A/N: Here is the first chapter of a new HSM chapter story. I actually started it a long time ago and wrote three chapters. But they were really, really short and I felt the need to rewrite them instead of posting them. I finally got around to fixing chapter one, this, and it's still on the short side, but I like the way I wrote this chapter more than the next two, so it was hard to change it or add to it. Well, here it is. And since my internet has been down (and I write my A/Ns when I type the updates not when I post) who knows, this might be posted along with a multitude of chapters after it….or it might be complete! Who knows. If not at least it will be posted with a truckload of drabbles, oneshots, and other story updates. Enjoy! R&R! Thanks! –Mac
Disclaimer: I don't own HSM.
Chapter One
Troy walked into the gym, offering a quick wave to the people he knew as he headed for the basketball courts in a back where Chad would be waiting for him. He pushed through the doors to the courts and headed inside. He put down his bag on the bench and unzipped his sweat jacket, tossing it on top of his bag. Chad was already shooting some free throws solo, and Troy joined him. Chad gave him a quick nod of greeting and passed him the ball.
He and Chad did this often—met at the gym to shoot some hoops and decompress. Sometimes it was to unwind after a stressful week at work (which were most weeks), sometimes to blow off steam after a fight with their current significant others (which usually just meant when Chad said something stupid). This time, however, the topic of conversation seemed to be Troy's decision—or lack of one—to propose to his girlfriend of a year, Claire.
"So when are you going to do it? How are you going to do it?" Chad asked excitedly after awhile of playing, clapping his hands.
Troy shot the ball, "I haven't even decided if I'm going to do it, let alone when and how."
"You asked your mother for your family ring. You're in and out of relationships so quickly, she probably thought you never would. So now that you have, she's probably sitting by the phone, expecting a call any day now to hear the good news. You're not going to disappoint her now, are you?"
"This is a big step. My mother would want me to make the right decision," Troy shrugged.
"You love Claire, don't you?" Chad asked frankly.
"Of course," Troy nodded—the answer obvious.
"Your family likes her. Loves her, more than you I think sometimes. You know your friends like her," Chad gestured at himself. "She's beautiful, smart, funny and still chooses to date you," Troy rolled his eyes, but Chad continued, "What could be wrong with her that you can't just pop the question?"
"I don't know. There's just something about her that just doesn't' quite click," Troy shot another basket.
Chad rebounded and held the ball, "No, don't do that Troy. You cannot spend the rest of your life hung up on some girl you met once, ten years ago."
"I'm not—" Troy began.
Chad cut him off, "Save it, Troy. You've done it with every girl you've dated since high school. You compare her to this hour you spent with a girl you only know by her first name and a picture on your phone, find something wrong, and dump her."
"I have not," Troy shook his head, walked over to Chad and took the ball from him.
"Must we go through this again?" Chad raised an eyebrow as Troy shot the ball and missed. "It's what you do, every time."
Troy chased the ball down and once he had it, he flipped around to face Chad, "Okay, name one time I did that."
"I'll do you one better. I'll name five. Leah, bottle blonde. Emma, believes magazines qualify as reading," Chad ticked them off on his fingers, "Bethany, hates skiing. Renee, hates New Year's. And don't forget Megan and the dreaded 'karaoke incident.'"
When he was done, Chad glared pointedly at Troy. Troy stared back relentlessly until Chad scowled. Then his resolve broke and Troy exclaimed, "I don't do that!"
"Whatever you say, Troy. But Claire is the absolute first girl you've been serious with since you met this Gabrielle, or whatever."
"Gabriella," Troy corrected instantly, without thinking.
"See!" Chad exclaimed, "Man, it's been like a decade or more since you met this girl and you haven't seen her once since. You don't know where she was from or even if she is still there or halfway around the world by now. There's a very good possibility that you will never, and I mean never, see this girl again. You cannot use her as the standard you compare the girls, who are in your life whereas she is not, against. You need to forget her."
"First of all, it's not like that," Troy said firmly. "And secondly, I have forgotten her."
"Sure, I'll believe that when it's actually true," Chad shook his head, "But for me, please, just don't do it with Claire, okay? Because I'm telling you, you'll regret it."
"I'm not doing anything," Troy replied, passing the ball to Chad.
"Sure," Chad shot the ball.
Troy rebounded and tossed the ball back, "I better get showered. I'm meeting Claire for early drinks with some new girl from her work."
"Okay, man. Have fun," Chad said, shooting one last basket.
Troy chuckled, "I'll try."
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Troy was running a little late as he arrived at the restaurant where he was meeting Claire and her friend. Once he was in the door, he scanned the restaurant's bar for Claire. She and her friend were already there waiting, and he spotted them near the end of the bar. He picked up his pace as he crossed the restaurant and made his way down the bar. He was next to Claire in no time. Without giving the other girl much of a glance, Troy swooped down to greet Claire with a quick kiss.
"Sorry I'm late," Troy said quickly as he pulled off his jacket and hung it over the seat next to Claire.
Claire smiled, "No problem, babe. I hope you don't mind that we started without you."
"Ah, that's okay," Troy waved it off, "Next round will have to be on me then."
"You can bet on it," Claire tilted her head up to receive another quick kiss. Then she put on her let's-get-down-to-business voice, "Okay, so, Troy, this is my new friend. She just moved to New York and started a job in my office. We bonded over the proverbial water cooler and discovered a mutual dislike of our psycho boss man," Claire pulled the girl forward, so that Troy could meet her. "Troy Bolton, meet Gabriella Montez. Gabriella, this is my darling boyfriend, Troy."
Troy finally looked up to take in Claire's friend. Almost instantly his eyes widened and his heart began to pound rapidly against his chest. All he could hear was the blood rushing in his ears as he flushed. Only one thought crossed his mind in that moment: Oh. My. God.