A/N: I got the idea for this first part from the writer of Love Tips.
Gabriella woke with a start to her alarm clock buzzing at 6:00 a.m. on Friday morning. She got out from in between her lavender bed spread to turn off the alarm. After flipping on her bedroom light she made her bed. Every wrinkle had disappeared when she was done. Gabriella smoothed the surface one more time before walking lightly to the bathroom. The room soon filled with steam from the shower as she stepped into the warm water. She thought about all the things she had to do that day, tests that were set for that week, and the final performance of East Highs spring musical. Gabriella turned off the water and reached for a towel. She got out and stood in front of the big mirror in her equally big bathroom. She blew dry her hair and gathered her curly dark brown locks into a loose side ponytail so it hung over her shoulder and tied it with a light blue bow. Back in her room she pulled on the clothes she had picked out the day before. A tank top with a simple swirl design etched in black going down the side. Her jeans were faded and had the same swirl design on the pockets. From her dresser she picked out blue stud earrings and a matching necklace and bracelet. Gabriella looked at the clock, it was 6:45. Just enough time to eat breakfast, brush her teeth and get to the bus stop. She put on her blue corduroy jacket and white ballet flats before she headed down the stairs.
Troy slammed his hand down on the snooze button of his alarm clock for the fifth time that morning, attempting to snuggle back to sleep. He was having such a nice dream too that involved a certain doe eyed girl that just happened to play his opposite in a certain musical.
"Troy, get up! It's 6:30. You're going to be late!" Troy's mom yelled from down the hall.
Troy's eyes snapped open. Shit, he was going to be late. Troy scrambled out of bed, not bothering to make it and rushed into the bathroom. He took a record time shower and stepped out with a towel around his waste. He toweled off his hair and shook his head so that his wet bangs fell in front of his eyes. Troy squeezed toothpaste out of it's tube and shoved his toothbrush into his mouth, he wouldn't have time for breakfast today. He spit in the sink and rushed back to his room, rummaging through his closet where he found a blue long sleeved shirt, and a pair of jeans. It was 7:00, the bus would be there any minute. Troy grabbed his backpack, pulled on his white basketball shoes and rushed down the stairs, and out the door.
Gabriella closed her bookwhen she saw the bus come around the corner and prepare to stop in front of her house. Prefect timing. She stepped onto the dirtyyellow bus and made her way to the back, sitting in front of her best friend, Taylor. Taylor smiled at Gabriella but was too preoccupied by the handsome boy sitting across from her to say anything.
"Hi Taylor, Chad."
"Good morning." they said at the same time. They looked at each other and giggled.
Gabriella smiled. Match made in heaven. She opened her book again and began reading. When she looked up, the bus was heading down a certain brown haired, blue eyed boy's street that just happened to play her opposite in a certain musical. Her stomach did a flip flop. The bus stopped at Troy Bolton's house just as Troy himself race out the door and down the drive way, his backpack slung over one shoulder.
Gabriella quickly looked down, pretending to read her book. She could hear someone step onto the bus and she looked up. Troy immediately looked at her and smiled. She smiled back. Why did he have to smile like that?
A bolt of lightning ran down Troy's spine as she smiled at him. Why did she have to be so beautiful? Troy walked to the back of the bus as it started moving. Are you sure that this is you? A little voice in Troy's head said. Going to sit with the prettiest girl in school? I mean, yes you are the basketball star, but you're not that lucky. The bus picked up speed and Troy stumbled, almost falling into Gabriella's lap. Oh, so it is you then.
"Sorry." Troy braced himself with the side on the seat and pushed himself into the one opposite Gabriella, placing himself on the edge to he could talk to her better.
Gabriella for her part was giggling. "It's fine."
Chad pulled himself away from Taylor long enough to say. "Hey bud." and give Troy a high five.
Troy and Gabriella soon settled into a conversation about school, but mostly about the musical.
"..and then it's side step, step forward, and twirl." Gabriella corrected Troy on a dance step.
"Right."
"We have to get it right tonight, it's the last chance."
Troy nodded. In every performance, at least one actor or actress had messed up in some way shape or form. It wasn't something horrific most of the time, but it was still frustrating. "We'll get it right tonight. If not, I will personally see to it that whoever messed up, even if it was me, gets a severe duffing." he said humorously.
Gabriella smiled widely. "See to it."
"Are you going to be able to make it to the cast party? You said yesterday you weren't sure."
"Yeah, I'll be late though. I've got that Decathlon thing"
Troy looked slightly put but recovered quickly. "All for the better, they might have wanted us to sing at the start and you know how much I hate singing with you."
Gabriellaraised her eyebrows. "Oh really?"
"Yeah, day after day, it's pure torture." A smile played on his lips.
Gabriella nodded in an understanding way then practically pounced on him, poking his sides which made him yelp and jump. Everybody on the bus turned around to stare at him.
"Stop," Troy said between pokes. "Gabbi, please!"
Gabriella stopped and held an innocent smile on her face. She loved it when he called her that.
"You'll have to pay for that later miss."
"Troy Bolton, you should know by now that you do not scare me."
"I should though. I'llsuprise when you least expect it."
They both smiled and looked at each other. Neither one said anything. It was about to become an awkward silence when the bus slowed to a stop in front of the school.
Troy cleared his throat and stood up, gesturing for Gabriella to go in front of him. Getting off the packed bus, he was standing so close to her he could smell her hair, it smelled like lavender.
Troy, Gabriella, Chad and Taylor got off together and walked to the front door of East High, then Troy and Chad went one direction and the girls went the other.
Chad sighed contently. Troy took note of this and said. "Looks like things are going well for you and Taylor."
Chad smiled broadly. "Yeah, great."
There was a moment of silence as they reached their lockers and did their combinations. "What about you and Gabriella?"
Troy's hand slipped on the lock, he had to start over again. "what do you mean." he said, fanning stupidity.
Chad rolled his eyes. "It's completely obvious you like her man, and she likes you."
"You think she does"
"Of course. Everyone can tell.. except for you two."
Troy's body warmed. Actually, he could tell. But he hadn't done anything about it since he kissed her cheek after auditions and his good buddy Chad had interrupted them in the gym. His nerves always seemed to get the best of him.
"I don't know." Troy took his math book from his locker and shut it.
"Superstar player Troy isn't afraid of anything. Except asking Gabbi out."
"I'm not afraid." Troy said a little to quickly.
"Then do it, today." Chad said aggressively, then "Come on man, you're wasting time."
Taylor looked backwards at Chad and Troy as they walked down the opposite hall. "Things are going to great for me and Chad! She said in a springy way.
"That's great." Gabriella said a little too enthusiastically.
Taylor understood. "How are things going with you and Troy?"
Gabriella sighed. "They're not." She stopped at her locker. "He hasn't said anything since we almost kissed after auditions. Maybe he doesn't like me like that."
"Are you kidding girl? I've seen the way he looks at you. He's probably just being shy. Maybe you should ask him."
Gabriella shook her head. "No way. I get queasy standing up in front of the class, I don't know if I could be up on stage without Troy there. How could I just do this?"
"Because it's Troy. He makes everything easier, remember?"
She shook her head again. "This is different."
"You've got to take a chance babe." Taylor closed her locker and continued down the hall.
