Discl : I own nothing. Only my deranged thoughts.

Gabriella Montez followed with her eyes the flow of the water running on her face to end up, bit by bit, in the white porcelain of the sink. The water washed away her tears and if it weren’t for her swollen eyelids and red pupils, there wouldn’t be any sings left of her crying. Leaning against the cold surface, she put her head down, her eyes closed. But she straightened up her shoulders quickly and looked at herself fiercely in the mirror. She was a fighter. This was no more than an other combat but she was set to win the war. Her father had taught her never to give up, no matter how bad things may be.

"And this can’t get any worse than it already is, can it?" she thought sourly, a smirk on her face while reaching out in her bag to pull a tissue out to wipe her face. She took a last look at herself. There was a time when people, mostly guys, used to tell her that she was pretty and frankly, sometimes she believed that she was too. But right now, her own face almost repulsed her. She shook her head to replace her hair and her bangs on her face. A few water spots fell on her shirt but she couldn’t care less. She hated that uniform anyway.

A dry look to the striped red and yellow skirt that landed on top of her knees, the high-knee white socks, black shoes and finally the down buttoned white shirt made her realize that the word hate was such an understatement when it came to her feelings for that thing that she was forced to wear. And all because of her selfish mother who transferred her here without even asking if it was what she wanted. She felt an other wave of anger pump her stomach and closed her eyes not to cry again. She couldn’t afford for her new classmates to see her so defenceless.

Just as to remind her that she had to face them, the bell rang and almost immediately, happy voices filled the hallways. A couple of girls entered the restrooms giggling but stopped, looking at her strangely from the corner of their eyes. Gabriella returned the cold glance and headed out, her bag on her shoulders.

Head lowered, hair all over her face, she knew she deserved the awkward looks that were sent to her. She was the freaky new girl. She didn’t belong here, she knew it, they knew it. They weren’t pretending to magically be her friends. All, except for one.

"Where have you been?", a little voice resounded in her empty locker. She didn’t even turn around, busy looking for something that wasn’t there. This childish voice belonged to Kelsey Nielsen. The only person who dared to speak to her since she first day she got into St Denis School. Even though she barely got any answers from Gabriella. She had the bad luck to seat next to Kelsey in Biology and she’s been following her around ever since. At first, Gabriella had made it clear that she didn’t want any kind of friendship, doing everything she could to avoid the hyper little brunette.

Until one day, Kelsey found out that their route from school to their houses were the same and she offered to car pool. Now normally, Gabriella would have just laughed cynically at her face and walk away, but she didn’t. Truth be told, she was happy and relieved that Kelsey had offered. Ever since her mom got remarried to that snob stick-up-his-ass rich guy, she made it a priority to ruin her life. Not only did she pull her out of East High, her old high school, her home away from home, but she insisted that she’d be driven by a chauffeur. Like it wasn’t humiliating enough to spend half of her day with these snotty rich brats.

And she hated it. Sitting in a back of a car with a stranger, looking at the back of his hat and having nothing to say. But still, that was ok. What she hated the most, was the looks of mockery and murmurs that followed her everyday. So when Kelsey offered, she wanted to kiss her but of course she would never admit that to her. Specially that since, for some unknown reason, Kelsey seemed to think that they were friends. But she didn’t need new friends. She had plenty back at East High.

"You just disappeared", Kelsey continued, her hands holding her folder against her chest, looking at Gabriella with curious eyes. She really didn’t care if Gabriella was ignoring her, still pretending to look for something that they both knew wasn’t there, for the simple reason that she never put anything in that locker.

She didn’t know why she was so keen to be her friend. Maybe because she sensed that Gabriella was an outcast just like she was, maybe because she took pity for her being new and alone in such a huge school, or was it the pain that she always sees in her eyes. She sensed that Gabriella needed a friend and just wanted to be there for her when she realizes that she does.

The locker door made a loud clank when Gabriella pushed it closed. "What’s the room number?" She muttered, still without looking at Kelsey and started walking down the hall, making sure that she didn’t bump into anyone. Kelsey was walking besides her, trying to keep up with her fast pace. They could easily be mistaken for sisters. Both had petite figures, same height, same heart-shape face only Kelsey wore glasses and her hair short whereas Gabriella had waves that cascaded in her back. Her hair was a shade darker than Kelsey’s too.

"3 c", Kelsey answered, wondering how such a tiny girl could walk as fast. Her folder still against her chest, she took a glance at Gabriella’s straight face. "I’m happy that you decided to join me in art class. We’re going to have so much fun".

"I’m sure". Once again her tone was more sarcastic than she wanted too but hey…. If Kelsey didn’t care why would she.

The room was just down the hall and Gabriella hurried her steps even more. She had decided to switch to this class after Kelsey proudly showed her a painting that she’d made. It was ugly, but she figured that it was probably a sure way to get some credits without doing much efforts. She was snoring so loud in Math that the teacher would have probably kicked her out, anyway. At the end of the year, she’ll just ask permission to take the math exam. She’ll ace it. She always had. She always will. So, why not take some time off and chill?

But looking at the classroom in front of her, she wanted to run away. It was the most ridiculously, absurdly decorated room she’d ever seen. The whole floor was covered with a large pink fur cloth that maybe was supposed to pass for a carpet of some sort. Right in the middle of the room, there was a gold throne, yes a throne, raised on a platform that was covered by the same material that was on the floor. The students’ desks were all piled up at a corner facing it while the other side had many remnants of the students projects. Many were decorating the walls as well, mostly paintings or drawings but many different things like pots, sculptures and pictures.

"Rich people really are eccentrics", she thought, already turning back to get out. But Kelsey was right behind her and, her hand on Gabriella’s shoulders, pulled her inside.

"Oh no, you won’t back down now". They crossed the room and she pointed a desk to Gabriella. "You can sit here", she continued, dropping her belongings on the one next to it.

Gabriella stood still, shivering. What the hell did she get herself into? All she wanted was to find peace and quiet, but she felt like she just entered a psycho’s world. Kelsey’s voice caught her attention.

"You are going to love Mrs. Dub". She had already sat at her desk and was playing with her pen, tapping it on her dear folder. "She can be eccentric at times but she is a genius when it comes to creating the most amazing things".

"Ya!". Replacing the bag on her shoulder, Gabriella, slid the corner of her mouth for what she believed could pass as a grin and headed to the front of the pile of desks, looking for a seat with a better view. She was near-sighted and because she refused to wear glasses or to stick her fingers in her eyes, she had always looked for the best place in front of the class to sit. And she liked it. Being front and center always made her want to work harder than the others and do better. As soon as she found one and was ready to sit, she felt someone pull at her sleeve.

"No. don’t sit there". Kelsey’s voice was urgent and serious as if she was trying to prevent Gabriella from making the biggest mistake of her life.

She retrieved her sleeve, took her time to sit and stared at Kelsey, a question written on her face.

"Because this is Sharpay Evens’ desk". Gabriella's eyes glistened again with the next question. Kelsey sighed and ran a nervous hand in her hair while the other was fixing her glasses on top of her nose.

"Sharpay"…, she answered exasperatingly after Gabriella shook her head not seeing who she was talking about. "She’s in Biology with us, blond, blue eyes, has a twin brother. Anyway," she waved her hand like to erase the dumbfounded look in Gabriella’s eyes, "this is her desk. She is the president of the club".

"So?", Gabriella lifted her shoulders and bent over to look for a book in her bag that she had left on the floor.

The bell rang again and some students were already coming in the room. Kelsey tried to pull her arm, more and more nervous.

"Stand up Gabriella or she will eat you alive. Nobody’s ever sat on her desk. For three years."

But Gabriella wouldn’t move. "I don ‘t see why because she’s the president she has to get the best seat. Isn’t that dictatorial?"

"Fine", Kelsey raised her hands up in defeat. "Don’t say I didn’t warn you".

Gabriella watched her walk away and shook her head, looking for the marked page of her book, ignoring the heavy stares directed at her.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

Gabriella slowly raised her head from the book to look in the direction where the voice was coming from. A bony blond, with her jumper higher than the regular height was standing in front of her, her hands leaned against her hips. She wasn’t wearing socks and her perfectly toned legs that seemed to never end, were completely visible to whomever wanted to take a peek.

Ok she was beautiful. Her skin was a little pale at the moment, being furious and all and her blue eyes that were shooting fire right now, added to her squared jaw to give her a very exotic look. But in spite of her beauty, Gabriella could sense a bitchy aura floating around her. She sighed, closing her book. Even in other circumstances, they would have never been friends. Gabriella hated her kind always thinking they’re superior because guys were generally drooling over them.

"Excuse me?" She answered in an annoyed tone.

Sharpay leaned over the desk, reminding Gabriella of a snake hunting for a pray. "Let me spell it out for you. What the fuck are you doing sitting at my desk?" She made a pause after each word as if she was speaking to a 2 year-old.

But she straitened up, taken aback by Gabriella turning around in the chair looking everywhere, even under the desk and the chair she was sitting on.

" Your desk?!.....I don’t see your name written anywhere".

Gabriella was looking at her defiantly and Sharpay, for a nanosecond didn’t know what to say. It was the first time that she’s seen this girl. She was obviously new because nobody in the school ever dared to argue with her. If she didn’t know who Sharpay was, she was happy to let her know. She leaned again against the desk, her nose right in front of Gabriella.

"Get...up", she was grinding her teeth, her eyes firing and her tone very harsh. Everybody knew not to mess with her when she had that tone. But Gabriella just faked a laugh, tilting her head back.

"That was very scary. Boooo"…, her hands were up in front of her face mimicking a ghost and returned the cold stare to Sharpay. "Now, get out of my face".

Everybody’s eyes were glued to them, holding their breaths. And a few seconds seemed like hours as the two ladies sustained their glares to each other.

"What’s going on here?"

They all turned in one coordinated movement to look at Mrs. Dub standing behind Sharpay. In her mid forties, a large flowery scarf that matched her flowery dress wrapped around her stocky body, she was looking at them with her eyebrows bucked. Sharpay quickly turned to her, a pout on her mouth.

"Mrs. Dub, I was just letting our new comer here, know some of our rules", she turned to Gabriella, her hands crossed over her chest.

"Yes of course, Mrs. Dub answered. Mrs. Montez correct? Well, WELCOME". She raised a hand in the air in a theatrical manner. How nice of you Sharpay.

"And the first rule I was teaching her was to never sit in the president’s chair…".

"Let her dear", Mrs. Dub cut her off. "I’m sure that as president, you will make sure that our new recruit feels at home and show her that we’re all a family here, by sharing". She locked her eyes in Sharpay’s. "If Miss Montez wants to sit in front, let her. There are plenty of empty desks in the back".

"But this has always been my desk, my spot", Sharpay’s voice was suddenly very whiny.

Mrs. Dub walked away from her and sat on her throne and smiled at her.

"Go find a seat Sharpay. We have so much to do and so little time".

Sharpay tapped her foot on the floor like a little child.

"I’m not done with you", she whispered in an angry voice, as she passed Gabriella to go sit in the back.

Gabriella rolled her eyes. Little did she know that this little incident was going to change her life for ever.