RECAP-

"Well Emily right? Are you Matt's girlfriend?" Troy asked and Matt looked like he wanted to punch Troy in the face.

"Who Matt and I? Oh no, just friends." Emily said and I raised an eyebrow at her. She told me how Matt and her would hang out occasionally, but no one at their school wanted to see them together. So this gave them limited time to hang out.

"Riiiiggghhhhtttt…" Troy said and Matt clenched his fists and I looked from Troy to Matt. It seemed as if they were sharing some sort of unspoken secret.

"Well here we are!" Matt said relieved as we entered the meeting hall right on time to find almost everyone else there as well.

&&&&&

Why can't I keep my damn mouth shut? He's going to agree with them.

Wait, what? Troy is hugging me? TROY IS HUGGING ME? What's he saying?

"You're beautiful Gabi…" He whispered into my hair and his tone was serious?

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

POOL AREA

Gabriella's POV:

I sighed as I followed Emily and Troy down to the pool area. Matt had to go grab some stuff from his room which left Troy, Emily, and I in an awkward silence. Currently, from where I was standing, it looked like Emily and Troy were totally flirting with each other which is really pissing me off!

"Stop Troy!" Emily giggled as he tried to tickle her and I definitely knew I was jealous, but I had told Emily that I didn't like him, so he was technically fair game. Technically yes, but if you went beyond technical, then no.

I sighed as they continued flirting and I knew why Troy like Emily. Not only was she smart, but absolutely beautiful! Nice dirty blond hair, green eyes, and a nice figure. She was kind sweet and caring as well. I mean, who wouldn't like her?

"Hey Gabi, wait up!" Matt called out from behind me and I stopped and turned around. Why would he want to talk to me? I don't even know him!

"Um, yeah?" I asked. Well this was awkward.

"Just wanted to say that you looked stunning in that bathing suit!" He winked at me and I blushed. Then I felt his arm wrap around my shoulders and I blushed big time. Why was I blushing for Matt? Oh, yeah, that's right. He was tall, dark, and handsome.

"Oh-h, umm thanks…" I said and mentally kicked myself for cursing. HOW COULD I BE SO STUPID?

I looked at Emily and Troy again and they were currently looking at Matt and I. Great, when I looked at Troy he looked as he wanted to kill someone. I looked over at Emily and she raised an eyebrow at me. I shrugged signaling that I had no clue why Matt was acting this way towards me.

"So Gabi…" Troy said and I jumped suddenly realizing he was right next to me. Since when was he that fast. I looked to my left and realized Matt had gone with Emily who were having a friendly chat.

"Yeah?" I asked leaning closer to Troy.

"You and Matt huh?" Troy said, I noticed a teasing tone, but was there jealousy hidden in there as well?

"Him and I? No, no, no! No way. I barely know the guy. Plus he's more likely to be my friend than a boyfriend figure." I said. I looked over to Matt and Emily and smiled. They would make the perfect couple. That's what people said about Troy and I.

"Gabi, are you okay…" Troy asked me softly as I gazed off into space. I did feel a little light headed, but before I could answer I was pushed rudely out of the way by two hands. I stumbled forward and fell on the floor face first. I groaned and pulled myself up, but my wrist gave out and I ended up back on the floor.

"What a little wimp!" Courtney sniggered and Stacy giggled too as they tried to grab Troy and pull him along, but he wouldn't budge.

"C'mon Troy! You can come and hang with us by the pool! We saved you from the geek!" Courtney said and Troy looked like he was about to blow.

"Why don't you just leave me alone? Gabriella and I were talking and she is not a wimp. Why don't you just leave all of us alone?" Troy snapped at them and Stacy and Courtney hurried off, but not before they said this.

"Troy, you'll realize what a mistake you're making by hanging with her. She's obsessed with you! Then when you come crying back to me, don't expect to let me take you back so easily. You'll have to earn it." Courtney snapped and Troy looked at her as if she was crazy.

I hate them. My head was pounding and my back was now pressed against the cold tiled floor. What a great way to spend my first day here. It's on the floor. Just great.

"Oh my…" I said as I felt myself being lifted from the ground by two strong arms who held me effortlessly and I leaned my head against their chest.

"Gabi?" Troy asked and I groaned. I had the worst headache ever. "Gabi?" Troy whispered concerned and I could feel him start to panic.

"Ughhh…" I groaned and he chuckled. "This is no laughing matter Bolton." I moaned.

"Good to know that you're alive Gabriella!" Troy said as he set me down on the ground and took my wrist in his hands. His felt warm and I loved how he thought I was the most delicate thing on the earth.

"Tell me if this hurts." He said and I felt him press into my wrist where it really hurt.

"OW!" I shouted and tried to pull my wrist away, but he had it in a firm grip.

"Easy Gabi…" He said and started to rub my wrist which felt quite better. "Does this hurt?"

"No…" I sighed and he let go of my wrist.

"It's just badly bruised." He said as he led the way out onto the pool area part. I sighed as I saw what podium I was supposed to sit at. Troy was right across from me, great. He would have a view at how ugly I looked in a bathing suit. Just. Peachy.

"Well, I better get over to my place, see you later Gabi." Troy said as he went over to his chair and I went to mine. As I was undressing I saw Troy in his perfection. He was perfect. He was tan, tall, muscular, kind, sweet, funny, caring, and had the best blue eyes I've ever seen. He was cute.

He was already on top of his stand while I started to get undressed. Emily and Matt were already doing their rounds for serving people lounging by the pool. I felt a pair of eyes on me watching me undress and I looked over at Troy. He was watching me?! I looked down to see if I had something funny on my, but there was nothing there. I shrugged and got up on my stand.

I looked out at all the people and spotted the familiar rich Evans twins. I rolled my eyes. Now that Troy and I had stole the part in the musical Sharpay acted even more spiteful to me than ever before. She immediately spotted Troy and made a beeline for him. I stifled a giggle. This was going to be funny.

- - - - - -

No POV

"Hey Troysie!" Sharpay smiled as she walked over to Troy and he rolled his eyes.

"Hey Sharpay."

"So, you know about the party later tonight right?" Sharpay said.

"Yeah I know." Troy said annoyed.

"Well you should come with me." Sharpay said.

"I've got a curfew for my job here so…"

"You know my dad owns this place, right?" Sharpay said.

"Yeah I know." Troy said. He was really annoyed right now.

"Well you should know that I can tell him to change your curfew because you're on a date with me! It'll be so much fun." Sharpay said.

"I've got to work tonight, so sorry Sharpay." Troy said.

"That's okay Troy! You can make it up to me some other time… Tootles!" Sharpay said as she walked off and Troy stifled a laugh. He returned his gaze onto Gabriella who was currently sitting across from him getting the attention of many males. Troy was fuming right now. He wanted to punch any guy in the face who looked at Gabriella like she was a piece of meat, but unfortunately that would be every guy in the pool area. Gabriella even had his attention, but he loved her for the real Gabriella. Not just because she looked good in a bathing suit.

"Troy!" Courtney called from below and Troy rolled his eyes. Not. Again. Did this girl ever learn?

"Oh, hi Courtney." Troy said. He noticed other girls were looking at him and he was seriously frustrated. Was this how it was going to be every time he was out by the pool?

"Listen, you know there is a party later…" Courtney said.

"Yeah, I know." Troy said. Here we go again… He thought.

"Well I was wondering if you would come with me tonight?" Courtney said and Troy rolled his eyes yet again. He would end up damaging them if he kept this up.

"I have to work tonight, sorry…" He said to Courtney.

"I thought all members had today and tonight off, well except for the rest of your friends…" Courtney trailed off.

"Well, sorry, I don't." Troy said.

'You've got to be kidding me!" Courtney screeched swimming away.

"My god she's annoying!" Matt said as she swam away.

"What are you doing over here?" Troy asked glancing at Gabriella who was talking to Emily.

"We're shifting turns. The boss want Gabriella and you stat in the main office." Matt said as Troy climbed down and cast him a worried glance.

"Don't look at me bro, I don't know what it's about!" Matt said holding his hands up in defense then climbing the steps up onto the lifeguard tower.

"Gabriella!" Troy called as she was walking toward him.

"We're wanted in the main office?" Gabriella asked. She was shaking afraid that she had done something wrong.

"Don't worry, I'm sure we haven't done anything wrong. Especially you! Cute little Montez…" Troy said as Gabriella rolled her eyes and they walked to the main office to be greeted by Mr. Evans.

"Hello Gabriella and Troy." Mr. Evans said shaking their hands.

"Hello sir." They both responded and he smiled.

"Well, as you know I own this place and there is supposed to be a party tonight." Mr. Evans said to the frightened teens and they nodded in agreement.

"The two lead singers to the band can't perform tonight due to an illness, so we need a male and a female singer who are exceptionally good." Mr. Evans said and Troy nodded.

"I want you two to sing tonight in their places." Mr. Evans said and Gabriella froze. She didn't do so well in crowds.

"It would be our pleasure!" Troy said.

"Great! The rehearsals start now." He said as he moved out of the way and the two teens were greeted with a kid band, and their DJ.