Chapter 1: F-Stop Blues

A/N: Sup everyone, this is my second fic so hopefully my writing has improved. It's set about 6 years in the future. Troy is a freelance photographer that takes pictures of famous people. In other words he is a paparazzo. His next assignment is a talented broadway actress who has just won the part in a big movie that is coming up. Gabriella lives with Troy in a semi-platonic relationship. Ryan is Sharpay's manager. Troypay and Ryella .Anyway please read and review.

A door slammed as a man in his early twenties huffed out of an apartment complex, anger written across his face. He had just stomped out of his boss' office after he had received a thorough talking to. The truth was, his work had been slipping the past couple of weeks and he was extremely close to being fired. After he left the office and slammed the door, he instantly regretted it. So before he could be called back he quickly ran out of the building and down to his car so he could get home as soon as possible. The drive home through rush hour traffic was not very exciting; two freeway crashes, a stalled car and the sun in your eyes all added to the headache that had reached migraine level. The silence in the car allowed him to recall the entire ordeal word for word.

Earlier that afternoon

"You wanted to see me boss?" Troy stuck his head through the door into the well appointed office. A middle aged man with aviator sunglasses and a business suit on swiveled in his chair to greet his employee.

"Troy, just the man I wanted to talk to." A grin broke onto the man's face, his forehead wrinkling up with the facial movement. Troy strode over to him and shook his hand firmly before taking a seat across from him.

"So Al what did you want to see me about?" He got straight to business, wondering what was so important that he would have to talk to him. Al shuffled some papers on his desk and clicked something off on his computer before finally looking up at Troy.

"Have I ever told you that you were one of my favorite photographers?"

"No, I don't think you ever said that to me." Troy was confused about this rather odd way to start a conversation.

"Well you were until last week when you gave me these pictures." He turned the stack of photos so that Troy could look at them.

"What's so bad about these?" Troy asked while flipping through various pictures. Al frowned at him before taking the stack back.

"We're in the celebrity business. We get paid big money from big name magazines to get candid shots of these celebs. So why are you taking pictures of these nobody people or of birds in trees or clouds?" His voice was steadily rising as was he out of his seat. He finished his tirade by picking up the stack of photos and throwing them in the trash.

"Look kid, you're a great photographer and you've had some pretty hot selling photos in the past. But if you want to stay in this business you can't just take random pictures." Al sat back down and dabbed at his forehead with a napkin.

"That wasn't all my fault. The info guy was wrong and Paris didn't even show up there. My phone was dead so I couldn't get an update on her position. So I got bored and took pictures of anything."

"I don't need excuses. This isn't the first time that this happened you know. A couple of months ago you pulled the same thing. And a lot of your shots are mediocre. You can't even tell who the hell it is in some of these. I need good, quality shots of real celebrities all of the time." He sighed as he was running out of steam. Troy just sat there sullenly as he was picked apart by Al.

"Look, I really like you kid. You got potential. So I'm giving you a chance to get back on my good graces. There's this Broadway singer, Shari Evans. She just got the lead part in a big movie and is moving out here to L.A. to try to get her foot in the door to a movie career. She's flying in tomorrow afternoon and I want you to get pictures of her." Troy nodded as each piece of information sunk in.

"In fact, she's your next assignment. For the duration of the shooting of this movie I want you to get the exclusive shots. On the set, at home, in the clubs, some random alley, the bathroom. I want all of your pictures about her. No more ponies ok? Now get out of here." Al finished with a wave of his hand, not even allowing Troy to get a word in edgewise.

Just as the story finished replaying in his head, he pulled into his apartment complex that was across town. He parked his Integra in his stall and locked it up before trudging up the stairs. There wasn't really a point to locking that car. It was L.A., carjacking city and he drove the number one most stolen car. He fumbled for his keys in his pocket before fishing it out and clicking the lock. He pushed the door open and stepped into the small one bedroom apartment. He looked through the mail that was left on the counter finding just bills. Troy called out to his roommate while reaching into the refrigerator to grab a beer.

"Hey Gabi I'm home." He popped open the tab and quickly downed the drink. Gabriella appeared from the bedroom wearing a cotton robe.

"Hey, I just got out of the shower. How was work?" She turned to go back into the bedroom to go change. Troy followed her in and recounted his awful afternoon while watching her change. It wasn't anything he hadn't seen before. They had gone out for a few years and had even moved in together but in the end they decided to just be friends. The only reason they still lived together was because they couldn't afford to live apart. Troy's paychecks were sporadic, simply from the nature of his job. All of Gabriella's money was invested in her small café that she owned.

"So I have to go to the airport and take pictures of some chick. I don't even know what she looks like! My boss wasn't so clear on those details." Troy was ranting on while Gabi just pretended to listen to him. She didn't notice that he had stopped speaking though so when Troy waved his hand in front of her face it startled her.

"Are you even listening to me?" He asked her, getting a tick in his eyebrow.

"Of course. Your boss treats you like crap and you hat this job. You wish you could make movies instead of take pictures of people in movies. I've heard it a thousand times." She turned to him and put her arms around his neck as she kissed him softly before drawing him in for a hug.

"I know you hate it but we need the money. Until I pay off all of my loans for the café, we're living entirely on what you make." She broke the embrace and walked into the kitchenette.

"What do you want for dinner?" She rummaged through the fridge and groaned. Troy walked up beside her about to say something before she popped up, Tupperware in hand.

"Never mind, we're eating leftovers." Troy groaned as well as she popped it into the microwave.

Meanwhile, across the country

Cheers and congratulations were shouted in a private room of an upscale restaurant. The entire cast of the Broadway musical, "The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous", had rented out the room to congratulate one of their own. Shari Evans was leaving on a plane tonight to L.A. The reason she was leaving was because she had just gotten the starring role in a big Hollywood production. The guest of honor was wrapping up the evening with a thank you speech.

"I want to thank you all for the spectacular evening. What a surprise party!" She smiled at the memory of being brought in blindfolded by her brother, Riley, and the screaming of 'surprise!' when the blindfold was removed.

"Anyway thank you again, I will miss all of you but I have to leave now." A collective 'aww' went out through the room as she went toward the door.

"Bye guys!" She waved one final time before walking out the door. Riley was waiting for her with a cab, door held open. He gestured for her to hurry up and she quickly crossed the sidewalk to the open door and stepped in, smiling at him before she ducked her head. Riley followed and closed the door.

"To the airport please." Riley directed the cab driver. There luggage was already packed into the trunk.

"I can't believe I'm actually leaving for Hollywood Ryan!" She was practically hopping in her seat in anticipation.

"Shar, how much did you have to drink tonight?" He raised an eyebrow at her inquisitively.

"Just one. I'm just really excited. I'm gonna be a movie star!" She squealed again, the giddiness overtaking her.

"Sharpay, calm down. You're distracting the driver." He scolded her and she fell silent, pouting. The rest of the drive was quiet, save for the occasional car horn. When they arrived at the airport Ryan helped Sharpay out of the cab as the driver went to the trunk to unload the luggage. Ryan thanked the man and paid him before turning to go into the airport. They went through security without a problem and boarded their plane to Los Angeles.

A/N: How's that for a first chapter. I have a good feeling about this story but that is entirely up to you. Hate it or love it, please review.