Disclaimer: I don't own High School Musical or its characters.

Author's Note: FINALLY! A longer-ish chapter! This was much fun to write, and finally we start getting into a bit of Zekepay. So enjoy...

High School Drama
Based on 'High School Musical'
By Fiyero Oberon
Chapter Twelve
I Should Tell You

Sharpay crossed her legs, clearly unhappy with the present situation: she had been at the Life Café for nearly twenty minutes and Zeke hadn't shown up yet. Another ten minutes, she told herself, and not a second more.

She was surprised at herself, really. Normally she would have walked out after a five minute wait, but somehow she was willing to wait a full half-hour for Zeke to show up. She figured it was because she was so anxious to find out who was behind the sabotages that she's willing to wait whatever time limit, as long as she gets herself back into that musical.

A waiter skates up to her on his flashy yellow rollerblades, the signature of the Life Café. Delilah's Diner down the street uses roller skates, but anyone would expect a 50's-themed diner to have the poodle-skirt waitresses in pink roller skates. "Are you ready to order yet, miss?" His words would have sounded polite if the teenaged waiter hadn't rolled his eyes and popped his bubble gum as he spoke.

"No," she said. The waiter, who Sharpay recognized as a sophomore from her school, let out an exaggerated sigh and asked her if she's going to take all day. "I'm waiting for someone," she explained but he just rolled his eyes again and skated away to refill a college girl's cappuccino.

Hardly had the waiter left than the knot of bells and whistles over the door let out a loud jingle as Zeke entered the small restaurant. He looked around for a moment, biting his lower lip, then his eyes landed on Sharpay and his face broke into a beaming smile. She gave a weak smile back – she never realized until now how his eyes completely lit up when focused on her, the way a spark suddenly appeared in them that isn't there when looking at anyone else.

Zeke slid into the chair across the round table from her. "Hey, Sharpay," he said. "Um, how are you?"

"I'm all right, how are you?" Her own words startle her – she's never heard such a tone of compassion mingling in her voice. She's never actually felt for someone else. Not this much, anyway.

Oh sure, there had been that little thing for Troy. It was hardly there, of course, not even worthy of being called a crush. She was the Prep Queen of East High and it was only natural that she would go out with Troy. They had been nominated King and Queen of the Valentine's dance last year – partly because the cheerleaders threatened everyone into voting for Troy and partly because Sharpay threatened the cheerleaders into threatening everyone into voting for Sharpay. But even that little thing didn't feel so… kind.

"I'm great. Here… I brought you some cookies." He handed her a little baggie. "Chocolate chip, no marshmallows."

Every time he saw her, he had cookies. Did he keep a giant jar in his room full of them? Or did he make another batch like every day? Somehow, from the way his eyes darted back and forth nervously, she knew that he made a new batch for her every day…

"Welcome to the Life Café," the waiter said, skating up beside them and making Sharpay jump. "My name's Adam, I'll be your server today, what can I get you?"

"I'll have a strawberries-and-cream frappuccino," Sharpay said, "and a bowl of vegetable soup in a bread bowl."

Zeke copied Sharpay's frappuccino order and asked for a cheese melt sandwich and bowl of tomato soup. The waiter scribbled it all on a piece of paper, told them he'd be right back with the drinks, and skated away.

"So," said Zeke, putting his elbows on the table and leaning forward, "what do you think of the show? I mean, I know it's a kind of sensitive topic, but do you think it'll be OK in the end?"

Sharpay sniffed disapprovingly. "It's all right. It would've been better if Gabriella hadn't –" She cut herself off when she noticed Zeke laughing. "What?"

"Do you like anything she does?"

"No." Adam came skating back and gave them each a small glass of water and their frappuccinos. "The set's good though, and some of the costumes are nice… but it's absolutely ridiculous what they've got you and Ryan in! I mean, come on, East High is known for the fantabulous quality of our musical sets and costumes and such… so why are we using sweatpants and tennis shoes?"

Zeke grinned. "I know what you mean. Darbus is a little bizarre."

Sharpay smirked and took a sip from her frappuccino. "'Bizarre' would be an understatement."

"How do you think the singing is?"

"Besides Gabriella's screechy Over the Rainbow and Troy's hip-hop If I Only Had A Brain and Taylor McKessie's twisted Jitterbug, it's pretty good."

Zeke laughed as Adam skated over to their table and placed their meals in front of them. "Will you be needing anything else right now?" But before they could answer he had skated away to another table.

As Zeke started breaking crackers into his tomato soup and Sharpay took a delicate slurp of her own soup, they started talking about things other than the musical – it turned out they both shared a passion for New York City and Sharpay gushed for a while, explaining to Zeke the "awesomeness that is Wicked."

Zeke looked at his watch, long after they had both finished eating: "Oh crap. I've gotta go… my grandparents are coming from Ohio and… yeah…" He gave a weak smile and Sharpay returned it with a full one. "Thanks so much for coming out, Sharpay," he said, "this really has been one of the best times of my life."

Sharpay thought her heart had just melted.

"It was really fun," she said, smiling. "Oh yeah… Chad said that you knew who was attacking the musical and I was just wondering…" She trailed off; Zeke's face had fell, the happy smile replaced with a look of sadness and terror.

"…Chad said what?"

"He said… um…" But Zeke was letting out a long groan and Sharpay suddenly knew that Zeke didn't know who the attacker was.

"Chad… man, I'm going to kill you… Sharpay, I'm really, really sorry… I asked Chad to ask you out on a date, that's it… I didn't know he'd… I don't know who… I'm so sorry." He bit his lip, obviously very self-conscious now. "Is that the only reason you came? To find out who the attacker is?"

Sharpay felt her heart drop. "No! I mean, yes, but I had a great time… I'm so glad I came, even if you don't know who it is and –"

But Zeke still looked horribly disappointed. "It's okay, Sharpay. You don't need to lie to me." He hurried out of the Café without another word.

"Zeke!" Sharpay called, running out after him. "Zeke, wait!"

But Zeke was gone.

And Sharpay felt worse than she had ever felt in her life.

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