Title Lucky Charm

Gabriella pulled her swim bag out of her locker. On top of being on the scholastic decathlon, Gabriella was also co-captain of the swim team at East High. They had a meet the next day to compete for a spot at the state finals. Gabriella's mother would not be able to get her boyfriend to reschedule a vacation, but he refused saying that it cost too much money to just not go. Gabriella assured her mother that there would be plenty of people there to cheer her on at the meet. Especially her boyfriend.

Twenty minutes later, Gabriella dove into the pool. She swam in the butterfly, free-style, relay and medley events. Like Troy, colleges had been trying to recruit her for their swim team. Gabriella turned down a swimming scholarship to UCLA to attend Duke with Troy. Her father hadn't been too thrilled and threatened to not pay if she went. But Gabriella did receive one and all was well. Both her parents were proud of all she had accomplished during her high school career.

As she was turning around, Gabriella saw Troy at the end of her lane with a stop watch. He stopped timing when Gabriella touched the wall. Gabriella took a deep breath as she took her goggles off. Troy helped her out of the pool.

"What was my time?" she asked catching her breath.

"Two seconds less than last week." Troy told her. "Are your parents excited?"

"Well, Jared is taking my mother to Cancun this weekend and my dad is wooing his latest month girlfriend.

"So, your parents are going to be there?"

"My mom wants to, but Jared spent too much money to just not go. I told Mom that I was ok, just as long as she was here for states."

"You're a selfless woman, Gabriella Montez." Troy said kissing her softly.

"Just as long as you're there, you're my lucky charm."

"Just like you're mine."

Gabriella kissed him again before diving back into the pool. Troy chuckled before going back to timing. He watched proudly knowing Gabriella was among the top ranked swimmers in the country. But people couldn't tell by the she acted. Gabriella never brought up her swimming status on her own and her friends knew she was uncomfortable when she was forced to discuss it whether it was with East High's newspaper or a local news station.

The next evening, Gabriella and the rest of the swim team were in the locker rooms getting ready for the meet. Gabriella was rotating her shoulders to loosen them up. Soon, she and her fellow female swimmers were heading out to the pool. Ever since word had gotten out that Troy Bolton was a swim fan, East High's swim meets were almost as popular as the basketball games. Troy and the other starters of the basketball team and their girlfriends were always up in the front row cheering Gabriella on.

Gabriella sat on the bleacher reserved for the swim team. Her phone vibrated in her bag. Gabriella reached in to pick it up. She smiled when she saw a text message from Troy. 'You're the best looking thing here in a regulated swim suit' it read. Gabriella giggled and used sign language to say thank you to him. Both Troy and Gabriella took American Sign Language as their foreign language. Troy had planned on actually Spanish but changed his mind since Gabriella was already fluent in the language and was taking ASL instead. Both enjoyed knowing a language only the two of them in their group knew.

"What did you say to her?" Chad asked Troy. "She's smiling."

"I just told her that she looked hot in her bathing suit." Troy answered.

"Not many girls can manage to look sexy in a regulated bathing suit, but Gabby certainly does."

"Need I remind you that you're talking about my girlfriend?"

"Sorry, but if I'm thinking about it, then I can assure that almost every other guy here is as well."

An hour later, Gabriella was getting ready to start her first race, the 200 meter butterfly. She stood up on the starting block in lane three as she loosened her arms up. Some of her teammates were at the end of her lane ready to cheer her on.

"Swimmers, take your marks."

All the swimmers bent forward ready to dive in when it was time. The starter's pistol went off and the eight girls dove into the pool. Right from the start, Gabriella had pulled ahead from the others. Her teammates and supporters cheered her on loudly. Gabriella flipped turned and began to start her second lap.

"Come on!" Sharpay cheered.

"Pull Gabby!" Troy shouted loudly.

"Go!" her teammates chanted each time she came up for air.

Gabriella touched the wall first causing her teammates and friends to cheer loudly. Gabriella caught her breath as the other swimmers finished. One of her teammates swam over and congratulated her. The two girls hugged each other tightly before congratulating one another. Tommy Marcus, East High's Boy's Captain helped pull Gabriella and Marissa Lopez out of the pool. Gabriella wrapped her towel around her as she left the starting area. She took her cap off and then tucked her goggles into her bathing suit. She walked by the stands and waved to her friends before going back to her bag.

The last race of the evening was the girls' 200 meter medley relay. Gabriella had swept all of her races and so far she and her relay team won their heats. Now it was the last race. This race was the most anticipated race of the evening. West High's boys' team won their heat with East High in second. The four girls were in their ritual group hug to wish them good luck. The rest of the team was at the end of their lane.

"Swimmers take your position."

Jenny Newman jumped into the water with six other girls. They were swimming the first leg of the race, the back stroke. Her three relay mates were cheering her on to pump her up. The starter's pistol went off and the race began. The entire natatorium was filled with cheers for the swimmers. Jenny touched the wall and the second swimmer, Kaitlyn Baggs dove in. She was swimming the breast stroke. With the help of Jenny's slight lead from the back stroke, Kaitlyn increased their lead slightly more. By now all the spectators were on their feet yelling even louder.

"Come on, Pammy!" Gabriella cheered as the third girl, Pamela Gibson, dove in.

Gabriella stood up on the block ready to dive in. Pamela touched the wall and Gabriella dove in and began to swim the free-style. Her teammates and friends cheered loudly. Gabriella flipped turned and started her last fifty meters.

"She's going to break the record!" Chad shouted excitedly.

"Come on!" the three other girls screamed.

"Come on, Baby!" Troy shouted.

"Swim Montez!" the coach shouted.

Gabriella touched the wall first causing people to cheer loudly. Gabriella took her swim cap off and looked at her time. She screamed happily when she saw she broke the state record. Her relay mates jumped into the pool with her. The four hugged each other tightly. They then congratulated the other teams. All the swimmers got out of the pool. East High's coach hugged them tightly. He then patted them on the backs. The teammates then came up and hugged the girls happily. Gabriella was laughing happily as she wrapped her towel around her.

"The medal presentation will now begin."

Gabriella won eight gold medals all together. She smiled each time she was presented her medal. Jenny's mother took pictures each time East High was on the podium.

"And the women's 200 meter medley relay team first place, East High, Jenny Newman, Kaitlyn Baggs, Pamela Gibson and Gabriella Montez!"

The four girls stood on top of the podium. Mrs. Newman took pictures as they were presented their medals. The girls were laughing happily as they were still excited about breaking the record.

Once they were done, the swimmers went to go change. Gabriella sat down on the bench to dry off. Just as she was about to change, a voice called into the locker room.

"East High's 200 meter medley girls out here!"

Gabriella, Jenny, Pamela and Kaitlyn looked at each other before standing up. They walked out with most of the team behind them. Their coach and West High's coach were having a heated discussion. The West High's 200 meter relay team was standing across from them.

"One final race!" East High's coach, Greg Martin announced. "East High against West High."

"What?" the two teams asked.

It was no secret that the two coaches did not get along. They weren't even civil with each other during meets. Their swimmers were civil whenever they met.

"Let's go."

The eight swimmers lined up at the starting blocks. Jenny and Todd Gray got into the pool. Greg blew the whistle and they started. Both teams were cheering their swimmer on. Kaitlyn and Scott Anderson dove in as the first two finished. Pamela and Michael Larsson were next. Both swimmers were neck and neck when Gabriella and Tony Jackson dove in. The coaches were yelling at their swimmer to go faster. Gabriella pulled ahead when she flipped turned. Her teammates cheered when she touched the wall first. She was out of breath as she pulled herself out of the pool. Mrs. Newman handed her her towel and told her to go change.

Ten minutes later, Gabriella came back out in black pants and a red shirt. Troy was waiting for her and smiled. Gabriella smiled and turned around in a small circle for him to get the full effect of what she was wearing. Troy pulled her close and kissed her deeply.

"Ready to go?" Gabriella asked.

"Where are we going?" Troy asked.

"Remember? My mother's not going to be home. You're coming over and I'll give you a reward for being my lucky charm."

"I like it when I get rewarded." Troy said as he put his arm around Gabriella and led her out towards the car.

"Generally people like it, that's why they call it a reward."

"Well Montez, what did you have in mind for my reward?"

"Let's just say that it requires you, me and my bedroom."

"Oh, I love your rewards." Troy said again tossing Gabriella over his shoulder.