Disclaimer – I don't own HSM or any of their characters.

Chapter 3 – A Toss of a Ball

Just as Gabriella expected Troy snuck over to her house during the night. He climbed up the tree onto the balcony and unlocked the door as quietly as possible. He checked his watch and saw that it was gone midnight, then walked into the dark room quietly and shut the door behind him. Troy's eyes adjusted to the dark and he saw a figure in the bed. He walked up to the bed side and saw Gabi sleeping peacefully. He smiled and bent down to kiss her exposed neck. Gabi's eyes fluttered open and grinned at Troy as he stood up again. 'You took long enough,' Gabi whispered. Troy rolled his eyes and went it to kiss her lips. Gabriella kissed back and pulled Troy down to lie on top of her. After a while Troy pulled himself off Gabi and settled down next to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Gabi snuggled deeper into his chest and quickly fell asleep again. Troy stayed awake in the pitch black. He did not recall waking up that morning thinking that he may end up holding a girl he had just met in her bed. He was also wondering if this was all just a fling or love.

'Good, Gabriella, now go go go!' Coach Dalon shouted as Gabi was sprinting down the court and passed the ball to a team-mate who shot a basket. The practice was going well, but the coach was very tough and kept the team working. The coach blew her whistle and the team jogged over to her. 'Right, good work, and Gabriella, welcome to the team!' the girls applauded while Gabi blushed. 'Just quickly, there is a game on Friday, and I think we are ready, so I will put up the team list tomorrow, and that is when you will find out the new captain.' Everybody but Gabi groaned.

The coach dismissed everybody but Gabriella. 'OK Gabi, I am actually considering you for the captaincy. I was a bit nervous when Bolton told me about a player that he discovered, but you are a fantastic player, and as you have already been a captain of a team, I think you should make a good captain.'

The boys' team walked into the gym with Troy leading them. They were about to run onto the court to start playing but Troy stopped them when they saw Coach Dalon talking to Gabriella. 'In my opinion, this position could fall down to a toss of a ball. So, if you please,' Gabi looked at the coach with wide eyes as she passed her a ball. 'I want you to shoot the ball from here into that basket,' Coach pointed to the basket just over half the court away.

Gabi didn't say a word and bounced the ball a couple of times and the coach stepped back to watch. Gabi lifted her arms above her head and aimed the ball. She bent her knees and jumped up, shooting the ball towards the net. The ball flew across the court and hit the back board, falling into the net. Gabi smiled and turned towards the bleachers to grab her sports bag. The boys' team applauded her and Chad leant towards Troy saying, 'I bet you can't make that shot!'

Gabi walked across the gym, smiling slightly at Troy and walked into the girls' changing room, nodding to the coach, who had a big smile on her face.

The next morning Troy and Gabriella walked into school together and Gabi approached by a team-mate, Lindsey Parker. 'How dare you!' She shouted at her.

Troy looked at Lindsey in shock, thinking that she was shouting at him. 'Lindsey, you and I-'

'Not you, Bolton! I mean her!' Lindsey flicked a hand towards Gabi who was still oblivious as to why she was angry at her. 'Montez over here stole my spot!'

'What spot?' Gabi asked.

'My captaincy! That was supposed to be mine! Not some new girl!' Lindsey yelled.

'Your captain?' Troy asked Gabi.

Gabriella shrugged, 'I had no idea about this, Lindsey. Coach told me after practice that she was considering me. I had no idea that she was going to actually select me.'

'You are going to pay for this Montez. You are not my captain,' Lindsey said angrily.

'Lindsey, how about you calm down!' Troy said and put his arm around Gabi's shoulders protectively.

Lindsey's eyes widened. 'Wait, are you two…woah that is low Bolton…I break up with you then you go out with the rich girl…desperate…or just after her money.'

Gabi gasped and Troy stepped forward in front of her. 'I broke up with you, and it was almost a month of you. And don't you ever say anything like that again. Understand?' Troy said quietly in an angry tone.

Lindsey glared at him and began to walk off but Troy shouted out, 'Hey, Linds!' She turned around. 'If you want to stay in the team…you respect the captain.' Lindsey scrunched her face up in anger and marched off. Troy laughed slightly and turned around to check on Gabriella, but she wasn't there. 'Brie?' he called but got no answer.

Troy sighed and walked towards the direction of her locker but was pulled through a door. He looked at the person who pulled him away from the hall and saw Gabriella staring at him. She put her finger to his lips before he could say anything and dragged him up some steps and led him out to a roof top. She let go of his hand and walked over to the railing and looked down at the view. 'Now this view is the best view in Albuquerque,' she breathed.

Troy walked over behind Gabi and wrapped his arms around her waist and looked over her head and whistled, 'Yeah, it actually makes this town look good.'

Gabi turned around, 'You know, there are some things that are better here than in LA…'

Troy tightened his arms around her and said, 'Such as…'

Gabi giggled, 'Well there is this boy in Albuquerque…who happens to be better than all the boys that I knew in LA…'

Troy smiled and kissed her softly on the lips. 'Well, Albuquerque has become a lot more interesting since you arrived. Come on, we should go back down…and good discovery! It can be our place.' Gabi smiled and they walked down the stairs hand-in-hand.

'Troy, when is your first basketball game?' Gabi asked as they walked to homeroom.

'Same day as yours…we are after your game. Actually, the two teams are announced at the same time, and we enter together as the two captains…I forgot about that. Now I am really happy that you are captain, otherwise I would have to enter with Lindsey…' Troy shuddered.

'What happened with you two?' Gabi asked.

Troy sighed, 'We went out for a couple of months before you came. It was bad. She was selfish and boring…I broke up with her a month ago and she hasn't really got over it.'

Gabi nodded, 'I think she is going to give me a hard time.'

Troy looked at her. 'You can handle it.'

Friday evening quickly came and the boys' and girls' varsity team were waiting to be called out. The girls' were going to immediately start playing after the teams were called out, and Gabi was at the back of the line of players walking around, nervous. Troy put a hand on her shoulder and leant down to look into her eyes, 'You are going to do brilliantly,' he said and kissed her cheek as the names were read out and everybody except for Troy and Gabi ran out.

'And last but not least, our two captains, Troy Bolton and Newbie, Gabriella Montez!' The announcer shouted and they ran out onto the court to see a huge crowd, all cheering and applauding. Gabi saw her new friends and her parents along with Troy's mom and sister. Troy's dad was at the side line with Coach Dalon.

The boys' team left with Coach Bolton and Troy gave Gabi a hug before leaving and said, 'I'll be there to watch you in the second half.' Gabi took a breath and got into position for the game to start.

'You Won!' Gabi yelled as everybody was meeting up after the boys' game. They won easily and Troy played fantastically. The best bit was that Carlos was watching the game and secretly videoing it to send to Lakers.

'We both won!' Troy laughed and picked her up and swung her round.

'Well played, Troy,' Carlos smiled as he walked up to take her daughter home.

'Thank you, Carlos,' Troy replied and he spotted his family waiting for him. 'I have to go, Brie. Can you do tomorrow night?' Troy asked.

'Yeah, see you later.' Gabi winked subtly.

Troy grinned and kissed her cheek and ran to meet up with his parents.

AN: ooh, what are they doing tomorrow?? It won't be very interesting, but it will take a couple of chapters to get to the drama, I just need Troy and Gabriella to get to know each other. Review