10th September

Back in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

…

Weird thing is, I'm actually glad to be back. Don't get me wrong; Albuquerque definitely hasn't suddenly become the haven I long to be in. I still consider LA as my home, even thought I've not been there for over a week now. It's still strange to come into my new house, go into my new room, and feel like the walls belong to me. But I'm getting used to it, because nothing's gonna change that soon.

But if you'd just been on the camping trip I've just been on, you'd wanna get home too.

Why do parents always seem to think you need to 'bond' with them? It's stupid, especially when Mum's do it. I mean, you spent a whole nine months in her womb, and yet she still feels like she doesn't know you, and you don't know her. You couldn't get any closer to her! I suppose it's the fact that I'll be leaving soon that scares her. She'll cry, I just know she will. I'm a Senior now, that only leaves one more year until college, and I think that scares her. She probably feels she hasn't had enough time with me yet.

But she could have fixed that.

When I was little, I had a childminder every single day. She practically stayed with us. I felt like I knew her more than my mother. She was there when I woke up, there when I eat dinner, and there when I went to bed. She was around more than my mother: the successful owner of a top business settled mainly in New York. When she would be away, she'd be gone for days, sometimes even weeks, and I was still in nappies. It was hard sometimes, not knowing if she'd be home. I don't even think she heard my first word.

And then I grew up more, and little by little she saw what she was wasting. She began to move around a lot more, away from the business in New York, insisting that more time with me was vital. It was kind of nice, the way she wanted to care for me more than before. I got to know my mother, and my child minder, bless her, got left behind. She was lovely, but we had to part ways. She didn't want to go on the adventure with us; one which would turn out being us moving nearly every year to a new state. I personally think she made a very good decisions. I don't know if I'll ever feel at home in one place now.

She kept going with all these plans, each getting bigger and more extravagant as I grew. I'm now on the verge of seventeen, and she sprung that camping trip on us. A seventeen year old girl, and a tend don't mix. Well, not for me. I'd rather have my bed. I actually considered taking the fold up bed we have with me, and shoving it into the tent at night, but the more I thought about it the less it would work - my tent was teeny.

We did several bonding activities, as it were. They included trying to find the camp site, trying to find the tents in the boot while arguing, and then trying to find a shop in the middle of no-where. Extreme fun, I'm sure you'll agree.

It wasn't the best time of my life, and I don't think it turned out to be the nice bonding holiday my mother had wanted either. But the point was, as I kept telling her, that we spent time together. And even though I love to complain about it, spending time with her was nice. Lovely.

We got home just about two hours ago, and I've already unpacked and got ready for school tomorrow. Then I checked my email, having several from Anna, apologising over and over again about not telling me. I want to forgive her, but it hurt, what she did. I never thought she'd do something that big behind my back. We were the sort of friends who never had a secret between them. I guess I judged her really wrong. I don't know what will happen between us, but I didn't reply. I had nothing to say.

But moving that firmly to the back of my mind, I realise that a very big event will be happening tomorrow at school. The whole student body will be walking on air, jumping all over the place, and all because of one boy.

Troy Bolton.

Yep, he arrives back from that basketball camp thing he went to. I have heard rumours that he'd in my registration class, but I'm not sure. I don't really know what to take from the rumours; whether they will be true, I'll find out tomorrow. I still stick to what I feel though - he'll probably be arrogant, stuck up, and horrible to everyone who isn't in his gang. He sounds that sort of person, from what I've heard. But I've been wrong before, haven't I…

I guess tomorrow will tell me.

But one thing's for certain.

I'm not going to get involved with Troy Bolton.

…

A/N; Another chapter, one that had just set this story up for Troy Bolton to arrive. Everyone was anxious to meet him, so you'll all find out about him tomorrow. Quick question - do you want a moody, broody but cheeky, sexy Troy? Or a sweet Troy? I'm not sure which I want, yet. If you can tell me in a review, that would be great. I might just take on your ideas!

Anyway, for another day, that's you. The next few weeks, it might be a little difficult to update, because I've got exams galore soon, just the first set of three sets I have to sit. Yuck! But I'll try my best for you.

Please give me some reviews!