Okay so this is the first time I've ever posted anything on this site. Please be nice. Ciao!

Troy's POV:

Twinkle Towne…I suppose it was the start of it, the first time I really looked at Ryan Evans and finally noticed everything I should have seen from the beginning.

Of course he was always there, it was just that Sharpay tended to steal the limelight, her personality thrust towards you, Ryan becoming more of a background image, or an extra blurred into the background of a film. Twinkle Towne changed that, because, while Sharpay may have been the more outgoing twin, she wasn't the talent in the family. Together they were perfect, Ryan, on his own, was spectacular. Let loose of any bonds, free to move as he pleased, lost in his own little world, he outshone anyone else in the room.

Which was perhaps why Sharpay kept him caged; her little lapdog. That was what I thought initially anyway.

Could I have been anymore wrong? But then, I'm getting ahead of myself…

Troy's POV:

I can handle change, as long as it changes right back read the bold green print on Chad's shirt the day after the Twinkle Towne callbacks and I winced as I got the not so subtle message. Christ, a slap in the face might have got the message across with more tact, but then, Chad wasn't one to hide his feelings. He also had a mean left hook so thinking about it, I was glad he'd gone for the printed route of conveying his thoughts.

I sat down in silence as people milled around the cafeteria, whispers cut short as they noticed me trying in vain to eat my lunch in peace. Of course - considering I'd walked in on what seemed like a school sing-and-dance-along…and Zeke's baking announcement, which had made me hungry – it seemed unlikely I'd have peace for long.

'Troy Bolton' a voice said to my right, cutting through the whispers and startling people into silence. I closed my eyes and sent a quick prayer to the gods that Ms. Darbus, the owner of the voice, would take mercy and not leave me wanting of a few body parts.

'Ms…how good to see you…here' I attempted feebly, then gave into silence as she practically started to steam. I distantly noticed Ryan standing behind her, awkwardly holding what seemed like a plate of nachos, seeming to consider whether or not to eat it. A distant scream of fury that sounded a lot like Sharpay made the now silent cafeteria jump and Ryan lose his hold on the nachos…which he had apparently decided to eat judging by the devastated look on his face when they hit the floor.

'Mr. Bolton. As you know you have been granted a callback for the musicale. However, I am not sure you appreciate the stage as of yet.' Ms. Darbus stated. I considered speaking but then gave up when I realized I had no clue how to respond to her statement aside from a possible are you on crack? which I wisely decided she wouldn't appreciate.

'So, I have come up with the solution. Ryan is going to give you training. Musicale boot camp if you like. If you succeed in dazzling me in your final tryout, which I have rescheduled for a month away, then you will have the lead. If not, and you are taking this as a joke, then you succeed in a month of detention, helping the drama students prepare for their musicale.'

If it was possible the room got quieter as Ryan and I both stared at Ms. Darbus in horror. She smiled at my reaction, 'Best get moving, only 31 days to go Mr. Bolton' and with that; she exited the room…dramatically of course.

Sharpay's POV:

'But Ms. Darbus! Ryan and I need the time to practice! How are we going to be perfect when Ryan has to help Troy?' Sharpay yelled, her voice raised high in anger.

The object of her anger, Ms. Darbus, sat across from her, calmly eating a chocolate as she thought about her ingenious plan. That boy would not ruin her musicale, no matter how well he could sing. Troy would never last the month, if his basketball group…team…thing didn't nag him to death just for joining the musical, they would freak at the thought of their golden boy spending time with, not to mention dancing with, the school gay. It also didn't hurt that Sharpay was now after blood, because what that girl wanted, she got.

'I've already got a solution for that.' Ms. Darbus replied, 'I'm auditioning the lead roles separately, so you won't need to be partnered with Ryan to practice, and considering both Ryan and Troy are going for the same role it will be easy for them to work together. Maybe you and Gabriella could work together'

Sharpay's scream of fury could be heard all through the school.

Ryan's POV:

'RYAN' Sharpay screamed as she stalked down the school hallway towards her brother, people leaping to the sides in order to move out of her way. Ryan looked up at her, his expression neutral, raising his eyebrow in question to her screams.

'Did someone tow your car again?' Ryan asked innocently and Sharpay glared at her brother.

'Are you ever going to let go of that. I didn't know it was a handicapped spot, they should make the signs bigger' Sharpay retorted, then stomped her foot angrily, 'That isn't even the point. Ryan they're taking away our musical!'

Ryan shrugged, 'Maybe it's time for a little change…or not…' Ryan broke off at the expression on his twin's face. 'Don't worry, it's not likely that Troy is going to do this training thing anyway, which means that there's no competition, we'll be the leads like always'

'What is with you people? How are you all so calm, drama is being taken over by nerds and jocks! This is not what I want!'

'Oh oh, you're not going to start singing again are you?' Ryan said tiredly, his expression dull.

'Hey…Ryan?' Troy's voice said from behind Sharpay, causing her to whirl around off balance to smile flirtatiously at him. Troy nervously cast a look at Sharpay then went back to focusing on Ryan, who quickly developed an interest in the floor. 'I was wondering, with this boot camp…thing,' Troy paused and Ryan shoulders slumped a little as he prepared himself to be gently told public humiliation gained by hanging out with him wasn't what Troy had signed up for and that he quit the musical.

'Is after school okay with you?' Chaos erupted; books hit the floor, lockers were slammed on fingers, people stopped mid step, Sharpay's mouth dropped open and Ryan even looked up from the floor at the simple statement which completely destroyed the status quo.

'Sure' Ryan finally said in a strangled voice and Troy nodded once and headed on his way, seemingly oblivious of the shocked faces surrounding him. Sharpay slowly turned to face Ryan, who looked equally shocked, if not more.

'We have to stop this. It's completely ruining the school.' Sharpay said slowly, her brain clicking away. Finally she smiled and clicked her fingers at Ryan, a light bulb having gone off. 'Ryan, you have to make it as bad as you can. Really make him hate it…'

'Sharpay, I don't think -'Ryan started to say but Sharpay cut him off, her eyes gleaming evilly.

'Come onto him' she said simply and Ryan stomach dropped, his eyes widening.

'No' Please no, anything else, not this Ryan thought, but Sharpay simply glared, then smoothed her expression out, turning puppy dog eyes on her brother instead. 'Please Ry, just once, for us, for the musical. I promise you wouldn't have to go far, Troy would probably freak out at the slightest indication of flirting anyway'

'I can't…not with him' Ryan whispered, his heart pounding painfully. Troy was the one person who didn't call him names, who didn't treat him like he didn't deserve to live. The one person who had ever stood up for him and the only person Ryan had ever loved.

Sharpay scoffed. 'You can't still be into him. He's straight Ryan, believe me. Give up on your fantasy and realize he's never going to look at you like that. However, what you can do is save our musical.'

'I can't'

'Yes. You can, and you will'