A/N: Ummmm...To clear some thing sup for you all:

Wildcats:

Troy

Chad

Taylor

Jason

Kelsi

Knights:

Gabriella

Zeke

Sharpay

Ryan

Martha

I hope that clears some things up :)

Don't own HSM x

Chapter 1 – I want him to be proud of me

(A/N: This is HSMandChelseaFCfan)

Gabriella Montez stood looking at the three boys in front of her furiously. The number of times she had seen this exact scene was too often to count. "How many more times is this going to happen? It's pathetic, so can't you just let it go?"

Carl scoffed at his twin sister. "Sis, this is not only the Knights reputation we're defending, but the Montez name."

Landon then spoke up, adding to what his brother said. "Bella, if a Bolton won then our life would be unbearable; it just isn't something that can ever happen."

Shaking her head in anger, she stomped off to the downstairs bathroom and pulled out the worn looking First Aid kit. It was clear it was regularly used and Gabriella could feel her fury building up inside herself again. It was always the same, her brothers and friends got caught up in a fight with a Wildcat and before she knew it, she was cleaning up their wounds for them knowing if she didn't, they wouldn't.

Entering the kitchen, she saw Carl, Landon and one of her close friends and her twin's best friend, Zeke Baylor, talking about what happened again. Zeke was staying with her family whilst his family were on a world cruise; not that she or anyone of her family minded because Zeke was one mean cook, not that he told many people. The three of them were idiots when it came to making sure they 'protect their rep'.

"Landon, sit down now because you're first as your wounds look the worst." Gabriella snapped as she placed the first aid kit on the island and opened it.

Landon rolled his eyes at her. "They're nothing. It's just a scratc-" Before he could finish his sentence, he hissed as Gabriella placed a cloth with antiseptic liquid on over his worst wound which was just above his eye. "Jeez, sis, a little warning would have been nice."

Gabriella glared at him. "I don't do nice with you when you brought these on yourself."

Landon just ignored his sister's comment. "I'm not sure you're a true Montez or Knight the way you never support us. Everyone else in the family and school support us."

After cleaning the first wound, Gabriella moved to the next one. "No they don't. Mom hates the idea of you guys fighting and I'm getting sick of lying to her." She whispered.

Carl decided to join in the conversation. "Like we've said, what she doesn't know doesn't hurt her."

Gabriella threw the cloth down in anger as she picked up a plaster, ripping open the outside violently. "Yes, but what would she think, if she did find out? You really think she'll never find out? She probably already knows from the scars you guys have and she does work at a hospital so she's not stupid as to how you get scars like you guys get."

Landon looked at his younger sister and sighed. "Bells, you're taking this whole thing way too seriously. Chill out. We know what we're doing."

Continuing her rant, she moved over to Zeke after cleaning Landon's wounds. "Landon, you're at U of A and yet you're still more interested in fights between high school students than growing up. How many more times are you guys going to come home like this? Because I know one day I'm not going to be here to cover your back because I'm sick and tired of covering up fights of Knights versus Wildcats."

"Nothing bad has ever happened, Bella, just a few cuts and bruises. We do it to protect you, too; you don't hear the things they say about you because you are our sister and you know how we feel when someone bad mouths you. If fighting them keeps you safe, too, we'll carry on fighting until this is over." Carl said, trying to make it sounds like they did it for her knowing how she always found it sweet when they stuck up for her.

Shaking her head at her twin, Gabriella retaliated again. "It's not going to work this time, Carl. If you were really doing it to protect me then you would have stopped a long time ago, knowing how much I hate you guys fighting. Yes, nothing bad has ever happened before but say it does, and it's one of you that gets seriously injured, or worse, dead, how am I going to cope? What would Mom say if she knew I knew about the fighting but didn't do anything to stop it? She would hate me and I refuse to be blamed for this idiotic reputation you want to protect."

Carl threw his head back in annoyance. "How many times, it's not an idiotic reputation when so much rides on us being successful Knights."

Moving to start on Zeke's wounds, she then turned her attention to him. "And you. What would your parents think if they found out you'd been fighting again? Don't you think they have already made it very clear how they feel about you fighting? Just be glad they are away in who knows what country because otherwise I would be on the phone right now for them to come over and ground your sorry little ass."

Before Zeke could reply, another voice spoke up. "What's happened?"

The four turned to see Greg Montez, Gabriella, Carl and Landon's father, standing in the doorway. "Hey, Daddy." Gabriella muttered, knowing what would happen next.

"Hey Sweetie." He kissed his only daughter's forehead.

Gabriella hugged her dad before turning and glaring at her brothers and Zeke. "Well?"

Landon, being the oldest, spoke up. "We got into a fight with the Wildcats."

Greg suddenly smiled. "And what happened?"

Carl shrugged. "Nothing. We got interrupted before it could really start."

Gabriella ignored the glare she was receiving as Greg nodded. "Well done. Just make sure they know who is boss next time. Wildcats are due to pay for their cheating ways."

The three boys nodded. "Don't worry, Dad, we got it all under control." Carl assured him.

Smiling proudly at Landon, Greg looked confused at his daughter who let out a loud groan and pushed past him and disappeared upstairs. "What's up with her?"

"She's just being a girl again, Dad. You know what she's like." Carl explained as the three carried on talking about how they were going to defeat the Wildcats.

***

Gabriella slammed her bedroom door shut. How could their dad praise them for getting into fights? Wasn't a father supposed to ground their kids if they got into a fight, not encourage it? Looking towards the basket in the corner of her room, she walked over to it and sat down beside it, stroking her sleeping dog, Daisy, a three year old German Shepherd. "I've finally had enough, Daisy." The dog's ears perked up upon hearing her owner's voice. "If they get into another fight, I'm not covering up for them again when Mom asks what's happened. They obviously don't care about how I feel about them fighting so why should I care about helping them out?"

Gabriella remained on the floor as Daisy rested her head over her owner's arm while Gabriella stared out her balcony windows, watching as dusk changed to evening, knowing that whatever happened tomorrow, she was determined not to give into her brothers again. No, tomorrow would be the start of a new day and a new beginning.

* * *

(A/N: This is me)

Troy glanced at Jason and then Chad. He took a deep breath and then shifted his gaze back to his mother, Lucille Bolton; Chad's girlfriend, Taylor McKessie; and his best girl friend in the world, Kelsi Nielson. They all looked furious and even Kelsi who was usually timid and shy was clearly blazing with anger.

"Why would you fight them, again?" Lucille exclaimed, a hand on her hip.

Kelsi walked over and sat next to Jason. It was obvious to everyone that she had a long-term crush on him but he was oblivious. "Jase, you could've gotten hurt."

"But, we didn't. Doesn't that count for something?" Chad exclaimed.

Troy groaned and leaned his head back. "Dude!"

Taylor – the most beautiful African-American girl anybody had ever seen – glared back at her boyfriend of two years. "Don't even go there, okay? I get it that not one of us like the Knights but why do you go searching for trouble?"

Lucille raised her eyebrows as her husband and Troy's father, Jack Bolton, walked into the room. "Don't say one word to them."

"What?" He exclaimed in confusion.

"They've been fighting Knights." Lucille exclaimed. "As it was, one of the Knights' sister wanted them back home before it could get serious." She glared at her only son and sighed. "This can't keep going on. College is coming up and none of you can afford this kind of trouble.

Troy suddenly grinned as his German shepherd, Blitzen, bounded into the room and skidded to a halt in front of Troy. "Hey, Blitzen!"

Lucille threw her hands up into the air. "Oh, my goodness! Troy David Alexander Bolton," She saw her son flinch at his full name, "you are in so much trouble, you won't see daylight until you go to college."

"Calm down, Luce," Jack said softly, walking over to his wife.

"I said the same thing to you when we were in high school." She pointed out before she turned back to her son. "Grounded for two weeks. No friends over, no TV, no basketball other than training, understood?"

"No basketball?" He whined. "Can I still listen to music?"

"Yes. But, if I can hear it, then you won't." She said quietly. "Boys, I might sound a little harsh but I care about you. You could've gotten hurt."

Troy stroked Blitzen's head and nodded. "I know, Mom. It's just that," He broke off and got to his feet. He walked out of the house and to the back yard. Blitzen dutifully followed his owner and Troy smiled softly down at the dog. "I'm going somewhere you can't come. Sorry, Buddy." He jogged over to the tree in his backyard and began climbing the familiar wooden ladder up to the tree house he helped Jack built when he was four years old. He sat down on the decking surrounding the actual house and swung his legs over the edge. He looked down and chuckled to himself when he saw Blitzen lying protectively at the bottom of the ladder. It wasn't like he would do much damage if Troy was in danger – he was the stupidest dog out there.

Troy let out a tiny groan as he spotted his mother exit the house and walk towards the tree. He loved Lucille immensely. He'd never admit it to anyone other than Lucille or Kelsi, but he loved spending time with her. She always knew what was on his mind and when something was bothering him. She always knew just what to say to make him feel better. When his dad was out and his friends were busy, he'd help her cook dinner – granted, she wouldn't let him near the cooker since he nearly burnt the house down but he still helped.

Lucille stepped over Blitzen and began climbing the ladder. She sat next to her son and took his hand. "You okay?"

He nodded and sighed. "He's doing it again." He muttered.

"U of A?" She whispered.

Troy nodded and sighed. "Mom, I swear I didn't mean to start a fight this afternoon. But, whenever I see a Knight, I just…"

"You don't want to disappoint your father?" She asked quietly, brushing some bangs out of her son's eyes.

Troy nodded. "I don't know how to tell him that I don't want to choose just basketball." He turned his head to face Lucille and sighed. "I want to choose theatre, too, and so many colleges offer that combination."

Lucille kissed his forehead and sighed. "Troy, you won't disappoint him."

"Mom, all my life he's told me how much I've got to hate Knights. And I started to. Until I found out that Montez is going to U of A next fall. It made me realise that I only hate them because I'm expected to, you know?" He whispered. "I haven't talked about this to anyone else, Mom."

She nodded in understanding and sighed. "Honey, I remember when I was a Wildcat. It was exactly the same. No one knows why the schools hate each other, it's just known that they do."

"But, why should I hate someone I don't even know? Dad would kill me if he knew I was thinking like this." He whispered.

"I know this is a confusing time, now that you're a senior, but you can't let anyone affect the choices you make. I've seen you on that stage in those shows. Troy, just reach for it and know that I'll always be there. I make no promises for your father." She laughed softly and touched his cheek.

"But, my friends…They just expect me to go to U of A like them." He exclaimed. "The more they push into it, the less I want to go."

"It'll turn out okay." Lucille promised. "Sometimes you just need someone to have a little faith in you. I do."

He smiled softly and looked around them at the tree house. "Thanks, Mom. I'm still grounded, aren't I?"

Lucille nodded. "Yeah. But, just because everyone expects you to do one thing, doesn't mean you should."

* * *

"Take that, you low life scum!" Landon exclaimed as he shoved Carl with his shoulder, his thumbs and fingers working furiously on the controller.

"Not a chance." Carl growled.

"You're both going down." Zeke exclaimed from the other side of the oldest Montez brother.

Gabriella groaned and pulled the cushion which was lying in her lap across her face. Why were males so hypnotised by video games? If it wasn't enough that they had no organisational skills whatsoever, they were totally addicted to the T.V. Gabriella had finally dismounted her high horse and gathered enough self-control to return downstairs without slapping anyone within a five feet radius. Greg had slipped into his office to complete some work, leaving Gabriella in charge even though she was the youngest. But, in all honesty, how would she do that when it was impossible to gain their attention and when she was still incredibly mad at them?

Gabriella heard the front open and close and smiled as she got to her feet. She walked in front of the T.V. screen especially slow, earning simultaneous groans from the three males. She smirked to herself. They knew too well not to say anything when she was so angry like this.

She entered the kitchen and smiled at her mother, Maria. "Hola, Mami."

Maria set her stuff on the island and smiled at her only daughter. "Hola, mi hija. Do I want to know why you're mad?"

She shook her head and hopped gracefully onto one of the island stools. "How many lives did you save today?"

Maria laughed and shook her head. "I don't save lives everyday, Gabby."

Gabriella raised her eyebrows. "Mom, you do, actually. Or at least you make someone's life better."

Maria walked over and sat next to Gabriella. "Have you checked the mail today?"

Gabriella shook her head. "No. I thought you got it this morning."

Maria nodded and reached into her bag. "This is for you."

Gabriella accepted the white envelope and gasped at the return address. "Stanford?"

Maria nodded excitedly. "Come on, open it up."

Gabriella fumbled with the envelope and tore it open. She pulled several pieces of paper out and scanned the page. Tears began leaking from the corners of her eyes as she held a shaking hand to her mouth. "Mom, I'm in."

Maria hugged her daughter tightly. She pulled back and wiped her daughter's cheek with a Kleenex tissue. "I'm so proud of you, mi hija."

Gabriella took a deep breath and handed the letter to Maria. "They're considering me for their freshman honour's programme, too."

"Really?" Maria exclaimed excitedly.

"Mami, what am I going to tell Dad? What am I going to tell everyone? I think they'll notice when I leave for college early. And it's not even the college where everyone wants me to go." Gabriella cried quietly.

"Shhh…" Maria kissed Gabriella's forehead and held her daughter close. "You'll get to go to Stanford. And you'll be one of the best doctors out there. Your father just gets carried away."

"I want him to be proud of me." Gabriella whispered into her mother's shoulder.