Note: This is my first story posted here on and it's also my first HSM story, though I have been writing for a few years now. I'd love to hear what you guys think of my story... I'll try to update soon.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters and I don't know any of the actors.

Couples: Troy/Gabriella, Chad/Taylor, Zeke/Sharpay, Jason/Kelsi, Ryan/Martha

Chapter 1

Chad Danforth leaned back in his chair and slipped his arm around his girlfriend Taylor McKessie's shoulder. She took her eyes away from the movie screen and smiled up at him before she leaned into his embrace.

Friday night was Chad's favorite night of the week for multiple reasons: it began the two days away from his wacked out homeroom teacher Ms. Darbus, two days sleep in as late as he wanted, two days to goof off with his boys and time to hang out with his favorite girl.

While he and Taylor sat in the dark movie theatre watching a movie, his best friend Troy Bolton was on a date with Taylor's best friend Gabriella Montez and his other friends Zeke Baylor and Jason Cross were out on dates with their significant others. Unlike Jason's girlfriend Kelsi Nielson, who everyone loved, Zeke's girlfriend Sharpay Evans was East High's resident drama queen and got on everyone's last nerve. Even Sharpay's twin brother Ryan confessed that he wanted to stuff a sock in her mouth on more than one occasion.

After the movie ended, Chad escorted Taylor to the ice cream shop on the other side of the mall.

"Oh, look, Troy and Gabriella are here," Taylor informed him as they walked into the shop. "I'm going to go say hi to them, you know what I like."

She rushed off as Chad got in line to order two ice cream cones, one with chocolate chip cookie dough for himself and one with mint chocolate chip for Taylor. He ordered, paid then watched as the employee scooped ice cream into the cones. Then he took them and headed towards the table that Troy, Gabriella and Taylor were seated at.

"Here you go, Tay," he said as he handed her the ice cream cone. "Hey guys."

"Thanks," Taylor smiled. "Hey, don't you think it would be fun to go out on a double date with Troy and Gabi?"

Chad paused in mid-bite and looked at his best friend, unsure how to answer.

"It could be fun," Troy said with a shrug.

"Uh, sure, I guess," Chad stated, hoping nobody could sense the uneasiness in his voice.

"We better go, Gabi," Troy said, glancing at his watch. "It's almost eleven."

"I'll call you tomorrow," Gabriella said, giving Taylor a hug. "We'll plan the big date."

"Video games at my house tomorrow?" Troy asked Chad as they did the crazy handshake that had become second nature to them.

"Oh yeah," Chad nodded. "And lemme tell you this, you're going down!"

"Psh," Troy said, giving Chad a playful shove. "Ain't never happened before!"

"I'll call Jason and Zeke," Chad offered as Gabriella grabbed Troy's hand. "What time should we be there?"

"Two o'clock," Troy replied. "See ya."

"We should probably go too," Taylor stated as Chad sat down to eat his, now melting, ice cream cone.

Chad looked at his pathetic ice cream cone then dropped it in the cup Troy had left on the table; his mom would blow a fuse if he showed up late for curfew again. "Let's go." He picked up the cup and threw it way then took Taylor's hand and led her out of the ice cream shop.

Taylor chattered non-stop about the upcoming double date as they walked out to the parking lot, she didn't even stop when Chad unlocked the passenger door of his used, 2001 Jeep Wrangler, helped her in and shut the door. He shook his head as he rounded the jeep then climbed in. He turned on the radio and flipped to her favorite station, but she kept talking.

"Chad? Is everything okay?" Taylor asked as he pulled up in front of her house. "You're really quiet tonight."

"Uh, yeah," Chad nodded, forcing a smile on to his face. "Just listening to your ideas for our double date with Troy and Gabriella."

"I'm so excited," Taylor gushed as began to talk quickly about what she might wear and where she thought they should go.

Chad climbed out of the jeep and opened her door. He grabbed her hand to help her down then walked her up to her front door.

"I had a great time tonight, Chad," Taylor smiled. "And you were right, the movie we saw tonight was really good. I never really liked Kate Hudson, but now I-"

Chad cut her off by placing his full lips onto hers then pulled away a few seconds later. "Goodnight," he whispered before he casually walked back to his jeep. Once inside, he turned on the engine and switched the station to a local hip-hop station and drove the five blocks to his house. He pulled into the drive way and walked into his house with thirty seconds to spare. "MOM, I'M HOME," he called.

"How was your date with Taylor?" His mom asked. "Was the movie good?"

"It was good, mom," Chad shrugged. "The movie was pretty good too."

"Troy called five minutes ago and said he already called Jason and Zeke," his mom told him. "He said something about seeing you tomorrow?"

"Oh right, mom, can I hang out with the guys tomorrow afternoon?" Chad asked, giving her a large smile.

"You may, as long as you get your homework done and mow the lawn first," she said.

"Ah, mom," he groaned. "That'll take forever."

"Not if you get up before noon," she smiled. "Now, I'm going to bed, so don't stay up too late."

"Yes ma'am," Chad sighed. When his mom disappeared down the hall, he went into the kitchen and made himself a ham and turkey sandwich then settled in front of the TV.

He wondered if Troy was as uneasy about the double date as he was. Though having known Troy since they were 3 or 4, Chad doubted it. Troy had no problems showing that he was a man of many sides, especially since he and Gabriella had starred in Twinkle Towne. But Troy didn't care what people thought of him and if he did, he didn't show it.

But Chad had always been the sporty guy, always playing some sport, the first one to see the action flicks and always listening to hip-hop, but when he started dating Taylor he found another side to himself. When he was with Taylor, he could be himself and used her as an excuse to go to the movie theatre to see the romantic comedies he enjoyed and often blamed her for the station his radio was on if one of the guys got into his jeep. He could only imagine the teasing he would get if his friends found out the truth… they'd never let him live down the fact that it was him who choose to watch the chick flicks while Taylor was more into the action packed movies.

That's why they would never find out. This date couldn't happen… he just had to figure out a way to get it canceled and not have it be rescheduled, without hurting anybody in the process.