She been waiting for him already when he came up and he didn't look too surprised. Nervously Gabriella fiddled with her pencil as she stood beside Aaron's locker staring at him as he opened it and rummaged it for only god knows what. "Aaron we need to talk?"

"Can it wait?" he said a little impatiently, "I got to go talk to Billy about that house party that's happening this weekend."

"Actually it can't-"

"I gotta make sure we get first dibs on his parent's master bedroom," Aaron smiled and then without warning shoved her against the locker to place an unwanted and unwelcomed rough sloppy kiss on her lips. As soon as he pulled Gabriella instantly whipped her mouth with the back of her hand. "You're amazing babe," he said pushing himself off the locker and running off.

Gabriella let out a low grunt of disgust as she watched him disappear into the crowd and whipped her mouth for a second time. Pushing herself off the locker she made her way into the library where Taylor and the academic decathlon group were meeting, taking a seat she listened in on Harold's lecture of literary authors.

"Did you do it?" Taylor asked giving her a sideways glance.

"No, he brushed me off," Gabriella let out a sigh and opened her notebook, "He's a horrible kisser."

"You told me that before," Taylor wince in sympathy, "If you need moral support I can walk with you to our next class."

"It's alright, I have to stop by my locker anyways," Gabriella looked up at the clock and then down at her notes. At some point today she was going to break up with Aaron Thompson if it was the last thing she did.

Once the bell rang Gabriella was in the hallway making her way through the crowd. People were staring as always, whispering as always. It seemed that no matter what, people were always going to talk about her, she could be nicest person and people would hate her because they thought she was perfect.

Gabriella couldn't remember a time when her life wasn't open for the public, when her dad lived with them it had been worst, people would take pictures, they would fake being her friend to get a chance to meet her dad. According to a lot of people she lost her virginity to a guy from O-town because her father had them over at her house for a meeting, when in reality she never even got to meet them because she stood upstairs with Eddie playing Frogger the entire time.

Eddie always found the attention awesome, he liked it. Gabriella didn't, she liked doing things she liked not because of popularity but because she like cheerleading and singing. Gabriella opened her locker, and a folder piece of paper fell to the ground. Bending down she quickly picked it up and unfolded it. When she did her breath caught, it was charcoal drawing of a white rose drawn in shades of grey. The details for being such a soft image were so sharp and flawless. She examined the piece of art in awe as held a hand to her chest. No one had ever drawn her flowers before; no one had ever drawn anything for her period. Gabriella felt a smile tug at her lips, the picture was signed with a T.

"Did you?" Sharpay's voice pulled her from her smiled and she folded the piece of paper and pushed in-between the pages of her science book as if it were on fire.

"No I didn't," Gabriella said answered quickly, "Did you tell anyone?" she said looking around at people who were walking by.

"I told Ryan and Martha," Sharpay said with shrug. "Why?"

"Well then they must have told someone because I get the feeling everyone knows," Gabriella said grabbing her notebook and then shutting her locker.

"Well, I don't see what the problem is, I mean, you are going to dump him aren't you?" Sharpay asked as they began walking away from her locker.

"Yeah, but-"

"Then who cares, he's cheating scum, and you don't owe him anything," Sharpay said cutting her off. "Our new goal is getting you moved on and setting you up with someone hotter."

Gabriella bit her lip as she saw Troy coming down the hall talking to an art teacher. He seemed to be so enthralled in the conversation she was sure he didn't see her. "I don't think I want to be set up."

"Why not?" Sharpay came to a stop and so did Gabriella. Sharpay followed her eyes and then she let out a sigh. "He's got new guy written all over him, he's cute but Gabs, he'd only be using you to make the transfer from new guy, to the guy."

"What?" Gabriella looked at Sharpay with confusion.

"Honey no one enters the game a pro, we all start off as beginners and I mean yeah he's got potential and all, but I think you should have some standards?" Sharpay winced. "Dating the new kid is a bum move, you're head cheerleader and lead in the school play. Don't give him your status, let him earn his own."

"I don't think he's like that Shar," Gabriella's smile pulled a little as she looked back at him. Someone who left a sketch a beautiful flower in your locker wasn't shallow. He wasn't doing it to make a statement. It was private, just between them and she just knew he'd done it in secret because he only cared about what she thought not everyone else.

"Every guy is like that," Sharpay explained with a frown, "they see head cheerleader and automatically you're the new gotta have transformer doll every little boy wants to play with." Sharpay jerked as the bell rang. "Crap I got to get to Spanish," Sharpay gave Gabriella a small hug and then ran off down the hall.

Gabriella turned to enter the classroom only to shoulder bump into Troy. "I'm sorry," she murmured moving aside.

"Ladies first I insist," he offered.

Gabriella smiled as walked past him and into the classroom. Once they sat down Taylor was already sitting at her seat note book and pen ready. "Looks like a lecture day."

"Yikes," Gabriella got out her own notebook and placed both elbows on the desk in a slump. "Lectures before 10 am should be illegal."

"I couldn't agree more," Troy said leaning back in his seat.

The lecture began and Taylor was facing her back to them as she copied notes off the board word for word. Meanwhile Gabriella secretly wrote down a note on a sheet of paper.

Thank you for the rose, it was beautiful.

Folding the paper she stealthily slid them across the table and towards him. Shifting her attention she went back to coping listening to the lecture. A moment later the note was placed in on her note book and Gabriella smiled as quietly opened it.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Gabriella smiled looked back at him confused before writing her reply on the piece of paper and returning it.

Why?

She waited a moment before it was placed back on her notebook.

To prove to the squirrels it could be done.

Gabriella stifled a laugh as she looked over at him to find him smiling back at her. Her heart skipped a beat and she automatically placed her hand on her chest to ensure she was fine. Looking back at the board she tried to act as if everything was normal between them. She tried to act as though she didn't want to glance over to see if he was staring at her, or look back to simply catch a glimpse of him.

Troy got up when the bell rang, and casually made his way out of the classroom. Only to bump into Aaron who was waiting in hall "you singing to my girl Bolton?"

"And here I was thinking you didn't even know my name," Troy smirked and walked around him.

"Hey I'm talking to you," Aaron pulled on Troy's arm and brought him back against the lockers hard.

"Aaron that's enough," Gabriella voice sounded behind him and Troy rolled his eyes as he pushed himself off the locker.

"Not that I don't appreciate the effort there Gabs, but I can handle myself," Troy said holding up a gentle hand her way and attempting to walk away again.

Aaron went after him and this time Troy was tackled to the floor. Everyone around them began chanting and cheering as Gabriella looked on in horror. "Aaron don't hurt him!"

"Fucking fag, think you can take my girl." Aaron punched Troy in the stomach and Troy grunted as he continued to not fight back.

Taylor looked at Chad who was running up, "Do something, he's going to kill him!"

Chad did his best to shove his way through the people and teachers finally in view of the two he reached out and grabbed Aaron shirt, "Come on man, knock it off."

Aaron let out a laugh, "Fight back pussy."

Troy squirmed out of Aaron's gasp and as soon as his legs were free Troy's knee came up and kneed him in the gut. Aaron grunted and he leaned forward giving Troy an opportunity to ram his elbow into Aaron jaw. Chad pulled Aaron off Troy and Troy was able to get up from the floor. People were cheering him on but Troy remained still.

Gabriella instantly came to Aaron's side as he was doubled over in pain and blood sprouting from his mouth. "Aaron are you alright?"

"I think he broke my jaw," Aaron groaned in pain and as he held his face.

"You three my office now," The principal was now standing amongst the teens and people were disbursing away from the scene. "Thompson report to the nurse's office,"

Troy whipped a small amount of blood from his lip as he followed the principal along with Chad and Gabriella, leaving some of Aaron football buddies behind to get him to the nurse.

Quietly the three of them sat on the chair opposite of the principal as he tapped the desk. "What the hell just happened?"

"Sir, Aaron started it, Troy tried walking away." Gabriella worriedly looked over at Troy who now had a small bag of ice on his lip.

"I was only trying to stop the fight sir," Chad said immediately after.

"I see," The principal oversaw all three of them and then back looked back at his desk. "Miss Montez and Mr. Danforth, you can go." The principal laid his eyes on Troy. "You stay."

"But he didn't do anything?" Gabriella argued as she stood up.

Chad took her by the arm, "Let's not argue about this," Chad mumbled to her softly.

"I suggest you listen to Mr. Danforth,"

Gabriella let out a frustrated groan as she shrugged out of Chad's grasp and made her way out of the office with Chad close behind.

Troy sat up and watched as the principal stared silently at him. "I don't suppose this has anything do about a girl?"

Troy didn't respond.

"I've been meaning to have a sit down with you for a while now, however I didn't think it would happen on these terms."

Troy remained quiet.

"I know all about you, Mr. Bolton. I've been watching you since your first day. By now I'm sure you've heard about the basketball team's dilemma."

Troy looked off to the side.

"The boards going to cut funding, seems there's no point in sponsoring a team that can't fill the bleachers or win a game." The principal stood up and Troy brought the ice bag down.

"I'm-"

"No please," he said motioning to put the ice back. "We wouldn't want you to have a swollen lip now would we?"

Troy put the ice back and kept his eyes on the man in front of him as he came around the desk. "I'm not joining the team." Troy eyes met with the Principals.

"I thought you might feel that way, you really haven't shown any interest in our basketball team since you've been on campus."

"Because I'm not." Troy watched as he rubbed his hands together.

"But I have noticed that you have a flare for some of those art classes we offer, seems like a waste for someone with your talent," he said hiking his pant leg up as he sat down on the top of his desk. "But there's no reason we can't figure something out?"

"I want to get into Columbia College, Basketball isn't going to get me there," Troy said in a low voice.

"Neither is your mother income son."

Troy took a deep breath.

"How about we compromise," he said leaning down a bit to meet Troy's eyes. "You play ball for us, and I won't call you mother about this little fight or put it on your record. In fact we'll just forget the whole thing ever happened."

"I'm not interested."

The principal laughed as he looked at Troy with admiration. "You remind me of me when I was your age, stubborn and demanding."

"I don't want to be someone's basketball tool," Troy said looking the other way. "I can get into college with an art scholarship."

"Can you now?"

"I can try."

"You know Troy, college is a funny thing, and they want good students, students who don't cause trouble." The man before him folded his hands and twiddled his thumbs. "One phone call Mr. Bolton and I can flip your future upside down and make sure working at some garage is as pristine as you're ever going to get."

Troy looked down then back up at him, "So you're blackmailing me."

"Blackmailing is illegal," he said with frown, "It would be wrong of me to even think of something like that."

Troy eyes watched him carefully.

"However I can offer you guidance, I can tell you that this path your on has a consequences and one of them right now being a community service. This school has a zero fighting policy. So either you'll change your ways and join the basketball team which will supply an outlet for your aggression or you'll have to face the harshness of your actions and take the strikes against you on your records. The choice is yours."

Troy silently bit down on the inside of his cheek as he let out a long sigh, "Fine."

"Wonderful," the principal leaned back and smiled. "I give you my word that all of this is taken care of." He held out his hand for Troy to take it and Troy looked at his hand and hesitated before attempting to reach for it. "And no funny business, I want to win, if you don't, you could kiss this offer good bye."

Troy nodded his head and let out a sigh as he took his hand back.

"Now run along my little secret weapon," Troy got up from his seat and watched as the man walked around so that he was behind his desk. "I have so much to do."