Not too much to say today, as ever my thanks to all my reviewers, especially those that pointed out my boo boos or just said nice things to keep me going (you know who you are). Please remember that I own nothing to do with Disney or HSM. Sorry if it gets a bit boring but its just all fillers for the moment. Love Tink.

What Gabriella said stayed with Troy for the rest of that evening and made him feel slightly uncomfortable, a feeling he wasn't used to in connection with Gabriella. He knew she was shy but never realized she thought so little of herself, he's always assumed she was happy and it never occurred to him that she would have a problem with the way she looked. What Troy had told was true, she was pretty in her own quiet way, sure it wasn't the sort of obvious beauty that was in your face but she was pretty all the same. With her long dark hair, warm eye and open smile she had a natural beauty that couldn't be found anywhere else in East High. Troy just couldn't understand why Gabriella couldn't see it herself. Not that he thought of her that way, he assured himself as wondered why it should matter so much to him. The obvious answer was as her best friend he would care about what she thought but there was something else, something that niggled away at him, something he couldn't put his finger on.

While Troy pondered Gabriella's lack of self confidence where her looks were concerned, she was busy being briefed by Sharpay and Taylor on the latest scheme to make Troy sit up and take notice that Gabriella was a girl.

""So you remember we talked about getting Troy to see you as a girl, well we kinda thought" she looked at Taylor and then continued "we kinda thought that maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing if something did develop between you and Christian. And we know you two have met, I heard all about it"

Sometimes Sharpay still amazed Gabriella, there was nothing that got past her, she knew everybody's business.

"The thing is Gab; you will have to make some little tiny weeny changes"

Gabriella looked doubtful "Like what?"

"You know we love you right" Sharpay began "We just think that if you really want Troy to sit up and take notice, you need to make more of yourself"

Seeing the look on Gabriella's face Taylor added hastily "Not that there is anything wrong with the way you are, you are very pretty but we know you could be such a hottie"

Gabriella was extremely doubtful of this and felt resentful that they expected her to change, simply to attract guys or even Troy who had known her just as she was.

"Guys, I don't want to change, Troy has known me like this for years"

"Yeah but Christian hasn't and would it hurt just to make a few little adjustments" Taylor pointed out.

"Like?" she was very suspicious.

Sharpay tilted her head to the side in the way she did when she was thinking and wrinkled her pert nose in concentration.

"I'm thinking loose the glasses or at least get a new pair, maybe a new hair style and maybe a couple of new outfits. Nothing too drastic"

"Nothing to drastic, you basically want me to re invent myself" she protested.

Sharpay and Taylor shook their heads "Not you just the way you look, Gabi you could be like sooo hot. Think about it, Christian would notice you then that would probably make Troy notice you too. Give him the wake up call he needs" Taylor reasoned.

"Oh I just had the most fabulous idea; this really is a stroke of genius if I do say so myself" she paused dramatically "I totally think that you should get Troy to give you some advice"

Taylor and Gabriella stared at her. That was the stroke of genius? Advice?

"Advice about guys, what they like, what they want, play the dummy, appeal to his ego, guys can never resist that, it's sad really"

"Sharpay I am a dummy when it comes to guys, besides Troy knows I could just ask Tay"

"But Tay isn't a guy; she couldn't give the 411 on what they want"

"She has point Gab" Taylor agreed.

Gabriella nodded almost to herself, it would make sense but she was still dubious about the whole plan. As much as she loved Troy she wasn't sure this was the best way to make him see how she really felt, it all seemed so false. But there was part of her that yearned to see just what could happen, would the way she looked make any difference to Troy. Then there was Christian, Gabriella had to admit she felt a little stirring of attraction towards him and if changing her look got his attention, then surely it couldn't hurt.

"Okay but nothing too big"

Sharpay squealed and clapped her hands together as she bounced on the spot

"When can we start?"

Gabriella stood up and walked over to her beside tables, after opening the draw she held up a little box.

"My lenses"

"You have lenses and you've never used them?"

"I feel exposed in them, I guess I hide behind my glasses" she admitted softly.

It was true she acknowledged, she felt more comfortable in her glasses, you couldn't see as much of her face, without them she felt exposed.

"Can we see? "

"Don't laugh, you guys" she warned already feeling nervous as she removed her glasses and turned to face her mirror. Within seconds she popped the lenses in and turned to face her friends. Taylor and Sharpay stared at her in shock.

"Is it that bad?" she asked, noting their reaction.

"Gabi where have you been hiding those eyes girl"

"And those cheek bones, Gabi wow!" Sharpay exclaimed "You are soo pretty Gabi, you are gonna be like seriously hot"

"You're just saying that Shar but thanks" Gabriella said looking pleased and hopeful all at the same time.

"Tell her Tay"

Taylor nodded in agreement "Gabi really, by the time we've finished with you, Troy isn't gonna know what's hit him"

Gabriella felt very nervous the next morning as she waited for Troy, by removing her glasses she felt as though she was wearing an enormous sign over her head that said "I want a guy". She found herself attempting to push them up her nose in a gesture of nervousness, but only bumped her nose.

Hearing Troy honk the horn she grabbed her back pack and raced out of the door and down her drive.

"Hey" she said breathlessly as she jumped in the car and fastened her belt, not looking at Troy.

"Hey," he said absently turning to look at her, then staring.

"What?" she was defensive.

Troy felt as though he was gaping, in all the time he had known her he had never seen her without her glasses .One look and he knew he had been right; she was pretty, especially without her glasses. He could see the tilt of her eyes and the pretty upturn of her nose, dotted with freckles.

"Nothing, you just look different. . . In a good way"

She smiled slightly "Really?"

He nodded as he drove and threw her an odd look "this all for his benefit?"

"Kind of" she admitted, picking up some odd vibes from him.

"You really wanna go changing yourself for some guy?"

Gabriella smiled at him "I think he's worth it Troy or I wouldn't have done it. Tay and Shar are taking me to the mall to go shopping and then we're going to the salon" she sounded a little excited.

"You don't need to do this Gabi, if he doesn't like you for who you are he isn't worth it"

"I want to Troy, it'd be nice to have a few dates and what I've done so far hasn't exactly been working for me"

"You're just shy that's all, you don't know about guys"

She turned in her seat to look at him and "Actually I wanted to speak to you about that, I need your help"

"Sure whatever you want" he replied instantly not even asking what she wanted from him.

"I want you're help to find out about guys, what they like, how to get him to notice me that kinda thing"

Troy looked uncomfortable, his eyes on the road "Couldn't you ask Tay about that?"

Gabi rolled her eyes at him "Tay is a girl; I need a guy's point of view. . . C'mon Troy please, I do it for you" she wheedled

"Okay, what do you want to know?"

She shook her head "Not now I need to concentrate, how about Saturday night?"

"Sure why not. . .So am going to meet this guy who's got you so interested, check him out?"

Gabriella giggled "Troy, I don't vet your dates do I?"

"Hey I need to know if he's good enough for my girl"

Gabriella felt a surge of pleasure, he's called her his girl, although he meant in a platonic sense it still gave her a buzz.

"He's great Troy really but I'm sure you'll meet him, he's gonna be reporting for the Herald, sports stuff mainly"

"He play?"

Gabriella shook her head "Just writes about it"

"Nerd" Troy pronounced as they pulled into the parking lot.

"You think anyone that doesn't play on a team is a nerd" she giggled climbing out of the car as he shut off the engine. "And in case it's escaped you, I am also a nerd"

"Yeah but your pretty" he said without thinking, and Gabriella flushed with pleasure.

"So is he" she argued back

"Not to me" Troy said dryly, as they strolled towards the entrance.

People stared a little as they realized that Gabriella wasn't wearing her glasses and that she looked different. But overall Gabriella felt it was something of an anti climax. Nobody put her down or called her names, if anything more people smiled, well more guys smiled at her, wanted to talk to her. She felt a little exposed but defiantly not as bad as she thought and the way people responded lead her to think that perhaps she was prettier than she'd believed. Suddenly she had a little spring in her step, as she made her way to her locker.

Troy walked along next to her with a frown; too many guys were suddenly paying attention to Gabriella. And she was responding with shy little smiles or soft flirty greetings. It seemed to Troy that the removal of her glasses had let a loose a flirter, slightly more confident Gabriella. God only knew what would happen when she had her new clothes and hair style. For the second time in as many days Troy found himself seeing Gabriella as a "girl" instead of a "friend". He didn't like the jealous feelings stirring inside of him, as though he had to protect her by glaring at every guy that looked her way. It was normal he supposed to be protective of a friend but the jealous part didn't seem right. He didn't think of Gabriella like that, did he?

As usual Taylor and Chad were already at their lockers waiting for them along with Zeke and Sharpay. Gabi had to laugh when Chad and Zeke spotted her, their eyes bugged in their heads. All this by removing one little thing, her clothes were the same and her long dark hair was still tied back in a practical manner. She wasn't that different.

"You look so much better" Shar whispered in her ear "What did Troy boy think?"

Gabi grinned "He said I looked different in a good way" she reported.

"Jeez, he didn't go over board did he? What about phase two of the plan?"

"Sorted" she whispered.

Sharpay grinned and gave her a thumbs up.

"What are you two plotting?" Troy asked and watched as Gabriella flushed guiltily, thinking she'd been caught.

"Nothing, just girl talk" Shar assured him in a sickly sweet voice, which made Troy immediately suspicious.

Gabriella couldn't meet his eyes but she smiled at him, and he figured it was something to do with Christian.

"That poor bastard, I feel sorry for him if Sharpay's involved" Troy said and Sharpay pulled a face at him

"You have no idea" Taylor said with a smirk as the bell went and the gang headed for homeroom.