Author's Note: I think I like how this is going. This is also one of my favorites to do, besides In The Life Of Zoe Stewart. Chapter four is in the works, and enjoy!

Chapter Three: Haylie Meets The Gang

So far, Haylie's day has gone great.

Except for Sharpay, of course.

She never really understood why Sharpay has to dislike her. It's only her first day, and she already made an enemy! Wait until McKenize hears about this. She'll laugh her head off for sure!

But, she did manage to make friends with Gabriella and Troy. And maybe Ryan.

Ryan.

What did she think of him? A friend, of course. But...maybe more than that. A crush? Possibly. Her feelings towards him were too confusing to tell.

It was lunch time, and because McKenize ate after her, she didn't have no idea where to sit. Each clique had it's own table to sit at, but she didn't belong in a clique yet. So, she stucked out like a sore thumb. All because she was new.

"Haylie!"

Haylie spotted Gabriella waving at her, and she went over there with her tray. The table was a circle shape, having enough room for Gabriella, Troy, and the rest of their friends.

Gabriella smiled as Haylie sat down between her and Troy. "Nice to know you exist, huh?" Troy joked, and Gabriella glared at him, making him glance out at his plate.

"Sorry." he muttered.

Haylie smiled at him. "No offense taken."

Gabriella looked at her.

"Haylie, I want you to meet Taylor McKessie, Chad Danforth, Kelsi Nielsen, Jason Cross, and Zeke Baylor."

The group of girls and guys she just said smiled and waved.

The first three were black, but with different features.

The black girl Gabriella pointed to has straight, black hair like Gabriella, and black eyes. The only thing that seperated her from her male counterparts was her outfit. This, as Gabriella told her, was Taylor McKessie.

The second black student in the group was a guy. He had blackish-brownish hair that was sprong out and all over the place, sort like an afro. He seemed to have a charming look to him, as anyone would have guessed, including the black girl who was sitting so vlose to him at the circle table. Haylie also noticed he had a basketball on top of the table. This was Chad Danforth, the second in command of East high Wildcats, and best friend to Troy.

The third, and last black student was another guy. He was similiar to his friend, aside from the afro. He had his hair cut in a old fashioned haircut, with short curls, like every black guy nowadays. The only thing that seperated him was that he had a mini cupcake on his tray. This only had to be Zeke Baylor, best friend to Troy, Wildcats teammate, and secret cook.

The last two students seemed to have caught Haylie's eye the most, considering they were such a pair.

The girl who was sitting next to the boy had brown, wavy hair that was hidden behind a dark green newsboy cap, with brown eyes which were doubled by silver, rounded glasses. The girl also seemed to working on sheet music, humming a melody as she worked. This was Kelsi Nielsen, first time composer for the winter musical.

And last, but certainly not least, was the guy sitting next to her. He had a short, black, small curled cut like Zeke, and black eyes. There was nothing really special about him, only for his smile, and some of the jokes he told before Haylie reached their table. This was none other Jason Cross, also a best friend to Troy, Wildcats teammate, and a no secret class clown.

"Hey." Haylie said. For some reason, she felt accepted towards this group. They weren't odd, but they didn't seem to care what others thought. And she thought the basketball team was suppose to have a table of their own!

Surprise, surprise.

"So, your the new girl that we heard Sharpay talk about?" Taylor asked.

Haylie nodded. "Yes, that's me."

"Taylor, don't make her feel worse! It's already enough that Sharpay...doesn't like her." Troy replied.

"I was just asking her, Troy. Don't get all hostile." Taylor commented.

At the sound of Sharpay's name, Zeke looked up instantly.

"You met her? What do you think of her?" he asked.

"Zeke has a crush on Sharpay. It's kind of obvious." Chad replied, rolling his eyes as he drummed the orange and black ball on the table as Zeke glared at him.

"Not everyone needs to know, Chad."

"Hey, I thought you wanted everyone to know about your crush on her!" Chad explained.

Haylie couldn't help but to giggle over their fight.

"Your into drama, right? Man, are you in for a surprise." Taylor said.

Haylie blinked.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because Sharpay won't just let anyone in. Actually, she and her brother are the only ones who are in the drama club because Sharpay doesn't like anyone who doesn't have 'talent'. Mainly, she doesn't everyone. Only the selected few who sit at her table are considered worthy of her attention." Taylor explained.

Haylie turned her attention towards Sharpay's table, which held a few people, including herself and Ryan. She could see where Taylor was right.

"Oh...well, the principal told me already. I don't know if I want to join, really." she replied.

Everyone stopped what they were doing, and looked at her.

"What?" Gabriella asked.

"Are you sure your okay?" Troy asked.

Haylie smiled. "Of course I'm okay. It's just that...I don't think Sharpay wants me to join. She told McKenize what this school was known for, and-"

Taylor rolled her eyes.

"Oh, she's still on that whole winter musical thing? She's just mad because Troy and Gabriella 'broke' the rules and auditioned, and won the parts. But, knowing Sharpay, she can hold a grudge for a long time."

Haylie cocked her head.

"Broke what rules, excately?" she asked.

"Clique rules." Troy said simply.

"Clique rules? I haven't heard of such a thing." Haylie explained.

"Oh, you know. Jocks sit jocks, cheerleaders sit with cheerleaders or the jocks, skaters with skaters, mainly...what you are." Chad stated.

"Don't tell me you don't have those." Taylor responded.

Haylie shook her head.

"No, we didn't. We could have sat where ever we wanted. If we knew a senior, we could sit with the seniors. If we knew a freshman, we could have sat with them, and not care about what people have thought. But, here, it's like watching a documentary." Haylie explained.

"I agree." Troy replied.

"Yeah, like watching a animal video in science." Chad said.

"But, here, your in Sharpay's world. And in Sharpay's world, everything stays the same. Nothing changes. If you didn't know already, Sharpay rules the school." Kelsi said, looking up from her melody.

Haylie looked confused.

"But, I thought that was always the jocks?" she asked.

The seven looked at each other, and then back at her.

"Whatever book you've been reading, this isn't one of them. Welcome to Sharpay's world." Chad explained.