Yay this story is gaining popularity! That makes me uber excited! Well here's the latest installment; btw Ms. Turner's blabbing about chemistry is not true, I know nothing of Chemistry since I haven't taken it since sophomore year and therefore don't remember anything ;D so just ignore her

P.S.-Major props to Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson's Break Up CD. Listening to it repeatedly helped me write all this in 4-5 hours.

P.S.S.-When I signed in beforehand, the code thingy you need to fill out to prove you're human gave me the words scamming Cynthia and I thought that'd be a perfect title. =D

Ch. 4: Scamming Cynthia

"Her face is like…flawless." Kelsi commented first.

I rolled my eyes, "She probably uses the Neutrogena Wave."

"You use that." Ryan looked to me.

"…The green one." I quickly changed the subject, "So anyway. Colorado?"

"Yup." Ryan nodded, "Her mother works as a staff writer for some local magazine that's also randomly has a Colorado version. She was transferred here, because of some scandal with the editor-in-chief."

"What..?" My eyes gleamed, "Scandalous mother with Virgin Mary daughter? That is pretty…scandalous."

"Is the look in her eyes supposed to be good?" Troy asked.

"No." Kelsi shook her head, her attention pointed to me. Ryan took note as well.

Gabriella Montez turned from her locker. Troy looked away from my face; they had "a moment".

Shit. I know where this is headed.

..:….:..

"So, if you add the quantum measurements of Carbon and Uranium…"

"How much of Gabi do you think your twin knows?"

"Uh…I don't know." I avoided Bolton's eyes as Ms. Turner continued to teach the class.

"I mean, she seems like a nice kid."

"Yeah. Sure she does."

"You don't like her?"

"I didn't say that."

"You don't like her." He sighed, "Sunshine…"

"Why? Do you?"

He shrugged, "I'm not sure…"

..:….:..

I think my heart was murdered somewhere between fourth and fifth period. Kelsi told me that she heard from Ryan that, after our discussion in Chem, Bolton asked Gabriella out. She said yes. Who'd blame her. I think people have now labeled me as "Zombie Chick"; I just slowly glide through the hallways like all of my soul was sucked away. It's in the crystal I recently noticed Bolton hung around his neck. He can keep it. It hasn't helped much anyway.

Upside? Apparently, Bolton's good friend Chad has recently come out to the school. Ryan's had a crush on him since the third grade. Chad asked him out; Ryan made out with him he was so ecstatic. When he told me, I smiled. Then I felt my heart die a little. I seem to be losing everyone.

A week has gone by since my catalyst Chem conversation. Fuck me. Fuck me and my fucking life. Fuck. I heard the obnoxious buzz that reverberated throughout the apartment. I walked over to my speaker after flopping off my bed. Thank God each room has their own.

I pressed the button, "Hello."

"Sunshine."

Ugh. Fuck. Fucking, Fuckity, fucker…, "Yes?"

"We have chemistry to concoct."

For once, I wished my parents were home. The only time I wished they were in the middle of their preteen-equse fits.

"You told me to meet at your place?"

I buzzed him in, "Come on up." I walked to the kitchen to brew some much needed Ruby Red Chai. As I set the tea pot on the stove to heat the water, there was the knock. I turned on the heat before heading to the door.

"Hey." He smiled.

I moved to the side, "Come on in." He entered; I lead the way to the kitchen. His jacket today was a gray knit sweater trench. His head had one of those knit caps that covered the back of the head and up to his bangs on. It was black.

"Tea?"

"Yup." The pot whistled., I took it off and turned off the heat.

"I'll have some." He smiled. I grabbed two cups and saucers. We walked to the table and I set up everything. He tore the teabag out its wrapper and placed it in the teapot to steep.

We sat across from each other. Silence ensued. I looked into his eyes, trying to decipher why the hell he'd think Montez would be a suitable girlfriend. She's shy, smart and way too much like Granny Smith. Dresses like her too.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"Montez?" I asked while pouring the tea.

"Yeah. Montez."

"Why?"

"Sunshine…" He whined playfully.

"Does she enjoy your kindergarten fetish?" I asked in a defeatist tone.

He sighed, sipping his tea, "Whoa! Hot…"

I nodded.

I hope Montez enjoys crayons and fucking fingerprint.

..:….:..

"Hey!" Ryan called from the doorway as I discarded two teacups and two saucers into the dishwasher.

"Hey." I walked back to the table to grab the tea pot.

"Fuck." I stopped short, noticing Bolton's Chem book in the spot he left it all night. I could be a complete bitch and not give it to him until class tomorrow. Then again, there was homework due for class tomorrow.

I hate being a nice kid at heart. I grabbed the book and left the teapot in the sink.

"Hey. I have to go give Bolton his book back. He'll want-" I decided to look towards Ryan as I talked after reaching the sitting room that was within steps of the door. I saw Ryan and Chad fucking each other's faces.

"Okay as much as I support Gay Love!" I was one notch before yelling.

Their make out session stopped briefly, "Sorry." Ryan smiled apologetically.

I smiled, "You have condoms right?"

"Sharpay!" Ryan's cheeks reddened. Chad gave him a loving smile, softly kissing his lips.

"I'll be back later." I grabbed my gray sweater trench and Uggs, and left the apartment.

After driving around for what felt like an hour, I found Bolton's place in a cozy suburb. Much different from my city streets; drivable for one. I grabbed the book out of the back before heading to the door. I knocked.

"Sunshine." He pulled at his sweater trench, "We match I see."

I smiled a little, "You're a clothes stealer." We laughed.

"What's going on?" I heard an ill fated voice. Montez showed in the edge of the kitchen I could see from the doorway, "Oh! Hello Sharpay." Her smile makes me want to die.

My smiled dropped, "You left this." I slammed the book into his chest.

"Wait. Sunshi-" I closed the door before he could finish. I headed back to my car.

"Wait!" He yelled before I got in, "Look." He paused, running to me and grabbing my hands; swinging them back and forth, "There's a big game tomorrow night. I want you to be there."

"Why?"

"Cause you're Sunshine. I need you there."

I smiled in a melancholy fashion,. I dropped my hands and got in my car. I started it up.

"So will I see you?"

I looked to him, "I'll think about it."

..:….:..

Of course I was going. I mean, he asked me right? I'm sort of super excited. I wanted to dress to impress. Let him know what he's missing, so he'll leave Granny Smith. I ransacked my closet and finally found a D & G halter top dress that definitely helped with my impressing idea-tight and sexy, but not trashy. I paired it with black Charlotte Rogue tights and red Chucks (after some major digging for them).

I wanted to go for a punk rocker-equse look, so Ryan painted my eyes black and my lips a funky pink Mac color that worked. He teased my hair out into wavy rock star hair. That stupid Herbal Essences' commercial has nothing on me. I added a thick black and red plaid head band behind my bangs when he was finished. I grabbed a shiny red clutch to finish the look off. Step aside Granny Smith; I have arrived.

The drive to the school took longer than usual due to unnatural traffic (tragic foreshadowing). Fucking city…

When we did arrive, Kelsi already had a bleacher saved for us. We met her and I sat in the middle: Kelsi to the right of me, Ryan to the left.

"Wow Sharpay! Someone wants to fight." Kelsi nodded in approval.

"Thank you. Ry and I worked very hard."

Ryan nodded, "Ooo! I'm so excited."

"You just want to see Chad all hot, bothered, and sweaty someplace besides the bed." Kelsi joked.

Ryan blushed, "Hush. We haven't yet."

"No!" I was surprised.

"I want to wait." Ryan smiled with dignity.

"Oookay. So Kels. Why are you joining us? I thought you hated sports." I changed the subject.

"Well…"

"She wants to see number 33 all hot, bothered, and sweaty." Ryan got her back.

Kelsi let out breath, as if there were much sexual tension in the gymnasium, "Oh yes…" We all laughed.

"Jason huh?" I asked.

"Jason. Yes…"

"It's starting." Ryan said as the team came running out onto the court.

This game, in turn, was pretty epic. The Wildcats pitted against the Trojans. Am I the only one who giggles each time the announcer says, "And So-and-so of the Trojans shoots for three!" I just…I don't know.

Anyway, the score was 21-20, the Condoms leading. There was twenty seconds left of the clock. Bolton's Dad called a time out. Ryan had bought a huge thing of popcorn at half time; it was in between my legs. The three of us were eating it while our eyes were glued to the team's back as Coach Bolton gave out the play. They breaked and went out. Jason had the ball, faked and passed to Zeke. Zeke spun and passed to Chad. Chad to Troy. Two seconds. Troy makes a three!

The loud buzzer went off. Final score 21-23, Wildcats. The crowd was wild. Kelsi, Ry, and I stood and hugged, screaming and hopping around. The popcorn flew around everywhere.

I felt a pair of eyes on me. I looked on to see Bolton's eyes smiling at me. I…I…

Gabriella…Gabriella Montez ran to him, his eyes followed her all the way to him. They embraced and kissed.

My heart was revived and murdered again.

Okay that is chapter 4! What? You can't not expect relationship tribulations right? Come on now. Don't fret, Sharpay and Troy won't be idiots for long.

Be kind…

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