I know it's a while, but I felt like now was the time to finally update this story. Taking that break really helped me get more excited about it so hopefully I'll be updating more frequently.

To refresh everyone's memory: I do not own HSM or any characters except the original.

"Ryan you're a genius!" Mina shrieked as Ryan exited his car. Her eyes were glued to the purple t-shirt that he wore with the words 'Vote For Mina Lovett! You're going to Love It!' written in blue. It was kind of corny, but in a cute and catchy way. Ryan told her about his little spiff with Sharpay and how he was now Mina's for the using.

A little too late for that, Mina thought. Her plan was moving along a lot quicker than she expected, not like she was complaining. Just a few more steps to take and that crown would be hers.

"I'm glad you like them," Ryan said. He popped open his trunk and opened a box filled with the identical t-shirts. "Which means everyone else will, too."

Mina smiled at his attempt to compliment her on her fashion. "Will you do the pleasure?" she asked, eyeing the first objects to bring about her victory.

"Of course!" He reached back into his trunk and pulled out a bullhorn. Clearing his throat, he placed it to his mouth. "Free T-shirts! Vote For Mina Lovett! You're going love it!"

Mina shifted her eyes to his and stared at him oddly.

He glanced at the bullhorn and shrugged. "Drama club prop. I borrowed it for this occasion."

Efficient and prepared. She liked it. Sharpay had no idea how much Ryan was actually worth for her to just let him walk away. Watching the mass of students strolling over to get their hands on the latest fashion, Mina appreciated his services even more.

* * *

"What's going on?" Troy asked Chad as they met up in the parking lot. A huge crowd had formed up ahead and everywhere he looked someone was sporting a purple and blue t-shirt.

"Two words," Chad said, reading a t-shirt as the owner walked past. "Mina Lovett. I wonder who came up with that slogan," he said rolling his eyes.

Troy nodded forward. "Two words. Ryan Evens." He saw it. But he didn't believe it. Why was Ryan working to gain votes for Mina when his sister was also running for Prom queen? "What's going on?" he asked, even more confused.

"Whatever it is, Sharpay can't be too happy about it?" Chad said, craning his neck to see if he could spot out the ice queen. "Look there she is!" He pointed to a pink convertible pulling into a parking spot. "Come on!" he patted Troy excitedly. "We cannot miss this!" They pushed through the crowed and watched a puzzled Sharpay exit her car. The people parted as she walked through and she froze at the sight of her brother with Mina.

"Ryan!"

Ryan brought the bullhorn from his mouth and smirked at his sister with a confident air Troy had never seen him have before. He actually looked unaffected by Sharpay's present. As if what he was doing wasn't at all out of the ordinary.

"Hey, Shar! Like the attire?"

Sharpay glanced down at the shirt he was wearing and shifted her eyes back to his. "You can't be serious!"

"Oh he's serious," Mina chimed in, her hand on her hip.

Sharpay turned so red that Troy thought she would burst into a glittering flame. Tearing her eyes away from Mina she glared at Ryan and surprisingly he didn't flinch. And, to Troy's complete disbelief she walked away. Without a scream, without a glint of vengeance in her conniving eyes. Not even one last insult to make her dramatic exit. She just walked away and as she passed by him, Troy could see a stray tear roll down her cheek.

He took a step to follow her, but Chad grabbed his arm.

"I wouldn't if I were you!" he said, looking concerned. "An unstable Sharpay is not a pretty one. I'd hate to see what you'd look like after she got through with you."

Troy kept his gaze on Sharpay, whose usual conceited stride had turned into a sloppy stroll. "It's fine, man," he said. "Whatever happens, you can keep my ball." He felt Chad's grasp loosen and he took a breath wondering what he was getting himself into.

* * *

"Sharpay!"

Sharpay spun around at the sound of his voice. What? Did he want to flaunt that lousy excuse of a t-shirt in her face too?

"What do you want, Bolton?" she replied, wiping away her tears with her sleeve. The last thing she wanted to do was let him see her cry. She wasn't supposed to show such meek emotions.

"I just wanted to know if you were OK," Troy said. From the tone of his voice, she knew that he was being sincere, but it didn't matter because in about 5 minutes school would start and he would be tangled up into the arms of Gabriella.

"I'm fine," she said, though clearly she wasn't.

"Really?" Troy asked. "Because to me it looked like you were crying."

Great. He'd seen the tears.

"I said I'm fine," Sharpay said a little more threatening. Why wouldn't he just leave? Just like her brother. She felt the tears rush to her eyes again. "Please go away."

Troy seemed let down. Good for him. There was no way she was going to be his first good deed of the day.

"Ok," he said.

Sharpay exhaled. Finally she could go in the bathroom and swim in her self pity alone.

"But if it makes you feel any better, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that shirt."

A slight giggle came from Sharpay and she glanced away. Yet again, Troy Bolton had cracked her guard she tried to keep up for so long. Soon the realization came to her of why he wouldn't wear it. "Because of Gabriella right?"

Troy shrugged. "Well, yea, but also because the purple and blue scheme isn't really my thing. I'm more of a red and white guy."

This time she let a smirk spread across her mouth without trying to hold it back. "Thanks. That really did make me feel better."

He smirked back. "Anytime. Good luck by the way. May the best girl win."

Sharpay nodded. Suddenly an idea came to her. "Hey, Troy!"

Troy spun back around. "Yea?"

This was it! The perfect way to make sure that Mina didn't make prom queen. At that point it really didn't matter if she won herself, just that Mina didn't and what better way to accomplish that then by teaming up with the retinue of nominee number 3. Mina may have won that battle, but the war was just beginning.

She hesitated, not believing what she was actually considering to do, but desperate times called for desperate measures and she was definitely desperate for revenge. "I have a proposal for you."