A/N: Sorry for the long wait and this chapter isn't all that great. I'll update again soon.

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"Dude, that last game was off the chain! Bolton, you were amazing, man," Troy's team mate complimented.

"Thanks bro," Troy grinned with pride.

The muscular, 6 foot, Houston Rocket athletes were getting ready for practice in the locker room when Coach Jeff Peterson walked in.

"Boys, men I should say," he said with a chuckle, "I'd like to congratulate you guys for that outstanding performance last game.

"Just doing out jobs, Coach," Mike #24 said.

"To reward you guys, I have news," heads flew up as coach said, "Pack your bags, we're going to New York, Rockets!"

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Gabriella plopped down in her chair, pushed her glasses back up her nose, and shuffled some papers around on her desk.

"Where is that damn…" she said before finding it: her new packets of assignments for the September issue of STAR Magazine. She flipped through the fresh, clean, white sheets of paper that didn't seem to interest her.

'Top 10 ways to keep your man interested… Top 5 ways to capture a guy's attention… Top 20 Best & Worst outfits of 2006… Makeup Guide 411 with Hilary Duff… Most Embarrassing moments of my summer… Interview with Paris Hilton and her new album… Man Of the Hour: Troy Bolton interview… Latest facts from…' Gabriella paused for a moment as she read through her assignments in her mind.

Her eyes glanced over the last sentence. And again. And again.

"Interview with Troy Bolton…?" She said aloud.

"Interview with… Troy… BOLTON? INTERVIEW? TROY BOLTON?" She nearly shouted as she sprang up from her chair.

Women surrounding her lifted their heads, wasting 2.5 seconds of their time to watch a crazy girl shout in the middle of their office.

Gabriella scrambled to organize her desk to stare at Troy Bolton's name written in black ink. She smiled to herself.

'Finally… I get to see him again,' she thought, praising herself for having the job after years of regretting the fact that she lost contact with him.

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"YEAH MAN LOOK! WE'RE HERE!" Derek #16 shouted, indicated the guys to look out the small, rectangular windows on the sides of the airplane.

Settle down, fellas. We're about to land." Coach instructed.

The guys were in New York: the life of business, leisure, and parties.

"I know you guys are excited, since Manhattan is filled with fine, young, intelligent women, but we have our final game to focus on before we have any fun. Next two days we practice our asses off for the game on Monday night, then you guys get your asses outta my sight 'til we leave for Texas in 2 weeks. You deserve this one, so I'll give y'all a break to remember," Coach announced.

The guys were pumped and excited for the game and the exploration of New York.

"Oh, and one more thing for Mr. Bolton. You, Rocket's celebrity, got an interview with some magazine that wants to ask some questions to add to the rest of their female blabber junk. It's your choice to do it so let me know by tomorrow," Coach informed.

Later that night, he got a call from his girlfriend.

"Hi baby," Cameron said on the phone.

"Heyy you," Troy replied.

"It seems like it's been so long. Do you know how much I miss you?"

"Of course baby. And I miss you just as much."

"Really? God, I can't believe we're not going to see each other for 2 weeks!"

"Yeah, but I promise I'll be back before you know it."

"You better not meet any girls there. You're too hot to be left alone,"

"Haha and you're too beautiful to be left in Houston with a bunch of guys when I'm not there to protect you."

"Then I guess you have to come home soon."

"Sooner than you know it."

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"Hello?" Gabriella said into the phone.

"Uh, yes. Hello?" said a man on the opposite line.

"Yes, may I speak with Mr. Jeff Peterson?"

"That's me," Coach said.

"Hello, this is Gabriella Montez of STAR Magazine. We've scheduled an interview with Troy Bolton. We must know by 7 PM tonight if he will be making it to the interview.

"Well uh, our boy Troy hasn't answered. Oh hold on he's here now, let me ask again."

Gabriella could hear Troy's masculine, deep voice; the voice she hadn't heard in so long. It was the voice she missed hearing most.

"Hey coach! Who's on the line?" Troy said, walking into practice.

"It's the lady from STAR Mag. You wanna?" Coach asked.

"When is it?" Troy asked, not too interested.

"When is it?" Coach said into the receiver.

"Tuesday from noon to 3 PM. There is a photo shoot involved," Gabriella said, hoping he'd say yes.

Coach repeated it to Troy.

"Sure, why not," he said as he ran out to the court.

There was an exchange of numbers and address, and the date was set for Tuesday. Gabriella had butterflies in her stomach already. She couldn't wait. Suddenly she started to worry.

'What if he doesn't recognize me? What if… if… What will I wear? Oh God…' Gabriella thought nervously.

As soon as she got home, she called Jessica, her friend from the office, and scheduled a shopping date. "It's an emergency," Gabriella said.

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"WATCH OUT! THE HOUSTON ROCKETS ARE CLIMBING TO THE SPOT ON TOP LADIES AND GENTLEMEN," the announcer shouted with victorious excitement.

The Rockets had indeed won again on Monday night's game. Troy was in his best mood and could not wish for a happier ending to his summer. The season was ending and he had no doubt that things were at their best.

Next morning, Troy got up early to get ready for his first magazine interview. It was his first day off and things were great. He looked over at the other room to find his team-mate dead asleep. The Rockets were staying at The Towne Plaza Hotel for 2 weeks and 2 team mates shared room.

"Coach!" Troy called on his phone," I'm heading out to the interview in 20 minutes, you ready?"

He and Coach Jeff met in the lobby to make it to the STAR Magazine building.

As Troy entered, women of varying ages huddled into groups, whispering and staring at Troy Bolton, the hottest male star athlete.

Troy waited on the 10th floor lobby room for his interview.

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"How do I look?" Gabriella asked, getting her papers together.

"You look great, so don't even worry," Jessica reassured.

Gabriella had her beautiful long, curly brown hair down, dangling beneath her shoulders. She wore a black V-neck halter and white jean mini-skirt that Jessica picked out. Gabriella was feeling confident.

"Miss Montez, Troy Bolton is here for Man of the Hour interview, September 2006 Issue, correct?" client Monica Walters asked.

"Correct," Gabriella replied as she stepped out into the lobby.

"Hello Mister Troy Bolton," she said casually, giving him a smile. She turned around to lead him into a room, just after seeing his mouth drop.

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Things might still be confusing; many things will be cleared up next chapter- I promise. This and the last chapter were just to clear up where Gabriella and Troy stand career-wise and how they end up meeting again. Expect better chapters