Good morning everyone! Or I could say good afternoon/evening, it depends on when I get this chapter uploaded… Anyway, I hope you guys are enjoying the remodel! I'm going as fast as I can for these first few chapters and I'm loving the idea of my schedule! One step at a time is always best. So let's continue with the series's first step, shall we?
When Sharpay Evans heard the serene sound of the lunch bell ring, she was just finishing a re-application her favorite strawberry pink lip gloss. Her lips turned up slightly in a triumphant smile as she quickly put her notebook in her bag and prepared to leave. One might ask why she had such an expression of victory at the mere sound of the lunch bell. Well, it wasn't because they were serving New York Deli sandwiches in the cafeteria that day, but rather because the lunch bell held a different meaning for her.
"Ah ah ah, everyone wait just a moment!" stopped her history class. "Before you go I want to remind you guys about our upcoming events. I know that everyone is excited for the New Years' Dance, but please remember that your greek scholar essay is due that Thursday!" She sighed internally, noting that they were all too busy packing to pay full attention to her. Even so, she continued speaking. "I will be accepting them then until I leave my office at 4 PM! Remember class, business before pleasure. Give yourselves enough free time to relax. Have a nice day! Oh, and good luck to everyone who auditioned for our upcoming school play!"
The students bustled out the doorway, eager to get to their sandwiches and friends. Sharpay, however, didn't follow the crowd on their way to the cafeteria. She had to make a quick stop to the bulletin board down the hall first. She had to get past the mass of students in the hall first though...
As she began to move her way past her fellow students, Zeke spotted her from the classroom he had come out of and made his way to her side.
"Hey Sharpay!" Zeke smiled, holding a paper in his hand. "How was class?"
"Class was class." Sharpay said quickly, still trying to maneuver her way through the hungry high schoolers.
"Cool! I uh, entered the school baking competition! I think I'm going to make cupcakes." He continued. "I was thinking up names for my entry, but I'm not sure-"
"That's nice Zeke- I'll see you at lunch!" She said, pushing past him
"Um…okay? I-I'll see you later!" He beamed and sighed "She's so beautiful…"
A girl heard him from across the hall and scrunched up her nose, "Seriously?" she gawked at him. He didn't notice and made his way to lunch.
When Sharpay passed the music room, Kelsi looked a bit flustered as she hobbled on her crutches as fast as she could to Sharpay.
"Sharpay!" She called with a wave. "I was thinking about what you mentioned before break, about the balcony scene song for next month's play? The song is about both parties feeling insecure about seeing each other again. I'm not sure if it's a good idea to have the lead- I mean, to have you sing both parts. It would take away from the male lead's character." The play didn't have the characters' names just yet.
"What are you talking about? It sounds like a great idea if it means I get more parts, silly!" She beamed, giving Kelsi a playful shove, accidentally sending her sideways. She didn't notice, her eyes saw the bulletin board a few steps away.
"Whoa!" Kelsi exclaimed, falling to the side towards the wall. Taylor just so happened to see her on her way to lunch and rushed to catch her, slamming into the wall in her place.
"Ow!" She exclaimed.
"Sorry Taylor!" Kelsi gasped. Taylor growled in annoyance and tried to push Kelsi up nicely. Chad, Gabriella, and Troy had curiously followed Taylor after her dash. They stood next to her and watched Sharpay as she went up the bulletin board.
"It's fine Kelsi." Taylor said "Sharpay, watch it!" she called out angrily to Sharpay.
Sharpay was no longer listening, because she had reached her destination. Sure enough she found that...
Sharpay turned around quickly with excited eyes, her blonde hair swishing with the movement, "I got the role!" she squealed. "I get to play the leading lady
"Yay, you did it, we all knew you would." Taylor said, unenthusiastically as she helped Kelsi back up. Sharpay grinned to herself and took out her phone to text Ryan to meet her by the bulletin. The rest of the group went to lunch.
"I don't get how she can be so selfish at times." Taylor muttered.
"This is Sharpay we're talking about." Chad replied. "She was basically born with a compact mirror in her hand."
"It's probably just bad habit." Troy said.
"Probably." Gabriella sighed. "She is our friend regardless, but sometimes she can be a bit much..." They walked into the cafeteria and started off towards their tables.
"Oh, Danforth!" Taylor called out to Chad before he went to put his bag down, causing him to turn and look at her. "Don't forget, we're back to working on the dance tomorrow after school. We should have some stuff coming in tomorrow. I think they're the chargers and cutlery that we ordered."
"Oh, great!" Chad said. "Okay then. So, tomorrow at 3:30?" He asked with a point.
"Tomorrow at 3:30. Don't be late!" She pointed back.
"I would never do such a thing." Chad crossed his arms and Taylor gave him a look. "...again." Chad added with a mischievous grin.
"See you then, Chad." She rolled her eyes dramatically and walked to her group. Even though Troy and Gabriella had changed the game when it came to East High's status quo, the school hadn't quite caught on just yet. Because of this, the group ended up sitting with their normal groups and the school's golden couple usually ended up having lunch on a rooftop bench. It wasn't perfect, but at least they got to spend lunch together without their friend groups being nasty to each other.
"I'm going to be honest." Gabriella said, after she and Troy had recovered from laughing at a joke he'd made. "I love spending this time with you. I love any time I spend with you."
"I love spending time with you too." Troy smiled.
"Thanks Wildcat." Gabriella smiled back fondly. "I wish everyone felt the same way…"
"Old habits die hard. It's gonna take a while for them to change." Troy commented, taking a bite of his sandwich.
"I know...but it would be so nice if everyone would just accept one another." She sighed, taking a sip of her chocolate milk. It was quiet for a moment before Gabriella asked him, "Would you ever go back to the way things were, with your friends?"
Troy smirked at that before looking back at his girlfriend, "No way. Then I wouldn't have you." He poked her side playfully. She giggled happily in response and placed her head on his shoulder.
"I love you, Troy."
"I love you too, Gabi."
Suddenly, their phones rang. They had just received a text from Zeke. They both looked off of Troy's phone.
Zeke: Anyone up for milkshakes? Taylor and I are paying. Back to school treat!
Zeke, Taylor, Kelsi, and Jason all worked at a diner inside of their neighborhood mall by the name of Albuquerque's Best. It was actually pretty good food spot! They'd started the year before. Zeke was an excellent cook, Kelsi and Taylor made good waitresses (But Kels couldn't do work at the time obviously) , and Jason...Jason was a decent waiter as well.
"Milkshakes?" Troy asked Gabriella.
"Milkshakes." She nodded with a grin. "Now let's organize carpool."
-Diner Day-
"I wanna ride with Zeke!" Kelsi quickly said as they all stood in the parking lot after school.
"You're riding with me!" Sharpay declared.
Kelsi grumbled and trudged to Shar's pink car. "Okay then, open air driving with my best friend it is." She groaned.
"I'm riding with Troy and Jason in Martha's car...her playlist is too good to miss so..." Gabriella slowly said. "Gee thanks, I get to third wheel." Taylor grumbled.
"Chad can go with you in Shar's car?" She said "There's two more seats-"
"We'd rather not." Chad said.
"Well...Troy and I aren't sharing." Gabriella gave a smirk. They gagged. "So unless you want to walk to the diner...then-"
Sharpay's music was blasting down the highway. Or was it her voice? The world would never know. "TOUCH ME!" she belted as the passionate song from Cats played. "IT'S SO EASY TO LEAVE ME! ALL ALONE WITH MY MEMORY!"
Kelsi sat in the middle, pulling her hat a little lower in an attempt to cover her face from passing and Taylor were sitting with their arms crossed, facing different directions.
Ryan looked annoyed beyond belief. "Sharpay, can we listen to some pop music or something? And for Pete's sake could we turn it down?" The song paused and the back seaters groaned.
"Ryan, this is my car." Sharpay said dramatically as if she had been inconvenienced.
"Well, you could at least make it more bearable to ride in!" He argued.
"Amen to that." Kelsi grumbled.
"Excuse me Kelsi, would you like to walk?" she batted her eyes in her rearview mirror.
"Sharpay!" Taylor's eyes widened. Something told her they were coming to that on/off stage. "You know it'd take even longer for her in her current state!"
"My ankle is a bit squished..." she whimpered
"Kelsi, do you ever stop whining?!" Sharpay exclaimed
"Hey! Watch it!" Ryan and Chad exclaimed.
"This is my car, you chose to ride in it." The three in the back seat opened their mouths to protest, but soon decided against it. Sharpay kept talking, "I was kind enough to bring you to the diner/work." She had a small point? "I'm blasting my voice and speakers like I always do, end of story." She switched 'Cats' back on. Everyone groaned and sat in silence until they got off the freeway and parked in the mall's parking lot.
"We're here!" Taylor cheered. "Milkshake time!
"Yay!" Everyone cheered. They hopped out the car. Ryan retrieved Kelsi's crutches from the trunk, handing them to her. She smiled and hobbled off.
"Let's go Shar." Ryan said. She sighed and followed them in. One escalator and a few steps later, they entered the restaurant with their friends.
"Hey Brick." The young employees greeted their boss.
The man looked like a slightly younger version of Gordon Ramsay, except with dark brown hair. Like the famous chef, Brick had an accent as well. He also wasn't always the nicest boss. Of course he had his good days, but most days consisted of him being moody and frustrated for unknown reasons.
Brick threw up his hands in dramatic frustration before letting his hands stop midway. "You're late!" He exclaimed.
"Yes by..." Taylor looked at her watch. "Two minutes now."
Brick looked at her. " . What time are you to be here?"
"3:40, Brick." Taylor answered dully.
"What time is it now?"
"3:42."
"Mhm." He nodded, standing next to her. "You're late." They all sighed and apologized.
Brick gently jerked his head to the office and kitchens. "Get dressed."
They all went to grab their uniforms from their lockers, except Kelsi, who was stopped by Brick.
"What the bloody hell happened to you?" His eyes widened.
"I fell..." She responded.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Perfect."
"I-I'm sorry...Brick?" Kelsi tensed.
He turned his exhausted face to the shorter girl in the bunch. "We needed to update the playlists anyway. Think you can do it?" She nodded twice. "Go on then. I'll have to think of something else for you to do until you feel better. It'll most likely be kitchen work." He said the last part more to himself than to her. She nodded again and went. The rest of the gang greeted him before taking sitting down at an open booth near the window.
"Okay, menus." Brick placed them down on the table. "As a working adult I suggest you, Mr. Bolton take it to-go. If I remember correctly you have to be at Best Buy in..." he checked his watch. "Twenty minutes."
His eyes widened. He didn't remember -in all the times that he'd come there- ever telling him- "Teens can be loud. Adults memory can be sharp." He whispered, walking off. Everyone smirked at Troy's expression.
"You heard him wildcat." Gabi smiled. "Hurry up. Here, I'll grab one too and we can leave together. I have to help mom at the shop." Her mother ran a local pet store with her Uncle for the time being and Gabi could thank that for keeping her grounded for now. Ms. Montez's original company had hit a rough patch, laying several workers off, including her. It was sad yes, but her mom found a way again, she always did. Troy smiled at her as they opened their menus.
Taylor gracefully slid up to the table wearing her uniform, cute as ever. "Hi! Welcome to Alb- oh please you already know-" Taylor tried to skip it with a laugh.
"Finish it!" Brick yelled with a slight tune from across the room.
Taylor's eyes widened. She sighed before perking up again, falsely. ""Hi! Welcome to Albuquerque's Best, I'm Taylor and I'll be your server today! Are you ready to order?"
The gang snickered, which made her give a look of annoyance. "Stop it. Now are you ready?" "One chocolate milkshake please." Martha raised a hand
"Strawberry for me please." Ryan said as Taylor scribbled on a notepad.
"Vanilla." Sharpay said in a slightly demanding tone. Taylor glared.
"Of course, your highness." She mumbled.
"Two oreo!" Troy and Gabriella ordered in sync, laughing.
"As always." Taylor smiled, looking to Chad. "And you?"
Chad blinked, staring at the girl that he had called his nemesis for as long as he could remember. She was so graceful and sassy...and he was being honest? She was also kind of cute. Seeing her working made him remember why he asked her to the after party last semester in the first place. Her brain was incredible. She received straight A's in all of her classes, was the Class President, and she was an excellent schemer. The way they'd worked side by side to break up Troy and Gabriella for the sake of the status quo and their crews, really gave him a chance to truly get to know her. Those few nights of messaging and planning, late night plan changes…
"Even seeing her in her Mickey Mouse pajamas that one time..." He thought with an inner laugh. It made them a little closer. Their plan had failed, but they came together for the new less evil one in the end. Their best friends were happy and East High won their course as anyone could see...
"Danforth." Taylor snapped him out of his thoughts with a pointed look.
Their victory high hadn't lasted.
"I'll have a mint chocolate please." He said.
"Fine. That's all?" They nodded. "Alright then! Be right back. Troy? Get to work. You forgot to add 'to go'." She smirked and the group laughed at him teasingly.
"I can remember that myself thank you!" He called out.
"Clearly not!" Taylor sang back, already out of sight.
Gabriella looked over to Sharpay, her usual smile fading a little. "Sharpay, don't you think you were just a little too demanding with Taylor?"
"She's an employee is she not?" She replied, fiddling with her phone.
"Well, yeah but..." Gabriella tried to word it properly. "She's not y'know...your employee."
"Okay, maybe she's not. I thought my tone was perfectly fine." Sharpay said.
"It's just that...she's your friend too. You have a tendency to be...rude...to people." Gabi said softly.
Sharpay stopped. "What?"
"You can just be...rude sometimes." Gabriella repeated "Especially to your friends."
"Gabi, thanks but I don't-" Ryan began.
"It's true! She's not a bad person she's just kind of mean sometimes!" She protested, slowly leaning back into the booth, whispering quietly. "Sometimes...most of the time...all the time."
"Hey!" Sharpay exclaimed "I'm nice!" she pointed to herself. "I can be nice!" she nearly growled.
"Then why are you saying it with almost subtle rage?" Martha said softly. Chad smirked.
Sharpay stood up and quickly walked outside.
Ryan sighed and looked to the booth. "She left her bag...so she's coming back." Taylor walked up with the drinks. Fast as ever.
Troy sighed. "Maybe we should go...tell her we apologize?" "You were leaving anyway." Ryan pointed out with a look.
"Right. Well...um...sorry? Good luck? I dunno just, I hope she's okay." Troy said, Gabi nodded gently. He took the drinks from Taylor, thanked her and said goodbye before leaving with Gabi.
Taylor blinked. "Where's Sharpay?"
"Ice Queen had to step out." Chad said before explaining what was said.
"Shouldn't someone go get her?" She looked to the girl's brother.
"Do you really think I want to calm the storm? No thanks." He sipped his milkshake. Taylor blew her bangs from her face. "She left her bag so-"
"She's coming back." Martha, Ryan, and Chad said in unison.
"Yeah..." She said softly. "Well, Table 5's burgers are ready so...I'll see you in a bit."
"Um...Tay?" Martha said. "You get off in another hour right?"
"Yes." She replied
"I can't drive you home...my sisters are home for the week starting today, we have to go pick them up from the airport." Martha said sympathetically. "I'm so sorry girl."
Taylor sighed with a weak smile. "It's fine, I'll just try and catch the next bus."
"Alone?" Ryan questioned. "Sharpay most likely doesn't want to talk to anyone right now."
"Yeah. Plus, she has to bring Kelsi home. I heard her say this morning she had a song to show her."
"True. But...alone? On the bus?"
"We've all done it so many times before!"
"I don't think so."
"Ryan!" Taylor exclaimed. "I'll be fine!"
"I'll go with her. I don't have a ride now either." Chad mumbled
"Perfect!" Ryan said before Taylor could protest. "Be safe! Glad we worked this out." Ryan sipped his milkshake again. Taylor groaned and swiftly walked off to serve Table Five.
They all watched as she approached the counter with her tray. They saw Zeke talking to her. "She doesn't look too pleased." Martha whispered to Ryan.
"Neither does he. It's normal." He whispered back. "But~ way to do a good deed Chad!"
He looked over with narrowed eyes. "Whether she was going or not I'd still be on the bus." "Shut up and let me believe you're that nice."
"Zeke!" They heard Taylor call out. Their heads flipped around to see Zeke walking out of the kitchen view.
"Pierre, Brick said you could cover for me." He said to the other cook,.
"Um...okay."
"Zeke!" Taylor called out again, following him. The kitchen doors flung open. Zeke started taking off his apron, flinging it onto the hook and heading for the doors, Taylor trying to keep up.
"Zeke where are you going?!" Tay asked.
Zeke turned to look at his friend. "To look for Sharpay." "She's probably fine Zeke..."
"Are you talking about her physical, or emotional being? Because storming out of a restaurant after being singled out, is not fine. She was hurt. Someone has to find her." He said softly.
"Okay..." She nodded. "Hope you find her..."
"Thanks." Zeke said before motioning to Martha. "I should be back in time to leave with you and Jason."
"Alright." She nodded. He left and Taylor looked after him before going back to work.
Thanks for reading! Next chapter, we're going for the first song of the series. Sorry for not posting the soundtrack, bear with me lol. So next we have, Jessie J's Masterpiece (I'm not changing it from the original because I really want to move on lol) and afterwards everyone goes home which will launch us to look into the family backgrounds so we all know what we're dealing with. Happy reading!