CHAPTER 13: The Dance

"If you just realize what I just realized

Then we'd be perfect for each other

Then we'd never find another

Just realize what I just realized."

After a month, Prince was back from London. Sharpay and her friends were at the mall to look for a nice dress for the dance.

"Oh I can't believe a lot of guys asked me to go to the dance but I still ended up with Jason," Kelsi told her girl friends in disbelief.

"Don't worry Kels, Jason is that that bad date," Taylor tried to cheer her up. "Well, his best friend is my date, Zeke Baylor."

"Right," Gabriella agreed. "Good thing I have Chad."

"True," Kelsi nodded.

"Hey Sharpay, what's with the long face?" Taylor asked.

"You look so down," Gabriella looked at her. "Well, outsiders are allowed, remember? You can go with Prince."

"That's the problem," Sharpay said. "He can't come. He's busy rehearsing for his next concert."

"Well, you still have three days to search for another guy," Kelsi told her.

"That's the other problem," Sharpay replied. "I'm a girl who has a boyfriend. It sure would be awkward if I'll go to the dance with another guy."

"But you don't have any other choice," Taylor insisted.

"That's the third problem," Sharpay sighed.

"Hold on," Gabriella thought of an idea. "I know someone who doesn't have a date yet. You can go to the dance together. I'm sure you won't feel awkward with your Friendship."

"Troy?" Sharpay asked.

Meanwhile, the boys were waiting for the girls at Starbucks.

"DANCE DANCE DANCE!!" Zeke and Jason were excited.

"Ryan, who are you going with?" Chad asked.

"Remember the new kid in school?" Ryan sounded excited. "Her name's Rebecca. I asked her so that she'll be more comfortable around the school. She's a little shy."

His friends gave him a "is-that-all" look.

"Nothing more alright?" Ryan glared at them.

"Troy, dude, what's wrong?" Zeke tapped his back.

Troy flashed a "i-feel-sick" look.

"Don't tell me you don't have a date to the dance yet!" Jason exclaimed.

Troy startled, "I...uh...I-I..."

"Don't open your mouth!" Chad exclaimed.

"I didn't ask anyone," Troy looked down.

"DUDE!" Zeke, Jason and Chad exclaimed. "SHARPAY WILL GO WITH PRINCE! PRINCE! PRINCE! PRINCE!"

Ryan spoke, "Nope."

"What?" his friends gave him a "are-you-serious" look.

"Prince is busy with rehearsals," Ryan smiled.

"Really?" Chad beamed.

"Dude, ask her!" Jason playfully punched Troy's shoulder.

"Yeah," Zeke agreed. "Now's your chance."

"I-I don't know," Troy hesitated. "Maybe Prince will get mad at me."

"And why should he be?" Chad asked. "He should even be thankful. You're taking over his RESPONSIBILITY."

"I say RESPONSIBILITIES...with S," Ryan said. "He should be with his GIRLFRIEND today to help choose a dress for the dance."

"Hey, I'm not gonna take advantage on the fact that he's being IRRESPONSIBLE ok?" Troy told them. "Besides, maybe that will be kinda awkward."

"Just ask her to go to the dance with you," Jason told him.

"This is the chance for you to tell her what you really feel," Zeke added.

"No! I can't" Troy exclaimed. "I...I'm not gonna take that risk and just ruined our friendship. No."

Later that night, the gang had dinner at SharPrince's house. After dinner, Sharpay went outside the house and sat on the doorstep. She doesn't want to show to her friends that she's sad.

She played with her bracelet and sighed.

Troy quietly sat next to her, "If you need a shoulder to cry on, mine is for free. No talent fee charge, no service charge, no government taxes, just pure love and care. Just inform me. I'm open 24/7."

Sharpay let out a small laugh at what he said.

"Um...I-I just wanna ask you something," Troy got nervous. "Is that ok with you?"

"Yup," Sharpay nodded. "Go on."

"I...uh...I-I...you...uh..." Troy don't know how to say it.

Sharpay gave him a confused look, "Are you ok?"

"Yeah," he answered quickly. "It's just that...uh...I...you...dance?"

"What?" she didn't understand him. "What are you trying to say?"

He took a deep breath, "D-Do you...uh...Do you wanna go to the d-dance with m-me?"

"Sure," she smiled at him. "It's not that hard to say."

"You are? I mean...a hundred percent sure?" Troy asked.

Sharpay kissed him on his cheeks.

"I-I guess that's a yes," he smiled and tried hard not to blush.

Thursday evening. The dance. The dance started exactly at 7:30. Everyone was dancing on the dance floor but Troy and Sharpay who was eating on the gang's table.

Sharpay was in deep thought while playing with her food.

"Um...are you okay?" Troy turned to her. "Seems like...you don't have a pretty good connection with your meatballs."

"Uh...I'm fine," Sharpay flashed a fake smile. "It's just that...I'm not hungry."

"I'm sorry I'm not that perfect date," he said.

"Really?" she smiled. "I thought you're the MOST perfect date ever."

"Well...you want to dance?" he asked her.

"Sure," she took his hand.

Everyone including Troy and Sharpay danced to the beat of Low by Flo-rida.

"Finally!" their friends exclaimed. "You two decided to join us here."

Troy and Sharpay laughed.

"Just continue dancing," the others told them/ "We'll just take a break."

"Alright," the bestfriends nodded.

They chuckled at their friends who were dancing towards the buffet table including the shy Rebecca. Obviously, they are having a good time.

"I still can't believe the professors totally gave the trust to the students," Troy said.

"Or they could be somewhere out there spying on us," Sharpay laughed.

Troy laughed, "Well, everyone's enjoying the dance."

"Totally!" Sharpay exclaimed. "I see the Students' Council did a great job in here."

Suddenly, the music changed. From a hip hop music it turned into something slower. Realize by Colbie Cailat.

"Take time to realize,
That your warmth is
Crashing down on in."

Everybody stopped as they adjust to the new beat. Troy and Sharpay looked around to see everyone dancing to the song, couples were already hugging.

"Take time to realize,
That I am on your side
Didn't I, didn't I tell you".

Troy and Sharpay glanced at each other.

Troy cleared his troat, "Would you still like to dance?"

"But I can't spell it out for you,
No it's never gonna be that simple
No I can't spell it out for you"

"Um...yeah, sure," Sharpay slowly placed her hands on his shoulders then Troy put his hands around her waist.

"If you just realize what I just realized,
Then we'd be perfect for each other
And will never find another
Just realized what I just realized
We'd never have to wonder if
We missed out on each other now."

Troy thought to himself, "Don't be carried away, Troy! Prince will kill you! I mean it."

"Take time to realize
Oh-oh I'm on your side
Didn't I, didn't I tell you."

Sharpay looked in his eyes searching for answered. She wonder why Troy kept looking around and not her, "Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing," he lied. "I'm ok."

"Take time to realize
This all can pass you by"

"Then why can't you look at me?" she asked.

"Didn't I tell you"

"Look at you?" he felt his heart beating faster.

"Look at me," she moved her hands around his neck to lower him a bit.

"But I can't spell it out for you,
No it's never gonna be that simple
No I can't spell it out for you."

"What?" he looked at her in shock.

"There you go," she smiled. "I know my eyes aren't blue but you can look at my silly brown eyes."

Troy smiled back. He thought to himself, "No. Those brown eyes are perfect. It makes my heart melt like a chocolate when you look at me."

"If you just realized what I just realized
Then we'd be perfect for each other
Then we'd never find another
Just realized what I just realized
We'd never have to wonder if
We missed out on each other but."

Suddenly, their fear came in. Here's this awkward feeling. But Troy tried hard to look at her so she won't be suspicious but he felt like he's gonna faint at anytime. Sharpay didn't know why she felt awkward dancing with her best friend. Maybe...because she felt the same feeling she feels for Prince.

Meanwhile, their friends were watching them while having a snack. The boys were happy for Troy. This is really a great moment for him and hopefully, Sharpay would realize that.

"Aww," the girls were having fun watching them.

"Sharpay's an attractive girl," Kelsi said.

"Troy's a hottie," Taylor added.

"Now I even think that they're cute together," Gabriella said.

"You bet," the boys gave each other a hi-ten.

"I thought they are already a couple," Rebecca spoke.

"Hmm...what if Troy and Sharpay will be a couple?" Taylor tried to picture it.

"Sweet!" Kelsi exclaimed.

"You bet," the boys glanced at each other.

"What are we thinking?" the girls shrugged. "Troy and Sharpay??"

"Think so," Rebecca shyly smiled.

The boys threw a "Troy and Sharpay are perfect" look to each other.

Troy and SHarpay were still dancing to the song, looking at each other's eyes.

Troy spoke, "B-By the way...you look wonderful tonight."

Sharpay smiled, "Thank you."

"Just realize what I just realized
Then we'd be perfect for each other
And we'd never find another
Just realize what I just realized
We'd never have to wonder
Just realize what I just realized
We'd never have to wonder
Just realize what I just realized
If you just realize what I just realized"

He thought to himself, "You're her best friend. I thought you don't want to take a risk. You don't want to kiss her, do you?"

She thought to himself, "You're his best friend. This is oh so wrong Sharpay. You don't want to kiss him, do you?"

I think i did I good job here somehow...so please please please REVIEW!