Gabriella held her highlighter between her teeth as she typed in the password, the screen went from Blue to bright purple as the school logo became predominately displayed on her desktop. Removing the highlighter she looked down at the reading material in her lap. Today per the request of her doctor she was to spend one full day outside of her bedroom. An exercise she thought was ridiculous but the more and more she thought about it, made a lot sense. Aside from the visit from girls two weeks ago she hadn't had any other social interaction with anyone else. If she really did come here to change she was going to have to make some effort. She looked back up at the screen and watch her windows load. In minutes she was online looking up the Catcher and The Rye. Opening her notebook she jotted some points down and for whatever reason her eyes looked up quickly to catch the notification on the bottom right of her screen. Putting the Highlighter and pen down she click on her e-mail box.

Message from: tbolton

One more day and I was convinced I'd have to drag you out of that room myself.

Gabriella eyes reread what she saw on the screen. With arched brows she glanced at the random faces around the area, everyone was busy with work or friends. Someone was watching her, looking back at her screen she watched the notification come up again.

Message from: tbolton

Paranoid much? Look up.

Gabriella did as she was told and looked up to spot Troy leaning over the railing from the 2nd floor. Gabriella felt relief spread through her and then she rolled her eyes. There was an annoyance about Troy she couldn't put her finger on. Ever since that night in the washroom he was always watching her, nodding when they past each other in the dorm and he was everywhere she was, a coincidence she didn't think was all that random. She couldn't figure out his agenda if he had one at all. Turning back to her computer she clicked the reply button.

Message from: gmontez

Why do you care?

She hit the send button and looked back up to meet his blue eyes before they shifted back to his phone. Troy was the first actual interaction with the male species in a long time. Most boys didn't even notice her, and she didn't want to be notice. She didn't make the effort to be worth looking at and she surely did not have a welcoming composure when it came to introductions or in class discussions. After a moment he looked back at her and smile. She turned back to screen and opened the e-mail.

Message from: tbolton

Because those big, brown eyes of yours are begging me to.

Troy smiled as she turned back to her screen. Taking off he took the steps to main floor two at a time. Once he was on the main floor he made his way over to the computers where Gabriella had been sitting. She was looking up with confusion riddled all over her face. He looked down at his phone just in time for the screen to light up.

Message from: gmontez

My eyes are doing nothing of the sort.

Troy smirked as he walked over casually feeling that shift in the air when she realized he was behind her. She tensed up a bit and turn to face him. Her brown eyes looked up at him and her mouth hung open a little bit.

"Well I'm here anyway," Troy said as he pulled out a chair from the desk nearby and took a seat moving a little closer to her only to pause when she jerked back in her chair. She wasn't comfortable with him no matter how friendly or less intimating her attempted to be. She'd flinch if they accidently touched and she'd back away whenever he came to close. "There's going to be a party tonight. I think you should come."

"No," Gabriella said moving her book from her lap to the table in one smooth movement.

"No?" Troy repeated.

"No," Gabriella confirmed as she opened a word document on the desktop.

"Why?" he countered not ready to give up.

"Because, I'm not interested in dating," She said rolling her eyes in annoyance.

Troy paused as he stared at her with an arched eye brow. "I didn't ask you out on date?"

Gabriella looked at him with her void of expression he'd grown familiar with looking into his blue eyes. "You just asked me if I wanted to go to a party."

Troy nodded in understanding. "And not once did I use the terms: with me or as my date?" he said with a smirk. "Unless you wanted to-"

"I don't" she said cutting him off. Her checks were growing more and more crimson by the minute.

"Fine by me, I just got out of a two year relationship the last thing I need is another one." Troy leaned back in his chair. "Kelsi's going to the party."

"If you're not asking me on a date, then why is my attendance so important to you?" Gabriella said in a hushed tone.

"Because as your RA, I'm concerned," he said folding his hands together. "You're alone in your room all the time; I'm worried that you're not making any friends."

"I have plenty of friends." she said raising her chin. "In fact just the other night we were all huddled around discussing your 2 year relationship and laughing about it."

Troy brought a hand to his chest. "Ouch," he said with a playful frown. Getting up from his seat he pushed the chair in and let out a sigh. "Alright fine, don't come to the party." he said with a shrug. "All you had to say was no."

Gabriella eyes narrowed as she glared at him, her eyes looked back at her computer screen.

"By the way," Troy said leaning down into her personal space so that his chin was over her shoulder and his lips close to her ear. "If I were to ask you out on a date, not saying that I am or will, there would be no question about my intentions."

Gabriella shivered as she whispers radiated down her spine. When she turned around he was already walking towards the exit.

Sharpay and Taylor sat in the room staring into the closet when Gabriella entered the room. She'd given up on studying in the library her mind was too distracted to focus. When she went to work she bombarded by all the preparations for tonight party. She been instructed to clean up well and leave the keys to the sound system on the desk for the DJ.

"Hey," Sharpay said looking up at her. "You are going to the party tonight, right?" Sharpay asked.

"No," Gabriella said for what had to have been the 48th time today.

"Why not it's going to be the best, everyone is going and there's going to be tons of cute boys." Taylor said with a smirk.

"I told you, I'm on a break." Gabriella said throwing her back pack on the bed. "Plus I really don't have anything to wear to a party."

"That's why you have us." Sharpay got up from the bed and picked up some dresses she had slung over Taylor's desk chair. "We're about the same size, and I've already picked this sliver one." Sharpay said putting to the side and then pulling out a black dress. "This will look good,"

"Yeah take your hair down and shake it out and I say we're ready to boogie." Taylor said walking into her closet. "I made up my mind I'm going in green, the color of money." She said with a shake of her hips.

Gabriella looked at the dress and then at both girls who looked eagerly back at her.

"Come on, Taylor going to be with her boyfriend all night and I'm in need of a date." Sharpay said with a pout.

Gabriella let out a sigh, "I don't do parties."

"Who doesn't do parties?" Sharpay said with a laugh, "Come on, it'll be fun."

Against all her better judgment and constant inner debate she was currently sitting at the student center. Unfortunately once Sharpay's mind was made up there was no going back, or taking no for answer. In comprise she was wearing her own clothes which was a pair of jeans and plain comfortable brow t-shirt. She'd have to thank Taylor for that later.

Looking around she examined her fellow peers in a state of un-adultred supervision. It was sickening. Her eyes traveled over to the Game room service counter where Troy who was on duty, sat idly messing with his phone. Her eyes moved again and she was watching Sharpay dancing with an econ major who had greeted them at the door. So much for needing a buddy. Letting out a sigh she looked through the crowd again to find Taylor and Chad dancing as well. Her fingers fumbled for the discarded napkin pulling it close to her as she began to rip it to shreds. It's not that she couldn't handle being in a crowd, crowds were safe. You could scream and yell and attack a lot of attention to yourself. It wasn't even about there being an array of drunken stupor on the faces of every other guy who crossed her vision. She had somehow become invisible. The problem was she didn't really know anyone or anyone who would converse with her when so many other things were going on.

"You know, you might want to look like you're at least enjoying the music." Troy yelled over the music as he took a seat next to her.

Gabriella looked up at him a little surprise. "Hey," she said leaning into be heard over the music. "I thought you were working?"

"I thought you weren't coming?" Troy shot back with a smirk.

Gabriella rolled her eyes "Well, whatever it is you came over here for, I'm not interested." She said looking back out into the crowd.

"I came over here because you looked lonely." Troy said leaning back in his chair. "That and you got a gigantic Fuck off on your fore head, thought I'd come over and let you know." Troy said tapping his hand on the table.

Gabriella ignored his comment giving her full attention to the shards of napkin she was now twisting between her finger tips as if she had a purpose.

"There is more to life than watching other people live it, you know." Troy offered leaning in closer so he could be heard.

Gabriella arched her eye brow as she looked at him with amusement. "How do you know that's not my passion?" She said turning her attention back to the shreds of napkin.

"You're not a people person." Troy responded.

"Really," Gabriella placed her hands flat on the table "And I assume you know what kind of person I am?"

"You're a cynic."

Gabriella let out a huff. "I'm not a cynic, I'm a realist."

"Or?" Troy said holding up a finger. "Are you a realist masquerading as a cynic who is secretly an optimist?" Troy countered with a wink. Gabriella smiled as she looked back down at her twisted pieces of napkin. "Well I'll be damned, you have a very sexy smile." he said in low voice.

She could feel the blush against her cheeks as she avoided his eyes. She almost forgot what it was like to feel like this. To feel like a normal girl just having a conversation with a normal guy, "Thanks,"

"For?" Troy asked picking at one of the twisted napkins himself.

"For coming over." Gabriella said with a shrug. "For being nice to me." she added.

"A pleasure," he said with a small nod. "Well I got to get back to the service counter, do me a favor and don't dance with any jerks will ya?" he said getting up from his seat.

On his way back to the service counter Sharpay appeared out nowhere falling into Troy's now empty seat. "What did he want?" Sharpay asked with a huff as she leaned back in her chair and fan herself. "Was he pumping you for information on me?"

Gabriella hesitated before opening her mouth to speak only to be cut off.

"God he is so pathetic, in cute way though?" Sharpay said biting her lips as a small glaze came over her eyes. "You think I should talk to him?" She asked looking at Gabriella with sincerity.

"I think-"

"I'm gonna do It." she said cutting Gabriella off and shooting up from her chair and making her way across the room to the game room service counter as Troy brought up the gate.

"Right," Gabriella let out a sigh as she looked back out into the crowd. Without thinking her eyes drifted back over to Troy who was now leaning forward a little to hear whatever Sharpay was saying. His lips parted and she could tell he was chuckling at something she said. Suddenly his blue eyes darted up and bet her brown eyes straight on. Goosebumps spread all over her body and she for a moment her breath hitched before she quickly pulled her eyes away.

Closing her eyes she counted to ten before opening them again taking another breath she snuck a glance back over towards the service counter and without question his blue eyes were still directed at her. Her eyes held his as she he said something to Sharpay only glancing away momentarily to smile politely at something Sharpay had said. Gabriella looked around at everyone else who was off in their own worlds talking and bopping to the music her eyes traveled back into his direction and he was coming out of the service center taking hold of Sharpay's hand.

A slower song came over the speakers and her breath quickened as she watched him pull her out onto the dance floor. Their hands intertwined, her smaller hands almost disappearing into his larger ones. Gabriella couldn't bring herself to turn away as she watched his hands lightly wrapped around her waist and their bodies became close, his forearm resting on her backside securing her to him. Gabriella felt the slight nip of her bottom lip caught between her teeth as she watched their faces came close but not touch he was telling her something, a whisper only she could hear. Sharpay's head rested on his shoulder and they gently swayed to the music. She watched with a longing she hadn't even realized she had. In one small movement his blue eyes were back on her, as if he could feel her watching him. A cold burning sweat spread all over her body as his lips pulled into a smile. Nervously she looked away from them turning her attention on anything else she could. Trying to deny the urge calling to her to look, after a few chorus she couldn't take it, she looked back and like a flash of lighting his blue eyes shifted like a pulling command as strong as her own and he was peering into her brown eyes. Turning away she moved to get up from the table making her way through the crowd and out through the side doors. The doctor was going to love this one.