Thank you to everyone who read the first new chapter or left kudos. I really appreciated it.

Disclaimer: I (still) do not own High School Musical (although, I will check if my 401(k) contains any Disney stock.)

Original A/N circa spring 2009: Because the University of Albuquerque is mostly fictional, the school depicted in this fic will be a combination of Ohio University, the college I attended, and the University of New Mexico. The situations in this story are mostly fictional. Any resemblance to anything that actually occurs is purely coincidental.

New A/N summer 2020: In the decade-plus, since I wrote the original version of the story, I have sent three nieces to college, and two of them have graduated (one during the pandemic). I am also the manager of my workplace college internship/mentorship program, which means functioning as a liaison with various universities. As well as served as a mentor for dozens of college students over the years. Even though I'm even further removed from college, I've seen things from the other side. I've also gotten to see how things function differently at other schools. So I will be using that new experience to adjust some things.

One difference, I'm starting the school year a few weeks earlier than in the original version. I have my reasons for that. (Including the fact that I goofed up in the original version and put Labor Day too late because I looked at the wrong calendar.)

Chapter Two: Of Boxes and Elevators

August 15, 2008

Chad could not understand why the University of Albuquerque decided to start the school year in the middle of fucking August. Why couldn't they be civilized and start after Labor Day? Thank god, he asked for a dorm room with air conditioning. That was the only thing he had to look forward to at the moment. He wanted out of this minivan so badly.

His parents sat in the front seat, continually sniping at each other. This is the first time they had been anywhere near each other without lawyers since beginning divorce proceedings about 13 months ago. Thankfully it was final now. The biting barbs between each other made Chad wish he sat upfront when his mom offered. Chad was genuinely happy his mother came all the way from her new home in Washington, DC, to send her only child away to college. Too bad, his dad couldn't stop being nasty to her. Chad hated the fighting so much he was actually happy for the divorce. Some people shouldn't be married.

His father would be moving soon, after accepting a promotion and job transfer to Cleveland, Ohio. This would probably be the last time together for a while. Maybe that's a good thing. The best thing about his parents now living elsewhere is Chad did not need to justify his decision to move into the dorms anymore.

By the time they arrived at the campus, Chad wishes they would've been able to take separate cars. He did not need to hear them arguing the entire time about who was responsible for the divorce. It was like his dad forgot he was even in the van. No one needed actual confirmation that their parents only got married in the first place because of condom failure. After waiting 30 minutes with the bickering pair for a parking spot in front of his new dorm room, Chad decided to leave his parents to pick up his keys. He couldn't deal with it anymore.

He would've called Troy, but Troy was busy moving in himself. He could text Ryan, but Ryan was unaware of how bad things were between Chad's parents. His friendship with Ryan began about the same time his parents' marriage imploded. Troy had a front-row seat for the worst of it. Instead, he just took a deep breath and got in the ridiculously long line. He doesn't realize that he didn't consider texting Taylor at all.

After 20 minutes in line, a 10-minute lecture on how to fill out the move-in forms, and a 5-minute presentation on the upcoming events for first-year students, Chad made his way over to Roger Evans Hall. The building was around six stories tall and in the same architectural style as the rest of the campus. In front of the building stood a giant statue of the building's namesake, who looked remarkably like Vince Evans. Chad could not help but think that the Evans really did own this school.

In the parking lot behind the building, his parents were beginning to unload the van. The two were currently arguing over what they should bring up to Chad's dorm room first. Next to his parents, a brunette girl was beginning to take things out of the red minivan. Unfortunately, his loose sports equipment began to fall on top of the girl. Chad immediately ran to help her.

"Here, let me help you." He said as he kept his favorite basketball from hitting her in the face.

"I'm fine. Chad, did you have to bring an entire sporting goods store with you?" The question wasn't asked by some mysterious new brunette but his friend's sister. Chad would recognize Sharpay's voice anywhere, even with the new hair color.

"You dyed your hair? Zeke broke up with you!" Chad shouted excitedly. He's pretty sure Sharpay was still blonde in Ryan's move in text messages from last week.

"I just wanted a change. I did it last week in New York when I saw Ryan off to Juilliard early. The end of my relationship with Zeke had nothing to do with it. He is going to college all the way in Chicago to study the culinary arts. We were bound to break up. I doubt that you and Miss perfect decided to stay together, considering Taylor is going to school almost 2000 miles away?" Sharpay said in her defense.

"Actually, we decided to do the long-distance thing," Chad said quietly. Apparently, Ryan doesn't tell his sister everything.

"How cute," Sharpay replied in a tone that automatically told Chad that she thought the situation was anything but cute. She probably felt the same way Ryan did. "Now, I understand why Ryan got you that book on adjustment disorder."

"Chad, Sharpay can do whatever she wants. I added highlights and cut off about 6 inches after the divorce," Chad's mom Carolyn add it from behind him. She was currently carrying his lamp.

"Thank you, Ms. Danforth. See, somebody gets it, Chadwick." Sharpay grinned at him.

"Actually, it is Ms. Sanchez now. I went back to my maiden name after the divorce." Not that Chad blamed her. Chad was planning to at least hyphenate his last name with his future spouse. At some point, he should probably look at the fact he said spouse and not wife or Taylor but not today.

"If you tried doing that before the divorce, we may still be married right now. I shouldn't be surprised you only make an effort for the BFF. How was breakfast with Jack this morning?" Charlie Danforth mentioned from behind Chad. Obviously, those words started another fight between the parents. It was embarrassing. He didn't want Sharpay to see this.

"Just ignore them. My parents are new to this divorce thing. They haven't learned how to be civil to each other in public for my sake yet," Chad practically yelled the last part as he began to pick up a black suitcase.

"That's okay. My parents would act like that too if they actually spend any time together. I think their marriage has lasted so long because they live in separate countries most of the year. Do you realize that they're acting a lot like you and Taylor?" Sharpay commented as she followed behind him with his laptop case and another suitcase.

"We don't act like that at all." Chad denied her statement even though he knew she was partially correct. The big difference was he was never cruel to Taylor. His dad was always cruel to his mom. It's why Chad took her side in the divorce even though he was stuck living for the last year with his father when he couldn't hide with Troy or Ryan. He did a ridiculous amount of sleepovers senior year.

"Why are you helping me?" Chad asked, confused.

"If you read my T-shirt instead of just looking at my breast, you would know why I'm here." At that moment, Chad realized her shirt said U of A move-in crew. "I'm here to assist incoming freshmen in moving into the dorms."

"I wasn't looking at your…" Chad stammered out as he pointed to Sharpay's chest area. "You're a freshman too."

"Because daddy had to go to Japan for business today, I got to move into the dorms three days early. Only so he could get his 'fabulous' photos for the web site. Because nothing sells the school better than a member of the university's board of trustees/directors helping his daughter move into her dorm room." Sharpay rolled her eyes, and he could pick up on her annoyance. Although he shouldn't be surprised since Ryan moved to New York with only Sharpay with him. Again, he saw pictures.

"You're living in the dorms? Your closet is bigger than most dorm rooms on this campus." Chad asked as he pushed the elevator button. He knew because he hung out with Ryan a lot last year. No, it wasn't awkward after the ill-advised baseball seduction incident. Ryan said something about fantasy, not always holding up to reality. Also that some people really should just be friends. With Troy in the Gabriella bubble, he needed more friends. (At least Ryan was cool when he stared at his ass a little too long.)

"Yes, but due to the housing bubble bursting, mommy and daddy will be moving elsewhere. Preferably without each other. This leaves me here in New Mexico to carry on the family legacy." Chad could easily hear the annoyance in Sharpay's voice. Apparently, she was tired of being the family show pony. Chad never thought that would happen. Then again, Ryan has said similar things to him over the last year.

"Same situation with me. Now that my parents are free of me and each other, they're moving to focus on their careers. Actually, my mom has already been in DC for the last year. By the way, what building are you in? "Chad asked, as the elevator finally came.

"I am just down the hall from you, actually, in room 629," Sharpay answered as the two walked onto the elevator.

Not another word was spoken until they made it to the room. "I didn't mean anything by what I said earlier. I think you look beautiful. I mean, you looked good as a brunette." Chad said, almost shyly.

"Thank you. Where do you want me to put this stuff?" Sharpay replied as they walked into the white and sterile dorm room. The room was small. Maybe a little too small for two people, but Chad was sure he could get by. It had to be better them being around his angry, bitter father all the time, especially when he brought dates back.

"Just put everything in the middle. I will figure it out when my roommate gets here."

"That works." She said, doing as he asked.

"What exactly did Vince offer you to go along with this arrangement? Because there is no way, you agreed to do this without compensation. I mean, you are the only person I know that had a personal assistant in high school." Chad asked as they walked out of the room and back downstairs.

"Managing a drama department can be time-consuming. I could do something out of the goodness of my heart." Chad just looked at her, not believing a single word she just said.

"You're right. You know I hate doing manual labor. I will receive some compensation for my pain and suffering. I get three weeks at the spa of my choice to live in the dorms and let the university's PR department take pictures of my move-in day. I get 4 hours with the American Express black card in New York on Black Friday for assisting you, and our fellow students move into the dorms. For agreeing to have a roommate, said roommate and me will get to go to the vacation destination of her choice for spring break. If she can make it that long, that is." Sharpay smirked. "If not, I'm spending spring break in Paris with Ryan."

"You're going to have a roommate. Oh, this is going to be entertaining. I bet she will not even last a week with you." He's heard stories from Ryan. He can't even deal with sharing a hotel room with his sister when they go on vacation together. If flesh and blood can't deal with Sharpay, then a complete stranger has no hope.

"Oh, please like you're going to do any better. Zeke told me about what happened at basketball camp during the summer of 2006. Even Troy could not take sharing a cabin with you, and he is your best friend. I doubt your roommate will make it more than a few days." Actually, it was Chad who could not deal with living with Troy that summer, but he wasn't going to tell her that. Troy was ridiculously mopey for no reason at all and kept lashing out all the time. It worked out because he ended up rooming with Jamie. Even though Jamie never returned any of his emails after camp, Chad discovered a lot about himself that summer. (Mainly that he wasn't really that heterosexual, although he still wants to smack Jamie for leading him on.) Also, Troy consoling him after Jamie threw him away resolidified their friendship.

"Just shut up and grab a box." He retorted back instead.

"Whatever Chadwick," Sharpay smirked back at him.

Within 30 minutes, everything was out of the van and into Chad's new dorm room.

"Since you helped us out with the move-in stuff, would you like to go with my parents and me to lunch? I promise we will go somewhere that serves salads. Besides, it would be nice to be there with someone who will not argue the entire time." Yes, he was asking Sharpay to be his buffer. He can't spend any more time with his parents alone. Okay, he can't spend any more time with his dad in the vicinity of his mother. He's too acidic, and it's making Chad physically ill.

"Sure, why not. The cafeteria is even worse than usual because it's not running at full capacity. Let me go change. Although who says we're not going to argue the entire time." Sharpay said with a smile as she ran to her dorm room to change her outfit.

Considering Sharpay was going to be in there a while he decided to send a few text messages. Taylor got a quick update on moving into the dorm successfully. Troy got a similar update but with lots of pictures of the dorm room and a few laments about his father. Neither replied before he started messaging Ryan.

xxxxx

Chad: I think I'm taking away your friend privileges. You could've warned me that me and your sister are living in the same building together. At a minimum that she went through breakup hair therapy while in New York.

The good twin: Sometimes, you need a pleasant little surprise in life. Besides, you are in that building because I pulled some strings with my father to get you in a building with air conditioning.

The good twin: I lied to my dad to get you in that building. You were going to be in the worst dormitory on campus.

Chad: Okay, you get to keep your friend privileges. Mainly because unlike Troy, you actually text messaged me back. Seriously, worn a guy ahead of time.

The good twin: If you had checked the social media feeds for the school, you would have seen pictures of Shar there. You know you claim you don't like her, but you always want me to tell you what's going on with her.

The good twin: Did it not work out between us because you're secretly in love with my sister? I'm a big boy, I can take it. You'll make a better future brother-in-law then Zeke.

Chad: It didn't work because I can't date someone prettier than me. I don't always ask you for updates on your sister. Wait, why did they break up?

The good twin: Lots of reasons. Although the big one was, they realize that a long-distance relationship wasn't going to work.

Chad: It can if you put in the effort.

The good twin: Will you? Your girlfriend doesn't even know that your GPA was higher than hers. I know we mutually agreed not to tell her about last summer but what about basketball camp 2006? I think you're still with her because you're afraid of stepping outside the status quo. You deserve to be happy and be yourself.

Chad: Actually, it wasn't. I got a D in American history because I gave all the right answers instead of the whitewashed stuff in the official curriculum.

Chad: Okay, and I couldn't be bothered to actually pay attention during lectures. Which incidentally was the one class I had with Taylor.

The good twin: See, this is why it would never work between us. I can't deal with a closet case even if they're in the closet about their intelligence. We could have had an excellent poly relationship with Taylor, but you threw it all away.

Chad: I think I was calling the wrong Evans a drama queen. I'm in the honors dorm, so I am coming out of the genius closet.

The good twin: Well, at least you're coming out of one of them.

Chad: Troy knows that I kissed you after the ill-advised baseball game seduction incident. It was part of our friendship re-bonding. He also knew about basketball camp 2006 because he bought me ice cream when I realize that Jamie was never going to talk to me again. Those that matter know.

Chad: Did you ever tell Sharpay?

The good twin: No, I only told one of my friends in New York. I don't think Shar would be that happy to find out that I kissed you. Also, do you realize you essentially just said Taylor doesn't matter?

Chad: Because she hates me and doesn't want me to sully her brother with my cooties?

The good twin: I don't think that's it. Hate is a very complicated emotion.

Chad: I'm going to lunch with your sister. I'm currently waiting for her to change clothes.

The good twin: That may take a while. Why are you having lunch with my sister? Did she win you over with her witty personality? If I can't have you as a boyfriend, I'll take you as a brother-in-law.

Chad: She's coming because I need a buffer against my parents or rather my dad. It's awful. If I knew it was going to be this bad, I would have had my mom come up for Labor Day instead. I'm sure dad was going to say he wished she had an abortion before mom cut him off. I can't do that alone right now.

The good twin: It will be okay. Shar is good at diffusing. Of course, Darby would never get in a fight in public because her image is the only thing she cares about. But she could be nasty behind closed doors.

Chad: I have to go. Your sister just walked out of the room.

The good twin: Obviously, she had her outfit pre-chosen. In those cases, we can actually be very quick. It's the theater training. Tell her to call me and send me pictures. I hate that I couldn't be there to send her off.

Chad: How cruel. I will.

To be continued

Xxx

Obviously, there's a lot more Ryan and Chad interaction than in the original version. There's a reason for that. Along with the fact that Chad had something with another guy before Ryan. So how long do you think it will take Chad to find out precisely what lies Ryan told to get him a better dorm room?