Troy was surprised to arrive in Home Room with still no sign from Gabriella. He hunched over in his desk to send her a quick text. But before he could type out a message, he was interrupted by his new home room teacher, Ms. Gibbs.

"Ahem!" she cleared her throat, standing over Troy's shoulder. "Mr-?"

Troy sat up straight. "Bolton, Troy Bolton."

"Should I be impressed?" The Ms. Gibbs sneered. Troy raised his eyebrows, surprised at the teacher's obvious dislike of him.

No, ma'am," he responded, glancing nervously around the room. He made eye contact with Sharpay, who was sitting at the back. She shrugged helplessly.

"Are you aware that it is school policy to have cell phones off during class?" Ms. Gibbs asked.

Troy sighed heavily. He wasn't used to being in trouble with his teachers, and on the first day, too! "Yes, ma'am," he answered.

"I'll have to confiscate it," she ordered. She held out her hand and the cell phone vibrated on Troy's lap. He cringed. That might be Gabriella.

"Excuse me, professor?" Sharpay's voice rang out across the room.

Ms. Gibbs turned to address her. "Yes?" she asked, hands on hips. Sharpay was not daunted.

"I don't think it's fair that Troy should have his phone taken away. It's not fair to hold people responsible for rules that haven't yet been announced," she said. Troy raised his eyebrows; he couldn't believe Sharpay was going to all this trouble, just for him.

The teacher stalked toward Sharpay, leaving Troy alone. "It is a school rule, young lady," she scolded.

"Well..." Sharpay said, tossing her hair. "This is a new year. For all we know, East High could have finally accepted that times are changing. Technological communication is the wave of the future. Embrace it."

Ms. Gibbs was not impressed. "I will run this classroom, young lady. What is your name?"

Sharpay smiled sweetly. "Sharpay Evans," she replied smoothly.

"Well, Miss Evans, I hope you and Mr. Bolton enjoy your time together in detention," Mrs. Gibbs said. Sharpay's mouth dropped. She was about to protest when the door opened and Gabriella hurried in.

"I have a note," she told Ms. Gibbs, waving the slip of paper as she snuck up the aisle and plopped down beside Troy. Troy tried to catch her attention, but she ignored him, politely facing the teacher. Ms. Gibbs walked over and reviewed her note.

"Fine, Fine," she nodded, then she looked at Troy. "Mr. Bolton, your cell phone?" Gabriella looked at Troy for the first time, raising her eyebrow in concern. Troy handed Ms. Gibbs his phone and mouthed to Gabriella I'll explain later. "Well then," Ms. Gibbs announced. "Let's get started."

X

"Detention?" Gabriella exclaimed after home room let out.

"Yeah," Troy sighed.

"On the first day?"

"I know," he moaned. "And I was supposed to practice with the golf team today." He anxiously rubbed the back of his neck as he followed Gabi out the door.

"See you after school," Sharpay said to Troy as she flounced past. Gabriella narrowed her eyes.

"Why are you seeing Sharpay?" Gabriella asked, trying not to be suspicious. As much as she liked to look for the best in people, she couldn't help but be a little wary of Sharpay. She didn't exactly have the best track record when it came to Troy.

"She got detention, too," Troy explained. "Trying to help me, actually."

"That was nice of her," Gabriella mused, sounding like she thought it was anything but nice.

"No, it's not what you think," Troy defended, sensing Gabi's distaste. "I was worried about you, so I was trying to text you, and this crazy Ms. Gibbs got all mad at me, so Sharpay said it wasn't fair and-"

Gabriella put her finger over his lips to shush him. "Don't worry about it," she smiled, cocking her head. "I trust you." The warning bell rang. "I better get to Math," Gabi said.

"I have gym," Troy replied.

"See you at lunch?" Gabriella asked.

"I'll save you a seat," he promised, hastily kissing her on the cheek before they parted ways.

X

Troy wiped the sweat of his brow with the tail of his t-shirt, sitting down on the bleachers to drink from his water bottle. Their gym teacher had just made them run the mile. Troy had been second fastest of the boys, right behind Chad.

"Hey loser," Sharpay greeted him, sashaying over in her modified gym uniform. "Can I have some of your water? Those drinking fountains are ick." She shivered with disgust.

"Yeah, sure," he said, wiping off the mouth of the bottle with his t-shirt. "How did you get in so quick? I didn't think you liked sports."

She shrugged and took a dainty sip from his water bottle. "I don't like them. But that doesn't mean I'm not good at them," she replied. "I'm good at everything."

"Ha!" Troy exclaimed. Across the grass, he could see Chad watching them. No matter what happened, no one could get over their distrust of Sharpay. Troy didn't think that it was really fair. I mean, sure, she could be a little aggressive, but she was never actually mean. Well, sort of. "So, are you psyched for detention?" he asked, making fun of her for using the word earlier.

She playfully knocked him on the shoulder. It sent a shiver up his spine, which he choose to ignore. "Well, at least I'll be with you," she said, standing back up and handing him his water bottle. "Thanks," she added, before waltzing off to join a group of girls that had just come in.

X

"So," Chad asked, catching up with Sharpay after gym class. "What's the deal with you and Troy?"

Sharpay cocked her eyebrow. "Why don't you ask him?" she replied. She didn't really like Chad, but only because she knew he didn't like her. He was always making fun of her behind her back.

"I tried to ask him in the locker room, but he just ignored me," Chad explained. "You do know he has a girlfriend, right? I would think a girl as smart as you would notice something so obvious."

Sharpay huffed loudly. "Yeah, Chad, I noticed. You know, we were just talking, I don't see what the big deal is!"

"Oh come on, Sharpay. It's so obvious you like each other- Uh-" Chad stopped himself suddenly. "I mean, that you like him." But it was too late, Sharpay's heart started racing.

"Do you honestly think he likes me?" she asked, momentarily forgetting her annoyance with Chad. The warning bell rang.

"Oh! There's the bell, gotta motor-" he said. Sharpay grabbed his arm and kept him from running off.

"Seriously, Chad, do you think he likes me?" she demanded, nervously. Chad didn't know what to say, so he answered honestly.

"I don't know how Troy feels," he said. "But I do know he has a girlfriend. If he didn't-"

"I'd be the first to know," Sharpay finished, glumly.