The snow pelted forcefully on the jet-black car as it winded down the icy side of the mountaintop. It wasn't the same fluffy snow that danced in the air before school this morning. This time it was slippery, wet, slamming snow. Troy's nervous hands were on the wheel as he was going about fifteen miles below the posted speed limit, only because he didn't want to find himself plummeting down the mountain to a painful death. Though it might have been easier then actually living in the place that he had to breathe everyday. His eyes closed for a short moment before a yell entered his ears, taking him away from the comforting dream of being in a place better than this. "Bolton, I don't want to die!

Troy's heavy lids shot open before he realized that Chad had fearfully guided the wheel with his own hand, saving them from brutally crashing into a snow bank that wouldn't have killed them, but it would have definitely crushed his car like a bug. Then he'd get the evil wrath from Sydney, since she had gotten this car for him. He refused to say that she bought it, because then it would mean she actually did something nice. "I got it Chad. Relax."

Chad rolled his eyes tiredly as he tried to adjust the heat unsuccessfully to a hotter level. "Yeah, I'll relax when you're not suicidal," he stated with a hint of concern while Troy glared at him. Both of them knew Troy wasn't suicidal, just went through horrors that no man should have ever witnessed in a lifetime. "But I gotta admit, you killed out there man. Not bad for a first run of the season."

A confident smirk grazed Troy's profile as he glanced in the back to see his baby glistening in the dark. Chad's worn snowboard was lying forgotten on the floor, almost unworthy to be resting on the same cloth as Troy's. "Hey… whoever said I just got game on the court is full of shit." He pointed out proudly, knowing that his snowboarding skills were almost as elite as his basketball ones.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah… just shut up and drive man," Chad complained jealously while leaning back in the small passenger seat, still trying to increase the heat in the car. The temperature was rubbing the mark where snow became sleet, making it extremely difficult to drive in. Troy could feel the worn down tires beneath them sliding around, but he was thanking God that they were only a mere mile away from his house.

Troy glanced weakly at his best friend in his black insulated ski jacket. Chad's was bright white, making his dark skin stand out like a light in the sky. Even though he'd rather sit on a plate of broken glass before he'd admit it, Chad was the most important person in his life. He was practically a brother, since Chad made it clear that Troy was to live out of his house as well, which he did sometimes. Without him, Troy wasn't sure if he would be as stable as what he was now.

"So how was she?" Chad asked in a complete change in demeanor. Troy didn't even have to question who he was talking about, for it was plainly obvious he was talking about the promise Troy made at the free-throw line on Friday night.

"I fucking hate that place," Troy whispered heart wrenchingly as his eyes grew several shades lighter, something they did when he was pained, or raging. It was so curious how those emotions seemed to be intertwined together with Troy Bolton. "She's clean. Has been for a month now."

Chad's head spun on its hinges. "That's a plus."

Troy snorted with venom. "Yeah, you said the same thing four months ago, and then she fucking shot up again because it was 'too stressful'. Wanna know what's too stressful? Having your fucking mother in rehab." He stated with anger surging through his cold veins, the ice heart was almost the same temperature as the snow outside.

"I'm sorry man." Chad mumbled sadly, knowing not to mess with Troy when he jumped onto rants like this. That would be suicide.

They drive the long last mile in silence, Chad staring blankly at the shedding sky until they pulled into Troy's driveway. Both get out at the exact same time and walk into the place that was as empty and hollow as Troy's heart. The rush of heated air struck Troy like a dagger as he entered the empty kitchen and threw his keys on the wooden table. He peered into the living room to see that Sadie's fluffy body was curled up on the white carpet, proving to Troy she was fast asleep. "So how's the uh… the plan going?" Troy asked in the most serious voice he could muster, but he couldn't contain the spits of laughter that were vomiting through his throat.

Chad threw the soaked white jacket off and shook his head violently. "Fucking sucks," He huffed as his body marched across the kitchen towards where Troy's dog was attempting to slumber, but her tired head now looked up. Troy followed his lead, taking off his own jacket to reveal his gray sweatshirt he had on previously. He slouched down on his love seat, looking to see that Sadie's mouth just opened in a yawn, before she fully stood up and trotted over to her owner. "She wouldn't get off the damn phone on Friday."

Troy scrunched his eyebrows in confusion for a moment. "You serious?"

Chad nodded distressed and fell back into the couch he was draped across. Sadie placed her head into the palm of Troy's crevassed hands, Troy smiling tenderly as his fingers began to tickle against her coat. "What the fuck does this guy have that I don't?

Troy had never seen the college student, nor did he have much desire to if he was causing his best friend so much pain. "I dunno. Maybe he's like… a male underwear model or something…" Troy suggested before Chad shot him a glare that could stab him before he angrily chucked a soft pillow in his direction. Sadie's head jumped up excitedly as her eyes followed the object before it hit her owner in the built chest. "What?"

"Just shut up man." Chad pouted before glancing tentatively over to the side to see the tan wooded object in the corner. "What should I do?"

Troy shrugged his muscular shoulders before looking in the same direction as Chad to see the musical instrument was propped up against the mantel of the fireplace. The strings showed a shadow in a luminous way, making Troy's desire to produce cords from his fingertips growing and an intense rate. That object just added to another list of his secret talents. "Don't ask me." Troy responded in denial while Sadie whimpered a little from Troy's fingers lacking on her fur.

Chad shook his head forcefully. "Dude! You'd know more than anyone! Come on, what makes Tay fall?"

Troy shrugged clueless again. "If you tripped her?" Chad used his baseball skills to shoot another pillow at his sarcastic remark. "Come on man, it was freshman year!"

Chad groaned in frustration as he let the ringlets fall onto the soft couch. "What am I gonna do?" He moaned painfully as Troy rolled his shining eyes.

"One, you're not gonna start moaning like you're getting fucked in my house." Troy stated as Chad's eyes shot anger towards him. "And two, stop playing the defense man! Go for the offense!"

Chad's dark eyebrows narrowed in confusion as he looked at his popular captain. "What do you mean?"

Troy rolled his baby blues as Sadie whines while Troy takes his hand away from her body. "Do you even know the game called basketball?" He asked with the sarcasm laced in his voice. "You don't score when you're playing defense. You can wait and stop the offense, but you don't score. If you want to wrack up the points and uh… win the game…" He made the analogy. "You gotta take charge. Hang out with her or something. But don't make it as a date, yet… you just gotta warm her up a bit."

Chad stretched his bushy eyebrows at him. "This is coming from the guy who doesn't date. How can it not be a date if it's just the two of us?"

Troy stared at him for a moment, unable to come up with an answer until it waved over him like an ocean break. "I'll come. We'll just hang out, but say you're gonna… study or something. I don't know… I'll bring some chick and then you can have Taylor all to yourself."

A genuine smile coursed across Chad's face. "Some chick, or your music pro partner?"

Troy's eyes shot to him like a hunter on its prey. The cyan narrowed a little as his body froze as the painting of her mental picture focusing in his brain. "Where the hell did you hear that?"

Chad chuckled a little as Sadie's head was now entranced in the boys. She barked excitedly, though Troy barely noticed. His eyes remained cautiously on his best friend, who had a mischievous look plastered on his face. "She told me at lunch. So you can finally speak English to her? I'm proud of you man."

"You're fucking hilarious." Troy responded. "What'd she say?" He asked desperate for answers on how she was feeling. Was she upset he practically forced her into doing it? Did he practically force her into doing it? He didn't think so, but maybe that's what she thought. Maybe Chad was a messenger to tell him that she wanted nothing to do with him. That could not happen. He had waited three years to work with her, be this close to her. Troy was determined to not let this slip through his fingers.

Chad grinned triumphantly as he shrugged, taunting Troy by waiting for too long. "She's positive you're on crack for asking her." He replied as Troy's shattered heart pained against his chest. "But…" Chad dragged as Troy's eyes shot up to look at him again. "She sounded kinda… excited."

An ecstatic grin burst out onto Troy's face. Excited? As in she wanted to do this with him? Troy couldn't help the celebratory fist that shot up in the air, Sadie dancing and yelping wildly at her owner's excitement. He glanced back at Chad to see spits of laughter were pouring out of his mouth. "Shut the hell up man! It's not like you wouldn't throw a fiesta if this was Tay." Troy responded with a rosy blush that flooded his bronze cheeks.

"Yeah, whatever. I'll just tell them we're hanging out tomorrow." He planned as Troy shook his head eagerly.

"Nah… you tell Tay. I'll tell Gabi…" He informed happily and Chad's eyebrows lifted in another smirking taunt.

"Gabi?" He questioned with his eyebrows wiggling suggestively.

Troy rolled his ocean eyes. "Go fuck yourself."

She couldn't stop staring at perfection.

"… I just don't understand why Kendal would make us write a five page essay on something so stupid." The slightly high pitched, male voice complained off in some distant world that Gabriella was not present in. Instead, her gaze was fixed upon the muscular shoulders that were hovered over another female. Jealousy trickled through her blood stream as she watched the tall, dark haired girl giggle at something the basketball captain had just said, twirling her hair flirtatiously around her finger as Troy chuckled halfheartedly also. "Gabriella, are you even listening to me?"

"Wh…what?" An impatient pale hand waved in front of her face as she tore her wandering eyes away from the sexy male and looked back to the irritated blonde. Her back was pushed up uncomfortably against the cold set of lockers with Ryan and Kelsi standing in front of her. Though the only place Gabriella wanted to be was where the ditzy girl was under Troy's body heat. "Sorry, I was zoning there."

"Yeah… I noticed." Ryan responded annoyed that she wasn't paying attention. Her wishful eyes attempted to remain on his slightly hard face as Kelsi grinned a little at her. Neither one seemed to notice that she was staring at Troy, which was fine by her. It wasn't anything anyways, just the fact that she couldn't help but notice how incredibly desirable he looked in the sky blue long sleeved shirt rolled at the sleeves that successfully brought out his faint-worthy eyes. "So did I tell you guys about Friday?"

Gabriella's dark eyebrows scrunched in confusion. "Friday?" She questioned and glanced over to see that Troy was gently pushing back some of the girl's caramel hair from her boney shoulder. Fire coursed through her tiny nerves before locking her head back on Ryan again. Stay in focus. "Yeah… you told me." Kelsi responded softly in the caring voice that just made her, well her.

"No." Gabriella locked her heavy head and stared up into Ryan's light eyes that matched with his twin's. "What's Friday?"

Ryan shrugged his weak shoulders lazily. "Shar and I are having a party at the lodge. You know, because there's finally snow?" He suggested and Gabriella nodded understandingly. "Skiing, snowboarding, DJ inside. It should be fun, if you wanna stop by."

She couldn't help but note the small desperate hint of distant hope in his slightly nervous voice. Gabriella rolled her sparkling eyes, catching a glimpse of the girl grab Troy's light shirt and attempted to pull his strong body to her. Again with the poison through her veins. "Of course I'll stop by! Ry, it's me! And it's a party! Even if your sister's gonna be there."

And it's an excuse to get out of my house. She never told Ryan about her past, or her mother's desire to become the world's best slut. It was something she kept hidden. If it was possible, she and Ryan weren't even that close when the dated. Sometimes she still got the impression he had small feelings for her, and other times it was completely friendly. Either way, she was ecstatic he was in her life.

"Sorry." He mumbled apologetically. Gabriella knew it wasn't his fault that she was obnoxious, but she couldn't help making the comments slip once in awhile.

"Whatever. If she stays away from me, I'm fine." Gabriella comments coldly. "Plus I'd never miss anything that you'd throw!"

Ryan grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, I know but…" he stated before turning to Kelsi. "You better be coming!" He ordered humorously while nudging his unformed arm against her slender one.

Kelsi cheeks tinted a rosy red as she nodded. "I'll come." She replied shyly.

"Great!" He exclaimed happily just as the bell ending lunch rang. Gabriella glanced over his shoulder toe see the brunette's fingers dancing up Troy's built chest, making her eyes turn a light shade of green. "I'll catch ya later alright?" Ryan more asked Gabriella hopefully. Gabriella let out a small peep in response.

She opened her tidy locker and pulled out two of the large books she needed for psychology. Resisting the temptation to turn around and look at the two horny teenagers flirting, her still envious eyes remain forward on her purple wrapped locker before she heard a snap of two fingers. "Hey… how ya doing?"

Gabriella toned body became an ice burg. It was the same loss of feeling stretching across her body as she felt yesterday when he ran to her in the hallway. Her head slowly swivels around to meet his drowning eyes. A confident smirk was plastered onto his face while his hand rested upon the top of her locker, with his other hand holding a black flimsy folder. "Uh…"

Troy chuckled distantly at her lack of words. "Come on. I'll walk you to psch. I gotta talk to you about something."

"Um… are you ok?" She asked slowly, careful not to say anything as though he was a time bomb ready to explode. He nodded gently as Gabriella closed her locker cautiously. They begin to travel down the long hallway to psychology, the female population glaring at Gabriella in the process. Jealousy was stretched across their faces, but Gabriella just knew that was because she was a female and she was walking with their sex god.

She couldn't deny how bizarre this was though. They hadn't actually gone to a class, together, since freshman year. And yet, it seemed completely natural to do. Like breathing. Only she couldn't help but feeling the overwhelming butterfly sensations in her stomach instead of oxygen. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" He asked in an air of dignity that Troy Bolton just owned. He was the luckiest guy on the planet. The most composed guy, while inside Gabriella was shaking just being near him. Her eyes looked to the envy filled ones, trying to kill her with their eyes, and Gabriella resisted the temptation to stick her thin middle finger up and slam her lips against his. Suck on that, she was walking with Troy Bolton.

"I don't know… you just… you're kinda acting weird." Gabriella shrugged casually while they rounded the corner away from their hallway.

"How would you know how I act?" Troy questioned tauntingly. He did have a point there. Besides the fact that he was an arrogant horny boy, she didn't know that much about him apart from what she learned freshman year when she should have been staring at the teacher instead.

Gabriella shrugged her shoulders again as a rosy red flushed onto her cheeks. An amused smile danced across Troy's features. "So… you wanted to ask me something?"

His head worthy of a painting nodded. "Uhh, yeah…" He drawled out slowly while flashing his brilliant blue eyes towards her. Gabriella's own mouth curled up in a smirk as she could almost see the nerves cling to his body now. The tables were leveling. Watching Troy's nerves grow only made Gabriella's confidence climb. "Well, ok… I uh… well … I guess…"

Giggles erupted from Gabriella's glossed lips at the sight of Mr. 'I know how to screw better than anyone on the planet' failing miserably at speaking. Their roles were reversing as she clung to her heavy book and thin spiral tighter. "Can you talk?"

Troy glared humorously at her while she nudged his elbow a little. Colorful sparks shot through her arms at the impact point, giving her a light and airy feeling. Relief seemed to scorch through her tiny nerves at just letting their skin touch. What was that? Nothing had ever felt that way before, but she suddenly longed for it to happen again. "Yeah, I can thanks," he joked before letting out a microscopic sigh. "You know Chad's life goal is to get with Taylor right?"

Gabriella laughed sweetly. "Troy, I think Japan knows that Chad loves Taylor."

Troy snickered nervously as a hand ran through his soft hair. Her own hands suddenly twitched with the desire to do the same. "Yeah, well, he wants to get things moving. So… he wants to hang out with her tonight. But he wants a wingman too. And there is no way in hell I would just hang out with those two. They were going to study for some test together. So…"

Wait, what? Did he want to hang out with her? There was no way it was a date, but he still wanted to be with her! That was something right? Not that it really mattered, since things stopped at Gabriella's physical attraction to him. Other than that, she had absolutely no feelings directed towards him. Well, she told herself that. Gabriella grins enchantingly and opens her mouth. "…So you want someone else to be there, and we can work on music pro?"

Troy's mouth hangs open stupidly for a moment. "Uh… yeah! Music pro…" His voice sounded distant. Gabriella's soft eyes look to see that they were coming up right on the psychology room. "So you in?"

An angry memory of her mother telling her she had to baby-sit Ari until the little sister went over to one of her friend's house flashed in her mind. "I have to watch my sister, but you guys can come over after if you want." She suggested as happiness seems to wisp over Troy's skin.

"Yeah I want!" He exclaimed too loudly, causing another round of giggles in Gabriella's throat. "I mean… I'll tell Chad. We'll go after practice." Troy recovers embarrassment flooding his body.

They wandered into the narrow doorway before Gabriella opens the slender notebook she was holding and rips out a blank sheet of paper. "Here's my address…" She informs while scribbling down numbers quickly. Troy's eyes seemed to be locked on her, but Gabriella couldn't help but catch that they were centered on her cleavage that was being pushed together right now by her arms that were writing. "I'll text you when you can come." She offers the paper which Troy jumps at eagerly.

"Thanks." He mumbles before shooting his eyes up again. Gabriella notices that they were brighter than normal. The cerulean lights had a sky blue ring circling them. There was something changed about them as he gazed upon her. The aged looked had disappeared and was now replaced with, youth? But the moment passes just as the ringing fills her ears and that was the cue to sit down. The elder look crosses them again as Gabriella's lips curve up in a warm smile.

"I'll see you then." Gabriella responds, not able to help the seductiveness that was vomiting in her vocal cords. Her toned legs carry her to the other side of the room, unable to contain the swagger of her hips as she does so. Her head glances back for a moment to see that Troy's head was locked onto her backside, before he smirks successfully.

Troy Bolton was coming over to her house.

She had some cleaning to do.