Searching For a Story - Chapter One
Title: Searching For a Story
Fandom: High School Musical
Pairing/Character(s): Troy/Gabriella
Rated: Teen
Spoiler(s): AU
Summary: Gabriella Montez is a struggling writer for her school’s newspaper. When she’s sent to cover a story about one of hottest ticket in school, Gabriella just may end up writing about the greatest love story of her time, in the process finding who she really is.
Chapter One - The Best Damn Thing
The smell of burning ink and computer keys could be smelled from miles away as the staff of the East High Chronicles rushed to met their deadlines. They buzzed around the room as worker bees did in their hives. The queen bee of it all, or should I say king bee, Stan Gregory sat at his desk watching the whole thing go down. He loved when the paper was like this and when his staff was in panic mode and at least everyone in the room had a paper cut. Stan was a real jerk when it came to the paper. If a writer handed in something he didn’t like, he made them tear it into pieces and throw it into the trash. He acted as if he was any better than the people he hired. Stan hadn’t wrote an article in about a year.
But there was one girl out of the worker bees, that could care less about the deadlines of her fellow paper mates, considering hers was done after first lunch today. Gabriella Montez, sat in the corner of the room, at her small desk going over her term paper that was due on Monday. The girl that had so much to offer was busy doing lunch menus and reports on missing erasers from the supply cabinet. Gabriella would have left the room hours ago, but because her pig-headed editor and chief, Stan, had a strict policy about every member on the staff staying until they deadlines were met and the paper was ready to be shipped out to the student body the following Monday.
Gabriella had no idea why Stan no longer let her do editorials anymore. She use to be the queen of them. Maybe it had something to do with her not going out with him when he asked her. After she rejected him it was bye-bye editorials, and hello missing board erasers.
“People, move your asses. We have a deadline to meet in about an hour”, Stan yelled to the crowded room of people.
Amber Massing, the papers celebrity reporter, walked over to Gabriella. She held tons of papers in her hands about this week’s celebrity gossip. “You are so lucky that all you have to do is the lunch special”, she said her, southern bell voice laced with exhaustion.
Gabriella tried her best to smile and not jump across the table and rip Amber’s fake blond hair out of her head. “You bet I am. So, what‘s new? Brangelina having another baby?”.
“No. some girl tried to seduce her boss by doing a strip tease for him”, Amber answered. She looked pretty amazed by it. “I think I might try that”.
“Well, everyone loves a girl who’s not afraid to show a little or a lot of skin”, Gabriella laughed, hoping that Amber would go away soon.
Amber only smiled at Gabriella’s comment. “Well, see you later”.
She watched as Amber walked away, and Gabriella mumbling the word 'loser' under her breath. There was nothing wrong with amber, it was just sometimes her voice really irritated Gabriella. It was so...annoying. And the way she dressed. She always wore these diamond encrusted cowboy boots and these pageant clothes. Her hair was huge. Something right out of Hairspray. Gabriella was sure that she damaged the O-Zone layer every morning when she got ready to go out.
The hours past, and Gabriella felt like she'd at any moment suffocate from all the ink floating around in the room. When everyone was finished and the deadline was met, Stan collected everything and gave his usual tired speech. Everyone gather around him, waiting for him to deliver his wisdom filled and encouraging words:
"I know some of you thought we wouldn't reach our deadline, considering the week we had. But I never for one second thought that you guys would never do it. You're all fine writers and your dedication to this paper is outstanding. I'm so very proud to be your editor and chief".
The crowd cheer and hollered as if it was his first time saying that speech to them. Gabriella clapped and hollered as well even though she could care less about Stan or his paper.
"So, Stan that was really touching. I still get choked up, even though it's the hundredth time you've said that", Gabriella said, when the crowd cleared and everyone was packing up their things.
"Gabriella, still a bitch I see. Oh, your report on the lunch special was amazing. It must be a pretty though job to do. With all the writing down food and stuff", Stan shot back, arms folded across his V-neck sweater. Stan was one of those preppy boys.
"Yeah, it is actually. You know what else is pretty hard? Sitting on your lazy ass doing nothing while the rest of your staff do all the work", Gabriella contoured, not daring to back down. It was when she said this, that the entire room was interested.
"You have a lot of guts for saying that, Montez. I want a full page apology on my desk by Monday morning", Stan stated.
"How about this? How about I tell you to go to hell, and suck it hard and good. I'm going to enjoy my weekend, ok", Gabriella said, slinging her carrier-bag over her shoulder and walking out the door. Stan was yelling something behind her but she didn't bother to stick around and listen.
After leaving the school's newspaper room, Gabriella did her usual routine of rounding up her two best friends. The first out of the two was Taylor McKessie. Taylor was on the school's socialistic decathlon team. She was the brainy type. The two girls met a long time ago in kindergarten. The friendship was instant, like all friendships in kindergarten. But there friendship moved from nap time all the way to first grade. The pair became inseparable and everyone knew them as always being together. People would often refer to them as salt n' pepper.
When Gabriella got to the decathlon room, she knocked on the door. "Password?", a voice called from the other side.
"Open the door, or you're going to meet my fist". After saying this, the door was open in a instant. Brian Cummings, the teams co-captain stepped back from the door, letting the intimidating brunette in.
"Hey, gabs, you ready to go?", Taylor asked, she was wearing a long white robe and thick goggles.
Gabriella was leaned up against the door frame. "Yeah, we have to swing by the auditorium and pick up Sharpay".
Sharpay Evans was the third part of their trio. Where do I began to even describe Sharpay Evans...well there was only one word to do so and it was, fabulous. Sharpay was a blond with a great fashion sense. She was literally a walking fashion magazine. Gabriella and Taylor couldn't remember how or why they became best friends with Sharpay. All they knew was they met her and her twin brother Ryan while in the seventh grade. They were the new kids in town and no one wanted to talk to them because they looked 'stuck-up'. Salt n' pepper looked right pass that image and befriended the blond duo. Both Sharpay and Ryan were in the dram club, performing in musicals. Funny how they were always the leads.
I want you to know
I've never had someone that knows me like you do, the way you do
I've never had someone as good for me as you, no one like you
so lonely before I've finally found
what I've been looking for
When Gabriella and Taylor arrived at the auditorium, Sharpay and Ryan were putting on a bouncy performance as they practiced for the up and coming musical. The school's drama teacher Mr. Darbus liked to put and extra infuses on the word, searching the A sound. When Sharpay noticed her two friends, she stopped singing and tossed the microphone to her brother.
"Shar, where are you going? We have rehearsals", Ryan called after her.
Sharpay threw him her keys and ran off the stage towards her friends. "It's a girl thing, Ry, you wouldn't understand. Take my car home".
It was the girls ritual that every Friday, they'd go to the mall and shop a while before going to Sharpay's house. But this time, however, they decided to change the plans and after shopping they went to the country club owned by Sharpay's family. The three girls were riding in the car listening to some songs on the radio, Gabriella in the drivers seat, Taylor in the passenger seat and Sharpay in the back. When they pulled into the Lava Springs country club, Gabriella spotted a near-by parking space. As she drove to get in the parking space, she was cut off by a black Escalade bumping loud music.
"What the hell? That dick just cut me off", Gabriella ranted once she register what just happened. Gabriella watched as a bunch of teenagers hopped out of the car, and began to walk to the country club. "Oh, hell no".
Gabriella stormed out of the car and over to the driver that was walking away like he did nothing. Her two friends followed behind her afraid of what she might do.
"Gabby, stop. He's not worth it", Taylor called, trying to be the peace maker. It was a roll that she took on the moment she became friends with hot-head Gabriella Montez. "Breath in and out".
"Ella, you left the car running", Sharpay called. She was trying to run after them but the shoes she wore prevented her from moving any faster than the walking pace she was doing know. "I can't run in these heels".
Both girls knew their friend had a temper and the littlest things ticked her off. "Hey!", Gabriella called sharply.
The boy and his friends stopped and looked at the very mad girl. "Is there something you want?", the blond who was hanging on his arm asked.
This boy was sort of tall, but not all the way. He had dark brown hair and blue eyes that could be seen from a very far distance. He was wearing blue jeans and a black "This is why I'm hot" T-shirt with white letters. He un-clung from the blond and walked over to Gabriella.
"You want an autograph or something?", he asked. Damn he was one cocky son of a bitch.
"No. I want to know why did you cut me off back there? It was clear to see that I wanted that parking space", Gabriella answered.
"Sorry, baby, but I always park there. But look a here, take my card". He beckoned for a card and one of his lackeys handed one over. He extended out to Gabriella who took it. "And maybe I can fit you in for a little fun-time".
Gabriella held the card up to his face and began to rip it to shreds. "Maybe, you can go to hell".
The boy licked his lips, and smirked. "I like my girls feisty". He pulled Gabriella to him, buy grabbing her hips. "It means they're a real freak behind closed doors".
Gabriella pushed him off of her and delivered a loud slap to his face. "Don't you ever touch me again". With that she began to walk away.
"Nice ass", the boy called after her, his mouth forming a smug smirk. He started to walk into the country club with his friends.
"Pig!", Gabriella called back to him. She turned her attention to Sharpay. "Who was that guy?".
"Troy Bolton. He's the star basketball player at our school, of course you wouldn't know this because you hate sports", Sharpay answered.
"I have a strange feeling you're going to be seeing a lot of him", Taylor said as they walked back to the car.
"Let's hope not".