East High: Senior Year 2009
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
"—for the winter musicale!" Ms. Darbus exclaimed.
She looked around the classroom. Half the class was dead; the other half was paying attention. And among the dead was Troy, sleeping soundly with his head on his desk. Chad noticed her walking towards him, starting to poke Troy in the back to get him up. Ms. Darbus shook her head, putting her hand up to stop him. "No, Mr. Danforth. Let me." She looked at Ryan. "Mr. Evans, please hand me book."
Ryan reluctantly did so. Soon as she had the book in her hands, she slammed the book on Troy's desk, causing Troy and the half dead people to wake up. Troy screamed. The class started laughing softly. Troy looked up at Ms. Darbus.
"Mr. Bolton, do you want detention?"
He shook his head. "No, ma'am."
"Then I suggest you don't sleep in this class."
"Yes ma'am," he nodded.
Then she started talking again. Troy turned around to look at Chad. "How come you didn't wake me up?!" he whispered harshly.
"I tried!" he whispered back. "It's not my fault you sleep like a fucking rock."
"Yeah, well, I'll remember that next time."
Lunch couldn't have come quick enough. Troy was over looking the cafeteria, leaning over the railing. He felt a slap on his back, followed by "hey, man." He looked over on the side of him and smiled. "Hey, yourself, Zeke." He and Zeke bumped fists and Zeke joined him on the rail. "What'cha lookin' at?'
Troy shook his head. "Nothing. I'm just looking."
"Have you seen Sharpay recently?"
He shook his head. "Not really. She's around here somewhere, I'm sure. What you need her for?"
Zeke smiled. "I just wanna talk to her..ask her things.."
Troy chuckled, now scanning the room now for Gabriella. "Good luck with that, man."
He smiled. "Thanks. Look, I gotta go. I'll see you later though."
"Yeah, man, later."
They bumped fists again, and Zeke was gone. Troy kept looking for Gabriella, but she never turned up. So he went downstairs. He looked around for Taylor. He knew she'd know where she was. He found her sitting and talking to Chad. "Hey, Chad. Taylor," he turned to her, "have you seen Gabriella?"
"She's supposed to be with Ryan," she answered.
"Ryan?" he lifted an eyebrow. "Why him?"
She shrugged. "From what I gather, she's supposed to be doing that upcoming play."
"Thanks." He ran out of the cafeteria and went full speed down the hall. He turned the corner sharply, suddenly crashing into Sharpay hard. Luckily, he hand caught her in his arms. One of her arms went around his neck. When she realized who he was, she shoved him away from her. "Shit.." She glared at him. "That's the second time, Troy! Damn, that hurt."
He stumbled backwards when she pushed him, and he looked at her. "Oh, Sharpay, I..I'm so—"
She put her hand up, silencing him. "You know, I don't even wanna hear it. What I really wanna know is why you're constantly trying to run me over – better yet, why are you in such a rush right now?"
"I'm looking for Gabriella."
She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Yeah, that's what I figured." She leaned back against the lockers. "Don't let me stop you then."
He sighed and shook his head, leaning against the lockers on the other side. "I'm not gonna worry about it now. I probably don't even have enough time anyway," he shrugged, sliding his hands inside his pockets.
"She's working with Ryan."
"So I've heard."
"They're driving me crazy!" she screamed, startling Troy a bit. "I'm thinking about dropping out. It's just not up to my standards."
"I didn't even know there was one."
She lifted an eyebrow. "You were asleep."
He chuckled and scratched a non-existent itch. "Right..of course I was. I couldn't help that. Basketball."
"I had a feeling that's what it was," she nodded. "How's that going anyways?"
He started smiling. "You actually care about basketball?"
"Hell no! I'm just trying to make conversation."
He laughed. "Right, sure. It's going alright. Season doesn't start 'til later though. Gonna come to a game?"
She laughed. "You're kidding me right?" She shook her head. "No, I don't do sports."
He smiled. "You might change your mind."
"Yeah, we'll see, Troy," she smiled at him.
"Let me ask you something then. Gabriella and Ryan – they're working together in this play?"
"I'm pretty sure, why?"
"Just asking. But don't quit the show," he crossed his arms. "You know you don't want to."
She sighed. "I don't want to."
"Then don't." He walked to her. "I know Ms. I-Wanna-Be-Fabulous isn't quit, especially a play," he smirked.
"There is no wanna be," he glared up at him. "I am fabulous."
"Prove it then. Don't quit. Make it fabulous."
"Then I will..and I won't."
He smiled and nodded once. "Never know..I might wanna see you perform."
"Ha, alright. I'll keep that in mind," she smiled.
The bell rang and the students came pouring out of the cafeteria. They looked at each other, smiling. "I'll see you later, Sharpay," he chuckled. He walked away from her. He caught her looking back at him when he did so, and he gave her a wink.