I would be saying, "Thanks for all of the reviews! I truly appreciate them!" but I only got ONE. Looks like you ARE always there, xXalways.hereXx!

Disclaimer-The closest I've ever been to owning High School Musical was going to Disney Land with the school Choir. I will never ever be able to own any of the designer labels mentioned in this story.

Moving on:

Aralyn and Aiden waved to me from Aralyn's father's car. I waved back, stepping into the house. I kicked off those stupid Mui Muis that my dad's wife made me wear and made my way to their kitchen.

"Where have you been?" Tacy, Dad's newset wife was drumming her totally fake nails on the kitchen table. "I got a call from your school right in the middle of my Yogalates lesson, and it literally ripped my zen in half."

I cocked an eyebrow at her, reaching into our Sub-Zero fridge for a bottled Perrier. "Whoops. I sort of got lost with some new friends." I shrugged.

"Friends?" Tacy's mood lightened. "You made friends today? Honey, that's great!" She came over to me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. I swear I have no clue what a hot thing like her was doing with my father, who was a non-greasy version of Antonio Banderas. Tacy always told me that when she was my age, she was in Milan, modeling for some catalouge, but I think she'd be better off in one of those car magazines. "How about we celebrate? With a shopping trip?"

"I can't. I really need to IM Shar. It's been ages since we've spoken." I called over my shoulder, already heading for the stairs.

I sighed when I entered my room. Yves St. Laurent trunks and Louis Vuitton duffel bags littered the floor. And my bed was still somewhere in storage, leaving me with only a sleeping mat and the hardwood floor. It seemed like I would never know when my dad's place would become a home. Hell, I didn't even have a car. I logged onto the Internet on my laptop, opening my e-mail accout.

Christmas Pictures!

That was the only message on my Inbox. It was from Sharpay. I opened it, scrolling through all of the pictuers they had taken during a Christmas party, while I was packing up.

They were all the same. My close group of friends, huddled together, smiling for Troy's digital camera. Chad and Taylor together. Even one of Sharpay and Troy. Touching. I laughed, imagining Troy inching towards Sharpay, afraid that she was going to bite him or something.

My cordless phone lit up on my bed. I wasn't really sure who it was from the caller ID, but I still picked up. "So... you live down the street from me." I heard a smiling voice on the other end. "You should come over sometime."

"Um... who is this?" I asked cautiously.

"How do you not know who I am? My father owns the property that's under your feet. This is Leila. Leila Alexander... you know, the chick that sits next to you in first period." I could feel her rolling her eyes on the other end.

How on earth did she get my room number? That's pretty stalker-ish. "So anyways..." she contintued. "You're sitting with us at lunch tomorrow. Be sure to wear something cute. Okay? Bye."

She hung up before I could get in another word.

"You have lunch plans today?" Aiden asked me at my locker.

"Sorry." I frowned. "Some girl named Leila..."

"Leila Alexander?" Aralyn elbowed Aiden, and they busted out laughing. "What a fake."

"What's wrong with her?" I asked defensively. "She seems to know what she wants. And that's to be friends with me. It's a wise choice... if you ask me." I smirked, slamming my locker shut. "I'll talk to you later." I started toward the outdoor cafeteria, spotting Leila and her tight group of friends immediately under a huge oak tree.

Leila waved me over to their pinic table. "Guys, this is Gabriella Montez." she introduced me. I tried not to look at her in confusion. How did she know my name? I hadn't said more than five words to her. "And she's going to hang out with us." Leila finished. "This is Charley," she revealed the brunette on her left, "and this is Avery." a firey redhead on her right. I took a seat across from them.

"We hear your mom is a model." Avery immediately jumped me. "We Googled your family and it turns out you guys are pretty famous."

"Avery!" Leila elbowed her friend. "Gosh, no need to sound like a stalker." The three girls in front of me were amazingly, annoyingly pretty. Making me feel really self-conscious. "Anyways, can we meet your mom? Say, after school today? After we hit my house, I mean."

"She's not my mother." I shook my head. "I mean, she's my dad's wife, but my mother lives in New Mexico."

"Whatever." Leila rolled her eyes. "The point is, we're meeting her."

"Okay... Gabriella, if you're going to be hanging out with us, you'll need to accept a few..." she plucked the Nanette Lepore scarab dot hatler top out of my closet and pressed it against her body. "...rules. Where the hell do you get clothes like these? Your mom... or whatever must have the ultimate hook-up."

Charley and Avery stepped into my walk-in closet too, taking a right turn to my dresses. "Rule number one:" Charley started, "Always flirt. But only with popular guys and rich college boys."

"Rule number two:" Avery jumped in, "Always look cute. And no repeating outfits in the same month. That's just wrong. But it doesn't seem like it'll be a problem for you." she smiled and pulled a turquoiseMarc by Marc Veronica dots voile dress off of its hanger.

"Rule number three:" Leila dropped the halter top to the floor, pulling me into the closet with everyone else, "No drugs. Drinking is okay. But don't act drunk, unless you absolutely can't help it. Drugs are for low-lifes." she slid her small foot into a Rock and Republic strap pump. "So, you have your eye on any boy?" she asked me wobbling on the two inch heels.

"Actually..." I leaned against a rack of blouses, hiding my smile. Everyone froze, looking to me with excitement. "Aiden Elliot seems pretty nice." I shrugged.

Leila, Charley, and Avery simultaneously looked to each other. A big "Eeeeeewww!" came from the three of them. "Don't you know? Aiden is a fucking stoner, and Aralyn is a lesbian." Leila rolled her eyes. "Unless you want your social status to get buried with theirs, I advise that you never talk to them again." Charley and Avery nodded in agreement.

I stayed quiet as the three of them continued trying on my clothes, ruining my newly renovated closet. What Leila said about Aiden couldn't be true... right?

"Don't worry about it, Gabriella." Charley assured me. "There are plenty of hot popular guys. Oh! Dreyton Blakeman would be perfect for you." Charley gushed.

"You would know." Leila put her hands on her hips, finally finding her balance on my ridiculous Rock and Republics. "You blew him." she teased.

I froze and felt my face becoming warm. They spoke about it as if they were discussing the weather. I looked down at the pink marble tile of the floor as they continued. "We were totally out of it that night." she defended herself. "It's not like there was an empty bedroom in that house, Leila. You slept with Therin York." she recalled.

I wished that I could disappear into a rack of designer clothes and never return, it was so embarrassing. When Leila saw me panicked, she pounced. "You have slept with someone, haven't you, Gabriella?" she raised an eyebrow at me.

"I... uhhh..." I wrung my hands. the truth was, I hadn't even been alone in a room with a boy.

"No way!" Avery laughed. "You? You're still a virgin? You're so hot, that's kind of hard to believe."

"Yeah," Leila agreed. "You've got a lot of potential." she nodded.

I felt myself lift off the ground with new pride. "To do what?"

Leila shook her head and rolled her eyes. "To be popular,duh!"

Another chapter! PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!