Author's Note: So I know its been a while, and I'm sorry, so so so sorry. Anyway, I've promised to finish up all the stories I've got going on, this one still has a way to go. And I know people requested more with the side people, and that will come, its just, well, I wrote this chapter, and I like it, and it was getting kinda long, so I had to leave it. I hope there's someone out there still reading this. Please review although, you know I'm mean and horrible and I don't deserve it! Love you all!

Disclaimer: I literally own no one in this fic...not an OC in sight...I know! HUGE accomplishment for me!

Chapter 10: Settled in

The next morning Sharpay walked confidently down the hall. She was wearing what was probably the most revealing thing she owned, a tight leather mini skirt and a white lace tank top that scooped down revealing cleavage. If Portman wanted games, she would give him games. She walked past him with a smirk on her face on the way to class.

"God, I have got to get with her," Portman groaned as she blew past him. Fulton looked at him.

"I thought you did," Fulton said confused, "I mean, wasn't that what last night was?"

"She cut me off," He shook his head. "God, I could feel it though, you know, she wants me."

"You think every girl wants you," Fulton rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, but this one actually does," Portman smirked. "I'll be back." He strutted over to her. "Hey babe."

"Hi," She turned around and giggled.

"You feeling better today?" He asked.

"A little," She said.

"Meet me at lunch time?" He leaned down and kissed her. She pushed herself into him. "Mm."

"I'll see," She said simply, "I told Kelsi and Taylor I'd do a vid phone call home with them, so,"

"Blow it off for me," He whispered and kissed her again, "I'll make it worth your while, I swear."

"Where do you want to meet?" She asked. He smiled

"Meet me at free period?" Chad whispered to Julie as she stood at her locker. She laughed and shook her head. "Please?"

"We can't," She said, "You have practice and I have to convince the hockey coach that just because I'm a girl it doesn't mean I'm incapable of playing the game."

"I had fun last night," He smiled.

"So did I," She nodded and laughed. He started to lean down to kiss her again.

"Hey you two," Ryan walked over, "So, how was the non date?"

"Good," Julie smiled, "I'm just gonna go, see you guys later." She walked away, turning back and smiling. Chad smiled back at her.

"So you two are what exactly?" Ryan asked. Chad looked at him.

"Friends Ry," Chad said.

"Uh huh," Ryan nodded, "Because you're so good at being friends with girls."

"Hey, I'm friends with Gabby, and Kelsi!" He pointed out.

"Who have boyfriends," Ryan nodded.

"As does Julie," Chad shrugged. "Come on, you know what its like to be attracted to someone and be their friend."

"I don't know how many times I have to explain to you Chad," Ryan sighed, "I am not into you like that."

"I was talking about Troy," Chad laughed, Ryan did too, "Evans, chill OK? I wouldn't do that Taylor." He walked away towards homeroom.

"I hope not," Ryan sighed. He knew his friend better than to trust him on this issue.

"Hey," Taylor said walking up to Adam's locker.

"Hey," He nodded.

"So, um, last night," She looked, "What exactly was that?"

"That was a date," He nodded, "After which I kissed you."

"Yeah, so," She said, "Should we do it again sometime?"

"The dating or the kissing?" He said.

"Preferably both," She laughed. He looked around. "What are looking for?"

"Ducks," He said, "All clear though," He leaned down and kissed her. She smiled.

"Taylor?" Sharpay came behind them.

"We should have looked for Wildcats too." Taylor said, "Hi Sharpay. If you tell Ryan, I'll tell everyone here, that includes your little boyfriend, who I assume is the reason you're dressed like a streetwalker, what you did this summer OK?"

"Fine," Sharpay said, "But you really shouldn't do that to Chad."

"Since when do you care about Chad?" Taylor snapped.

"Uh, since he's Ryan's best friend!" Sharpay stomped off.

"Ryan?" Adam said.

"Sharpay's twin brother," Taylor said, "He's really good friends with my boyfriend."

"Great," Adam groaned.

"Oh, don't worry," Taylor said, "She talks tough but she really doesn't like for people to know what a hardcore bitch she is, so threatening to tell a whole bunch of new people, that'll keep her mouth shut."

"Do you think we're doing the wrong thing here?" He said.

"I don't know," She sighed, "I do know, that I've thought about everything for eighteen years, and I don't want to think about this." He smiled.

"I know the feeling," He said. "OK, so no thinking about it."

"Right," She nodded, "And this way it can't get serious."

"But I'm really good!" Julie insisted sitting across the desk from the East High hockey coach at free period, arguing her case. "Just let me get out on the ice for like a minute, I'm one of the best there is, you've seen my film!"

"I'm sure you're very good sweetie," He sighed, her nostrils flared. She hated the condescension in his voice, she'd dealt with that attitude her whole life. "But, I do already have a goalie, two in fact."

"So I'll be third string," She pleaded, "Just let me on the team. Hockey has been my life for eight years. Well, I mean, school and my boyfriend, but hockey even outranked those!"

"Miss Gaffney," He said shortly, "I suggest you calm down, and get to your next class." She stood up and stomped out. Sexist pig! She hadn't made that kind of argument since the Goodwill Games, and that was just because she was riding the bench, and that was only because they were undefeated, and Bombay couldn't bench Goldberg. She walked through the locker room and realized that the basketball guys were changing. She heard a few whistles.

"Guys cut it out," Troy said, shushing them, "Hey Julie."

"Hi guys," She waved. Guys in a locker room, nothing she hadn't seen before. She turned a corner and found herself face to face with Chad, freshly showered and wearing just a towel. He smiled and approached her and kissed her, "Are trying to impress me or something?" She whispered pulling away.

"Are you impressed?" He smirked. She laughed.

"See you later Chad," She walked away. She was already feeling better once she got out the doors and Charlie was standing anxiously.

"How'd it go?" He said.

"No go," She shook her head, "And he called me sweetie."

"Please tell me you punched him!" Charlie said. Julie was known to react violently to sexism.

"No, I can't punch an authority figure," She said, "I wanted to, but I didn't. Whatever, I'll just do the geek squad with Gabriella and Martha."

"It's such bullshit!" He said, "If they'd just let you get out on the ice!"

"Whatever," She sighed, "I'm not going to dwell on it. The whole point of this year was to branch out anyway. Maybe I'll join the drama club, Ryan's been bugging me anyway."

"Shit," Charlie said.

"What?" She asked.

"Linda wants me to come home for the show," He said, "So we can talk everything out."

"You should," Julie said, "Someone should get to go back." She looked down.

"I know this sucks," He said, "No Adam, no hockey, which leaves you with,"

"Ivy League dreams," She sighed. "Princeton here I come." He put his arm around her and squeezed. "I'm fine Charlie."

Portman walked up to the roof and stood waiting for Sharpay. She said she was meeting him. Where was she? Then he saw an pink envelope taped to a pole. He picked it up and opened it.

Next time, ask me out
XO
Sharpay

He smiled. She was good, he'd met his match in this girl.

Reviews PLEASE! I know I don't appreciate you enough and don't deserve it, but please, still, I need the encouragement.