Chapter Text
It all begins with a new years eve party, blue and white balloons and yellow fairy lights decorate the walls, indistinct cheering and talking from the partygoers audible from the other room. A woman comes into the common area of the lodge where her daughter Gabriella is sitting and reading wearing a simple teal workout set. The woman is wearing a maroon shirt and a black maxi skirt that brushes against the wooden floor. “Gabi, it’s new years eve, enough reading!” She says as she pulls the book out of Gabriella's hands despite Gabriella’s protests. “But Mom! I was almost finished!” Gabriella whines. “No buts, there’s a new years’ party for the teens later tonight, why don’t you get ready for it? It’ll be fun, maybe you’ll make some friends! Or meet a boy-” Ms. Montez is quickly cut off by the whine of an embarrassed teenager. ”Mooom!” Gabriella drags out the word, her dark skin flushing.
Now we cut to our friend Troy Bolton in the lodge gym as he is playing basketball with his father, Coach Bolton. His mother, Mrs. Bolton walks in, wearing a sparkly green dress and wrap-around shawl. (Also, Troy doesn’t have those god-awful contacts. Who thought that would be a good idea? No like legitimately. They should have to pay for my therapy solely because of that.)
“Cut left, now right, good, good! Good job Troy! Let’s see more of that in the next game!” Coach Bolton instructs as he chats with his son. “I’ll try-'' Troy is cut off by his mother, Mrs. Bolton, as she snaps their head out of the game. “Boys! Did we really fly all this way to play more basketball?” Troy and his father exchange a look with each other before answering simultaneously “Yeah.” Mrs. Bolton sighs before speaking. “Come on, it’s the last night of vacation.” Upon the empty, thoughtless looks given to her, she clarifies. “The party? Remember?” The boys scramble to remember before Coach Bolton speaks. “Right, the party, the new years eve party.” Mrs. Bolton sighs before addressing her son, Troy. “Troy, there's a kids party downstairs in the Freestyle Club, you can stay there while me and your father are in the adult's area near the bar.” Troy whines. “Kids party?” Mrs. Bolton lets out a sigh and speaks again. “Young adults, now go, get ready, both of you. The party is in an hour.”
Now we shift our gaze to a Foosball table in the party, with many teenagers doing things that teenagers do at parties in family friendly movies. Troy walks in, wearing a sloppy button-up and wrinkled slacks, his blazer unbuttoned and a bored look on his face as he enters. Mediocre karaoke plays in the background as he walks through the crowds of people. Gabriella walks in, wearing a blue sparkly sweater and black leggings that come down and cover the tops of her fluffy winter boots. She is approached by a random person wearing a cowboy hat. “Howdy ma’am!” Gabriella smiles at the person, giving a small wave back as she giggles to herself and walks through the sea of partygoers. She sits down on a random chair, reading the story she had been previously reading as she smiles at the joyful ambience surrounding her. Troy and Gabriella are near each other, yet blissfully unaware, and close to the karaoke area, close enough to be shoved onstage as sacrifice to appease their need for music, entertainment, and the possibility of someone else’s embarrassment. The person running the karaoke area steps up alongside them before speaking. “Y’know, someday you guys might thank me for this. Or not.” They soon begin to hesitantly sing together, slowly harmonizing together as they sing. Troy avoids eye contact with Gabriella, but she can’t help but keep her gaze fixed on him with a smile on her face. They exchange names after the song has finished.
Now, they stand on the porch area of the lodge talking together in the chilly winter air. “But seriously, you have an amazing voice! You’re a singer, right?” Troy says. “Just church choir, I normally never sing if I’m not in large groups, but I figured I’d never see most of anybody here again, so why not?” Gabriella says with a laugh. “I hope I see you again. I- I mean uh-” Troy splutters and Gabriella just smiles at him “I hope I see you again too. How about you? Are you a singer?” She asks, gaze shifting to Troy’s face in the cold night air. Troy just laughs before speaking. “Oh yeah, my shower head is very impressed with me.” The midnight countdown begins, Troy and Gabriella lean towards each other as if they are about to kiss, but stop last second, their faces illuminated in the dark night by the fireworks blasting off. Troy lets out a fake cough before asking to exchange numbers, which Gabriella agrees to. They swap phones to input their numbers into, taking a photo of themselves and saving it as the contact photo. They quickly part under the excuse of wanting to wish their parents a happy new year.