After Gabriella dropped her sisters off at school the next morning, she was in search of Troy Bolton. He always sought her out and she felt like she should find him every once in a while. He had weeks of investigating where she was most of the time, she had no idea where he liked to hang out other than the garden. That was her first stop.

She opened the doors and didn't find him. She looked beyond the lush greenery and the blossoming buds and came up empty. She sighed and checked her watch. She was going to be late for class if she didn't leave now. She cursed to herself and ran down the stairs. She pushed through the doors and turned the corner heading towards the stairs.

She felt a strong hand on her arm stopping her legs. "What?" She asked, turning to look to see who it was.

Owen smiled at her. "Where are you off too so fast?"

"Class?" She said. "I don't have time for this. I have to go."

"Wait!" Owen asked, holding onto her arm. "You going to the party tomorrow?"

"No." She said, pulling her arm away. "I have to go."

She made quick work rushing down the stairs greeting friends with a breathless hello as she walked by. The bell rang while she was still down the hall from Darbus' classroom. She rushed inside but was stopped by Darbus who looked at her with a curious look.

"Ah, Ms. Montez. I thought we were over our tardiness binge. I see you need lunch detention to remind you why we don't like to be tardy."

"Really?" Gabriella asked, annoyed. "I was two seconds late! I ran all the way from the third floor!"

"We can make it for all next week."

Gabriella closed her eyes briefly and shut her mouth. She walked to her seat and slumped down in defeat. She couldn't believe this. She didn't even want to look at Troy. She just wanted to go home and lay in her bed and possibly kill Owen for giving her yet another detention. Anger hit her, straight in the face. She was pissed off.

Darbus was an asshole who played favorites. Owen was just an inconvenience to her life. She wanted to take the reins. She wanted to be free and in control for once in her life. She took a deep breath and stood up. She grabbed her backpack and turned to walk out the door.

"Excuse me, Miss Montez." Darbus started.

Gabriella walked out the door and didn't look back. She took off running. She ran up the stairs and to the place she'd been previously. She stopped to take a breath once she hit the double doors. She pushed her way through and walked up the last set of stairs. She took a seat on the bench and sighed.

It felt so good to get out of class. It felt so good to just ignore the annoying part of herself that wants to be responsible all of the time. She felt herself smile. With that smile, she hummed the tune of an unfinished song that was stuck in her head. She pulled out her lyric book quickly and scribbled the thoughts in her head.

She heard the bell ring that signaled homeroom was over. She sighed, looking at her book. Did she really have to go to Trig? She supposed not. She was ready to get out of the school and go drive around for the day. Heaven knows she wasn't going home. She packed her book and turned quickly when the doors opened.

"Cupcake?"

She smiled instantly before she turned around to see him. "What are you doing up here, TB?" She asked softly as she watched his head come up the stairs.

He smiled when he noticed her sitting on the bench. "More like, what are you doing up here, Gabriella Montez?"

She turned on the bench to face him. "Just hanging out." She said with a shrug.

Troy chuckled, taking a couple steps forward. "Where were you this morning?"

"Looking for you." She explained, looking up at him. "I came up here but then the bell rang and I ran down stairs. Owen caught me and asked if I was going to the party tonight and I was two seconds away from kicking him in the balls. Then I went to Darbus got detention and left."

He shook his head at her. "Come here." He reached his arms out for her. She got up and wrapped her arms around him. "You're missing Trig, you know that right?"

"I'm aware." She hummed, snuggling her face into his chest. "Monday's suck."

"I agree." He brushed her hair back and kissed the top of her head. "Are you going to go to class today?"

"I haven't decided yet. I feel content right here, I was writing my song and now you're here. I don't want to go to class. I just want to be in New York." She sighed. "I need to talk to my dad."

"Why?" He asked curiously, pulling back to look at her face.

"I know my mother is not on my side. I can hopefully persuade my dad into flying me over there to make open auditions that are coming up in a couple weeks. It's for a spring and summer program for freshman." Her eyes lit up. "It's going to be amazing. All music majors are composing pieces that are going to be put together for a freshman showcase at the beginning of the fall semester."

"That's such an amazing opportunity." Troy said with a grin. He loved the way her eyes lit up when she spoke with passion. That's what hooked him in when she spoke last year. "What do you think he'll say?"

"I'm sure he's going to hate the idea. That is when I'm going to pull the abandonment card and yadda yadda." She said, waving her hand. "I just want to be free Troy. I want to start my life. I-" She paused, to look at his face. "When I'm hanging out with you, I'm the happiest I've been in years."

She reached over for his hands. He laced his fingers with hers. "I feel the same." He said, squeezing her hand. "I will be here for you, every step of the way."

She leaned up and kissed his lips once. "Do you want to get out of here?"

"Hell yeah." Troy said, getting up, pulling her to him. She kissed his lips firmly. He cupped the back of her head, keeping her close. His tongue brushed her bottom lip, waiting for her to part her lips so he could get a quick taste.

She pulled away slowly, turning to pick up her backpack. "Where to first, TB?" She walked, descending down the stairs.

He followed in quick pursuit. "I don't know. I still have our lunch so whenever you're hungry we can eat."

"Sounds good to me. I would say let's go back to my house but my mother is there and Rose." She sighed.

"My mom stayed home sick so she'll be home." Troy said with a half smile.

"That's okay." She hummed, as she was stopped just behind the double doors that lead to the hallway. "I wish I was in New York already. There's millions of things to do in the city and tons of places that you can drive to in a matter of hours. We have nothing here."

"Sure we do." Troy said with a wide grin. "I think we could find something to do."

"I think I want to stop by Music World first." She said, lacing their fingers together.

"Your wish is my command." He kissed her fingers. "Run on three."

She grinned. "Let's go."

"One."

"Two."

"Three." Troy pushed open the doors and took off. Gabriella ran behind, giggling as he tugged her along. They almost stumbled down the stairs but they quickly caught themselves. "Shh." Troy warned as they laughed together. They ran down the second hall way to the next set of stairs that lead straight to the student parking lot.

She pushed the doors open before she pulled out her keys. She unlocked her car just before they hopped in. She turned the key in the ignition and drove out of the parking lot. Troy let out a breath once they were away from the school. He reached over to rest his hand on her thigh.

Gabriella didn't mind. She just drove toward downtown Albuquerque- the closest feeling of New York in the small bustling city. "Music world, TB?" She asked, glancing over at him.

"Anywhere with you." He said honestly. He grinned squeezing her thigh gently. "Are you going to sing me a song?"

"I might." She said with a small grin. "Are you going to sing with me?"

Troy laughed. "Not a chance in hell."

She laughed then pouted. "Come on, TB. I know you got some vocals in there somewhere."

"After I heard you sing, I am never singing in front of you."

"Never?"

"Never."

She pouted again. "Don't say never. I'll get you to sing if it's the last thing I do."

"If you say so, cupcake."

"I do say so. Don't doubt me. I will do it." She said seriously. "We can do some vocal warm ups."

"Go ahead." Troy watched, amused.

Gabriella started making sounds with her mouth and throat. Troy watched her, intrigued. "Your voice is an instrument. It is also like your body. For Basketball you had to warm up your body to play your best. You exercise and continually make it stronger. You also need that for your voice." She informed, continuing to warm up her voice.

"You're so funny." Troy said with an amused smile.

"Come on, do it with me." She said with a grin.

"No, I'm okay." Troy chuckled.

"Just one. We can do tongue twisters." She offered.

Troy laughed, shaking his head. "I'll only do tongue twisters if my tongue is in your mouth."

Gabriella's eyebrows rose. "Oh yeah?" She smirked. "What about if your tongue was somewhere else?"

Troy's face flushed as he glanced at her. He turned his head, looking away from her. He looked out the window and scratched the back of his neck. The last moments in the car were awkwardly silent. Gabriella turned into a shopping mall and parked. She grabbed her small wallet and shoved it into her pocket before climbing out of the car. She locked the door after Troy got out. She waited for him and connected their hands as they turned to walk in the store.

Gabriella grinned as she saw the instruments. Music world was like her own personal heaven. It was her favorite store and she wished that she could buy one of everything. She dragged him straight to the pianos. She saw the grand piano sitting in the middle of the store. Her breath caught. It was simply amazing.

"I can't wait to live in a high rise penthouse in New York City. My walls are going to be windows so I can soak in the city from every angle of the apartment." Gabriella smiled, turning to Troy. "I don't want it all white and pristine. I want it homely and warm. I want it to feel like Christmas all year around, ya know? And in the middle of our living room, I want one of these babies." She gestured to the large piano.

Troy gave her a small smile. "Sounds perfect."

"I'll be a successful artist. Then I'll open my own label. That's my ultimate goal. I want to write and produce music. I want to perform and go on tour." She looked over at him with stars in her eyes. "Can you imagine?"

Troy nodded, brushing her hair back. "You should teach me how to play a guitar."

"Really?" She asked, looking at him. "You'd be interested in that?"

"Of course, cupcake. I don't know how good I would be." Troy looked around. "Let's start lesson number one right now." He took her over to the guitar section.

Gabi laughed. "Yes, lets." She picked up an acoustic and put the shoulder strap on him. She picked up another and put it on herself. "This is a guitar."

"No shit, cupcake."

She rolled her eyes. She adjusted her fingers and looked at him. "Copy me." She murmured. She strummed, playing a song she was working on. She looked up at Troy who just looked lost. She giggled and stopped playing. "I was kidding." She took the guitar off her and put it back.

"We can have a one on one at my house later." She smirked, taking the guitar off of him.

Troy ignored her comment and looked around the store. "These guitars are beautiful."

"Right?" She sighed. "I love acoustic guitars. I love the different looks from the wood and ugh." She grinned. "If I could marry music, I would."

Troy chuckled. "You're so cute, Cupcake." He kissed the top of her head. "Are you going to get anything?"

"I haven't decided yet." She collected his hand and lead him around the store again.

Troy wandered off into the drum section. He always wanted a drum set, mostly to just make noise. He took a seat at an electronic drum set and put the headphones over his ears. He tapped the snare curiously. His face lit up when he heard the sound come through the headphones. He took out the sticks and started wailing on the drum set. He heard the drums and symbols clash in his ears.

Gabriella stopped at the amplifiers. She was earnest to learn about electric instruments. She reminded herself to ask her guitar instructor about it, maybe even take him down here so he could give her an in depth lesson. She looked around for Troy but couldn't find him near. She swore he was right behind her. She turned the corner and saw him. He was sitting on a stool in front of a drum set beating away on the instrument silently. She couldn't help but giggle. He was honestly the cutest boy she's ever hung out with.

She watched him for a minute before walking over there. She took the head phones off his head and put them on. He stopped abruptly before he saw who was behind him. He grinned before starting to play again. Gabriella heard a burst of noise in her ears and made a face at Troy. He laughed and continued to clash on the symbols. She laughed reaching over to stop his sticks. He stopped, standing up to take the head phones off of her and put them back into place.

"That was interesting, TB." She commented, taking his hand.

He smiled. "I want one of those. I'm not very musically inclined though."

"You can always learn." She reminded him. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yep."

"I think I want to stop by my dad's office while were downtown. I don't know how long it'll take." She hummed leading him out of the store. "I probably get kicked out cause he's in a meeting or something."

"We can go, I'll just wait in the car." He told her, twirling her around as they got to the car. He held her hips to stop her before pressing his lips against hers. She smiled against his lips, holding onto the back of his head.

She unlocked the car as she kissed him again. He pulled the door open for her after he pulled away. "Thank you." She grinned, smacking his behind as he walked away from her.

Troy laughed, walking around to get settled in the passenger seat.

Five minutes later, they pulled up to a tall building. Gabriella parked out front and looked over to Troy. "This is a twenty minute loading zone. If I'm not back in fifteen minutes, call me." She told him, leaning over to give him a kiss. "I'll be right back."

"I'll be right here." He grinned, pulling out his phone.

Gabriella got out of the car and walked into the building. She remembered the building quite well. She hadn't been there in a couple years but not much has changed. She walked over to the elevator and hit the button to the fifth floor. She scooted over for a couple of men in business suits holding their briefcases and coffee. She stood quietly, listening to them talk about quarterly figures and post-meeting meetings. She was glad she didn't have a mind for business.

The elevator opened to the fifth floor and she walked out. His secretary was not at her desk. She decided to walk back towards his office. She stopped for a moment to look around. She frowned. The floor was practically empty. She decided to push open the door to his office to see if he was actually in or not.

She froze immediately. She covered her mouth watching her father thrust into some blonde woman who was bent over his desk. "Aw, yeah." Her father groaned with his eyes closed. He had a fistful of the womans dress in his hands. Gabriella's stomach turned. She was in shock. She couldn't turn around and run out like she wanted to.

The lady that her father was fucking suddenly turned around. "Oh my god." Gabriella let out. Mrs. Derby Evans opened her eyes suddenly, pushing Gabriella's father off of her. Her father scrambled to pulled up his pants that were around his ankles. "Oh my fucking god!"

"Bunny-"

"Don't call me that! Not after I just watch you fuck Mrs. Evans on your desk!" She was sure she was going to be sick.

"Gabriella…"Her father pleaded. "Please, your mothe-"

Gabriella rubbed her face slowly. "I'm not going to tell her… if that's what you want to know." She interrupted.

"Oh, Thank goodness." Mrs. Evans said, smoothing out her dress.

"Why aren't you at school?" Her father asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Why are you fucking Sharpay's mom?" She countered. She shook her head quickly. "I need to go before I throw up all over the both of you. I'll call you later. We have some things we need to discuss… and you better answer."

She turned and walked back to the elevator. "This day has officially just gotten worse." She murmured to herself, rubbing her forehead. She rode the elevator down and walked out to her car where Troy was waiting. She climbed in the car and looked over at Troy.

"Are you okay? You look kind of pale…"

She shook her head. "I don't know." She said, with a shrug. "I want to lay down."

"You think we can sneak into your room?" He asked, reaching over for her hand.

"I guess we can try." She murmured, squeezing Troy's hand tightly, not letting go the rest of the drive to The Ridge.

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