Hello everybody!

Updating, the story may be wrapping up soon at about 12 chapters...

Maybe more... not sure... Anyways, Enjoy!

Science Partners and Wise Girls

It was time for Chemistry class. Zeke and Jason have that class together, so they always sit together. The teacher Mr. Brewer is the coolest teacher (Next to Miss. Darbus of course) at East High, according to Jason. Mr. Brewer has a mustache that's black and turning grey that he always touches when he's thinking, and it moves in a funny way when he talks. A way that makes Jason and Zeke laugh.

"Ok class." Mr. Brewer starts, his mustache moving side to side with every word. Zeke and Jason smile at each other holding in their laughs. "Today you guys will be doing labs. I'm choosing partners, because last time two students could not pay attention." He glared at two kids, Antwon Daniels and Harold Whitaker, who kept joking off and made two things mix up. It exploded and everything was covered in it. "Any who, the first people are... Antwon Daniels and Martha Cox." He stroked his mustache and continued. "How about... Ryan Evans and..."

Jason glanced at Zeke and put his thumbs up in a encouraging way. Zeke smiled slightly as his heart sped up in his chest.

"Jason Cross!" Mr. Brewer said. Jason made a horrified face, as Zeke shrugged. It could be worse. "Next is Zeke Baylor and Kelsi Neilson, then Harold Whitaker and Mandy Raye." He continued passing out partners, and when he finished, he sighed in relief. "Everyone find your partners right now. Start your labs and take notes, like always."

"Dude, we should trade." Jason said to Zeke.

Zeke shook his head. "If we trade, I wont even be able to focus around Ryan."

Jason huffed. "Fine. I'll talk about you a lot if you want me to."

"No thanks." Zeke replied. What's he gonna say anyways? 'Zeke is such a gentleman, very good man.' No thank you. "Just, don't say anything about me, ok?"

"Ok." Jason said. "I'll go find R-"

"Hey Jason." Ryan interrupted, making Jason jump.

"Shit dude!" Jason exclaimed. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

"Language Mr. Cross." Mr. Brewer said, giving Jason the side eye.

"Sorry Mr. Brewer." Jason sighed, then turned to Ryan. "Ok, let's go." They got up and went to a lab desk.

Just then, small quiet Kelsi Nielson was next to Zeke. "Hey Zeke, are you ready to get to work?"

Zeke nodded and smiled at her. "Sure, let's go." They stood up and went to a lab table too.

The whole time, Zeke noticed Ryan sending him small glances. Little, almost curious, glances. Almost like he's checking him out in a way like, "Yeah, I'm looking at you. I don't want you to notice me, just seeing if you're... acceptable... After a lot of wondering, Zeke finally looked at Ryan, making him not stop staring, but smile slightly. Holy fuck, what is Jason saying over there? Zeke smiled back slightly and look back down at his paper. He wrote something random like 'I like the zoo' to make himself look busy.

A few minutes past, and Zeke and Kelsi are done, getting their work graded by Mr. Brewer, when Zeke notices Ryan check him out. This time, obviously. Zeke blushed and shook his head. Did Jason say something to him? Hopefully nothing embarrassing... They got their papers back with a 100%.

"We did it!" Kelsi exclaimed, giving Zeke a high five.

Zeke nodded. "Good thing it wasn't hard like the other one."

"Yeah, good thing." Kelsi agreed.

A few minutes later, the bell rung for free period. Zeke waved Kelsi goodbye and found Jason. "Dude, what did you do?" He asked. "What did you say to him? Why was he looking at me?"

"I didn't say anything." Jason said. "The only thing I said about you is that you like to bake a lot, but everyone knows that."

Zeke sighed in relief. "Did he ask about me?"

"Yeah." Jason answered. "He asked about you a lot." He shook his head. "He was all 'How's Zeke?' then he said, 'Zeke is nice' so I asked if he likes you are something."

"And?" Zeke said impatiently.

"He just, giggled like a 13 year-old girl thinking about Justin Bieber." He laughed. "Then I asked, is that a yes or a no, he glanced at you and smiled to himself. He wasn't answering the question."

"What does that mean?" Zeke asked himself.

"I don't know..." Jason said.

Zeke shook his head at him. "Well, I know you don't know, but who will know?"

"Taylor and Gabriella are love experts." Jason put in. "I think they're certified and all."

"Are you sure?" Zeke questioned with an eyebrow raised.

"Yeah." Jason answered. "I mean, not about the certified part, but the rest? Yeah."

Zeke thought about it for a moment. What would Taylor McKessie and Gabriella Montez think about it? Would they care? He needs advice from some one other than Zara anyway... "I'm gonna find them. Do we have free period work out?"

"Not today." Jason said. "Coach has a meeting with the principal."

"Good. See you." Zeke ran down the hallway to go find Taylor and Gabriella. He knew exactly where they would be, the science room. He found it, and there they were, talking with Troy and Chad. "Hey guys." Zeke said, coming in out of breathe.

"Did you run here?" Gabriella asked.

"Yeah." Zeke said. "I think I should sit." He sat down. "How's it going?"

"We're just all talking." Taylor said. "What brings you to the science room?"

Zeke sighed, and glanced at Troy and Chad. "I need to talk to Gabriella and Taylor alone about... homework." He lied.

"Ok." Troy said. "Go ahead."

Zeke, Taylor, and Gabriella all walked to the hall. "What is it Zeke?" Gabriella asked.

Zeke shut the door and lowered his voice. "Some one told me you two know a thing or two about um... romance... is that true?"

"Yes!" Taylor exclaimed. "Just call us Cupid's Wing Girls!"

"Ok, good..." He said. "So I know this person and I like them a lot."

"Who is it?" Gabriella asked. "Sharpay?"

He wasn't sure if he should tell them yet. "No... another person..." He continued. "So, I like this other person a lot, but I'm not sure how to tell him... and he kept-"

"Him? He?" Taylor interrupted. "It's a guy?!"

Zeke blushed. Fuck. Pronouns. "Maybe..."

"You like a guy?" Gabriella said in a trustworthy way.

Zeke felt like Taylor and Gabriella could keep his secret too. Maybe he needs to trust them. So he is going to. "You can't tell anyone, but yeah." He whispered.

"Who exactly?" Taylor questioned, lowering her voice too.

"Um... Ryan Evans?"

Gabriella and Taylor both gasped like they were watching a horror movie and the ghost jumped out the wall or something. "Whoa. You like Sharpay's brother and Sharpay?!"

"Not really Sharpay..." He's trying to word it to where he doesn't sound like a jerk. "I like Sharpay, but not in a romance kind of way... I've liked Ryan since 5th grade, but I can't talk to him without going completely..." He swirled his fingers like he was trying to do Jazz Hands in a fancy new way.

"That's really complicated I bet." Taylor said. "Are you asking for advice on how to talk to him?"

Zeke nodded. "Yeah... and also... He kept glancing at me like, checking me out in class. What does that mean?"

"Two different things..." Gabriella started. "One, he could have been trying to get your attention, or two, he likes you and he's trying to get past your firewall."

"My firewall?" Zeke asked.

"Your firewall is the thing that blocks all of your secrets and heart's desires." Taylor explained. "People who try to see past it are interested in you and want to learn more about you. The usual sign of some one trying to get past it is they stare at you and smile at you and want to hang out with you a lot." She smiled at him. "Maybe Ryan wants to learn more about you."

Zeke gulped. His butterflies woke up and started to dance. "What should I do?"

"People who try to break down some one's firewall (when not on the internet) usually want you to open up." Gabriella told Zeke. "Try to tell him something he doesn't know about you. Tell him something personal. That'll show him that you trust him and that would probably get him to open up too." She put her thumb up. "Plus, that will start conversation!"

Zeke smiled. Whoa. Are all girls wise? Is it just a thing that all girls are born with? "You guys are love experts. Just like Jason said."

"Thanks." Taylor said. "And good luck."

"Just be yourself." Gabriella added.

Zeke put both his thumbs up and started to walk down the hall way to go see Jason. He wasn't sure how to talk Ryan, so he had a plan. He was going to write a list of things he likes and dislikes and tell Ryan about it. Easy. Plus, when Ryan wants to learn how to bake something else, Zeke can hang out with him then too, no worries.

He turned the corner and saw Ryan talking to Martha Cox and Kelsi Neilson. He stood there like a lost confused puppy until Ryan noticed him. He gave Zeke a smile. Zeke smiled back and turned around to walk the other direction.

Smooth Zeke. Smooth.

To Be Continued...