Gabriella looked at the drawing in front of her, there she was, in the picture of East High. He drew her into his work. She could hardly believe it, she looked like a princess dipping her toes into a stream as the castle stood in the background. Her fingers lifted to touch the image almost unsure something so amazing could actually be there.

"Looks like shit if you ask me?"

Gabriella fingers paused as she turned to look up at Aaron. "Wow, I didn't know you could find the library on your own." Gabriella said as she walked away from the image and onto the next one.

The art show was showing off some of the work from a few of the art classes. The room was decorated for visitors to come and see it. Only a few pieces had been selected to be on display, she couldn't help herself from coming to see it for herself. Like a moth to the flame she was drawn to his work, there was something about him that just called her.

"I see the two of you are pretty close, read about it in a magazine," Aaron said from behind her as she looked at an image of a flower.

"Don't believe everything you read," Gabriella said moving onto the next one.

"So you're not sleeping with him?" Aaron said getting far closer than she liked.

"That's none of your business," Gabriella turned to face him. "And while we're talking I want you to know if you ever so much as touch my little brother again I'll send an anonymous tip to the principal to have you all inspected for steroids. I'm not stupid I know you use them, they'll make you pee in a cup and you kiss your future goodbye."

Aaron got closer, "You make me so angry and I'm not even trying to get into your pants anymore."

"As if you ever could," Gabriella moved away from him and headed for the hall. She'd seen enough artwork to last her a while.

Just as she left a man came in alongside the art teacher. "I'm telling you his work is amazing. I'm so happy you're here,"

"Well if this boy you're raving about is as good as you say then we want him."

"Right this way," she said leading him towards the drawing, "He's calling it Barefoot Cinderella."

Troy sat in class tapping his pencil against the desk when Sharpay walked through the doors; instead of avoiding him like she always did she sat down right next to him.

"This must be one of the signs before an apocalypse."

"Funny," Sharpay said with a smirk. "I hate funny."

Troy let out a breath as he sat up and watched the teacher come into class talking to another student. "So what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Why did you turn her down?" Sharpay asked taking out her note book.

Troy looked over at Sharpay, "I don't think that's your business," he said in a low voice.

"Gabriella is an attractive young female who is single and smart. Why don't you want her now because I know you wanted her before?" Sharpay said twisting her pen in her fingers. "Or do you get off on getting girls to fall in love with you and then blowing them off?"

"No. I don't," Troy said looking down at his desk. "I just figure she's safer if she just stays away from me. At least until I know what I'm going to do about all this crap."

"What crap?"

"Personal crap,"

"What kind of crap answer is that?"

Troy looked over at Sharpay and shook his head. "Just stay out of this alright, this is between me and her and I'd prefer some kind of privacy in my life."

"Yeeshe, you act as if I asked to see your penis," Sharpay said in a harsh whisper.

Troy looked over at her with a shocked expression. "I wonder what you're like when you're being discrete."

"Life's too fucking short to give a shit, so either you get your shit together or I'll take it upon myself to figure it out, and trust me I don't have to ask to know you already have an average dick. You might be blessed by god Bolton but you're not a god."

When the teacher started roll call Troy dropped his face into his hands in defeat.

Gabriella watched Chad and Eddie sit down with Troy who was sitting alone in corner of the lunchroom. She wondered if he even thought about her since their dispute over rehearsal. Boys were less sentimental when it came to break ups. If she could even say they broke up, could she? Gabriella shook her head and hugged her tray a bit more to her and picked a table with Martha and Ryan.

"Do I still have to sing?"

Gabriella was lost for a moment until she caught on to what Ryan was asking her. "Yes and stop asking." Gabriella picked up her fork and silently looked at her food.

"See I refuse to believe that because you like him way too much," Ryan said looking across the lunchroom back at Troy's table. "Then again who wouldn't love a big hulking blue eye mysterious man?" Ryan said with a smile. "If I were gay he'd be my man crush."

"Hey," Martha arched her eyebrow.

"I said if," Ryan reassured her before looking back at Gabriella. "Yummy guys like that get second chances that's all I'm saying."

Gabriella looked over at Troy who was talking to Eddie and Chad, they clapped hands and Gabriella smiled as Eddie reached over and took a fry from Troy's tray.

"See you like him," Martha said with a smile as she wiggled in her seat. "I'm sure whatever it is, if you can still smile it isn't that bad."

Gabriella bit her lip, she wasn't about to tell them he didn't want to have sex with her or that he didn't want them to be together, or that there was all this magic between them and in an instant he turned it off. No she would never say any of that out loud so instead she put her straw in the milk and began to drink.

"How is the year book coming?"

Gabriella looked over at Chad and Eddie who were laughing, possibly because of something Troy said and possibly because something in general was funny. "We got all of the homecoming stuff in and I have to go to the game this weekend for pictures, I signed up a few days ago before the complications," she said looking back at her plate.

"Well your brother's on the team so it isn't a big deal." Martha said eating a fry. "It's just showing family support."

"Hey I heard Aaron and Stacey we're making out in the balcony seat during first period." Ryan held up his corn dog. "Ten bucks she's knocked up before winter break."

"Eww," Gabriella said looking at him. "That's just gross."

"Aaron is a pig and an asshole, just look at what he did to you," Martha said looking over at Gabriella. "I mean cheating is just so immoral."

"Plus you guys didn't make a cute couple, but you and Troy on the other hand, now there's a cutest couple picture I'd vote for," Ryan said taking a bite of his corn dog and smiling while he chewed.

"Very clever," Gabriella looked over at his table again watching as he held his arm up and explaining something to the boys. "But no,"

Ryan let out a sigh. "Might as well be talking to a brick wall."

"It's alright baby I think your effort is adorable." Martha leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek and Gabriella looked down at her food. How hard was it to actually want a boyfriend like Ryan, someone who was going to be there when you needed them? Someone who would hold you and love you and make you feel so special? Gabriella let out a sigh and picked up her corn dog and took a bitter bite.

Later that day when Gabriella got home she made her way into the living room. "Mom?" she called out but got no answer, "Eddie?" Gabriella looked around the main hallway listening for anything. When silence echoed from the walls Gabriella let out a sigh as began to climb the steps upstairs to her bedroom door. Once inside she took off her coat placing it on the chair and then removing the elastic on her hair to unravel her braid. Picking up her cell phone she dialed a number written down on her hand.

On the third ring it was answered. "Hello, Antony. I'm fine hey I need you to look into something for me, can you be discreet?"

Gabriella listened to the information on the phone from the man on the other line. "What can I do for you Miss Montez?"

"Check my father's account for any large donations of any kind or any kind of payment to Julliard," Gabriella sat down in her computer chair and opened her back pack.

"Gabi what's this about?" the voice on the other end sounded concerned.

"Just do it and get back to me as soon as you find something." Gabriella flipped her phone shut and let out a sigh as she looked off into the distance.

Shaking her hair free she kicked her off her shoes, and then removed her bra. Rolling her shoulders she let out a sigh and then got up from the chair. Removing her shirt she reached into her closet and grabbed a junkie thin t-shirt. Once she pulled it over her body the cool fabric hung loosely on her, Gabriella fingers gentle rubbed against the hem of it.

The shirt belonged to her father once, he'd left it behind when he took his things. It was old and run down, not suitable for the high class life style he lived now. Gabriella blinked back a few tears and she turned around to head back out of her room and to the kitchen. Gabriella's tousled her hair as she flipped the kitchen light on and walked to the fridge.

"But what if we go right instead of left," Zeke's voice came from the hall and Gabriella stilled as she placed her and on the apple juice.

"By the time I'm done you're going to be able to play either sides of the court." Troy's voice followed and Gabriella pulled the apple juice from the fridge and held it in front of her chest a hand shifting through her hair quickly grooming herself as best she could.

"I so excited about the game this weekend," Eddie said as he entered the kitchen. "Hey Gabs," he said walking to the cabinet and getting glasses. The guys followed suite and Gabriella bit her lip in horror as the East High Basketball team filled her kitchen.

"Oh my god I got some bad gas from that burger dude," One of the guys held his stomach as another shoved him.

"Dude that stinks!" the statement was followed by loud burp from Chad.

"Yum, apple juice, you mind Gabs" Chad smiled and took the juice from her hands and Gabriella quickly crossed her arms in an attempt to cover herself.

Gabriella looked up to see Troy watching her, a small smiled on his lips as he leaned against the wall. Gabriella felt all the color rush to her cheeks as she was blocked from either side of table and couldn't make an escape.

"Hey Brie, did dad come by today?" Eddie asked as he passed out glasses.

"Not that I know of," Gabriella shook her head and began walking around Chad to get out of the kitchen. "Mom's not here, so when she gets in just tell her I'm upstairs." Once she worked her way out from around the boys she nervously passed Troy and left the room for good. As soon as she was back in her room Gabriella let out a sigh dropping back into her computer chair. Her life was falling apart and her brother's was finally coming together like the balance had shifted and not in her favor. "Shit."

There was a knock on her door and Gabriella jumped spinning around to see Troy poke his head in. "I'm assuming your intentions before we bombarded you was to get this?" he said holding up a glass of apple juice.

Gabriella couldn't help but smirk as he waved the glass in the air. Getting up from her chair she folded her arms over her chest. Why had she been so quick to undress? Why did she not reach for a sweater when she came into her room? What was he thinking? Why was he here? Why was he being nice to her?

"Its okay you know," Troy cleared his throat, "I'm not some sick pervert." He came into the room shutting the door behind him. He lifted the glass higher offering it to her. "You ever seen Bambi?"

"Why? Is there a fairy tale in that story too that resembles my life?" Gabriella said keeping her arms secure.

"No," he said with a soft chuckle, "but your eyes remind me of Bambi," he said reaching out to move some of her hair.

Gabriella stood quiet as she took the glass.

"You're welcome." He stood there watching as she took a sip of the juice. "Least I could do."

Gabriella brought the glass down and nodded, "Thanks," her voice was low as she looked down into her glass. "I think you should go now,"

Troy hands snuck under her chin and lifted her face to meet his eyes. "I wanted to ask you something."

"Aren't they going to missing you down stairs?" Gabriella said quickly pulling back a little.

"This won't take long," he said reaching in his back pocket and handing her some forms. "Mrs. Gruff says that I have a real shot at Columbia College if I meet with this guy tomorrow for an interview. He wants to see my work and my stretch book."

"That's really good," Gabriella inwardly rolled her eyes, seemed like everyone's life was coming together.

"If this works out it means I can play basketball now and still get into the college I want hands down."

"So what do you need from me, a science tutor?" Gabriella lifted the glass to take a sip.

Troy looked down at the forms, "Ask me again around mid-terms. For now I just need you to sign this."

"Why?" Gabriella asked as she brought the glass down and stared at the papers in his hands. "What is this?" she said taking the forms.

"It's a release Mrs. Gruff says I need you to sign it since a majority of my work lately has been about you," he said placing his hands in his pockets.

"About me how?" Gabriella said taking a sip of her apple juice.

"I sit up in the balcony a lot before I was actually part of the play, you've been my inspiration for a lot of pieces."

"That's how you knew the song," Gabriella said putting her drink down. "I thought that was strange."

"Guilty," Troy nodded and then he looked off to the side of her room where her bra was resting on her bed. Quickly looking away he looked back at her, "If you want to see my sketch book I have it downstairs in my bag but a lot of my finished pieces are in the art room."

"So you've been drawing me?" Gabriella bit her lip, he was cute, artistic, in great shape with the bluest eyes she ever saw and he was drawing pictures of her. Suddenly a scene from titanic flashed through her mind and she shook her head as she came back to the present.

Troy bit his lip as she stared at him with a look on her face. "Love is much like a wild rose, beautiful and calm, but willing to draw blood in its defense. You're my wild rose and I can't help but extract that essence and use it in my work."

"Wow," Gabriella face softened, "I think that's the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me," Gabriella bit her own lip again. "Are you gay?"

Troy let out a sigh, "No, however I just need your signature."

"Of course I'm going to sign it," Gabriella said in low voice, "What kind of person would I be if I didn't, but I want to see these pieces I went this morning to see that one piece you were working on."

Troy ears perked up, "Really?" Watching her grab a pen from her desk he shrugged his shoulders. "Did you like it?"

Gabriella finished her signature and then stood up and looked the papers again. "I don't know, no one has ever drawn me before," she let out a giggle. "Unless you count that family portrait Eddie drew in the third grade."

Troy watched as she waved the thought from her mind. If only she knew about the war raging inside him, the ability it took not to touch her. The fact that keeping her at a distance right now until he could figure out how to get those pictures from Aaron and Stacy was driving him nuts. Troy clenched his fist. "I want you to come by tomorrow and see my work," the moment he said it, he knew he shouldn't have. He hadn't intended to but he was only a man and resisting her made him feel like he was on another planet.

"I promise," Gabriella crossed one of her arms in front of her chest pushing her breast together more than covering them and handed Troy the paper, Troy looked away. "Did I do something to you?" she asked.

"No," Troy took the paper from her. "Thank you for the signature."

"I don't know if I should say welcome?"

Troy let out a breath and looked around her room before resting his eyes on her brown ones that seem to be searching though his expression for any kind of explanation.

"Troy what happened?" Gabriella asked. "Why is this so… awkward?"

"I just have things on my mind." Troy said with small shrug as the words left his lips. What was he supposed to say that at this very moment her virtue rested on him winning a stupid game? That Aaron took advantage of her, that he wanted to kick Aaron's ass, wanted to hold her, touch her, and be able to give her the kind of love she deserved. His finger twitched, "I should go,"

"Is this because of the money?" Gabriella asked.

Troy didn't move. "What money?" he asked looking at her in confusion now.

"The millions of dollars people are throwing at you," Gabriella said rolling her eyes. "I've been called a gold digger four times today, I'm just wondering if you said something."

"No," Troy looked down at the paper. "God how could you think that?"

"Hey you're the one avoiding me?" she said lifting her hands.

"Oh yeah," Troy let out a huff of air, "I came to your house and then up to your room in my desperate attempt to avoid you." but he really should be avoiding her.

"You know what I mean," she said letting her arms fall to their side and looking at him with stern unreadable face.

"Did you ever stop to think for a minute that I might be trying to do what's best by protecting you?" Troy said coming up close to her.

"Did you ever stop to think that I don't need you to protect me?" Gabriella said back in a stern voice. "That maybe I could do something on my own, something not including my mother, or Eddie, or my father something that Sharpay or Taylor don't have to plan out for me!" Gabriella's voice got louder.

"Gabriella," he said lifting a finger to his lips suddenly aware of the basketball team downstairs in the kitchen.

"You either like me or don't?" Gabriella said, "It's that simple."

Her phone rang and Gabriella felt tingles all over her body as all her attention shifted. Reaching for her phone she looked back at Troy who was looking off to the side slowly she lifted it to her ear. "Hello,"

"Miss Montez hi, look, I've looked into the records of your father's account." The voice said on the other line. "Your tuition has been paid in full for this year and another payment is schedule for the same time next year. There was also an extra donation made to the school as well would you like me to send you the paper work?"

Gabriella shook her head as pushed her hair away from her face. "No thanks, but thanks Anthony you're the best."

"Not a problem Gabi." His voice softened. "You know he means well, he just doesn't always show it in the right ways."

Gabriella walked over to her bed and fell on to it. "I know." With that said she hung up the phone and stared at the floor in front of her. She never made it into Julliard because of her application; it was her father's money that got her in. The room shrank and she suddenly couldn't breathe.

"Gabriella?" Troy's voice cut through her thoughts and Gabriella looked up at him his image blurred through the tears. "Gabriella?" Troy was on his knees in an instant at her side reaching to her pulling her to him. "Who was on the phone?"

"My dad's accountant," she said in low voice. "My father donated money to Julliard; they accepted me because my father paid them to." Gabriella took a deep breath.

"You don't know that," Troy said coming to sit beside her on the bed. "Maybe he's just trying to help and do what's best for you,"

The words stung her, it seemed like everyone was just doing what was best for her. Like she was in a bubble that she couldn't pop in a glass box she couldn't break. Looking up at Troy who was there wiping a tear away with his thumb.

She wasn't as fragile as people thought she was, she could take chances she could make risky decisions. Gabriella leaned forward and Troy froze as her lips came to his. Her bottom lip rest on his top lip at first and then she pulled away and came back this time nipping at his bottom lip.

Troy lips parted and his hand slid to the back of her neck, her lips were softer than anything he ever felt before. The slight taste of apple hung on her lips, his body took over and he was massaging her tongue with his. She pulled back a little and he followed, she did this until he was on top of her his knee between her legs his hands moving up her side from under her shirt. His lips came down to her neck and Gabriella moaned as he licked and nipped at the nook below her jaw, her hands slid over his body sending shivers through him. To say it was just his hormones was understating it and to say he was just turned on wasn't saying it enough. Troy hands lifted her shirt to expose her breast his tongue flicked the nipple and then latched on.

Gabriella arched her back giving herself more to him as she shut her eyes, he felt so good his hands on her body his muscles under her hands. The way his fingers moved smoothly from place to place, suddenly she felt his hand slipping into her pants. Gabriella let out a sigh as he came back up to her neck. His lips were so tough and soft at the same time, his skin was warm against hers and suddenly she felt herself jerk as his fingers found her clitoris. With a small movement she jerked again this time pressing more into his fingers.

"Gabriella," he said in low voice as his fingers began to move more rhythmically.

On a gasp, Gabriella tilted her head back and he began kissing her neck, all the sensations running through her body made her rock slowly into his hand. He felt so good, he understood her, he knew how to touch her, where she wanted to be touch and in places she didn't know he could touch her so deeply.

Troy picked up speed staying consistent with the pressure and rhythm as he touched her she shivering in his hand and he looked down at the pleasure on her face. The pleasure he was giving her, he wanted to give her more, to show what it was like to make love. He wanted to be inside her, his erection rubbed against his pants and he closed his eyes to focus. He wanted to make her cum, to satisfy her needs and in some ways his own.

Gabriella hands gripped his shoulders as she felt a pressure building. "Oh my god."

Troy lips came crashing down on hers; he couldn't have her screaming an attracting attention. He moved faster he moved harder and her grip got tighter, she was wet, she was trembling, she was biting his bottom lip and before he knew it her body stilled and she pulled him closer as she took a deep breath. Her mouth was open in a silent scream as he hovered above it. She was contracting under his fingers and her eyes shut as he watched her face.

They were both quiet for a moment. Listening to the mumbled noises from downstairs, Troy took a deep breath as he removed his hand from her pants.

Gabriella looked up into his eyes as he looked down into hers. They both had nothing to say and everything to say at same time. Troy spoke first.

"I think you know how I feel about you," he said taking her hand and guiding it to his pulsing erection. Gabriella's breath hitched as she came into contact with his bulge. "I love what you do to me, I love the smell of your hair when you get close enough and I love kissing your lips, I love touching you, I love those noises you make when I do," Troy smiled and Gabriella lips pulled into a shy smile.

"I hear a big but coming," Gabriella said as he sat up and she followed.

"But I don't want to hurt you, or get you into trouble." Troy placed his hand on her cheek and his thumb softly touched her flushed skin. "I'm not stupid, I know when I've been used, don't get me wrong I enjoyed that very much," He said with a smile. "But we can't do this, not when you're only trying to prove to yourself that you can. I want to be more to you than that."

Gabriella eyes closed and a tear rolled down her cheek as she opened her eyes and looked back at him. "Friends?" her voice was low as she held out a hand.

Troy moved his hand from her cheek and nodded as he took her hand in his. "Friends until we get this right," he said with a smirk bringing her hand to his lips.

Gabriella watched as he kissed the back of her hand. "You should go before someone starts to wonder what we're doing."

"Tomorrow,"

"Tomorrow." Gabriella nodded as she watched him get up and walk towards the door. Once he was gone Gabriella laid back down in her bed the silence was comforting now as her body rippled through the aftermath of his touch.