Chapter 1: And the Candidates are

Ever since that past summer, everything amoung the friends have changed. Ryan hangs out more with the Wild Cats than Sharpay, who still really hates them, even though they let her in their 'club' for a while. She declined the offer, saying their still stupid and she would get them back for ruining her show. Of course, she never said that to their faces. A good thing too because she didn't feel the same anymore.

But she didn't know how to ask for permisson to be their friend. Who askes for permission? It totally was a stupid idea for her, she couldn't do that. She'll be a total loser. She had too much pride. She would have to do it the old fashion way, try to be nice and tell everyone they rock, even if they don't, she could tell them the truth when their friends. That way, they can't hate her too much. But it wasn't easy, especially if the only friends you have is your Yorkie, your twin brother and three girls that follow you around. The Sharpettes don't even go to the same school as her. She just wished something in school, like an event, would help her make friends and prove to people that she's changed. Sadly, the only person she can convince is Ryan. And that was pretty difficult.

Ryan peeked into Sharpay's room. He saw her sitting near her vanity, doing her make-up. He then knocked to get her attention. Sharpay turned around, brushed her blonde hair over her shoulder and smiled at him. "Hey, I think I'm going to try out for the baseball team this year. It is the last year and all..."

She rolled her brown eyes at him. "Are you asking me permission?"

Ryan gulped and nodded. Even though he was the older brother by twenty minutes, he's always respected Sharpay opinion. It annoyed Sharpay, she even told him to stop asking her permission for anything and to be more independent and to do what he wants. He took one step and started to hang around Kelsi and her friends, Troy and Gabriella and the rest. They hardly hung out at school anymore. "Well, yeah because you are my sister. And I've noticed in these past two weeks of school, we've hardly hung out, and I feel if I'm on the team, there would be no after school hanging also."

Sharpay laughed. She didn't want Ryan to try-out because she knew he would make it. He rocked at the sport and kicked many people's butt at it. Even in the rematch, he beat Chad and Troy, who really sucks at baseball. But she loved him and making him happy will also make her happy, eventually. "Don't worry Ry, try-out! Plus we live together, we're eventually going to hang out."

Ryan smiled and nodded. "Okay, c'mon, we got to get to school today and fast."

"Why, off to meet you're friends?" Sharpay asked, turning back to looke at herself in the mirror.

"Yeah!" Ryan replied quickly, forgetting that his friends weren't his sister's friends. But when he did remember, he wished that they were friends, it made hanging out more easier and funner, since Sharpay was hilarious. Too bad, hardly anyone knew that.

She sighed and grabbed a brush, she streaked it across her cheek and said, "Go on ahead, I'll go to school by myself..."

Ryan turned around and left. He felt so stupid. He was stupid. Even though he finally had friend, outside of the Drama section, Sharpay was his sister and he shouldn't ditch her. But he did, everyday since school started. Even on the weekends when he went on dates with Kelsi and hang around Gabriella's house. He loved her mother's brownies, plus they were best-friends. Sharpay often wonders if Ryan is closer to Gabriella than Troy. It wouldn't surprise if those two were seeing each other behind Kelsi and Troy's back.

But she shouldn't think that. Ryan was a good guy, he wouldn't do that.

x-x-x-x

When the bell rang, every student proceeded to their first period class. Unlike the year before, they weren't in the same homeroom anymore. Chad, Gabriella and Troy were still in Ms. Darbus' class. Chad said it was a curse that she put on him so he could have detention everyday. Gabriella claimed that it was just how their high school life was supposed to be. It was a more reasonable approach than Chad's.

Ryan, Taylor, Sharpay and Kelsi were in Mr. Gosselins first period class. He was the teacher of visual arts and it seemed like him and Ms. Darbus had something going on. Then again, they couldn't picture these two together at all. Mr. Gosselin was tall, lanky and always smiled at students. He was soft spoken but everyone liked him and listened to him. He knew how to take control without yelling, threatening or throwing stuff. They all sat near each other since Ryan, Taylor and Kelsi were friends, Sharpay just sat there because Ryan dragged her there.

"CLASS!" Ms. Darbus yelled over, well, nothing. Everyone was quiet. "I have some important announcements to tell you today," she said, looking over at Chad. She read his mind, his very empty mind, covered in thick brown hair. "No, I'm not retiring, I'm too young." No one dared to laugh. "Today, we are nominating candidates for student elections. There is Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President and president. We also need a Class Rep. Any nominations?"

Chad shot up his hand, almost falling out of his desk. "I nominate Troy!"

Troy whipped his head around to Chad, wide eyed. He didn't want to be President. Sure he was Captain of the basketball team but he wasn't good at politics. Thank God, they need more than one person to nominate someone.

"I second that!" Gabriella said, smiling and raising her hand. Soon, she was followed by the whole class saying they wanted to Troy to be a candidate.

Troy banged his head on the desk and raised his head. "Then I nominate Gabriella to be," he knew Gabriella didn't want to be part of council in a big way, so he'll nominate her for the smallest role, "Class Rep." Everyone then agreed and also nominate Gabriella.

Ms. Darbus wrote down their names on the sheet she's supposed to hand in to the Principal. "Okay, class, our candidates are Troy Bolton to Student Body President and Gabriella Montez is now our Class Rep."

Chad swatted Troy on the arm and got Gabriella's attention. "Don't worry, Troy, you're so going to win. I mean, who's more popular than Troy?"

--

In the room beside them, Mr. Gosselin's class wasn't so keen on voting anyone up there. Ryan insisted that Taylor should run for Secretary since she didn't like being the center of attention bu she declined and said not to nominate her. She'll kill them if they do. Then Ryan whispered for Sharpay to run for President, she also declined.

"Aw, c'mon, you're so good at leading people," Ryan whipered to her back, since she sat in front of him and beside Taylor, somewhat. "You'd be a perfect President!"

Sharpay shook her head slightly, she didn't want anyone to notice they were having a conversation. They might butt in. "I said no, I'm not cut out for the job. Plus, who's going to vote for me? I have like no friends at all and nobody likes me."

"I do, Kelsi does too and so does Zeke," Ryan replied.

Sharpay scoffed. "Kelsi only likes me because you do and Zeke's an idiot who needs to get the message. I don't like him, I'll never like him, he needs to quit stalking me and leaving pastries in my locker," Sharpay said in a rather mean way. She was one step closer from throwing those stupid muffins and pie at Zeke's face. "Plus three people won't win me anything."

"Hey," Taylor whispered to Ryan. "I got a text from Chad and Troy's running for President."

"Really!?" Ryan asked, smiling like an idiot. "He's the perfect candidate!"

Sharpay heard everything. She rested her head on her desk and looked out the window beside. Ryan was a traitor, her own brother. How could he so immature and just forget everything. He was fake and she hated that because it was her fault. She taught him that and now he can't stop it. She could but he's having difficulty. When Ryan is being fake, it's only to her anyway. Must be pay back for everything she's done. Now she wished she hadn't done anything because it hurt having your brother's attention shift from you to some basketball kid.

"Okay, Mr. Gosselin," Taylor called over to the teacher standing near the black-board. "I want to be the Class Rep."

Mr. Gosselin nodded. "Is that okay with everybody?" And everybody just nodded and groaned. "Okay, Taylor Mckessie is our Rep."

Sharpay had an urge to raise her hand, for reasons unknown to her.

"Just think how much more people like Troy," Ryan whispered to Taylor and Kelsi. "Even those outsiders of our school will Troy once they see that he's a good candidate."

Kelsi then spoke some words of wisdom. "Well, anyone who runs actually, who has a good platform and is nice to anyone, will be well liked, even if we don't know them,"

x-x-x-x

That same day, Sharpay decided to stay after school. She finally decided to run for President, against Troy Bolton. She knew she had a chance of winning, she was popular, not for the same reasons as Troy, however, she still had powers and people feared her. All she would have to do is prove to everyone that she's changed and that she was the best choice for President. Unlike Troy; she heard that he's only running because the whole class forced him to. Who would want a President that doesn't even want to become President.

She entered Mr. Matsui's office, ready to tell him the news.

He told her kindly to sit down but she declined, saying she wasn't going to be there for a long time. "I want to run for President."

Mr. Matsui smiled, he knew Sharpay was popular but he never knew people feared her. "That'll be great Sharpay, I'll just add your name to the list."

She stood to leave but stopped mid-way. "If I may ask, who else is running?"

"You and Troy," Mr. Matsui said. "I guess when students heard that Troy was running, people backed down, well, except you Ms. Evans."

Sharpay left. Scared of Troy? No way. She was the only one capable of having a running chance against him, if people believed she truly changed. Too bad her social skills could improve. And she couldn't talk to people properly since they always parted like the Red Sea when she neared anyone. Cowards but she understood them. She would part like the Red Sea too.

Before going straight to her car, Sharpay had to pick up her purse from her locker. When she got there, it surprised her that Troy was still there, leaning against his, sitting on the floor. He was playing some game on his PSP. Must be basketball.

As Sharpay neared, Troy's attention was caught. "Oh hi, Sharpay," she said, looking up at her, pausing his game. He got up, game system and bag in hand. "What are you doing after school."

She sent him a cold stare. If she's trying to be friendly now, it wasn't working. "What are you doing after school?" she shot back.

Troy rubbed his head. "Well, my truck broke down, so I'm waiting for my dad to finish up some coaching..."

Sharpay laughed. Of course his truck would break down. It was a piece of crap after all. "Good luck with that," she replied, grabbing her peach coloured purse. She shut her locker, locked it and walked passed him to the exit.

He caught up with her for some reason. "Hey, you still haven't told me why you were staying after school?"

"God, you're nosy."

"Well, I just find it unfair that I told you why I'm staying and that you didn't."

Sharpay stopped in her tracks and turned around to face him. She should just tell him, he was annoying and for some strange reason considered her as a friend, not a close friend but like a friend, well, less than a friend. "I'm running for Student Body President."

Troy's blue eyes popped out and he burst out laughing. She wasn't pleased with that. Sharpay's hands were on her hips and she was tapping her foot. It echoed through the empty hallway. "You do know that I'm running for President, right?"

"What's your point?" Sharpay asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are you saying that I can't win against you!?"

"Yeah, I am!" Troy replied without thinking. "You're Sharpay Evans, do you really think that you could win against me! I'm the most popular guy in school!"

The blonde gritted her teeth together. She would be the better person if she walked away, so she did. She would prove him wrong and anyone else who doubted her, even her stupid twin brother, Ryan. Sharpay Evans will be 08's Student Body President, not Troy Bolton. Plus, he knew nothing about politics, then again, she hardly knew anything but it was more than what Troy knew.

"You should just drop out," Troy called out, insulting her for the last time.

Sharpay felt like a vain was going to pop in her head. Being the better person sure was difficult. She whipped back around. "You're forgetting that my dad is John Evans, one of the most powerful men in New Mexico, I have sources, Troy and power, even though you don't know it. I'll win because manipulating and bribing are my specialties, all you have is crummy basketball and those ditzy cheerleaders." Then she turned to leave but stopped and said one last thing. "Oh, yeah, one last thing Bolton, you should just drop out." In that instant she was gone.

Troy felt awful. He would have his work cut out for him and he knew it. Defeating Sharpay Evans would be the hardest thing he's ever done. She was rich, powerful, manipulative and daddy's girl. Saying all those things to her just made her flame to beat him, expand and spread out. It was much bigger than his but he couldn't lose to the school Ice Queen.

He would be 08's President, not Sharpay Evans.

I know I said Sunday but I was busy. So here it is, two days late. Hey, better than nothing. Please review and enjoy and ignore mistakes.

Thank you.

-Aj