Disclaimer: Clearly I do not own the High School Musical franchise

I was asked this question a few days ago, quite rudely actually, so I'm going to address it now: How many chapters will be in your stories? The short answer is I don't know. The long answer is I have a vague idea of what I want to happen in each of my stories; however, I have no idea how long it will take to get there. For now I am focusing on consistently updating the five stories I have going. Everything else will just come. I did not realize it mattered how many chapters a story had, just as long as it was completed. Now, onto more fun and important things, like Chapter Two!

XOXO
MAS

Chapter Seven: The First One

Jason Cross was not as stupid as people thought he was. And he knew it. He knew people assumed he was an idiot. He was the one that started Mrs. Darbus on a lot of her rants. He was the one constantly asking what was going on. He was the one people never asked to help. He was the one people always assumed wasn't paying attention.

But he was. He always was.

He was smart enough to know when Zeke was sneaking off to find Sharpay when she was twisted up in one of Troy's games. He was smart enough to know Chad liked Taylor since they were in seventh grade. And he was smart enough to know that if they backed off, Troy would seek Gabriella out and not play any games with her. And she would let him. And they would be happy.

But no one knew that. Everyone assumed he was clueless.

And he liked it that way. It made life easier. No one asked him questions. No one dragged him into their problems. No one bothered to see what he was doing. Troy and Sharpay never kept tabs out of him, he was always able to do exactly what he wanted to do when he wanted to do it. And no one ever made him scheme with them.

Until now. All because he'd opened his big mouth thinking it would stop Sharpay's incessant nail tapping so he could try to focus on chemistry.

Sighing, he sat down on a bench out in the sun. Putting his head in his hands he thought, Maybe I am as dumb as everyone thinks. After all, I managed to get Mandy involved in one of Sharpay's schemes without even officially asking her out.

"Jason?"

He looked up across the rooftop garden, where he'd asked Mandy to meet him during Free Period. He called out, "Over here Mandy."

He watched as she tried to contain her enthusiasm and simply walk over to him rather than skip. "Hey, you okay?"

Her smile dropped as she got close enough to see the worried look on his face, "Yeah," he moved over patted the spot next to him, "just thinking about one of Sharpay's new schemes." Might as well be honest.

Mandy laughed, "She is famous for those. What's this one about? Or am I not allowed to know."

He hesitated, looking at her uncertainly. She didn't seem scared, at least not yet. She probably never considered that Sharpay would be crazy enough to bring her into one of the horrible schemes she contrived that ruined people. Ruined them worse than when Troy would break a few bones. "Well," he scratched his head, his own nervous habit, and looked away, "she wants to involve you."

Mandy's eyes narrowed, "And what did I do to deserve being schemed against?"

Jason's eyes shot up, "No not schemed against. You're supposed to help."

Mandy softened her gaze. "Oh, well that's different. Okay, so what is the scheme?"

Jason just stared at her in awe. Why did she sound so okay with being a part of scheme? They were no fun and confusing and absolutely destroyed people. "I don't really know."

"Jason Cross are you telling me it never once occurred to you to ask Sharpay what the scheme involved when you told her I'd do it." Mandy stood up and put her hands on her hips. The last thing she needed was to be one of Sharpay's targets if she didn't do exactly as the insane blonde told her to do.

"She didn't really offer much info Mandy. And you don't ask Sharpay questions. You just say 'yes ma'am' and do what she says." He scratched his head again.

Mandy continued to stare at him, "Do you even know what it's about? Or should I say, who it's about?"

That Jason did know the answer to, and he wasn't sure if Mandy was going to like it, "Gabriella and Troy." He dropped his gaze, "Since you seem to be Gabriella's friend and all Sharpay thought it might help."

Mandy's mouth dropped open, Sharpay was definitely a fucking lunatic, "She seriously wants me to fuck with Troy Bolton? No, scratch that, with Gabriella Montez who I think may be scarier than Troy Bolton. Is she fucking out of her mind?"

Jason laughed, that had been the reaction he expected from the get go, Sharpay was nuts. End of story. "Um, well yeah, she's crazy. No new news there."

Mandy stared out over the roof for a minute, "You know I've never been here before. I didn't even know this existed."

Jason looked up at her, "Yeah it's Gabriella and Zeke's place, but Zeke's playing ball during free today and Shar dragged Gabriella to the theater to hear a horrible song."

"Okay," Mandy sat back down next Jason, "so let's say we do this. Let's say I get involved. What kind of insane things am I going to have to do?"

"The last plan involved a chicken and an elevator." He didn't even hesitate in his response. All Mandy could do was stare.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" She asked. "I am not touching a chicken. I hate birds. They're the devil's creation." She crossed her arms and Jason couldn't help but notice how sexy she was when she pouted.

"Look Mandy, I don't want to force you into this plan. It may be easier if we just don't see each other until after Sharpay's plan is done and Troy and Gabriella are whatever she thinks Troy and Gabriella need to be."

Mandy shook her head, "No fucking way Cross. If we don't get involved like we're supposed to you and I both know we'll be on the receiving end of one of those schemes. We're going to help Sharpay and we're going to have our date on Friday."

Jason's mouth opened and closed for a moment before he could find the right words to respond with, "So what if I picked you up at 7:30? I know there's a party at Jen Crawford's but I was thinking maybe we could do something else instead?"

Mandy nodded, "Yeah I'd like that. 7:30 is perfect." Pulling a piece of paper and a pen out of her purse, she wrote down her phone number and address. "Now you have everything you need."

The ringing of the bell stopped any further conversation, "I'll tell Shar we're in." Jason stood up. "I have chemistry with her now, that's where she does most of her evil plotting."

Mandy followed him down the steps, smiling when he held the door open for her, "Thanks Jason. See you Friday." She waved as they split in different directions.

HSMHSMHSM

Jason walked into chemistry just as the final bell rang. He wasn't quite sure what to expect from Sharpay. She hadn't even graced him with a glance at lunch. She was pissed off that he didn't just fall in line, that he had his own opinion. And that was something he didn't like. He didn't like her knowing he had opinions or ideas. Let alone good ideas. He preferred to keep her and Troy in the dark about things like that. If they thought he was stupid, then they would leave him alone. Now he was about to be dragged into the middle of one of her schemes. He sat down with a loud thud. She still didn't even look at him.

When Mrs. Zeiner started talking, Jason looked over at Sharpay. "She's in."

Sharpay's head swiveled towards him and her eyes lit up, "Perfect. I knew you'd see the light." She whispered.

Turning back to face the blackboard, she pulled out a pink legal pad and a pink pen and began scribbling notes on it. Jason looked down at the paper and saw two distinct columns, one labeled 'Troy' and the other 'Gabriella' and Lord only knew what was going under those.

HSMHSMHSM

When Jason walked into the gym the next period, he was shocked to see Sharpay sitting on the bleachers, he left leg propped up and ice on her ankle. She still had that pink legal pad in her hand. She faked a damn injury so she could continue to scheme.

He shook his head and walked over to his friends, who were standing in a group around Zeke, who was looking worriedly at Sharpay, "She won't even let me check it."

"Zeke, I'm sure she's fine." Kelsi gave him a reassuring hug, "She probably twisted it walking in those heels."

"No she's so good in those heels." He protested.

Jason rolled his eyes, "Dude, she probably just doesn't want to play basketball again today." Everyone looked at him, "It is the day of the big game and she won't want to break a nail." It was a lie, but it was a damn believable lie. And now everyone was staring at him like it was unthinkable that he had a good idea.

Chad chuckled, "Well it was bound to happen sometime."

"What?" He asked.

"You having a semi-brilliant thought." Chad tossed Lucille at him.

Jason caught it and threw her back without hesitating. "You're an ass."

Chad just shrugged, "So you have a date with Murphy. At least that's what the rumor on the street it. And by street I mean the hallways of East High."

"And you called Jason dumb?" Ryan stared at Chad, wondering why he'd bothered to explain what 'street' meant.

"Whatever dude." Chad dribbled Lucille a couple of times, "Let's just get this game started!" He pumped his fist in the air. "We're so going to kick your ass again Bolton." He pointed at Troy.

"Or don't you mean Gabriella is going to kick his ass." Taylor pointed out.

Chad shook his head, "She couldn't have done that without me." Chad hit his fist to chest.

"Why is that?" Taylor asked. "Because she's a girl?"

Troy spoke up, "She's good. But she's not that good."

"Troy it was basically a one-on-one game between the two of you and she won." Kelsi pointed out softly.

"Chad and Jason already wore us down. And she took me off guard." He excused himself.

Gabriella rolled her eyes listening to the conversation from her spot next to Mandy, Daniella and Lizzie, another cheerleader. Coach Bolton blew his whistle, stopping the Wildcat's conversation.

"Okay everyone, four laps now." He watched as everyone started jogging and as Gabriella easily took the lead. Too bad I can't convince her to run track for me.

When everyone was catching their breaths after the run Coach Bolton blew his whistle one more time, "We're switching it up today, Montez, Evans, you're our captains." Chad groaned. "Let's flip to see who gets first draw." Gabriella won.

And she shocked everyone, "Mandy." She pointed to the cheerleader.

Ryan stood still for a moment, wondering what to do, wondering what Gabriella was playing at. Finally he gave up and called "Troy."

"Kelsi." Gabriella pointed to Ryan's own girlfriend, who just pointed to herself in awe. Even Troy and Chad picked her towards the end.

"Chad?" Ryan asked rather than stated.

"Taylor." Gabriella shot back.

"Jason." Ryan's voice shook a little bit.

"Daniella."

"Zeke."

"Lizzie." Gabriella called out another cheerleader's name. It continued until Gabriella was surrounded by the girls and Ryan was surrounded by the boys. "Let's see if these girls can take you boys." She cooed softly at Chad and Troy, but they could hear the underlying threat in her voice.

Coach Bolton blew his whistle, stopping anything before it started. "Who's jumping?" He asked.

Zeke went and stood in the middle of the court and Christine, a 6'2" volleyball player stood across from him, "Good luck Baylor." She smiled.

She caught the jump ball.

HSMHSMHSM

Troy stood outside the girls' locker room, leaning against the wall. She was one of the first girls out. "Gabriella."

She spun at her name. She didn't respond, just stood there waiting.

"Good game." He held his hand out.

"Night kid." She didn't even bother shaking it.

Troy watched her walk away. She was the first girl he'd ever encountered who simply ignored him if she wanted to. The first one to barely glance his way. The first one to speak her mind and actually follow through. The first one to drop him before he could drop her, without the help of Zeke or Chad. She was the first one to actually fascinate him.

She was the first one he ever wanted.

HSMHSMHSM

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XOXO

MAS