S O M E D A Y
PART ONE: Once Upon A Time
SUMMARY: Relationships and friendships both flourish and falter amidst the pressures of senior year and life in general. A hopefully original take of senior year at East High. All characters; TxG CxT. M for coarse language, sexual references/depictions
DISCLAIMER: I do not claim to be responsible for the creation of this brilliant set of characters. I just play with them. A nd make them act out my kinky fantasies.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I had intended to post this chapter a little sooner but I've got family here for this reunion thing so I've been doing lots of stuff with them. And then when the day I set aside specifically for editing this chapter came around, I just wasn't in a writing place. Apologies. Also for these reasons, normally I'm pretty good with responding to various e-mails and PM's and review replies and detailed reviews that people leave (if you're one of the people who leave such things, you know who you are) but just haven't had the time/energy. Don't take it personally. I'm still not really in a writing place and as a result the flat first draft of this chapter still falls a bit flat after my editing. I'm just going with it because I've now been staring at the chapter so long that even if my mood magically did a 180 I still don't think there would be much more I could do.
If at any point your eyes are drifting closed, just pretend Troy takes his shirt off, okay? Or maybe he breaks out with a random karate chop. Haw.
Gratitude to Ayen and Martin for the awesomely fabulous job they do previewing my work - sorry Ayen, I don't think this picked up the way you suggested it needed to.
Chapter 26
By Sunday afternoon at 4pm, Troy was feeling like he'd spent the last 24 hours straight at Ryan's house, being poked and prodded like a science experiment gone wrong. The reality was he'd only been there for about four and a half hours. Taking out the small break he'd had and the disastrous styling session – which, as annoying as it was, hadn't been particularly physically draining – he'd had about three and a half hours of crazy rehearsal, on top of the two hours of basketball training in the morning. Additionally that afternoon, Troy had managed to get angry at Ryan; set up a future 'deep' discussion with his girlfriend; and confront his best friend about his intentional deception of the recent progressions in his home life. It was the latter of the three that was now nagging at Troy the most. He didn't appreciate that his best friend of 12 years had brushed aside the fact that he hadn't told Troy something major within his life.
Nevertheless, the show - or the rehearsal - had to go on. With the final segment of the afternoon being to run through Troy's musical solo. Kelsi was excited - finally they were within her realm of expertise. Her passion was music. It just so happened that the best forum to have her original music heard within the high school environment was through the drama club, with its musical theatre oriented supervisor Ms. Darbus. But the acting and costumes and make up and dancing were of little meaning to Kelsi. The whole gruelling day at Ryan's had been about this very moment.
"Okay, so the way that we're going to go about…" Ryan began to announce, outlining the proceedings for the solo run through.
Kelsi somewhat timidly cleared her throat. Ryan paused.
"Um, Kelsi, why don't you take over for this part?" Ryan suggested. "I'm sick of being in charge here."
Kelsi gave him a small smile, knowing that he was in fact revelling within his position of power. She appreciated that he was relinquishing control and handing her the reigns.
"Gee thanks Ryan," she said teasingly. "Since you've had nothing to do with the preparation for this part of the audition. In fact Troy and I have spent hours upon hours rehearsing."
"And how I've enjoyed those hours away from Ryan the tyrant," Troy joked.
"You'll barely recognise what we've done to it," Kelsi added.
"Done to it?" Ryan repeated.
Troy and Kelsi exchanged a glance. "I gave Kelsi some ideas about how I thought we could make the song better. So it's now a little different," Troy said casually. He grabbed a chair and plonked it down. "Jason, could you hand me the guitar?"
Jason looked a little miffed, and hesitantly handed over the instrument. He'd been having fun plucking away at the strings.
"Since when do you play guitar?" Gabriella asked incredulously.
"Well my dad has a beat up crappy out of tune acoustic guitar that I would have a go at every so often over the last few months. But with lessons attached - since Monday."
"You've learnt the guitar in a week?" Ryan asked in disbelief.
Troy snorted. "Hardly. I know a handful of chords. Enough to look semi impressive tomorrow afternoon."
Kelsi sat down at the baby grand piano, running her fingers lovingly over the keys.
"Ryan and Sharpay, when you inherit all of the belongings in this house, can you promise me that you will give me this piano," she said whimsically.
"You'll be rich and successful and famous with your own music and be able to buy your own baby grand piano before that happens," Ryan declared.
"Okay so for everyone else's benefit. In this scene, Mike goes to Nina's house when he knows that she is home alone, that Nate isn't there. Mike is standing in the backyard calling up to her balcony, but she is refusing to come out. So he sings this song. Ready Troy?"
Troy nodded.
The song in its original composition had been a semi up beat rock song, where Mike was crooning, serenading Nina. Troy had talked it over with Kelsi and convinced her to change it somewhat. So here was Troy, sitting still, plucking away and singing soulfully to Kelsi's background music.
When Troy finished, he allowed himself to look at Gabriella.
"Are you crying?" he asked softly.
"No," Gabriella said, sniffling.
"You are!"
"That was just... really beautiful," she admitted.
"It was really good man," Jason said in admiration.
Troy shrugged. "If I get the part it'll be better. I'll be able to play the whole song, so it'll be more real, just Mike and his guitar, no piano because obviously there wouldn't be a piano if he was serenading Nina in the backyard. And I won't be looking down as much. It'll be at the balcony."
"And then at Nina," Kelsi added.
"What if I cry on the night? That so doesn't work with Nina's reaction!" Gabriella exclaimed.
"What is Nina's reaction?" Taylor asked. "Because if I were Nina, I would be taking the boy to go and make out with him."
"Don't tell them! They have to come to see it to know what happens," Kelsi said quickly.
They ran through the song a couple more times, with minor flaws being pointed out and corrected.
"I think you're ready," Kelsi declared.
Just as they were all getting ready to head home, Gabriella's ring tone sounded yet again.
"You're popular today," Martha commented.
Gabriella glanced at the screen, furrowing her brow at the number she didn't recognise.
"Hello?" she said questioningly.
"Why hello there Nina," the voice said.
"Sorry you have a wrong number, there's no Nina here," Gabriella said, and was about to hang up when the penny dropped. "Theodore," she said grimly, sending a panicked look in Troy's direction.
"How are you this afternoon?"
"HOW did you get my number?" she asked curiously.
"It's on the drama club contact list I got from Ryan."
If looks could kill, Ryan Evans would be a dead man.
"Of course my number is on the drama club contact list you got from Ryan," she repeated with gritted teeth, glaring at Ryan.
Ryan winced and mouthed, 'Sorry.'
"Anyway so I just thought we should establish our social relationship seeing as we might be spending a lot of time together as of about 6:30 tomorrow. You know, after the call back. Obviously you want Troy to get the part but you never know what might happen."
Gabriella cleared her throat. "You know they say that you shouldn't count your chickens before they hatch. Look I'm kinda busy at the moment..."
"Could I call you later?"
"I am busy all night. The whole night. So I can't talk. Sorry. Umm, I'll see you tomorrow."
And she swiftly hung up her cell phone. She waited for three seconds, allowing herself to breathe, before screeching, "RYAN!! How could you!"
"I didn't know he was gonna call you! And he is allowed to have the drama club contact list and I did tell you when you joined that your number would go onto the contact list and when you joined you did know that he was in the drama club."
"When did you join the drama club?" Troy asked, focusing on the wrong point of the whole matter.
"Just last week. Ryan convinced me since I'm practically a member anyway. They get half price movie tickets and stuff," Gabriella told him, a calm washing over her to answer his question.
"Right. Ryan convinced you," he muttered under his breath.
His response was so quiet that only the person sitting next to him heard him - that person being Sharpay.
"Really?" Chad asked, ears perking up. "I should join."
"You do actually have to come to meetings and stuff also," Ryan pointed out.
"Oh. Okay. Scratch that."
"Why is he just randomly calling me anyway?" Gabriella mused.
"Well duh," Sharpay spoke up.
"Well duh what?"
"He likes you," Sharpay said, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Who is this kid and where does he live so we can go beat him up for Troy," Jason said automatically.
"Jase, you know how there are rules about not hitting girls and stuff?" Troy said.
"Yeah?"
"That rule applies to this kid."
Jason laughed. "No competition then, hey?"
"Good thing or we'd have to put up with more of Troy's jealous ramblings," Chad said.
"Troy's jealous ramblings?" Gabriella enquired with a cheeky smile.
"Do not exist. At all," Troy insisted.
"He was all cut when Miss Darbus put you with Lenny during drama last week. He kept glaring at Lenny throughout the class."
"I don't know whether to be annoyed or find this adorable," Gabriella mused.
"Okay the guy was like staring at her ass and... besides... there were no jealous ramblings," Troy said defensively. "Maybe a snide comment or two, but I am not a jealous person by nature."
Jason and Chad exploded into laughter. "Nah man. Not in the slightest," Chad said, amused.
"Man that's so funny I think I might pee my pants. Or maybe I just need to pee," Jason pondered, before wandering in the direction of the bathroom.
"Kelsi, so you still are okay with me borrowing your guitar to practice?" Troy queried, motioning to the guitar. "I should just get you to look at my dad's old guitar and tell me if the whole thing is just fucked or if it could be tuned."
"You should. But in the mean time, yes you can borrow my guitar again. I remind you once more, you break it and I'll break you. I might look small but I am surprisingly strong," she said with a smile.
"Noted."
Troy headed upstairs to change out of his costume, along the way grabbing Gabriella by the arm to bring her with him.
"Where are you taking me?"
"I'm taking you upstairs to ravish you," Troy replied cheekily.
"Ha. I wish. I mean. You wish. I mean..."
"We both wish?" he suggested.
Gabriella blushed. "However in the Evans household, perhaps not a great idea."
"So when you told Theodore you're busy tonight, are you?"
"Umm I have some homework for Creative Writing but I'm free for a while."
"Fancy... doing something?"
Gabriella smiled slyly. "Are you insinuating something?"
"Actually I'm not," Troy said honestly. "I'd like to umm... I dunno. Talk?"
"You and I, talk? We do that these days?" she said cheekily.
Troy thwacked her gently on the arm. "Yes I believe we do. On occasion. Not very often. But it happens."
Back downstairs, Taylor cornered Chad who was scouring through the collection of PlayStation games that Sharpay and Ryan had at their disposal. Neither of the twins played any of them, they simply owned them because Sharpay just bought them because she had to own everything.
"Did you want to grab dinner?" Taylor asked Chad impulsively.
"Err... I'm kinda broke," he admitted.
"Then how about you just come over and hang for a while?" Taylor suggested.
Chad nodded. After all, he had promised that things were going to go back to normal. Well… as normal as normal could be. "Okay. Cool. That'd be awesome."
Jason returned from the bathroom and glanced around. The room had emptied, the two couples having left. "Wow, they took off quickly," he remarked.
"Gee I wonder why," Martha said with a knowing smirk.
"Good work guys, leave me without a fucking lift," Jason grumbled.
"I can take you," Martha offered.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, you're like less than five minutes away from my place, it's no trouble at all." Martha turned to Kelsi. "You sure you're gonna hang here for a while?"
Kelsi nodded. "It's fine, Ryan is gonna drive me home later."
"Okay." Martha smiled at Ryan. "Thanks for an awesome afternoon Ry, it was great. I'm glad you made us all come."
"I'm glad you all came, it was fun," he said, returning her smile.
"See you tomorrow, Kelsi," Jason said, flashing her a small smile.
Kelsi returned the smile. "Bye."
Ryan walked Jason and Martha to the door and returned to the lounge room, collapsing onto the couch beside Kelsi.
"That went well, don't you think?" Ryan commented.
"If Troy doesn't get the part, I might boycott the show," Kelsi declared.
Sharpay entered the room, Boi trailing behind her.
"Peace at last," Sharpay declared. "Do your friends have to be here like EVERY day?"
"I am still here," Kelsi said, amused.
Sharpay considered this.
"You're different."
"I am?"
Sharpay shrugged. She sat down primly on the arm chair and scooped Boi up from the floor to sit on the arm of the chair. "I suppose so. Anyway while you're here, I wanted to talk to you about Esmeralda's solo."
Kelsi closed her eyes. She had gone the entire time that the script had been released without Sharpay having some sort of critique. She had been naive to think that something wasn't coming.
"Yes?" Kelsi asked, trying to sound pleasant as she prepared herself for the onslaught.
"I wanted to set up a time to work on it with you before I have my first official session with Ms. Darbus."
"Oh," Kelsi said, surprised. "Is that all?"
"Uh, yeah," Sharpay said, looking at her strangely.
"Well that's fine. When are you available?"
Martha and Jason were cruising along the main street of Albuquerque - which adjoined the affluent area where the Evans mansion was, to the down to earth nice neighbourhood that the majority of their group lived within.
"Man I'm a loser. Zeke's off imitating rabbits during mating season, Troy and Chad are... well not quite doing that but not far from. And here I am."
Martha rolled her eyes. She could almost take offense to the implication that hanging around with her made him a loser, if she didn't know that he was very specifically referring to his lack of a girlfriend.
"Don't you live the ideal lifestyle? Single, hot, varsity basketballer with girls at your disposal everywhere?"
"Girls at my disposal? Hardly," Jason scoffed. The he paused, dawning on him what she had just said. "Hang on, did you just say that I'm hot?"
Martha blushed. "Oh... errr... well. I did. I didn't mean it like THAT though. I actually kinda like someone else."
"You do? Who?" Jason asked eagerly, wanting to be the one with the scoop for once.
"Not saying," Martha said firmly.
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
"But seriously Jason... stop saying you're a loser because you're not."
"I am too."
"Why, because you can't even ask out Kelsi?" Martha asked bluntly.
"How did you know that I wanted to ask out Kelsi?" Jason asked, slightly alarmed.
"EVERYONE knows you like Kelsi. Just like everyone knows that Kelsi likes you."
He sighed. "Yeah but..."
"I don't know what you're so worried about. Just ask her out."
"But what if..."
"No what if! Ask her out!"
Troy and Gabriella had made their way to one of the few Starbucks in town that hadn't been closed down recently. Troy had been dubious when Gabriella had suggested going for coffee – after all, neither of them drank coffee; unless you counted one of Gabriella's flavoured lattes with so many raw sugars added that the coffee flavour was completely drowned out. Gabriella had insisted that Troy should try a cream based frappachino and that it would indeed change his life. As the couple had staked their claim in a couch in the back corner, and Troy brought the straw to his lips to take a tentative sip of his caramel goodness. His expression lit up.
"Wow. This is... really really amazing."
"Told you so," Gabriella said, somewhat smugly.
"Aren't we sophisticated, sitting at Starbucks," he remarked.
Gabriella giggled. "Starbucks is like the new hang out place. You must have missed the memo."
"Must have. Too busy singing and dancing."
"And learning to play the guitar."
"That too."
Gabriella sensed that something was troubling him - why else would her seventeen year old somewhat sex crazed boyfriend have suggested they go somewhere to 'talk' when he could have suggested they try to find somewhere private.
"What's up?" she said softly, running her finger along his cheek.
"Do you think it's natural for people who have been friends for ages to drift apart?" Troy asked.
Gabriella paused. "Is this a general question or are you being specific about someone?"
"Keep it general for now."
"I think it's natural that as we get older, we change. And that sometimes as you change and meet new people, that you will develop separate interests and therefore spend less time together. That doesn't necessarily equate to meaning any less to the other person."
"Hmm."
"Chad?" Gabriella asked.
He nodded. "You know David, his mom's boyfriend? He left them."
"He did? When?" Gabriella asked, shocked.
"During the week. Chad didn't tell me. And if my mom hadn't said something... I don't know when Chad would have told me. If at all."
"Did you ask him about it?"
"Yeah. Today. He made this comment about me being busy and that he didn't want to bother me with it or something."
"Well, you have been busy," Gabriella said, trying to be neutral.
"But he also kinda just blew it off, made it sound all casual like it was no big deal since he doesn't even like him."
"Also true," Gabriella pointed out. "He really didn't like him."
"I bet he told Taylor about it," Troy said softly, clearly a bit cut.
Gabriella hesitated. This was where complications came in when you were in a friendship group dating one another. Gabriella was sympathetic to both sides of the situation. Gabriella found some things easier to take about with Taylor than she did with Troy. Just as she found other things easier to discuss with Troy. She sympathised with Troy feeling left out about Chad not telling him something. And yet she also felt a sense of loyalty to Taylor, knowing that Taylor would prod at Chad until he told her something.
"Last year, when you were having the problems with the Roadrunners team, who did you talk to about it in detail?" Gabriella prompted.
Troy paused. "You," he admitted.
"And when you're stressing about scholarships and stuff?"
"Also you. But... I had reasons for wanting to talk to you about it and not to Chad or the guys."
"Maybe Chad had reasons for not wanting to talk to you about David."
Troy exhaled. "Why are you so smart?
"I think you need to talk to him about it again," Gabriella suggested. "Maybe there's more going on than you realise."
"Maybe."
Chad and Taylor were lying curled up next to one another in Taylor's bed. She was smiling contently. She'd missed the feeling of his warm skin against hers. Chad's hands and lips had the ability to bring her to a state of complete ecstasy that she never even realised was possible to exist.
"It's been too long since we've done that," Taylor murmured, running her hand along his arm.
"I know."
There were moments that left Chad questioning what Taylor really thought of him. Like when she was constantly nagging at him about his algebra, or making joking comments about how he must have been hit in the head with too many basketballs. The moments that brought back all of the insecurities she had arisen in him, the moments that made him think about who he was and whether he was good enough for this amazing woman.
But then there were also moments when she would say something clever, when she would make a sarcastic remark, when she would grasp at his length with a look of complete and utter adoration in her eyes - when he remembered why it was that he didn't have the energy to make an issue out of his insecurities. When she provided a sanctuary from the chaos in the wider world.
"What happened with you and Troy today?" Taylor asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Things were all fine and then you came back from the kitchen and suddenly you two went all weird."
"Oh? I didn't know it was noticeable."
"I noticed. I notice everything."
Not everything, Chad thought.
"Troy found out about David."
"You still hadn't told him?"
"It was only during the week."
"Yeah but you and Troy text each other the minute stuff happens normally, don't you?"
Chad shrugged. "I guess."
"Was he upset?"
"I guess. I... it's complicated. But it'll sort itself out. That's what me and Troy do. We get pissed at each other. It blows over."
"I don't know if that's healthy. To just... let things simmer."
"Don't you worry about me and Troy. Let's just worry about me and you. I meant what I said. I wanna try to get things back to normal. Things are crazy enough without adding the complication of not having you. I need something constant."
Taylor smiled sympathetically. "I get you, I really do. And I know you've been in a weird headspace which I totally get. Senior year, it's doing it to everyone. But you know what, we can work this out. You and I will be fine. And basketball season looks like it's gonna go well. And you've got track training starting up soon, which is good. And we can sit down and work on that nasty algebra assignment this week. It'll all be fine."
Chad returned her warm smile. Of course it wasn't the basketball or the algebra he'd been referring to. But of course that would be all that mattered to Chad Danforth for crying out loud, right?
Chad's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, seeing it was his home number.
"Yo... hey Jayme... again? Fuck. I mean... damn. You didn't hear me say that! ... No no that's fine... I'll sort it... I won't be long. Okay see you soon..."
He turned to Taylor. "I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to take off. Um, my mom seems to have gone out and left Jayme with money to buy dinner because there's no food in the house. Well, left Jayme with money so that I can go and buy dinner."
Well, his mom was at yet another late night shift at the restaurant and left a message asking Chad if he had the money to get dinner. Close enough. Only a slight twisting of the truth.
"That's okay," Taylor said assuringly. "I understand."
"Next weekend, I swear we will go on and real date. Me and you, no distractions yeah?"
"Absolutely."
He could do this. He could show her that he was worthwhile.
As Troy was driving them home from Starbucks, a part of Gabriella wanted to bring up 'the Ryan issue' and get all deep discussion points over and done with. Another part of her was desperate to let sleeping dogs lie. However that was exactly what she had been doing since they'd last talked about it - leaving it be, hoping the issue would blow over. It had become glaringly evident through the progress of the day that it hadn't blown over. It was simmering, waiting for something to bring it to boiling point.
"Do we need to talk about what happened with you getting shitty with Ryan today?" Gabriella finally asked.
Troy glanced over at her. "You tell me. Do we?"
"Umm... well I'm not the one with the issue here," Gabriella pointed out.
"But you're the one who obviously has commentary on the issue," Troy returned.
A part of her understood where he was coming from. She knew that jealous tendencies were natural - she would be lying if she said that she was totally completely 100 percent fine with the closeness of Troy's friendship with Paula. But ultimately she trusted him. A part of her wanted to scream at him Ryan is gay, you moron! but she knew that it shouldn't matter. That he should trust her regardless.
Gabriella's lack of immediate response, together with the clouded expression on her face, was enough to cause Troy to suddenly pull over into a parking spot by the park they were driving past. He turned off the ignition and looked at Gabriella expectantly.
"There's nothing going on between Ryan and I," Gabriella said softly, but adamantly.
"I know there's nothing going on but... it doesn't change that I don't entirely trust him," Troy responded.
"Ryan doesn't like me that way."
"How do you know?"
"I know."
"But seriously Gabriella, he could. There's a chance."
Gabriella sighed. "Okay I'm going to humour you for a moment. Do you trust me when I say that it's you that I love, that Ryan is just my friend."
"Yes. I trust you completely, totally, 100 percent. This isn't about my trusting or not trusting you."
"Then it shouldn't matter what Ryan feels. There's enough complexity in our lives, don't go making an issue out of something that there is absolutely no issue with."
Troy exhaled. He knew that she was right, as per usual.
"Troy? Ryan has become really important to me. Yes he's a guy and therefore you find this weird. But... it happened. Over unusual circumstances yes, but it happened. And it would mean a lot to me if I could leave the two of you in the same room without thinking I'll be leaving you feeling all weird and tense."
Troy was silent. He could hear the pleading in her tone.
"Okay," he said simply. "I'll... I'll work on it."
"That's all I can ask I guess.
"So ummm...you really liked the leather jacket, didn't you?" Troy asked with a smirk, feeling a desperate need to lift the tension in the vehicle.
Gabriella knew exactly what he was doing, but was more than willing to go along with it.
"I did. Once upon a time it seemed that all it took was a nice suit to impress me. Now leather jackets and smelly basketball uniforms seem to do the trick."
"Maybe it's about who is wearing them?" Troy suggested, somewhat cockily.
Gabriella rolled her eyes, but she knew very well that there was a whole lot of truth to his statement. "Maybe. But the leather jacket is cool. Even the math girl approves."
"Math girl?" Troy asked, his confusion evident.
"You know, math girl, super vixen?" she reminded him.
"Isn't Chad full of shit sometimes," he laughed.
"Not necessarily."
Troy raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"He kind of... well... somewhat was on the mark, really. Maybe a bit overdramatised but... nevertheless, on the mark."
"Interesting. Do continue," Troy pried, fascinated by her revelation.
"It's just like how... how it was you who made me realise that I can be whoever I wanna be. Do whatever I want to do. For a long time I was so busy getting used to the idea that Gabriella could really be in musicals annd in decathlon teams and be friends with cheerleaders and date the basketball captain - all at the same time. And I was working out what all that means for me. But now, the more that we are together... you know... the more comfortable I feel with what we're doing, with that side of me. I'm not used to expressing... to expressing all that stuff. But the more I'm around you, the more I feel like it's okay to just... to let go."
"To give in to the super vixen?" Troy supplied, a cheeky grin.
"Okay super vixen might be the term for Taylor but I would never label myself in that way."
"No, you'll never be a super vixen. You'll always be Gabriella. That's all you need to be."
Monday arrived sooner than Troy would have liked. He was beginning to regret ever allowing Chad to force him to audition. However as Chad had rightfully pointed out, if Troy hadn't really wanted to audition in the first place, he wouldn't have practically ran out of practice the minute he was given permission to do so. Nevertheless, Troy's nerves were building throughout the day. His method of dealing with them was to fill his day with jam packed action; at first it was remaining in his truck with Gabriella making out until the last minute possible to go into school before homeroom. Next it was studying frantically in the cafeteria throughout lunch. Just as he was completing question four, a familiar voice spoke from behind.
"Hello there Mr Bolton, surprised you're not practicing."
Troy recognised the voice. A part of him wanted to ignore the guy but Troy had been brought up with manners and had to at least be polite. He turned around.
"Hey Theodore. Same to yourself."
"Since you will be pressed at time, arriving straight from your basketball training and all, I would like to volunteer to be the first to audition. This will also provide me with time to set up during your practice."
"Uh sure," Troy said absentmindedly, not really listening. He was a lot more intent upon the homework assignment that sat in front of him that was due next period.
"Splendid. Break a leg!"
As Theodore walked away, Troy thought about what he had said.
"Set up? What is there to set up? Do I have to set anything up?" Troy asked, alarmed.
"No, you're fine. Do you want to go over the dance again during free period?" Ryan asked.
"Or the song?" Kelsi added.
Troy shook his head. "I was gonna go shoot some hoops. Truth is, if I'm not ready by now, I won't be ready."
"It's crunch time guys. 90 minutes to prepare for our second game Wednesday night against Crossville High. Not once in the five years I've been coaching this team have we lost to Crossville High. Is that going to change on Wednesday night?"
"NO!" the boys shouted.
"You got that right. I do have some good news for you. I've been told that as of next Monday, the areas of the math block that experienced minor damage should be ready for classes to go back; and a couple of demountable classrooms will be arriving on the back of the oval. Meaning.."
"We get our gym back!" Jason cheered.
"You bet we do. And then there will be nothing standing between the Wildcats and back to back championships!"
Troy was on fire. Basketball served as the perfect final distraction from his nervousness.
He was so focused that he didn't even realise that they had run five minutes over. He sprinted into the locker rooms, took the quickest shower of his life and turned to change into the carefully constructed outfit. His thighs were somewhat larger than Ryan's and it had been a struggle to get the skinny leg jeans on the day before. Now, after exercising leading to expanded muscles - it was going to prove almost impossible.
Sharpay was standing outside the gymnasium, tapping her foot impatiently and glancing at the time on her Blackberry. She'd allowed herself to be roped into the 'Troy to play Mike' pep squad preparation team, and here he was, not even appreciating that she was taking time out of her day to help him. She marched inside, and went straight into the locker room.
"Put it away boys," she called out. "Troy Bolton, where are you?"
"He's in there," a kid Sharpay had never seen in her life informed her, gesturing toward a room up the corridor.
Sharpay marched straight in - and was provided with a lovely view of Troy's underwear covered ass as he was struggling to pull up the jeans.
"What ARE you doing?" she snapped. "You're late."
"Sharpay! I'm kinda not dressed here," Troy yelped, embarrassed at his state of undress.
"Oh please, your normal jeans hang down at about that length, I've seen your underwear before."
Sharpay's presence provided Troy with the strength to pull the jeans up, and zip them snugly closed.
"Now that I'm here I might as well do this in here. Sit," she ordered, pointing to the bench.
Troy wasn't about to object. He sat down, and allowed Sharpay to mould his hair to her liking.
"Why are you helping me?" Troy asked suddenly.
Sharpay cleared her throat. "Because Theodore is a twit and I prefer to minimise my time around idiots."
"No really," Troy persisted.
Sharpay sighed. When she'd tried to blow off his question, she knew that her response had been thin. Anyone else might have let it slide. Troy seemed to have suddenly developed this ability to make her want to communicate honestly with him. Or maybe it was nothing to do with Troy's abilities and all about her own brain.
"Because... because I think you should get the part," she said honestly. "Because... even after everything that I did over summer, you've still been nice to me and stuff. With you know, like standing up for me to Matsui when he wanted to cancel the show. I wouldn't be surprised if you hated me. Like everyone else."
"Hey, hate is an extreme word. Besides, summer all worked out fine. Because of you, I made some connections. Your dad seems to like me and he's not a bad person to have on your side."
"It wasn't because of me Troy. It was because of you. I didn't make anything up. I just... introduced you. And you were yourself and that's all you needed to be to impress people..." She cleared her throat. "FYI, so totally over you."
"Uh... that's good," Troy said, a little awkwardly.
"Troy?"
"Yeah?"
"Hypothetically speaking, if... if it wasn't for Gabriella..."
Troy exhaled. There was something in her tone, something hopeful that concerned him. "Sharpay..."
"No really I am over you, I'm just curious. Would it have been different?"
"You want the truth?" Troy asked.
"Yes."
He bit his lip. He hated this. It's that question of what's better, a lie that draws a smile or a truth that draws a tear.
"Probably not," he said softly.
"Oh."
"I prefer brunettes," he said, trying to lighten the mood.
"I can always dye my hair," she suggested in a small voice.
"Nah. Blonde suits you," Troy told her.
"Troy?"
"Yeah?"
"You love Gabriella, don't you? Like, you really really love her?"
"Yes. Yes I do." There was no hesitation within Troy's answer.
"Don't let another Evans twin get in the way of that."
"Huh?"
"Do you trust her?"
It went without saying. "Absolutely. Totally, completely, without a doubt."
"Then stop being all weird about my brother. Believe me, if there's anyone that gets just how much their little friendship annoys you, it's me. But... but if you really love her, then it's not worth letting it get in the way of things. It's stupid and petty."
"Do you think he likes her?" Troy asked. It suddenly occurred to him that he had overlooked the obvious method of trying to work out where Ryan stood.
"Does it matter?"
Troy contemplated this. It was exactly what Gabriella had made perfectly clear. That it shouldn't matter.
"I guess... I guess it doesn't."
"Then for the record. No. I think they're just friends."
They fell silent for a moment.
"Uh... your hair is finished," she said quietly.
"Thank you."
"So uh... should get going. Don't want to be late. Miss Darbus isn't a fan of tardiness."
"So I've learnt." Troy paused. "Sharpay?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you and I just... have a real conversation?"
"Don't tell anyone."
The little lecture theatre which had once been very infrequently used at East High had been taken over as the official drama club residence. Other than the gym - which was currently filled with fake math classrooms - it was the only room in the school which had enough room to fit a large number of people as well as having a large area at the front which could be used for the purpose of scene rehearsals. Plus it was in the same building as a series of general purpose classrooms which could be used as break out rooms.
However, it still wasn't nearly as practical or as convenient as the auditorium. The imminent problem on the day of the callback was that there were just too many people interested in the outcome. Not only was almost the entire cast and crew present; but then there was a crowd of various nosy people, both staff and students. Including the majority of Troy's team.
Troy was waiting in the classroom next door with Gabriella, and was beginning to feel nervous. He'd kept his nerves down all day by distracting himself with basketball and homework and Gabriella lips. But now, he could hear the racket in the room next door, the chatters of people awaiting the 'show.' Gabriella had been into the main room, observing that the room was completely packed; that students were sitting in the aisles, and standing along the back of the room.
"It's 5pm. Don't people have anything better to do after school than hang around to watch a couple of guys sing and act and dance?"
"Obviously not," Gabriella said. "Are you going to watch him?"
"No. I'll be staying right here."
Gabriella nodded. "I love you," she murmured, kissing him softly. "Good luck."
Troy was pacing backwards and forwards. He had planned to listen in but at the last minute, turned his Ipod up full blast. He kept glancing at his watch. He knew that the scene reading only took a few minutes, the dance was only supposed to be 64 beats and the song too was only a few minutes. He didn't even hear the knock at the door, and jumped a mile when a hand was placed on his shoulder. He spun around to see Kelsi.
"Ready Mike?" she asked with a bright smile.
"How was he?"
"Doesn't matter," she said firmly.
"Yeah it does."
"You just do your thing and that's all you need to do. Now get out there and knock Ms. Darbus off her feet. Because you sold everyone last time."
The mere appearance of Troy entering the room created a massive cheer from the crowd, as well as a series of wolf whistles. Probably a lot to do with his rock star get up. As planned, Troy approached Ms Darbus, and in his smooth as silk Mike the charmer tone greeted her.
"Why hello there li'l darlin'."
Ms Darbus appeared a little amused, a little flushed, and a lot embarrassed as those who were sitting close enough to hear laughed. Troy sauntered back over to the stage area where Theodore and several of his newly adopted friends were still in the process of removing a whole series of items. Theodore had literally built a set, with not only a backdrop but various items of furniture and props and knick knacks littered the area. Troy was staring at it in bewilderment.
"Would you like to borrow my backdrop?" Theodore offered.
Troy couldn't even try to maintain the Mike persona. "No. No I would not."
When Troy had ran through the scene with Gabriella at lunch time, it was evident that overnight he had memorized a whole lot more than the previous day; however it still hadn't been perfect. However somehow, as Troy Bolton always seemed to do - a rabbit was pulled out of a hat. Theodore had been good. Troy was better. Troy and Gabriella together - the chemistry was obvious to everyone within the room. Even Theodore was watching, mouth slightly agape.
They moved smoothly from the acting segment into the choreographed dance. Instead of feeling like a complete dickhead, dancing solo in front of a crowd - the crowd proceeded to clap along, which only fuelled Troy to perform the 64 beats of dance the best he had ever performed them. He looked up after finishing, seeing the beaming smiles of both Ryan and Sharpay who were admiring their work in amazement.
Troy took a few moments to compose himself and catch his breath, dragging a chair into the middle of the 'stage'. Kelsi took her position at the piano, ready to accompany Troy. And Gabriella came forward to hand him the guitar. Troy glanced up at just the right time, seeing the look of annoyance of Theodore's face upon seeing the guitar. Theodore hadn't played an instrument in his audition. Troy's eyes drifted over the sea of awaiting people.
"Hey," Gabriella said softly. "Pretend they're not there. It's just Mike singing to Nina."
Troy nodded and Gabriella squeezed his hand and took her seat in the front row beside Martha and Taylor. Troy sat down, positioned himself with the guitar and cleared his throat. His head was down the entire time, still needing to stare at the strings to get the notes right. But rather than appearing clumsy, it appeared endearing. It appeared to be soulful and thoughtful. Tithout the clutter of props and backdrops complicated backing tracks - there was Mike. Still. Wistfully strumming, singing soulfully.
In a moment of inspired spontaneity, Troy stopped playing just short of the end of the song, placed the guitar on the chair, and stood in front of Gabriella. Mike stood, he gazed and he sang to his beloved Nina.
Exactly what the show was all about.
Kelsi was clutching to Troy, tears in her eyes.
"Never in a million years would I have thought that you, Troy Bolton, would be the one who could make my compositions come to life. But you are. It's official. When I make it as a composer, you are going to perform everything that I ever write."
"I'll have to talk to my management at the Lakers and see if they'll let me have the time off," Troy said amused.
He'd shook hands with dozens upon dozens of people, hugged a whole series of randoms. The moment Ms. Darbus announced that he had been selected - with only two minutes of conference between the judging panel required - Troy had been engulfed by people. It was possibly even more animated than the response the previous year. Jason, Taylor, Zeke, Monica and Paula all came over, gushing madly.
"Amazing, absolutely amazing. I am proud to be your friend Troy Bolton," Paula declared, hugging him tightly.
"Where's Chad?" Troy asked.
"He had to take off," Zeke replied.
Troy raised his eyebrows. "Oh. Fair enough then. Coulda said goodbye."
"It was in a bit of a rush. He was coming here then he got a phone call and kind of disappeared," Taylor said. "I'm kinda worried... I've been texting him and he says everything is fine though."
Troy hardly heard her, he was already being pulled away by someone else. But it was a more than welcome pull.
"Well Mike, looks like you and I are going to be spending a lot of time together over the next month."
He grinned, pulling Gabriella into him. "Looks like it Nina. Are you disappointed? I know how much you love Theodore's company."
"I'm disappointed that we don't get an auditorium to run amuck in."
"True… there were plenty of little private nooks and crannies and rooms and closets with locks on the doors in that building," he mused. "Damn fire."
"No really though... are you excited? You kind of got pushed into this..." Gabriella ventured.
"I'm pumped. Preparing for the return of Stressed!Troy but still pumped. I think it'll be awesome."
Troy spotted someone across the room. "I'll be back in a bit, okay?"
Gabriella followed his eyeline, and nodded. "Okay."
Ryan was talking animatedly with Darbus. He saw Troy coming over and went over to greet him midway.
"Troy, couldn't have done it better myself, awesome, awesome job," Ryan declared. "So we've just organised the rehearsal schedule..."
"Ryan?" Troy cut in.
"Yeah?"
Troy cleared his throat, and glanced down for a moment, shuffling his feet. "Thank you."
"It's all good," Ryan said.
"No really. Very seriously. Thank you. Uh... you've been awesome. Great. I know I was a little snippy yesterday but... it's been a great week. I've enjoyed spending time with you and... and I'm really stoked to be on board with the show. Now only coz of the show, but because it'll be great to get to hang with you more. Since, you know, we have something in common and all."
Troy looked Ryan directly in the eye.
"We do. Not in the way that you might think, but we do," Ryan said pointedly.
Troy nodded, and held out his hand. "So yeah... thank you."
Ryan shook his hand. "You're welcome."
Gabriella was watching the two boys from a distance. A slight tear came to her eye, a good tear, a tear of happiness. Maybe, just maybe, the two boys who had become so incredibly pivotal within her life could get along, with no underlying tension. Just maybe, everything could turn out okay.
AN: This chapter is dedicated to the memory of one of my favourite Australian actors Mark Priestley. RIP Mark… in the arms of an angel may you find some comfort here…