East High: Senior Year 2009
Tuesday. September 2, 2008
Troy's alarm clock had been going off for the past five minutes, and man, was that shit annoying. He had hit the snooze button by accident, and he had been too tired – or too lazy, rather – to turn it off. So he tried blocking out the sound by covering his head and ears with covers and his pillow. However, it didn't work much because he could still hear it. Suddenly, it stopped, and he felt a hand on his back. Pillow removed, covers pulled back, and a "Wake up, son. It's your first day as a senior." That, he knew, was the voice of his coach, his father. He watched him walk out of his room, and he slowly sat up. He got up, walked out his room and into his bathroom.
First day of senior year. Great.
Soon as he parked his red 2008 Ford Explorer truck in the student parking lot for seniors, he was greeted with everything. Walking down the sidewalk, there were hi-fives, low-fives. Even fives that came high and ended low. He also got fives two and sometimes four at a time. Walking inside, he got slaps on the back, pants on the shoulders, pounds and even bumped fists with some.
So far, so good.
He approached his red locker and an arm went around his neck, patting his chest. "Hey man, it's been so long." He smiled and looked over at his best friend, turning to give him a quick, masculine hug. "You're telling me, man. How you been? How was your summer?"
"It was actually pretty good," Chad said leaning against the lockers. "I got to spend time with my dad, and I can honestly say we go closer."
"That's good, man," Troy smiled. "I, on the other hand, spent most of my summer playing basketball." He stuck his tongue on the side of his mouth, holding a thumb down. "It was horrible." He looked at him. "Sometimes, he makes me wanna switch to football."
They'd been walking down the hall awhile until Chad gently hit Troy in the stomach, and they topped as Chad pointed ahead. In front of them was a huge crowd, and in that crow, everybody seemed to be parting like the Red Sea. Then she emerged, Sharpay Evans, queen of East High. Troy couldn't do anything but stare at her as she came his way. She passed him, giving him a wink. Troy smiled, biting his lip slightly.
Chad hit Troy in the back of the head and immediately turned to him. "What, man?" Troy asked raising his shoulders. Chad looked at him. "You wanna snap out of it? You do have a girlfriend, you know."
Troy smiled. "I know that. However, there's nothing wrong with admiring from afar," he winked.
Chad gave a disgusted looking, shaking his head. "Now that right there was so wrong. So, so wrong. On so many levels."
Laughing, Troy said, "Okay, alright. Maybe you don't see her like I do."
And not many people did. To Chad and everybody else, Sharpay was the famous ice queen; the bitch, so to speak. But to Troy, only to Troy, she was none of that. To him, she was a simple, ordinary 18-year-old girl who had an attitude (a sexy one at that) and a certain something about her that he just couldn't place. Now don't get him wrong; he's not in love, nor is he crushing…
Troy soon felt arms around his waist, bringing him back to reality. He turned around and smiled. "Hey, Gabriella," he beamed. He leaned down and kissed her cheek."
"I missed you over the summer so much, Troy," she smiled, still holding onto him.
"I missed you too.." He used his right hand, placing hair behind her ear. He leaned down to kiss her but it was interrupted by the bell ringing for class to start. They walked into class, hand in hand, sitting down in their individual seat, facing the front, waiting for Ms. Darbus to speak. When she did, Troy, as usual, looked to the back of the back classroom, smiling at Gabriella. He looked on his far right as saw Sharpay texting away on her rhinestone, pink cell phone without a care in the world.
Class was over in no time. Everybody went to their other classes. Free period was fifth period, and everyone pretty much did their own thing. Troy, Chad and the rest would be playing basketball. Gabriella and Taylor would be in the chemistry lab. Sharpay and Ryan would be discussing plays and such with Ms. Darbus. Practice ended early for the basketballers. Troy showered up quickly. He went to the chemistry lab, seeing Gabriella and Taylor working and explaining to the rest of the decathlon team. He leaned in the doorframe with his arms crossed, smiling. Some one saw him and smiled, waving, "Hey, Troy." Everybody looked and did the same. "Ladies..dudes," he nodded at them. He looked toward Gabriella, smiling big. "Gabriella, can I borrow you for a moment?"
She smiled at him, nodding. She walked over to him, and he took her hand, pulling her away from the door. He turned to her and laughed a bit. He carefully removed chemistry goggles from hr face, causing her to giggle. "Now that I know it's you," he chuckled, "I can do something I've wanted to do since I saw you."
She leaned back against the lockers, smiling, biting her lip softly. "Really now? What's that?"
"I'm gonna show you. Right here, right now.." He licked his lips before pressing them onto hers.
Gabriella wrapped her arms around him slowly as he tapped her between his arms. Troy pulled away from her slowly, smiling and kissing her once more. "There could be more of that."
"I wanna know when," she tightened her arms around his waist.
"Tonight, if I can take you out. Think of it as a welcome back date."
She nodded. "I'd like that. Seven good to you?"
He nodded and smiled. "Perfect, I'll pick you up then."
"I'll be waiting." She smiled and let him go.
He kept smiling and nodded once again, taking her hand and kissing it softly. "I'll see you at lunch."
She smiled and went back into the chemistry lab. He had a dreamy look on his face, backing up, looking at her in the lab. Of course, he wasn't paying attention and didn't know what was going on behind him. He felt something – more like someone – hit his back, followed by a mild pitched scream being heard. Troy turned around sharply, finding papers flying in the air, and Sharpay down on the ground, glaring at him. "Goddammit, Troy!" she screamed.
His mouth was wide open. He immediately reached down, grabbing her hands, pulling her up. "I'm so sorry, Sharpay! I wasn't paying attention."
"Apparently." She straightened out her short skirt then stuck her hand inside her blouse, straightening out her bra. He felt awkward just standing there so he doted to the ground, picking up papers she had had, and handed them to her. She snatched them from him with her fee hand.
"I'm sorry again, Sharpay."
"Troy, do me a favor. If at all possible, walk forward. It does everybody wonders."
She walked past him, leaving him dumbfounded. He looked back, seeing her hips sway back and forth, the heels on her shoes clicking loudly. He shook his head, starting forward, this time being caught by his shoulders.
"Troy," Ryan smiled. Troy looked at him and he chuckled a bit. "Watch out where you're going."
He smiled a bit and nodded, going past Ryan. Mental note to self, he thought, always keep forward and look straight ahead.
