It has been exactly three weeks since the gang's vacation. Everything was just doing great, Sharpay health has slowly come back to normal, and every one of her closest friends helped her feel better.

The girls were in the library doing some extra work. The past three weeks was all about covering up the secrets they all found out, or shared. It was a big relief to all of them that they convinced Ryan's and Sharpay's parents that the rush to the hospital that late at night was all just about a bad stomach ache caused by food poisoning. They were concerned enough to let her stay in the hospital until she was surely prepared to travel.

"Will this book help?" Gabriella asked as she held out a book about algebra, the topic of their report.

"Sure, put it in the table" Taylor said.

Sharpay was seated down in the table already jotting down notes they could use. "I hope you guys won't just bring in books."

"Oh, don't worry, Sharpay. We'll copy something after you're done." Taylor teased. Sharpay rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at her. Gabriella giggled.

They continued working for a few more minutes before the Zeke and Chad came in to join them.

"Hey there, ladies, how is the day treating you?" Chad said as he pulled a chair from beneath the table. "We're doing good, thanks." Taylor replied as she put another book in the table.

"Speak for yourself! No one's even helping me with all these!" Sharpay said from behind the pile of books.

"You wanted to do that this morning, didn't you?" Taylor said.

"I did...but I didn't expect to do all the writing." Sharpay replied, and then returned to writing.

"I'll help you with that." Zeke offered. He moved his chair closer to Sharpay's, took a pencil from Sharpay's pencil case, and started to write down some notes as well.

"Thanks, Zeke, really... but I don't think your assistance would be necessary." Sharpay declined.

Zeke scoffed, "Nah, I don't have anything better to do anyway..."- he paused, after seeing the understanding/expecting look on Sharpay's face-"And, I really do want to help" he added.

Sharpay's face softened. She thought that Zeke was being a gentleman because, well, he just felt like he had no other choice. But, she was comforted that he was doing it for her as well.

"Well, if you put it that way, then...thanks." Sharpay smiled as she continued writing.

Chad, Gabriella, and Taylor stared at them for a moment, but they shook it off and continued like nothing happened.

"See that, Chad? You should try acting like that sometime." Taylor said as she flipped the pages of an old red book.

"Well, I bet that even if I don't act like that, you'll still love me." Chad replied wryly.

Taylor looked down and turned her heel, avoiding Chad's gaze-refraining him to see her smile.

"Maybe..." she later replied.

Gabriella sighed. Oh, how she wished Ryan was as sweet to her as they. She didn't even know where that thought came from! But, she couldn't help but think so.

Taylor cleared her throat, causing the group to look up at her. "I guess we should all take a break, lunch is almost over and we wouldn't want the hour to end without eating anything, now do we?" Taylor said.

"Sure." Gabriella said
"I'd be more than glad to, I'm famished!" Sharpay said.

"Alright, come on." Gabriella and Sharpay started gathering up their things, but Zeke began to say,

"Um... I already had my lunch. I'd be glad to stay behind and continue what I was doing"

"What? No, Zeke... I don't, I mean, we don't want to take you for granted... and we don't want you to think that, either. Come on, join us" Sharpay ushered.

"No, really, I don't mind."

Sharpay sighed. "Then I guess I'll stay behind with you." She put down her things again and pulled the chair

"What? Now, that's ridiculous. You just said you were 'famished'... I won't let you starve yourself" Zeke said,

"See, that's how ridiculous you just sounded. Dude, it's not even your project" Sharpay said,

"Fine; if I leave this work, will you eat, then?" Zeke offered his compromise

"Sounds good" Sharpay smiled. Then, they gathered their things and followed the rest out the door. What they didn't notice was a certain curious, blue-eyed boy watching from a corner.

--

Biology class was one of Sharpay's favourite classes. She loved the subject, and she loved the people who she was in the class with. As Sharpay trotted down the hall to the classroom, silver heels clicking, someone suddenly grabbed her arm, dragging her to a corner away from earshot.

"Whoa, hold on right there!" Sharpay exclaimed as she freed herself from the person's grip. She turned around to see who it was; she was surprised to see her best friend, Gabriella.

"Gabby? What's up?" She asked, as she eyed her troubled looking best friend.

"I'm bothered."

"That's a shock." Sharpay said sarcastically, "Why? What happened?"

"Well," Gabriella groaned mid sentence, "I don't like where my thoughts are taking me. I'm sure you won't either." She said, covering her face with her hands.

"I'm sure it's not that bad. C'mon, tell me." Sharpay urged.

Gabriella groaned, "It's about Ryan."

Sharpay groaned, "Crap,"

"I know, right!? I don't know what I'm supposed to do! I like him, and then I don't. He's my friend, and then he's more. I'm going insane!" Gabriella whined,

"Where the hell did this come from? You never spoke a word about this since... the trip to the beach" Sharpay asked,

"I know, I know. It sucks. But when we were in the library and I saw Taylor and Chad act all sweet, I suddenly wished for your brother."

"Well, truthfully, I don't really mind you dating my brother..." Sharpay said,

"Hush!" Gabriella squealed,

Sharpay laughed, "I'm sorry," she said. The bell rang and automatically they started walking towards their next class. They both had Biology next.

"Well, have you ever considered asking him out?" Sharpay suggested as they glided in the halls, so engrossed in their conversation to mind the people rushing around.

"Are you kidding? No way. That will be so embarrassing." Gabriella said,

"Why? There's nothing wrong with asking the guy... and besides, Ryan isn't the type who minds the 'dating rules'," Sharpay clutched her book closer to her chest,

"I know. Your brother isn't like other guys, and that's what makes him so...special to me. But, I still don't have the guts to do such thing," Gabriella said,

They reached their classroom then; the students were beginning to fill their seats. Their desks were shared by two people. Sharpay sat with Ryan, and Gabriella sat with Troy; but every now and then, they would switch places.

"Come on, I'm sure you can! Just make sure you can still talk, 'cause you have a habit of losing your tongue midsentence" Sharpay teased.

She was already seated on her seat; the chair next to her was still empty; Gabriella, on the other hand, sat behind Sharpay's and Ryan's desk, the other chair empty as well. Meaning: Troy and Ryan were running late. As usual.

"Shut up! I'm already nervous enough" Gabriella said as she buried her face on the desk, arms folded.

"And what seems to be the problem here?" Gabriella heard an all too familiar voice,

Her head shot up and saw Ryan looking at her with concern,

"Oh, don't worry about her, she's just stressed" Sharpay said as she played with her fingers.

"Hmm... that's a new one. She's always bright and happy," Ryan said, sending a smile in Gabriella's direction.

Gabriella smiled back. They held their gazes for, in Sharpay's opinion, a long time.

"Um," Sharpay broke the silence, "I totally forgot about something... I need to discuss with Troy. So, umm... Ryan, you don't mind changing seats with him for today, now, do you?" Sharpay asked, smiling at Gabriella.

When Ryan removed his gaze on her, Gabriella immediately smiled and nodded furiously at Sharpay. Her curly brown locks bouncing.

"No, of course I don't." Ryan said as he took his books and walked to the seat next to Gabriella,

"Thank you" Sharpay slyly said. She turned her head around, giving them the privacy they deserve.

After a few moments, Troy suddenly ran inside. Relief washed through his face when he saw that the teacher's desk was still empty.

Glancing at his seat, he saw Ryan and Gabriella chatting. No more questions asked about that. He would sit with Sharpay.

"Hey" he greeted as he sat down casually next to her,

"Hey" she replied, "running late, I see" she added with a smirk.

"Yeah, well, time totally flew by for me." Troy said as he ran a hand through his hair.

Sharpay found herself staring. Truthfully, she wouldn't have noticed that she was if it wasn't for Troy's eyebrows suddenly rising.

She looked away sheepishly.

Neither could say another word to each other. Their biology teacher just walked in looking as cranky as he's ever been.

"Alright, class... today we will discuss about plants' response to stimuli" He said.

Sharpay and Gabriella grew a smirk; both thinking how ironically coincidental biology class is.

Author's Note: I finally updated! I'm so sorry for not updating so soon! I'm really working hard with my studies that I don't even have time to update. But, I still found the time to finish this chapter. I hope you enjoy and leave a review! :-) I'M SO SORRY!

With Hearts,

LA2021~