Chapter 1- So You Think You Can Dance?
There are only so many times one person can rehearse a tap routine without become exhausted and Ryan Evans was at his breaking point. Sweat beaded across his forehead and air heaved in and out of his chest. He looked across the stage at his sister, Sharpay. She, too, should have been rehearsing but instead she was tossing her long blonde hair and commanding a small gaggle of freshmen girls. A few girls offered the upperclassman sips from their water bottles and a few fanned her. One was on her knees, buffing Sharpay's gold character shoes. Ryan grinned to himself. It was just like her to round up a group of underlings. No doubt Ms. Darbus was looking the other way simply to please her most faithful Prima Donna. Usually the seasoned teacher would have shooed the girls out of the theatre but for Sharpay Evans, there were no rules.
Ryan sat back on the hard black of the stage and loosened his tap shoes. He removed his ball cap and wiped away the sweat before replacing it. A flash of red and white and the distinct tap of heels on hardwood distracted him from his twin and he turned to stare off into the auditorium, eyes settling on two figures among the seats. One was Gabriella Montez, barely sweating from the dance rehearsal, decked out in red and white sweats. The other was Troy Bolton. Gabriella stood, hands on hips, looking incredulously at her boyfriend. Troy was gesturing widely, obviously agitated. Gabriella rolled her eyes, shook her head and stormed out of the theatre. Troy stood alone. He shook his head and jogged towards the stage. He bounded up the steps and, after finding a suitable spot, began working vigorously on the dance for the opening number.
Ryan watched, amused and horrified at Troy's inability to perform simple dance moves. The star basketball player had the least amount of rhythm of any human being Ryan had ever seen. His jazz square was more of a jazz octagon and as he moved to spin, he tangled his own legs and crashed to the floor. Troy looked around, clearly embarrassed, and finally flopped on his back, closed his eyes, and laid spread eagle on the stage. Ryan suppressed a laugh and hoisted himself to his feet. He approached the defeated athlete, taps clicking. "You okay?"
Troy's eyes wrenched open and he sat up suddenly. "You saw that?"
"Yeah." Ryan held out a hand. Troy looked at it warily before taking it and allowing the other boy to help him off the floor.
"You make it look so easy." Ryan blushed.
"I've been dancing since I was five. I could say the same about you and basketball."
"Nah, man. Basketball's all rhythm and stuff. Dancing is hard."
"Dance is rhythm, too, you know."
"But it's not like the same thing."
"It's not that hard, I swear. I can help you if you want." Ryan regretted it as soon as it left his mouth. Troy was a busy star athlete with a beautiful girlfriend to help him with his dance moves, should he need it. And Ryan had Sharpay. That was enough work on its own.
"Really?" That really threw him.
"Of course. I mean, that's what friends do." Another mistake. Ryan was starting to think that perhaps he'd gone insane.
"Right. So you really think you can help me?"
"No problem. If you're free later on tonight, we have a practice room at home. I'd be happy to help you there." This was insane. If Troy so much as showed his face in the Evans' home, Sharpay would eat him alive. Summer alliances be what they may, Sharpay had no intention of giving up her quest for Troy's heart. She had a personal vendetta against Gabriella, the owner of Troy Bolton's heart.
"Is Sharpay okay with that?" No. Sharpay was most definitely not okay with that.
"Sure thing. I mean, it's my house too." It was his house, too. And he was lucky enough to have a room with a lock that prevented Sharpay from taking over it, too.
"Awesome! So, what, see you at, like 8?"
"Sure." Troy was grinning.
"Sweet! See you then!" Troy turned to walk away.
"Hey, Troy!" He turned back.
"Yeah?"
"Everything okay with you and Gabby?" Ryan had earned nickname privileges over the summer. He'd become closer and closer to Gabriella after their musical feat at Lava Springs.
"Eh. You know. Guy-girl stuff. Nothing big."
"Yeah." Actually, Ryan didn't know. 'Guy-girl stuff' wasn't something he was familiar with. 'Guy-guy stuff', however, was a subject he was much more comfortable with. Ryan had come to terms with his own sexuality ages ago and it only bothered him at times like this, when knowledge of heterosexual high school dating would come in handy.
"See ya, man." Troy strolled offstage, ignoring a widely-smiling Sharpay completely. The blonde girl made a face after him, shooed away her minions and joined Ryan.
"Why were you talking to Troy?" she demanded. Ryan stared blankly at her.
"What?"
"Oh, don't play dumb. What were you and Troy talking about?"
"Gabby." Sharpay's eyes narrowed.
"What about her?" Ryan shrugged.
"Apparently they're having a tiff." She smiled at this.
"Oh, really? About what?"
"He just said, 'guy-girl stuff'." Ryan regretted telling her anything. He was only giving her a chance to manipulate the situation in her favor.
"Hmm. Poor Gabriella. She must need a shoulder to cry on."
"I think that's what Taylor is for." Taylor McKessie was Gabriella's best friend and perhaps the smartest girl at East High.
"Psh. Taylor has the emotional abilities of a goldfish. Bag!" In an instant, three girls were hovering around them, holding Sharpay's green Prada bag out like an offering. Sharpay smiled. "You can go." They disappeared. Ryan raised an eyebrow at his sister.
"You really got 'em trained this year."
"They're like Chihuahuas. They're shaky, afraid of loud noises, and piss at the slightest move. I hate them but they're such cute accessories!" With this, Sharpay turned on her golden heels and flounced offstage. Ryan watched her go, shaking his head.
"Bye, Shar'!"
"Toodles!"
