Gabriella sat in the beach chair in-between Sharpay and Taylor as they watched the guys and Kelsi play volley ball.

"Kelsi and Eddie look cute together," Gabriella said as she adjusted her top and tried to relax.

"We need someone hot, and popular," Sharpay said ignoring Gabriella observation on her brother.

"Why popular, Aaron was popular and look where that got her, no offense Gabs," Taylor responded.

"None taken," Gabriella turned her attention to Troy who was sitting on a log nearby facing the water with his sketch book. She wondered what he was working on this time and if it was as pretty as his art project. He seemed pretty content in his work as he sat down not giving any of the girls who were obviously strutting their stuff his attention.

His entire demeanor reminded her of the beast from beauty and beast … after he fell for Bell and without the beastly part of course. Gabriella rolled her eyes; she needed to stop thinking about fairy tales. They didn't exist, it was all smoke and mirrors and he was full of them. Gabriella thought about the first time she kissed Aaron, it was during a fourth of July barbeque, right after her dad left. He had his hand on her cheek brushing back a strand of her hair. He'd pulled off the illusion of prince charming, like her father had, like Troy was doing.

Gabriella crossed her arms not giving a damn about Taylor and Sharpay's plans for her romantic interest. She had her own beliefs and opinions about who she'd fall in love with if she ever did. If it were ever possible. Gabriella's eyes drifted back to Troy and she found herself admiring the muscles in his back as he arms shifted movements.

"She's the captain of the cheerleading squad, she can't just date any one?" Sharpay looked over at Taylor, "Plus she is a busy woman, she needs someone who isn't going to be all wishy washy about that. She also needs some who will look good on the cover of a magazine by her side."

Gabriella let out huff as she thought about the reporters that followed her around from time to time. Mostly anytime her father introduced a new artist or if he got into trouble with the record label. Gabriella was a star once, she agreed to let her father promote her, she recorded in the studio she sang on TV, but it never brought her closer to her dad.

He'd become the man with a cell phone attached to his hand, constantly looking at his watch and telling her she was going to make it big. Gabriella didn't want to make it big, she quit, and she backed away and gave up. Her father was furious her mother was understanding and Gabriella cried in her room for days. Hollywood was not her thing, Eddie who had no musical talent loved Hollywood, and he loved the parties they hosted in the house back when it was a home. Gabriella took a deep breath, who was she now?

Taylor let out a sigh, "Fine what about Marco, he's on the swim team and I think their actually going to state?"

"Please, no one wants to date fish boy." Sharpay said raising a disgusted brow.

"Alright then who, and not your bother," Taylor said lying back in her chair.

"Ryan has a date tonight and eww." Sharpay looked around the beach. "What if he didn't go to school with us?"

"What about a college guy?" Taylor sat up and smiled. "Chad's older brother might be able to hook us up to a party."

"Oh my god you're a genius, who needs some wimpy high school football jock when they can have a hunky mature college man," Sharpay said with a squeal.

Gabriella sat up, "I'm going to go for a swim,"

"I'm texting Michael," Taylor said reaching for her phone.

"I'm making an appointment at the saloon," Sharpay said reaching for hers.

Gabriella shook her head as she kept walking. Once she was at the brink of the water where the waves met the sand she paused to look out into the water. Aaron brought her here last summer with his football buddies, there was a bonfire and lots of half-naked people. Gabriella demanded he take her home and he did, he also came right back.

Gabriella looked back down at the water, this was it. No more dating the High School football quarter back, no more being cheated on or being made to feel stupid about keeping her virginity. Then again she still had to break up with him too. There was a shadow that appeared next to her and she looked over to see Troy looking out into the water as well.

"Pretty huh?"

"I wouldn't say pretty, but yeah it looks nice," he said shielding his eyes to look out more. "Where's Aaron?"

"Aaron who," Gabriella said in a low tone.

"Ouch,"

Gabriella looked back at him. "It's over,"

"I can't imagine why?"

"He cheats." She shrugged.

"He's an idiot."

Gabriella let out a breath. "In some odd way I was comfortable with It." she said shrugging her shoulders again and kicking up some water. "I figure it was just what was supposed to happen,"

"Why?"

Gabriella looked out into the water then back at him, "He's a football quarter back, and I'm a cheerleader. It's not like I thought I'd marry him but it's just … expected I guess?"

"So the obvious answer is an open relationship?" Troy asked a bit confused.

"I'm dumping him."

"Oh," Troy nodded and shrugged his shoulders.

Gabriella looked back at the crowd Chad was looking their way. "Why don't you play volley ball?"

Troy looked back and offered a small wave. "I have things on my mind,"

"I'm sure you'll get on the team, you're really good." Gabriella said motion to Chad. "Plus I think Chad really likes you."

"You have no idea," Troy mumbled to himself.

"I'm sorry," she asked looking back at him, "What did you say?"

Troy shook his head, "This beach trip is a good idea."

"Sharpay and Taylor are brainstorming my new dating life," she said turning back to where the girls were.

"So they're like your pimps?" Troy smirked and slipped his hand into the pocket of his trunks. "I don't think I'll ever understand High School."

Gabriella laughed as she gave him a playful shove. "You're awful,"

Troy kicked up some water and Gabriella jerked as she let out a little shriek. "What? Afraid of a little water?" he taunted.

"No," she splashed him and laughed as he splashed her back. Soon enough they were in a splashing war and the two of them went deeper in. The others joined and Gabriella laughed as Eddie and Zeke held up Kelsi and Sharpay for a chicken fight.

After a while the group gathered by a small fire, in sweaters and jeans to fight the chill coming from the water in the dark. And Chad leaned forward with another log for the fire that he and Troy were working on. "I got to tell you man, you're really good," Chad said opening up a bag of marshmallows. "Tryouts might not even be necessary, although with protocol and all."

"I'm not really into sports this year," Troy said glancing over at Gabriella who was talking to Taylor about her ankle bracelet.

"But your into Eddie's sister," Chad said offering him a marshmallow.

"For like the millionth time, that's not why I'm helping Eddie," Troy sat up straighter and took the bag. "His sister has nothing to do with our friendship, I'm helping him because he's a great guy and he wants to be on the team."

"I'd put him on the team no matter what, he's Gab's little bro, I have too." Chad said in low voice. "All things aside I'm in a bad spot and from where I'm sitting so are you."

Troy let out a huff and passed the bag to Zeke who was sitting closer to the fire with Sharpay. "I'm fine,"

"Gabriella isn't about dating nobodies," Chad said leaning in closer. "She's a cheerleader, and the daughter of a successful music producer, she dates a certain quality of guys."

"Is that right," Troy said sticking the marshmallow on his stick.

"Our basketball team hasn't won a game in the last four years, their talking about cutting our funding and giving it to the football team," Chad said passing his marshmallow from hand to hand.

Troy looked over at Eddie who was smiling as Kelsi whispered something in his ear, "What's it going to take for them not to cut the team?"

"Principal said he needs a championship," Chad let out a huff and shook his head. "I'm sure if we could just improve or win a game their might be hope."

Troy sat up and took a deep breath, seemed like he was falling into a hole. "What does this have to do with Gabriella?"

"I'm not an idiot. I Googled you, I knew you sounded familiar," Chad said tearing one marshmallow in half. "This one article called you hoops,"

Troy was still as Chad voice processed through the fog of his mind. "Who else knows?"

"Just me," Chad said looking down in the sand then back up at him. "You're wasting your time with design and art, someone like you was born with the game in their blood."

"I'm not just a basketball guy," Troy said slowly turning his marshmallow in the flame. "And I sure as hell don't want to be one here and unless you're getting to a point, none of this has anything to do with me or Gabriella."

"You help us win some games we'll give you the captain position and you'll have instant access to girls like her," Chad said motioning to Gabriella.

"But in the end they never are her," Troy mumbled to himself more than to Chad. He was honest when he said Gabriella was unlike any other girl he'd ever met before. Something about her was real, and just innocent and he really liked that about her.

"What's it going to take to get you on the team?"

"You know," Troy said turning to Chad, "Maybe she's not as shallow as everyone gives her credit for."

Chad huffed, "No offense, but you don't Gabriella Montez like I do."

"No offense," Troy responded with a sly grin, "But you don't know that girl at all."

Before Chad could say something else their attention was caught by someone making their way over from the distance. "Hey guys I brought the guitar," a boy with the same blond hair as Sharpay announced as he came over walking in step with another girl.

"Gabriella go first!" Taylor said settling into Chad's lap and officially ending the conversation between both boys.

"No," Gabriella looked across the flames at Troy, "I'm not really in the singing mood."

"God I wish you felt that way about singing in the shower at like 6 in the morning," Eddie said followed by an eruption of laughter.

"Why don't you sing Eddie, Ryan can do back up?" Gabriella joked as she relaxed more on her log.

"Make the new guy do it?" Sharpay said looking over at Troy.

"Oh no," Troy held up his hand. "Why do you bring a guitar if no one wants sing?" Troy said shrugging his shoulders.

Ryan strummed and then he laughed as the girl next to him answered. "No one likes to go first but after a while everyone is reaching for the guitar and it's a good time."

"I'm sorry, I don't know your names," Troy said standing up and holding out a hand.

"Martha," she answered politely.

"Ryan, I'm Sharpay's older brother," The guy said offering the guitar.

"Oh by like four minutes," Sharpay laughed as she sat up Indian style.

"Well for those of you who don't know me, my name is Troy Bolton."

"As in the Troy Bolton?" Martha sat up instantly. "Oh my god your-"

"Going to sing now," Troy said loudly cutting her off, Troy took the guitar and looked back at some of the puzzled faces around the circle. "I had a friend back in California, my dad save her dad's life on the battle field." Troy said coming back to his seat, "She's a singer, and in fact her name is Emily Osment, feel free to go buy the cd she owes me 40 bucks."

Troy laughed and so did the others, "She taught me a thing or too, mostly she said this would help me get a date. Well, so far she lied I can assure you that because almost every guy in California can play a guitar, it's really nothing special."

Gabriella laughed again and the sound of it made something inside him warm up at the sound of her voice. Troy positioned himself with the guitar his eyes on the fire for a few minutes as he remember the cords.

"Be gentle with me guys the last audience I did this for was my grandmother," Troy cautioned.

"Just play it already," Gabriella smiled as he found his pitch and then began strumming the guitar.

Troy smirked as he glanced up and smiled at her, "Your hand fits in mine, like it's made just for me, but bear this in mind, it was meant to be, and I'm joining up the dots with the freckles on your cheeks, and it all makes sense to me."

Gabriella watched his fingers move as she leaned forward to listen to the sound of his voice as he sang softly.

"I know you've never loved, the crinkles by your eyes, when you smile, you've never loved, your stomach or your thighs, the dimples in your back at the bottom of your spine, but I'll love them endlessly."

Kelsi nudge Eddie in the rib as she pointed over to Gabriella was staring at with a smile on her face, her arms crossed she leaned forward hanging on every note.

"I won't let these little things slip out of my mouth, But if I do, It's you, Oh, it's you they add up to, I'm in love with you, And all these little things,"

When Troy finished there was cheering, sighing and he could faintly hear the swoon of one Gabriella Montez as she watched him from across the fire. Not one to let down a crowd he followed his performance with a bow and then he passed the guitar onto someone else.

"Hey I have an idea, Monday come by the auditorium, if having an audience doesn't bother you our musical could surly use you," Ryan offered.

"No problem," Troy said sitting back down keeping his eyes lock on the two brown ones staring at him from across the flame. Troy winked back at her and she instantly looked away a faint blush coming to her cheeks.