CHAPTER 17: An Interview

Around 5pm, the gang decided to invade the pool. When the girls got tired they sat on the chairs and eat some snacks while the boys were chatting at the pool/water.

"So what happened earlier?" Zeke started.

"Who made the first move?" Chad added. "You?"

"I don't know," Troy answered. He doesn't want to sound rude to them. "It all happened so fast."

"Did she say she likes you or something?" Jason asked.

"She didn't say anything," Troy shook his head.

"What if she likes you?" Ryan asked.

"I don't know," Troy shook his head.

Meanwhile, with the girls. They were all looking staring at Sharpay.

"What?" Sharpay caught their eyes.

"What's up?" Gabriella began.

"I don't know," Sharpay replied. "Actually, I've been asking myself if I want to break up with Prince already. But I guess I still don't have an answer."

"WHAT??" they were shocked.

"Did I hear that right, Sharpay?" Kelsi asked.

"How about your plans together? The house," Gabriella panicked. "You're not going to make all those things go to waste, are you?"

"Cool down! I'm still thinking about it," Sharpay replied.

"Well…are you still in love with him?" Taylor asked. "I mean, if you don't love him anymore then you might as well break up with Prince before it's too late."

"I guess I still love him," Sharpay sighed. "But things aren't working out."

"Hold on…are you in love with someone else?" Kelsi asked. "Troy? After what happened earlier?"

Sharpay looked at them. She was expecting her friends to ask her about Troy but unfortunately, she hadn't prepared something to say.

"Sharpay!" Kelsi snapped.

"T-Troy is…He makes me feel so special," Sharpay can help but smile at the thought of it. Troy does make her feel that way. "I don't know why but…it…f-felt good."

"You're one two-timer girl," Taylor laughed and so her friends.

That night, while waiting for dinner, the gang were having some conversation again, as always, but Sharpay decided to have some time alone so she went to the pool area. She sat on the edge of the pool letting her feet soak in the water.

Troy was not paying attention at his friends. He was focused on Sharpay. Only Sharpay.

"Go," Ryan elbowed him.

"Huh?" Troy glanced at him.

"Sure she needs someone's company right now," Gabriella gave him a smile.

"And who should it be?" Chad winked.

"If her boyfriend won't…," Kelsi said.

"…her friendship will," Jason continued.

"So what are you waiting for?" Zeke playfully punched his shoulder.

"Go on," Taylor smiled.

"What?" Troy glanced at them.

"GO!" his friends exclaimed.

Meanwhile, with Sharpay. She was just staring at the water while in deep thought. She thought about Prince. Do I still like – love him? Then, she thought about Troy. Do I love – like him?

Troy quietly stand beside her then cleared his throat.

Sharpay looked up and saw him, "Oh h-hey."

"Hey," he shyly responded. "Um…c-can I sit here with you?"

"S-Sure," she slowly nodded feeling a little uncomfortable.

He sat next to her, "Sharpay?"

"Troy?" she can't look at him.

"About the…whole pool thing earlier…I just want to say…" he was cut off.

"No, don't say sorry," she told him. "It's not just your fault. It was mine too."

"But it is my fault," he insisted. "I did the first move. I'm sorry."

"I don't feel sorry about it," that was the time she had gathered some courage to look at him…in the eye.

"Huh?" he gave him a confused look. He thought what she said is the wrong words to utter. He wasn't expecting her to say them.

"I liked it," she simply said. "Look. I don't wanna feel awkward about you Troy. If we're going to be shocked bout what happened forever then sooner or later…things between us will not work out too."

"We're not gonna let that happen, right?" he asked.

"I just want you to stay here with me," she rest her head on his shoulder. "Just that. Nothing else…with no one else."

He hugged her, "I'll always stay here with you." Troy can't believe that Sharpay actually wanted that. Her voice…those words…ringing in his head over and over again…I just want you to stay here with me. Just that. Nothing else…with no one else. Does she really want that? Has she forgotten Prince? She want Troy to stay there with her…NOT PRINCE! It's kind of weird but somehow, it felt so good for Troy.

"Promise?" she asked.

"Promise," a smile forming on his lips.

The next day.

"Hey what time does your last class ends?" Sharpay asked.

"6pm, why?" Troy asked.

"Do you want to hang out at my house after class?" Sharpay asked.

"Yeah sure," Troy nodded. "Hold on…Evans' or the other one?"

"Evans'" she answered. "Well, my parents are still on a business trip in Mexico and Ryan's going out with Rebecca tonight."

"So I see you need company," he said. "Maybe we can watch a movie or teach Snow some tricks, you think?"

"Cool!" she agreed. "My last class will end 30 minutes earlier thatn your so I'll just wait for you at home. Aside, from popcorn; hotdog sandwich, burger, or pizza?"

"Um…everything?!" he smirked. "And maybe we could add some more."

"Fine," she groaned. "See yah later."

"See yah," he smiled at her before they went to their own classes.

5:30 pm.

"Troy and I will hang out at my house later, wanna come?" Sharpay asked her friends.

"Um…we'd love to but…" Gabriella nudged Chad.

"…we have other plans, you know," Chad continued with a big smile on his face.

"Well, have to do some homeworks," Kelsi frowned.

"Seke will teach me how to bake those delicious cookies he brought yesterday," Taylor said.

"Oh, so it's gonna be just me and Troy then," Sharpay said. "Maybe next time."

6:00pm.

Ryan went to the kitchen, "Hey, I'm going to pick up my date now. You sure you can handle things?"

"Yeah," Sharpay nodded. "Well, Troy's coming over. He's probably on his way."

"Ok," Ryan kissed her on the cheeks. "Buh-bye."

"Bye," she smiled. "Enjoy your date!"

After a few minutes, the doorbell rang.

Sharpay opened the door, "Hi Friendship."

"Hi," he walked in. "Am I late?"

"Not really," she closed the door behind her.

"Hi Snow," he sat threw his bag somewhere on the floor then sat on the couch next to the dog and started stroking her back. "So what do we do Friendship?"

"I'll work on the popcorn while you choose the movie," she answered.

"Ok," he started to look for a cool movie while Sharpay went to the kitchen.

After a few minutes, the doorbell rang again.

"Friendship!" Sharpay called out. "That must be the food already. The money is on the piano."

"Ok I'll get it," Troy took the money, opened the door, payed the delivery boy and took the food before closing the door. Just when Sharpay sat on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn.

"So what are we going to watch?" she asked.

"Norbit," he picked up the remote and turned on the television.

"Cool!" she started eating popcorn.

Troy was supposed to put the TV into video mode but he accidentally pushed the wrong button which only changed the channel. Well, Prince Richards was on the TV. He was on an interview.

"Um…you want me to put the DVD on now or what?" Troy turned to her. "What do you want me to do?"

"Um…c-could we just finish the interview first?" her eyes expressed how much she miss Prince.

"Yeah sure," he just sat next to her on the couch.

In the interview.

"So where do Prince Richards spend his time right now?" the host asked.

"Well, I'm busy with promoting my movie with Chrystal, Just the girl…and I'm…uh..so excited about my concert on Wednesday," Prince continued smiling. "And I just signed a contract with Pioneer Records for my next album."

"Wow!" the host exclaimed. "You really are up to a lot of things, man. Congratulations. You deserve all the success/"

"Thanks," Prince laughed and the fans were cheering for him and some girls were screaming his name.

"One more question," the host said. "Do you already have a girlfriend? Well, a lot of people caught you with a blonde girl in the mall, park, private resort, and even in your concert rehearsals. The fans really want to know the answer for this because everybody thought you and Chrystal are a couple. So do you have a girlfriend? Is the blonde your girlfriend?"