Been so bored today. That's why I've been able to put all of these up. Rachael has already taken a liking to Troy and she wanted to find out some info. What will she find out and how will she use it?

CHAPTER TEN

A New Plan

Monday Morning, October 9, Ms. Darbus' homeroom

The whole crew was refreshed with the week before behind them.

Gabriella, usually the last of the group to head into homeroom, walked in and sat in her usual seat.

Sharpay was in her usual place, glaring at them because her plans to break them up haven't worked. She was so frustrated with the way life has not been going her way. The school ran perfectly until she came along and started this whole thing.

Just has the bell was about to ring, a new student walks in. The new student is Rachael.

She struts in and walks up to Ms. Darbus and hands her some papers. Ms. Darbus takes a quick glance at them, nods to her, hands her back the papers, and shushes her away.

Rachael assumed this meant take a seat anywhere. She quickly scanned the room. The first thing she saw was Troy talking to a group of people. "I'll head over there and talk to him," she thought. Her eyes caught Gabriella also talking to Troy. "So much for talking to him, not with that Gabriella girl around."

She looked toward the other side of the room and saw Sharpay and Ryan. She walked over to talk to them.

Ryan was the first to see her. Ryan knew Rachael ever since he was in diapers. They were the best of friends back then, well next to Sharpay. Ryan always kind of liked Rachael, as in liked her liked her. But he knew that Rachael had eyes for Troy. Just about every girl in the school does.

Rachael sneaked up behind Sharpay.

Ryan saw her and knew what she was going to do.

Rachael, catching him out of the corner of her eye, motioned him not to tell her anything.

Ryan got the point and watch Rachael pull the wool over her eyes, literally.

Sharpay was wearing a wool knitted hat. Rachael, thinking that it would be funny, pulled it over her eyes.

Sharpay shrieked and quickly turned around to see who did it.

Rachael stood there laughing and Ryan was laughing so hard, he almost fell out of his seat.

Sharpay, although furious that Rachael messed up her hair, was happy to see that she got Ms. Darbus as her homeroom teacher.

RIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This time the class didn't even wait for her to ask the question. "That was the school bell," they said.

Rachael stayed behind to ask Ms. Darbus where her first class was. As the class filed out of the room, she stole a quick glance at Troy. "I'm going to make him mine," she thought to herself, "all mine."

She walked up to Ms. Darbus' desk and asked her where the Bio room was.

"Down the hall and take a left. First room on the right," she said without even looking up.

"Thanks, Ms. Darbus."

As it turns out, that was also Gabriella's first class.

Rachael walked in the room and headed to the teachers desk. The teacher instructed her where to sit. She ended up sitting next to Gabriella.

"Hi," Gabriella said friendly, "Weren't you at the club the other day?"

"Yeah that was me," Rachael said through a forced smile.

The teacher started writing notes on the board, so the conversation was over.

Gabriella couldn't help to think that there was something odd about this girl. That she was up to no good. She quickly pushed away the thoughts.

Lunch 12:00

Gabriella, still kind of shaken from the encounter with Rachael, walked up to the usual table. She pulled up a seat next to Troy and engaged him in a conversation.

"Troy," she said, "that girl you met at the party. Her name was Rachael, right?"

"Yeah. Why?" he answered.

"I saw her today in my bio class. She doesn't seem to like me and I don't know why."

"Gabriella, I think you're imagining it. Rachael's nice."

"Okay. I'll see you after school today at musical practice?"

"Of course."

On the other side of the table, Chad and Taylor sat, watching Troy and Gabriella talk. It's become so routine for them to sit together, that Chad and Taylor don't even get to talk to them during lunch.

"Think we will ever see them separated outside of class?" Taylor asked.

"I know what you mean. It's like they're attached. So, what have you been doing?" Chad asked sincerely.

"Nothing much. Just practicing for the decathlon. How 'bout you?"

"Basketball. I can believe that West High would accuse you guys of cheating!"

"Same here! How can you guys handle the pressure of being called cheaters?"

"The same way as you guys. I can't take it!"

"Do you have basketball practice today?" Taylor wanted some time alone with Chad.

"Yeah, only 'til 4 though."

"Great. I'll wait for you by the school gates."

Chad got the idea and replied, "Okay."

On the other side of the cafeteria, Sharpay stood in her usual spot, surveying the cafeteria from above, like a hawk.

Rachael sit at the table, talking to Ryan.

"Has she always been like this after they beat them out for the musical?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Ryan answered.

"She must have lost some real pride then," she paused and thought about how she wanted to word the next sentence. "What do you know about Troy Bolton?"

Ryan really didn't want to talk about this subject, especially with Rachael, but since she was his friend, he told her everything he knew about Troy.

"Well," Ryan started, "he's definitely hooked up with Gabriella. He's the captain of the basketball team and apparently he can really sing. As you probably know, he and Gabriella are the leads in the musical this year."

Not really satisfied with his answer, she replied, "Thanks, Ryan." She got up and walked over to Sharpay. She thought that she could say more.

Sharpay was still pacing along the railing.

"Sharpay? Are you okay?" Rachael asked carefully.

"Yeah."

"I need to talk to you."

"Okay." Sharpay finally stopped and sat down with Rachael.

"What do you know about Troy and Gabriella?"

"All I really know is they are officially a couple. Troy really likes her. And Gabriella, if she sees him with another girl and they seem to be flirting, she would think that he didn't care about her. And they are the leads of the musical." She got up and started pacing again.

That last piece of information really intrigued Rachael. She was thinking about how to use that to her advantage.