Author's Note: I just really want to say thanks to all the people that have reviewed to far there's no other words except you're all fabtastic :)

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Chapter Two

Playground Rivalries

Chills of the late breeze swept over the two teenagers who were now breathless and Troy also restless, he didn't come here to play a game but to 'help', but it didn't hurt his ego to beat Jeremy Ramirez, his biggest rival since Pre School, while he was here. The beads of sweat running down his face, identical to the boy across him, they had been playing the first one up to ten, half an hour later still no winner.

Game point, it was this one point that mattered, if he made this point he won, which he would gladly take.

Figuring out the play in his mind, number 4 from school practise her knew those play's like the back of his hand, knocking the ball over to the waiting Jeremy he received the ball and bounced the orange ball a few times.

He faked to the left, Jeremy moved to the left, quickly pouncing on the success of his move he moved to the right and made the lay up triumphantly, the ball going through the net and bounced a few times on the concrete floor, whilst Troy turned to see Jeremy's reaction.

Wiping the falling sweat, Jeremy tried to keep himself on his feet, maybe he shouldn't have suggested this game to Troy, Troy Bolton had never lost a basketball since 5th grade, and that was a loss that he delivered to him.

Recess was in full flow, the 2nd graders slinging mud at each other and the 5th graders showing off their sport skills but their was the one little, sandy haired 5th grader sitting on one of the benches accompanied by his best friend.

Jeremy Ramirez, knew he ruled this playground, but he didn't like sharing and he was going to make sure, Troy Bolton, the people's favourite found that out today.

He stomped over to where the oblivious boy was sitting "Come on Bolton me and you on the courts now" demanding he throw the basketball back and forth between his hands, in a challenging manner, he was going to have a game with the ever loveable Troy Bolton and bet him too if it was the last thing he was going to do.

"What?" Troy looked up at the boy that was crowded around him with his friends behind him.

"Basketball game. Scared?" the dark haired boy spat, placing the ball under his arm.

Troy knew he shouldn't but he just despised Jeremy Ramirez so much, ever since he saw him bullying that 1st grader when they were back in 3rd grade. He was the only person to stand up to him and ever since Jeremy has made sure Troy knows how much he hates him. But what made this dislike to turn into hate for Jeremy was when their local basketball coach for the little league made Troy captain over Jeremy.

"No not of you let's go" Troy nodded getting up with a bit of help from the bench behind him.

This was going to be settled once and for-

"Troy you can't do this" a voice which belonged to his afro haired friend, which broke his thoughts, worried, whispering to him.

Troy talked continuing to try and hobble less, which in turn was just causing him more pain, whilst making his way over to the basketball court along with the big crowd that was gathering to watch the match up "Yes I can"

"Put your-" Chad tried to tell him.

Jeremy had been watching the two boys making their way slowly over to the court, he wanted to get this game done by his recess "Get on the court Bolton, you little sissy"

"Shut up Ramirez let's play"

He responded by bouncing the ball harshly to the unsuspecting Troy, but thanks to his quick reflexes he caught the ball calmly much to Jeremy's dismay.

The game was first to 7, the score was now 3-2 and Troy was leading.

Back on the bench he had told Chad that he couldn't play basketball for a week, because he had swollen his ankle after falling from the bottom steps of they stairs, ironically he fell over his own basketball.

Bending down to clutch his ankle, he tried not to look around to see the other kids reactions to what he was doing, so he jumped up and tried not to touch the floor with his right foot, which wasn't proving very successful yet again because he looked like he had some weird dance thing going on.

Jeremy who had been watching his actions, chuckled loudly "Giving up"

"Troy, just give it up" Chad walked over to him and tried to lower his voice so that no one would hear what he was saying.

"No" Troy protested getting back into position for the next shot.

He knew shouldn't be playing. His dad had told him even though he wanted to play basketball he shouldn't because his foot would just swell up more which would mean it would get worse, but he wasn't going to turn down a game with Jeremy Ramirez, even though he had the knowledge that his foot was going to get worse.

Taking the ball for his shot, he took the ball in his hand and dribbled it a few times and accelerated past a dazzled standing Jeremy who was still trying to find out where the ball had gone, he shot and scored, a move he had learned from watching his dad's old basketball videos.

Chad who was standing on the sidelines, had his whole hand in his mouth, nervously he walked back and forth across the painted white line making sure nothing bad was on the verge of happening.

6-6, game point, he could feel his foot bulging up and it felt like it was going to fall off, but he hoppled to his spot, and made eye contact with Jeremy, who by know was fuming, there was no way he was going to let Troy Bolton beat him, he had his reputation to protect, which he would do one way or another.

Troy moved to the left dribbling the ball, Jeremy covered over him and pushed him slightly, causing him to go off balance the crowd muttered, and then Troy tried to get past him Jeremy just pushed into Troy's side which made him collide on the floor, taking the bouncing ball Jeremy made the lay up and game point.

The majority of the playground that had bean watching knew that Troy should have won and that wasn't allowed but there being no referee and the other pint that they were all to scared of Jeremy they didn't speak and cheered away as a smug Jeremy walked around with crowds of people cheering his name.

"They should be cheering ' Troy! Troy! Troy!'" Troy muttered he took his sneaker off to confirm his previous thoughts.

Chad slumped next to his best friend "I know. Troy Troy Troy!"

As they had got older, they had matured, but it seemed like the competitiveness their games brought out all those years ago was still evident all these years later. Their playground rivalry still lived on.

"What do you want then Ramirez?" Troy angered tired of waiting for Jeremy to say something.

"Well…" he mumbled off.

Troy sighed "Come on spit it out" he flumped "It's never been hard for you Ramirez you have the biggest gob of all the people I know"

"Okay, okay, chill out, got a train to catch?" Jeremy calmed, not wanting Troy to get to impatient and then leave.

Troy just rolled his eyes and whistled, letting him know he didn't have time for his games.

"It's Sharpay Evans. I want her" he finally revealed smugly.

After having 'casually' talked to some of the cheerleaders, who also happened to be the biggest gossiper's in their school he found out that the beautiful girls name was Sharpay Evans and she had quite an interesting background to her, having turned from geek to beauty over the summer.

He still decided on meeting up with Troy, as he could help him, in getting what he wanted.

"What"

"Did you not hear me?" Jeremy chuckled at the prospect of Troy going deaf.

Troy stared at the boy to know if he was serious or not, it seemed liked he was there was no hint of a this being a joke "I heard you, you'll never get her"

"Wanna bet?" the dark haired boy challenged.

"On what" Troy retorted back suddenly getting a bit more interested in this conversation.

"Whoever gets her to fall in love with them wins, the loser has to be the other's slave for a week and do whatever the winner says"

Troy mulled over his words, this would make senior year more interesting, and if he had to say so himself, Sharpay Evans was a beautiful girl.

"Deal" Jeremy took his extended hand and shook it ferociously.

Lucy was walking down the hallways, she was thinking of ways to "get rid" of Sharpay. She couldn't let Sharpay become Queen Bee. After all the things she had done to Sharpay, Sharpay would certainly want revenge. So it was a must that Lucy stayed on top. Or else.

It was then that Sharpay started to walk down the halls. She walked towards the drama bulletin. People watched after her, guys with lust in their eyes, and girls with envious eyes. When she signed her brother and herself up for the musical, everybody started whispering.

"What is she doing…?"

"I didn't know she could sing…"

Sharpay finished signing her name; she felt a huge wave of relief. She finally did it: she mustered all the courage she had and signed up. She had always wanted to be in musicals when she was younger. She had been in voice, acting, and dance lessons for as long as she could remember.

In freshman year, Sharpay did sign up for the musical once. But after an incident with Lucy, she…well decided not to.

"Next up: Sharpay Evans!" Ms. Darbus's voice rang out through the giant auditorium.

An intimidated Sharpay stepped onto the stage, she felt a sudden burst of energy. All eyes on her, it felt so perfect, so right. Then, something happened.

"Get off the stage Evans! You can't sing!"

Sharpay scanned the audience, trying to find out who said that. It hurt a lot for somebody to say that. But it hurt even more when she found out it was Lucy, her ex-best friend. Lucy stared up at Sharpay with a smirk on her face. She was hanging with the cheerleaders.

That's right. Lucy and Sharpay were best friends. But they drifted apart when Lucy became popular. Lucy had the looks and the social skills. While Sharpay…well we know she didn't have the social skills.

Sharpay was taken aback. Lucy had always supported her in her singing, she even brought Lucy to her voice class one time.

Tears clouded Sharpay's vision as she ran off the stage, with the image of Lucy smirking at her burned into her memory…

Sharpay realised she was just standing there, she saw from the corner of the eye Lucy staring at her. Sharpay confidently walked over to her.

"What do you want?" Lucy asked.

Sharpay raised an eyebrow at her.

"You're standing in front of my locker, genius."

The hallways remained silent. Then everybody stared to burst out in excited whispers. Sharpay, the geek, just stood up to Lucy, the head cheerleader. Lucy was fuming with anger, like a volcano about to explode.

Author's Note: V: And that was another chapter my peeps! lol. Love you lots! Read and Review and I'll love you more!!