It had been many weeks and days since East High's victory against West High, and many things had happened. Everyone had learned about eachother, and they learned to always stick up for eachother. Finally, cliques were looser; people were allowed to ' do other stuff'. Troy Bolton was in his room, preparing for the first day back and thinking about what the school term would be like. There was a knock at his door.

Troy: Come in

Mr Bolton appears.

Troy: (surprised) Hey Dad...do you need to talk to me?

Mr Bolton: Yeah, I wanted to apologise.

Troy: Apologise? For what?

Mr Bolton: Last term, I pushed you so hard to do well in basketball. You were happy but with one thing. Now, after I have stopped pressuring you, you smile more and I know that you play the game we both love for more than just the reason to win.

Troy: That's nothing to apologise for, I love basketball, I just play it for enjoyment, not pressuring myself to win and I'm fine.

Mr Bolton: That's good. This term, it's all up to you. No pressure, just enjoyment.

Troy: Thanks, dad.

Mr Bolton leaves room.

Troy looks in the mirror.

( Outside the Bolton's House )

Chad appears in Troy's driveway.

Chad: What's with you?

Troy: Nice to see you to, Chad.

Chad: Sorry. But seriously, it's the first day back and you look totally happy. What with that?

Troy: ( smiling ) nothing, just happy to have freedom.

Chad: Ok. Maybe when we get to our first class it'll knock some thought into you.

Troy: So, what did you do with Taylor over vacation?

Chad: Stuff in her favour, then in my favour. We went to museums and exhibitions then went to games and concerts.

Troy: Sounds ok. Gabby and I spent it just plain hanging out.

Chad: Did you guys practice for the musical this term?

Troy: Yeah, we saw Sharpay a few times and she was nice, but she was acting really weird.

Chad: Sharpay is weird. Remember, we promised never to try and understand the female mind.

Troy: ( laughing ) come on, we gotta get to class.

( At school )

Everyone comes in homeroom but Ms Darbus is late. Luckily, Kelsi is now part of their homeroom class.

Gabby: I missed you guys! I and Troy were practicing non-stop, we didn't see anyone!

Troy: Hey, It's not my fault, why did you have to be so good at singing?

Taylor: ( laughing ) Well Chad and I did everything... Most of it in his favour.

Chad: Hey, I didn't want to know as much about the Aurora Australis as you did!

Taylor: whatever, it was still fun when I had to explain everything to you.

Jason comes into the classroom and immediately trips, falling onto Kelsi's desk.

Jason: Sorry, Kelsi.

Kelsi: ( happily ) for what?

Jason: for falling on your desk

Kelsi: ( snaps out of it ) Oh! Right, it's ok.

Everyone laughs except Kelsi and Jason

Ryan enters room by himself, a big change from being Sharpay's puppy dog. Sharpay enters soon after.

Ryan: Hey guys. Are you ready for the musical?

Troy: Yeah. We practiced and we know everything off by heart.

Sharpay: Well, let's hope you don't get sick!

Gabby: Why?

Sharpay: ( laughs ) Well, you know! If you get sick, I'm an understudy and I would take your place. That would be awful, wouldn't it?

Everyone is confused because Sharpay says this smiling.

Kelsi: Anyway, you guys can come and practice with me at lunch, but we need someone to play drums.

Jason; ( immediately ) I'll do it!

Kelsi: Really?

Jason: yeah,...um I love to play drums!

Kelsi: ok, great. Just come by at lunch.

Troy and Gabby smile.

Gabby: Maybe this lunch you and Jason should just practice, you know, get the music right. Troy and I can come later.

Troy: ( understanding ) Yeah, It'll be hard if you have to play with our voices the first time.

Kelsi: but... Oh ok.

No one sees, but then, turning away, Jason and Kelsi have the biggest smiles on their faces as Ms. Darbus walks in.

( At lunch )

Kelsi is in the music room as Jason enters

Jason: Hey

Kelsi: Oh hey, I have the music for you.

Taking the sheet music.

Jason: Um...ok.

Kelsi: Just play it once through, I'll tell you if you make a mistake.

Jason: ( nervous) uhh...sure.

Jason begins to play, completely off tempo, wrong notes, nothing right. Kelsi looks at him, attempting to look at the music as he keeps hitting the drums.

Kelsi: Uh, Jason? Have you ever played drums before?

Jason looks at the ground

Kelsi: Ever played any instrument before?

Jason: No.

Kelsi: Then how come you volunteered to help me?

Jason: Because, I don't know you well enough. I thought that we would know eachother better during vacation but you were at a Music Workshop most of the time.

Kelsi: ( surprised ) How did you know where I was?

Jason: Did I mention I called your house a million times?

Kelsi: ( smiling ) And why did you do that?

Jason: Because... you seem nice, and I don't know how to do anything but play basketball. I can't even walk without falling! I thought you were the only person nice enough to teach me something different.

Kelsi: ( happily ). Alright, I'll teach you and we'll know eachother better then.

Jason: I'd like that.

They both smile, and Kelsi begins to teach him.

( The next day in Homeroom )

Ms Darbus walks in with a shy girl by her side.

Troy : Who's that?

Ms Darbus : This is Layla. She is a new student but has come one day late because of flight delay. Therefore, she will need someone to show her around to her classes.

Sharpay : I'll do it!

Everyone looked at Sharpay as though she were from another planet. It wasn't in Sharpay's nature to help ANYONE. Let alone a new student. Sharpay looked around.

Sharpay : What?

Ms Darbus : Thankyou Sharpay. Layla also has a twin brother at East High but he came last year, so you won't be entirely busy.

Layla went to her assigned seat. Sharpay leaned over. Layla looked at her in surprise.

Layla : Thanks for offering to show me around, Sharpay...right?

Sharpay : Right. I mean, come on, I couldn't let you suffer by letting Gabriella show you around!

Layla looked confused.

Layla : Gabriella? Which one is that?

Sharpay pointed to Gabby, who was studying over her lines with Troy.

Sharpay : Her and that guy beside her, Troy, got the leads in the musical this semester. They always get the leads. Since kindergarten.

Layla once again looked confused.

Layla : But Ms. Darbus told me that I should get to know Gabriella. She said that she was new at the start of this year.

Sharpay froze.

Sharpay : Yeah, that's where I come in. Before Gabriella came, me and my brother Ryan used to try our hardest and manage to be in the play everytime. But then, Gabriella came and Ms Darbus decided that she needed some difference in her choices. She chose Troy and Gabriella over ME!

Layla : You mean you and your brother.

Sharpay : What? Oh yeah. Anyway, Gabriella is the meanest girl you can meet. Last term, she just randomly went up to me and put fries all over me!

Layla : ( gasping ) that's awful!

Sharpay : I know, and I've always been out for revenge.

Layla : ( smiling ) If you have a plan, count me in.

Sharpay and Layla smiled at eachother. Phase One complete.