Title: Show Stopper
Author: Jade-Max
Summary: Shortly after Gabriella is gone, Sharpay wastes no time stepping into her position in the show - set just after Troy's comment to Ryan about how he's easier to dance with than Sharpay.
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Show Stopper
"You want me to what?" Troy looked from Ryan to Sharpay and back to Kelsi. "No way."
"It's in the script," Ryan hedged, feeling bad for the star basketball player who'd become his friend. "Ms. Darbus felt that it was a good idea since you and Gabriella were a couple."
"Me and Gabriella," Troy stressed deliberately. "Not me and Sharpay!"
"The song kind of calls for it," Kelsi informed him miserably. "And after your rehearsals with Gabriella, Ms. Darbus said we couldn't drop it just because she's gone."
"No." Troy crossed his arms over his chest. "I was reluctant to do it when Gabriella was still here because our relationship isn't for show, but now you want me to... with Sharpay - and she's not my girlfriend!"
"Oh come on," Sharpay scoffed haughtily. "Just what is so wrong with a little on stage kiss?"
Troy glared at her, wishing for the thousandth time since her departure that he'd never let Gabriella talk him into this. The show just wasn't any fun without her - and now this! "You might go around kissing whomever you please, Sharpay, but if you haven't noticed, I don't."
"What are you afraid of, Troy?" Sharpay taunted icily. "Think your precious Gabriella might not live up to an on stage lip lock?"
If Troy had ever doubted his relationship or his connection to Gabriella, her words might have stung. As it was, he didn't doubt them, and Sharpay's words didn't hurt - but they did make his hackles rise. "If I was - and I'm not - I wouldn't want to test the theory with you."
Sharpay struck a pose, slamming her hands on her hips. "And just what is so wrong with honing your theatrical abilities with me? I'm a professional Troy, not likely to get swept away by good looks and a pair of popular lips!"
Kelsi and Ryan exchanged looks, Kelsi moving to Troy's side as Ryan edged towards his sister. "Shar, maybe this isn't-"
"Stay out of this, Ryan," she snapped, never losing her pointed look at Troy. "What about it Troy, are you a professional or an armature? If you think Julliard will even consider you when you're squeamish to do whatever a script calls for."
He looked like he was either going to be sick - or throttle her. Kelsi placed a restraining hand on Troy's elbow, looking beseechingly at Ryan. Ryan shrugged helplessly. There was little they could really do and the chemistry between Gabriella and Troy simply didn't translate to Troy and Sharpay - something Ryan's sister wasn't willing to accept.
"I told you; I never sent that application to Julliard," Troy informed Sharpay evenly. "I never filled it out, never mailed it and until Ms. Darbus mentioned them, I never knew they existed. I'm not trying to win their blasted scholarship so what should I care what they think?"
"Ha!" Sharpay laughed once and then her smile appeared - and Ryan and Kelsi backed away, knowing she was at her most dangerous when she smiled. Troy, for his part, was too angry with the self-proclaimed diva - and unthreatened. There was little Sharpay could say or do to him that would have much of an impact. "Like I believe that."
"I don't care what you believe, it's the truth."
"Sure," she waved one hand as if to push it away. "Applicant or not, they're considering you for it anyway. If you didn't want to be here, you would have left at the same time Gabriella did!"
"I don't want to be here."
"You're fooling yourself, Troy. Gabriella turned to you to convince everyone because she knew you wouldn't turn down another opportunity to get back on stage."
"With her," he cut in vehemently. "With Gabriella, Sharpay. The only reason I agreed to do this was because she wanted to, because she believed we should. I never signed on to play opposite you - I agreed to do this because singing with Gabriella isn't a chore; it's magic."
"Gabriella isn't the only one who can sing," Sharpay informed him coolly. "And you learned that this summer; or did you miss the fact you can sing with people other than her?"
"You can't take her place."
"I've already been given it." The smugness in Sharpay's tone was unmistakable.
"Maybe on stage," Troy informed her evenly, "but nowhere else."
"What's going on here?"
"Troy and I were just discussing the kissing scene," Sharpay informed her mentor with a megawatt smile. "And how it would be the ultimate test of us as consummate professionals to ensure it looks nothing short of real."
"Indeed."
"No. No way."
"Is there a problem Mr. Bolton?" Ms. Darbus turned to pin him with an arch look.
Troy shifted uncomfortably. Ms. Darbus had given him a chance to try something new, to explore beyond the boundaries of who and what he'd been the previous year and he hated to disappoint her - but he didn't intend to lock lips with Sharpay Evans! He looked to Ryan and Kelsi for help, but they simply stood watching him in silence, Sharpay's crossed arms and raised eyebrows a challenge all in itself.
The ringing of his phone - taboo on the best of days in Ms. Darbus' chapel of the arts - saved him. He held up his hands, digging the cell from his pocket as Ms. Darbus crossed her arms over her chest. "I do not approve of cell phones in my theatre, Mr. Bolton."
"Ryan called a five minute break, Ms. D," Troy said by way of apology as he checked the called ID on the front of his phone. His whole face changed, a delighted smile crossing his lips and telling everyone watching who the caller had to be as he flipped it open.
"Hey!"
"Hey yourself, Wildcat."
"You have no idea what a life saver you are," he told her with a shrug for his teacher and friends as he turned and walked away.
That he didn't say anything more to them as he focused on the voice at the other end, made Sharpay huff in annoyance even as Kelsi and Ryan shared a bashful grin. Only Gabriella had that effect on the Wildcat's superstar and they'd get nothing more from him until he finished his call.
"I take it rehearsals are going well then?"
Troy laughed shortly. "They're a disaster. We all miss you."
"I miss you guys too," Gabriella sighed softly. "Let me guess, Sharpay's playing the part Kelsi wrote for me, right?"
"Who else?"
"What's the matter?"
Dropping off the stage, Troy slouched in one of the chairs. "There's a part in the script I don't agree with."
"Oh? You never said anything when we were rehearsing."
"Exactly - when we were rehearsing." Making a face, Troy cradled the phone between his ear and shoulder, wishing he was holding her instead of the folding electronic. "This is such a mess."
"How so? I thought you were so excited to be doing the show."
"I was excited about doing the show with you but now Sharpay expects me to kiss her because Ryan included it as a part of our choreography."
Gabriella was silent on the other end, and Troy heard what he suspected was a muffled giggle.
"This isn't funny."
"No?" There was laughter in her voice. "If you pursue theatre, Wildcat, you're going to have to kiss girls other than me eventually."
"That is not what I wanted to hear."
"No, but it's what you need to hear," Gabriella informed him with an audible grin. "I don't like the idea of you kissing Sharpay of all people either, Troy, but it is a part of the show."
"I thought you were supposed to be on my side here."
"I am."
"Then why are you encouraging this?"
"Because you should have all of the information at your finger tips before you make any decisions about playing or acting."
Trust Gabriella to see things logically when he was viewing them personally. "You're one step ahead of me again, huh?" She laughed, and it made his chest ache. He wanted to see her - to hold her, to be with her. The duet Kelsi had written suddenly said it all. Without thinking about it, he sang the words softly. "All I wanna do, is be with you... be with you."
"Troy..."
"I miss you, Gabriella."
"I miss you too."
Closing his eyes, he basked in those soft, heartfelt words, letting them curl about his heart - and then she continued matter-of-factly, pushing beyond the tenderness of the moment resolutely to bring them back to topic.
"But that doesn't change the fact you have a show to do and a scene with Sharpay that might dictate if you decide to follow theater or give it up."
"I don't want to kiss her."
"I'm not saying I want you to kiss her either," Gabriella admitted. "But it's a part of stage life. Some roles call for co-stars to... get physical."
With a sigh, Troy conceded the point. "That doesn't mean I have to like it," he groused.
Gabriella laughed. "I don't like it any more than you do - and I can't believe I'm encouraging you to kiss Sharpay!"
"I'd be lying if I said it's not more than a little strange. Are you sure about this, Gabriella? I feel like... like I'm cheating on you or something."
"You're not."
"That doesn't help."
"I'm not saying you have to practice with her," she told him dryly. "But when the time comes, pretend she's me."
"Never. She could never be you."
"Mr. Bolton!"
Troy winced. "I've gotta go; can I call you tonight?"
"I'll be waiting. Say hi to everyone for me."
"Will do, I'll talk to you later."
"'Til then, Wildcat."
Troy heard the line click on the other end and slowly removed the phone from his ear, closing it with a small flick of his fingers. Staring at it, he smiled faintly, glad she hadn't said goodbye this time. Every time she did, it was like having an invisible fist reach in and grab his heart - and she finally seemed to understand that. Pushing to his feet, he ran towards the stage and jumped lightly to its surface.
Ms. Darbus as tapping her foot impatiently. "Are you quite finished, Mr. Bolton?"
Troy turned the ringer off on his phone and shoved it back in his pocket. "Gabriella sends her greetings."
"I'm sure Ms. Montez is most interested in the show's progression, however, I believe we were discussing a problem you had with one of the scenes."
Taking a deep breath, Troy met the teacher's gaze head on and forced a smile, bolstered by Gabriella's support. "No, no problem."
Sharpay looked smug as Ryan and Kelsi exchanged surprised - and slightly worried looks. Ms. Darbus arched her eyebrows so high they were almost lost in her hairline. "Then why were you protesting?"
His gaze moved to Sharpay's smug expression. "Because it won't be the test of professionals. Unlike Sharpay, I've had my practice. When the time comes for the performance, I'll do my part - providing she's up to hers."
"All the more reason for us to practice," Sharpay told him pointedly. "Practice on another partner hardly counts as-"
"The scene is important," Ms. Darbus broke in before Sharpay could say anything more. "But it is not the focus of this production. Now that we are all in accord, I suggest we work on the next act."
Ms. Darbus moved away, Sharpay on her heels, discussing the act she'd mentioned. Kelsi grabbed one of his arms. "Are you really going to kiss her?"
Troy exhaled and nodded. "It's an experiment. Besides, both of you said it was an important part of the script. If something had happened to Gabriella, I'd have had to follow through with her understudy regardless."
"But... it's Sharpay!"
Sliding his arm about the composer's shoulders, he squeezed. "I know - and this is Gabriella's idea."
"Wait - what?"
Laughing, Troy grinned at her and released her. "That was my reaction too. She said something about theatrical obligations and how it would play a part in if I choose to pursue theatre or not."
"What kissing other girls?"
"I was reminded that some productions require a certain level of intimacy to make them beliveable."
"And Gabriella's okay with this?"
"She says she is."
"Are you?"
"I guess we'll see. I've gotta go re-read my lines, catch you later?"
"Sure, hoops man. Good luck."
"Thanks - I think I'll need it."
fin
