GABRIELLA

"Mr. Baylor, I'd really enjoy it if you would pay attention in my class instead of talking to Mr. Bolton the entire time."

Ms. Darbus' voice was so thick; you'd think it may have frightened them just a bit.

Zeke whipped his head around from Troy, a rather egotistical grin spreading across his lips.

"I'm so sorry Ms. Darbus." From the sarcasm and the smirk, it was evident he wasn't.

I rolled my eyes and looked over to one of my best friends, Kelsi Nielsen. She wore the same, annoyed frown on her face that I did. We were the good students, and having to deal with these imbeciles during our drama class wasn't exactly enlightening.

Ms. Darbus disregarded Zeke and moved back to her lecture, continuing on her powerful speech about Shakespeare.

I had my notebook out and I was scribbling down notes. I was probably the only one in the class doing this. Even Kelsi had her focus approached on something else – Ryan Evans.

My eyes subtly snapped back to the front of the room where the rather bombastic athletes all sat. They were all snickering and whispering to each other, most-likely making fun of Ms. Darbus. It seemed ridiculous how she let them go on making such brainless comments.

Everybody in this school seemed to know who they were, and I'm not kidding when I say everybody.

I wasn't judgmental, nor was I simple-minded. Had one of them spoke with me, I would have eagerly spoken back. However, that had never happened, so the thought never actually crossed my mind. I was more into my studies.

I was actually dedicated, driven to get a proper education. I figured the point of having school was more to have a rather successful life, not to become head of the "cool" department.

I wasn't cool anyways - just the geeky science girl.

They sat with grins on their faces.

Troy Bolton was their main squeeze. It seemed that the other basketball players just followed him, obediently. I never spoke with him in my life, I've only heard about him one million times from other girls.

Everybody loved him; he was like the light to a dark room. His hair was a dark brown, molded into some kind of mop. It was messy, probably didn't take much to make it lay the way it did. His eyes were bright blue and at the moment, they seemed elated by his friend's comments. His smile, well, charming and alluring was all. He polished himself so broadly – his hands lazily placed behind his head, heedless to the teacher's lecture. He wore a t-shirt that fit him well, and a pair of pants that hugged his legs and behind. (I think they're straight-legged?) Oh, and I couldn't possibly forget about his vans, the shoes he was known to always be sporting.

Yes, I sound very descriptive. I just have a photographic memory, that's all.

Chad Danforth sat behind him, whispering things into his ear, obviously the reason Troy was even laughing to begin with. I could tell Ms. Darbus knew it was him causing the noise. By now, it was as if she just was ignoring them. Chad had a darker skin tone. His hair was hard to describe – a bundle of tangled yet natural tawny curls. His eyes were a chocolate brown. He wore a yellow and black striped polo and a pair of beige-colored pants.

Zeke was at Troy's corner. His skin tone matched Chad's, but his hair was buzzed in a rather militant way. His eyes were an anxious brown. He wore a gray t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. He was slanting towards Troy and Chad, intent on hearing their joke, or whatever.

Meanwhile, my best friend, Kelsi, was ogling out my other best friend, Ryan, who was at the far end of the room, looking rather drained and bored by Ms. Darbus' lecture.

Ryan had flaxen-colored hair that barely stood up, but had a small spike to it, and green-blue eyes. Wearing a long-sleeved red, orange, white, and maroon striped shirt and a pair of jeans; it wasn't hard to pinpoint him in the crowd. His eyes were only inclined in displeasure. This was rather surprising since he was always so excited about Ms. Darbus' lectures. Call him a brainiac, he was just like me.

I myself became restless. That didn't happen very often.

My eyes averted towards the window, in seek for some escape. I liked school to a certain point. I appreciated getting good grades and everything, but it was all the same, every single day. I longed for something interesting – for something new. I had everything I really needed in life. I had a great home life, my parents had a lot of money, I had great friends and everything. . .

Still, I couldn't shake the sudden urge to do something out of line sometime soon.

Yes, you know, step out from being invisible? I didn't want to go and perform at the school's talent show or anything incredulous like that. I just wanted to do something different, something bizarre.

Kelsi and I walked out of drama class as the bell rang. I held my books to my chest, protectively, as she voiced her opinions on Darbus' wonderful, inspirational lecture.

"It was boring, again. I thought drama would be fun, but she just makes it kind of dull. . ."

"I'm sure it'll get better." I told her, buoyantly, as Ryan caught up to us, hastily.

"Women, women, there you are." He grinned as he squirmed in between us, pulling his lankly arms around us.

"It's so wonderful, being in Ms. Darbus' class, don't you agree?"

"Yeah, starts my day off wonderfully." Kelsi joked with a small smile.

Her face seemed to light up as she met his eyes. The magic connection they had seemed unbeatable.

"I'm just glad they moved me away from my sister, and those annoying basketball players." Ryan cringed a bit, and we just chuckled.

"Seriously, one day, they're going to wake up and realize the future actually matters."

"When all hell freezes over, maybe they will." Kelsi tucked a loose curl of chestnut behind her ear, guiltlessly as we continued walking down the hallway.

Of course, to our misfortune, we were walking passed the basketball players we had just been talking about.

Zeke's eyes immediately found Ryan, as if they were laughing at him.

A look of recognition appeared throughout his face, and his look suddenly turned smug, "Hey look, it's Pinocchio, you guys."

All their heads turned, and the majority of them snickered as Ryan tried to hide his look of shame. Kelsi only grimaced at them and I felt the need to say something back to Zeke. However, without the dignity and the charisma, I simply just grabbed him by the arms and comfortingly pushed him away from them.

"Aw, what, sweet cheeks is ruining the party? Damn, girl, don't be such a spoiled egg, we was just joking. . ." Zeke yelled out to me as we walked away.

They laughed as they were walking away, the type of laughter that people usually cry from.

I rolled my eyes as we approached my locker.

I looked to Ryan, who still looked angry, "Ryan, don't listen to them, they're so immature."

"I know, it's just that Zeke. . . I could kill him."

"I know, I know, but they're not even worth a second glance." I told him, looking to Kelsi, who just shook her head, obviously disgusted by them also.

"Yeah, gosh, I'm being stupid about this." Ryan's angry expression faltered. "I keep reminding myself that they're failures and that they're heartless."

Unlike most guys, he had a rather sensitive side to him, and I think that's what got them all to pick on him.

"Ah, forget them; let's talk about something else. . ." Kelsi's eyes wandered to me, a look of inquisition on her face.

"Gabriella, what's new with you?"

"Nothing, I'm afraid." I bit my bottom lip, "I kind of hate that."

"Hmm. . . Yeah, I guess they're offering new parts to the musicale this year. I was going to participate, and then I heard that Sharpay Evans was. I don't stand a chance against someone like her."

Ryan snorted, "My sister? My sister is so lights, sound, action. . . she can't sing without props and music in the background. You're a natural."

A smile faintly appeared on his lips while saying this.

Kelsi seemed beholden, but still had a look of uncertainty on her face, "Yeah, I guess she's kind of like that. It just seems like every year Darbus gives it to her. This school is so cliché, it's almost agitating."

"Tell me about it. I've been here for two years; I figured junior year would be a lot more exciting than this." I mumbled.

"Every day those kids steal our seats, every day we listen in Darbus' class, every day Zeke says something to Ryan, and every day I find myself wishing I could fly to a different state that's not always brown. Seriously, I need adventure."

"I just need some excitement, you know? Even they seem more satisfied with their lives, and they're completely flunking out!" I heaved, my eyes reciting over towards the athletes who were gathered at Troy's locker from afar.

"You are so right, it's almost unbelievable. We are boring." Ryan supported, suddenly looking completely stunned.

"This isn't acceptable; we have to do something to prove that we aren't lame, that we can have a good time too! They can't win this; they just can't, not this time!"

I raised my eyebrow, as did Kelsi, "Ryan, that was way overdramatic, and this isn't a battle. Let's just do something crazy, let's. . ."

"Kill someone?" Kelsi piped in, furrowing her eyebrows.

"No! Nothing like that, something endearing, yet so crazy. . ."

Something was building up inside me, some kind of energy, elation.

"Um, join the basketball team?" My eyes fixated on Ryan with a look of shock.

"Are you joking? There's not even a girls' basketball team, it's all guys. . ."

The idea sounded out of this world insane, almost like a death sentence, but at the same time, I was intrigued.

"Gabriella, why are you looking at me like that? I didn't even mean that, I was just kidding, I definitely don't want to, no."

Ryan suddenly looked horrified, as did Kelsi.

"Well, I'm extremely out of shape, and gym's not helping much. Also, this may just be our extra curricular activity to college."

My eyes lit up ecstatically. I couldn't help myself; this could help with college immensely!

"I could make it into Harvard with no doubt now." I grinned, wildly, "Imagine me, the Academic Scholar who completely tore off the basketball hoop with my mad skills."

"Gabriella, please, you need to reconsider what you're thinking here, I mean, if we had a Sanitarium, I would take you there right now. This is completely absurd. For one, you and Kelsi are girls; Coach wouldn't allow that, for two, are you blind? Zeke would shoot me with a rifle, had I stepped foot in that locker room."

Ryan was shaking his head frenetically and losing his self-control.

I couldn't back down now, I was exhilarated.

"No, Ryan. They will respect you, because you will be so much better than them. We will rock that basketball court and send the wildcats to the tournament. They'll be so hyped about us winning, they'll love you, and you'll become one of them! We'll be popular!"

"Gabriella, Ryan's right, Coach is definitely going to say no to us. They don't even have a girls' team, and you know that Troy and Chad are the captains of that team. They would give us a mouthful if we step in."

Kelsi seemed as determined as Ryan that this was a repulsive idea.

"You guys have no gull!" I exclaimed.

"I understand you think that this will get you into Harvard, I mean, that's a huge possibility, but Gabriella, I'm pretty sure they're going to let you in there anyways. This won't be much of a change – it'll just result in a bruise across my eye."

"Can't you at least give this a shot?"

I was now sounding desperate. They knew as well as I did that this didn't stand a chance. I was speaking erratically and none of it was making sense. Yes, I was quite aware of that. It sounded so delightful, so different. I almost saw a giant hoop with fireworks around it in my head.

Giving those pleading eyes and a desolate frown, they seemed to be giving in. Kelsi seemed more responsive than Ryan; Ryan seemed dead-set with no.

"Well, we could at least see if we could, couldn't we?"

Kelsi looked to Ryan, a look of expectance in her eyes.

He seemed hypnotized by them, but still, shook his head, stubbornly, "Gosh, this is so stupid, they all hate me, they probably don't like you either!"

"We won't talk to them, and if they start anything with you, we'll talk to the coach. Come on, Ryan, we're all in this together." I persuaded, eagerly.

"Fine, but I'll be damned if that coach actually lets us on the team. I'll also be damned if I don't get a black eye the first day of practice." Ryan sighed.

I guess it was kind of moronic what we were doing. I was just too careless to realize it. I was desperate for some kind of change, some alternation. My life was too predictable. Basketball couldn't have been for me, could it have? I was doubtful on that. I was horrible with sports, my coordination was always off. I was clumsy, awkward, and slow to learn them. I had no idea how I was going to do this. I had no idea how I was going to talk to the coach, either.

We were waiting afterschool at his office for him. Sure, the season had already started; he probably had enough spots already. We were being so stupid, so ignorant. I mentally kicked myself for the dumb idea in the first place.

I shouldn't have taken Ryan seriously.

The coach came in finally. His name was Coach Lautner. After Troy's father quit being the coach here, we had to get a new one. Why he quit, nobody ever mentioned, but the new coach was apparently much stricter.

He walked in like he belonged to the military – his stance uptight and whatnot. I felt intimidated by his very presence. I couldn't imagine what it was like being on his basketball team. The others looked just as uneasy as I did.

"Yes?"

He didn't exactly display that he was in the mood for conversation. He seemed aggravated if anything.

His hair was a light brown with gray patches noticeable. Wrinkles of age were engraved throughout his pallid-colored skin. He seemed older than Coach Bolton, much older. He wore a pair of basketball shorts and a Wildcats t-shirt. It was almost as if he was holding a practice right now.

"We were wondering if you have any more spots on the team." My voice was shaky and I was trembling with fear as I spoke to him.

I'm amazed my knees didn't give away and I didn't fall to the ground like a complete moron.

"For who?"

He raised an eyebrow, listlessly.

"Um, us, sir. . ."

I looked down to the floor, all nerves.

"You?" I'm surprised he didn't burst out laughing – it seemed he wanted to, as he wheezed uncontrollably.

"Don't you have some chemistry shit to do?" Churlishly he narrowed his eyes at us. "You don't come off as athletes."

Abashed and angered from his comment, I bit my bottom lip, "Excuse me, Mr. Lautner, we are capable of doing everything they are capable of doing." I told him.

"But why? You guys could be doing something you're probably actually good at."

"You have Rocket man on the team." The term was simple, and completely changed the coach's expression.

"It'd require a lot of hard work, you know." His eyes had softened but his tone was still rigid.

"I really think that we can help you win the tournament this year." I blurted out like an imbecile and felt the tint of red hit my face immediately.

Ryan and Kelsi's eyes quickly jolted over towards me, glaring daggers at me.

He snickered, "Really, now? Well, that'd make you better then Troy and I don't think that's possible."

He looked away for a second, as if pondering on something.

"Look, I have some room, and we are a bit desperate for good players at the moment." He sighed, as if ashamed for mentioning this.

His eyes moved back to us, "Two weeks." He breathed, "If you all aren't any good by then, you're done."

He grabbed his bag full of things and looked back to us, "Don't fucking let us down." The door slammed.

"What exactly is wrong with you, Gabriella?" Ryan's question seemed rhetorical.

"Two weeks. . . we have to be fantastic basketball players in two weeks. We have to actually go to those practices!"

"Look, this better show up on my record, or else. . ." Ryan gave me maddening eyes.

"It will. . . God, this is going to be great! Can't you feel it? I'm going to Harvard, I really am! I'm going to completely dazzle that school – they're going to want me so much they won't be able to hold it in!"

I was grinning from ear to ear, dancing around the room like a crazy person.

Ryan took my hands as I crazily spun him around in a waltz.

He was giving me berserk glances throughout it though, "Gabriella. . ."

"My legs are going to kill me, you're going to get beaten up so badly, Kelsi's going to pass out from too much running. . . we are so going to bring the wildcats to that tournament, we're going to show those stupid athletes we're more than just smart, we're athletic! We're talented, we're awesome."

Sometimes, I hated my optimism, and others around me did too.

End of Prologue