AN: This is an old story of ours, and therefore, this story will be HEAVILY edited.

Paris, Ma'Cherie

Getting Ready

Sharpay flipped open her diamond encrusted Sidekick LX and checked the time.

4:15 AM, She thought to herself, tossing the phone to the end of her bed, landing on top of a pile of pink monogrammed duffle bags and another pile of multicolored Abercrombie Tees.

I hope the Frenchies like Abercrombie, She sat on a large and overstuffed pink suitcase, attempting to zip it shut, because I brought a whole trunk load.

Sharpay abandoned the idea of closing the suitcase. Instead, she began riffling through her pink Prada tote.

In a matter of minutes, she had been able to pull out four pairs of sunglasses, a pair of silver pumps, a variety of eye shadows, a tube of Tropical Palms flavored Lip Shimmer, a bag of Crunchios (her new-found favorite snack), and 3 fuzzy purple ink pens.

What can I get rid of? She thought to herself, checking her hair in the vanity mirror beside her before staring down at the mound of various items. I need all of this!

She quickly pressed the bright blue button on the intercom in her room.

"Belfred?" she buzzed.

"Yes, Miss Evans?" the British butler cooed.

"Can you finish packing up my belongings and meet me back in the foyer at around…4:50ish?" Sharpay asked, but before he could reply, she quickly buzzed back in a cheery voice. "See you soon, Belfred!"

As Sharpay turned to leave her room, she checked the full length mirror at her bedside.

She had gained a few pounds during the first weeks of summer. 5 pounds to be exact, but she had put it off and put it off and now…

"Urgh!" she moaned, purposely sticking out her belly for added effect. She threw the bag of Crunchios into the trashcan, and grabbed the Mixed Berry health bar her mom had set out for her midnight snack. But just as she was about to leave, Sharpay quickly grabbed the bag back out of the trash and abandoned the health bar.

I'll start my diet tomorrow… She promised herself, knowing well that it was going to be just another empty promise…


Chad stuffed his small, overcrowded duffel bag with the last of his jeans. He had made a deal with Troy that if he wore only jeans for the whole trip, even in the blazing heat, then he would give him $30. And, of course, Chad accepted.

He tucked his brown and black basketball into the bag, just in case they had time for a quick one on one, before slinging it over his shoulder and marching out of the room, quietly shutting the door behind him. It was only 5 A.M. so his parents were still sleeping, and he really didn't want to disturb them.

He quickly scribbled out a note on one of his basketball shaped sticky's:

I left for school

We are going to meet up and then take a shuttle to the airport

I love you guys and I promise I'll write every once in awhile.

See you next month!

-Chad

Chad turned on his heels and walked into the kitchen, grabbed the last Banana flavored Fruit Popple. He stuck the note on the front of the fridge, and quickly headed out the door, turning around once and staring back at his creaky old house. It wasn't the best house to live in, seeing as it was on the busiest street in the one of the poorest communities around the school, but it worked.

When I become a famous basketball star, I'll buy us all a new house to live in…He promised himself, stepping out into the Albuquerque sun and beginning his 30 minute walk to school.


Troy snapped his carry-on bag closed and glanced up at the large metal framed clock hanging on the center of his wall.

5:12 A.M. He told himself, checking his flight schedule for the fourth time in the last ten minutes.

Troy put on his black RED HAWKS jacket that he had gotten from Sharpay's dad and quickly threw his bag over his leather clad shoulder.

Zzzzt! Zzzzt! Zzzzzzzzzzzt! Troy's cell phone vibrated on the inside of his pocket as he scrambled to pick it up.

"Hello?" He asked wearily.

"Hey…um, how excited are you! I mean, this trip is going to be totally awesome!" the crisp, clear voice of Gabriella came through the speaker of his cell.

"Yeah it's gonna be 'rad. I just finished packing up my homework and stuff. I figured I'll do it on the plane." He rubbed his eyes, making the bags under them more prominent than ever.

"Um…Troy? We don't have any homework…"

"Make-up work" he insisted, "I forgot to do it…it was due last, erm…last Friday I think…"

"Well…Mom said breakfast is ready, so I'll see you soon!" Gabriella didn't even say goodbye before hanging up the other end.

What the…? Troy thought, hanging up abruptly after hearing the dial tone buzz.

He clicked up the handles of his two suitcases and quickly maneuvered around the piles of dirty laundry and school books in his room.

"I'm out, Ma,'" he called up to the shiny oak banister on the second floor balcony where his parents' room was.

""Bye darling!" His mother came running out of her bathroom in a flowing burnt orange nightgown with her fluffy purple robe half sliding down her shoulder. "I'll miss you! Call me everyday!"

"Yeah…" Not gonna happen…"I promise Ma,'" Troy tugged at his two leathery suitcases and ran for the door, before his father could give him one of his pep talks about not forgetting how to do a proper jump shot.

I am so…not playing basketball when I get there… Troy promised himself. Oh, who am I kidding?


Gabriella flung her cell phone onto the marble countertop of her kitchen tabletop and mashed up her eggs with the side of her fork.

"What's wrong, chica?" Her mother asked her, a gleam of worry washing over her brown eyes.

"Nothing mom," she replied, her voice low and robotic, totally different from that which she had used with Troy.

She was wearing a new light blue and dark blue striped Polo shirt over a pair of cream colored short shorts and her black Vans.

"You can tell me pumpkin!" Ms. Montez glanced at her watch. "But not now! I have to go to be at that book signing soon! Love you! Adiós!" she kissed her daughter on the top of her head, grabbed her briefcase, and quickly headed out the door.

"Bye mama!" She called to the closed door, hoping that her mother could hear her.

Gabriella glanced at the kitchen clock. 5:30 A.M. She thought, quickly grabbing her bags and heading outside, not bothering to turn the lights off or tidy up the spot where she had been eating.

"WAIT!" she called to her mother, who had just backed out of their long brick driveway. "Can you give me a ride to school?"