Well, well, well, it's been a while since I wrote a fanfic haha. Okay, so I think I'm gonna scrap Let's Take It Slow because I have no more muse for that anymore. I'll leave it up just in case I feel like writing it again, but I apologize. This is going to be something different than what I have ever written before – and I'm taking a different approach by writing chapters in advance and this fanfic I'm writing is going to be a little… angsty? I don't know… Lol. TBHIS IS TOTAL ALTERNATE UNIVERSE K.

Dedication: To all my past readers (: this is for you.

Disclaimer: High School Musical and its characters are owned by Disney, I only own this plot, a laptop, and a few High School Musical posters haha. The title for this story belongs to Taylor Swift (:

PROLOGUE

'I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairytale,
I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet,
Lead her up the stairwell.
This ain't Hollywood, this is a small town,
I was a dreamer before you went and let me down
Now it's too late for you and your white horse
To come around…'

- Taylor Swift; White Horse.

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Heart-wrenching sobs erupted from her mouth as she slid down the wooden frame of her queen-sized bed and onto the floor. So many thoughts and questions filled her mind, why did he do it? Did he not love her? Was she not good enough for him? After three years, he was ready to let go of her just like that without her asking why? Who the hell did he think he was, breaking her apart like this? As she sat on the floor of the foot of her bed, she wiped the salty tears that had cascaded down her face and glanced down at her clothing, cursing to herself as she spotted a big tear in the skirt of her red dress as well as dirty stains and wet smudges courtesy of her tears and if you asked her to stand up, you would see that one of her heels were broken. But that was the least of her worries at the moment. Sniffing slightly, her lip quivered as the realization hit.

Her prom was ruined.

She had always dreamed of this day, spending all day with her girl best friend since she was five, getting ready for the glorious event, taking pictures, corsages, spending time with friends before it was time to graduate, the last dance she would have of high school with her date… Prom was supposed to be a night to remember but it was a night she wanted to forget. How long was he going to lead her on for? All the 'I love you's' and sweet kisses were all a lie. Their whole relationship was a lie. The past three years with him all a fucking lie. Yanking the silver chain that held a heart-shaped locket she wore around her neck that symbolized their relationship, she threw it across her bedroom not caring where it went, just as long it was away from her. The silver locket hit her dresser and cracked open, revealing a picture of them on the right and a message on the left that she memorized since she got it years ago…

'My Baby Girl,

My life, my rock, my everything.
I love you so much, sweetheart.
Never ever forget that. You mean
the whole world, my future is you.

Forever & always,
Your Wildcat.'

The words engraved on the locket played out in her head and she couldn't help but scoff. What a fucking joke. She gave him everything her heart could give but obviously it wasn't enough. If it was, then why did he break her heart on a night she wanted to cherish forever? Never did she think he would be heartless and break up with her on prom night. Why now? Why not later or before?

Her life with him was like a fairytale or said the student body of East High. Best friends since they were practically in diapers, started dating as soon as their freshman year was over - the summer before their sophomore year, they were the "Golden Couple", everyone knew they lived a fairytale life, they never fought, a few disagreements sure, never once did they look at others, they lived a life people always dreamed of. But whoever said fairytales had happily ever afters… they were wrong. Dead wrong.

A soft knock broke the silence of the atmosphere in her room. Glancing at the clock, it read eleven thirty-seven pm. She knew who it was; she knew how worried she must have been when she ran out of the hotel ballroom, crying her eyes out just as soon as she and her now ex-boyfriend walked back inside from the patio where they talked. Getting up slowly, the brunette smoothed out her ruined dress and limped her way to her bedroom door. Grabbing the doorknob, she held it for support as she took off her broken heels and threw them on her bed. When she opened the door, she came face to face with her best friend. More tears seemed to fall from her eyes as her dark skinned best friend gave her a sympathetic look. It wasn't before long, she was engulfed in a hug which resulted her bursting into another fit of tears.

"You had me worried sick, sweetie." her best friend whispered softly. The brunette bit her lip as she shook her head, "I'm sorry, Tay…" she whispered back, her voice raspy and hoarse. They made their way to the bed and Taylor McKessie stared at her best friend as soon as they sat down and she could feel her heartbreak for her. Never once did she think the "Golden Couple" would ever break up, he always devoted his life to the girl in her arms at that moment, claiming that he would do anything to make her happy. It was all a lie though, he promised he would never hurt her, but he did. He lied.

"No," Taylor stated shaking her head, "I'm sorry, hun." She looked into the brown eyes that once held life and happiness only to stare at eyes that were dark and dull and bit her lip. How was she supposed to make her best friend feel better? There was no way she would get over a three-year relationship just like that. It was going to be a long and tough process.

"You don't need to be sorry, Taylor. It wasn't your fault Tr- he broke up with me." It hurt too much to even say his name. She couldn't do it. She also had a feeling she could sleep that night without dreaming of his face, wishing he would sneak into her room like he usually did whenever her mother was working out late and he'd wrap her in his arms and they slept. "What did I do wrong, Tay? What did I do to deserve this? Was I not good enough for him or something? Is there someone else?"

She honestly didn't know what to say to her. What could you say to your broken best friend? "Elle… no one deserves to have their heartbroken. I don't know what he was thinking for breaking up with you, you guys were so happy. Chad's talking to him right now, he wanted to come see you, but he was sure you would've wanted me to first."

She nodded, as much as she loved Chad Danforth, Taylor's boyfriend of a year and a half like a brother, she needed her girl best friend. "I'm sorry I ruined your night." She knew how much prom meant to Taylor as well and she knew how badly it must have sucked chasing after a girl who just got her heartbroken on prom night.

"Gabriella…" Taylor started, hugging her tightly, "You did not ruin my night, Chad could tell you the same thing. Prom is the least of our worries; it's you we're worried about. You have no idea. Kelsi freaked out when you took the limo and Sharpay chased after lunk-head basketball boy demanding what the hell he did to you."

"You told Shar and Kels to stay, right?" Gabriella Montez asked quietly. She couldn't bear the thought of ruining her friends' night because of her. The other girl smiled slightly, "They wanted to come, but then they realized that you would feel really guilty about 'ruining' their prom night so they stayed at the hotel. They might come by later on tonight." Gabriella nodded again before resting her head on Taylor's shoulder, "Thank you for being here for me, Tay."

Rubbing Gabriella's back, Taylor smiled softly, resting her cheek on the girl's head, "Always, Gabs, always."

As the clock struck twelve the two girls sat in silence, Gabriella stared at the clock and could feel tears threatening to fall from her eyes. In Cinderella, she had to be home by midnight. Cinderella got her Prince Charming in the end. The students of East High once told her that her life was a fairytale and she was a princess because she had a prince charming. They were wrong.

Gabriella Montez was no longer a princess. She no longer had a fairytale ending. Why? Because Troy Bolton, the love of her life, was no longer her prince charming.

Short and crappy? LMAO. Well this is a prologue though and I kinda like it. But I haven't written in a long time so it might seem a bit off. I promise next chapter will be better. Hopefully this weekend or next week! PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!