Gabi stepped out of her car, gently closing the door behind her. All around her, her fellow senior classmates were emerging from their own cars. Excitement filled the air as people were catching up with friends they hadn't seen in a while, laughing over funny stories or exchanging gossip, all ready to start the new school year. Gabi had a front spot, a prime spot in the parking lot. Troy had told her about these spots last year, how there was an unwritten rule about how only the most popular people got to park here. Troy had been parking here, in these spots, in the senior parking lot since his sophomore year. Gabi had parked there without thinking about it, unconsciously driven to fill her spot in the status quo of East High. Now realizing where she was, Gabi was tempted to pull out and find a different spot, somewhere where she wouldn't be the center of attention. As she turned back to her car, Chad's car pulled into the spot next to hers.

"Hey Gabi!" Taylor called through the open window, her dark brown curls bouncing in anticipation of starting a new school year. Sitting next to her, Chad was eyeing the school with distrust and apprehension. Gabi giggled at the two of them, leaning back against her own car as they climbed out.

"Hey Taylor." Gabi replied. "You ready?"

"Of course!" Taylor was bouncing on the balls of her feet as Chad trudged around his car to stand next to his girlfriend. "Are you?"

"Yeah. I think so." Gabi said, staring up at the school, a place filled with memories. Memories of the decathlon team, of musical practice, of pep rallies, of her friends, of Troy. "I'm going to make some new memories." Gabi whispered to herself.

"What did you say?" Taylor asked.

"Oh, nothing." Gabi replied, starring at the school where she could see the garden at the top, a place she was sure she would never be able to visit again.

"See?" Chad exclaimed from beside Taylor. "You're starting to hear things. I told you this place was haunted. Can we leave yet?"

Taylor rolled her eyes at Gabi. "He's been like this all morning. His mom had to drag him out of bed by pulling away his covers."

"Hey! How did you know that?" Chad asked, looking down at his girlfriend. "What are you doing talking to my mother?"

"Well, while I was waiting for you to pull your lazy butt out of bed and come get me, I called your house to find out if you had left yet."

"Not fair." Chad grumbled.

Gabi laughed, happy to be among friends and comfortable in where she was. Ever since she and Troy – No, she wasn't going to think about Troy. Today was a new day, a new beginning. This could work. She could live without Troy. This weekend at Chad's, that had been a mistake. She knew that. And he had just proved it by going home with Sharpay. Right here, right now, she would start new.

"Um, earth Gabi?" Chad said, waving his hand in front of her face. "Anyone home?"

"Sorry. I was just thinking about school."

"Okay, well let's do this." Taylor said, holding Chad's hand and starting to walk toward the school, having to pull Chad behind her.

"I'll be there in one sec." Gabi called. "I wana move my car."

"What?" Chad asked, yanking his hand free of Taylor's and walking back towards Gabi.

"Why would you move your car?" Taylor questioned, coming to stand next to Chad.

"Well, you know." Gabi replied, motioning towards her car. "It's these spots. And I don't want to take them away from someone who might deserve them more."

"What are you talking about?" Chad said. "Gabi, this is your spot. You belong there. Don't ever forget that."

Taylor nodded her head. "Gabi, no matter what happens, you belong here. And with us. I know we are trying to rise above the 'Status-Quo' as Sha- I mean some people call it. But this is your spot. Now let's go to class. I don't want to be late on our first."

"You're never late to any class, any day." Chad grumbled as he followed her once again towards the school, Gabi walking behind them.

'Here we go.' She thought.

"And how is my beautiful girl this morning?"

Gabi smiled as she closed her locker to see Ryan's smiling face looking at her.

"I'm fine, excited, nervous, all of the above." Gabi replied. "And yourself?"

"Excellent. Sharpay tried to wake me up at 5 am to help her with her hair but I threw a pillow at her face and rolled over instead. It was a fabulous way to wake up." Ryan said, a far away look glazing his eyes as if recalling a fond memory.

Gabi giggled at the image, hoisting her bad higher on her shoulder.

"Wait, here let me help you." Ryan grabbed Gabi's bad off her shoulder, slinging it over his own. Gabi smiled in appreciation, trying not to remember how Troy had always done the same thing. "Now, where to?"

"Um." Gabi consulted her new schedule. "AP English."

"Perfect." Ryan said, linking his fingers with hers. "I have AP Lit. That's on my way."

Gabi squeezed his hand as they started to walk, smiling at the people who greeted her in the hallway with a hello or a wave, doing a double take on the fact that the boy next to Gabrielle Montez wasn't Troy Bolton.

Ryan gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the stares.

"Aren't you used to the attention?" she whispered. "Being on stage all the time, performing in front of crowds?"

"Normally those stares are smiling, not shocked, or glaring."

"Ry-"

"Shh," Ryan said, pulling her to face him as they stood outside the AP English classroom. "I can deal with it. If it's for you, I'll deal with anything." With that, he gently placed his lips on hers.

Gabi sighed, kissing him back gently. She tried to ignore the nagging part of her brain that told her it didn't feel quite right. The part that reminded her that his lips should be softer, fuller, different.

In response to her kiss, Ryan wrapped his arms around her waist, pushing her against the wall. Dragging his hands through her wavy brown hair, he pushed his body up against hers. Again the voice teased her, mocked her. He wasn't heavy enough, tall enough, warm enough. Gabi raised her hands from her side, moving to lightly grip his waist, which wasn't thick as it was supposed to be.

"Oh, Gabi." He murmured, pushing his tall lean frame against hers. "Oh, Gabi."

A small smile crossed her face as she looked up at Ryan, trying to think of only him. 'Ryan, Ryan, Ryan.' She chanted in her head.

"Gabi, I-" Ryan whispered, his pale pink lips millimeters from hers. "I-"

AS Ryan lips were about to part, waiting to finish his whispers, Gabi noticed two pairs of shoes standing right behind him. One pair of basketball shoes, one pair of black ballet flats.

"Shit" she sighed.

"What?" Ryan asked, pulling back slightly.

Gabi nodded behind him, indicating that he should look behind him. Ryan turned, his face becoming red, his hands gripping Gabi's waist tightly. Standing there, staring right at them, one biting her lips with a worried expression on her face, the other looking just as angry as Ryan looked, were Taylor and Troy.

"Shit." Gabi repeated, as her body betrayed her and her pulse instantly sped up just from being so close to him. Standing up, pushing herself off the wall and out of Ryan's hands, Gabi turned towards Troy.

"AP English?"

"Yeah." Troy muttered. Then without looking at Ryan, he brushed past Gabi and shuffled into the classroom.

"I'll um, save you a seat Gabi." Taylor said as she walked in after Troy.

"Thanks." Gabi replied, afraid to look at Ryan.

After a second, Gabi looked up, unsure of what she would see.

"Well, it's not like I can hide you away from him." He hissed through thin lips.

"Ryan-"

"What do you have next?"

"Ryan?"

"Gabi, I have to go to class. Tell me what your schedule is!"

"Um, AP Calc, AP US, Lunch…"

"Fine. I'll see you at lunch." Ryan leaned over and pressed his cool lips against her forehead. Then he turned and walked away, down the hall.

Gabi watched him go, a frown appearing on her lips. No matter how hard she tried to avoid Troy, it seemed that she just couldn't stay away

"Welcome class. My name is Ms. Stuart and I'll be your English teacher for this semester."

Gabi and Taylor exchanged a quick smile. Everyone loved Ms. Stuart. She was young, smart, nice, and totally bonded with her students. Plus, she was the editor for the yearbook, which Gabi and Taylor were going to work on this year.

Gabi then looked to her right where Troy was sitting, his eyes staring forward but Gabi could tell he wasn't paying attention. His foot was tapping, his eyes were staring downward, and he was doodling in his notebook. Gabi couldn't help but notice how strong he looked, the way his muscles rippled under his thin t-shirt, how long and graceful his fingers were as the moved around the page.

"Ow!" Gabi winced as Taylor's foot connected with her shin.

"You were staring." She whispered.

"I was not!"

Taylor gave Gabi a look, rolling her eyes. "Sure."

"Ms. McKessie? Ms. Montez?" Is everything okay back there?" Ms. Stuart called, a slight smile appearing on her face.

Gabi blushed, looking down at her desk.

"Okay, so for those of you who were listening…" Gabi blushed further. "We are going to be breaking up into partners and introducing ourselves. Some of you might know each other, some of you might be best friends, and some of you might have never met. But you are going to be working very closely with the person sitting on your right. So turn to the person next to you. C'mon people."

Gabi sat frozen. All around her people were turning, and talking, happy to be in this class. But Gabi couldn't turn.

"Um, Gabi?" she heard his voice next to her ear.

"Yeah?" she asked, her lips dry.

"Do you want to turn towards me?" he asked.

"Not really."

"Gabi, we are partners."

"Let's switch partners."

"I don't want to switch partners." His voice was husky, deep, breathy.

Gabi turned swiftly towards him, her mocha colored eyes blazing. "You can't say that!"

"And why not?"

"Because you can't! You know why."

"No I don't." she could hear the amusement in his voice.

"Ugh!" Gabi dropped her head into her hands, rubbing her eyes. Next to her, she could hear Troy chuckling softly under his breath.

"Gabi-"

"So, how's Sharpay?"

"How would I know?"

"You left with her after Chad's!"

"No. Zeke did."

"Don't lie to me! I saw you. With her in your arms. Leaving the party."

"She was drunk Gabi. I wasn't going to abandon her! So I gave her to Zeke, he took her home. God, Gabi. If you think that for one second I would want to be with her instead of you…" Troy closed his eyes tightly, shaking his head. Gabi watched his light brown hair swish from side to side, shining in the light.

Gabi had to curl her fingers tightly around the edge of the desk to refrain from reaching out and touching his hair.

"Really?" she asked, her voice coming in whisper.

"Really what?" Troy lifted his head, his light blue eyes connecting with hers.

Gabi had to lick her lips; her mouth had gone dry with the intensity of his look. "You really gave her to Zeke? You didn't go home with her?"

Troy shook his head, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Okay." Gabi whispered. "I'll be your partner."

Troy smiled, the smile that he only reserved for her. Gabi's heart sped up.

"That's step one." He said, smirking at Gabi.

"What?" she asked, confused by his choice of words.

"Step one." He repeated. "To you falling back in love with me."

'I never fell out.' She said to herself. Out loud however, she quickly hid the small smile that appeared on her face and turned her head back towards her desk, using her hair to hide her blushing checks.

"Can we just do the project?" Gabi asked, trying to act annoyed.

"Sure." Troy replied, leaning comfortably back in his chair. "Hi. My name is Troy Bolton. I'm a senior at East High, I am captain of the basketball team, and I'm in love with a beautiful, kind, smart, brilliant girl named Gabriella Montez."

Gabi's eyes widen, afraid that other people had heard. But no one seemed to be paying attention. Gabi shook her head in exasperation.

"Hi." She replied. "My name is Gabrielle Montez. I'm a senior a East High, co-captain of the decathlon team, and Ryan Evan's girlfriend."

Troy's face fell, but was quickly replaced with his trademark grin. It happened so fast, Gabi wondered if she had imagined it. But of course, who knew Troy better then her?

"Not for long." Troy replied.

Gabi opened her mouth to retort, but then the bell rang.

"Ahh, saved by the bell." Troy said, standing up out of his chair. "What do you have next?"

"Um, AP Calc."

"Me too." Troy offered Gabi his arm, "May I accompany you?"

"No thanks." Gabi said. I'll walk with Tay."

"Then I'll be right behind you."

"And he's been like that the whole day!" Gabi exclaimed to Taylor as they stood in the lunch line to get food. "Polite, courteous, extra sweet, loving…" Gabi let her voice trail off, afraid of what she was saying.

"What did you expect Gabi?" Taylor asked, grabbing an apple of the counter. "For him to be an asshole? Honey, he said he was sorry. He said he's still in love with you. He didn't take Sharpay home. What more do you want?"

"I'm with Ryan. And he knows that!" Gabi paid for her lunch and turned to face the cafeteria.

"Yeah," Taylor agreed, coming to stand next to her as they survey the cafeteria. "But when has that ever stopped Troy Bolton from getting what he wants?"

Gabi shot Taylor a look as she rolled her eyes.

"Look! There's Chad." Taylor said. Walking towards their table. "Let's just have a good lunch." She said over her shoulder as Gabi followed her. "We'll talk about it later."

Gabi followed Taylor to the prime senior table and put her tray down next to Ryan. "Hey babe." He said, leaning over and kissing her lightly on the lips.

"Hey." Gabi smiled at him. She couldn't help it. Ryan was a good guy, a sweet guy. He had been there to pick up the pieces after Troy had abandoned her. She just needs to keep reminding her self that.

Gabi looked around the table. At one end sat Kelsi and Jason. Jason was examining his fries, arranging them in length order. Kelsi sat across from his, one hand writing on some music sheets, the other holding a sandwich. Every few seconds, Jason would nudge that hand, making sure that Kelsi didn't forget to eat. Sometimes, in the past, she had. Across from them sat Martha and Zeke who were discussing Zeke's new recipe for his ultimate chocolate cake. Martha was helping him out with taste testing. Next to Martha sat Taylor who was sitting next to Chad. Gabi sat across from Chad, sitting next to Ryan, who sat next to Kelsi, who sat next to Jason. Gabi smiled, happy to be with her friends. J

Just then, Troy sat down in between Gabi and Chad, at the head of the table. She felt Ryan tense beside her.

"Hey guys." Troy said, putting his tray down. "How was your morning?"

"What's up man?" Zeke called from the end of the table. As general greetings went around the table, Gabi laid her hand on Ryan's thigh. Whether she did it to reassure Ryan or so that Troy could see, she wasn't sure.

"Yo, what took you so long?" Chad asked. "One second you were behind me leaving Physics, the next you disappeared."

"Sorry," Troy replied, his eyes glued on to Gabi's hand on Ryan's thigh. "I had to grab something."

Gabi removed her hand, unable to shake the feel that his comment had a double meaning.

"Dude," Chad said, not noticing the tension at the table, "How hard is physics going to be? I could not believe that guy! Homework? On the first day?"

"Yeah man," Troy said, his eyes on Gabi. "I know."

Ryan looked back and forth between the boy that was staring at his girlfriend and his girlfriend who staring very determainly down at her unopened milk carton, her hands folded in her lap.

"So," Ryan cleared his throat. "How was English?" he asked Gabi.

Gabi looked up quickly, avoiding looking over at Troy. "Fine."

"Yeah," Troy said, still staring at the back of Gabi's head. "Gabi and I are partners on a project."

Taylor choked, spit out the juice she was drinking. Chad pounded on her back.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly, "Must have gone down the wrong way."

Nobody moved for a second, Ryan looking at Gabi, Gabi looking at her lap, Troy looking at Gabi, Chad looking at Taylor, Taylor looking at Gabi.

"I, um, need to go get a milk." Gabi said, standing up so quickly her chair flipped back. Both Troy and Ryan reached for it.

"I'll see you guys later." Gabi said, staring at the chair that both Troy and Ryan were holding. She grabbed her bag and books and ran out of the cafeteria.

"Gabi, wait!" Ryan called to her retreating back.

"Gabi, stop, please!" Troy yelled as her curls bounced as she ran.

But she didn't stop.

"God, you guys need to grow up." Taylor said as she stood up and started to run after Gabi. "Seriously," she called over her shoulder. "Grow up."

The whole table sat and watched Taylor run after her best friend. After the door closed behind her, Kelsi looked at Jason.

"I'm uh, going to go make sure she's okay. Martha, you want to come?"

"Sure!" Martha jumped out of her seat and the two of them ran after Taylor.

Jason and Zeke exchanged a look. Jason pushed aside his fries; Zeke shifted and pushed his chair away from the table.

"Fuck you, man." Ryan said to Troy, refusing to let go of the chair.

"Excuse me?" Troy said.

"Leave her alone. She doesn't want you anymore."

"Ha." Troy snorted. "That's what you think."

At those words, Ryan ripped the chair out of Troy's hand and threw it aside. "What the hell does that mean?" he said, standing up, shoving his face into Troy's.

Troy stood, his face close to Ryan's, slightly taller then the pale boy. As he opened his mouth to say something, he felt Chad place a hand on his arm, reminding him that he was in the cafeteria, the entire school watching.

"You should ask her." Troy answered, a smirk spreading across his face.

"You asshole." Ryan shouted. Suddenly, Ryan shoved Troy, pushing the taller boy backwards.

Zeke stood, grabbing Ryan's arms from behind, preventing the light haired boy from advancing any further. Chad had grabbed Troy.

"Dude." Chad muttered. "The whole cafeteria. Everybody is watching. The teachers, Troy!"

Troy shot Ryan one last look before turning around and heading towards the doors.

"Don't you dare go after her, Bolton!" Ryan called to his back.

Troy responded by shooting Ryan his middle finger. Only Zeke's restraining hand on his shoulder kept him from taking off after Troy.

Gabi waked into drama, her first class after lunch, with Taylor on one side of her, Kelsi on the other. Martha went up to Ms. Darbus, apologizing for them being late. Normally, this would result in detention but it being the first day, she decided to let them off with a warning.

Gabi looked at the ground as Taylor lead them to the back row where Chad had saved them three seats. Kelsi sat in the first row with Ryan and Sharpay. Troy, Zeke, Chad, and Jason all near the back too.

"Welcome thespians to your first day of Senior drama." Ms. Darbus drawled from the front of the room. "As you are probably aware, as seniors, you will get to select the show we will be doing this year. Now, Ms. Evans has already suggested a few shows that I think would be appropriate. Hairspray, Wicked, Beauty and the Beast, Chicago, and Grease."

An excited murmur went through the crowd as Ms. Darbus named these shows. Jason ad Zeke exchanged confused shrugs.

"So," Ms. Darbus continued, waiting for quiet, "I thought we should vote."

Gabi sat in her chair. She knew she should care about what had just happened in the cafeteria. She should probably be obsessing over what Ryan as going to say, what Ryan was going to think. But it took to much energy to forget how Troy had looked at her when he had answered Ryan, when she had placed her hand on Ryan's knee.

"Ms. Montez!" Ms. Darbus called from the front of the room. "Your ballot!"

Gabi looked around, seeing everyone looking at her with Kelsi standing in front of her with her hat outstretched, little pieces of paper in it.

"My what?" she whispered to Kelsi.

"Your ballot!" Kelsi replied. "For the school musical."

"Oh." Gabi ripped out a piece of paper from her notebook. "What did you vote for?"

"Wicked." Kelsi whispered back.

Gabi quickly wrote that on a piece of paper and dropped it in.

"Thanks Gabi!" Kelsi said, a bright smile on her face.

"Really Gabi?" Taylor said, leaning towards her. "Wicked?"

"Yeah, why not? It's a good show and Kelsi wanted it and…" she trailed off as Taylor shook her head.

"Think of the parts Gabi." Taylor replied. "Who ends up in love? And who is going to play the lovers?"

"Oh shit."

Gabi put her head in her hands. "Please pick Grease. Please pick Hairspray." She whispered, two shows where she had a less likely chance of being paired up with Troy.

"And the winner is…" Ms. Darbus announced. "Wicked!"

"Oh shit." Gabi said as the room erupted in cheers.

"Auditions will be held on Thursday the 11th. I better see you all there. Ms. McKessie, Ms. Nielsen, Ms. Cox, please see me now. The rest of you, talk amongst yourself quietly."

Taylor and Martha rose slowly from their seats in the back of the room.

"We'll be right back." Taylor said to Gabi. "Don't do anything stupid."

Gabi nodded then placed her head down on the table. Maybe she could just disappear. However, the annoying feeling that she was being watched made her raise her head, fully intent on giving whoever was staring at her a death glare. But the light blue eyes framed by dark lashes made her gasp in shock. The intensity of his look made her knees go weak, her palms start to sweat and her heartache. But then a light pink shirt blocked her line of vision.

"Hey," Ryan said as she raised her head to look at him. "I'm sorry about earlier. It's just that Troy; well he acts like you guys are still together, that you still love him. But I mean, we both know that isn't true."

Ryan's voice trailed off, waiting for her to rebut the unspoken accusation. Gabi tightly closed her eyes, trying to make her heart listen to her head. She saw Troy's face when she had accused him of Sharpay in the kitchen, saw Ryan pick her up, and saw Ryan stay the night. She remembered how Ryan had been there for her the entire summer, how Troy had abandoned her. Her heart was rebelling against her head but her brain controlled what she said.

"Yes Ryan. I don't love him."

Ryan released a huge breath that he had been holding. Dropping to his knees in front of her desk, he grabbed her hands and held them to his lips.

"Oh thank you baby, thank you." Ryan peppered her hands with his light kisses. "I needed to hear you say that."

Gabi stood and walked around her desk till she stood right in front of him. "I'm with you, Ryan Evans. Only you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him tight against her. "I promise to be faithful. You don't need to worry." She laid her lips on his. For the first time, her mind didn't wander. It was blank.

When she opened her eyes, she noticed that Troy's seat was empty, his stuff gone. But she didn't let herself care.

"And then," Taylor continued, "She offered me the role of stage and house manager! How cool is that?"

"Very cool." Gabi said, smiling at her best friend.

"And Martha is going to be lead choreographer and Kelsi is musical director!" Taylor was bursting with energy as they walked out of the school after the last class of the day.

"That's fantastic. So now we can all be involved." Gabi replied as they reached the parking lot.

"Yeah." Taylor bit her lip and then turned towards Gabi. "So what are you going to do when you get cast as Elphaba and Troy as Fiero?"

"I'll deal with that if it happens." Gabi said. "Besides, it's just acting."

"Uh-uh."

"No, really." Gabi set her face into a determined look. "I am going to be the best girlfriend ever."

"To who?"

"That isn't funny." Gabi swatted Taylor's shoulder. "Ryan makes me happy. And we are not going to speak about this again."

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Just don't come running to me when-"

"I'm serious Tay." Gabi gave her a look. "Please help me out."

Taylor nodded.

"Look, here comes Ryan." She said, indicating the approaching male figure.

Gabi walked towards the blond headed boy.

"Hey." She said.

"Hey." He replied. "You made me so happy today."

"You made me so happy everyday."

And even though Gabi noticed the pair of dark blue eyes watching them from his truck, she pretended not to.