Thank you to everyone who read the last chapter. Please note that I posted a chapter yesterday. This is going up early because I wanted it to go up on Labor Day. However, I may not post a new chapter next weekend. It depends on how far I get in the rewriting process.
Rating: M for more discussion of the Richard incident and Sharpay and Chad having a little too much fun in a dressing room.
Warnings: Discussions of a past sexual assault and underage drinking. Actually, I think underage drinking should just be an assumed warning for most of the story. I did not engage in underage drinking in college, but that's because I'm allergic to alcohol. I am pretty sure I was the only one.
This chapter is very different than the original. More than half is new material.
Chapter 8: Of Dressing Rooms and New Roommates
Afternoon August 30, 2008
For someone who was actually popular in high school, Chad had no desire to go back there ever again. The only thing he missed about high school was hanging out with his best friend, Troy. Chad also missed hanging out with Ryan, but they texted one another all the time. Everything else he was glad to be done with.
Chad hated being something that he was not just to fit in. He could admit it now, that he was a closet genius. Chad was so afraid of being labeled a nerd in high school that Chad viciously persecuted the profoundly gifted. If there was a gifted kid equivalent of internalized homophobia, he suffered from it. Even after the 'breaking free' movement of his junior year, Chad wasn't ready to come out of the genius closet. Regardless of the fact he started dating the head of the brain contingent. To this day, Taylor does not know he scored more than 200 points higher than she did on the SATs.
That wasn't even touching his sexual orientation. Even now, he's starting to wonder if he stayed with Taylor last summer because it would be easier than figuring out things with Ryan. He treasures Ryan's friendship, though, so maybe it was the best choice in the long run. But he couldn't help but wonder if he lost something sticking to the status quo. Is he making the same mistake with Sharpay that he made with Ryan? A profound thought for another time.
Chad was just starting to become comfortable with his intelligence, and now he was forced to go back to the nine circles of high school hell. He was really going to spend next Friday night at East high chaperoning a dance. Why does he let Sharpay talk him into this sort of stuff? The wicked little voice in the back of his mind says it is because she is currently wearing a low cut tank top and very tight shorts. He tries to ignore that voice. If Penelope was wearing the same outfit, it wouldn't affect him at all.
"I can't believe you talked me into chaperoning a high school dance Friday night. I could be doing more pleasant things like my chemistry homework, my calculus homework, or having a conversation with Penelope while being swarmed by ravenous raccoons." Chad said to Sharpay as they stood in the men's section of one of the most upscale stores in Albuquerque.
"Will you please shut up and try on the outfit I picked out for you. You are coming with me to keep the perverted high schoolers from grabbing my ass and keeping me from becoming bored. It is just sad when Jimmie is the most respectful. I don't want to have to go back to that place any more than you do." Sharpay said as she shoved him into the dressing room.
"Then why are you volunteering at the school this year?" Chad asked from behind the dressing room door.
"I spent four years building that drama department, and I'm not going to let some British ice queen wannabe undo all my hard work. Don't tell me you won't be at the first basketball game this year to see if the guy with your number will be just as good as you. I'm getting school credit, and the volunteer work will look terrific on my grad school applications." Sharpay argued.
"I don't need to relive my past glory; I still have the present. You were the one who told me that high school is over, and it is time to let go. There is no way you will see me anywhere near that school on the night of the season opener. My number was retired. No one else will have my number again, because I was that good."
As far as he was concerned, Chad needed to concentrate on the present and not passed. He was more concerned with Sharpay's earlier statement about going to graduate school. That definitely didn't mesh with Sharpay's Tony award fantasy. "Are you actually going to go to grad school?"
"That's an option if Broadway doesn't work out. It's not as if Ryan could last 5 minutes with the sharks at my father's company. If someone's going to carry on the family legacy, unfortunately, it has to be me." Sharpay sounded resigned.
"Do you ever get tired of being the person everyone thinks you should be?" Chad asked as he left the room wearing a beautiful charcoal gray suit. He knows he hated being the person that everyone thought he should be. That is why Chad didn't want to go back to EHS Friday. He didn't want to reprise his role as stupid jock number two.
"All the time," Sharpay said with a sigh. "You look perfect in that suit." He was almost positive he saw her blushing. "Standstill, I need to take a picture for Ryan. He wants final say on your wardrobe choices."
"Why am I getting a suit?" Chad asked as he posed for her. "I do not remember any of our chaperones wearing suits to the welcome back dance."
"The other outfit is for the dance, this is for Taylor's parents' 25th-anniversary party in October," Sharpay said as she started to text Ryan. "I promised Taylor yesterday that you would be in something decent for her parents' party. Although Ryan already asked me to do it before I talked to Taylor personally. Do you realize that Taylor has contacted Ryan more than she's contacted you in the last two weeks?"
"Considering I have spoken with Ryan more in the last two weeks than her, I really can't say anything." Chad shrugged.
"Yes, but you've made out with him at least once. Go back inside and try on the other outfit. Ryan wants to see you in blue." Sharpay said as she shoved him back in the dressing room.
"You called my girlfriend?" Chad asked in shock as he began to picture his worst fear of the two girls sharing stories about him.
"You left your cell phone in my room when you went to get your laptop and chemistry textbook to study Thursday. Taylor called, I answered." He really hoped his girlfriend and Sharpay did not compare notes on his kissing technique. It was bad enough that he knows Ryan and Sharpay did. He was already not looking forward to explaining everything to Taylor in a little more than a month. Especially when he was not sure if Sharpay was just a friend.
"We really need to talk about boundaries, like answering my cell phone when I'm not there. In polite society, that is not acceptable. Also, I thought we agreed to cut down on the expensive gifts." Chad sighed.
"When am I ever polite? The suit is not for you; it is for Taylor. I think she deserves something from me for making out with her boyfriend in public." Before he could respond to her, Sharpay opened the dressing room door and quickly ran inside as if she was being chased.
"Sharpay, go outside right now. Did we not just talk about boundaries? I think there are rules about this sort of thing." Chad said, panicking as he stood in the dressing room in his underwear. He was glad he went with boxers today.
"I'm not going to see anything more than I would during a performance quick change. You're a basketball player, you should be used to people seeing you in various states of undress."
"This is not a locker room." And I don't want to kiss any of my teammates. Okay, maybe Zack. If I could be 100% sure we're not related. Even their coach gets them confused sometimes.
Where did that thought come from?
"Chad, I could go down on you in here, and the staff wouldn't care as long as I gave a decent tip. Not that I would," Sharpay added hastily after she noticed his dear in headlights expression.
"Richard is outside, and I don't want to talk to him by myself." The petrified look in her eyes told him it was best just to let her stay.
"Fine, you can stay here." Because honestly, Chad didn't want her anywhere near Malick either.
"Although, I never thought I would see the day when Sharpay Evans would be afraid." A scared Sharpay was a very frightening thought for him. Malick really fucked her up.
"Let's see how well you would do if you had to interact with the guy that raped you daily? He even lives in our building. I've been running into him all the time. I wonder if he's doing it on purpose to mess with me." She had a point, and he knew it. He was also proud that she was finally able to admit what Richard did to her when sober. It was a step in the right direction.
"Good point. It's just you are not the type of person to run and hide from the demons of high school. You attacked them full on with a baseball bat. Ever since he put those pills in your drink the night of the spring dance, you have been running away. Instead of pressing charges, you just disappeared for two months. You have been pushing everybody away for the last two years. The Sharpay Evans I know would be getting even with the bastard, not letting him control every aspect of her life. If you let the fear of him control you, it's like letting him do it all over again. You can't move forward like that. You deserve to move forward." Sharpay deserved to be happy.
"You are right," Sharpay said as she got a wicked look in her eyes. All of a sudden, she started moaning like she did Friday night when he was kissing her in the water fountain. The only difference was he wasn't touching her at the moment. Obviously, Sharpay was trying to re-create the deli scene from When Harry Met Sally. Incidentally, he watched that movie with Sharpay last night. Neither one wanted to go out after what happened the Friday before.
"What are you doing?" Chad asked in a whisper.
"Getting even," Sharpay said as she continued her performance.
"How does making it sound like I'm giving you an earth-shattering orgasm qualify as revenge?" As Chad said it out loud, he realized what she was doing.
"You just said it yourself," Sharpay answered with a wicked look.
"Besides, Malick couldn't find a clitoris with a map. It's one of the many reasons why he needs drugs. Other than the power-play dynamic. You're right, I need to take my power back."
"You are so evil. I think I'm starting to love you." Chad said as he joined her in her little game, completely unaware that he just used the L-word.
"I know," Sharpay said as she leaned over to kiss him.
Okay, maybe things were more real than they should have been.
"You need to walk out of here with lipstick smudges," Sharpay said in her defense. Why did Chad think that was just an excuse?
XXXXX
20 minutes later, Sharpay exited the dressing room and made a show of straightening her skirt. Just as she suspected, Malick was standing by a rack of clothing near the dressing room, attempting to act casual. She walked by him without even looking. She wasn't going to let him hurt her anymore. He would never have power over her again.
A few seconds later, Chad emerged from the dressing room with ruffled hair, strategically placed lipstick, and a giant smile on his face. Grabbing her quickly, Chad kissed her right in front of Richard. She was not expecting him to initiate a kiss this time. The second his lips touched her lips, Sharpay dropped everything in her hands. She couldn't think when he kissed her. How was she supposed to stay just friends with a guy when he kissed her like that? This was the second kiss today, but she wanted more.
After picking up the drop clothing, Sharpay made her way to the checkout counter. Sharpay knew she would have to leave at least a $50.00 tip to buy the clerk's silence regarding her and Chad's little performance in the dressing room. She wondered how much it would be if they actually had sex in there. Not that anything like that would ever happen because she knew Chad was in love with Taylor. A voice that sounded suspiciously like Ryan's told her she was wrong.
As she walked away, Sharpay could hear Chad approaching Malick and spoke just loud enough for her to hear, "real men don't need pills to get what they want. Besides, it is so much more fun when she screaming my name when she comes around my fingers. I just love watching Shar's face as she orgasms. She looks so beautiful when she's happy and sated. Unlike some people, I don't need a map to find Sharpay's clitoris."
She loved seeing the look of anger on Malick's face. He was red as a fire truck. If she knew Chad was this good of an actor in high school, she would have forced him to join drama.
Chad walked up to Sharpay at the counter and placed a kiss on her neck. Sharpay was starting to become addicted to his touch. She would have to remind herself this was not real. No one could ever love her like this in the real world. She was too damaged to be loved. Letting go of the painful thought, Sharpay paid for the purchases with her credit card as she pulled out a $50.00 bill for the clerk.
"Keep your money, we now have a new no-tipping policy." the cashier said in annoyance.
"Besides that was the best show I've seen in years," the cashier whispered as she handed the receipt to Sharpay.
"How did you know?" Sharpay asked the cashier quietly.
"The two of you were all just friends before that person got here. Then suddenly, you are moaning in one of the dressing rooms. Let me guess, ex-boyfriend? He cheated on you or something like that?" The clerk asked.
"That was like the least egregious thing he did to me. Let's just say he was a dreadful boyfriend, and I deserve vengeance."
"Too bad, he's kind of cute." The clerk frowned.
"I wouldn't bother. He has a GHB problem," Chad said in a low voice.
"Of course. What about you? Are you available next Friday night? I have the day off, and I would love spending it with you." The cashier asked Chad.
"No, he has a date," Sharpay said as she handed the receipt to the girl. No one was going to get near her Chad.
XXXX
A few hours later
The good twin: I deeply regret that we could never get you to play dress-up with us before. You look good in blue and a suit. I would've gone with something brighter than charcoal, but Sharpay does have excellent taste.
Chad: She got me three different outfits plus the two suits. We're going to be color-coordinating by November, aren't we?
The good twin: Shar never got to that point with Zeke, but you seem less emasculated by the idea of wearing pink.
Chad: I'm here, I'm queer, they can get the fuck over it. I will wear whatever the hell I want.
The good twin: You're making progress. :-) I'm so proud.
Chad: My number one goal for freshman year is to be myself. I'm not going to do what I did in high school. Also, I'm pretty sure by the end of the year, Troy, you, and Sharpay are going to be the only people from high school I'm actually on speaking terms with. I still want to break Zeke's teeth.
The good twin: I'm right there with you.
The good twin: Was your omission of Taylor of a Freudian slip, or are you willing to acknowledge the truth?
Chad: So I have to tell you what your sister did at the clothing store. Richard "the Dick" Malick showed up to the store while Shar was picking out my new wardrobe. At that point, she decided to join me in the dressing room.
The good twin: I'm happy for you, but never tell me any details of any sexual activities that you engage in with my sister. Especially anything that occurs before the Taylor breakup. I need plausible deniability when she calls me to complain about her roommate again. Tatiana is a nightmare.
The good twin: Do you know what Richard did?
Chad: Why did Taylor call you to complain about her roommate? I didn't even know the name of her roommate until you just told me.
Chad: Also, we didn't have sex. We pretend it to have sex for the sake of fucking with the asshole. I can't tell you exactly what happened. You'll have to get that from Shar. Let's just say he deserves us messing with his head. I may have also said something about his inability to find a Clitoris with a map as we left the dressing room together."
The good twin: That's still going into TIM territory even if it's probably true.
The good twin: I mean, TMI. Dyslexia sucks, and I'm just getting used to the voice rec on this iPhone. It doesn't do acronyms well. It's not as good as the Dragon on my laptop.
Chad: It's okay.
The good twin: Of course your girlfriend is going to complain to me. Taylor called you but got Sharpay, and then she called me to figure out why you and Sharpay are hanging out now. She was understandably baffled by it.
Chad: What did you tell her?
The good twin: That you finally figured out you are Evans-sexual.
Chad: You are an asshole, Evans. She doesn't even know about basketball camp 2006. Although your sister does now.
The good twin: We will talk about this as soon as you come out of denial.
The good twin: Relax, I just told her that I asked you to keep an eye on my sister. Taylor thinks it's noble. Although she said, "Sharpay really needs to learn to stop answering other people's phones."
Chad: She does. We had a talk about boundaries today. Then just moments later, Sharpay walked into the dressing room while I was changing. I don't think boundaries are in your sister's vocabulary.
The good twin: We're actors. We're used to that sort of thing.
Chad: Yet she still bought me a bathrobe. Apparently, she doesn't want me wandering around the floor in a towel.
The good twin: No, she doesn't want the rest of the floor ogling you when you're only in a towel. Sharpay is very possessive. She is like 5 when it comes to her toys. She only shares with me.
Chad: And I'm her newest toy?
The good twin: Well, you did let her play dress-up today. Your ass looks perfect in that suit.
Chad: I'm still not entirely sure why. It's like she asks me something and I'll say yes. I've already been drafted to help Amanda move into the room. Let's not even talk about the fact that I will be spending next Friday night at East high. Why do I let her do this to me?
The good twin: I would say something about cleavage being involved if the person in question wasn't my sister. I'll let Troy deal with that one.
Chad: Thank you ever so much.
The good twin: So Shar is getting a new roommate?
Chad: Yes, Amanda Summers. She is a first-year student from Arizona. I kind of like her because she told Marc and Nikki to mind their own business last weekend. Although anybody has to be better than Drusilla.
Chad: I got teamed up with her Wednesday in English. I wanted to smack her by the end of it. She didn't do any of the reading. I'm only working with Sharpay for the rest of the semester.
The good twin: So this is probably going to go better than the last roommate? Are you getting a new roommate too?
Chad: For Sharpay, yes. The last roommate destroyed your sister's In the Heights poster. It's not hard to be better than that.
The good twin: Not the autograph version?
Chad: No, she keeps that at the mansion.
Chad: Yes, I'm getting a new roommate, but I don't know if it will be an improvement. Blaise hasn't officially moved in yet, but Marc, his soon-to-be former roommate, dropped off Lysol for me.
The good twin: That is not a good sign. You should really look into an apartment for next year.
Chad: Sharpay is already talking about us sharing one next year. Although that would probably mean me adding a job to everything else I'm doing. I don't think I have the energy. All the basketball practice is killing me.
The good twin: Your level of denial astounds me. It really shouldn't because you told me about Jamie.
The good twin: Also, too bad mom and dad are selling the mansion because she could just move back home.
Chad: Sharpay doesn't like the idea of being there by herself. Although it is a cool place to take a break from school. I wonder if I can talk your sister into letting us hang out there Monday?
The good twin: I think it would be okay if it wasn't just you and her alone. Invite the new roommate and Kim. At least that will not trigger my dad mysteriously showing up.
The good twin: I on the other hand will be at a very Montez Labor Day party because I promised Gabriella I would go before she stopped text messaging me. I'm still going because I like Maria.
Chad: It's worth the cookies alone to go. I will ask Shar about it. Your sister is calling.
The good twin: Which means you can't leave her waiting.
The good twin: Although as soon as you're done being Sharpay's pack mule, maybe you should consider calling your girlfriend and letting her know you rather just be friends. I think you know in your heart of hearts, it's time.
XXXX
"Why did I agree to help with this?" Chad asked, as he brought another box into the room. Considering that Amanda is comforter complemented Sharpay's, she knew this arrangement would work much better.
"Your girlfriend offered you a blowjob? Nobody turns down blowjobs." Marc commented snidely as he placed his box next to Chad's. Okay, maybe Amanda could use some better friends.
"Shut up, Marc. Ignore him. I can't take him anywhere." Amanda said as she placed her lamp on the desk. Again it complemented what Sharpay already had in the room. Bonus points for her telling Marc to be quiet.
"I can let you carry the rest of these boxes over here yourself. I still don't know why you won't move into the room with Nikki." Marc lamented.
"I have Chad, so I don't need you. Also, I'm not living with Nikki because I want us to keep being friends. Sharpay, I hope, unlike my last roommate, you will not be annoyed by me dictating my assignments or listening to textbooks on tape or on MP3. I guess this is the point where I come out of the learning disability closet and tell you I am a person with dyslexia and dysgraphia."
Okay, now Sharpay was annoyed that the other roommate couldn't deal with that. That was nothing compared to what Drusilla put her through.
"The dictating, along with using books on tape, will not bother me. My brother is dyslexic, so I'm familiar. He probably uses a lot of the same adaptive tech that you do." Amanda visibly sighed in relief.
"Okay, I'm happy to be around someone that gets it at least a little." Amanda smiled at her.
"If I do say something insensitive, you can just have Ryan yell at me for you." Sharpay smiled back. "I might have an extra license for the latest version of Kurzweil 3000. The good version that lets you scan. Do you want it? I think we have an extra scanner too. Ryan just bought a new one in New York." Sharpay offered. It would be best to start out on the right foot with Amanda. Especially if she wants spring break to happen.
"That's like $1200, and you have an additional license? That you're just gonna let me use? You don't have to."
"Well, Ryan's not using it. There's no point in letting it waste around at the mansion. Think of it as borrowing." Sharpay suggested.
"Okay, I'm happy to borrow the extra license while I'm here. But I'm definitely giving it back to you at the end of the school year or when I move out whichever is first." Yes, this is definitely going to go better than last time.
"We can pick it up Monday. Chad, what do you think about maybe do a mini Labor Day party with just me, you, Kim, Alex, and Amanda? We can make good use of the pool." Sharpay asked.
"I'm sure it would go better than the water fountain." Chad joked. "Actually, I was going to suggest something similar. It would be good to get out of the building for a few hours."
"Am I invited to this Labor Day party?" Marc asked. Apparently, he never left the room.
"No, because you accused me of using fellatio to get Chad to do my bidding. I don't need to trade sexual favors because I'm just that good." Sharpay punctuated her words by giving Marc her patented death glare.
"I'm sorry. Please let me hang out at your mansion." Now she definitely wasn't inviting him.
"Nope. You can spend Labor Day at the student center if you want to hang out in a pool. Come on, let's get the rest of Amanda stuff over here." Sharpay said, grabbing Chad's hand before leaving the room.
XXXX
Monday, September 1, 2008, afternoon
Amanda already liked her new roommate a thousand times better than her last one. Sharpay doesn't make her feel stupid for being dependent on technology to do her work. She thinks it's normal, and that helps Amanda tremendously. It doesn't hurt that Amanda doesn't have to explain her disability since, apparently, the infamous Ryan already taught Sharpay what she needed to know.
Amanda will acknowledge that she was apprehensive about moving in with Sharpay Evans. It would be hard to be at this school and not know who Sharpay Evans was. She was the ultimate legacy student. Their dormitory was named after one of her ancestors. Amanda actually wonders if she dyed her hair just to have a little anonymity at school.
For the first two days, Amanda tried to forget what she thought she knew about Sharpay and concentrate on finding out who she was. They have a lot more in common than she thought they would be due to their different backgrounds. Sharpay was extraordinarily wealthy and at least White-passing. Amanda was Black and could only afford college due to a combination of academic scholarships, cheerleading scholarships, Pell Grants, and a job in the cafeteria. Amanda is still shocked Sharpay went to a public high school. What would they even have in common? Apparently, a lot.
They both still had an undying love for the Backstreet Boys As well as Prince. Their music collections had a lot of overlap, although Sharpay was definitely into musicals. They loved a lot of the same TV shows and movies. They both had screwed up families that they didn't want to talk about. Although at least Sharpey had her brother.
The two also enjoyed hanging out by the pool, sipping the expensive wine. Sharpay definitely managed to get the good stuff. Which was what they were doing together this beautiful Labor Day.
"Does it feel weird that today's the last day of summer, but we've already been in school for two weeks?" Amanda asked both Sharpay and Kim. They were lying by her next to the pool.
"Yes, but I am enjoying quality me time. Good choice in wine Sharpay." Kim said, taking a small sip.
"You're enjoying this because Chad is playing with your kid." As well as agreed to be the designated driver so the three ladies could indulge.
"He is teaching my kid how to swim. You should be happy you get to sit here looking at your boyfriend shirtless the entire time. I believe that is a six-pack." It was definitely a nice view. Too bad, Chad had a girlfriend who he was in love with. Amanda has never seen two people so in love before.
"Thank you for inviting me to hang out with you and your boyfriend. As well as Alex. Your kid is adorable." And a sweetheart as far as Amanda was concerned. She wasn't even surprised to find out that Sharpay had her own car seat for Alex. It seemed in character for the real Sharpay.
"He is when Alex is not throwing Cheerios at you. He's at that stage." Kim remarked as she took another drink of wine.
"Since you are my roommate, I probably should let you in on a secret. Chad isn't actually my boyfriend, Amanda. We are really just friends, but we're acting like we're together for various reasons."
"I saw you make out in front of Penelope yesterday in the common room. I was Marc's beard for like a minute in high school, and we never acted like that." Eventually, they realized no one was buying it.
"Penelope is one of those reasons. I had to put on a show for her since she moved on to our floor. I'm glad you chose not to live with Nikki because Penelope would've been my roommate." Amanda knew that would've been a disaster. It was already well known in the building that Penelope Castro and Sharpay Evans hated each other.
"And it was just a little kiss. It wasn't like Blaise and his girlfriend. Chad gets the worst roommates. We're getting an apartment next year." Amanda noticed that Kim sighed at that.
"That way, my dog can be with me instead of having to stay alone at the mansion with just the staff for company." Sharpay pouted.
"He was Marc's roommate first, and even he couldn't deal. Marc has the patience of a saint after dealing with his mother for years. Although the new guy might be a homophobic prick. Now I wish Marc would have been the one who moved out."
"I am not surprised. Chad would have no trouble with a gay roommate because that would make him a hypocrite if he did. Although the comments on our sex life would get annoying eventually. Especially when we don't have one." The last part was mumbled, but Amanda still heard her.
"I'm going to need a better explanation for this. You guys are hanging out with each other all the time. There's also gratuitous kissing."
"It's not that much." Kim just shook her head at Sharpay's words.
"I think you guys should have a swear jar for kissing each other. Every time you accidentally make out, you put a dollar in it. Alex's college education should be paid for by the end of the year." That got Kim a towel to the head.
"Since Princess Evans is in total denial, I will tell you what's going on. Sharpay's brother is overprotective with good reason and wanted his best friend Chad to be in Sharpay's building. So he lied to his Dad and told him that they were dating. These two decided to play it up to fuck with Penelope and Richard Malick. BTW don't go near that prick. He's dangerous." Kim warned.
"I tend to stay away from guys that give off a creepy vibe anyway, but thank you for the warning." She would be extra cautious now.
"Better than me," Sharpay mumbled under breath.
"See, here's the thing, Chad is still technically with his high school girlfriend who happens to be at Yale right now." Oh, this isn't good.
"I've only been in one school play, but I don't think you two were acting. I think it's time to end that relationship by a technicality." Amanda recommended. This will not end well.
"That's for Chad to decide. Right now, us actually being together is not an option. So let's not talk about it. I'm going to go in and put on more sunscreen." Sharpay said, getting up from her lounge chair.
"Even if that's probably an excuse to get out of this conversation, would you mind reapplying the stuff to Alex?" Kim asked.
"Of course not. My baby can't become a lobster." Sharpay told them as she left the poolside.
"They've been around each other constantly for the last two days. I feel like I have two roommates, and yet the situation is still better than last time." Amanda told Kim once Sharpay was in the house.
"I am sure the free Kurzweil 3000 helps," Kim remarked.
"I feel like Sharpay is worth knowing without the bribery. She's super sweet and even offered to help me decipher some of the handwritten notes my professor gave me. It's nice having help." It really was.
"Sharpay is an acquired taste. But once you get used to her, you realize she's the best."
"It helps when you realized that everything you heard about her beforehand was probably wrong."
"I think I'm going to like you. You might make it into this friendship circle after all." Kim told her with her glass raised.
"I feel like this is a circle worth getting into." Amanda took another drink of her own wine. "So what's actually going on with Chad and Sharpay? They are not just friends."
"Vast quantities of denial."
"That is obvious," Amanda said, pointing to the two working together to get sunscreen on Alex. They totally looked like a couple in love. Which is kind of sad because Chad was adorable and smart. He would totally be her type if he wasn't unavailable, and right now, he's extra unavailable. Amanda is too smart to mess with a guy who has a girlfriend and a side piece. The problem is she wasn't sure if Sharpay was the girlfriend or the side piece.
"According to Chad's best friend Troy, Chad has a problem with making changes in his life. Troy and Ryan are convinced Chad is mostly sticking to Taylor because she is his last bit of high school normalcy. In the last 14 months, his parents divorced. His mom is now in DC, and his dad is going to Cleveland. They even sold his childhood home. His two best friends also moved to other states, and he started college with just Sharpay as a familiar face."
"That's a lot of change to work through," Amanda remarked.
"The problem is I don't know if Chad is actually processing it. Letting go of Taylor for Sharpay means dealing with change and the unknown. The last time he really ventured out of his comfort zone was basketball camp 2006. Apparently, that went really badly when Jamie never returned his emails." It took Amanda a few moments to realize why hooking up with Jamie at basketball camp would be Chad going out of his comfort zone.
"Jamie was a guy, right? Basketball camp was his first foray into men, and it went badly?"
"I don't know if I can answer that question. But you are brilliant and extremely observant." Kim said, drinking more wine.
"You're not outing Chad to me. He already out it himself by making a joke about kissing Sharpay's brother in the car before we picked you up." Amanda decided it's best not to ask too many questions about that incident.
"The fact that he is willing to let you know that means that we might have a chance of getting him to realize that it's time to let Taylor go. You know before he does something idiotic like get Sharpay pregnant." Kim sighed.
"That would be bad."
"They are absolute idiots. But they are my friends. I just wish they would work it all out before it ends in tears." At that moment, Chad placed an arm around Sharpay and kissed her shoulder. "I'm going to need more wine to deal with their shenanigans today."
"I'll go grab another bottle from the fridge." Amanda is definitely going to need more wine to deal with those two.
To be continued.
Remember when we could actually spend the last day of summer hanging out with her friends? I felt nostalgic just proofreading it.
I really wanted to do a better intro to Amanda being Sharpay's roommate. Chad and Sharpay starting the school year in mid-August, allowed me to do that in the new version. (Although I was lazy and did not move midterms up to compensate.)
Kurzweil 3000 is a screen reading software that converts text into speech. Back in 2008, a license did cost $1200. It's why I only had it either at work or at school. I've never bought a license for home use. The most significant advantage over freeware versions of screen reading software is Kurzweil has some lovely voices that almost sound human. Paul is always going to be my favorite.
I never had the iPhone 2. I did have the model afterward. If I remember correctly, I had voice recognition capabilities via the Dragon app. I'm just going to pretend the iPhone 2 had that option as well. Voice recognition software in 2008 was a nightmare compared to what we have now. It's so much better. If I was going for authenticity, Ryan's text messages would have a lot more voice recognition mistakes.
This chapter is reminding me of all the frustrations I had back then and in college. The 2008 stuff was better than what I had my freshman year in 2001. I have some stories. Redoing the story is actually reminding me of how much the technology has improved. Voice rec is now mostly functional, and I have a grammar AI.
Obviously, I am basing Amanda and Ryan's disability experiences on my own in college. Representation is important. But Amanda is not a self-insert. Our learning disability is about the one thing we have in common.