Chapter Fifteen

A/N - Wow...I just totally stumbled on a trailer by XxCandyxCounterxGirlxX...she made one of History Repeats Itself on youtube! It was great! Kudos to XxCandyxCounterxGirlxX for the awesom trailer!

The next day, Thursday, had been hard for both Sharpay and Troy. They had made painfully sure to keep their distance from each other, careful not to even touch each other. They refused to do anything even remotely flirty in school. Their plans consisted of acting like it was any other day in school, putting their passion into their roles, and going straight on AIM when they got home. They didn't want to risk someone seeing them anywhere, so they decided to talk throught the computer and video cam. They even went so far as to avoid each other's gaze at all cost. They thought later that they might have gone over the top with it though; Chad and Taylor had given them odd looks.

Chad and Taylor had yet to say anything to Gabriella about what they had witnessed. They had gone to the auditorium that Tuesday to pick up Chad's script, which he'd left in the prop room. The musical was only about two weeks away and Chad was still trying to get down one of the songs. They had both been in the school later than normal, Chad had Basketball and Taylor had the Decathlon practice. Chad had showered up and gone to meet Taylor at her locker before they headed towards the side door of the stage. They had opened the left side of the door. The left door never squeaked like the right one did…Chad always laughed at how squeaky noises annoyed Taylor. He had been about to burst out laughing when he caught sight of the two people before them

There they were…Troy and Sharpay making out in the middle of the stage! Chad's eyes widened significantly and he was sure he would have dropped the basketball he'd been carrying had Taylor not gripped his arm in shock, holding it in place. They both just stared at the two on stage, scarcely able to believe what was going on. Troy was holding onto Sharpay like it was the last time he might ever see her and Sharpay had a soft expression on her face like all her dreams…and fears…had come true.

He probably would have remained standing there, shell shocked, had Taylor not pulled him behind the curtains…just as Troy pulled away. It had been a close call; the couple had almost caught them. They hadn't been able to hear anything that was said after that, the only thing that they could hear was they door to the auditorium open and someone leave. They waited a moment longer, hearing the door open once more and someone else leave. A minute went by before they left their spot.

They had agreed after much discussion that they would wait till the next day to see what happens. For all they knew, Troy and Sharpay could have been rehearsing for the musical…it was a long shot but you never know. Their fears had been confirmed the next day…Troy couldn't keep his eyes off of Sharpay and Sharpay was avoiding him…something was definitely going on. They tried met up in the gym to try and figure out what was going on, agreeing to talk to Troy and Sharpay first about what was going on. They had looked everywhere for the two, the science gardens, the chorus room, doubling back to the gym…even the auditorium, but they weren't anywhere.

Chad had assured Taylor that he would try to talk to Troy today to see what was going on. If he couldn't get anything out of it…then they would have to think of a new course of action. Chad could only hope that Troy would talk to him…why wouldn't he though? They had been best friends for years, they told each other everything.

Chad hadn't been able to corner Troy till lunch. He'd been more determined than ever to get to Troy at lunch, Taylor had told him just the period before that Troy had had to cancel his date with Gabriella that afternoon after musical practice. He could only imagine what Troy would be doing with the extra time…who he'd be spending it with…

The Cafeteria was a bustle, especially if you were there right when the period started. Everyone was rushing everywhere to either try to get a table, or get a good place in line, or grab a tray before they ran out, or even to grab the last pudding cup.

Chad looked around, finally spotting Troy heading towards their usual table. He rushed over, managing to get next to Troy as he walked. "Hey man!" he shouted slightly over the noise of the crowd.

"Hey Chad…" Troy said, trying to avoid his friend's gaze. For some reason he got the feeling that Chad might be suspicious of him.

"So…what's been going on with you lately?" Chad asked, trying to keep the conversation casual. "You've been a little…out of it."

"Huh?" Troy asked facing him…he had just caught sight of Sharpay on the lunch line and had had to pull his gaze away. "Oh…nothing…I'm just nervous for the play."

"Right…" Chad said, stretching out his sarcasm. "Man, I still feel bad that you have to kiss the Ice Queen."

Troy bit his tongue to keep from retaliating to Chad's hurtful words, "Yeah…right…"

"I mean, I know she's changed but she's still such a bitch." Chad said sitting down with Troy, "Like the other day…she was walking and this freshman bumped into her, and she flipped on him! Guess you can't melt ice hearts right?" Chad continued, not giving Troy a chance to speak, "I mean, it's a good thing that you're not really in love with her like in the musical. How wrong would that be? No one would accept it if…"

Troy's attention drifted from Chad's words as his eyes glazed over, a distant memory playing before his eyes…

"I can not have a son wed to a slave!" Quintus Julius Brunus shouted at his son as they stood in the foyer of their house. His son, Trenus, simply stood there, fists clenched at his sides as he glared at his father…unaware of the figure near the doorway listening to the argument.

"I cannot believe you!" His father shouted again, "How could you do something as foolish as make this known! How could you make this union public knowledge?! The senate is still young, you do not know how the people will react to this!"

"I do not care!" Trenus shouted for what must have been the hundredth time.

"I will not support this union!" Brunus retaliated, "You shall not have my blessing."

A small gasp was heard from behind him. Trenus spun to see Sericia standing in the doorway hand covering her mouth, eyes wide in fear. Not having a father's blessing was almost as if a curse was to fall on the union. She quickly scrambled to gather the vase of water that she had dropped, ignoring the water soaked up by her stola. She grabbed the vase before turning and rushing away to collect more water.

"Sericia!" Trenus shouted, glaring at his father before going after her…

Troy's eyes focused just enough to see Sharpay rushing out of the room, Chad still trashing her, not having noticed that she had been just a few feet away the entire time.

Troy stood up, his eyes glazing over once again as he turned to rush after Sharpay…but he was stopped. Chad had gotten up as well, and now stood in his way, hands out to stop Troy from running past. He tried to push past Chad, but he held his ground and forced Troy back to his seat before everyone in the cafeteria noticed what happened.

"What is up with you man?" Chad asked angrily, slumping down into the seat across from his friend. Troy's attention wasn't on Chad however, it was solely focused on the door that Sharpay had just walked through...he couldn't understand why Chad had stopped him from going after her. Chad rolled his eyes before snapping his fingers, drawing Troy's attention back to him.

"Troy!" He shouted, getting Troy to look at him…but he could tell that his mind still wasn't there. He was just staring at him with a sort of dazed expression, before looking down at the table. Chad's eyes narrowed as he watched his friend shake his head, almost as if trying…and failing…to clear his head.

"Look, Troy…" he started, sighing, "I'm your friend right? Your best friend." Troy looked up at that, but still stared out at the cafeteria rather than at him. "Why won't you tell me what's going on?"

Troy shook his head again…what was going on? All he could remember was daydreaming a little and then seeing Sharpay rush off. He had this urge to go after her…that something bad was going to happen if he didn't catch up to her. Chad had stopped him, knocking him back into reality, but not before Troy felt like knocking him out to get to Sharpay. He closed his eyes, breathing deep, trying to figure things out. He couldn't hurt Chad; he was his best friend…but the sight of Sharpay…running away from him…

He looked up, dazedness finally starting to leave his face…only to see that Chad had continued to talk while Troy was thinking. He had absolutely no idea what Chad was talking about.

"…secret long enough." Chad said looking Troy in the eye. It was then that Troy saw it…the look in Chad's eye…he knew…he knew about him and Sharpay. But then the look was replaced by anger, where it came from Troy didn't know. "And I'm sick of it. Best friends are supposed to tell each other everything. And now you're keeping secrets from me?" He scoffed, pushing away from the table, getting up and walking off.

"Hey Troy," a perky voice said placing a tray next to him. He glanced up to see Gabriella sitting down. He looked past her to see Taylor talking to Chad, trying to calm him down.

He felt bad for not talking to Chad about anything…but he honestly didn't know what was happening either…all these day dreams and night dreams were starting to drive him crazy! He looked back at Gabriella, smiling awkwardly, "Hey…" he said. He saw Taylor and Chad heading back towards the table before getting up silently and walking out…maybe he could find Sharpay…

Gabriella watched him go, a sad smile on her face. She didn't know what was going on with him lately. Chad and Taylor shot each other a concerned glance before taking a seat with Gabriella.

A/N – Next chapter will be Taylor and Chad's next course of action, possibly a little Troypay, but mostly their plan B…involving Gabriella and…Ryan?