Ring! Ryan jumped.
He opened his backpack quickly and took out his cellphone.
Sharpay was the caller ID.
He sighed.
"Hello?"
"Where are you? I've been waiting here for 10 minutes!"
Ryan winced and held the phone a foot away.
He brought the phone back to his ear and said, "Um, I'm going somewhere, so walk yourself home, Sharpay."
He knew it was a stupid thing to say but he wasn't going to confess that he was going on an ice cream date with GABRIELLA MONTEZ!
Instantly the reply came, "Ryan, sometimes you can be so stupid."
Click. Sharpay had hung up.
He had no idea why Sharpay couldn't just start walking home by herself? Why did she have to cling to him?
He heard footsteps behind him. he turned around and saw Gabriella's face.
He smiled. "Ready?", quickly shoving his cell in his backpack.
She nodded shyly and started walking. He walked quickly to catch up, and soon they had struck up a conversation. By the time they got to Baskin Robbins, they were laughing and talking like they've known each other for years.
They walked up to the patterned counter and ordered: Mint Chocolate Chip for Ryan and Cookies N Cream for Gabriella.
Gabriella didn't understand why she was talking and giggling with Ryan so freely. They've hardly uttered a word to each other throughout their sophomore year, but yet, here they were, eating ice cream after school together talking about everything from theater to feeling like someone's shadow.
But it was something about Ryan. Something. She just didn't know what.
Sharpay and Troy were almost there. Just another few steps to go, and they'd be in the nice, cool Baskin Robbins. "Hey, Troy. Isn't that Ryan in there? I thought he said he'd be going somewhere." she said.
"Well, maybe he's going here." Troy replied. "Hey, is that Gabriella with him? Do you think they're on a date?"
"That Gabriella is not going to be dating my brother! We've got to do something, Troy." she said.
"Why don't we just walk inside, get ice cream, and then sabotage their date?" Troy suggested.
"Troy, that's a great idea! I knew you weren't Montez's type! Let's go!" And she dragged him inside the ice cream shop.
"You order the ice cream, I'll interupt them. Got it?" she said, whispering commands in his ear.
"Okay." he said obediently, walking to the counter and getting in line.
"Ryan, I didn't know you were here! I'm here with Troy to get some ice cream. Are you gonna walk home with me later?" she asked her brother, pretending not to notice Gabriella.
"Sharpay, why don't you just walk home with Troy? I've got to walk Gabi home." he said.
"Oh, Gabriella's here?" she turned around, acting like she hadn't noticed Gabi until now. "Hey, Gabi! Would you mind going into the bathroom with me to help me touch up my makeup?" Sharpay said in a semi-sweet voice.
"Um, sure, I guess." Gabriella replied, her voice barely a whisper. After all, she was still angry at Sharpay for taking Troy away.
"Okay then, let's go!" Sharpay said, still keeping on the sweet act in front of Ryan. She and Gabriella walked into the bathroom.
As soon as they were in there, Sharpay started talking. "Montez, I know what you're up to. Don't you dare touch my brother, got it? Just because I got Troy doesn't mean you can win over Ryan. Stay away from him, or else." she said. "Okay, all done! Come on, let's get out of this place!" she said, her voice turning back to sugary-sweet mode.
When they got back to the table, they saw Troy waiting there with Ryan. "Ready, Sharpay?" he asked. "Yeah, Troy! Bye Ryan! Gabriella!" she said, waving with one hand and holding Troy's hand with the other as they walked outside.
Ryan turned back to Gabriella. "So, what were we talking about a while ago?"
"Um, Ryan, I have to...uh...go." said Gabriella, nervous about Sharpay's threat.
"Okay, I'll walk you home" he said, having no idea about what had just happened in the bathroom.
"No, don't. I'll walk myself home." Now Ryan knew there was something wrong, but he figured now just wasn't the right time to ask.
"Well, okay...bye, Gabi. See you tomorrow." he said as he watched her run out the door.