"Can I have everybody's attention!" yelled the DJ in his mic. "It's time guys. It's time to announce the King and Queen of CHARITY! Everybody MAKE SOME NOISE!"
A student went up to the DJ stand and handed the DJ an envelope. Troy was in the back of the crowd, and his dates were all scattered in the group of students.
"This year's King of Charity, who is not only a popular guy, but an all-around great teen who is generous and helps the community…is..."
Troy walked to get some punch, and—
"TROY BOLTON!"
Troy turned around, nervously. Everybody was cheering and yelling, "TROY! TROY! TROY! TROY! TROY!" Troy felt himself sweating underneath his suit. Had they called his name? He knew the worse was yet to come…
"Troy, please come up and claim your crown!"
Troy went up to the DJ booth, smiling nervously, and took his crown.
"Now, would Troy's date come stand beside him?"
Troy gulped. He knew this was it. The moment of truth. He could see Paris, Carol and Molly all pushing their way through the crowd to reach the stage. The three of them walked up the steps and all stood by Troy. They looked at each other, puzzled.
"Troy," whispered Paris in Troy's ear. "Who are these two?"
"Troy," laughed Carol. "C'mon, tell them who your real date is!"
"Troy!" exclaimed Molly. "These girls are obviously jealous of your real date! Tell these two who your date really is!"
Troy smiled nervously as the girls argued and bickered on stage. The crowd watched silently, looking at Troy weirdly. Rachel was looking at Troy with a chilling stare.
Troy went to the other side of the stage and held Rachel's hand. A strobe light was on him.
"Look," exclaimed Troy as he held Rachel's hand. "I have a lot of explaining to do, I know, but just listen—"
"No, Troy," whispered Rachel. "No more explaining." Rachel walked off the stage and out of the dance and he found himself being stared at by everyone in the room.
"Troy! Troy!" Paris yelled. "These girls obviously all want to be with you, but go ahead and show them who you really like! We went on a date together; we're doing our English Report together!"
"That's not possible!" said Carol. "Because ME and Troy went out on a date together! He took ME to Umberto's!"
"Well that's funny, because Troy took ME to Umberto's too!" exclaimed Paris back.
Molly shrieked. "TROY! Why did you do this to us? What is this sick prank you're trying to pull? You were supposed to be with ME! I asked you to the dance, and you said yes!"
"Oh really?" exclaimed Carol. "That's funny, because I asked Troy to the dance too, and he accepted!"
"NO, he didn't accept to either of you, because I asked Troy to the dance and he said yes! I'M his date tonight!" said Paris. "And you two just want the crown!"
"Okaaay... I sense we all need to just chill," said the DJ, and started playing a slow song.
"Troy, what is going on?" whispered Carol in Troy's ear. "These girls are just mental, right? I mean, you didn't say yes to all of us, you just said yes to me, right?"
Troy was speechless. He wouldn't have minded this going down rationally and silently, but instead it had happened in front of the entire school.
"I need to go," said Troy, pulling away from Carol. "I'll explain all of this later."
Troy walked out of the dance and went home.