Zeke and Jason arrived at the Arcade but Troy was nowhere to be found. They waited by the door but there was no sight of him. He did not respond to their text messages or phone calls so they turned to enter. As they did, they could hear the unmistakable sound of basketball shoes pelting up the sidewalk in the distance, with the slightly quieter tapping of high heeled boots. They peered down the sidewalk to see what was happening?
Coming from the distance, they could see Troy running as fast as he could; faster than when Charles Klutzenstein stole the ball and went end-to-end at the game against West high. Behind him they could barely make out Sharpay, chasing and panting. What on Earth had gone on between them?
Troy crossed the street just as the light turned red. Sharpay had to stay behind or else she would have been hit by a car, which would have actually been a satisfactory outcome for everyone. He halted to catch his breath. Panting, he pleaded with the other two boys:
"Hide. Me." He gasped before he continued. "Please. Get me away from HER!"
They said nothing, but helped him into the arcade and hid him behind a game of Tetris which is everyone's least favourite. Then they came out to confront Sharpay: the ultimate test of friendship. The light turned green and she bounded across the street towards them.
"Good afternoon boys. You wouldn't have by chance seen Troy anywhere, would you?"
Her blonde hair reflected the golden sunlight. Her blue eyes gazed into theirs, giving the boys a certain uncanny sense of calmness. Her lips were alluring. Could they pull it off?
"He's in the arcade, behind the Tetris machine" replied Zeke, who always gives into temptation.
"Thanks!" she said brightly. Game over! She entered the arcade. It was time for her to redeem her points for her prize.
Jason was frustrated "Why did you sell him out like that?"
Zeke wasn't having any of it: "Don't get all bent out of shape. You were about to tell her too."
"I would never sell out a friend like that, ever. You got seduced by pretty eyes and pretty hair and pretty lips. You like girls."
"You dare-" Zeke began, angry, but the two couple came out. Sharpay led Troy, gripping his wrist. He followed, with pink glittery lip gloss smeared on his cheek. The two boys watched as she led him away.
"Where is she taking him?" Jason asked.
"I don't know. But wherever they go, he is the luckiest boy in East High."
The two of them high fived each other, and went to play a game of pool in the billiards room.
