"Sharpay has gone too far this time." Ryan Evans muttered under his breath. Troy Bolton heard him, and cocked his head to the side.
"What did Sharpay do?" Troy asked. Ryan shuddered, and lowered his head to the table he, Troy, and Gabriella were sharing.
"She…she…PLANNED MY 16TH BIRTHDAY PARTY!" Ryan yelled. The clamor of the dining room quieted for a moment, then grew louder. Gabriella chuckled behind her hand.
"Sounds fun! Can I come?" Ryan groaned and fell off his stool. Troy smiled and held out his hand to help Ryan up, not noticing the blush that spread across Ryan's face when the two grasped hands. Ryan coughed loudly, and Gabriella's face betrayed a hint of suspicion momentarily.
"So can we come to your party?" Troy asked obliviously. Ryan's face fell again.
"That's the worst part. She's invited all of the East High-turned-Lava-Springs employees!" Gabriella clapped her hands in excitement, and Troy put his hand on Ryan's shoulder. He understood how Ryan would be subjected to the cruelty and embarrassment that is Sharpay Evans, at her worst. This time, Troy noticed Ryan blush, and he took his hand off his shoulder, reddened as well.
"There will be pale blue and pink balloons," Ryan murmured, "an enormous pale blue cake with "Happy 16th, Ry!" written in lime green icing, music, dancing, and party games. I was told all of this about six minutes ago." He shuddered. If it were up to him, he would just have a couple of friends over to see a movie. He already knew he was getting a car. Gabriella was beginning to understand why Ryan was so horrified, and she sympathetically patted him on his hat.
"It won't be that bad, Ryan. All of your friends will be there!" Ryan mimed slicing his wrist with a butter knife, and Troy snatched it away and hit him on the head with it.
"None of that. So…when and where shall we get our party on?" Troy asked with a grin. Ryan sighed and stood up.
"Tomorrow, out on the golf-course at seven."
"…Where on the golf-course, Ry? It's huge." Gabriella giggled. Ryan rolled his eyes.
"It's Sharpay. You'll find it, no problem." Ryan snatched up his plate of fries and ran away. Troy yelled "See ya tomorrow!" but Ryan was already gone.
Dear Video-Diary, Ryan began, just like every night before, staring into his webcam.
I screwed up completely, and now Sharpay is planning my birthday party. Ugh… I'm not nine. I don't want a birthday party. But she's gotten it into her head that I'm getting one, so…I'm getting one. Joy. And of course, she's planned out all sorts of party games. Ryan smiled fakely, imitating Sharpay. Oh Ry, everyone will be having so much fun! I'm setting up a DDR machine; there'll be a disco, and…spin-the-bottle! Won't that be swell-a-fantastic?!? Teehee! Ryan coughed, and shook his head, back to his normal voice. She scares me. Still, spin-the-bottle could be promising. Knowing her, everyone will have to at least kiss someone, so maybe I'll get lucky. Ryan spun around and leaned out of his chair, looking past his door. Maybe, by some small glimmer of luck, I'll get to kiss…Troy Bolton. Ryan looked like he was about to say something else, but a voice interrupted his thoughts
"Ryan, come here for a moment! It's regarding your party tomorrow!" He heard his mother bellow. Rolling his eyes, he turned toward the camera.
That stays between you and me, diary. See you tomorrow! Ryan pressed a button on the keyboard, and turned off his monitor, running downstairs after hearing his mother yell again. He was too far away to hear his own voice on his computer, repeating "…maybe I'll get lucky. Maybe, by some small glimmer of luck, I'll get to kiss…Troy Bolton." Sharpay turned the monitor off again, and snuck out of her younger brother's room, already plotting her next move.