"Ding dong!" The doorbell rang.

"They're here!" Taylor sang. Gabriella felt nervous, she hated meeting new people. She always made a fool of herself and people were often shaking their heads and running away.

"Hey, Chaddy!" Taylor cried, running down the stairs. Gabriella giggled and followed her down the stairs.

"I'm here!" A female voice announced. Gabriella knew that voice, it was Sharpay.

"Hey, guys," Taylor greeted. "You guys remember Gabriella Montez from grade school?" She asked as Gabriella descended the stairs. She looked up at hearing her name.

There were four people--besides Taylor standing in front of her. Sharpay was the one with blonde hair, an oval face, and wide, hazel eyes. The African American with very curly, crazy brown hair, she knew was Chad. She couldn't believe he still hadn't got a hair cut. Then, there was who she guessed was Troy. He had flawless skin, ocean blue eyes, and sandy brown hair, which flowed almost over his eyes. And Ryan, who looked almost exactly like Sharpay.

She and Troy's eyes locked for a moment, before Sharpay came flying at her, wrapping her arms around her. "Oh, em gee, Gabby, you have changed so much. You're so pretty, not that you weren't before, but those glasses always hid it and-"

"Okay, Shar, I think she gets it," Troy laughed. "Remember me?" He asked. Gabriella nodded. He certainly had changed. He must've had girls throwing themselves all over him. That's exactly what he thought about her, except boys instead of girls.

"Troy, right?" She asked.

"Good job," Chad cheered, doing a little dance. "You deserve a cookie! Taylor, where are the cookies?"

Taylor sighed. "In the kitchen, Chad." Chad took off at full speed down the hall and into the kitchen.

"Want to play 'Never Have I Ever?" Sharpay asked.

"What's that?" Gabriella asked, as everyone went into the kitchen and sat down at the bar.

Troy leaned over to her, his hot breath in her ear. "It's like, you hold your hands in the air and if you have done whatever someone says, you put a finger down and you take a drink. Whoever is left with the most fingers up is the winner."

"Take a drink of what?" Gabriella questioned.

"Jeez, honey, you are home schooled." Sharpay laughed. "Alcohol."

"Oh," Gabriella said. "Um, if that's okay, I'd rather not."

"Oh, come on," Ryan protested.

Gabriella shook her head. "I, uh, have to use the bathroom." She stood up and ran out of the kitchen.

"Guys, um, Gabriella's dad drank alcohol, when he…you know…" Taylor murmured. Everyone's mouth dropped into a shape of an 'o'.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know," Sharpay blabbed.

"It's okay, Shar." Taylor said. Troy rose to his feet.

"I'll go find her." He said.

"Hey, Gabriella!" He called, running up the stairs. He found her sitting on her bed, clutching a picture frame in her hand, with tears running down her face. "You okay?"

She nodded weakly. "I guess. I'm sorry, I overreacted."

"No, you didn't. I would've acted the same way. Actually, I did."

"What?" Gabriella asked, confused.

"I used to be abused, too." Troy informed her, sitting down on the edge of her bed.

"You did?" Gabriella asked.

"Sure did," Troy nodded. "By my uncle. When I went to stay with him for a few weeks. Him and my aunt got in a fight over me because he wouldn't feed me and she left…"

"Oh, I'm sorry. That's why my dad abused me. Because my mom left."

"Where'd she go?" Troy asked.

"She died, Troy." Gabriella whispered.

"Oh," Troy said, taken aback. "What's that you've got there?" He asked, motioning toward the picture in her clutches.

"Oh, it's a picture of my mom," Gabriella told him, showing it to him.

"Wow, she was beautiful," Troy complimented, looking at the picture. "I see where you get your looks from."

Gabriella blushed. Troy chuckled. "You wanna go back downstairs?" He asked, reaching out his hand. "We can have you drink like Dr. Pepper or something."

"Well, I don't want to be the only one not drinking alcohol," Gabriella shook her head.

"I'll drink Dr. Pepper with you." Troy offered. Gabriella smiled and took his hand. He pulled her to her feet.

"Thanks," she giggled as he led her downstairs.

"Hey, Tay, do you have Dr. Pepper?" Troy asked, a grin on his face. Gabriella's hand felt so soft and warm in his and it was as if it fit perfectly.

"Sure," Taylor said. Then, she got the hint. "Oh, do you want to use that instead?"

"Yes, please," Gabriella smiled.

"Sure, bestie," She giggled, getting a shots cup and pouring some Dr. Pepper in it. Troy pulled out Gabriella's stool for her and she sat down.

"Gabriella," Sharpay said. "I'm sooo sorry. I am such a bitch sometimes and I don't even realize it. Next time I do that to you, just tell me, okay?"

"Okay, Sharpay, but you're not a bitch."

"Thanks, but I am and I know it and please, call me Shar. That's what all of my friends call me." Sharpay smiled.

"Cool," Gabriella giggled as Taylor set the glass in front of her and poured alcohol into everyone else's, except for Troy.

"Okay, who wants to start? My parents went on a date, so they won't be back 'til like twelve." Taylor said.

"Sweet," Chad laughed.

"I'll start," Sharpay said, cheerfully. "Okay, Never Have I Ever drank alcohol." Everyone, except for Troy and Gabriella put a finger down and took a drink.

"You've never drank alcohol?" Gabriella asked.

"Nah, that stuff is for losers. No offense, guys."

"Hey, it's not like we're drunks…" Ryan drifted off, seeing the look in Gabriella's eyes. "Sorry."

"It's okay, I'm not gonna let some little stupid detail ruin your guys' fun," Gabriella shrugged. Troy smiled. She was so innocent.

"Alright, Never Have I Ever had sex," Chad interrupted. Chad and Sharpay took a drink.

"Never Have I Ever been beaten up by a girl," Ryan laughed, taking a drink, along with Sharpay and Taylor.

"Never Have I Ever been to a strip club," Taylor giggled and took a drink. She was the only one. "Hey! It's not my fault. It was my mom's birthday party…"

"Sure," Troy smirked. "Never Have I Ever kissed a girl." Sharpay, Ryan, and Chad took a drink.

"Sharpay!?" Taylor shrieked. "Are you a les?"

"No," Sharpay laughed. "She kissed me at a party and I didn't realize it was her…I thought it was Zeke."

"Uh huh," Gabriella giggled. "Never Have I Ever been to a party." Everyone took a drink, except for her.

"You've never been to a party?" Troy and Chad asked in unison. Gabriella shook her head.

"Never." She laughed. Her voice was so soft and he wondered what it would be like if she were moaning his name…No, he just met her…

"Wow," Sharpay muttered. "Never Have I Ever been on a rollercoaster." Everyone put a finger down and took a drink, except for herself. "I haven't because it will mess up my hair." Everyone laughed.

"Never Have I Ever had a sex fantasy about someone in this room," Chad laughed and put a finger down, along with Taylor, Ryan, and Troy, whom all also took a drink.

"Ooh, who?" Sharpay demanded of Troy. "I didn't know you ever liked anyone." Troy laughed and shook his head.

"I won't tell you…never." Sharpay sighed. "Who's was yours about, Ryan?"

Ryan laughed. "Taylor, a loooong time ago when I like her." Everyone laughed.