ET Chapter 18, a high school musical fanfic

ET Chapter 18: A New Year, Another Bore

New York, most people assumed, was Gabriella's home. It did make sense, if one were to think about it clearly.

She was born there, grew up there, had history and memories. Whether those memories were good or bad mattered very little.

It should be home.

But to Gabriella, it wasn't home. It was more like a house. Home was a safe haven. A place that always made you feels good to be apart of. A place where you were happy. New York was never that for her, despite the good times she managed to get out of it.

Of course if she had to chose between where she'd rather be at, in a place where the demons awaited her or in boring heap of a town where she was close to die from boredom, she would take New York any time.

Sure, her demonic memories haunted her every night, reminding her of the pain and shame she went through. Sure, she had be on high alert and look over her shoulder when she went out. Sure, she didn't have the most ideal childhood.

However, though it wasn't home for her, it was a familiarity to her. She knew what she was up against; she knew how to take care of herself. She knew the rules to the game she unwillingly had been apart of since she was born.

More importantly, it was a hundred times more exciting than boring, small town Albuquerque. New York had excitement. It had energy. It had life.

Albuquerque had a lame-ass town she had to live in, a lame-ass school she had to attend, and was filled with lame-ass people she was tempted more than once to punch that she was forced to interact with.

There were four things that made her return and remain there: Anita who somehow managed to get under her skin and got herself attached to her. Rob who proved to be a very useful partner in crime. The Underground, which had to be the hottest dance club she ever been in. Well, at least hot for Albuquerque. It was almost like a small-town version of the Prey. And, of course, precious little Paco who pretty much had the world wrapped around his little finger.

For Javier though? That was, which was pretty much the story of Gabriella's life, complicated. He was caught in between reasons why she should remain and reasons why she should leave.

Of course barging into her room early in the morning and interrupting her sweet, semi-dead sleep had him leaning more towards reasons why she should bail.

"Are you aware this is the fifth time I've came into this room and found you still in bed?" he said.

Gabriella took his words as permission to snuggle more into her warm, little bed. "How sweet of you to notice."

She knew just by his irritated tone he was not amused. "If I come in here one more time and find you still in there, I'll rip you out of that bed, drag your ass to school myself, and let the East High Wildcats see their newest in her PJs"

Oh really. Gabriella scoffed, amused, pushing away the covers and sitting up straight so her brother could have a good look at her. She had on a white tank top that left very little to the imagination and her lavender underwear since she was too lazy to throw on bottoms. She met her brother's frown with a smug smirk. "So you basically want to extend an invitation of my goodies to the school's horn dogs?"

Javier scowled, growling "Get your lazy ass up!" He muttered something under his breath, something about bringing a bucket of water, but she wasn't sure since he was already gone.

Gabriella slowly made her way out of bed, nearly falling on her face in the process, but she still got up, so she considered it progress. She let out a yawn that nearly rocked her whole body, stretching her out muscles, fixing the kinks in her neck. She walked over to her iPod that was sitting in her dock, fully charged, needing a song to get her through the morning.

Scrolling through the thousands of songs, she tried to find the right one. Nothing too serious, nothing too hard-core, nothing that carried any profanity for Paco's sake.

Bingo, she thought, finding it. How to Be a Heartbreaker by Mariana and the Diamonds. Just her type of song.

Rule number one, is that you gotta have fun
But baby when you're done, you gotta be the first to run
Rule number two, just don't get attached to
Somebody you could lose
So le-le-let me tell you

Gabriella swayed to the music, whipping her hair wildly. She carried her dance over to the bathroom, dancing as she brushed her teeth and rinsed out her mouth. She added singing to the mix, lending her vocals to the chorus, as she rubbed herself clean in the shower.

This is how to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like a little danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
How to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like the look of danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
At least I think I do!

Going back to her room, Gabriella dried off her body and moisturized every inch of her skin with her favorite jasmine lotion, which went wonderfully with her honeysuckle and rose-scented shampoo and conditioner.

Rule number three, wear your heart on your cheek
But never on your sleeve, unless you wanna taste defeat
Rule number four, gotta be looking pure
Kiss him goodbye at the door, and leave him wanting more, more

This is how to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like a little danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
How to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like the look of danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
At least I think I do

Cause I lo-lo-love you

Once she was dry and moisturized, she slipped on her black and pink strapless bra with matching panties, and then searched through her small wardrobe to find the perfect outfit. Not that she was doing it to impress those Wildcats. She just preferred to look good.

Girls, we do, whatever it will take
Cause girls don't want, we don't want our hearts to break in two
So it's better to be fake, can't risk losing in love again, babe

She put together the perfect outfit. A bright pink cropped t-shirt with tears slashed across and around the shirt she did herself. A black mini skirt she paired with a fierce cat-eyed belt she got from Red Balls. Completing the ensemble was a pair of black mid-length boots and fishnet leggings.

Running a brush through her hair, Gabriella went over to the mirror to check her appearance. She traded in her brush for a tube of light pink lip-gloss she dabbed on her lips. Once clothes and hair were out of the way, she moved onto accessories. She placed in her diamond stub for her nose and one for her belly button, and silver stubs in her ears. She slipped on a few black bangles on her left wrist, including her favorite spiked bracelet. For the finishing touch: her pitch-dark shades she always had on her.

Sexy was her thought as she looked at her reflection, seeing the final results. She winked at her reflection, blowing a kiss.

"You ass!" A pound fist banging at her door brought her back to the present. "In kitchen!" Another bang. "Now!"

"Don't get your panties in a twist, que grande viejo cascarrabias." His response was a harder bang.

Gabriella did a double check of her bag to make sure she had everything she needed. Last thing she needed was a teacher getting on her ass because she didn't have her homework or some other crap like that.

Vacation homework? Check.

Binders and books? Check.

Books for pleasure-reading? She had Unravel Me and Pushing the Limits, so double check.

Her journal? Check

Her Marlboro Reds? She saw her current pack held seven cigarettes, so she needed an extra one just in case.

She tucked her iPod safely inside her bag's inner side pocket, along with her keys and wallet. She finally came out of her room just time to see the Happy Family up.

Anita in the kitchen, hunched over the stove, flipping pancakes with one hand and making eggs with the other. Javier, along side her, fixing coffee for three and a bottle for one. Paco in the living room, giggling as he played with his new favorite toy, the baby Mickey Mouse she got him for Christmas.

Paco smiled brightly once he spotted his aunt, reaching out for her. Gabriella happily obliged by picking him up and settling him onto her hip, jingling his new toy in his face, causing the young toddler to laugh.

"He loves that toy," Gabriella looked over at Anita. "Since Christmas morning that toy has been by his side. Refuses to leave it alone for even a second."

Gabriella knew that feeling. She was the same way with every Disney toy her brother managed to get her for her birthday and Christmas. How she brought them with her wherever she went. How she refused to let them leave her sight. How she often brought them to bed with her, especially her Esmeralda.

Apparently Javier was remembering the same thing. He came into the conversation, adding "Reminds me of Ella. I still remember the first time she got a Disney doll. Nothing could come between the two."

And just like that, the almost good morning vibe turned immediately south, unleashing a very sudden and very sharp pain that twisted in Gabriella's gut. "Don't call me that!"

Everyone looked at Gabriella, bewildered by the harsh sharpness of her voice. Even Paco's laughter came to a halt.

Well that certainly was the last thing she wanted. She was embarrassed, not to mention ashamed, by the momentary weakness she just displayed. But she refused to comment on it, or have them question her, so she took in a deep breath and did what she did best: pretend there was nothing amiss. She tickled her nephew, soon starting up his laughter again, and strapped him into his high chair, handing him his bottle. She wrapped her breakfast up to go and helped herself to some coffee, all whilst ignoring the couple's gaze watching her.

"Gabriella-" Javier started. Too bad she wasn't going to let him finish. She decided to change the topic, and luckily knew the girl who she'd use.

Looking over at Anita, she noticed her skin was already glowing from the pregnancy glow. Over Christmas break, Anita sent a message that made her day.

3 and half months along. Hoping for a girl ;)

That makes two of us, Gabriella thought then as she did now, noticing the baby bump already showing through her nightgown.

"So how's your little bun in the oven doing?" she asked.

A bright smile spread across Anita's face, wiping away the concerned frown lines. "Perfectly well," she said, rubbing her stomach affectionately. "Just like my last one was." She dropped a kiss on her son's forehead, causing the tot to laugh. "I swear I feel so good, I could be pregnant forever."

"Really?" Javier commented. "That's funny because I seem to recall the last time you were pregnant, you did nothing but complain. About the morning sickness, the afternoon sickness, the evening sickness-"

"That mierda hits you every damn second of the day!" Anita argued. Javier continued on, unfazed.

"Your sore back was killing you; your sore feet were killing you. Your emotions were so over the place, you were convinced you were losing your mind. Said you'd stick me six feet under if I ever put you through that again."

Anita looked like she wanted to punch him, but decided to do something else. Her smile turned coy as she walked over to Javi, wrapping her arms around his beck. "While that may be true, there are a few benefits you forgot to mention."

"Such as…"

Paco, she pointed out, was number one. As for the rest? She whispered them into his ear. Almost instantly Gabriella's brother's body stiffened, his face colored a scarlet red, and had a bemused look on his face.

"Aww," Gabriella cooed and, rubbing her nephew's head, said to him "Apparently pregnancy sex beats out make-up sex. Something to keep in mind, baby boy, when your turn comes."

She quickly removed herself from the premises before Anita had a chance to get her. Laughing all the way downstairs, she slipped on her leather jacket and started her bike.

"Yo! Gabs!" Gabriella saw Robbie out and about in his blue Chevy truck. She waved at him. "Why aren't you wearing your new shirt?"

Gabriella rolled her eyes. He was referring to the shirt that was included in his Christmas package for her. When Rob mailed a packaged gift for her, she didn't know what to expect, but now it occurred her she should have seen it coming. A white cotton t-shirt with the words, ME HEART THE COCK, written in bold red across the chest. Thankfully that was only a gag gift. He also included extra goodies: two cartons of Marlboro and big bag of pot.

"Fuck you!" Gabriella told him

"Trust me. Wearing that school will you get a line of hungry boys wanting a pop of your cherry," He laughed off the finger she sent him. "It might even help land you a special someone."

A special someone? She snorted. Like she'd actually acknowledge the weenie-balls-for-brains bah sheep East High tried to pass off as boys.

"Fuck you!" she repeated, sending a double dosage of the finger. Rob laughed once more, honked at her, and rode off.

Gabriella sighed heavily, watching him go. Rob could be such a dick sometimes, it amazed her he remained unscarred during their hang-outs. Then again she usually made him pay for his smart-ass ways later off by denying him access to her goodies.

"I thought he was your boyfriend."

Boyfriend? The word was practically foreign Latin to her. As well as disturbing, with the troubling thought causing a sickening churn in her stomach. She turned to Javier, who suddenly was next to her, a bewildered frown on her face.

"I don't do boyfriends, Javi." she clarified. Hookups? Sure. One night stands? Just as good. Boyfriends? That would be the day when hell freezes over.

"So you're just friends?" Javi asked, in what said like a suspicious-like tone in his voice.

Gabriella shrugged, indifferent. Sure, they were friends. Friends that worked together, drank together, smoked together, and fucked each other whenever they were in the mood. She didn't feel the need to explain the concept of her friendship to Rob with her brother, who didn't need to worry about her business. What was it anyway that made him decide to come down right at the moment anyway? "Come here to give me some milk money and warn me of the dangers of peer pressure, daddy-kins?"

Javier rolled his eyes, annoyed with her sarcasm. "No. Happy to see how refreshingly charming you can be in the morning," He took in a deep and looked her in the eye, his own very solemn. "We need to talk."

Sweet Jesus. Why didn't he just do a talk show if he was in a chatty mood? She was sure someone else would appreciate it. Because she most certainly didn't. "About what?"

"About what happened." Without meaning to, her eyes slide over to his, the unspoken words clear in the silence between the brother and sister. What happened in September. Their mess of the mother and how she once again managed to screw things up. How their once close relationship was now a delicate, brittle thing that was dangerously titling over. The reasons behind it.

The sick churn she had when Javier dropped the b-word was nothing compared to the nausea making a mess with her stomach now. Gabriella refused to acknowledge it. "There's nothing to talk about."

"Ella-"

"Don't call me that!" Hearing his nickname from her from when they were innocent and close unleashed a string of memories that worsened the nausea.

"See!" he pointed out. "This is what I'm talking about. I've been giving you space. I'm been trying to be patient. But this has gone on far enough. You may put up a front that's everything alright, but it's clear it's not over for you." His tone went noticeably gentle as he came close to her, holding her cheek in one hand and rubbing small circles on it. It was something he often did to calm her down when she was a kid. "Ella, talk to me."

She would. If she were little Ella again, she definitely would. She'd lean into her brother's touch, walk into his arms that would be made her feel safe, and tell him everything. Because he was her big brother that tried to make things better, that promised her he'd make things okay. But she wasn't little Ella anymore. She grew up, they both did. Little Ella was dead, and there was no reason to bring back the dead.

Gabriella jerked away from his touch, pushing him away. "I have nothing to say!" She kicked off her stand and rode off with a mean roar.

Jesus Christ. Why didn't I "accidentally" miss my plane when I had the chance?

It was the fourteenth time Gabriella had that thought going around her head as she was walked through the halls of the East High, feeling like she was about to puke any second.

The school was overly doused in red and white, featuring a huge billboard on the front lawn, written in white glitter 'WELCOME BACK WILDCATS!' The place overflowed with students walking in their groups, screaming at the sight of their friends, rushing over to hug or jump on one another like they haven't seen each other in years. And-the most annoying of all-a majority of curious eyes and whispers keeping track of her every move.

"I heard she was busted at the airport for possession of cocaine."

"I heard she got so horny, she slept with, like, five different guys in one night. With two threesomes on top of that."

Jesus Christ. Gabriella rolled her eyes, annoyed. Whoever said high school was the best four years of your life clearly didn't have to deal with annoying gossipers who obviously had too much time on their hands.

"I heard it took ten body guards to pull her away from Kim Kardashian because she spilled some margarita on Montez's dress," Whoever the bitch was that was talking apparently wanted to be heard. She raised her voice, staring pointedly at Gabriella. "How much you want to bet it was most likely a cheap, fugly knock-off from Goodwill?"

Gabriella turned around to face the voice's source, staring into the ice-cold gaze of East High's most infamous head bitch, Heather Homes. Leaning against her locker, which was conveniently (not!) right across from hers, sneering at Gabriella and enjoying her minions' laughter at her lame put-down.

Yup, I definitely should have missed the plane when I had the chance, thought Gabriella, finding yet another reason (one of the top ten) why she longed to be rid of Albuquerque. It wasn't like she was intimidated by the school's Queen Bee. The thought amused Gabriella. Homes thought she was untouchable because Daddy was big in the bank and she wasn't a sore sight for eyes. Gabriella, however, knew her type. She dealt with dozens of snobs at her old school who thought they were hot shit only to get their asses beaten by her.

She'd love to see the bitch and her crones in her old neighborhood, where hookers and drug-dealers ran amuck, thievery and violence were common, and had boys and girls alike wanting to prove themselves to the local gangs. She gave them her infamous stink-eye that made tough gangbangers think twice before getting on her bad side. The girls flinched as if they looked into the hard, deadly gaze of a cobra. Including a flushing Heather who soon remembered her identity and gave Gabriella a disgusting sneer that made her look like a raving rabbit dog.

Definitely five seconds, Gabriella decided. That was how long they'd last. Before the dogs came out to have at it with their new chew toys. Ten seconds tops if they were lucky.

Gabriella gave the finger to the Queen and blew her a kiss, which had her steaming in red. She increased the volume of her iPod and swayed her hips lightly to Bon Jovi's Wanted Dead or Alive as she opened her locker. According to her schedule she had AP Chemistry after homeroom, then Spanish, AP Calculus and Lab. So her morning was basically going to be one long snooze-fest but she could always use Spanish to catch up on some shuteye.

In the midst of collecting her things and rearranging her locker, her keen instincts piqued as she picked up the presence behind her like a shark approaching fresh blood. Coming closer and closer, his hand reaching for-

Quick and fluid as Catwoman, Gabriella grabbed the creep's arm, flipped him over her shoulder, and twisted the arm attached to the hand that tried to grope her ass, placing her foot firmly against the perv's neck. She couldn't tell which was more satisfying. The loud, hard fall he took. Or the fact he had fallen into the same trap as many others before him. Those who believed, because of her size, she was an easy target and found out (often the very hard way) that was far from true.

The once smug stud was now reduced to a bewildered, fearful mouse. Gabriella smirked, taking pleasure in his shock. Along with the hush silence that was created by her moves.

"Let's get three things straight," Gabriella said to the boy, but was actually addressing the matters to the growing audience. She listed them off with each flip of her finger. "First off, my ass is not up for grabs. By anyone. Much less by little, idiotic boys like you," Her second finger shot up. "Secondly, you children are nowhere near close to my league. I highly suggest you knock down the egos telling you otherwise or I'll personally knock them down for you. Thirdly,"

She lifted her foot off the idiot's neck slightly, only to bring it back down hard. Not enough to fatally wound him but enough to leave a bruise. A reminder to him and his clowns for friends what could happen when you pushed her. "The next asshole who tries to grope me will be spitting out his balls and shitting out his teeth. And that's not a threat, assholes. It's a promise."

After giving the dude's arm one more twist, Gabriella grabbed her things and headed off to Dumbass' homeroom. Along the way she felt a particular gaze that made her to look over her shoulder.

A familiar pair of innocent, incredibly baby blues that watched her.

Pup.

For a moment she had forgotten all about the badness between them, getting lost in the sweet sea of blue.

Till her mind caught itself and remembered. He thought she was trouble. A bad influence. Someone he shouldn't hang around with because Daddy Dearest would never approve. The God-damn wuss.

She gave him such a fierce scowl, nearly everyone in his "possess" took a step back, flinching. She carried on, setting her shades in place.

During AP Cal, it was clear none of the brainics understood the fifteen-paged homework the teacher, Miss Applebalm, gave them over break. So they spent most of class time reviewing, asking questions, trying to do the problems that were hard, and even more reviewing.

Since she was the only one who actually got all the problems, which seemed like easy middle school stuff to her, she used the class time for some journal time.

As she flipped over to the next page in her book, she sneaked a quick glance at the teacher, curious to see what they were doing. Teach, who was heftily eight months along in her pregancy, worked on problem fifty-four that was a real brain-scrambler for students. She had broken down the problem into nine equations, coming close to the answer.

"So class, this would be the final answer." She wrote down the final piece to the complicated puzzle. She wiped her hands clean of the chalk. "Eighteen over pi."

"That's what I got!" Gabriella rolled her eyes at the eagerly glee tone in over-achiever McKessie's voice. "And it took me over an hour to figure it out."

And golly geez, Teach, I got such a thrill from doing the work. It was so invigorating. Gabriella was sure those words were pretty similar to the words McKessie was babbling on about to the teacher.

Miss Applebalm smiled at Taylor. "Then you earned yourself twelve extra bonus points that will go toward your semester grade."

McKessie was so excited, she was beaming. Getting perfect grades must be the highlight of her life.

"Please." Gabriella snorted.

"Yes, Miss Montez?" Great. Teach apparently decided now she could actually hear them, and that Gabriella should be in the classroom spotlight. "Is there something wrong? Does the answer not satisfy you?"

McKessie turned back to glare at her, obvious dislike in her eyes. Gabriella met it with a sly smile.

Getting back to Applebalm, she told the teacher "I wasn't going to say anything, but since you seem so curious I'll be straight with you. You're off by two. It's sixteen over pi. Not eighteen. Seems a little too high."

"The only thing that's a little too high is you, Montez. Along with your ego," Taylor shot back, the snarl in her tone causing everyone to take a second glance at her. "I did the calculations twice. Checked the numbers twice. The answer is eighteen over pi."

Poor, poor Ace-obsessed girl. Gabriella couldn't tell whether to be amused by her or pity her.

Miss Applebalm, was on McKessie's side and said to Gabriella "I have to agree with Miss McKessie on this one, Miss Montez. I also checked the calculations twice. The answer is eighteen over pi"

"Well you know what they say, Balm," Gabriella smiled an innocent-looking smile "Third time's the charm."

Applebalm frowned at the challenge but decided to give a whirl. Most likely she did it because, like McKessie, she wanted Gabriella to learn her place. To know that the teacher and star pupil were right, and would always be right.

So when Applebalm checked out the problem in her textbook and the answer, the chalk slipped from her hand and cracked. Much like the smug smile on her face that was there a few seconds ago. She followed the way the book had done it, which Gabriella pointed out was the exact thing she had down in half the time, and her jaw nearly joined her broken chalk as she saw the same answer again.

Pretty much everyone in the class was dumfounded by the discovery, especially McKessie whose jaw was close to the ground. Everyone except for Gabriella that is. She was enjoying this moment.

"…" It took several tries for Applebalm to shut out of her shock. She had to close her mouth with her hand. Clearing her voice, she said "Apparently I stand corrected. The answer is sixteen over pi."

Gabriella didn't need to say she told her so. The satisfied smirk on her face said it all. She shrugged indifferently to the bewildered faces around her. "What can I say? I'm pretty face and I have a brain to go with it."

There was no one happier to see free period come than Gabriella. Her previous class, Lab, was a completely bitch to deal with. Today they had to scan cell structures under the microscope and analyze the movements. The Kicker? They had to do it with the partner she chose for them.

The one she chose for Gabriella was none other than pup Bolton. If that was not some sign from fate itself she made big mistake for not missing her flight when she had the chance, she didn't know what was.

When it time for them to get together, she anticipated more pleas and explanations, him wanting to her to understand his side of the story. Instead he did the exact opposite. He simply sat beside her, and two of them took turns with the lens, studying the cell structure and writing it down in their notes.

It was a smart move, she had to admit. If he tried to say anything stupid, she'd "accidentally" spill some chemicals on his pants. Or stab him with her pen. He did, however, spend most of time, when he wasn't studying the cell or writing, staring at her. Stared at her in an overly intense, close-to-creepy, Douchward Cullen-like way. Like he was convinced if he stared hard enough, some inner warmth would melt the frost in her heart and make her forgive him.

Stare away, Bolton, she had thought. Hope my right side looks good. Interestingly enough he wasn't the only one watching her. McKessie, obviously still pissed from Calculus, sent her a glare every time she looked up. Twiddle Dumb whom she recognized as Homes' brunette friend stole glances at her while she texted on her phone, as if she was reporting every one of her movements to Queenie.

Gabriella stopped short, her brow arching slightly at the sight of Heather Homes perched in front of her locker, filing her nails while keeping her cool green eyes locked with Gabriella. "Is there something I can help you with, Queenie?"

Word around school was because of the video Gabriella sent to the principal of Heather and her clones attacking tiny freshman Dora, the three of them got so screwed. They were sentenced to two months of detention with Ms. Darbus, suspended from the cheerleading squad, and Heather lost her positions as both head cheerleader and dance captain. Not only that but had to spend their break doing community work, picking trash from the highway in the harsh cold weather.

It was clear the mean girls were after blood. Gabriella's blood to be more specific.

Heather took her sweet time finishing off her pinkie nail before looking back at Gabriella. She studied the Latina from head to toe, going back to her eyes with a smirk beginning to show on her lips. The chick must have believed that was her most intimidating look. "Since you're new to the whole schooling system, as well as the country, I thought I explained some things to you, Spic."

Gabriella snorted at her stupid racist comment, which soured Heather's smirk into a scowl. "And what things would that be?"

"The fact that in every school there is a powerful girl known as the queen bee who controls the school. Here at the East High that queen bee would be me. I run this school, so that means I basically run people's lives, too."

"The only thing you run around here, Homes, is your mouth," Gabriella said. "You think you're so special, but the truth of the matter is I've met thousands of girls like you. And I wasn't impressed or intimated by any of you snot-nose bitches."

Heather came closer to her, invading her personal space. She was lucky Gabriella had little patience left otherwise the mean girl would find herself struck down to the ground with a bloody nose. "Oh really? How about the fact I can easily make or break you with just one word?"

Okay, now this was just getting annoying. Putting matters into her own hands, Gabriella shoved the bimbo off of her locker. She cut Heather off, saying "How about the fact I could care less. Or how about the fact I can easily use my fist," Balling her hand up tightly, she brought it close to Heather's face. "to break every tooth in that pretty little mouth of yours."

Homes seemed stunned. Stunned and pissed. Clearly she wasn't use to others defying her."You better watch yourself, Montez, or I'll make your life at East High a living hell."

"No," Gabriella corrected. "I'll be the one doing the hell-making if you and your bim-bots get in my way. So you better watch it, Homes."

"You've been warned, skank." she said with a vicious look in her eye and walked away.

Gabriella watched Heather walk away, still processing the fact the bitch actually thought she could intimidate Gabriella into cowering before her feet. And tried to make threats and get up in her face. If she were back in New York, she wouldn't have wasted a breath talking. She'd let her fists do all the talking for her. If it wasn't for the fact she had Javi and a pain in the ass social worker breathing down her neck, she would have yanked a fistful of Blondie's hair, throw her against the lockers, and beat her little snotty ass.

Twisting the combination of her locker, she opened the locker, surprised to see an envelope fell from the top shelf and land in front of her feet. Squatting down, she looked at the envelope before she opened it, took out the yellow lined paper, and read it.

Apparently the rooftop is the only place, other than the library and dance studio, that you actually like at the school. Meet me there.

Before you roll your eyes and throw this in the trash, be warned that I will not leave you alone until you let me say what I want to say to you.

I mean it, Montez.

God-damn it. Growling in annoyance, Gabriella crinkled the note in her hand and flung into the nearest waste basket. She should have known from the way he was watching her, it was only a matter of time before he made a move.

She would much rather stick her tongue on the street and have a bus run over it than say five words to Bolton. Or rather five civil words to him. If if just cursing he wanted, then she was all for that. But from what she observed of him, despite his spineless and shy nature, there was stubbornness. She had a good feeling he would keep pestering her until she talked to him. So the question was whether she should confront the irritation now or put off till later.

After thinking about for a few seconds, Gabriella sighed heavily and headed in the direction to the rooftop, silently asking God to give her the strength.