Author's Notes: This is my first HSM ficcy. I've had this idea for awhile just been scared to write because I'm new to the fandom. Anyway: this features an original female pairing with Troy. Gabi is dead. I have nothing against Vanassa this is just for plot issues for the story. It's kind of inspired by two things: Phantom of the Opera, and the idea that they were going to use for the third High School Musical movie where it dealt with hauntings. Warnings: other then character death, is the fact that my grammar and spelling are terrible. Please don't be too harsh on me. Read, and review and let me know what you think.

Phantom: By: LOSTrocker

Chapter One:

"So, you're the Phantom?"

Damn, DJ Spinner cursed to herself. She had been caught, when she had been so careful, and of course it was none of other then Troy Bolton who caught her. The star basketball player caught her in the auditiurum. She faced him. "Surprised uh?"

"Yeah, I mean, you're just so quiet..."

DJ was part of the drama sqaud, but she wasn't an actress. She was more of a stagehand. No one hardly ever saw her talking, and when they did, she was usually chatting with either Kelsi or Jason. The Phantom, as Troy referred her too was a spook that lingured around East High School. There were tons of urban legends surrounding the ghost. The Phantom was never harmful, but its voice could be heard every now and then, and the voice of the dead was beautiful. Troy would never thought in a million years it would be a living breathing person, much less DJ Spinner. However, he had hoped it would have been the spirit of someone else...

"And I just thought you could have been..." Troy couldn't bare to finish.

The hurt in his eyes was hard to ignore. DJ's heart went out to him, as did most of the student body of East High. He lost Gabi last year in a car accident. Thats all that was known. No one dared ask details, out of respect of the two. So, DJ knew he hoped she would be.

"I'm really sorry Troy, I didn't mean to stir up anything." she apologized.

"Don't be. I'm the stupid one here." he assured her. "I should have known better."

"You won't tell anybody will you?" she asked worriedly.

"No, not if you don't want me to." he told her. "But why? You're so good."

"Thanks." she replied. "I don't know, I'm just a stagehand Troy, and think of the hell Sharpay would raise if a stagehand outbeat her for the lead role?"

"You got a point." Troy agreed with her. Sharpay caused everyone in the drama department enough trouble. They all thought she would have learned by now, but some things never change.

"So, what are you doing here so late anyway?" asked Troy.

She smirked. "I could ask you the same thing."

"Just thinking." Troy answered. He'd gone to his secret spot where no one would find him. Then after he was done there, he decided to go to the stage, where he found DJ. "You?"

"I'm helping Mrs. D. Sharpay through one her fits, and we need the stage clear for auditions tomorrow."

"For the talent show?" he asked.

"Yup, are you going to try out?" she asked hopefully. She knew what an awsome singer he was, and always enjoyed when he and Gabi performed together.

"No," he said. "I gave up singing a long time ago."

"Thats a shame." she said.

"How about this, when you sing infront of everyone, I will." he joked with her.

"I'll hold you to that." she replied.

"Well, you look like you could use some help."

"That would be great." And with that Troy went about helping DJ clean up.

With the two of them cleaning up, it didn't take them long. "Mrs. D is going to be so greatful. Thanks again Troy."

"Hey, no problem." he said with a smile. "It's getting late. Do you need a ride home?"

"Sure," And thats how it all began.

TBC...