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Chapter 14: Branching Out

Let's all thank I-fizz again! I'm funneling into her ideas. She's a Godsend seriously. Although she hates to admit it! If you happen to jump on her profile, send her a thank you message! She's the reason for the decent updates recently on like, well, everything. Enjoy! I promise drama on the way, just setting the scene a little bit here!

Sharpay plopped down on the sofa in the living room with a fresh bottle of red wine. The girls giggled as she poured a nice sized helping into each of their glasses. The decision to get drunk had been unanimous and didn't even need to be spoke aloud.

Taylor spoke, "Why do you think they're back?" She asked, trying to prop herself up on the couch.

Gabi shook her head and giggled as her hair flew around her face, "I don't know but I wished they'd stayed gone."

Sharpay hiccupped, "Me too."

Kelsi swished her wine around in her glass, "Were we too harsh on the guys?"

Everyone turned to her, "No…"

Kelsi nodded, "Okay."

Gabi took her small hand, "Kelsi, Kelsi, they weren't being very nice they can't just," she hiccupped, "demand information from us like that." She smiled, it was a lazy smile.

"Should we tell them?" Taylor asked.

"Well if those stalkerroos go away we won't have to." Sharpay laughed at her own word and raised her glass, "Here's to getting drunk over guys."

All the girls cheered and clinked their glasses together. A deep silence followed. All of them remembering when they had met during their junior year of high school. They smiled at each other, fully aware of what the other was thinking.

FLASHBACK, FLASHBACK!!!!

Beverly Hills High in Sunny California.

Sharpay and Ryan Evans. Juniors. Co-presidents of the drama club. She was the Ice Queen. Known throughout the school for her cool exterior. She was all about herself, following in her prestigious mother's footsteps. Their parents owned Lava Springs Country Club. The most exclusive club on the west coast. Due to their father's success, they were the wealthiest kids in school. And that was saying something. They did as they pleased and no one told them otherwise. Sharpay didn't run the school, but she had a nice grip over all the teachers. They all figured she'd follow in the footsteps of her socially inept mother. Inherit the family fortune. But what if she wanted to make it on her own? Be Sharpay Evans. Not the daughter of Phillip and Claire Evans. But none of them would question her. Even if she wasn't happy.

Gabriella Montez. Daughter of Isabella Montez. Former dancer. Her daughter was to follow her path. A path to success. Gabriella was the captain of the cheerleading squad. Captain of the dance team. She was the Queen Bee. And everyone answered to her. Whether she liked it or not. She was the topic of every conversation. The girl everyone loved to hate. Every guy bragged about getting her in bed. She'd roll her eyes. No one would ever believe her if she said she was saving herself for "Mr. Right". Whoever the fuck that was. She did as she pleased. Or so it seemed. Everyone wrapped around her little finger. Carefree. No problems. But what if she didn't like dancing? What if she wanted to be her own person, not the reincarnation of her mother? But no one would say a word. Even if she wasn't happy.

Taylor McKessie. Science Nerd. That seemed to be all there was to it. She was president of the Scholastic Decathlon Team. She led the team to back-to-back championships. But no one cared. She was going to Stanford Medical School. She'd be a doctor. Math and Science would be her life. She'd be Valedictorian of her class. Taking away the prize. She'd be successful. But she was a nobody. Sure Taylor loved her "friends", but she didn't love what she did. She loved math and science, but there was something missing. Her teachers loved her. They worshipped the ground she walked on. She was the straight A student. Who wouldn't? Maybe she didn't control them all, but she could certainly get away with enough in class. Not that she ever would. Her teachers loved the way she was. Even if she wasn't happy.

Kelsi Neilson was the Songwriter. She was the mousy brunette that no one noticed. She was apart of the drama club, but wasn't allowed near Ryan and Sharpay. Mr. Freeman could not have that. She might hurt his stars. Heaven forbid. She wrote the songs they performed. Changed it to their tempo. She was simply there. No one knew her story. No one understood her past. Her hopes. Her dreams. She was going to work for Hollywood Records. Then she'd be big. Then her parents would have the fame they wanted. Neilson would be a common name among singers. She'd be somebody. They'd be somebody. It didn't matter that she was smart. It didn't matter because she did what she was supposed to. Even if she wasn't happy.

Then it happened. The second week into the school year a new club was started. The Creative Writing Club. It was announced during A.P. Language and Composition. Wasn't it weird that the Ice Queen, the Queen Bee, the Science Nerd, and the Songwriter were all in that class. Dr. Andreu, their whacky teacher had just started the club. And she wanted members.

Dr. Andreu surveyed the class. Sharpay Evans, Gabriella Montez, Taylor McKessie, and Kelsi Neilson. They didn't know each other. They weren't friends. They were the best writers she'd met. Especially among students. They were going to be apart of this whether they liked it or not.

But Dr. Andreu was surprised. She had mapped out a way of roping them in. It was unnecessary.

"Okay girls," Gabriella addressed her cheerleading squad, "I can't make it to lunch practice today, so it's been cancelled."

"Oh, is Gabi going to be with Michael Saunders?" Emily Nichols was referring to the Football Captain that was chasing after Gabriella.

Gabriella shrugged, "Who knows?" The girls giggled. Boy she sure knew that wasn't true.

Gabriella took a deep breath as she opened to door to Dr. Andreu's office where the Creative Writing Club was meeting.

Sharpay once again yelled at Ryan, "I don't understand how this is so hard to comprehend Ryan?"

Ryan sighed and shook his blonde head, "Sharpay I think you're overreacting."

"No I don't." She groaned, "What does it matter? I need you to take care of the rehearsal today during lunch. Thank you." And with a wave of her blonde hair she was gone.

Ryan stared after her, "Wait? Shar? Where are you going to be?" His voice trailed off at the end. His sister had a mind of her own so it probably didn't matter.

Sharpay looked at the door in front of her. Office 408. She took a deep breath and clutched her pink notebook to her chest. This would kill her parents. This would infuriate the school. She smiled. And she didn't care.

Taylor McKessie looked at each of her teammates individually. They had just completely screwed up the last equation. They waited patiently for Taylor to explain. They knew she would. She always did. Then they got it and won the next competition.

Instead Taylor stood up, taking her notebook with her. "We're done for today. We'll pick up tomorrow maybe. I have to go."

Everyone stared at her retreating figure. "Something to do?" Martha Cox looked at the girl's back, "What could she have to do?"

Everyone shrugged at her questions. They didn't know that Taylor was making her way to Room 408. Her hand confidently grasped the doorknob and deftly twisted it. Walking inside.

Kelsi Neilson looked at Ryan as he began to get the rehearsal ready. She so desperately wanted to go to that meeting. She just wanted to see what would happen. She looked around the theater. Everyone was bustling about. She'd be late, but she'd make it if she left now. Would she really be missed?

Kelsi grinned, 'no' she knew that answer. She got up and walked onto the stage. "Here you go Ryan." She handed him the manila envelope and walked off the stage.

"Kelsi?" Ryan knew who she was, but he didn't know her. He glanced curiously at her retreating figure with his head cocked to the side in confusion. "What the hell is going on during lunch today?"

"Nothing." Ryan turned around to see Lindsay bobbing her red head in response. Ryan nodded and smiled at her. Something was up, he just didn't know what.

Gabriella opened the door to room 408 and found it empty. Even Dr. Andreu wasn't there. She took a seat at the table and placed her black binder and purple spiral on the table.

The door opened, in walked Dr. Andreu, "Gabriella." The older woman looked shocked and pleased, "I thought I'd have to drag you in here kicking and screaming."

Gabriella giggled, "No…practice was cancelled so I was free."

The door opened again. Sharpay looked into the room in shock, 'The Queen Bee?' Sharpay frowned and then smiled. "Good afternoon Dr. Andreu?"

"Sharpay! Oh my this is exciting! Just two more and then our club will be complete!" Dr. Andreu was jumping around like a little girl.

The girls giggled. Sharpay took a seat next to Gabriella, "Sharpay Evans."

"Gabriella Montez." They shook hands.

The door flew opened confidently. Taylor McKessie. "Ah Taylor!" Dr. Andreu squealed excitedly.

Sharpay and Gabriella turned to look at the African American girl in the doorway, "Hi Dr. Andreu." She nodded to the two girls. She knew of them but she didn't know them.

Gabriella smiled, "I'm Gabriella Montez."

"And I'm Sharpay Evans." Taylor was shocked that Sharpay was nice. Not the image she expected from the Ice Queen.

"Taylor McKessie." Taylor gave to two other girls a wave. She giggled at how excited Dr. Andreu looked. Shaking her head she sat down.

Dr. Andreu looked up at the clock, she sighed, "Well I was hoping we'd have one more."

The three girls looked at her with confused faces, "Were you expecting someone in particular?" Gabriella asked.

Dr. Andreu looked like a deer caught in headlights, "Um no." she stuttered out. "Okay, let's get started. I really don't know what you all would like to do, but I would love to hear any ideas you girls have."

Sharpay, Gabriella, and Taylor looked at each other, it was just like their English teacher to not have a plan. The group sat discussing what the club would actually do for about 10 minutes when the door quietly creaked open. A small curly head bopped in through the opening. "Dr. Andreu?" The voice was tiny and meek.

"Oh yay!" Dr. Andreu began clapping her hands wildly, "Our last member. Kelsi! Come on in love!"

Kelsi nodded and stood by the table. "Hi, I'm Kelsi Neilson."

"You're in the drama club right?" Sharpay looked up from her spiral she was jotting notes in. Kelsi nodded, "I'm Sharpay Evans."

"I know who you are. You're a very talented singer and actress." Kelsi looked at her Converse clad feet.

Sharpay blushed, "Nothing like Ryan but thank you. You're our songwriter. We'd be nowhere without you."

"You write the songs for the musicals?" Kelsi nodded generally in Gabriella's direction. "Cool! I'm Gabriella Montez."

"I know. You're really pretty." Kelsi looked up at the ceiling nervously. Gabriella blushed as well and muttered something that sounded similar to a 'thanks'.

"I'm Taylor McKessie." Taylor stood and stuck out her hand.

Kelsi stared at the girl with wide eyes, "I know. Kelsi Neilson."

Taylor also blushed, unaware that someone that wasn't on the Scholastic Decathlon knew who she was.

"Okay, now that we all know each other, let's get cracking." Dr. Andreu was all smiled.

"Dr. Andreu…" Taylor looked at her suspiciously

Sharpay picked up the train of thought, "Did you know we would all come here?"

Dr. Andreu looked away, "Dr. Andreu…did you plan this?" Gabriella looked at her accusingly. She looked like a child who got caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

"Perhaps." She shrugged. The girls giggled together. Life long friendships had been formed.

END OF FLASHBACK!!!!

Sharpay laughed, "That was so much fun. Darien was pretty amazing." She slurred out. Everyone agreed, still processing that day when they decided to branch out a little bit. Something that led to the career paths they followed now.

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Mollie XOXO