A/N- Hey everybody! I know I haven't updated for awhile, but I just got 2 puppies (they're sooo cute) so I've been really busy lately. All of the links to the girls' outfits and the beach restaurant are on my profile, so check it out!

Today was the day of the New Mexico Dance. Troy, Jason and Chad were playing basketball outside when Troy started to complain, "You guys, what if my date's annoying, or really really unusual, or a freak or you know really.. not good?"

"Well what did she sound like on the phone?" asked Jason.

"She sounded alright... actually she sounded pretty nice, but what if she's not!?!."

"Stop worrying dude, if you see her and you don't like her, this is what you'll do: when she goes up to you and says 'Are you Troy Bolton', you'll point to Ryan and say 'That guy over there with the funky hat is Troy Bolton but if anyone asks he'll say he's Ryan Evans, but he's actually Troy' Then Ryan will be stuck with her and you can be free! Free like a bird!!," Chad suggested while flapping his arms. Troy and Jason just stood there staring at Chad and his preposterous plan.

"What?!? I think it's a fantastic plan, one of the best I ever thought of!" Chad defended as he placed his hands on his hips. Just then Troy's mom walked outside, "Boys, its 4:20! Maybe you guys should start getting ready for the dance!"

"Okay mom! We'll get ready after one more game!"

At Gabriella's house.

"Gabs, go put on your dress so Taylor and I can do your hair and makeup," Kelsi suggested. Gabriella quickly stepped into her bathroom and put her dress on, then she walked back into her bedroom.

"You look so great in that dress Gabby! And after we do your hair and makeup, you'll look so fabulous!"Taylor complimented.

Half an hour later the girls finished Gabriella's makeup and hair. They decided on natural looking makeup and they put her hair in a half-pony tied with a white ribbon.

"Woah, Gabriella you look stunning!" Kelsi smiled.

Gabriella looked at the mirror and gasped, "Thank you guys so so so so much!"

Taylor laughed, "Hey! It's what best friends are for!"

Gabriella smiled slyly, "Kelsi! Taylor! Go put on your dresses so I can do your makeup!"

Taylor wore a navy polka dot spaghetti strap dress and her hair was straighten held with a white headband. Kelsi wore a black embroidered mesh dress and her hair was in a messy bun. They started walking down the stairs to the front door when Mrs.Montez stopped them and started taking pictures, "You girls look so lovely,"

"Thank you mama. Remember you don't have to pick us up, you just have to bring us there, we're walking to Kelsi's house after the dance for a sleepover. Her house is just around the corner from the restaurant."

"Okay girls, lets head out, its almost five o clock."

The guys arrived at the restaurant at 4:50 o clock. "Lets go find a table," Jason suggested as he started walking, "Wait are we all going to sit together at a big table, or are you and your date sitting at a separate table?"

"Well, we can just wait till Gabriella gets here and ask her," Troy suggested.

Just then the three girls entered the restaurant and started looking for a certain Troy Bolton. But that wasn't very easy since only Taylor knew how he looked like. "Gabi There he is! With two other guys!"

"Oh my gosh, he's so cute! What do I do? What do I say? WAIT! How do I look," Gabriella asked worriedly while checking herself over.

"Just go up to him, ask if he's Troy-he'll say yes, then say hello and introduce yourself." Kelsi instructed, "And Gabriella, you look really really really good." Gabriella nodded then smiled and started walking slowly towards the guys.

-Troy's POV-

I was talking to Chad and Jason when a gorgeous brunette walked towards us.

"Hi, are you by any chance Troy Bolton?" she asked me.

"Yes I am" I answered.

"I'm Gabriella Montez, your date." she said smiling.

-Note to Self- make sure I thank Sharpay for daring me to ask out a complete stranger

"Did you come alone?" I questioned her.

"No, I came with my two friends, would you like to meet them?" she replied/asked. I nodded as she walked away and came back with her friends. At that moment I remembered Chad and Jason who were standing next to me smiling, "Oh I forgot to introduce my friends, Jason Cross and Chad Danforth"

They exchanged greetings and then she started to introduce her friends, "These are my best friends, Kelsi Nielson and Taylor McKessie."

"Do you all want to eat together?," I suggested.

"They're are only tables fit for four people, so why don't Troy and Gabriella sit together, and then me, Jason, Taylor and Kelsi will sit together," Chad said.

We all nodded in agreement.

-END OF POV-

-Gabriella's POV-

After we ordered our meals, I decided to start a conversation.

"Troy I hear you're the big basketball star at your school," I smiled at him

He smiled back and replied, "Yea that's me, I've been playing basketball since I was really little, my dad plays too, actually he's the basketball coach of East High."

"That should be interesting," I said as I took a sip of my cream soda.

"Its not too bad, just have to work a load harder," he sighed, "Enough about me, lets hear about you."

"Well I'm on the decathlon team as well as Taylor and I'm also the captain of West High's girls' volleyball team," I stated proudly. (A/N- I know Gabriella isn't really the captain of the volleyball team, but in this story she is.)

"Oh, pretty, smart, and athletic," Troy smiled widely at me.

I was about to rely, but then our meals came. For me spagetti and meatballs. And for Troy chicken wings and fries.

"You know what bugs me? Girls that just order a tiny salad or a small glass of water. It's not like they'll gain twenty pounds from just eating a burger," Troy smirked at me.

"Well ever think that maybe they're just not very hungry, or is it possible that they don't like burgers orthat they're vegetarians, you can't just assume something so quickly," I grinned.

"You know, you should join the debate team too, I think you'll do very well there," he suggested in a joking manner.

"Yea I should, you know it's my life long dream to be on the debate team," I said sarcastically as he started to laugh.

We kept on talking and joking as we ate our meals. But then I looked out the window and saw how beautiful everything looked and I could hear music playing outside. I just had to go outside.

END OF POV

Just as Troy finished his meal, he felt Gabriella's hand in his dragging him along lightly, "Come on Troy! Lets go on the beach."

Gabriella was staring at the sky, it wasn't dark yet so the sky displayed shades of pink,blue, and purple swirled together to create a breathtaking sight. But Troy wasn't looking at the atmosphere, he was looking at Gabriella. "Troy, isn't it beautiful," she smiled still looking up.

"Yes it is," he answered, but his eyes all over Gabriella. Troy then moved his head until he was glancing towards all the dancing couples.

"Gabriella, would you like to dance with me?" he asked nervously.

"I'd love to," she said placing her hand in his. They walked hand-in-hand towards the music until they reached all the other couples. Troy placed his hands on Gabriella's waist while her arms were settled around his neck.

They both swayed along with the music as Troy lightly moved Gabriella's head so it rested on his chest. They danced to slow songs, fast songs, basically most of the songs till the sky started to fade.

"Gabriella, the fireworks are about to start, lets go sit on the lifeguard chair so we get a better view," he suggested.

They both walked over to the stairs and up the ladder till they reached the top. On top of the chair they're was a fairly small blue blanket that Troy pushed towards the side until he saw Gabriella shivering. He quickly arranged the blanket so it was on top of Gabriella. The blanket was not big enough to fully cover both Troy and Gabriella.

"Aren't you cold," she asked worried.

"I'm a little cold but I'll be alright," he said as he looked ahead. Gabriella moved over towards Troy and put the blanket in between them.

"Hey, what kind of date would a be if I let you freeze to death," Gabriella smirked at him.

"Not a very good one," he said laughing. He was no longer cold, cause now he had Gabriella extremely close by him and a blanket over them.

Right then the fireworks began, they were so magnificent, fireworks of all kinds of forms and colours. Gabriella and Troy seemed to really enjoy the fireworks but would repetitively glance at one another, all the lights glistening on their faces. The show ended with an astonishing rainbow-coloured firework. Everyone applauded and cheered. At that moment Gabriella and Troy turned their heads to look at each other and smiled. Without saying a word their lips connected creating a soft and gentle kiss.