Gabriella Montez turned away from her window and sighed. How long had she been standing there, remembering her glory days? She glanced over at the clock to check, and was completely startled to discover that it was already past the time she was supposed to meet her best friend, Taylor, at Starbucks. She looked down at her clothes, which consisted of jeans and a tank top. She slid on a pair of flip flops, and decided that her outfit was complete. She didn't take much interest in herself these days, anyway.

Gabriella ran outside, pulling on her sunglasses as she stepped out into the glaring sun. She practically sprinted to her car, a green Honda Accord, and started the engine, willing the air conditioner to blow freezing air. She turned her Ipod onto shuffle, and like magic, a song that could always lift her spirits came on. She sang along absently to Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles" as she wove her way through the evening traffic. She pulled into Starbucks, and looked at the clock. Only 15 minutes late. Maybe Taylor wouldn't harp on her too badly.

She walked into the Starbucks, silently thanking whoever invented air conditioning. She looked around, spotted Taylor at their usual table, and walked over to her, already trying to figure out what defense she would use this time.

Taylor grinned as Gabriella came over. "Just look at the time, Gab, look at the time." She playfully said. "What are we going to do with you?"

Gabriella smiled and said right back, "Well, we can't all be early to everything."

Taylor, being the highly evolved friend that she was, immediately noticed that Gabriella was not quite herself. She knew exactly what was wrong, however, and decided that she wouldn't press the issue. Instead she said, "How was work?"

Gabriella was a journalist, working in downtown Santa Fe at the local newspaper.

"Oh, it was fine." Gabriella answered. "Slow news day, though. You?"

"Same as always," Taylor answered. "I swear, high schoolers get more immature every year. I mean, there is absolutely no way that we were that horrible when we were in high school."

Gabriella smiled. "Of course we weren't. So, how's Travis?" she asked, a mischievous look in her eyes. Travis was a student that apparently paid no mind to the obvious "no teacher and student fraternization" rule at the school. He openly flirted with Taylor, and even broached the subject of a "romantic evening" with his Chemistry teacher.

Taylor rolled her eyes. "Enough. So, you ready?"

"Am I ever!" Gabi said. "Ready...go!"

It was a game that they had begun during their college days. Both women loved to people-watch, and it had started as just guessing what people did for a living and sometimes, what their name was. Recently it had turned into more of a guy-hunt, persay, as Taylor and Gabriella were both unattached.

"Two o'clock, green shirt." Taylor said, gesturing inconspicuously to a brown-haired man in his mid-twenties."

Gabriella checked out the guy. She started to giggle. "Taylor," she whispered. "Look at the shirt closer. Or do you not see that pocket protector and the pocket full of pens?"

Taylor sighed. "Fine," she said. "Um...Seven o'clock, blue shirt. With the guy in the brown shirt. You know, the one with the hair."

Gabriella decided to check this situation out more closely, as there were two guys, which made it much more convenient. She zeroed in on the guy with the brown shirt first. He looked familiar, but she couldn't quite place why. She looked at his friend, and recognition came."

"Taylor, we've got to get out of here. That's Troy and Chad."

A/N: So, thoughts? I know it's short. Just thought I'd try my hand at HSM.