Title: Moments in an Evolution
Summary: Troy has no "Bet On It" epiphany and Sharpay's summer continues to go exactly as planned.
AN: Hey all. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Just an FYI, these little scenelets aren't happening in chronological order, they are just being posted as I think of them.
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"Reminisce"
A group of Lava Springs waiters are huddled by pool's entrance one late afternoon. Troy Bolton is walking past the pool and toward the driving range when he heard the murmurs of the group.
"Ask him!"
"No, you ask him!"
Troy stops at the gate. "Something you wanna say to me?" he asks with a hint of anger. Ever since the talent show, the glares from his ex-best friends have increased quite a bit.
"No, no, continue on your way to your really important business, captain." Chad says sarcastically. Troy turns to leave. "Wait—"
"What now?"
"Are you really like, dating Sharpay? Those are the latest rumors."
"What's it to you?"
"I'm just saying, if you're going to be a tool and date a girl just so her father can get you into college, that's your own prerogative," Chad says snidely. Troy rises to Sharpay's defense quickly.
"It's not even like that! Thanks to you, I really only had Sharpay to hang out with at work, and dude, she's kind of like, nice, sometimes, when it's just us."
"The mountain lion? Nice?" Chad asks incredulously.
"Occasionally. Ok, well, really not that often. But…" Troy trails off.
"But what?"
"A potential college scholarship isn't the only benefit I'm getting, if you know what I mean…"
Chad excitedly hits him in the arm. "Dude, no way! What's it like?!"
"Oh god, she is so flexible. The other day, up in her room, her legs were like, behind her head and I could hit her so deep, and the shit she can do with her tongue, oh my god." Troy's eyes become clouded with lust as he recalls some of their recent scandalous activities.
"And to think Gabriella would barely let you kiss her, much less cop a feel."
"I know. All I'm saying is that it's way better now than in 9th grade."
"Wait, what?" Chad is very confused all of a sudden, as it sound like Troy just said—
"The first time we had sex. Obviously, 15 year olds have no clue what they're doing. I mean I still don't, really, but Sharpay—"
"HOLD THE PHONE! You lost it to Sharpay, FRESHMAN YEAR?! How—what—how did I not know about this?!"
"Uh, cause you hated her cause she was such a bitch to you? We dated for like, five minutes, and we did it once, and then she freaked, dumped me, morphed into the Ice Queen and decided she needed to focus more on theater."
"No, seriously, where was I for this whole time?"
"It was two weeks, right after we got put on varsity in the middle of the season, and your eyeballs were basically glued to the varsity cheerleaders' asses."
"Oh yeah! Monique Springfield…she was so hot…" Neither of the boys has really noticed that they have slipped back into their easy friendship. The conversation flows, and Troy suddenly starts to feel a relief and calm he has not felt in weeks, not since their initial argument.
"Look, Chad. I know I was a jackass at the beginning of the summer. Getting into college is really important, you know that, and it doesn't excuse my behavior, but I just wanted to say I'm sor—"
"TROO-OOY!" Sharpay's screech echoes across the pool area. "You need to get ready for dinner with Daddy and the Board!"
"I gotta go. Can't keep her waiting, and all that." Troy discreetly rolls his eyes.
"Wait." Chad grabs his arm. "Do you really like her?"
"Yeah, I really do," Troy replies.
"Then that's all I need. Something genuine. Brothers?"
"Brothers."