"Stupid cow," Gabriella hissed as she threw her clothes in the wash that. "Dumb bitch. Can't keep out of my face for two bloody seconds. Little mother fu—"

"Whoa, careful! We have little ears around here!" Troy interrupted with a grin. Gabriella let out a squeal and spun to see him standing behind her.

"Sorry," she muttered, turning back to the washing machine, putting the washing powder in a bucket to dilute it before she was going to put it in the washing machine. "That girl, Sharpay, she just drives me crazy. She's such a—such a—You know what I mean!" Gabriella snapped, turning to face him. "How did you stand going out with such a cow?!" His face clouded over and Gabriella closed her mouth quickly, realizing that she wasn't supposed to know that. "Oh, sorry," she murmured.

"It's fine," Troy shrugged, stepping away from her. "I know she's a cow, I became aware of that when I realized she was cheating on me for my brother."

"But how did you cope?" Gabriella pressed, wanting to know more. "How could you forgive your brother, for taking your girlfriend? If I had a sister who done that to me…I don't know what I would have done. I would have been so upset—"

"But here's the thing, it hasn't happened to you, so you don't know how it is," Troy replied suddenly. "It's complicated okay? The whole thing is complicated, and I don't expect you to understand it." Gabriella decided that she didn't have the time to bother with the whole brotherly mess that was probably just created from jealousy and the doings of a stupid, lost blonde girl who just wanted to be accepted by everyone.

"Whatev," she shrugged. "I'm off to bed." With that, she turned around and walked off down the hallway. Troy was surprised by the sudden end of the conversation and watched her go, turning into her room and shutting the door behind her. In her room, Gabriella realized it was Friday. This time tomorrow, Jenna was going to be here. She was so looking forward to being with a girl—who wasn't a mum—out of school times. It was sad, in a way, but she got a quick excitement in the bottom of her stomach that she used to get when she was little before her birthday. There was only one catch about tomorrow—she had her first cheerleading preformance at the Wild-Cat game in the morning. And that meant cheering with Sharpay Evans.

Xx

The house was even more alive on Saturday morning than it was during the week. Everybody was up and getting ready by half past seven. People were flying in and out of the kitchen, plates crashing and tumbling, cups tipping and little rivers of icy water trailing down the bench and onto the ground. Gabriella felt slightly over-whelmed by everything, but the parents weren't. Jack was repetitively flipping bacon and putting toast on plates, and Anna was cleaning up after everyone, continually answering the calls of 'Mum! I can't find my socks!' and 'Mum! Liam won't give me my shoes!' Gabreilla felt her respcet for the Bolton adults grow. The only son not in the middle of this chaos was Joel, who was sitting calmly in the lounge, watching some Saturday morning cartoon on the TV. Gabriella was standing in her PJ boxers and a t-shirt, drinking milk and watching him. Suddenly, she realized someone was beside her. It was Shane. He noticed she was watching Joel and he frowned slightly.

"He's not weird, you know," Shane said defiantly, as though she thought there was something was wrong with his brother. Gabriella knew that something was wrong with Joel, but she wasn't qute sure what it was. She rarely saw him; he was almost always locked in his room, just like his eldest brother, Jesse.

"I know, Shane," Gabriella replied, smiling slightly. "I kinda envy him. He sits there in the middle of this crazy house and just watches TV. Wish I could do that," she laughed lightly and Shane nodded, his face still serious, but softening slightly.

"He's, uh, autistic," Shane said quietly. Gabriella raised an eyebrow, trying to remember what the word meant. "It just means he doesn't really like talking to people." Gabreilla nodded. Suddenly, the youngest twins ran past yelling, waving a jersey above their heads. With a yelp, Shane took off after them, yelling, "Oi! Bring that back! I need that today!" Gabriella laughed and shook her head, starting up the stairs to her room. She put her glass down on her desk as she shut the door and got her cheerleading outfit out of the cub-board. It was better than her old school's unioform, she had to admit that. It was a red and white skirt, and a red and white top that would show off her tanned stomach. The shoes were just plain white sneakers and white ankle socks. She changed quickly, pulling her hair back in a high pony-tail and then picking up her make-up and walking across the hall into the bathroom. The bathroom was empty for once, and she managed to brush her teeth and apply her make-up in relative silence.

"Hey," came a voice form behind her. She turned and saw Liam standing there. She half-smiled, wondering what he wanted. "Just wanted to wish you good luck. It's hard the first time you rpeform with a new group. I know when we changed teams a couple of years ago, it was really hard slipping in with the new teams rhythm. But don't let anyone wear you down—especially Shar. I know she can be scary. Stcik to your guns," he shot her a gorgeous grin before ducking away. Smiling to herself, Gabriella checked herself over in the mirror once again, and then heard her cell-phone ringing. She ran back to her room and answered it.

"Hey, babe," Jenna yelled into the phone. There was a lot of noise on her end of the phone, and Gabriella guessed she was already with the team, getting warmed up and ready. "It's not the same, starting the season without you! I can't wait to see you this afternoon!!" Gabriella smiled, sitting down at her desk and logging into her hotmail emaill account. "So I was just ringing to tell you good luck babe!"

"Right back at you, sweetie," Gabriella replied, opening an email from her parents.

"Later babe!" Jenna hung up. Gabriella put her phone down, and then smiled as she read the email from her parents, wishing her luck with her first game of the season. She glanced at herself in the mirror, approved of what she saw, and then grabbed her pom-poms off the bed and ran down the stairs.

Xx

There wasn't enough room in the van for all of the boys including Gabriella, so Anna and Gabriella took the car. They followed the van—which seemed as though it was literally moving from side-to-side because of all the boys moving around excitedly.

"Are they always like that?" Gabriella asked with a laugh. Anna nodded. "And Joel is always that quiet?" She asked, wondering what response she would get. Anna nodded again, although there was a slightly sad smile on her face.

"He's very special, my Joel," she said in a wistful tone. "He's an amazing artist. He can paint and draw better than anyone else I know. And yet, he would not say a word to you if you were to destroy a painting that he had spent months on." Gabriella stayed quiet, looking out the window. She wasn't sure how or even if she was meant to reply to that. There was quiet in the car until they pulled up in the already filling car-park at the school. "Good luck, honey," Anna said with an encouraging smile as Gabriella got out of the car. She smiled quickly, and then made her way through the crowds to the gym. She had been told to assemble in the girls locker room as soon as they got there, including the three male cheerleaders. She supposed that was their meeting place because all the boys from the basketball team would be in the boys changing rooms.

Sharpay was already in there with a few of her friends, and there were two other girls stretching in the far corner, and the coach was standing at the door.

"Okay, start warming up," she said, flashing Gabriella a quick smile as she walked in the door. Gabriella nodded and started stretching her legs, her taunt muscles pulling as she began her warm-up. Suddenly, Sharpay was at her side.

"Look, I'm sorry aboutt ripping you up at practise the other day," her voice dripped with sugar. "I really didn't see where I was going, and it won't happen again." Gabriella wondered why she was apologizing, wondering if it had something to do with Liam.

"Don't worry, I totally understand," Gabriella said cheerfully. "I have really badly eyesight as well. Always falling into or over things." Her words were pointed, and Sharpay understood them. She narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to reply when the coach clapped her hands together, and Gabriella realized that the rest of the squad was there already.

"Okay! First game of the season! I know that there are a few new recruits and that there may be a few mistakes, but what we're looking for is spirit! So! Do we have the spirit to help the Wild-Cat's win?!" Coach yelled.

"Yes!" The team screamed back.

"Then lets get out there!" Gabriella forgot all about Sharpay as she ran out of the changing rooms and onto the court, loving the rush that flowed through her as the crowd cheered and stamped their feet on the bleachers they were sitting on. Her pom poms waved and wiggled above her head as she ran after the rest of her squad, her smile stretching across her face.

For the first time since she had come here, she felt like she belonged.

Troy's P.O.V

The minute I saw Gabriella, you could tell that cheerleading was where she beonged. She looked so free and happy as she ran into the centre of the court. She literally glowed as she began the Wild-Cat chant. She threw herself into the routine, her hips swaying tantalizingly, her legs kicking higher than anyone else there. Her hair bounced cheerfully as she threw her pom-poms in the air and then caught them as they all dropped into the splits, their heads bowed down. Cheers went up from the crowds put I couldn't bring myself to clap.

I couldn't take my eyes off her, even when dad yelled to gather in and began prepping us.

Then she looked over at me, and our eye connected. And she gave me the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen.

End of Troy's P.O.V

x
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