Chapter 1: The Bet

It was Monday evening rehearsals in the auditorium and two people sat in the back row, their heads close together. Ryan and Sharpay were having a heated discussion.

"I'm telling you Ryan," hissed Sharpay.

"There's no way Troy Bolton is gay," she laughed incredulously. She patted her brothers shoulder pityingly as if he was being a pathetic five year old. Ryan was staring ahead, his mouth slightly open in a concentrated sort of way. Curiously Sharpay followed his line of vision, she saw Troy dancing to a fast piece of music on stage, wearing a tight fitted vest. Sharpey stared too.

"I mean look," she said diplomatically, wrenching her concentration back to Ryan.

"His movements are far too stiff," she demonstrated with her hands, knocking Ryan's hat out of place. He still didn't move. Sharpay sighed, resenting that her own brother was ignoring her. She took an emory board from her purse and began to file her nails with exaggerated movements.

"One hundred dollars," Ryan suddenly said, turning right around to face Sharpay. She didn't look up from her nails, "'scuse me, but what are you babbling about?" her voice was bored and dull. Ryan slyly noticed she had paused the grooming of her nails and that her eyes were fixed still.

"Hundred dollars says I'll get a full confession off Bolton in three months," he said, casting a sneaky glance at her. Sharpay considered it for a moment, looking back at the stage again. She observed Troy skittering about with narrowed eyes.

"Deal!" she agreed confidently, linking pinky fingers with him.

The bell rang ,signaling that free period was over, people began to filter out of the theater. Sharpay hurried up behind Ryan as he made for the exit.

"Let the games begin," she whispered in his ear and then pushed past him, swaying her hips as she walked. Ryan shook his head and followed her.

NEXT DAY :

"Embrace your inner soul and welcome the spirit of drama. Spread your wings and take flight along the clouds, rise to the top on the hot jets of success. For you're all budding stars. Waiting to blossom !" cried Miss Darbus, her arms spread wide to the theater. Everyone gave a polite murmur and then settled down again,to the sound of paper being ruffled.

"I've made a slight change to the narrative," she said, handing out new scripts. "It was all the idea of a student who wishes to remain anonymous," Sharpay looked meaningfully at Ryan and he glanced away immediately. As the members of the musical studied their scripts there was a chatter of interest. Miss Darbus started again, "I thought it would be interesting to study the opinions about homosexuality in the era of Victorian Britain. So instead of the characters Johnathan and Elizabeth, played by Troy and Sharpay. I have edited the cast list and the characters to fit the new script." she paused and looked over the top of her glasses at the students, as if daring anyone to object.

"So the new narrative is as follows; Victorian Britain. And two homosexuals, Johnathan and Martin try to deny their love for each other out of fear. Soon their love transcends and they begin a relationship. In the tragic end, Johnathan is persecuted and beaten to death by a private police force . Martin peruses the case and stands up for gay rights. Simple?" she said expectantly. A stunned silence returned from the students. Sharpay looked pleasantly surprised, Ryan was smirking and Troy looked mortified. Miss Darbus shook a crease out of her notes and took a deep breath.

"The cast..." everybody in the auditorium held their breath, "are as follows:

Johnathan Wilkes: Troy Bolton

Martin Doyle: Ryan Evans

Johnathan's Wife: Sharpay Evans..."

That was all Ryan needed to hear. He sank back into his seat with a smug grin and watched the backs of Troy's ears go pink.

Sharpay seemed to be in shock throughout the rest of rehearsal. Ryan knew it was the first time she'd ever been third on the cast list. They had always been paired off together at the top of the rank, but now things were changing.

"Act four, scene three if you please!" called Miss Darbus briskly, taking a quick referral to her notes. Ryan shot up like a lark and hurried away, he nearly bumped into Troy on the way to the stage. Ryan smiled and then sidestepped around him. This was the act where they kiss in the rain. Ryan had thought about it many times. He decided to be robot like, almost the way a surgeon makes an incision in a body. After all Troy looked like he wanted nothing more than to sink into the ground, there was no point in them both being bashful. Miss Darbus made a gesture with her hand, to hurry them on. Eventually Troy stumbled his way onto the stage and looked at his feet, script dangling weakly by his side. Ryan cleared his throat.

"I couldn't wait to see you," he read, his voice hinted with agony. Ryan took a step forwards, with the bold footsteps his character demanded.

"I'm crazy for doing this" Troy replied flatly. Standing stock still, his shoulders stiff and rigid.

"NO!" roared Miss Darbus, shaking her head and hands at the same time.

"Where do you think you are Troy?" she said, taking her glasses off so her eyes looked considerably smaller, almost like she was squinting. He shuffled his feet.

"More passion!, imagine Ryan is a woman- the love of your life- if it helps!" she said in exasperation and dimmed the lights again.

Troy concentrated fiercely, his stomach felt like it was hosting a tea party of rhinos. Ryan repeated his line, stepping closer again, his eyes burning madly with passion. Troy gulped, this felt wrong, oh so wrong. What would the guys say if they ever saw this?

"I'm crazy for doing this," he replied huskily, hating how true his voice sounded. Suddenly Troy felt the avid attention of everybody in the theater. He risked a glance at Ryan, who looked completely comfortable. It was okay for him, he was gay anyway.

Ryan stepped up to him and snaked a hand around Troy's waist, yanking him against his own body. He gazed intently at he freckles on Troy's nose, fighting the urge to keep a serious face.

'How cute' he thought.

"What if somebody sees...u-" Troy's face was a darker shade of crimson now. Ryan pressed his long finger against his lips. It felt cool against his heated skin.

"Stop what-iffing, just don't speak," he said after a quick glance at his script. It was time for that moment. The stage kiss Troy had been dreading, he felt Ryan's finger trace the outline of his lips, and then that pair of icy blue eyes swam dangerously close. Troy felt himself being dipped over, a hand on the small of his back rubbing small circles, down . Down. Down. Hot minty breath blew in his face, and then ...the bell rang. Troy jerked his head to the side so Ryan's kiss landed on his cheek. Feeling like a bag of nerves he stood up straight, took a step back from the drama King, and rushed off the stage. His knees knocked together as he grabbed his bag and practically sprinted from the auditorium into the main flood of students in the hall.

Ryan smirked at Sharpay, however a strange feeling of reject stirred inside of him. He brushed it off and thought about how fun the next rehearsals would be.

A/N: Oh well, what do you think? I can promise More excitement to come! It's not just going to be a brainless dribble. It will get interesting later, so be patient! XD

(p.s-when I sign my name as Gabriella, that is actually my name. I'm not trying to be like the character...oh yeah and take into consideration I haven't seen HSM2...i only watched the first one yesterday)

Much Love!

Gabriella