Author's Note: This will be my final Couple before I move on to another story in which I will call it "The Musical Chronicles." This is a three chapter story featuring Zeke and an OC character. Anyway... Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own High School Musical.

The Culinary Couple

Chapter 1

What Started As a Competition...

Zeke Baylor the Basketball Player/Musical Chef from East High made his way to Miami to take up Culinary Arts and music getting a bachelor's degree in both. Once he got into the college he went to he made himself at home. He began looking at his high school yearbook to look at everybody his basketball friends Troy, Chad, and Jason, especially his high school crush Sharpay Evans. Soon he began his 2-years there.

As soon as fall came around he was taking up culinary for the fall semester and music in the winter and he would toggle back and forth, around springtime when he took up culinary his class was having a competition every 2 weeks on a dish. His attention was turned to a woman with black hair and hazel eyes a tan skin tone and is of Spanish descent. He and this woman was at the top of the class. But when it came to Ratatouille as the dish for the competition it was down to the tasters and closely enough it was by a split decision but they chose Zeke's over the woman's the woman left out of the class some of the students saw her and found out that she was upset. Upon leaving the class, Zeke came across the woman sobbing while she's sitting on a stool. Zeke couldn't help but try to find out what was wrong.

"Miss is something wrong?"

The woman looked at him.

"Oh, Go Away!"

"I come in peace. I really loved your cooking, I do. And somehow I'm sorry if my win over you was something."

Still she sobbed but only quieter. With Zeke leaving he left to go back to his dorm. As he kept on he was thinking about finals in his spring semester.

Another 2 weeks went by and another contest came up the woman didn't participate in that as probably she didn't feel like losing again. As everybody left the woman came back in to speak to the teacher. Final was in another month and Zeke was about to leave campus to tour Miami. Upon leaving, almost being out of campus, he ran into the same woman he tried to console.

"Can I help you?" Zeke asked.

"I came to apologize." The woman said. "It's just, I've never been beaten before in cooking, and I love to cook. It's my passion."

"Oh, well okay."

"I spoke to my teacher and he told me that you voted for me as the first. Was my Ratatouille that good?"

"Yes."

This prompt a smile on the woman.

"My teacher also told me that I was trying too hard. Lately, I was, because never had I came across somebody who was as good of a chef as me."

"Well there's a first time for everything. Anyway, my name is Zeke Baylor."

"I'm. Clarissa Sanchez."

"Nice to meet you. I plan on walking around Miami. Maybe sometime we can chat after school?"

"Well, being this is after school hours I would love to join you on your walk if you would invite me."

"Well then Clarissa Sanchez, would you join me in my walk around Miami?"

"Sí. I can show you some great spots as well. If you'd like."

"I'd love that."

Zeke and Clarissa soon got out of the college and started the tour around Miami going to restaurants and recreational places. They were having as much fun together as they could. Upon walking back they had a talk.

"So has everything became a competition to you?" Zeke asked.

"Not really. My parents were singers and dancers and they always pushed me to do my best. When I was 6, I began singing until my school had a competition in which I competed in but I ended up losing."

"Oh..."

"My parents told me never to give up but I always took it as towards the strive to win. Once I lost in singing I tried to sing again for the fun of it but I ended up messing it up even after I continued. After that I swore never to sing again. The same as it went for dancing, art, anything I found interest in."

"I see."

"Then I found cooking as pretty much my last resort. Whenever I cooked people they said that I was a natural born cook. But now since I've lost against you in a competition..."

"Clarissa..."

"Yes?"

"Come with me to my dorm. I want to show you something."

Zeke and Clarissa went back to his dorm and Zeke pulled out his computer and played a peaceful song, Clarissa knew it all too well but was still worried. As she began to sing Zeke was listening to her and noticed how lovely she was singing increasing the range of her performance as the song went on. When the solo came up with a vocalizing part, she let go and was singing. Zeke couldn't believe Clarissa's statement of singing she was singing like an angel. When the song was over Zeke even gave her a standing ovation.

"Thank you." Clarissa said.

"I can't believe you would want to quit singing with a voice like that."

"Well like I said when I tried to perform a song after I lost, I felt like never singing again."

"Let me tell you a story."

Zeke pulled out his yearbook and showed her photos of his classmates.

"When I started in high school I was a basketball player for my school the entire 4 years. Now my other thing was I love to cook but it was a secret that I've kept from my classmates that is until my fellow teammate Troy, let his secret be known that he's a singer before this had happened, our school was under a dreaded concept of Status Quo where we should stick to what we know and what we do the best. But that all changed when the newcomer Gabriella came to our school her story is kind of similar to your subjects."

"As in?"

"She was moving from one place to another in most of her life barely making friends until she came to our school to finish her years."

"I understand. But as for me I just kept to myself to tell you I have no friends."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah I know. Somehow I feel that I wouldn't be a good friend to anyone."

"Well you've been a good one to me."

"Thanks."

"Well to continue. When Troy and Gabriella sang for the part at our junior winter musical, Sharpay didn't like it."

"I notice Sharpay loves pink."

"Yes that seems to be her favorite color along with gold, she also likes blue and black. what's your favorite color?"

"Orange."

"Lovely color."

"Yeah I noticed that people love wearing mainstream colors like Red, Blue, Pink, Purple, Yellow, Green. I stay away from them. If I like any of those two it would be Yellow and Purple. the ones I like after Orange, are Brown and Gray, I'm more of a neutral woman."

"I understand."

"So what happened after?"

"Well when Sharpay didn't win the part she didn't give up on her dream, she just kept trying. but before our graduation she didn't have much friends until she saw how supportive we were to her. And I would know because I had a crush on her and I was her prom date."

"You must love to sing as well."

"I do. Which is why I have my yearbook to keep me motivated on what my goal is, and for my dream? Is to open a musical restaurant in Broadway."

Clarissa began to look down because all this time for her was just a competition nobody told her nothing else except treat everything like a competition.

"I see."

"Clarissa?"

"All this time. I didn't have any motivation in my past endeavors. My dream was to be number 1 at something."

"Well Clarissa think of it like this... Do what you do best, don't struggle and keep on going until the very end. even if you entered something and lost, What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. today's loss leads to a future win."

"Thanks."

"Anytime."

Clarissa gave Zeke a hug. it was cool for her to know that this was someone who believes that she can do better because he believes in her. As they left the dorm they came across a flier of a singing contest.

At the day of the contest Clarissa signed up and began to sing. Before she got on there Zeke told her something.

"Clarissa, if ever you feel nervous, pretend that no one's here and that you sang because you felt happy."

"Okay. and Zeke."

"Yes?"

"If anything, you have become my new inspiration."

"Thanks. Gook luck."

"Thanks."

Clarissa got up there and Zeke was in the front row cheering her on. she sang as beautifully as she could and the crowd loved her performance. At the end she won and Clarissa was excited that she won. She couldn't believe it. but when she got down she went to Zeke and gave him a kiss. And they went out after that to celebrate by dancing.