Prologue:
One month today, the first thought that came to her mind as Gabriella opened her eyes on a sunny Saturday morning. Today was the official mark of her one month of dating her boyfriend Troy Bolton. Troy was the greatest boyfriend a girl could have, so Gabriella could barely believe her luck. When it came to relationships, they'd been through it all. Tests of trust and bending of their stereotypes were already thrown at the couple, but together they had still come out stronger.
Gabriella yawned and stretched out on her bed, excited to face this magnificent day. She jumped up, leaving her bed covers a mess, and went downstairs to make herself something for breakfast. He mother always had to work on Saturdays, so she was used to being home alone. But as she got downstairs, she saw a note on the front door. It read:
Look on the doorstep, Love Mom.
Gabriella smiled to herself. This had to have something to do with Troy. And sure enough, as she opened the door and breathed in the morning air, she spotted a package sitting on the front doormat, with a 'Gabriella' tag on it. She picked up the box and shook it like a small child on Christmas, but it didn't make any noise. She shut the door, and placed the box on the kitchen table. She got herself a glass of orange juice and sat down to open it.
She tore open the package and looked inside. She fished through the tissue paper and pulled out two things: a ring, and a mixed CD. The ring caught the light and gleamed with many beautiful colors. As Gabriella put it on, it changed to a solid shade of blue. It was a mood ring, simple but beautiful . . . like Troy. The CD was inscribed with Troy's messy handwriting. Squinting at it, she could just make out the words: Songs That Remind Me of US. She smiled at how incredibly sweet her boyfriend was. She didn't need anything fancy from him to know how much he loved her, it was the thought that counted and showed how much he knew about her. These two simple gifts were more than enough.
She opened the case and placed the CD into the stereo in her living room. Sipping her orange juice, she sat back into a recliner, closed her eyes, and listened.