Disclaimer: I do not own the High School Musical franchise, all I own is this plot and the characters I have created.
I walked into my sister's kitchen several days later, "Hey Sis" I greeted her as I gave her a side hug.
"Hey" she smiled, "What's your plan for today?" she asked me.
"I'm going to go into town for a bit, do some shopping or something." I replied as hoisted myself to sit on the counter. "What about you?" I asked.
"I am going to the club; we're planning the Miss Annapolis pageant. And Adam has the day off; he's taking the girls on the yacht for some father-daughter bonding time." She said. They are really wealthy; Adam is a partner at his law firm and Rachel runs my parent's business. Plus, when my parents died their estate was split between Rachel and me. So I have money too, and stakes in the company.
"That's cute" I said with a smile.
She smiled softly, "Yeah"
A few hours later, I was strolling around town sipping on my slushy and window shopping. I saw a bag I really like in the window of a shop, and my focus was diverted to it; it was then that I felt my body collide into someone else's. "Oof!" the ungraceful noise escaped my mouth. I quickly composed myself, "I am so sorry" I said, then looked up to see a familiar face smirking down at me; the bag completely forgotten.
"Oh no, it was my fault. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." Troy said.
I smiled, "Hi Troy"
He grinned, "Hey Gabriella"
"Please" I started, "Call me Gabby, or Gabs or whatever."
He nodded, "OK, what about… Brie?" He asked.
"Hmmm…" I said, "No one's ever called me that before, I like it." I really do like it.
He nodded, "Good" he cleared his throat "So, what are you up to today Brie?" He asked.
I smiled, "Oh, my day has been so hectic" I joked. "Shopping takes a lot out of you, you know." I giggled, "What about you?" I asked.
"Well, my day hasn't been even as close to busy as yours." He smiled, "I had a meeting."
"Oh, fun." I said, sarcasm lacing my voice, and then laughed.
He chuckled, "Exactly"
"Well, how do you feel about joining me for lunch?" I asked "I'm starving"
He grinned, "I would love to." I couldn't help but notice his infectious, stunning, bright smile; I melted a bit inside – not that I would ever admit to it.
"So," he said nearly half an hour later "You're the infamous Gabriella Montez"
"I guess so" I said with a smile.
"You left town just as I moved here" he stated.
"That would explain why I didn't know you." I responded.
He chuckled, "Yeah. So, I hear you're a curator at the Smithsonian."
I raised an eyebrow, "OK Sherlock, since you apparently know everything there is to know about me; why don't you tell me about you?" I asked with a smirk.
He shrugged, "Sure, what do you want to know?" he questioned.
I thought for a moment, "Hmmm… What's your social security number?" I asked in a joking tone.
He looked shocked and a bit unsure, crinkling his eyebrows, "Ummm…"
A giggle escaped my lips, "I'm kidding!"
He let out a sigh of relief and a low chuckle, "Well, that's a relief."
I smiled, "So, I know three things about you; you're friends with my friends, you're an architect and you are disrespectful to colours."
He let out a laugh.
"What's your full name?" I asked.
"Troy Alexander Bolton" he answered.
"Troy Alexander Bolton, I like it." I smiled softly.
"Thank you" he said, but it was in a questioning way.
"Where did you go to university?" I asked him.
"Georgetown" he responded.
"Oh my gosh! Me too, how random." I said taking a sip of my drink.
"Yeah, I wonder how we never bumped into each other." He questioned.
I shrugged, "You know, we probably did; we just don't remember because it's not like we were looking for each other or anything."
He shook his head, "No, I would remember seeing a girl like you." He grinned flirtatiously, leaning in slightly.
I smiled, "Are you flirting with me Mr Bolton?" My smile evolved into a smirk as I too leaned in closer.
"Why? Is it working?" He asked with his sexy smile, leaning closer.
I shrugged, a grin on my face "Maybe" I pulled away, leaning against the backrest on my chair.
A bit over an hour later we were standing in front of the restaurant. "Well, thanks for joining me for lunch. I had a great time. And thanks for paying; you didn't have to do that. Here I was thinking chivalry was dead." I said with a smile.
He chuckled "Not quite yet."
"Good, well I have to get going." we hugged, "Thanks again Troy."
"We'll have to do it again some time." He said.
"Bye" I said as I began walking away.
"Bye!" he called after me.
"You better be careful with that one Troy" I heard an older lady said to him just before I was out of earshot, "She's trouble"
"So, Mrs Byrnes informed me that you were on a date with Troy Bolton yesterday." Rachel said to me during our breakfast the next morning. Adam was at work and the girls were at their friends place.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes, "Oh my goodness, why am I not surprised she would start a rumour like that?" I asked rhetorically. "We bumped into each other, and decided to get lunch. There was no 'date', I promise. You know how rumours and gossip spread around this town like wildfire."
She nodded "Exactly, that's why you have to be so careful; especially with Troy Bolton."
I rolled my eyes "And why is that?" I asked.
She sighed "Because Gabriella, you had quite the reputation when you were younger. People still see you as that girl."
"Just the old prudes!" I exclaimed defensively.
Rachel gave me a look, "Gabby"
I huffed "OK, I get it; I'll be careful. I can't afford yet another scandal right?" I said followed by a tight smile.
She giggled, "That would be nice"
I rolled my eyes again "So, what's so special about Troy Bolton anyway?" I asked curiously.
"Everyone here loves him, he's the town sweetheart… and his mother is the mayor. And his dad is one of Adam's partners in the firm." She responded.
"Oh, got it. Don't worry; I'm only here for another week and a half anyway. What's the worst that can happen?" I said with a small shrug.
Rachel gave me a pointed look.
I giggled, "Oh that only happened once! I was on holidays in Hawaii, can you blame me?" I questioned, "And like you can talk; you were worse than me." I stated pointing an accusing finger in her direction.
She laughed "Guilty, but I was settled down and married by the time I was your age." She said.
"Yeah, because Adam is like perfect for you. I haven't met my 'the one' yet; to be honest I'm not sure if I ever will." I said.
She smiled "You will."
"Tay, are… are you sure?" I asked two days later. We are having lunch at our favourite restaurant.
She nodded eagerly "Absolutely, it would mean so much to Chad and I, plus I've always wanted you to be one of my bridesmaids. Remember when we were kids? We'd always talk about it, then act it out." she said with a laugh.
I smiled, touched. "Well then it would be an honour. Thank you Tay."
She smiled "Fantastic!" she took a sip of her ice tea, "Now, down to business, I hear you and Troy went on a date." She smirked and raised an eyebrow.
I rolled my eyes, "Got to love the rumour mill" I couldn't help but laugh, "We bumped into each other and decided to go get lunch. No big deal; and definitely no date."
"I thought as much" she said. "I just found it funny."
I poked my tongue out at her and we laughed. Things are completely back to normal and I love it.
"Excuse me, but you're Gabriella Montez right?" A young girl asked me a couple of hours later as I was browsing around my favourite second-hand bookstore.
I turned to face her; she couldn't be any older than seventeen. She had long curly brown hair, green eyes and she was about the same height as me. "Yeah, that would be me. Can I help you?" I asked politely.
She nodded nervously, "My name is Jenna Cartwright" she said.
I smiled reassuringly "Hi"
She took a deep breath "Ok, so, I'm just going to come right out and say it."
I couldn't help but let a little giggle escape my mouth, "That would be helpful."
She nodded "I'm in the Miss Annapolis Pageant and my mortal enemy has Melanie Benson as a mentor. I thought I was screwed because Melanie has won twice, I thought I wouldn't have a chance. Then you came back to town." She took a breath "And you are the only person ever to win the title three times in a row. You always used to beat her. So what I'm asking for is your help, would you be my mentor?"
She seemed so nervous and hopeful, I felt bad that I had to reject her. "Look I'm honoured, I really am; but I don't want to stir up any trouble. Challenging Melanie would get a lot of attention and I'm trying to lay low on the social radar." I said.
She shrugged, "I think you kind of blew that when you went on a date with Troy Bolton."
I took a deep breath "It wasn't a date. And the point is that lots of people in this town don't have the nicest view of me and I don't want to risk worsening that. So I'm sorry, but I can't help you. Good luck though."
Her face held a sad expression, "Ummm, yeah, OK. Thanks anyway." She left.
I watched her leave and walked over to the window only to see her face-to-face with none other than Melanie Benson and who I assume to be her mentee. I heard their conversation.
"Yeah, you are so going down. You'd need a miracle to even have a chance of winning at this point." Melanie said in a cruel tone and then laughed with the girl next to her.
That crossed the line and made up my mind for me. I walked outside, "Thanks for waiting for me Jenna." I looked at Melanie and gave her an artificial smile. "Oh, hi Melanie… girl I don't know." I said acknowledging them, "Long-time, no see right?"
Melanie had shock written all over her features. "Aha…" she voiced.
"So you know Jenna, my mentee?" I asked knowing it would get a reaction out of her.
"What?" Melanie asked in a low, annoyed tone.
Jenna looked at me thankfully, "Yeah, I'm helping her win the pageant." I said "I did win three times, remember?" I asked "Plus, I recently heard that she 'needed a miracle'" I narrowed my eyes at her in a glare, "Consider me her fairy godmother. Good luck, you're going to need it."
She glared at me, "You have a lot of nerve showing your face here again. After what happened last time you're either really brave or extremely stupid. The latter gets my vote."
"That was six years ago" I said "I doubt that many people will still care." I don't know if I believe that or not myself, but I needed to put on a strong front.
"You see, that's where you're wrong." She said, trying to be intimidating "People still remember, they still care and it will never be forgotten."
"Then unlike you neither will I." I said firmly.
Melanie pursed her lips in defeat, "This isn't over Montez." She said.
I smiled, "Bring it; you know that next to me you will never be better than second best."
Melanie gave me one last final glare before dragging her mentee away in anger.
I heard the girl ask "Was that Gabriella Montez?"
"Yes" Melanie responded tightly.
I turned to Jenna, "We need to start talking strategy." I said.
She nodded eagerly, "OK, thank you so much, you have no idea what this means to me."
I smiled, "Believe me, it is my pleasure."
"So" I said about half an hour later in a coffee shop "for your escort…" I rolled my hand a signal for her to talk.
A slight blush appeared on her cheeks, "Well, Tyler Bolton would be perfect - -"
I nodded "Ok"
"But" she began; I knew there would be a 'but', "he would never go with me."
"What?" I questioned, "Why not?"
She gave me a pointed look, "He's the most popular guy in school, to him I'm nothing but invisible." She stated.
A smirk found its way to my lips, "Don't be too sure." I said, "Where does he hang out?" I asked.
She shrugged "I don't know, probably the beach."
I couldn't help but smile. This was going to be fun.
"That's him over there," Jenna pointed out later that day as we strutted along the beach in our new and sexy bikinis, "with those other guys playing with that ball."
I nodded, "OK, remember the plan, we walk past them and make sure they see us. We set up our stuff a bit further away. The point is to get him to come to you. Guys like to feel like they're the ones in charge." I said.
"What if it doesn't work?" She asked nervously.
"It will" I assured her with complete confidence, it always works.
We walked past the group of teenage boys and could sense their eyes on me. I couldn't help but smirk. "And now we wait." I said as we set down on our towels and then laid on them.
Sure enough, precisely seven minutes later, a ball came out from 'nowhere' and landed next to us. Jenna shot up in shock and squealed "Oh my gosh!"
"I am so sorry" one of the guys apologised as he jogged over to us; he was cute – for a teenager. He smiled, "You're Jenna, right?" He asked. I'm assuming that he's Tyler.
She gave him a shy smile. "Right" she responded.
"I'm Tyler" he said. I knew it!
Jenna let out a small giggle, "I know"
I smiled at their interaction, enjoying the sun on my back. I sensed something next to me, opened my eyes. I was greeted with the sight of four feet, I'll admit, it wasn't pretty. Looked up further and saw two teenage boys. "Can I help you?" I asked.
"Do you need us to rub sun tan lotion on you?" One of the boys asked, his tone eager and cocky, and yet nervous.
"Yeah, we're really good at it" the other boy said with a grin.
I know I should have said 'no', but I really needed to re-apply and they were offering. So, I shrugged and said "OK, do my back" and then I undid the tie of my bikini top – I didn't want lines…
"We have a date!" Jenna exclaimed to me over the phone later that night, "Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!"
"My pleasure" I giggled.
A/N: Yeah, I know, it's been forever – SORRY! I know a lot happened in this chapter but I wanted to get the story moving, it's not going to be a long one. Plus, it's my first story with chapters, so please be nice =] I do hope you enjoyed it though.