Disclaimer: I don't own anything, certainly not HSM.

A/N – First HSM I've ever wrote & It's a struggle, so kind words and suggestions would be helpful. I'm also without a Beta so the mistakes are my own, so I apologize ahead of time. The title of this chapter, and the lyrics are from "Our Song" by Taylor Swift, and each chapter will contain a piece of music. I think it's a cool way to transition from a movie musical to a piece of fiction. The title of the story is taken from a song by Ani Difranco.

Prologue: Our Song

"Troy" She whispers his name through clenched teeth, and his eyes meet hers over the History book he's been immersed in for the past hour. "Stop it with the pencil; the noise is driving me nuts. I can't concentrate on my Calc." She's not sure why she agreed to study with him because he's a distraction, if he's not fidgeting in his seat, or tapping his pencil on the desk, he's looking at her with those blue eyes that make it impossible for her to actually focus on anything besides her intense need to kiss him, and see the sky colored orbs turn dark with want.

"Sorry", but she can see the amusement on his face, and when his mouth turns up into a grin it takes her breath away. It's amazing how after five months his smile alone can still give her butterflies.

Their relationship isn't perfect, and it's the little things that drive her nuts, how he zones out while watching Sports Center, when he puts her on speaker phone without warning, how he never orders French fries at lunch but always eats hers, and how he refuses to use turn signals when he changes lanes. But if it's the little things she hates, it's the stupid things that make her love him, how his eyes change colors depending on his mood, the way he bounces around the room when he sings, the little notes he leaves in her locker and the way he kisses her palm while their hands are intertwined. If she liked Troy Bolton from the minute she first set eyes on him, and wanted him since she first heard his laugh, she has loved him since he brushed the hair out of her eyes and kissed her.

He has gone back to his reading and she studies him while he highlights, his hair is shorter, and his body has filled out over the year, his shoulders broadening, and his legs and arms no longer lanky, but well defined. They both have changed since last winter and their relationship has also evolved. The kisses are no longer hesitant, and she no longer wonders about his favorite color, or what he likes on his pizza. She now knows how his skin feels under her fingers, that he smells like a mix of laundry detergent, Irish Spring soap, and sweat; she knows that he snores and sleeps on side, and that his biggest fear is disappointing his Dad. The wonder of a new crush has been replaced with the intimacy, of knowing someone insideandout. It's scary and thrilling and everything she has ever wanted, it constantly amazes her that her dreams have come true in the form of a boy, who is quickly becoming a man.

" Earth to Brie" His whisper breaks her out of her reverie and she can hear the laughter in his voice "You've been daydreaming for like ten minutes. What are you thinking about?" His voice turned husky and she can feel the goose bumps rise on her skin.

"You wish I was thinking about that, dirty boy,I was just wondering what you wanted to do for dinner. My Mom is gone on a trip for the weekend, so I'm on my own." Gabriella is aware that Troy knows her well enough to know she's lying, and she knows him well enough to know what he's going to suggest when he finds out her Mom is away.

"Really? I can think of a few things I'd like to take a bite out of." His voice is lilted, but his eyes are serious, and her knees go weak at the suggestion, remembering last night in his car, his name tumbling out of her mouth as his teeth scratched thatspot behind her ear, and later the feel of his lips leaving open mouth kisses on her belly. Her brown eyes lock on his blue ones, and she blushes at his knowing smirk.

"Troy Patrick Bolton, my Mother informed me that you were not to step foot in the house while she was gone, and do you think I am the type to disobey my Mommy?" Her voice is teasing and the sparkle in his eyes gets brighter as she throws her books into her tote, realizing she's packing up he quickly jams his US History book into his bag. "Lets get out of here Lover boy, I'm hungry." His hand finds hers, and he allows her to drag him out of the library, happy to just follow her lead.

---

"I'm playing DJ this afternoon, because if I have to listen to the new Jay-Z CD one more time I will literally die." Her voice is sarcastic and the radio kicks on, and he can see her smile out of the corner of his eyes as she beings to sing quietly.

I was riding shotgun with my hair undone in the front seat of his car
He's got a one-hand feel on the steering wheel
The other on my heart
I look around, turn the radio down
He says baby is something wrong?
I say nothing I was just thinking how we don't have a song
And he says...

Her voice gets louder as the chorus kicks in, and he laughs at the lyrics, knowing her sentimental heart will find it cute how appropriate they are.

Our song is the slamming screen door,
Sneakin' out late, tapping on your window
When you're on the phone and you talk real slow
Cause it's late and your mama don't know
Our song is the way you laugh
The first date "man, I didn't kiss her, but I should have"
And when I got home ... before I said amen
Asking God if he could play it again

" I love you." It's impulsive, but sometimes he just likes to hear it out loud, to see her face light up as she realizes that it's real. The words are confident, but quiet and she probably can't hear them over the roar of the air through the windows and the radio. His suspicions are confirmed when her hands fumble with the knobs on the dash.

"What?"

"I love you" he turns toward her slightly meeting her eyes before looking back at the road. She's painfully beautiful in the late afternoon light, and when he's with her like this it doesn't feel real, it's like they are stuck in a cheesy teen movie, where fate isn't just an obscure idea, but something you can touch.

The words sink in and her skin slowly brightens as her mouth turns up into a grin she softly replies. "I'm going to miss you Bunny", and the 'I love you too' is unspoken but he can hear its echo in her words and see it in her eyes.

They pull into the driveway and the car comes to a stop as the heat of the moment settles between them. Her statement brings everything back into focus and he knows that the warmth of their love cannot protect them from the world and their ever changing lives. The past couple of months have just been the beginning, and they still have obstacles to scale. He and Gabriella will be apart the next couple of months, she plans on working at a theater camp in Colorado with Kelsi while he is teaching tennis to elementary aged kids at the Country Club with Chad.

"We're here Bunny." Once again her voice brings him out of his daydreams.

"Must you call me Bunny? It's embarrassing, and I still don't see the connection."

"Please," She retorts "you bounce all over the stage when you sing,"

"I do not look like a rabbit when I perform."

"No you're right you look like a Bunny, and it's adorable, and I love it, and I'm hungry so can we get out of the car and order a pizza?" Her sentence speeding up as she gathers her stuff and exits the car, sending him looks of exasperation and she struggles to carry all her stuff.

"Need help?" He asks locking the car.

"No, I'm an independent women and I can carry my own shit." He laughs out loud at the curse word in her pleasant, polite girl voice, and his laughter increases as she drops a few books and her sweatshirt on the path. He watches her effort to hold on to everything from the driveway, smelling the newly trimmed grass, and the world is bathed in gold light as the sun sets in the distance. She has reached the front door and is attempting to unlock it with her hands full of stuff. She turns and gives him a look, probably noticing his stupid grin, "What are you staring at Bolton?"

"Nothing" he pauses "Everything." She turns her head and smiles, and once again he's running to catch up with her.