Well, its been a very long time since I've posted anything on here, but this story popped into my head the other day, and I thought that I'd give it a try. I already have most of the story written so updates will hopefully come pretty quickly, especially in the first couple of chapters because the story has a bit of a slow start. A little info on the story not covered in the summary: I'm listing this as a Troy/Sharpay story, but its really much more about Sharpay Also, even though she's the main character, and I want to make her sympathetic, Sharpay is going to be doing some pretty bad things over the course of the story (though nothing too melodramatic like murder), so don't expect to be happy with everything that happens. Finally, the story starts pretty tame, but it is M rated and there will be both significant drug use and sexual content, so if those things offend you, you may not want to read. And of course, I own none of the characters or settings.
Not long ago, Sharpay would have been appalled if someone told her that she would be spending her last day of her Junior year in the East High auditorium watching the Wildcats play two on two, while chatting with Gabriella Montez, Taylor McKessie, and Martha Cox. And yet, Sharpay was sitting in the bleachers, talking with the girls who not long ago had been strangers at best. She still wasn't sure how to feel about them, or any of the group that she had joined almost exclusively because they had befriended her brother. Sharpay had been pleasantly surprised to find that both Martha and Taylor had personalities that weren't completely tied to their Chemistry textbooks, and she didn't even feel too uncomfortable calling them her friends. Even Gabriella (once you got past her sickly sweet personality) had some good qualities. She was fun and easy to talk to, and made a surprisingly good shopping partner, which Sharpay thought of as easily the most important quality in a friend. If not for one single issue, Sharpay hated to admit that she and Gabriella could have become good friends.
Glancing towards the court, Sharpay spotted that issue. He was wearing gym shorts and an East High t-shirt that clung to his sweat-soaked body in a way that made Sharpay never failed to make Sharpay lose her train of thought. In her mind, Troy Bolton was the image of perfection in every way. Not only was she extremely attracted to him, Sharpay found him interesting, amusing, and even brilliant. Even when she had been trying to keep him out of the Winter Musical she knew that she loved his drive and passion. In fact, she knew that she had loved everything about Troy for as long as she had known what love was, and Sharpay knew that if it wasn't for Gabriella, she would be all that Troy thought about. For this, Sharpay knew that she and Gabriella could never be friends.
After seething for a few moments more, Sharpay turned her attention to the other Wildcats. Jason and Chad had taken longer to warm up to her than the others. Chad in particular had taken a while to see her as more than her "Ice Queen" persona, but they had reached a dynamic that may not have been friendly, but generally stayed civil. As usual, Zeke was the one who she thought about last. She generally found his infatuation with her endearing if sometimes tiring. Sometimes she even felt bad for always scorning his adoration, but she knew that her heart was pledged to another, and even if she hadn't loved Troy, Sharpay knew that her and Zeke would never work as a couple. But she certainly did enjoy having someone who so obviously worshiped her and give his affection no matter how poorly she treated him, and she would occasionally give him a glimmer of false hope to keep his infatuation alive.
"Sharpay?" a voiced said questioningly, driving her out of her thoughts. She turned and looked for the source of the voice, and saw that Gabriella had been trying to get her attention. "What is it?" she asked haughtily. Sharpay always used this tone with Gabriella, as a reminder to both herself and the other girl that they could never be too close. "I was just asking if you knew where Ryan and Kelsi are," Gabriella asked.
"Oh, they're working on ideas for the musical next year. Ms. Darbus is letting them write and choreograph next year's Fall Musical. I really don't understand why they're staying after school on the last day to work on it though." Even though she put on a dismissive front, Sharpay knew that both Ryan and Kelsi loved working on music, particularly with each other, and she actually admired the hard work and dedication that they both possessed. Normally she had no problem talking about this pride in her brother and friend, but at the moment she was feeling resentful towards both of them. Ryan and Kelsi were the only two in the group that she could truly consider herself close with, and they had left her with a group that consisted more of acquaintances than friends.
Her and Kelsi may not have had the easiest of relationships, and their communication was mostly made up of intimidation, but underneath that there was a layer of genuine respect. Sharpay may have thought Kelsi's compositions were too bland, but she recognized the level of talent that the other girl had. And Kelsi certainly thought Sharpay was too flashy and obsessed with the spotlight, but she also knew that without those qualities, Sharpay's performances would be much weaker. With Ryan, it was even better. The two were as close as you would expect identical twins who had spent much of their lives without any other real friends to be. They shared almost everything, and always encouraged each other's pursuits both on and off the stage. Ryan was also the only one that could occasionally convince Sharpay that she was wrong. Though far more often she dragged Ryan into her schemes, he was the only one who ever had a prayer at changing his sister's mind.
At that moment the two people she had been thinking about walked into the gym, laughing and chattering excitedly, and joined the girls in the bleachers. "Hey guys, how's the show going?" Martha greeted them. "It's going really well. We started another song today, and I'm really liking it," said Ryan. "Yeah, I think this show will be a lot better than Twinkle Towne. I really love working with Ryan…" Kelsi said, then stopped quickly and looked embarrassed. Ryan returned this comment with a bright smile, and the pair giggled quietly together. This exchange wasn't lost on any of the girls, who looked around at each other with intrigue at this new development between Ryan and Kelsi. It was an open secret among the group that there was something between Ryan and Kelsi, but they had never flirted so blatantly.
After the girls and Ryan talked for a few more minutes, the Wildcats decided to call it a game, and joined their friends in the stands, with Troy and Chad sitting next to Gabriella and Taylor, and Troy greeting Gabriella with a kiss (as usual, Sharpay discreetly glared at Gabriella when her lips met Troy's). "Good game?" Gabriella asked Troy. " I had my favorite cheerleader on the sidelines, of course it was good," he responded sweetly. "So how are we going to celebrate the first day of summer?" Sharpay cut in, more to stop the disgusting display than because she cared about making plans. "My parents said I could have people over," Jason said, "does 7 work for everyone?" There were no arguments, so the group agreed to meet that night at Jason's house and went their separate ways.
Hope you liked the first chapter. I'm sorry if it is a little slow, but it's more of an introduction to the characters. The actual plot will begin in the next couple of chapters. Please review and let me know what you thought, positive or negative.
Thanks again.