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Chapter 1: The Bolton's

Gabriella Montez, a high school junior got out of bed wincing. She hated her father. Ever since her mom died in that boating accident her dad had gone crazy.

FLASHBACK

It was July, the summer before her junior year and Gabby was sitting at her best friend, Christine Taylor's, beach house with all her other friends. "It's a bummer that it's raining." Tess complained

"Yea, but hey, we've got tons of movies!" Tyler replied, giddy as a schoolboy.

"And tons of junk food!" Cameron said with a laugh. Because of the pouring rain and lightening the group of teenagers were forced to stay inside, but they were determined to make the best of it.

About 20 minutes into the Notebook, which the girls forced the guys to watch, Greg Montez walked knocked on the condo door. He took Gabby into the hallway and told her that her mom had died in a boating accident. Her company had a lunch trip out to Outback Crab Shack and the boat exploded, killing everyone.

END OF FLASHBACK

That's all that Gabby could remember of that day. In November her dad began drinking excessively, but somehow managed to still pull himself together for work. For the next month Gabby kept it together, but in January that all changed: her dad began to beat her. Suddenly she began to disappear, she stopped her extra-curricular activities and her grades slipped from headmaster's list to honor roll, to toying with academic probation. All of her friends and teachers were extremely worried, but no one said a thing.

Now it's mid-April, and I'm lying awake in bed trying to get what little sleep I can. I've learned to lock my bedroom door at night so my dad doesn't come in a fit of rage. "Go to sleep Gabby!" She directed herself. When sleep finally overcame her she began dreaming about her mother.

It was two summers ago and she and her mom were walking with Gabby's dog Gilligan, when her mom suddenly said, "If you ever need anything, and your dad and I aren't around, go to the Bolton's. They live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I wrote their address down in the book I gave you earlier. If you ever need it, use it."

Gabby shot up in bed, startling Gilligan. The Bolton's! Why hadn't she thought of that before? She quickly went to her closet and dug out the book. Then she dug out an overnight bag and began to pack up some clothes. Finally she got on the phone with the airport and got a ticket for Albuquerque, New Mexico for tomorrow at 10 am. Once everything was packed and ready she quietly slipped out of the house, sure to disarm the alarm, and put everything she would need in the trunk of her car so her dad wouldn't see it, including Gilligan's cage, she certainly wasn't leaving her here alone with her father.

The next morning she got up and wrote a note to her English teacher, her best friends Christine and Stephen, and finally, to Dean Philips, trying to cover all her bases. She included everything that had been happening since her mother's tragic death, personalizing each note and begging them not to tell her father where she'd gone. She told Christine and Stephen to leave their phones on that day, and that she'd call them when she got a hold of the Bolton's. She then asked Dean Philips to give them a note to allow them to have their phones on for the day. Finally, in her note to Mr. Crandall, she confirmed all of the suspicions that she knew he had and asked if he could possibly be there for her when she was forced to return, hopefully with the Bolton's support.

After her dad left for work, Gabby piled into her car with Gilligan and made her way to school with the four letters in tow. First she went to Stephen's locker and taped the letter to it, then she taped the letter to Christine's locker. Finally she slipped Mr. Crandall's under his door and did the same for Dean Philips. Then she got back into her car and made her way to the airport. After checking Gilligan and her one bag in she went to grab a cup of coffee and a bagel and then to sit in the waiting room, with her phone fully charged and in her hand, praying that her father would not come for her.

A few hours later she landed in Albuquerque, hailed a taxi, and was on the steps of the Bolton's front porch. When no one answered her knock, she decided to let Gill into the back yard, and to leave her cage and bag back there too. She knew that Mr. Bolton worked at East High School, so she called a cab, and made her way there. When she got out she went to find the front desk, having no idea where to find Mr. Bolton.

"Yes, I'm looking for Mr. Jack Bolton." She politely told the receptionist. The lady pointed her in the direction of the gym, apparently he was the gym coach. When Gabriella walked into the gym there was a group of students playing basketball. She simply stood there quietly watching as a very attractive boy made a three-pointer. Feeling someone's eyes on him, he swiftly turned around and blue met brown as the two held eye contact.

Coach Bolton, the only adult in the room saw his son staring off and followed his eyes, as did the rest of the class, to an exotic looking girl with long dark hair cascading down her back and big chocolate eyes that held a ton of pain and suffering, but also a little glimmer of hope. Right away Jack Bolton knew who the girl was. The last time he saw her she was 6, and though she had grown into a beautiful young woman, she still looked very much the same, the spitting image of her mother. Jack quickly ran over to her and engulfed her in a big hug, knowing that right now, she needed their help. Gabriella returned the hug and began to sob in his arms as the gym class looked on confused.

The attractive boy and a blonde girl made their way over to Coach Bolton and Gabby, confused as to who she was.

"I vaguely recognize her." The boy said, "But I don't know from where." When the two pulled out of the hug Jack turned to the boy and said,

"Son, this is Gabriella Montez, Gabriella, this is my son Troy Bolton." The two shook hands and felt a slight spark run through both of their bodies. Jack Bolton looked at both of them and said, "Troy, why don't you take Gabriella to my office, and I'll be there in a minute." Troy nodded and herded Gabby to his father's office as Coach Bolton made his way to the class. "Zeke," he said to an attractive African-American boy, "watch the class, and continue the game." He instructed. The boy nodded and Coach Bolton then made his way to his office.

As Jack entered his office Gabby asked, "How did you know me Mr. Bolton?"

"First off, it's Jack. And second of all, you're Isabella and Greg's daughter. You look just like your mother. How is she by the way I know Lucy will be dying to see you. And how's your father? Are your parents with you?"

Tears slowly began to trail down Gabby's face as she proceeded to tell Jack and Troy about her family and problem, "My mom died in a boating accident in July, leaving my father and me alone. Then in November, my father began to drink. Finally in January," she let out a little sob, and Troy immediately took her hand to comfort her, "he began to beat me." Both Bolton's looked shocked. Gabby took a deep breath and continued, "Last night I had a dream about my mother, actually it was more me remembering what my mom had told me two summers ago at the beach: 'If you ever have any problems go to the Bolton's, they'll help you'. So I came here. I left notes at my school. One to the dean, one to my English teacher, and one to each of my best friends, Christine and Stephen. I told all of them that I would call Christine and Stephen when I got here and settled and I begged them not to call my father and tell them I left. The only people that know I'm in Albuquerque are Christine and Stephen, and I asked them not to tell anyone." She sighed, not knowing what would come next, but figuring that it wouldn't be good.

"Troy," Jack began, "go get dressed and I'll check you out of school. I want you to take Gabby home and don't open the door for anybody in case Greg comes for her. Also if anyone calls looking for her, she's not at the house. I'll call you mother and tell her to meet ya'll at home. " Troy nodded and walked back to the guy's locker room to get changed and take this mysterious girl that he felt some odd connection to back to his house.

AN: Okay, so I got ANOTHER random idea. I'll keep up with all my stories, at least I hope I will lol. So let me know what you think. Another chapter of this should be up tonight because I'm thinking about this.

Mollie XOXO