping from a stereo on the floor a dozen feet or so from where they stood. As Gabriella watched, they seemed to lose themselves in the music and threw themselves vigorously into the moves. Without noticing, Gabriella became so absorbed in their singing and skilled, flowing movements that she drifted down the steep aisle a little, and quietly sat in one of the seats adjoining the aisle.

The music came to an abrupt conclusion, with both singers throwing themselves into dramatic end poses. Suddenly, the dazzling smile pasted on the blonde girl's beautiful face vanished, and an annoyed scowl took its place.

"Ryan!" she shrieked. "I thought we talked about the jazz squares!"

The boy – Ryan - uttered something inaudible from the back of the large auditorium. His back was now to Gabriella, who sat alone in the audience.

"Well I DON'T!" the girl spat angrily. She spun on one silver three inch heel, her pink skirt flaring briefly as she did so, and stalked off into the wings. Ryan remained alone on the stage, bathed in the strong light of the spotlight. He reached down and picked up a small white towel before he began to gently wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Quietly, Gabriella rose, intending to slip out of the room before her presence was noticed. At that moment, however, Ryan turned to face the many rows of seats.

"Hey! Is anyone there?" He squinted, obviously having trouble seeing through the strong stage lights.

Gabriella froze. Was she not supposed to be there? Should she just go? Or should she answer him?

Ryan solved her dilemma by stepping out of the spotlight and moving towards the extreme right of the stage. He could now see her clearly.

"Hey!" he called, his tone not unfriendly. Taking a deep breath, Gabriella turned to face him.

Ryan had already moved down the short flight of stairs leading from the stage into the audience and was walking up the red carpeted aisle towards her.

"Hi," she smiled shyly.

Ryan had almost reached her. "Hi," he said. "Interested in our little drama club?" He flashed a friendly smile. "Don't let Sharpay put you off."

He was standing directly in front of her now and stuck his hand out, taking hers in an affable shake. "I don't recognise you from any of our other shows, so you must be new to the drama scene. I'm Ryan."

Gabriella blushed as she shook his hand. "Gabriella," she said. "And I'm not really interested in drama. I'm just new to the school and ... I heard you guys singing as I was walking past. You're really good."

Ryan smiled ruefully. "Sharpay's really good. I'm more just there to help her look good." Changing the subject, he added "So you're new to East High? Welcome! I'd offer to show you around but, well, outside of the theatre I don't actually know much about anything here." He spread his hands with disarming helplessness.

Gabriella smiled. "It seemed to me that you know plenty about the theatre, anyway. Is that your girlfriend you were singing with?"

Ryan shook his head with a laugh. "No, my sister. My twin. She's...well, she's known for being East High's drama queen. I'm not sure if there's a compliment intended there or not. What about you? Do you sing?"

Gabriella shrugged modestly. "Not really. A little," she said uncomfortably. Ryan misinterpreted her discomfort.

"That doesn't mean you wouldn't be welcomed in the drama club. Sharpay and I are co-presidents and we always welcome new people." He chuckled as he imagined Sharpay's reaction if she'd been there to hear him say that. "There's always lots of stuff to do besides singing. Although I will admit that our faculty drama coordinator has a fascination with musicals. Sometimes we-"

He was cut short as a high pitched scream of frustration cut though the air, echoing around the auditorium. Ryan winced as he anticipated the command that was sure to follow. In about five...four...three...two...

"RYAN!" his sister bellowed at the top of her lungs. Gabriella struggled to connect the demanding, yelling creature that was apparently in the middle of some kind of meltdown with the beautiful starlet who had been singing and dancing with so much grace and talent just a few moments before.

Ryan gave Gabriella a quick smile. "Listen, I have to go. But remember what I said. You're more than welcome to just come along to a meeting of the drama club to take a look at what we do, or just stop by here sometime. I'm here most afternoons-" He was cut off again by the sharp tap of heels on the polished wooden floor of the stage. He looked over his shoulder. Sharpay was squinting down into the audience seats, much as he had done a few minutes before, so he knew she wouldn't be able to see him. Still, it was always better not to keep her waiting.

He began to jog back down the aisle, towards the stage, while looking at Gabriella over his shoulder. "Drop by sometime. It was nice to meet you!" He tossed her a little wave before he trotted smartly up the short flight of stairs.

Gabriella smiled as she turned and walked out of the auditorium and continued her journey to her locker. He seemed nice, but all the same, she knew that she wouldn't be back to join the drama club. She still couldn't quite believe she'd found the courage to sing in public on New Year's Eve, so she really doubted that...

The smile slipped from her face as memories of New Year's Eve suddenly intruded on her thoughts. Since her discovery two days ago that Troy actually attended the same school she had found herself in, she had avoided thinking about him. Tried to avoid thinking about him, she corrected herself. It had been bad enough at school, where he seemed to be idolised by the entire student body. She felt like she couldn't enter a classroom without encountering a loud discussion about his sporting skills, or coming across a gaggle of girls sighing over his gorgeous baby blues, or coming face to face with some poster advertising a pep rally – with his picture front and centre, of course.

Fortunately, so far she had avoided the man himself.

But harder to elude was her subconscious. Night after night, she continued to dream about him, and she seemed totally unable to defend herself against this internal attack that her traitorous body had launched against her. Her dreams ranged from sweet to sultry, innocent to graphic, explicit to vague, but one thing remained constant – she could not escape them. Each night, as she closed her eyes and allowed the tranquillity of slumber to wash over her, she was simultaneously submerged in an ocean of emotions and purified sensuality, an ocean that tossed her abruptly to the surface and into a storm of doubt as her sleep finally faded with the night.

Although he was literally the man of her dreams, Gabriella continued to struggle with the image of him that had stubbornly ingrained itself in her conscious mind on her first day at East High. The effect of the collision of feelings she had experienced - the pure joy she had felt at finding him so close and so unexpectedly, with the horror at realising the many characteristics he apparently had in common with Rory - had been staggering.

She reached her locker and quickly twirled the numbers on the combination lock, still deep in thought. Part of her knew it was irrational to judge him based purely on the fact that he was a popular athlete. But the residue of pain left by Rory was still toxic enough to evoke this inner turmoil she'd been battling for the past couple of days.

Gabriella froze and her heart jumped into her throat as she suddenly heard a voice carrying clearly through the nearly empty halls. It was coming from the direction of the corridor that jutted off from the main hallway at a right angle, just a few feet from her locker.

"So I said, seriously man, you've got great technique. You just need to work on your free throws a little and you've got it."

Gabriella could feel the tattoo of blood pulsating through her veins as her heart raced wildly. She would know his voice anywhere. They hadn't spoken since that one night at the lodge, but she was very familiar with it. It was the same voice she heard every night in her dreams.

Gabriella's palms flew to her temples as she looked around wildly. She had to hide! She couldn't see him now, not when she hadn't figured out her own feelings yet. She needed to deal with her own feelings before she faced his astonishment at seeing her there at East High. Her eyes darted from side to side. To her left was an unyielding expanse of hallway, the walls lined with lockers. The view to the right was much the same. No classroom doorway was close enough for her to have a chance of making it there in the few seconds she had before he rounded the corner, and there was no crowd to hide behind.

Making a split second decision, Gabriella backed into her locker and, squishing her shoulders against the hard metal sides, carefully pulled the door closed in front of her. An instant later, Troy rounded the corner and stopped a mere foot from Gabriella's locker. Another voice spoke.

"I totally hear what you're saying, man. Hey, I've gotta go. My mom's making me help her to bake some stuff for my little sister's birthday party."

Through the slits in the door of her locker, Gabriella could see that the words were spoken by a tall dark skinned boy, with short cropped hair. Troy had his back partially turned to her, but she could see him wrinkle his nose.

"Sucks to be you, man."

Gabriella inhaled sharply as Troy leaned back casually, propping his shoulder against her locker door. Now only a thin sheet of metal separated the two of them. She held her breath, terrified that if she breathed normally the warm air would tickle the back of his neck, now only an inch away from her lips.

The other guy adjusted the backpack he had slung over one shoulder and suddenly looked uncomfortable. "I know. I can't believe she roped me into it. There's not much I wouldn't do to get out of it, trust me." He spoke quickly, the discomfort still evident in his voice. "Anyway, see you tomorrow dude. You coming to the party this weekend?"

"Another one?" Troy sounded surprised. "After Amy's massive bash last week? Whose is it this time?"

The other boy shrugged. "Some chick from homeroom. Does it really matter?" He slugged Troy in the shoulder with a light punch. "See you, dude."

"See you," Troy said. He raised his hand in a quick wave before he turned and started to jog away in the other direction.

Gabriella exhaled loudly, her head tipping backwards and thumping against the back of the locker as she relaxed. The insanity of the situation hit her and she began to giggle. Had she really just hidden in her locker to avoid a guy? She pushed open the door and manoeuvred her petite frame back out into the open, cautiously looking down the hallway in the direction Troy had taken. He was gone. She grinned, shaking her head at herself, and grabbed her books she would need for her homework before she headed home.

Troy lay asleep on his back in his darkened bedroom, his chest bare, the sheet twisted around his sculpted torso. His right arm was bent at the elbow and his hand lay palm up, fingers lightly curled, on the pillow next to his face. His soft breathing was barely audible in the almost silent room, accompanied by the muted sound of crickets outside.

Troy's lashes, small inky crescents resting lightly on his cheeks, began to flutter. First just a twitch; then a few seconds later, a couple more. His breathing deepened as he began to dream...

Troy straightened his back as the door down the far end of the church opened slowly. His gaze glossed over the two small girls who entered first, dainty fairies in satin and tulle sprinkling rose petals as they walked. Next, two radiant young women walked out, side by side, in matching pale lavender satin gowns. He dismissed them from his thoughts impatiently. There was only one woman he wanted to see.

The flower girls and bridesmaids reached the altar and took their places opposite Troy and his groomsmen. Troy was barely aware of their presence because at that moment, the gentle violin music changed and the opening strains of "Here Comes the Bride" filled the small chapel.

Troy's heart stopped as he saw her standing there, a goddess in a gown of white. The pale satin of her gown clung to her upper arms with slender puffs that barely grazed the edges of her shoulders, and dipped down to mould itself to her breasts. The dress hugged her slender stomach before it flared lightly at her hips, dropping in gentle folds to her dainty, high-heeled sandals.

Gabriella smiled at him lovingly, excitement and joy and love radiating from her in palpable waves. She took a deep breath and, clutching her heady bouquet of flowers, took her first step towards him.

Suddenly the scenery seemed to shift dramatically and Troy realised he was in a hospital. In a delivery room, to be precise. Gabriella, the woman he knew was his wife, clutched his hand. Sweat streamed from her beautiful features that were crumpled with agony. Troy leaned over to kiss her temple.

"Come on, honey, almost there-"

As he spoke, the doctor at the bottom of the bed raised his head. "Okay Gabriella, this is it. One last push for me. When I tell you, all right?"

Gabriella nodded, unable to speak as she tried to catch her breath between contractions. Suddenly she gripped Troy's hand with renewed force.

"Now, Gabriella!" the doctor urged.

Troy stroked Gabriella's hair, kissed her hand, whispered encouragement, trying to lend her his strength as she pushed through the ordeal of childbirth. Suddenly a tiny mewl, hardly louder than that of a kitten, filled the room.

"Congratulations, Gabriella and Troy! You have a daughter!" Triumphantly, the doctor held up their little girl as a nurse quickly tucked a blanket around her. The bloody, screaming blob was the most beautiful sight Troy had ever seen. Besides her mother, he thought, tears of joy pricking at his eyes.

The doctor looked at Troy expectantly. "Would you like to cut the cord?"

Abruptly, the walls of the hospital, the doctor, even the baby and Gabriella, faded away, and Troy found himself standing at the railing on the deck of a large ship. Around him, many excited people in garish holiday outfits waved joyfully at a larger crowd that had remained on shore. Several large banners were peppered through the hoard of people on the dock, including a colourful, hand painted sign that he recognised.

BON VOYAGE NANA GABI AND POPPA TROY!

He turned to his wife of almost thirty years and smiled. This was it; their retirement present to each other. The round-the-world cruise they had always promised each other.

Hand in hand, Troy and Gabriella raised their arms and waved to their family. Their son, two daughters, son in law, and three beautiful grandchildren. The ship began to pull away slowly, and the middle aged couple remained at the rail, waving and smiling frantically.

Troy slowly opened his eyes and found himself gazing at the ceiling.

Gabriella again.

The dreams were getting more and more intense, more and more vivid. Something that had started out as simple crush was rapidly spinning out of control.

He sighed as he rolled over to his side, thinking. He still hadn't gotten around to emailing her. No. If he was honest with himself, it wasn't that. That phrasing implied that he hadn't had the time. In reality, he had been held back by fear.

Fear of her rejection. The inevitable rejection that would follow any instigation of any kind of relationship on his part, because she was already in a relationship.

He groaned with frustration. Why was it so impossible for him to just forget her? Why did she have such a firm hold on him?

Suddenly, he made a decision. There was no other solution. Nothing else to do but to put himself out there and let her reject him. Maybe then he'd be able to get through a single night without being haunted by her. By her beauty. By the feelings she inspired in him. The admiration. The attraction. The wonderment. The passion -

He hauled himself out of bed and over to his desk. He booted up the computer and within a short time was connected to the internet. He found her myspace page - a simple task, since he'd added her page to his favourites – and started to compose a message to her.

He got as far as "Hi Gabriella" before he stopped. He chewed his lip. What was he supposed to say?

He started to type again.

"I don't know if you remember me but we met on New Year's Eve at the lodge. I was going to call you but I've lost your number. I really had a great time and I'd like to talk to you again sometime. Maybe you could email me, or call me if you still have my number. If you want. Or don't, it's cool if you don't want to."

Troy hesitated. He usually wasn't so unsure of himself. It was just so nerve wracking. He re-read what he'd written. Was that okay? Or did he sound like some kind of crazed ski lodge stalker? He shook his head. Second-guessing himself was not going to help. Quickly, he typed his name at the bottom of the page, and moved his mouse cursor until it hovered over the send button.

Another wave of doubt crashed over him. He paused.

Suddenly, decisively, he clicked the mouse button.

For better or worse, Troy's message to Gabriella was sent.

Okay, so I know Troy's dream was cheesy. I don't know what the hell guys dream about! Just humour me and call it creative license :)

If you review I'll love you forever and ever...