Author's Note: Hey, everyone! What's crack-a-lackin'? That's right, Dernier Cri! I said it! CRACK-A-LACKIN'! More superfluous 90s phrases to come!

Okay, we're starting again from Shar's POV, because I enjoy writing her a little bit (okay, a lot) more than Gabriella! It's going to be a little short. I just needed to get it to you before I start studying!

Oh, and I had a happy little High School Musical incident at school today. One of my classes is really small, so we're an intimate group. What we gossip about in there usually stays in there. So I'm sitting quietly, buzzing on the inside because I just watched HSM 2 and thinking I'm the only loser that cares.

And then out of nowhere I start humming "Work It Out," not even knowing it. And this one girl in class, who just happens to be one of the most popular girls in school (maybe in the city), a totally cool, chilled chick hears me and goes, "OMG, did you watch it? It was so good, wasn't it? Don't you think Troy and Sharpay are so good together?" I was so relieved! Liking HSM is almost a stigma at my school, even though sixty percent of us watch it. And so the two of us went off on this fifteen-minute tangent about Troypay and how Gabriella sings so "nasally", and everybody else was like "WTF?" Ha! It's a good thing our teacher's such a pushover…

Chapter 6

The Invitations

Sharpay

"Check it out!"

Someone pulled up a chair next to Sharpay as Gabriella's desk that morning in homeroom. She looked up from the book she was pretending to read to see Chad there. His grin was even wider than usual and the very curls on his head seemed to tremble with excitement. He presented Sharpay with a florescent green piece of paper.

"What do you think?"

It looked like an invitation and read…

HEY (a space to fill in names)

Chad Danforth and the rest of the Wildcats are inviting YOU to party like it's the 1980s! Finally, your dad's drainpipe pants will come in handy! Dress to impress, big hair and the rest. You can be any iconic character you want, or just come as a bad Eddie Murphy impersonation. Please be so kind as to contribute drinks, because we're all in this together!

Party kicks off on Saturday night from 7:00 at Chad's house. If you need an address to find it DON'T BOTHER COMING!

Sharpay suppressed a snort. It was so cheesy and self-indulgent. Why hadn't she come up with anything like it before?

"It's cute!" she said, handing it back.

"Really? Thanks! Just thought I'd get the approval of a girl that doesn't want to make out with me."

"Well, you came to the right place. I guess it's time to pull out my Michael Jackson costume, huh?" she added.

Chad looked puzzled. "Wait. You're actually coming?"

She frowned. "Yeah. Why? You don't…want me to?" Great! Even as Gabriella they were rejecting her.

"No, no!" He shook his head vehemently and his hair quivered once more. It seemed to have a life of its own. "Course not. It's just you don't ever come to these things. You just get all high and mighty about me bringing alcohol."

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "That's what I do, huh?"

"Yep! But hey, we still love you!"

"Of course you do."

Really! There Sharpay was, only ever having gone to one of the Wildcat's parties when Zeke begged on her behalf (and even then she didn't get an invitation). And on the other side of the spectrum there was freaking Gabriella, the most popular girl in school and she wasn't going because she wanted to study or what-freaking-ever!

But all thought of Gabriella disappeared as Troy walked into the room. Was she going crazy or did the clock stop whenever she saw him? She was going crazy.

He was wearing that ugly blue shirt of his again and he smelt like some musky guy cologne as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. She offered it with no hesitation.

"Gabbie's coming to the party," said Chad before they could say anything to each other.

Troy looked between them as he sat at the desk behind hers. "No way. Since when?"

"Since now," said Sharpay.

"But I thought your mum didn't like you going to these things."

"I'll find my way around her," she said sweetly.

Troy gave her a curious look but nodded anyway.

Gabriella

When Gabriella as Sharpay and Ryan entered homeroom together they were greeted by an unusual sight. Chad and Sharpay in Gabbie's body were running around the class, handing out party invitations and politely turning down certain students begging to be invited, too. Gabriella shuddered discretely. She still was not used to seeing her own outer shell prancing around, Sharpay in it like a gut worm. But that was not the weird thing just then.

She could hear her voice chiming, "Please don't go as Cindy Lauper! That's my idea."

"She's going as Cindy Lauper?" Ryan murmured as they found their desks. "That's really cute. I think it would've worked better on you, though, Shar."

Gabbie was not in the least bit concerned about the costume. She was concerned about the fact that Sharpay was taking her body to a party! And who knew what she would do with it? Gabbie never went to Chad's get-togethers, or any other Wildcat bashes. It just wasn't her scene.

She stopped him politely as he passed.

"Uh…hey Chad?" she said in very unSharpay tones. "Could you slip us an invite?"

Chad glanced around. "Um…no."

He walked away without another word.

"Don't degrade yourself, Shar," said Ryan. "You're too good for his stupid keg parties anyway."

Gabriella ignored this and stomped over to Sharpay. She grabbed hold of her arm and squeezed, dragging her into a corner of the bustling classroom.

"Don't even think about taking me to that party!" she hissed.

She watched herself smirk. "Too late. Thought about it."

Gabriella as Sharpay shook her head forebodingly. "Well, if you're going, then I am too."

"Oh, I'm sorry!" said Sharpay sweetly. Gabriella felt a wave of nausea. She didn't really sound like that all the time, did she? "Chad told me not to invite you."

"And by that he meant you!" Sharpay snorted and Gabbie squeezed harder. "Sharpay Evans, you are going to invite me and Ryan to that party."

Sharpay pulled away abruptly and sullenly. "What is your problem, Gabriella?" she whispered. "You don't even like parties. Why would you want to come?"

"To make sure you don't make me look stupid! Dancing on tables and whatnot! But if you don't say I can come, I- and by that I mean you- will gatecrash and make a complete jackass out of myself. And by that I mean yourself."

Gabriella watched herself pout. It was very unbecoming.

"You're way more devious than you look."

Mrs. Darbus swept into the classroom just before Gabriella could point out the fly in that logic ointment.