A/N: This is one of my first fanfics, and this idea is entirely original…This story might actually get somewhere, since I've planned it out some. (: (Revised/edited—spell check, etc.--on Aug. 22, 2007.)

Gabriella Montez worked at her locker combination. You'd think that after going to school here for a almost a year that I'd know how to do a combination. What is it now... March? She smiled and finally got it open, getting her textbooks, notebooks, and binder from it. She almost jumped when she felt someone tap her lightly on her shoulder. She whirled around to face Principal Matsui and a girl she never recalled seeing before. She smiled uneasily.

"Miss Montez," Principal Matsui nodded politely. "We have another new student here at East High. Meet Cara Vergara." He gestured to the girl, who smiled shyly. "I was wondering if you'd mind showing her around? You have the same classes, ironically, and, well, I'm sure both of you will get along just fine. Her locker is only five away from here… #209." With that, Principal Matsui walked away.

"Hi," Cara broke the silence. Gabriella examined her knew "assigned friend." She had pretty, black, wavy tresses that fell just above her elbow, chinky, Oriental eyes that twinkled whenever she smiled, and a pretty, little-girl smile. Cara wore all white—a white, lace, ruffled vintage top, low-rise pants, and a blazer that accentuated her large gold medallion earrings.

"Hey," Gabriella returned politely, balancing her books in the crook of her arm against her hip. "I'm Gabriella Montez."

"Nice to meet you, Gabriella," Cara began, when Sharpay blew in. Cara seemed to shrink back instinctively, somewhat cowering behind Gabriella.

"Well, well, well." Sharpay said, wearing the same pink tweed ensemble she had worn last year, the day after winter break. Her golden-blonde hair, however, was teased into two low pigtails. Gabriella found it funny how Sharpay was the only girl she knew of that could wear her hair like that without looking like a wanna-be middle-schooler. "Look what we have here. You taking Troy's lead and showing around…" she sniffed, "new students?"

"Principal Matsui said that Cara and I have the same classes." Gabriella never knew her voice could come out so boldly. She surprised herself again by stepping forward, countering the drama queen. "Come on, Cara. Let's get to class."

"You know her?" Cara whispered, once they were out of earshot.

"It's just Sharpay," Gabriella laughed. "She might be a little rough around the edges, but she's okay once you get to know her—I've heard that sometimes she can even be nice."

Troy sneaked up behind Gabriella and quickly put his hands around her shoulders, some of his fingers on her neck. Gabriella screamed and whipped around, slapping Troy on the cheek. Seeing who it was, she gasped. "Oh my word, Troy! I'm so sorry!" Her face looked the way it had after she had slipped and landed her cheese fries on Sharpay's chest.

Troy looked back at her, grinning, but rubbing his cheek, which had turned red. "Ow," he laughed, but it was obvious it had hurt. " 'Word'?"

"Yes…word." Gabriella giggled, then remembered Cara, who had stepped back during this time. "Oh, and this is Cara Vergara? New student." Cara nodded.

"Nice to meet you, Cara," Troy held out his hand politely, and Cara shook it. Winking at Gabriella, he said, "See you during free period, Gabi." He clutched his heart dramatically, and ran to his own class.

Cara looked at Gabriella and smirked. "Cute boyfriend…Gabi." She tried out the nickname, and by her face Gabriella could tell that she liked it.

Gabriella looked at Cara incredulously, but she inwardly blushed and wished that it was true. "Oh…Troy? He's just a friend." Unfortunately…

"So then… you don't mind?"

Gabriella didn't like where this conversation was going. "Mind…what?" She wouldn't meet Cara's eyes.

"If I like him?"

Gabriella tried to fake a laugh. "I don't own you, Cara… sure you can. But if he asks me, I can't lie for you. Troy and I are like this." She wrapped her index finger around her middle finger and held up her entire hand.

Cara opened her mouth to say something, but the bell rang. Gabriella sighed with relief as she and Cara slipped into seats next to each other. She really, really wanted to drop the subject.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Cara obviously didn't want to change the subject. All she could talk about was Troy-this and Troy-that. Gabriella knew it was just seconds before she went insane. "Cara!" Gabriella took her friend by the shoulders and shook her. "Take this from someone who cares about you… get some help!" She let go and continued walking.

"But, Gabi! Don't tell me you don't think he's cute," Cara smirked.

"Friends don't see each other that way…and you don't even know his last name, interests, hopes…dreams!"

Cara sighed dreamily. "It doesn't really matter," she giggled, and at that moment Gabriella envied her—being able to proclaim her feelings, not caring what other people did or said. She sighed. But that just wasn't her.

Taylor had often teased her about being "psychoanalytic," and Gabriella took it good-naturedly, knowing that it was probably true. Especially with her feelings. She was always so "slow" with these things, always having to ask her self over and over whether what she felt really was true. She was snapped back to the present when she saw Cara walking into the theatre, right after Ryan and Sharpay. Ryan courteously held the door open for Cara, and she thanked him graciously, almost as if the ordeal with his twin sister had never happened earlier that morning.

Gabriella grabbed Cara's arm. "What do you think you're doing?" she hissed in a low tone. "Sharpay'll eat you."

"Won't she get suspended for that?" Cara laughed a little. "And, it's okay. Like you said, maybe she's just a little rough around the edges--hey, who knows?--maybe one day she'll even learn to tolerate me." She gasped dramatically, as though this was a big deal, and giggled.

Gabriella was taken a bit aback, and she was sure that it showed on her face. Oh, no... "You're a drama queen?" she asked incredulously.

"Maybe... but let's just say that my family as a bit of acting history." Cara grinned mysteriously and held the door open for Gabriella with one hand. "Coming? I want to join the drama club...the drama team..." she inhaled excitedly. "Showbusiness is kind of 'my thing,' I guess. It always has been. Acting, dancing, singing..."

"...singing?" Gabriella tried not to sound nervous, but she and Troy were already planning on auditioning for the spring "musicale."

"Mmhmm."

"Oh... wonderful."