Sorry I haven't updated in forever! I was on vacation in California with my Sis. Anyways, hope you forgive me. :

Gabriella entered the halls of East High that morning with new confidence

Gabriella entered the halls of East High that morning with new confidence. Last night, she had gone shopping with Kelsi and Taylor and had purchased some cute new clothes. And, after yesterday's encounter with Troy, she was still high off of happiness.

"Hey Gabs," Taylor called from behind her.

"Hey!"

Taylor stared at her best friend. She had a certain glow about her. Her smile seemed to blind the eyes of the students and her hair bounced about her grinning face.

"Gabriella? What happened?"

Gabriella giggled. "Nothing, silly. I'm just…happy. That's all."

Taylor pondered the situation. It wasn't unusual for Gabriella to be happy, since she was usually an optimist. Except for those low points when she was thinking about Troy. But today, she had a strange bounce in her step.

"Gabriella—"

Suddenly Gabriella spun around and faced Taylor.

"Today I'm gonna tell Troy I love him!" She blurted the words out before her mind even gave permission. Gasping, she covered her mouth.

Taylor's expression changed from confused to concern.

"Gabby you can't. Remember what happened last time…" The last time Gabriella had attempted this, she had caught Troy with another girl. She was a wreck for at least a week.

"I know but…it's okay! He's not even with Melissa anymore!"

"It doesn't matter! He broke your heart!"

"He didn't do it on purpose!"

Taylor looked Gabriella in the eyes. She could see her slowly falling from her cheery state into a miserable pit of darkness. She hated doing this to her. She was only looking out for Gabriella. She couldn't help it that she was head over heels in love with a boy who didn't even know it. But she could at least support her.

"Okay. I'm sorry, you're right."

She could see Gabriella instantly regain her happiness.

"Thanks for understanding, TayBear!" The girls hugged and then continued their way towards class.

The rest of the day passed by slowly. Gabriella hadn't gotten a single chance to talk to Troy alone. Every time she saw him in the hallway, somebody seemed to always be with him. She was almost upset when the bell rang signaling the beginning of the last period. Normally, she loved 7th period – which was chemistry. But, today, she just wanted the day to go on and on until she spoke to Troy.

"Attention class," the chem. teacher, Mrs. Masotti, spoke up. "Today I'll be assigning new lab partners. Taylor, you'll be working with Jason. Chad, you'll be with Martha. Troy, with Kelsi…" The teacher continued talking but Gabriella zoned out once she heard that she wasn't going to be working with Troy. She had been looking forward to that possibility.

"…and Gabriella you'll be working with Jessica. All right, pair up with your partner and start the experiment on the board."

"Jessica? Who's Jessica?" Gabriella whispered to herself.

"Hey, I'm Jess. I don't think we've met before."

Gabriella spun around to see a petite redhead standing before her. She had dark blue eyes and pale skin. Her red hair fell in gentle waves that reached to the middle of her back.

"I'm Gabriella." They shook hands.

"I can't believe you've been in my chemistry class this whole time and I haven't even met you," Gabriella said, ashamed and embarrassed.

"Oh, don't worry. I only transferred yesterday. I just moved to Albuquerque with my parents."

"I see," Gabriella nodded, studying the girl. She was pretty, that was given. Her eyes shined brightly under the light of the chemistry class. But, they weren't as bright as a certain someone's…

They began the experiment. Gabriella, being the genius that she was, quickly finished with Jessica's assistance. They were the first ones done and therefore left them some time to talk while they waited for the rest of the class.

"So, how do you like East High so far?" Gabriella questioned.

"It's great! People are really nice here! I've already made some friends. And, someone asked me out!" The redhead giddily moved around in her seat, showing her excitement.

"Really? Wow.." Gabriella was impressed. It usually took a few weeks for a new kid to gain recognition.

"Actually, I think he's in this class…" Jessica scanned the room in search of the boy.

"Oh! There he is!" She pointed towards a table.

"Jason?"

"No, the guy behind him."

Gabriella's heart stopped beating. Her breath hitched in her throat. She urged it to come out but…it wouldn't.

"Troy?"

"Yeah!! That's him! Isn't he so cute!"

Gabriella just stared. She watched Troy attempt to pour the ingredients into the beaker and then she watched Kelsi try to help him. She watched the adorable face he made when he realized he had made a mistake. She watched, just like she had been watching for the past 3 years.

Then he looked up at them. Jess waved and smiled. He winked back. Gabriella couldn't tell if the wink was for both of them or just for Jessica.

"Umm…I have to use the restroom."

Gabriella got up and ran out of the classroom before anyone could see her cry. How could he? How could he flirt with her like that yesterday when he had already asked someone else out?!

Did she not look good enough? Pretty enough? Was she not charismatic enough?

She would show him. She would show him that she was better than any girl he had ever dated.

This was the last straw. Something had to be done. There was going to be some serious changes.

Hope you like! Review please!!

-Iz