Wednesdays were usually the worst days because they are right in the middle of the week. This Wednesday seemed to be different because it meant the hectic week was half way over.

Troy was quiet today, and I couldn't seem to figure out exactly why. I assumed it was because of the article. He was giving Sharpay and Ryan the cold shoulder. Even at practice after school, and those two were everywhere backstage.

I approached Troy halfway through the musical during our break after Act one.

"Hey Troyster!"

He laughed at this, but kept a somewhat stony expression.

"Troy, what's wrong?" I asked, placing my head on his shoulder and staring into his eyes.

"Well, it's not just nothing," he explained, "but you don't really want to know Gabriella."

"Yes I do," I told him, "If something was bothering me you would want to know."

"Why do you have to be so right?" he laughed.

"It comes with the entire package," I said, "and for a limited of time only, you can have your very won Gabriella who is in all-ears listening mode."

"Alright," he started, "Gabriella, it's about my dad."

"What about him? He seems like a pretty okay guy to me."

"Let me finish," he said, "My dad is making me take the scholarship."

"He can't make you do anything!" I objected.

"Yes he can, he's my dad, and he said that I have to go."

"What about your mom?" I wondered.

"She thinks it would be a good experience for me to go too."

"And what about you, how do you feel?"

"To tell you the truth, at first I almost wanted to go," he explained, "But then I realized that I wanted to be normal kid, not a super basketball playing one. I want to make my own decisions."

"Did you tell him that?" I asked.

"Sort of . . . I can't let him down Gabriella," he explained, "He's been teaching me to play basketball my whole life."

"Let me talk to him!" I suggested, "Or Chad, or Zeke, or—"

"It's okay, I'll handle it," he tried to convince me, "But as of now, I'm going. My dad called them today and told me I was accepting their offer."

Then it really hit me hard for the first time. Troy would probably not be here next year.

"Troy . . ." I managed to say, speechless.

"But I guess in a way you can blame it all on Sharpay's article," he said.

"Why?"

"Because everyone is telling my dad how great it is and stuff, and that's part of the reason I have to go, because now everyone expects me too," he explained.

"She's such a—"

"Gabriella, I'll try to find a way out of it," Troy said, "but if not . . . we have the rest of the year left."

"I wonder if there are musicals at this new school."

"Doubt it," he laughed.

"Are there girls?"

"No, all boys," he said, "relieved?"

"Very."

Sharpay came running up to the two of us.

"Troy! Gabriella! Mrs. Darbus says we are going to skip out on the second act until the dress rehearsal tomorrow," Sharpay informed us, "Were doing pictures right now so you have to go to costumes."

Troy and I just looked at each other. After awhile, Sharpay stalked off, realizing she had been snubbed.

"Hey Sharpay really isn't that bad if you get to know her guys," Zeke said, appearing in the doorway, "I saw the whole thing."

"Not so bad? Did you see that article? Troy didn't want anyone to know about that!" I exclaimed.

"But . . . you realize why she's doing it, right?" Zeke asked.

"To clear her spot for next year's musical," Troy answered.

Zeke nodded his head, "how would you feel if you've starred in seventeen school productions, but out of nowhere someone comes and takes that from you? Theatre is all that Sharpay has. She isn't a good student or a basketball player."

"So we pretty much crushed her world," I noticed, feeling suddenly remorseful.

"Exactly," Zeke said, turning away.

Wow, I had never really thought about that. Troy and I already had basketball and academics to fall back on. But all Sharpay has are the musicals.

I glanced at Troy who was probably thinking the same thing.

"Gabriella, don't worry about it," he told me, "You won the part fair and square."

"I know . . . but I just wish that somehow . . . Sharpay and I could both be Minnie."

"WHY AREN'T YOU READY?" Mrs. Darbus hollered, coming into the room.

"Sorry!" we shouted in unison, running to find our costumes.

As we took the pictures, I was Minnie and Troy was Arnold. For the first time, I was really feeling like this was really happening. I was really going to be in another musical.

I made a mental note to ask my mom to video tape it for Carlos to watch.

But then, I couldn't help thinking that Sharpay should be in my place. I pictured her next to Troy in the pictures. They would make . . . a cute couple. Wait . . . did I just think that? I couldn't doubt my relationship with Troy, but like how Ryan was in love with me, other people were probably in love with Troy.

But what was love?

As we took a picture with the whole crew, I looked at Sharpay perfectly posing between Zeke and Mrs. Darbus.

I couldn't help but think she deserved it more. As of right now, she was definitely more Minnie-worthy than I was.