Back to the Dream Page
As Troy had promised Gabriella's father, Sunday late morning found Chad, Zeke, Jason, Tessa, Taylor, Martha, and Troy over at the Montez estate, waiting in the gold living room for Gabriella, who showed up just a few minutes after they had gotten settled in a pair of jeans and a familiar looking East High hooded sweatshirt on. She smiled as she saw everyone, having gotten herself mentally prepped to deal with questions and concerned looks that morning. At first, she had refused Troy inviting everyone over the day before but relented after he pleaded everyone's cases, reminding her she would have to see almost everyone anyway the next day.
'At least today is just my real friends and not the judgmental group known as the general high school population, right?' thought Gabriella as she took a seat on the couch next to Troy. "Hi everyone."
"Gaby, you better not think that's an appropriate greeting for your best friend who hasn't seen you in a week plus!" exclaimed Tessa, who immediately got off the floor from where she was sitting and embraced Gabriella tightly, happy to feel Gabriella return the hug. "I've been so worried about you Gabriella."
Gabriella patted Tessa's back. "I'm sorry, it's just been tough. Do you know what happened?"
Tessa pulled back just in time for Taylor to hug Gabriella too. "I filled her in, hope you don't mind," supplied Taylor as she also stood back from Gabriella.
"No, that's good. I'd like to not really talk about that if possible, I've done enough during my sessions," replied Gabriella.
"How are those going by the way?" asked Martha from the floor while Taylor and Tessa took seats closer to Gabriella.
"Progress is being made. It's odd because there are times like now that I feel fine, that everything is okay but suddenly it'll be like a train coming at you at full speed, the flashbacks, but I'm learning to master them again, slowly but surely. Thanks everyone for coming by the way, it's nice to see everyone, even you three knuckleheads over there," teased Gabriella after seeing Zeke lightly punch both Chad and Jason after they teased him about something quietly.
"Hey now, how does Troy not get the title of knucklehead?" protested Chad.
"Because I'm her loving boyfriend, aren't I Brie?" jumped in Troy, kissing the top of her head before grinning over at his best friend.
"I can see the little lovey dovey stuff hasn't gone anywhere," commented Zeke, happy to see his good friend happy again after the worried state Troy had been in during the past week. Zeke glanced over at Tessa and saw her blush as he looked at her, causing him to grin.
Chad chuckled at this. "Like you're one to talk after that little exchange."
"Yeah, aren't you guys ever going to formalize this random hookup thing you've got going on?" asked Taylor, raising her eyebrow at Tessa.
Tessa blushed deeper, daring to look at Zeke only for a few moments before looking away again. "Well I've asked her if you want to know but she keeps stalling on answering," replied Zeke, eyeing Tessa, who was unusually quiet.
"Gee, reminds me of someone I know," joked Troy as he lightly poked Gabriella in the side.
"Hey, I'm sure she has her reasons," defended Gabriella. "I mean, it is the East and West rivalry weighing in again I'm sure. Plus, Tessa hasn't really had a real boyfriend before."
"She hasn't?" asked Jason, surprised by this.
"GABRIELLA!" scolded Tessa, looking directly at her best friend. "Way to make things worse here!"
"Sorry!" returned Gabriella, biting the corner of her lip, thinking of a way to steer this hangout in the right direction from the point it was at now, getting an idea on how to help everything. "Troy, why don't you show the boys the game room? Do you remember where it is?"
"Sure," agreed Troy. "But where are you girls going?"
"Umm, we're just going to go take a walk. I need some fresh air," replied Gabriella, thinking on the spot. "I'm sure you guys would much rather start in on the new games in there."
"New games? Like Wii games or are we talking board games or what?" asked Chad, eyes bright with excitement.
Taylor rolled her eyes. "Well you won't know until you get there now will you?"
"Whatever it is, I'm sure I can beat you," taunted Chad, smirking at Taylor.
Before another argument could erupt between the two, Troy stepped in. "All right. Boys, I can tell where we are not wanted. Let's go check out the latest and greatest. What do you say?"
The guys took one last look at the girls and shrugged as they followed Troy out of the living room and to the game room.
Once they were clearly gone, Taylor, Martha, and Gabriella turned to Tessa, who went back into quiet mode. "All right, they're gone, now what's going on?" demanded Taylor as the four girls sat closer together.
Tessa took a few moments, studying the carpet before looking up at her best friends and the girl she had just met right before Gabriella came into the room, Martha. 'If Gaby and Tay can trust her, I can too I guess. I really do need to talk to someone,' thought Tessa before she finally decided to speak. "So Zeke and I have been hooking up as you know off and on for a few months, even through summer. It hasn't been frequent and often but we have seen each other a few times without anyone else around. He asked me to be his girlfriend last Thursday and I haven't answered him."
"Well do you want to be his girlfriend?" asked Martha, not really knowing the back story to this possible couple.
"I really do like him and he is the sweetest guy but as Gabriella so bluntly pointed out, he would be my first boyfriend ever," returned Tessa.
Gabriella gave her an apologetic smile again. "Again, I'm sorry. But look Tessa, as you pointed out to me several times while trying to get me and Troy working, you have to sometimes take chances and go after what you want. I can tell you really like him, just the way you look at him and he looks at you."
Taylor nodded her agreement. "It's so obvious that even Chad of all people sees it!" pointed out Taylor. "Now that means it is pretty obvious sister."
Tessa rolled her eyes. "I'm just worried about being in the same spot Gaby here was last semester. I don't know if I can be that strong to deal with all the taunting and what not."
"Tessa, are you kidding me? You are one of the toughest girls at East and West put together. You didn't care when they included you in with my name calling and rumors, why would you now?" asked Gabriella, confused with the sudden personality change of her best friend.
"Because it's me and just me they are attacking. I'm better at sticking up for other people than I am for myself," revealed Tessa. "And you Gabriella, you handled it with grace."
"Umm, were you around all those times when I shied away from those whispers? Yes, you definitely were, you were there telling me they didn't matter which is right. All those contributors to the gossip mill don't matter. All that matters is that you are happy and that Zeke makes you happy. I say go for it. Allow yourself to be happy Tessa," pleaded Gabriella. "It's clear you are attracted to him. The question now is it enough to be exclusive."
"Oh yeah because I have all the guys banging on my door to go out with me," replied Tessa in a sarcastic tone.
Taylor ignored her best friend's tone. "Zeke has turned out to be a pretty nice guy," threw in Taylor. "Actually all of the basketball boys seem to be pretty friendly and not the arrogant jocks I once thought after getting to know them. I don't see how you could go wrong here."
Martha nodded her head in agreement. "I may not really know you Tessa but I can tell you that Zeke is one of the sweetest guys. I've also noticed a change in how the guys interact lately with each other and other East High kids and they do seem to be opening up a bit more, being more approachable, which is nice to see."
"And you can thank Gabriella over here for that," returned Taylor with a smile at her friend. "I think had it not been for her and Troy getting together, we'd still be stuck behind social walls where no one intermingled."
"You make it sound like I found the cure for cancer," commented Gabriella, "I actually had nothing to do with that."
"But by being with Troy when you're viewed as a smart girl by the guys got them thinking, even more so about West girls since that's where you were when they met you," stated Taylor. "Which leads us back to Tessa here. So girl, what's it going to be? Are you going to take a chance at maybe finding love before graduation?"
Tessa thought for a few moments, alternating between looking at the carpet in front of her and at the three girls, especially Gabriella, who was giving her an encouraging smile. "I guess I have to take a chance sometime right? And it isn't like I am high profile at West either, I don't have to be too worried, especially as this tension seems to have sizzled out a bit without Riley stirring things. And thank God I don't have him to worry about while tackling this new thing either."
A pained look crossed Gabriella's face at this, making Tessa realize what she had just said. "Oh God Gabriella, I'm sorry," apologized Tessa, moving to wrap an arm around her best friend. "That was way out of line, I'm so sorry."
Gabriella shook her head. "It's true though, you are better off because you don't have Riley around, forcing you into hiding, getting in your face at every turn. You're right Tessa, you are lucky, you can concentrate on what's going on with you and Zeke and not have to worry about an idiot coming between you two constantly, wanting to start fights with him supposedly over you when he just wants a swing at your boyfriend."
"Gaby," started Tessa, worried about Gabriella's current state of mind.
"No, don't," replied Gabriella, shaking her head. "I'm fine, don't worry about me. Do me a favor though Tessa and go for it, be happy as you wanted me to be happy in the late winter. You deserve a real chance at this, just as you do too Taylor with Chad and you Martha with whoever you are crushing on."
Martha shrugged. "Actually I haven't found a guy that I'd really say I'm crushing on but I'd agree about the Taylor and Chad thing."
Taylor stared back at her friends. "Wait a second, how did this go from Tessa telling Zeke yes to me now dating Chad?"
"So you admit it, you are dating Chad," pushed Tessa, now feeling more like herself after her decision regarding Zeke had been made.
Taylor returned Tessa's look, hating how the table had been turned. "Fine, I admit it, I'm crushing on a lunkhead basketball boy who knows exactly how to push my buttons yet I find him strangely endearing. Yes, we've kissed a few times but we're just dating, I'm taking this slow as I'm still trying to wrap my brain around liking the guy against my better judgment."
Gabriella nodded her head in approval. "No one said you had to move fast Taylor. I'm just glad we can get this all out in the open. I really don't want anyone to have to be in the relationship closet anymore. It's too hard to do and as exciting as it may seem from the outside, it really is tough and stressful. I just don't want my good friends and best friends to have to do it, all right?"
The three friends nodded their heads at their friend, knowing that Gabriella spoke from her raw emotions, having experienced the hidden romance, the romance between the two schools, and falling for a guy who was classified as a different social status in high school all in the last eight months or so.
"Excuse me miss, you have three more visitors," announced the butler before bowing and leaving the room, leaving two blondes and a girl with brown curly hair hidden by a hat and a pair of glasses on her face standing in the entryway.
Gabriella immediately got up and smiled at the twins and their friend they had brought. "Come on in Sharpay, Ryan. I'm sorry, I don't know your name," greeted Gabriella, looking at the unfamiliar yet familiar girl.
"This is Kelsi Nielson," introduced Ryan, seeing that his sister was staring at shock as to who was in the room. "We thought we'd stop by to see how you were doing. Your mom kind of mentioned what happened to our mom and we wanted to make sure you were all right but we see you have company so we can go."
Gabriella shook her head. "No, stay, please. We actually have more company in the game room. Why don't we all go?" suggested Gabriella. "Kelsi, do you like to play games?"
"Depends," answered the quiet girl whose eyes lit up as she saw Taylor and Martha also in the room.
Sharpay soon got over her shock and looked at Gabriella. "You are actually friends with these, these commoners?" asked Sharpay, floored that Gabriella, a girl who Sharpay considered to be of equal status of the Evans, would have friends like Taylor and Martha.
Gabriella stared back at the girl. "Yes, I am. This is Tessa Grainger by the way, my other best friend," introduced Gabriella, realizing that they wouldn't know Tessa.
"Hi Tessa," greeted Ryan while Kelsi waved, Sharpay not reacting to the introduction.
"Hey," returned Tessa, looking at the disgusted look that was on the blonde girl's face and then at Taylor's and Martha's shocked expression to see her there. 'Hmm, so the social clique walls strikes again.'
After a few more moments, Sharpay shook her head. "I can see that I may have misjudged you Gabriella. Ryan, let's go," said Sharpay, starting to leave.
Gabriella quickly followed Sharpay and got in front of her. "Don't go Sharpay! Stay here and hang out with us. You've become a friend to me in my first few weeks here and I would like you to see that if you find qualities of a friend in me that you'll see them too in the girls in that room and the guys in the game room. Remember the time we went shopping at the mall and we found those killer purses? Those girls love shopping just as much. Just because they aren't into theater and may not live in mansions doesn't make them a different species you have to stay clear of," pointed out Gabriella. "Please Sharpay? I'd hate to lose you as a friend because you couldn't accept the other people I hang out with."
"She does have a point Sharpay," added Ryan, who had walked up during the discussion. "They aren't half bad when you get to know them."
"And you would know this how Ryan?" snapped Sharpay.
"Because one, they are Gabriella's good friends apparently and she doesn't just pick up with just anyone as far as friends go as we've seen in her first week at East. Second, remember how we were taught at acting camp that one summer when we first started going in elementary school about always being observant, learning people's traits and being able to mimic them? In doing that you learn a lot about a person and I've seen Martha and Taylor in action and they have only ever been friendly to people at school, never talking down to anyone except for maybe the jocks but that's a whole different ballgame," answered Ryan.
Sharpay eyed Gabriella and knew that this would mean a lot to her new friend. "All right, we'll stay. Wait, where is Kelsi anyway?"
The three walked back into the gold living room and saw that Kelsi was immersed in a conversation with the three other girls. "See, even Kelsi is friends with them," commented Ryan.
"I guess but this goes against my better judgment," warned Sharpay. She saw the relieved look on Gabriella's face and smiled, realizing at that moment that Gabriella had become a real friend to Sharpay in the short time after their shopping trip and hanging out here at Gabriella's mansion as well as talking on the phone in the past few weeks with the exception of a good part of last week. "You all right?"
Gabriella looked back to the blonde girl and nodded her head. "Much better now, thanks," answered Gabriella, knowing exactly what Sharpay was referring to. "I'd prefer not talking about it though."
Sharpay nodded her understanding. "I can respect that. So, where's this game room?"
Gabriella smiled and motioned for Sharpay and Ryan to follow her after asking the four girls in the living room if they were going to join. The group of seven teenagers walked through the halls until the reached a room from which there was loud male screaming coming through the closed doors. "Who is in there?" asked Ryan, curious as to who could be making that much noise.
"Oh, just a fraction of the varsity basketball team," answered Taylor, laughing at the astounded look on Sharpay's and Ryan's faces.
"Jocks too?" asked Sharpay, shocked again for the second time in less than ten minutes.
"Basketball players, Shar, just as you and Ryan are thespians and not drama freaks, right?" encouraged Gabriella.
Sharpay sighed. "Fine, let's get this over with," said Sharpay before Gabriella opened the door and led the group in to find Troy, Chad, Zeke, and Jason all seated on one of the long couches, attention solely focused on the large screened TV on which their fighting game was playing via the PS2 console.
"Guys, we're here," announced Taylor, not seeing any recognition of their presence from the guys.
After no response, Gabriella found the answer to at least distract one of them. "Zeke, if you don't stop playing this game, Tessa is going to say no for sure," called out Gabriella, who grinned at seeing Zeke look up and drop the controller in his hands right away.
"You have an answer Tessa?" asked Zeke.
Tessa rolled her eyes at her best friend's tactics. "I do. Why don't we go take a walk around this huge place?"
Zeke quickly got up and crossed in front of the three other guys and walked out of the room with Tessa, a hopeful look on his face. This of course interrupted the concentration that Jason, Troy, and Chad had on the game too so they looked up and were shocked they were seeing Kelsi but especially Ryan and Sharpay standing there in front of them with the girls.
Sharpay smirked at this. "I felt the same way about seeing you guys here too. Guess we have a common friend," commented Sharpay, looking over at Gabriella, who started laughing at the expressions the guys had on their faces still. "I didn't know you were really friends with these clowns Gabriella. I just thought you were being nice in the halls."
"They aren't so bad," answered Gabriella, looking at the three, especially at Troy, who got over his shock and looked over at Gabriella with a smile.
"Well I know Troy isn't but I couldn't say that about the others until today maybe," replied Sharpay as she made her way over with Ryan to talk to Troy.
Gabriella didn't think anything of it and turned around to see Taylor, Kelsi, and Martha whispering about something. "What's going on?" questioned Gabriella as she approached the three.
"Oh, we were speculating on what Tessa is actually saying to Zeke right now," answered Taylor. "Seriously, who ever knew that a crush and romantic feelings could get Tessa to be as quiet as she is right now. Totally not what I am used to from that girl. It kind of freaks me out actually."
"I'm sure they'll be fine," replied Gabriella. "So Kelsi, do I have classes with you? You look really familiar."
The petite girl gave her a small smile. "Two. We have drama and Calculus together."
"Ah, that's where I recognized you from. Well welcome to my home, I'm glad you came with the twins so I could get to know you better," stated Gabriella.
"You'll love her, we do," answered Martha. "We just are friends on the down low at school, right Taylor?"
Taylor rolled her eyes before she agreed. "Clique walls and all but I have to say, you may be changing things for good Gab. First the basketball team opening up, then you got us honor students looking at things different, and now the queen and king of drama? You may seriously leave East a much better place at the end of the school year."
The four girls continued chatting after Gabriella denied her part in the change of social tide again, oblivious as to what was going on across the room.
Troy looked helplessly at Chad and Jason who were happily talking to Ryan while Sharpay sat herself on the arm of the couch, right next to where Troy was sitting, grinning down at him. "Hi Troy," greeted Sharpay in that high and fake sweet tone of hers. "You look fabulous in that blue polo by the way. It really brings out your eyes."
"Umm, thanks," replied Troy, very uncomfortable, as he always was, with being this close to Sharpay. "So, how's, umm, the musicale?"
"Oh, we haven't really started that yet, it's too early still. I'm hurt you don't know that," stated Sharpay, giving Troy a pouty look that he had to admit, Gabriella pulled off way better.
"Sorry, I run on basketball time and golf time," apologized Troy, noticing Chad and Jason quietly laughing as they watched the exchange, Ryan having joined Gabriella's conversation with Taylor, Martha, and Kelsi.
"So homecoming is coming up," said Sharpay. "Have you decided what you're wearing, who you are going with?"
Troy shook his head. "Sharpay, the homecoming dance is weeks away and I know you aren't talking about the game since I never see you at one. Are you really thinking of that now?"
"Well yeah, it's like the only real social event of fall. Why wouldn't I be thinking of it?" questioned Sharpay as Troy felt Sharpay lean in a bit closer. "You do have your pick of the girl population Troy."
Troy abruptly stood up, having had enough, especially knowing he was being laughed at by Jason and Chad at that very moment, almost hitting Sharpay in the process as she was a little bit leaned over where he was sitting. "I think Gabriella wants to talk to me, talk to you later Sharpay?"
He quickly walked over to where the other little group was talking about something and made a show of wrapping his arms around Gabriella's waist, bringing her tight against his body as he rested his chin on her shoulder. Gabriella looked over at his face and saw the mix of panic and relief there. "All right, what's going on Wildcat?"
Just then a high-pitched shriek filled the room, everyone turning around except for Troy, who knew who it was.
"Sharpay, what's wrong?" asked Ryan, running over to his sister who was staring in astonishment at Troy and Gabriella. "What happened?"
"No way! Absolutely no way!" exclaimed Sharpay.
Gabriella looked back at her friend, wondering what the commotion was about. She heard Troy sigh a little before he unwrapped his arms from around her waist and turned around to face Sharpay, holding instead Gabriella's hand firmly in his. "Sharpay, is everything okay?" asked Gabriella.
"You… Troy… Oh my God!" got out Sharpay, not even hearing the snickers that were coming out of Jason and Chad or seeing the curious looks from Taylor, Martha, and Kelsi who knew something was going to happen.
Like a little light bulb turning on in her head, Gabriella suddenly remembered something Taylor or Tessa had told her a little while ago. 'Sharpay has a crush on Troy, doesn't she? Has for a while? Oh God, she's so going to flip.'
Taylor eyed the blonde, wondering what she was going to do. 'Gabriella and Troy are so definitely together, just by looking at them standing there Sharpay must see that bond. She is so going to lose it,' thought Taylor, smiling a little at the sweet justice of the matter.
'Please don't embarrass me,' begged Ryan as he saw the puzzle pieces falling into place in his twin's head. 'They're cute together and you are so not a four-year-old who wants and begs for everything.'
'Dude, I wonder how long her next scream is going to be,' wondered Jason, having heard Sharpay scream enough since elementary school to know that there would be another one if not three screams coming.
Jason wasn't wrong as another shriek filled the room accompanied by a grin that shocked everyone. "That's so fabulous!" exclaimed Sharpay, instantly rushing over to hug Gabriella and Troy, who had no clue what just happened. "I am so glad that Troy picked you Gabriella, you are the only other choice I would want to see him with besides me and I am so off the market anyway. He is nice eye candy though."
"Whoa, are you feeling all right Sharpay?" asked Gabriella, surprised by the onslaught of happiness Sharpay was expressing. "You're okay with this?"
"Of course! I'd rather Troy be with someone he seems to clearly care about and who I respect than some stupid art freak or weirdo. You are so going to be East High's 'It' couple this year!" predicted Sharpay. "Why didn't you tell me you were dating Troy?"
"To be honest, I never really thought of it when we've talked," replied Gabriella.
"Wait, you really don't have a problem with these two?" asked Taylor, beyond shocked at how very different Sharpay's response was than what was predicted.
Chad nodded his head, showing his agreement with Taylor. "I thought you would be trying to murder someone or something," confessed Chad.
Sharpay looked at both of them and scoffed. "As if! I have my own boyfriend in the form of a hunky and rich college guy I met over the summer."
"Then why were you flirting so much with me just now?" asked Troy, finding himself in disbelief.
Ryan stepped in this time. "That's just how she is Troy. Sharpay just acts and talks how she wants to, not realizing she could be offending anyone or making them uncomfortable. She's always been pretty expressive, which also includes flirting."
"Hey, no one ever said having a boyfriend meant you couldn't flirt anymore," protested Sharpay. "Besides, it's clear he knew where his heart lay by the way he ran over to Gabriella. And oh, isn't that so sweet?"
Gabriella looked at her blonde friend, who was staring at Gabriella again. "What is it?"
"You're wearing Troy's sweatshirt! I just noticed the 14 on it!" gushed Sharpay. "Totally sweet!"
Taylor, Martha, and Kelsi all felt themselves stare at the blonde, all in utter shock. Chad, Jason, and Troy were not fairing much better. "You're actually happy for us?" asked Troy, showing his amazement at her behavior.
"Well yeah, why wouldn't I be happy? Did you really think I still wanted you after all this time Bolton? I gave you your chance for four years and you never showed interest so I moved on. You are so yesterday's fashion!" exclaimed Sharpay.
"Whoa, she likened you to clothes dude," commented Jason.
"And here we thought you were the Ice Queen of East High," uttered Chad, grinning at the blonde girl.
"Damn right I am," retorted Sharpay with her classic "better than you" look she'd perfected since she was seven. "But contrary to rumor, I do have a heart, especially when it comes to my friends. Any other girl and maybe I would have had a fit but Gabriella is different."
Troy looked down at his girlfriend and brought intertwined hands up to his lips so he could kiss the back of her hand. "She sure is," murmured Troy, smiling and staring down at Gabriella, making her giggle a little.
"You really are okay? You aren't going to like flip out on us?" ventured Martha. "No huge dramatics?"
"No screaming?" asked Kelsi.
Sharpay put her hands on her hips and surveyed everyone. "All right, seriously, what did you all think I was going to do? Even if I didn't have a boyfriend, you seriously expected me to try to do something about this?"
Chad shrugged. "Yeah but try would be the operative word. See, nothing can tear these two apart now, at least no human being. They've survived a rivalry, secrets, and a huge event already and are still standing. It would take a tsunami to take them down."
Taylor stared and Chad in shock. "Did you just say tsunami? You actually know that weather term? And operative?"
"Well yeah, I do watch the news sometimes Tay," returned Chad.
"Yeah, for the sports," joked Zeke as he came into the room with a grin on his face, holding Tessa's hand in his.
The gang turned their attention on the new couple who both blushed at the attention. "What?" snapped Tessa, causing Sharpay to smirk.
"I may not know you but I think I like you already," commented Sharpay, who now smiled at the girl. "Gabriella, I think you just may be right about this little group you have here."
Gabriella smiled back at Sharpay. "We may be mismatches but we fit perfectly in my book," returned Gabriella, her smile growing as Troy pulled her close to him again as he wrapped his arms back around her waist, dropping a kiss on her forehead.
He grinned as Jason and Chad gagged as per usual. "Whatever you two, your time will come," called out Troy, being rewarded with Chad's classic roll of the eyes.
"So what did we miss?" asked Tessa.
"Oh, just Sharpay surprising us all by not having a tantrum over Gab and Troy," answered Chad, the only brave one to put it in those words.
Ryan chuckled at this. "Hey, I'm just glad she's learned to share and let go," threw in the blonde. "You have no idea how hard of a concept that was for her to learn when we were kids."
Zeke laughed. "I can somehow see that."
"Hey!" protested Sharpay. "What is this, pick on Sharpay day?"
"Yeah guys, lay off her," threw in Gabriella. "She's been the target for long enough here."
"You'd be singing a different tune if Sharpay was still crushing on Troy Gab, trust me," said Taylor.
Sharpay crossed her arms, looking at Taylor. "All right, you all make it seem like I would have created this huge scheme to lure Troy away from Gabriella, dangling power and a scholarship in front of his face to any school he wants in order to get him to be with me. Like I would get him a job at our country club to monopolize his time and try to make him forget all about her. Almost as if you think I am capable of hurting another girl for no other reason than she has the eye candy I want."
When silence greeted her ears, Sharpay shook her head and gave an exasperated sigh. "Hello, this isn't some high school, teenie bopper movie people! As much as you may like to think the worst of me, I really am not that bad."
"Oh good, so we can hang out more," said Jason, draping an arm around her shoulders to which she quickly swatted away.
"Eww, no, I didn't say that," returned Sharpay, moving to stand next to Ryan, who was grinning. "I do still have standards."
Everyone burst into laughter together, including Sharpay, finding amusement in a situation that could have been very different had Sharpay been the true Ice Queen the others thought she was. "Well I'm glad you are not that bad," stated Gabriella, smiling at her friend. "I would have hated to have one of those one on one girl confrontations with you."
"Afraid you'd lose?" asked Ryan, intrigued by Gabriella's view on this.
"No, I'd just hate to lose a girlfriend over a guy," replied Gabriella. "Yet another movie cliché. Find the love of your life but lose a good friend in the process, only to hopefully rekindle the friendship by the end of two hours after the guy turns out to be a jerk."
Troy let out a chuckle. "Are you insinuating something about your boyfriend Miss Montez?"
Gabriella looked up at Troy and laughed. "Unless you want to tell me something, no. I'm just saying that's another common story arch in movies these days."
"Uh huh, sure you are Gab. It's okay, we all know Troy is a big jerk, despite his pretty boy looks!" called out Chad, quickly getting up off the couch after Troy dropped his arms from around Gabriella to go after his best friend, ending the chase when there was a loud and very exaggerated groan of pain heard from the corner of the room, Troy walking away with a grin on his face.
"You and violence," kidded Gabriella as Troy drew near, having seen that Troy only pretended to punch Chad, never actually touching him.
"TAYLOR! I'm hurt!" whined Chad, sitting now in the corner.
Taylor shrugged. "And you want me to do what? Troy didn't even touch you and even if he did, I don't think I would say you didn't deserve it after that mouthful."
"Hey! You're supposed to be on my side!" argued Chad as Jason came to help him back up. "What's that about?"
"Woman's prerogative," replied Taylor very smartly.
Jason slapped Chad on the back. "Face it dude, you're a goner," said Jason with a grin on his face before he plopped back down on the couch where Kelsi, Martha, and Taylor were now sitting.
"How about we redirect this energy to an actual game?" suggested Zeke. "Basketball anyone?"
All the girls in the room, especially Sharpay, groaned. "No, try again," returned Tessa.
"We could play spin the bottle," suggested Sharpay, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
The guys all looked at each other and shook their heads together. "No way sis! I am not chancing having to lock lips with you," protested Ryan.
"Oooh, speaking of, seven minutes in heaven!" called out Chad, getting an actual smack on his arm from Taylor.
"No!" stated Taylor.
Jason, Troy, and Zeke chuckled. "Guess she doesn't want to kiss you any time soon," joked Jason.
"Shut up J," returned Chad. "I didn't want to kiss her anyway. I wanted to kiss Kelsi."
"ME?" squeaked the quiet girl. "No!"
This made more laughter fill the room at Chad getting shot down twice in two minutes. "Just face it man, you can't catch a break with these girls," kidded Zeke.
"Although, if you're interested, I'll kiss you," offered Ryan as he walked closer to Chad, who quickly backed up and hit the billiards table. "Pucker up Chadykins."
"EWW! NO!" yelled Chad, scrunching up his face with his hands palms forward in front of him as he saw a few flashes of light in his peripheral vision and heard the laughter of his friends fill the room.
Just as Ryan got a hair's breath away from Chad's lips, he pulled away suddenly with a grin on his face. "Sorry Chad, you're not my type either. Contrary to popular belief at East, I am straight and would prefer any girl over you any time," stated Ryan, getting a high five from Zeke and Jason.
Chad stood back up, straightening his back and glaring at the group. "Oh, so you think that's all funny huh?"
"Actually yeah, these pictures prove it too," shouted out Gabriella, waving her digital camera in the air.
"You so did not!" exclaimed Chad.
"Oh, she so definitely did," responded Troy, a grin on his face. He saw that change in Chad's eyes and knew Gabriella was in for it. "Gabriella, run!"
Gabriella slipped her camera into the hoodie's pocket and started running, hiding behind Tessa first and then Zeke and then Troy, who was the best blocker before the group of friends banded together and started throwing around a digital camera between them, laughing hard as Chad chased it while Gabriella took more pictures with her camera she had slipped in the pocket. After about fifteen minutes of trying, Chad finally tackled Zeke and grabbed the camera, eagerly turning it on to erase the pictures but frowning as he just saw images of the girls on it in the three pictures on the card.
"Hey, where'd they go?" asked Chad, looking around and spying Gabriella's innocent looking face. "Oh no way!"
"Face it Chad, you were outsmarted by a girl," teased Tessa, grinning as she knew how much he would hate that dig.
"Who now has embarrassing pictures of you to boot," added Martha.
Zeke couldn't resist throwing in his own humiliating words. "And she's what, half your size but twice your IQ?"
"And who definitely does not want to kiss you," stated Troy, looking at his friend with a smirk.
Chad stood up and grinned back at his best friend. "Oh yeah? How about we ask her to answer that herself? How about it Gab, will you kiss me and shut all these fools up?"
Gabriella looked into Chad's brown eyes and then back up to Troy's blue ones before smiling. Before anyone saw it coming, Gabriella leaned in and kissed Chad on the cheek, softly and sweetly, pulling away with a smile on her face. "Truce?"
Chad grinned back, a little bit of a blush on his cheeks. "Truce," agreed Chad. "You picked a good one Bolton."
"I know, you don't have to tell me that," replied Troy, pulling Gabriella back to him so that she was back in his arms, leaning her head against his chest. "Now go flirt with your own girl, mine is currently already taken."
The girls all let out wistful sighs as Troy and Gabriella looked at each other in the eyes just then and leaned in, sharing a kiss that was deep and obviously meaningful. Tessa grinned at the couple, secretly admiring both of them for keeping it so together through the most trying of times. 'It may not be easy at all for them but they sure make it look that way,' thought Tessa, smiling at Zeke as he leaned over and kissed her cheek, reminding her she now had her own boyfriend and possible happy ending in the romance department for the first time in her life.