A/N: I got stuck in a hospital waiting room for several hours with nothing but some paper and a pen. I used the time to scribble the first chapter and I managed to type it and edit it little by little late at night on my computer after work. So here's my pre-Christmas gift to all of you. Enjoy.
Chapter One
The Ice Queen Loses Her Crown
Sharpay Evans stomped at the floor with her heels. There was a crowd of students before her barricading the way to her locker. Usually, just the sound of her heels was enough to make the students part for her. But this time, it appeared that her power over them had waned and she had to shout.
"Move!"
Only one or two of them did, the rest of the students appeared oblivious to her shout.
"I said move it! I need to pass!" she screamed.
This time, most of them did move, but there were still a few that refused to budge—deliberately. Among them was East High's Basketball Prince, Chad Danforth.
"Ask nicely and maybe I will," he said, smirking. His basketball teammates snorted in agreement.
Sharpay's nostrils flared but that didn't seem to faze the boy before her, he continued to block her path, challenging her.
"Chad, just leave her alone," said Gabriella, whose arm was currently linked to her boyfriend, Troy Bolton.
Sharpay felt doubly insulted. It was bad enough that she lost her ability to instill fear on other people, but to have Miss Perfect Gabriella Montez help her out was humiliating.
"I don't need your help!" she shouted at Gabriella and at the same time, she roughly pushed at Chad to clear her path.
"Fine!" Gabriella said. "I won't then." She turned away and pulled at Troy's arm. He looked at Sharpay with something akin to pity for a moment but then let himself be led by his girlfriend. The rest of the crowd followed them like a horde of ants revering their queen until Sharpay was left alone in the corridor. She wasn't sorry to see them go. She hated them all. But she hated goody-goody Gabriella Montez the worst. She not only took away Sharpay's place in the musicale, she was also dating Troy Bolton, the one boy in school Sharpay liked for the longest time though he never paid attention to her. Together, they managed to strip Sharpay of her power over the rest of the students.
After Gabriella and Troy won over the lead roles in the musicale, things went downhill for both Sharpay and Ryan. Even though they appeared to be friendly during the after game party and Troy and Gabriella were ready to forgive, most of the student body hated them. Everyone knew they tried to sabotage Troy's and Gabriella's chances for getting chosen for the musicale. So when school returned on Monday the following week, Sharpay and Ryan found themselves being given the cold shoulder by everyone. In addition, they could no longer bully their way around school. Zeke was the only one who continued to seemingly worship Sharpay, but he was so pathetic, Sharpay couldn't help but scream at him every time he came near. Never mind if his cookies were good. She just couldn't stand him. Eventually, he turned against her too.
Now Sharpay felt she and Ryan were against the entire school. She never felt miserable in her whole life. Today was particularly trying. Ryan was lagging behind in lessons so he had to have tutorial sessions after school and his teacher drove him home. This was the first afternoon that she had to be without him after school. She could just imagine what kind of taunts she would get when she got on the bus with the other students. It was already bad enough walking alone in the corridors. It would be hell taking a cramped bus with no escape from her tormentors. Yesterday they refused to give her and Ryan a seat on the bus even though there were still empty spaces. It was only when Troy got in with Gabriella that Chad and his gang gave them a spot at the far end of the bus. Troy offered her a better place in the one he was sitting on in the ideal middle, but her pride refused to accept this charity to sit near Gabriella and her "ladies-in-waiting."
She wanted to cry but she knew she couldn't do it in public. At least that was one aspect of her dignity that she had to save. Usually, whenever she felt the need to break down, she went to the theatre, but now, that was no longer her domain. All the jocks, cheerleaders and braniacs were hanging out there. The theatre was suddenly the super cool thing to be in. But Sharpay could no longer be a part of it. Even though she was given the part of Gabriella's understudy, she refused it the week after it was offered. Miss Darbus didn't seem to mind at all and accepted her pulling out of the production without a frown of concern. That hurt Sharpay most of all. It meant she and Ryan were dropped as her favorites. The drama teacher found new talents to adulate and the Evans Twins were clearly delegated as "has-beens."
Sharpay walked the corridors with head held high while trying to ignore the snide comments she could hear. She could feel the tears on her eyelids threatening to fall and she couldn't allow it. She walked faster, turned a corner, and saw the large doors of he gym. Without thinking, she pushed it open and found it was empty for probably the first time. No one seemed to want to play basketball anymore. Everyone else was too busy playing cheerleader for Troy's and Gabriella's rehearsals. Sharpay was glad for it though. She sat at one the bleachers and finally let herself sob.
There was a squeaking sound behind her and she looked up with dread. She wasn't alone.
Coach Jack Bolton was just getting ready to leave for the day. It was one of those ho-hum weekdays where nothing exciting ever happened in his day-long classes teaching freshman gymnastics. Normally on days like this he looked forward to after-school basketball games with his team, particularly with his son. Even though basketball season was over, Jack normally spent afternoons with the team, or at least with Troy. It was a sort of ritual that he established since Troy came to East High. He rather enjoyed these casual games where they could just play one-on-one and he no longer needed to whip his son into shape and pressure him to excel. But Troy was busy with rehearsals for the Twinkle Towne Musicale which left the father alone.
Jack gave a sigh as he put his desk to order. He eyed the picture of Troy dunking a ball into the basket that he inserted under the glass of his desk. He was still uncomfortable with letting Troy do this "singing thing" on stage. He knew how disastrous it could be to lose focus, especially now that Troy was nearing his senior year. Jack had tried so hard to keep Troy focused on basketball, but somehow he had slipped through Jack's carefully guarded shields. And who would have thought Troy could actually sing and like it so much he was ready to defy the entire school and his parental authority to do it? Jack knew his son. If he was passionate about something, he wouldn't let anyone stand in the way. In the end, seeing his son happy with what he was doing was what convinced Jack to finally let Troy go. Well, at least that was one of the two reasons.
The other and bigger reason was Gabriella Montez.
Immediately after the big game, Jack escaped from the gym and stole into the registrar's office. While the rest of the school was celebrating the East High victory in both basketball and the academic competition, Jack found himself checking Gabriella Montez's transcript of records. After he was assured that Gabriella Montez was a straight-A student who had never gotten in serious trouble in her life (She only had one count of detention on her record and that was for Darbus and she doesn't really count much), he went on-line and found the new transferee's achievements. It was only then that Jack was assured the girl his son was dating wasn't going to be trouble. And that was what mattered most to Jack. After that, he no longer had much reason to refuse Troy in this new "hobby" of his.
Still, in lonely afternoons like these he wished he refused Troy his permission to go "singing." He checked his watch. Four-thirty six. It was still early. His wife wouldn't even be home until six and he didn't feel like moping around at home watching re-runs on TV. He had too much energy that needed to be expelled and sitting on his living room couch wasn't going to work.
He grabbed a ball from the rack of his office and went to the gym intending to shoot hoops alone. He expected it to be empty. But it wasn't. There was somebody there and that somebody wasn't there to shoot hoops.
She was sitting in one corner of the bleachers in her bright yellow cardigan and blue shorts. He couldn't see her face as it was hidden in the curtain of her blonde hair. But he knew from the shaking of her shoulders that she was crying.
For a long time, he stared at her, unsure of what to do. He didn't really want to talk to her. He decided at last to just quietly leave her alone. He stepped back but as he did, the contact of his sneakers with the floor produced a loud squeak. She looked up in surprise and met his eye. It was her tear-stained expression that startled him. For a moment, it was like he was seeing a ghost and he could do nothing but stare at her open-mouthed.
She was the first to recover. She hurriedly wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. She gathered her bag and stood up.
"I-I was just going, Sir," she said hoarsely. She quickly strode towards the door but in her hurry, her folder slipped through her arms and fell to the floor. Her papers flew in all directions and she scrambled to pick them up.
Jack instinctively dropped the ball and got down on his hands and knees to help her. He saw most of the papers were music sheets. There was a notebook that fell a few paces away from him. He reached for it and was startled when she reached for it the same time that he did. Her hand fell on top of his and they both looked up and met each others' eyes.
He had never been this close to Sharpay Evans before. But now he was near enough to see through her wet eyelids the color of her irises. It was the same shade encased in the same shape of eyes with lashes that he knew were naturally thick even without mascara. He no longer doubted. She was "hers." That knowledge set his heart hammering.
He shut his eyes to rid of himself of the image, but she uttered:
"Sir?"
Even the voice was similar.
"Sir?" she repeated. He opened his eyes but was careful to look away. He realized he was clutching at her notebook. She had long ago retracted her hand from his. He handed the notebook back to her along with the sheaf of papers he collected.
"Thank you," she whispered as she got up. He watched her straighten her back and held her chin with a proud lift. Just like 'her', he thought.
He eyed her as she strode to the door and opened it gently. When she did, the noise of the students outside came in and he recognized some of the cheerleaders talking.
"Gabriella's great! Did you see her rehearse today?"
"Far better than the ice bitch!
"Yeah, about time we heard someone else other than that mountain lion hollering."
There was a sound of laughter that was abruptly cut off when Sharpay closed the door again. He saw her shoulders shake and he felt sorry for her. He knew how cruel students can be. He wished he could do something for her but he knew the trouble of getting himself involved. Hadn't he learned that a long time ago the hard way?
He deliberated for it for a moment, but in the end the shake of her shoulders pulled at his heart too much. He couldn't allow her to go back out there and be ridiculed. He had a sudden idea. He picked up the ball he dropped earlier and dribbled it on the floor, causing Sharpay to turn back to him.
"Ever played basketball, Miss Evans?" he asked.
She shook her head shyly. Her nose scrunched a little in curiosity. That familiar trait he once loved made him smile a bit.
"Would you like to learn? Now… if you're not aiming to go anywhere…" he hinted.
He didn't really think she would accept. The most he expected was that she would turn down the offer and ask to stick a while in the gym while he shot hoops alone. However, a smile lit her face and she put down her bag and folder on the nearest bleacher. She seriously looked like she was interested.
"You don't mind?" she asked as she approached him.
He shook his head. "I've got some free time."
"I'm game, Coach," she replied eagerly, flashing him with an even bigger smile that was completely new to him. A voice in his head was telling him he should stop right now and just let her be, but a certain curiosity to get to know this girl itched at him. He tossed the ball to her and she caught it firmly in her hands. But then he noticed her feet.
"You might want to change out of those shoes."
She looked down at her own two-inch heels with puffy lacy trims on them. She got out of them and kicked them aside towards her bag and folder. "Would going barefoot do?" she asked.
He had to laugh. "I don't recommend it but it's better I suppose than getting an ankle sprain on those heels. Now, I'd like to see you dribble."
She did. It wasn't exactly the best form but it was a decent fresh start. So he taught her the basics and he was rather surprised that she was quite a fast learner. He taught her to shoot next and she did manage to get one in on the third try.
They went on with it for a long time, but he didn't take notice. He was enjoying himself immensely. She was naturally curious and moved with ease. It was like teaching Troy to play for the first time all over again. When they finally stopped to rest, he was surprised to find that it was already past six in the evening.
He led her to the showers to wash her feet. On the way she commented that she was probably invading a male secret room by being in the boys' showers. He told her in return she wasn't the first female to invade this area of the gym. Miss Darbus had done it before just after practice and the drama teacher probably had the shock of her life seeing teenage boys in towels. They both had a good laugh out of the image.
"How are you going to get home?" he asked when she was back into her feminine heels. He knew the last bus left at six.
"Walk, I suppose," she shrugged.
"In those shoes?" he asked.
She blushed. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to."
He got the hint. "I'll drive you home."
She helped him lock up the office and they got into his car together. On the drive they talked about basketball techniques. Sharpay was quite talkative and her curiosity seemed no bounds. He enjoyed answering her questions and she let him talk about his high school days when he led the Wildcats to state championships two years in the running. He like reminiscing his glory days and he found Sharpay a willing listener.
Instinctively, he turned the car from the main highway straight to one of the posh villages in town.
"Oh turn to number—" Sharpay began.
"Seventeen on Cherry Street, two turns from Maple Drive," he recited without thinking.
Sharpay gave him a puzzled look. "Sir, how did you know where I live?"
He blinked and felt himself blush. "I—ah…" he searched for an answer but couldn't come up with an excuse. She was looking at him with suspicion. She must think I'm a crazy teacher who stalks students. He finally decided that honesty was the best way out.
"I knew your mother… when we were in high school. I've driven her home—just once or twice…"
Alright, so maybe not exactly completely honest.
"You were friends with my Mom?"
He shrugged. "Er… more like old acquaintances. You know, you see them everyday at school… drive them home when you're the designated driver for everyone else…" He bit his tongue and realized if he didn't stop rambling he would be letting off either more lies that could blow up in his face later or more truth than he wanted to share.
He was saved from the trouble of her further questioning by reaching her house. It was the same three-storey red brick with the sprawling garden though the ugly garden gnomes were gone. His mind flashed back to the time he broke one of those gnomes off when he sneaked "her" out of the house at night.
"Thanks for the ride, Coach. Why don't you come in for a few minutes," said Sharpay. "Say hello to my Mom. I'm sure she'd be glad to see an old, er… acquaintance," she added with a fake grin.
Jack wanted to slap himself. Sharpay Evans was every inch as keen and sly as her mother.
"I… don't know. It's quite late. I really should be going home."
She nodded. "Alright, maybe next time. I'll tell my Mom you—"
"No!" he shouted a little louder than he intended. Sharpay looked taken aback.
"I…" he stopped and sighed. "We… we're not exactly friends. I don't think she'd want to see me… or even want to hear about me… It's a long story. I don't really want to talk about it," he dismissed.
She nodded with a perceptive light in her eyes. "Alright, I won't mention you, I promise."
"Thank you, Miss Evans."
"It's Sharpay, Coach and I should be the one thanking you. I had a really good time. Basketball's kinda fun. You think if you ever had any free time…"
He smiled at her. He too enjoyed teaching her. "You're welcome to go to me for lessons," he said. "As long as you have the proper footwear," he added jokingly.
She laughed heartily. It was a fresh sound that was soothing to him. "I'll keep that in mind. See you, Coach!"
She got out of the car and gave him a wave. He didn't wait for her to enter her house. He drove away immediately before anyone inside could notice him. But as he pulled out of the familiar neighborhood, the memory of her childish laughter remained with him along with the image of her amateurish attempt to shoot. He realized he was actually looking forward to another session with her.
