Twist: Ryan's Plan

"Tonight is the Spring Dance," Ryan spoke out at breakfast in awe, making a great realization.

"Yeah right, it is," Sharpay replied back, "So what?"

"Who are you going with, children?" Eva, the housecleaner inquired. Since Mr. and Mrs. Evans worked endlessly, the kind lady was like a member of the family for the twins, who confessed all their secrets to her.

"No one, really…" Sharpay let out a sigh. "Well, I'd better get ready for school!" she added, getting up from the table and rushing into her room.

Ryan was left alone, in the discreet presence of Eva. Of course, tonight was a great opportunity for the final to take place. It was a fancy dress party, which would make matters so much easier! In fact, he could lay an eye on Sharpay the entire night, and made sure nobody approached her. It would be a disaster, Mark and Troy would be discouraged and the stupid race would finally finish!

In a flashback, the previous night's events came to his mind. As Sharpay was talking to the phone, he had sneaked into her room. What he had done was trivial and below him, but he had read the last entries in her diary. His worst suspicions had come to life. The so-called Sharpay's crush was still in the competition! He had also found some entries on a strange "secret admirer" who had brought her a pair of earrings and had been her on a musical-themed date.

Ryan would become, for one night, his sister's secret admirer. Knowing her and the fact he was mentioned in the diary meant that Sharpay hoped her secret admirer was in fact her secret crush! He had not wasted any time. He had written an anonymous letter, hoping to leave it in her locker today.

"Dear Sharpay, it's hard to believe that I couldn't see you were always there besides me. It must sound cheesy, using that song you sang in the winter auditions as a quote but the impression of you and your brother (Ryan made sure Sharpay didn't suspect him writing the letter) is deeply etched on my memory. I've been a fan of your performances since always. Can you be my lucky star and come with me to the Spring Dance tonight? If yes, meet me outside the cafeteria at 8:20. Love, your secret admirer that hopes to meet you, xxx"

He was proud of himself. That A in English hadn't been for nothing. If he was no actor, Ryan could have joined the writers' club. Still, Eva's voice brought him back to reality.

"So, who are you going to the Dance with?"

"No one special, either," he replied, crossing his fingers. "I might turn up with some friends from the drama club." He avoided Eva's gaze, as he knew she could tell when he was lying. He hated doing this. But after all, it was for Sharpay's good, wasn't it?

Sharpay seemed delighted, as she joined Taylor, Kelsi and Gabriella at the cafeteria. All of the girls were sparkling with happiness but Gabriella who looked actually depressed. The four girls looked at the basketball table and gossiped about the players.

"I'm so going to have the best time ever!" Taylor acknowledged. "Chad and I… it will be fun!"

"And Jason, he's just so sweet!" Kelsi exclaimed. "You won't believe it girls, but he said he loves me!"

"No one has still to ask me out…" Gabriella muttered thinking about Troy. Everyone was happy, including her blonde antagonist. Sharpay's face was brighter than the sun, at this point. Gabriella was sure she was going out with Troy. She had never particularly liked Sharpay and she believed she didn't like her either.

After singing "We're All in This Together," she wasn't fooled. The blonde had kept her Ice Princess behaviour and she wasn't happy to lose the lead role. At the time, Gabriella thought she'd scored a victory, but then she was replaced by the blonde in mostly all performances because of "poor acting skills," as Darbus had discovered.

"Gabby, are you alright?" Sharpay beamed with kindness, but to Gabriella all this was hypocritical and shallow. In some way Sharpay was associated with Troy not asking her to the Dance, she just knew it! "Don't worry, someone will ask you too! Look what I found in my locker today!"

Gabriella read Ryan's note. It wasn't Troy's handwriting, but still she didn't like it. Still, she had to fake her answer. "Wow! Looks like someone is really in love with you…" she regarded.

"Look, I have no formal escort," Sharpay added. "Since you are one of my best friends would you like to go together? You may find your Mr. Perfect there!"

It wasn't a bad idea. Gabriella would have said no, but then, it would be a good chance to keep an eye on Sharpay. Yep, why not? She nodded.

"So, what are you going to dress as tonight, Sharpay?" a voice came from the table across where the basketball kids sat. In fact, it was Mark's but Troy was interested in the answer too. As Ryan had predicted, the two finalists had planned to fulfill their last task, kissing Sharpay, the night of the Dance.

"I can't tell you, it is a secret!" Sharpay hurled loudly for the basketball players to hear. "I never tell what I wear in fancy dress parties. Only Ryan knows that tonight I'll be dressed as the Ice Queen and I'll wear a crown! Oops, that slipped!"

"What did she say, again?" Mark asked Troy. "There's far too much noise in the cafeteria."

"She did mention something about Ryan knowing," Troy affirmed. "Let's ask him, because otherwise we won't be able to spot her! Hey Ryan, come here a sec!"

"What is it?" Sharpay's brother had observed the whole scene and looked amused. Another idea started to form in his mind. "What do you want exactly?"

"Did you hear what Sharpay said?" Troy whispered. "What will she wear?"

Ryan had heard and knew perfectly well what his sister had said. Still, he thought it would be funny if he paraphrased a little just to disorientate Troy and Mark more. "She'll go as the Ice Queen and she'll wear brown."

"Thank you, pal, you're awesome," Mark affirmed, unaware of Ryan's Machiavellian attitude.

"Wow, what's that suitcase you brought here, Sharpay?" Taylor asked in awe. The girls had assembled in Gabriella's house in order to get prepared for the Dance. "That thing is huge!"

"It's just where I keep my makeup equipment," Sharpay admitted quite modestly.

"You mean your personal makeup equipment?" Gabriella's eyes opened wide. She wasn't sure if she wanted to invite Sharpay to prepare for the Dance with the other girls, but at least the blonde was an expert on beauty topics. "You could makeup an entire army with that stuff!"

"So, that's why I brought it here!" Sharpay said happily. "Who else is coming?"

"Kelsi will be here at any second, Jenna and Fiona from the Academic Decathlon Club, Olivia from the cheerleaders and Angelique, Desiree and Martina from the Drama Club. These three will be familiar faces to you, right?"

"Right," Sharpay said. "I might have a lot of work wit this kit! So, girls what will you dress as?"

"I'm going to be a fairy!" Taylor cheered proudly.

"And I'm going as a… surprise, wildcat!" Gabriella added.

Time seemed to pass so quickly. The girls came, got dressed, got their beauty treatments, laughed, gossiped, and were offered valuable advice by Sharpay. Then, they practiced their dance moves, gossiped a little more this time about boys and finally added the last touches. Jenna, Fiona and Olivia got back home since they would go to the dance with her boyfriends, and Angelique, Desiree and Martina would go together. Finally, Taylor and Kelsi said good buy too, as Chad and Jason would be waiting for them.

Both Sharpay and Gabriella looked beautiful, each in their own unique way. The blonde grabbed the keys to her Porsche and entered the car. The brunette followed. She looked in the mirror, everything was right.

"Hey, you forgot something!" she told Sharpay the lat minute.

"What is it now?" the actress frowned. "Come on, we don't want to be late, only fashionably late!"

"You forgot your mask. Here it is," Gabriella added, handing the other girl the accessory.

"Thanks, doesn't it match my dress?" Sharpay admired and started driving to East High.

Indeed, the mask matched Sharpay's dress perfectly. It was white, and so was the entire outfit. Ryan couldn't have disorientated Troy and Mark more, when he told them she would be wearing brown… It would be a tough final for the two contestants… or wouldn't there be any final at all?

Author's Note: So far, Troy has the very edge. That can change though! And when one wins, I won't leave the other sad, I promise! In the next chapter, Zeke will have a pleasant surprise too. I couldn't see him alone, so I'll give him a surprise pairing. It is an OC, really, if you can guess correctly you are great, since I haven't been elaborating on my OCs in that story, but rather mentioning that there are other kids in that school besides the gang… I graduated yesterday, so this is why I didn't update. PS: Christy, thank you once again for making me smile. You made your point clear! Stessa, thanks for all of the reviews, I support Mark too... Everyone else, thank you... you rock!