Author's Note: So WOW! I really really appreciate how much people like this. I should have known it would be popular, but seriously, the response has been so rapid! Thanks a bunch for it, I greatly appreciate. Anyway, enjoy this chapter. It's just more building, actual stuff will start happening soon, I promise.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of them.

Chapter 3: Learning About Each Other

"Do you ladies have plans for this weekend?" Chad smiled, coming behind Julie and Gabriella as they walked down the hall. They were almost constantly together now, they had become fast friends, and were in most of the same classes.

"It's my first weekend in town," Julie laughed, "I don't know anyone but you guys."

"Good," Chad smiled, "We're doing a farewell to summer pool party at Ryan's. All are welcome. Ducks and Wildcats alike." He jumped past them and kept walking.

"What's the story on him?" Julie asked. Gabriella laughed.

"Chad Danforth," Gabriella recounted, "Smart alecky side kick delux. He's the Pacey to Troy's Dawson. The Sam to his Frodo. Those two are inseparable. They've been buds since kindergarten. He's also Troy's second in command. Chad's a leader too, just he'd never undermine Troy's authority." Julie smiled, and got a picture of Adam and Charlie, sitting in the locker room before a game planning strategy in her head. "Chad's a good guy he just," She rocked her head back and forth. "Tends to act before he thinks."

"And the girlfriend?" Julie asked, carefully.

"Taylor McKessie." Gabriella nodded. "You'd like her. She's smart and funny. Really independent and organized. She was my first real friend at East High, except of course for Troy." Julie smiled. As they talked the third of fourth person had stopped to say hello to Gabriella in the hallway.

"You seem pretty popular now," Julie laughed.

"You take down Sharpay Evans," Gabriella blushed, "You get some supporters."

"Sharpay Evans?" Julie said, thinking of the name. "Ryan's sister?"

"The Demon queen herself," Gabriella nodded. "Talk about a handful." She shook her head. "Sharpay nearly ruined our summer, if it hadn't been for Ryan, I don't know what we would have done."

"You really think highly of him," Julie could tell by the way Gabriella talked about Ryan.

"I do," Gabriella nodded. "He's a really good friend. And an awesome dancer. Wait until the party, he's always happy to show off, and to teach anyone a thing or two!"

"The way you talk about him." Julie looked at her, "Does Troy ever get nervous?" Gabriella started laughing. "What's so funny?"

"Troy has nothing to fear from Ryan," Gabriella shook her head. "I might, but not Troy. I couldn't be further from Ryan's type."

"Oh my God!" Julie laughed, "Oh, now I see. Really?" Gabriella nodded. "Is he out?"

"To the Wildcats, yeah," Gabriella nodded. "And Sharpay, not to everyone though. He says he's not ready for it yet." She stopped. "Don't tell him I told you. I don't know how comfortable he'd be with you guys knowing about it."

"Oh no, I won't tell!" Julie smiled.

"Go LEFT!" Troy shouted, as Chad went for a shot, the shout distracted him and the shot fell.

"I couldn't!" Chad walked over. "Zeke was guarding my left. What's with you? You're totally on edge today."

"Guess sharing a room doesn't agree with him," Zeke laughed, tossing Troy a ball. Troy nodded.

"That's part of it," Troy shrugged, "Look, let's just focus, OK? Get your head in the game Danforth!" He threw the ball back, the boys laughed.

"She's good." Linda sighed, banging her head against a table after Sharpay made a flourishing exit from the stage after her audition. Kelsi looked over and nodded. "Why did she have to be good?"

"What's your next step?" Portman asked.

"Put her in the ensemble," Linda said, scribbling at her clipboard. "Give her the understudy for Ado Annie." She sighed. "I hate to do it. Is she a pain to work with?" She glanced over at Kelsi.

"She demands perfection," Kelsi said, "but she's pretty professional. Last year she lost out on the lead, but she still did great work."

"That settles it," Linda said, "She's in." Portman smirked. "Why are you so happy about it?"

"I think I like her," he laughed.

"Why?" Kelsi shuddered.

"She's a challenge," He snickered, "I like a challenge."

"So," A now changed Sharpay emerged in to the auditorium. She had a fake smile plastered over her face, "What's the verdict?"

"I'm going to fit you in to the ensemble," Linda said simply, "And you're going to be the understudy for Ado Annie."

"Fabulous!" She said. Obviously they were impressed by her. "So, rehearsal tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Linda said as Sharpay flitted out. "You," she turned and pointed at Portman, "None of your love her and leave her bullshit with this one. I think she'll be enough of a problem without a broken a heart."

"I make no promises." He laughed. "If the babe wants a taste of Portman, I do not deny."

"Is he always like this?" Kelsi asked.

"Unfortunately," Linda sighed, "You learn to ignore the behavior."

"Kelsi?" Jason entered in the back, "You ready to go babe?" She nodded excitedly and ran to him and gave him a kiss.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow." Kelsi said, they walked out, and Linda looked down sadly.

"You miss him huh?" Portman smiled at her. She nodded.

"It was stupid to break up," she sighed. "I mean, I know it was my stupid practical idea. But we still talk every night, just out of habit and I just miss him."

"Charlie still being your boyfriend wouldn't make you miss him less," Portman said. "If anything it would make it harder."

"I know that," she said, "I know."

"It's Adam right?" Taylor walked up to him cautiously.

"Yeah," he nodded, "Taylor?" She nodded in response. "What's up?"

"Um well," she said quietly. She sighed. "I need homework help." She looked embarrassed. She had never needed help with her homework before. She was Taylor McKessie, number 1 student at East High.

"That's OK," he laughed, "I'll try. I'm not necessarily the best person to come to for that, Julie'd be better, she's the smart one."

"She can't help me," Taylor raised an eyebrow.

"True," Adam nodded, "I keep forgetting she's not around." Taylor nodded.

"I know how you feel," she said, "I mean, I keep wanting to tell my boyfriend things and its like right, I have to wait for the phone call."

"Exactly," he laughed, "But look, after practice tonight, I'll totally help you out, at least to the best of my ability."

"I appreciate it really," she smiled. "The curriculum here is tough."

"Yeah," he nodded. "You'll catch up though. I heard you're smart."

"Where'd you hear that?" She blushed. She wasn't sure why.

"Um, your friend Gabriella told Julie," Adam recounted, "And she mentioned it to me." He shrugged.

"You don't talk a lot do you?" Taylor said as they kept walking.

"Don't have a lot to say," Adam shrugged. "I hate talking just for the shit of it you know?" She nodded. "So you said you have a boyfriend?" He smiled. He liked talking to Taylor, he wouldn't feel guilty about it if she had a boyfriend.

"Mhm," Taylor smiled, "Chad. He's completely useless to be truthful. He's like basketball crazy, and we couldn't be more opposite." She laughed. "But it just sort of works you know?"

"Yeah, I know," he smiled, thinking of Julie as he had first met her, outspoken, funny, incredibly smart. The Julie that could have gone out with any of the guys on the team, they had all pretty much asked her, and then she just walked up to him that time. Just walked up and said "Adam I like you, and I would like it if we went out some time." You didn't get more different from him at that point, who couldn't even tell Bombay that he hurt his wrist, for fear of disrupting the universe.

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