Chapter 3

Gabriella stormed inside the townhouse she shared with Sharpay, slamming the door behind her.

"Sharpay!" she screamed. Dropping her bag and throwing her keys on the table, Gabriella made her way into her roommate's spacious room. Sharpay was sitting on her bed, painting her nails.

"What's up?" she asked, nonchalantly.

"Do you know…" Gabriella started off strongly, but deteriorated, when she realized that she had no idea what the man who had managed to get under her skin was named. "Uh…" she stuttered.

"Okay, you just interrupted ten seconds of prime nail painting time to mumble something incoherent. I'm officially aggravated," Sharpay rolled her eyes and started to get off her bed.

"No, wait. It's valid, I promise," Gabriella sat herself in a small armchair and wrung her hands together. "The guy I danced with last night…he's not like the other guys, Shar," she admitted.

"What do you mean?" her best friend asked, sitting herself back down, suddenly intrigued by the story.

"He was sophisticated. Really got under my skin, y'know? I mean, it sounds like he came on to me the same way other guys did, but it was just so different. So much more intense and passionate," Gabriella spilled.

"Gabs! I can't believe you didn't tell me about this!" Sharpay clapped her hands excitedly and leaned forward with interest. "So what's he look like? What's his name? Is he going to AU?"

"Slow down. The thing is, I have no idea what his name is. I met him again today. He said he knew you," Gabriella sighed, leaning back against the chair.

"He knows me? Gabs, it could be any guy," Sharpay smiled.

"Come on, you've got to know who he is. He's not like the other guys. I've never seen him before,"

"Are you talking about…Troy Bolton?" Sharpay suggested warily.

"Um, I don't know!" Gabriella exclaimed, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "I just know that he's bloody gorgeous!" she giggled.

"Hold on a second. Dark brown hair, looks like he has professional, effortlessly placed highlights, and the most amazing blue eyes?" Sharpay asked, her eyes widening.

"Yeah,"

"Troy Bolton," Sharpay confirmed.

"Troy…Bolton," Gabriella slowly said his name, drinking it in. "How do you know him?"

"We used to go to elementary school ages ago. Our parents know each other, if I remember correctly; he's transferred to AU after a semester in New York,"

"New York? He's a city man," Gabriella laughed, her heart lifting. "Why move back to Albuquerque? This place must be really boring for him,"

"His parents are here, his old life is here, I'm assuming. Nobody really knows the real reason why he came back," Sharpay concluded. "So, you like him, huh? I'll put in a good word for you. Troy's a sweetheart, such a nice guy. He really knows how to take care of his girls," Sharpay smiled and reached over to give Gabriella a quick hug. "Alright, I'm off to do a little bit of shopping. Come with?"

"No thanks. I think I'm just going to stay in today,"

"Sure thing. I'll pick up something on the way home and we'll call the girls," Sharpay clapped her hands excitedly and ran off into the bathroom. Gabriella just nodded and leaned against the chair once again. T'roy Bolton…I have to have him,' she thought, surprising herself at how badly her body yearned for him. She wanted to be close to him, as close as they were that night in the club. One thing was certain: Troy Bolton had definitely gotten to Gabriella Montez.