"Gabriella."

"Gabriella."

"Gabriella, c'mon wake up. Please. Look, I'm really sorry about everything. I know I have never been the perfect older sister but I'm still a human being who makes mistakes. Many mistakes Gabriella." She sighed heavily.

"When Troy told me his partner was a girl called Gabriella I had no idea that it would be you and if I did know, I wouldn't have come to the Gala. I'm so sorry I had to ruin your night. God, Gabriella, look at you. How much you have changed… You are so beautiful. Karma comes around doesn't it?…"

She had said more to me in the past 5 minutes than she had in the past 4 years and when I opened my eyes, it would be like I had never existed. And I didn't want that.

"I can't change the past Gabriella but I can try and make the present better. I'm Isabella Maria Bolton. Or you can call me Izzy. Only Trevor knows about my past and Carla. Dave left me the minute Maria was born. I've been married to Trevor for about 2 years now…"

She didn't say anything more for a couple of minutes but I could still hear her breathing. I found it safe to open my eyes. I found I was lying in the sick bay bed. She muttered a simple "Hey," from the teal bedside chair. I pursed my lips and didn't say anything. There was no need. Things were back to normal.

"You look good Gabriella." She finally said, leaning forward out of the chair and taking my hand. "Thanks." I replied stiffly, not sure what to make of this 'Carla.' She squeezed my hand gently. I made my hand limp. "I'm really sorry for ruining your night." I shook my head. "Don't worry about it. I never really enjoyed those banquets anyway."

She fell back into her chair and I shrugged the covers off me. "I'm still really sorry." I walked around the bed and headed for the door. "Izzy, darling, don't worry about it. Really, it's fine." I snapped back and closed the sick bay door softly.

I heard the door open again but I kept walking. "Gabriella please. I'm trying really hard to make it up to you." She pleaded, her voice cracking and I could tell she was going to cry. I stopped walking and turned around. "Make it up? Make it up? Make up for what Izzy?" I retorted sarcastically.

She didn't say anything so I continued for her. "You have never been the perfect sister anyway. Then the icing on the cake; storming out the house. Pregnant and engaged, ready to elope with the perfect 'Dave'. Then four years without contact and you suddenly turn up as Isabella Bolton, with no record of a Carla Montez and then you are only brave enough to talk to me while I'm sleeping? So what exactly are you trying to make up for?"

I breathed heavily, trying to cool my anger. I needed to be rational. "Gabriella I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything but you have to try and understand where I'm coming from. I know I wasn't the perfect sister," She laughed mockingly, "I wasn't even a good sister but I tried. There isn't a manual or instruction book to it and you were so foreign to me. The complete opposite of me. It was hard Gabriella but I tried. I tried so bloody hard and it just didn't work. Nothing in our family worked. Mom, you and I are pretty much foreign to each other. I can't even believe we are related!"

Ragged breathing filled up the corridor and darling Izzy continued. "Mom and her 1850 ways. Me and the modern, hip era and you, you were just out there. An individual." I could hear her tears hit the tiles and it felt like the world had stopped. Izzy crying. Me standing there, watching on and I felt so helpless. The night had started out perfect and everything was going so wrong.

"Our family was screwed up from the beginning Gabriella. Mom never home. Me on the phone trying to organise something to get out of the house and you were locked up in your bedroom. SCREWED UP!" She sunk to the ground, sobbing into her hands. I turned and ran.

It wasn't until I had locked my bedroom door and I was safe that I realised my cheeks were wet.

"Good bye Gabriella. Take care of yourself and work hard. I'll be back in a week for your performance at the Gala." I kissed my mother's cheek. "You too mother. Have a safe trip back to Miami." She gave me one last hug and hopped into the cab taking her to the airport. I closed the door for her and waved at the swiftly disappearing taxi.

My mother had ignored 'Carla' all morning during breakfast. Acting as if they had just met last night.

I glanced to my left and I saw Troy hugging his family, 'Carla' looked up at me and I looked away quickly. Taking my time I walked back up the stone path to the school, my thoughts filled with last night. An arm wrapped itself around my shoulder. "What exactly happened last night? People don't usually faint for any reason."

I shrugged, trying to think up a reasonable answer. "Shock at actually getting the lead I guess." I looked up at him, the sun shining in my eyes and making me squint. Even so I could see his mouth set in a grim line. "I don't appreciate being lied to."

Huh? What was Troy talking about? So I asked him. "You know what Montez. You know precisely what I'm talking about." He jogged the rest of the way up and I walked at a slower pace. Oh god, he knew. He knew his sister in law was my biological sister!

I needed to talk to Chad. Desperately. I ran down corridors checking places he could possibly be. "Chad!" I knocked on his door again, more urgently than before. I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. "Urgh. You are impossible."

"Talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity." I spun around, relieved that I had finally found Chad. I moved aside so he could unlock his door. "Where were you?" I asked as soon as I was sitting on his desk chair and he was lying on his bed casually "About." He said vaguely.

I raised an eyebrow at his lack of information. "About?" I repeated. "About." He confirmed with a smirk on his face. "So what did you want to talk about?" I rolled my eyes. "Everything!" I must have sounded anxious because he sat up, looking at my intently.

"Well it all started when Troy introduced me to his family and then I met his sister in law…"

"And now he is angry because I lied to him!" I finished, glad I had finally told someone. He scratched his head. "Wow. I don't know what to say."

I clenched my fists in disappointment. No one could help me! "Maybe you should get a girl's opinion on this Gab. I'm no good at this stuff." Chad suggested. I shook my head, "The only girl I could tell would be Sharpay."

Chad stood up, angrily "And what's so wrong with Sharpay?" His voice was tinged with a tone of defence. I backed off hastily. "Nothing is wrong with Sharpay but telling her this means telling her everything about my past and that is exactly why I came here; for a fresh start." I emphasised the 'fresh start' bit. Chad sat back down and grunted, visibly satisfied with my explanation.

"There is practice for the Gala in about 20 minutes. So you might want to get ready." Chad said after a few minutes of companionable silence. I nodded, "Thanks. I'll meet you down there?" He got up and accompanied me to the door, "Yep. I'm one of the background dancers."

Rehearsal went great! It was mainly just Madam telling the seniors what we were going to do for the Gala this year. Like what sort of dances we were going to dancing, the moves required, and the emotions that were going to be put in our dances. "Chemistry Miss Montez and Mr Bolton. This Gala is all about the chemistry!"

The characters were Arnold and Minnie. The plot started off with Minnie being engaged to the director but in love with Arnold. Arnold was her co-star in the play that her fiancée was directing. There was no dialogue (A tradition for the Gala) but the emotions had to be put to the music and Madam said I had to work on my facial expressions if I was to pull it off perfectly.

We had two weeks to put together, Troy and I had only 3 dances together but we each had 1 solo and 1 more dance with another dancer. (I with the director; Zeke Baylor. Troy with Chad and Ryan Evans.)

After rehearsal was a completely different story.

Troy made sure the studio was empty before talking. "Why didn't you tell me Montez?" He asked angrily. "Tell you what? Something that I didn't even know about? I can imagine how that conversation would have gone." I retorted.

"Hey Bolton! Well… About that sister in law of yours that I had apparently never even met…"I trailed off and his jaw tightened; a sure sign that he was furious.

"I gave you the chance this morning to tell me and you didn't take it!" He strode up and down in the circle before stopping. "My brother told me last night while you and Izzy were in the sick bay. Next thing I know Izzy bursts into the room in tears and shaking. Izzy is the strongest person I have ever met. What the hell did you do to her?" He yelled, smashing his fist on the table.

Now I was the one to be furious. "What the hell did I do? I didn't do anything! She talked to me while she thought I was asleep! You can't have met many people Bolton if you think she is the strongest." I stood up so I was not as intimidated by his height and broad shoulders.

Silence ensued and ragged breathing ensued. "We need to work together for the Gala, not fight Montez." He said slowly and with deliberation. I rolled my eyes and changed my voice into a high pitch "No way! Really?" He chuckled and forgiveness was not needed anymore.

Troy sat on the ground and patted the spot next to him. I swiftly complied. We started talking about the rehearsals and our social lives were going to go down the drain. "At least we'll have each other for company." I said and laughed.

He laughed with me and echoed my previous statement. "We'll have each other." I looked up at him and continued laughing. It was so weird and different with him and me. He smiled back at me and then Troy kissed me on the lips.

Like he had just touched a hot potato, he pulled back hurriedly and muttered a 'sorry' before slamming the studio door behind him.

Oh my god. I had let him kiss me.

And I liked it.

I had done the impossible.

Fallen for Troy Bolton.

You guys have outdone yourselves! 33 reviews? Thank you! I'm just really sorry about the delay of the chapter. School lets out on the 21st for a two week break, so hopefully I'll finish this story then (4 chapters left!) and then you will get regular updates.

Key word: Hopefully.