Everybody knows about the iPod challenge, ten songs randomly selected by your MP3 player that you write a story about. I have always wanted to try it. However, I am doing it my way. If this goes well I may do more than 10. Almost every story will be primarily Chadpay or Troypay except for a few exceptions. The first story is Chadpay. The second one will be Troypay. After that, I am willing to take request. The updates for this will be sporadic. I Will probably only update when I have writer's block for one of my main stories.
The title for this story comes from one of Chad's crazy shirts in the first film.
Disclaimer: I do not own High School Musical or any of the songs from the film.
Title: Can I Have This Dance?
Summary: Chad and Sharpay attend the most uncomfortable wedding ever.
Pairing: Chadpay with mentions of past one sided Troypay and Taylor/Chad with an unfortunate smidge of Troy/Gabriella.
Inspired by: Can I Have This Dance by Adam Anders and Nikki Hassman from the HSM3 soundtrack
Yes, for some odd reason my MP3 player decided to begin this exercise with a HSM song. Who says computers do not have a sense of humor.
Warning: this story is not edited by a beta
She stood outside on the balcony with Chad by her side, watching the happy couple have their first dance as Mr. and Mrs. Bolton-Montez. The whole thing confused Sharpay. She did not know if she wanted to throw up at the sight of the sickeningly sweet couple or cry into her champagne at the thought of losing Troy for good.
She did not know why she let Chad talk her into coming to this event. Even though Sharpay considers Troy to be a friend now, she did not want to see his happily ever after rubbed in her face. Especially, any happily ever after involving Gabriella Montez, Sharpay still could not stand the girl. The things one does for your friends can be quite surprising. Chad could not deal with being Best Man with his ex girlfriend as the Maid of Honor. Therefore, he begged Sharpay to be his date to the most uncomfortable wedding of the century.
The breakup between Chad and Taylor was beyond ugly. Taylor cheated on Chad for most of the first year of college with senior pre law student who shared her White House dream. Worst of all Taylor did not tell Chad about the other person. Instead, Chad found out about the affair via Taylor's Twitter account. She never apologized for her cruel behavior.
Chad dropped out of everything for a while after the breakup. The only person who he let comfort him was Sharpay. Now five years later, Chad was forced to interact with the woman who tore his heart in to little pieces and her now perfect husband. As his one of his good friends, she was going to protect him by any means necessary.
Sharpay did not know how it happened, however, at some point between high school graduation and this wedding nearly six years later Chad Danforth became her best friend. She helped him through the great Taylor break up of 2009, with junk Food and setting him up on dates with her sorority sisters. He helped her get over the loss of her Broadway dream by helping her find her new path in the world of education. She was there for him when he realized that the NBA was just not going to happen. He was there for her when she lost both her parents in that horrible blackberry triggered car accident two years ago. They were there for each other when they were brand new teachers at West High the year before. Even if it made her extremely uncomfortable to watch the object of her high school affections marry someone else, she would be there for Chad now.
"I can't believe they chose the song from our prom as the song for their first dance. That is the tackiest thing I have ever seen at a wedding. Taylor should have prevented this from happening." Sharpay said as she took another drink of her champagne.
"The two of them sing this song together on Troy's new album. I think it's cute." Chad answered Sharpay as he placed his glass on a nearby table.
"That just makes it even tackier. We all know that their famous. They don't need to show it off." Sharpay said bitterly as she took another drink of her champagne.
"You use to love doing that to everyone." Chad pointed out with a smile.
"Yes, but that's when I had money and was not just lowly school teacher." Sharpay said sarcastically.
"You still have a greater net worth then the two of them combine. You live in a mansion in the most affluent suburb in Albuquerque. You have two Lexus and three BMWs. Sharpay, you teach high school drama because you love teaching. On the other hand, I teach high school English and coached the girls' basketball team to pay the bills. I do not even own a car and I live in your servants' quarters. "
"You teach because you want to and you love it. You live with me because you know I would hate being by myself and I love you anyway because of it. You do not live in the servants' quarters you have the room next to mine. However, it does not matter because half the time you end up falling asleep in my bed anyway. You don't have a car because you have way too much fun driving my collection." Sharpay answered taking the final drink from her glass.
"Dance with me? I know you are just as board as I am. I want to have some fun." Chad asked her out of nowhere.
"You want to dance with me as a cure for boredom? So not happening. Besides this dance is just for the happy couple." Sharpay said that last bit with her classic sarcasm.
"We're all alone out here. No one is going to see as stealing the spotlight. Although, maybe you want to steal the spotlight, I know you hated when other people are the center of attention."
"No" Sharpay said in her no nonsense manner.
"Come on Sharpay. I am tired of watching my ex girlfriend get molest by her significant other. I need a distraction. Can I have this dance?" He said with a smile as he extended his arm to her.
"Okay, since you asked so nicely. I have the lead. If you step on my brand new shoes, I will hurt you. Do not even think about dropping me." Sharpay said as she placing her empty champagne glass on the table and follow Chad to their makeshift dance floor."
"I promise I will not drop you. Besides, you know I will always catch you anyway. You can trust me Sharpay. I would never hurt you." Chad said, as he looked her directly in the eyes.
"I know. Other than the nausea caused by too many sickeningly sweet couples, how are you holding up after being with Taylor for the first time after the great breakup of 2009?"
"It only hurt because she never apologized for her actions. This entire experience is uncomfortable; however, I can deal with it. I stop loving her a long time ago. What about you and the whole Troy marrying someone else thing? I know you did not want to come here. I know you are only at the wedding because of me. Thank you for being my best friend." He said pulling her just a little bit closer to him as they continued to move around the balcony.
"I thought Troy was your best friend?" Sharpay said as they continued to dance.
"At some point I think you took over his move spot. Answer my question Sharpay. Are you okay?" Chad said as he spun her around the balcony.
"I'm okay. The situation still hurts; however, it is not the type of pain you experience with Taylor. It did not feel like breaking up with Zeke or Damien from college. This situation felt like when I realized I was not going to be on Broadway and Ryan was. I had this dream for so long and now it is dead. I am not upset about Troy marrying Gabriella. I am just scared. What if I never find the love of my life? What if I never find the type of person that this song is describing?" Tears were starting to fall from her eyes but Chad quickly wiped them away. "I came here for you and I'm the one crying." Even though she was crying now they continued to dance.
"It is okay, no matter what happens or how far you and I are from each other we will always be together. I will always be there for you. Who knows maybe you already found that one in a million love. What if that person has been by your side your entire life? Maybe we're just too blind to see that individual as the one person we are to be with for the rest of our lives."
Normally she would say no to his silly notion. However, after looking into his eyes she wondered if he was talking about more than the hypothetical. "Maybe you're right." She responded in a quiet voice.
"This does not matter now. Everything will be okay after this wedding is over. Weddings make everybody lonely." Chad said as he went to kisser on the forehead like he normally did.
Sharpay did not understand what possessed her to tilt her head up so instead of her forehead Chad kissed her on the lips. When his lips met hers, it felt as if she was struck by lightning. In that, second the world finally made sense. She finally understood everything. His kiss was soft and very tentative but her heart was racing 1000 beats a second. Sharpay never felt more loved in her entire life. She was not sure if the kiss last for seconds or an eternity. When they broke apart, Chad was looking at her in complete shock. However, they did not stop dancing.
"It's you," Sharpay finally said in a whisper as she touched her hand to her lips
"What?" Chad asked in surprised.
"No matter what happens, you're always going to be there for me. Even if it all falls apart, you will be there. Even if you move to the other side of the world, you will still be there for me. I just realize that it is you. You are the one that I have been in love with for so long. You are the person move this song is describing. It's you." She knew she was babbling uncontrollably at this point, but she did not care. She needed to tell him everything.
"Sharpay," he said in a breathy whisper in an attempt to stop her rambling.
"You do not have to say anything. Just dance with me. Just let me have this moment before…"He pressed his fingers to her lips to silence her
"I love you too." Before she could even react, his mouth was on hers and she knew that she finally found that one in a million love. Even though it started pouring out here on the balcony she stayed out there dancing with her best friend and love for life Chad Danforth.
