Sharpay was bewildered that night at home. Ryan was sitting at his desk, doing homework, when she burst in, cell phone in hand.
"Ryan!"
"Yeah?"
"I just heard that Stacey's friend's boyfriend's brother's friend's girlfriend saw you in the gym today playing basketball!"
"Yeah…"
"This is so great!"
Ryan looked up at his sister with confusion. "You're not mad?"
"Mad? No! I think this is great!" Sharpay sat on his bed. "Are you on the team now?"
"Um…I don't know if I'm going to join. It'll go against what I do and… I don't know...stuff."
"Why not? Troy Bolton did that!"
"Yeah, but that's Troy."
"Ryan, you have to join to prove that people like us can do anything that people like Troy can!"
"I really wanna play again."
"Ryan, you're y brother. And I think you should join."
"Okay. I will."
Troy Bolton sat at his desk, trying to finish a paper on equations. His cell phone vibrated, and he looked over to see that Gabriella was calling him.
"Hey, Gaby."
"Is it true?"
Troy didn't even have to ask. "Yep."
"Cool!"
"Huh?"
"Don't you think it's good?"
"Not really…"
"Why?"
"I just don't trust him."
"That's awful!"
"No it's not!"
"Troy, Ryan is a nice guy. I heard the story about his dad… give him a break."
Troy threw his pen down on his desk. "Sure, I'll give him a break….a break in his neck…"
"Troy!"
"I'm sorry. It's just… weird….ya know?"
"Troy Bolton, this is exactly what happened to you. Do you even realize how much you and Ryan are alike?"
"I'm nothing like Ryan."
"Yes, you are."
"I am not!"
"UGH." Gaby hung up the phone. Troy felt bad, but not bad enough to call back. He continued his paper.
Gabriella was sitting Indian style on her bed, wondering how Troy could be so cruel. She picked up her phone and called Taylor.
"Ohmygod." Taylor sounded excited.
"I know!"
"I think this is great!"
"Me too, but Troy doesn't."
"Yeah, I heard he was being mean to Ryan in the gym today."
"No!"
"Yeah…"
"I am so mad at Troy…"
"I would be, too. I think he's just threatened. I'm gonna go call Chad and get an inside scoop for the school paper."
Gabriella rolled her eyes. Ever since Taylor had been chosen to put the school paper together, she had become obsessed. "Fine, have fun…"
"Bye!"
Chad was sleeping with his head buried in his math book when Taylor called.
"Hmello?"
"Huh?"
"Oh, hi Taylor." He rubbed his eyes. "What's up?"
"Chad, what was Troy doing to Ryan in the gym today?"
"Oh, he was just being a big jerk."
"Ugh…"
"That's just how Troy is. But I didn't start off so nice either. I guess I should apologize."
"So is he gonna be on the team?"
Chad grinned. "I'm sure he will be."