A/N: Okay, we have a long author's note. I'm sorry this took a while, I got angst cravings and wrote 'At Midnight' and 'The Trapeze Swinger.' (They're oneshots, that's why I put them in single quotes.) 'Midnight' is Troy/Sharpay friendship… Sort of. And 'Swinger' is Troy/Gabriella future. I didn't do very well with 'Midnight' I don't think, so maybe I'll delete it and rework it, but I didn't mind 'Swinger.'

Next… I noticed I ended parts two, three, and four with Chadpay. Whoops. :) Anyway, I understand the Troy/Sharpay has caused some pandemonium, but can't we all just get along? Haha, sorry guys. I understand some liked the friendship, others didn't, but look at it this way: that's the end of it! Maybe one day I'll get into a habit of writing Troy/Sharpay friendships, but only if I feel I can manage. But until then, you've got this! -love- Desireé

naley4eva93- I've already got some Troypay friendship stirring in my head. I posted one just a few hours ago, although it's somewhat depressing, as read above 'Midnight.' I'm struggling to come up with happiness right now, so hopefully this final part will come out well.

Part Five, The Fight

It wasn't meant to go anywhere. To each of them, it was supposed to be just a fun afternoon, something to pass the time they were supposed to spend painting. But Sharpay found her plan had been reversed, and she actually wanted to see Chad again. They sat in the corner of the stage, toward the extra props and clothing.

"I'm a drama queen," she said as she spread her arms across his lap, "and you're a basketball halfwit—oh, don't give me that look. What I'm saying is I shouldn't be looking forward to Monday, when I'll see you again."

The smirk across his mouth made her roll her eyes. "When?" Chad asked.

"Lest you suddenly go on a foreign exchange program over the weekend," she replied, as he brushed her bangs aside.

"I can't speak a word of Spanish, and Señora Reyes has taught me for six whole semesters. Granted I skipped about half of those classes, but the only things I've remembered are hola and gato."

She smiled. "Well, glad you're staying here, then. It was getting dull around here."

…

The imaginary East High gossip magazine was buzzing with news. Basketball star falls in love? New girl finds romance at new school? Where is this going? Is it even going somewhere? How is the team taking it? Will their hotshot fall for a girl and fall on the court? The titles spun through her mind, like woven threads in fabric. She was playing with his hands again, pressing her thumb into the center of his palm as he watched. "You're a really good kisser," he said finally. She heard a grunt and looked up. Taylor was glaring at them.

"Really?" Gabriella asked, ignoring the menacing stare. She looked at her own palm: four lines beneath her thumb. There was always that legend in grade school that however many lines you had was how many kids you would have. One, two, three, four. Tell me that you love me more. "Well you're an amazing one." She smiled and closed her eyes. The way he tasted still dance inside her mouth, and she could still smell the faint cologne on his shoulders.

Unlike Chad and Sharpay, neither really expected this to go much anywhere. But Troy wanted to talk to her again, come Monday, and she wanted him to want to talk to her. "What are you doing tomorrow night?" he asked.

"Hanging out with you," she replied boldly. He grinned and leaned against her, nudging her slightly. She nudged back, and he kissed her. Detention was fun.

…

It was six-oh-eight. Ms. Darbus would be here soon. "Well, this has been a treat," Sharpay announced, standing up to brush off her blouse. "But it's late, and if Ryan and I leave now, we successfully avoid the Beast named Darbus. So, lovely to meet you, lovely to see you, lovely to kiss you, and have a great weekend." She started for her brother, sauntering impressively across the stage in heels, before Taylor stopped her.

"First you skip out on the work, and now you just skip out on the punishment? I'm not going to let that happen," she snapped, clasping a paint brush in her hand.

"Shar, it's cool," Ryan said quickly, coming to stand beside Taylor, looking apprehensively at his sister. "We can just tell Ms. Darbus we're sorry and we'll just give an extra credit assignment next week. Relax, sis."

The drama queen scowled at her twin. "Ew, Ryan, don't go all goody two shoes on me." Taylor grimaced and looked away for a moment, toward the doors in back.

"Fine," she surrendered. "Be a pampered little brat and leave the rest of us to get our backs whipped." She grinded her teeth and turned away, leaving a furious Sharpay.

"Don't call me pampered!" she shouted, balling up her fists. "I've got just as much crap to deal with as you so you have no right to call me pampered or spoiled or any other freaking synonym that pops up in your swollen brain!"

The room was quiet now. Taylor turned on a heel and raised an eyebrow. "Swollen? As opposed to your boxy little head?" she insulted. Sharpay's mouth was a straight line. She picked up a paint brush, but Taylor was too quick. In a moment's time, green paint flew across the room and splattered on the drama queen's designer outfit. A shriek was let out through the auditorium and Gabriella's hands flew to her ears.

"Two can play at this game!" Sharpay declared, and she picked up a half empty bucket, swinging it in Taylor's direction. The second girl ducked and purple splotches appeared on Kelsi's sweater. The lyricist gasped, before joining in on the fight. The blond drama queen shouted, "I'm always victorious!" And she poured a royal blue dye across the stage, splashing Gabriella's pants.

"Hey!" the new girl objected. She stood up, but felt a spray on her back. Turning around, she saw the slacker boy Chad grinning at her, holding a dripping red paint brush. Troy looked amused from afar, and Gabriella rolled her eyes, yanking up a bucket for herself and spilling it across Sharpay's shoulders.

Another scream. A laugh. Some shouts and Ryan charged for Kelsi, flinging yellow paint at her hair. Two big spots of orange formed on Troy's jeans, and he smirked at Gabriella, chasing after her with silver brushes. Chad's bushy hair was now a vibrant turquoise, and Sharpay smiled up at him before drawing a pink stripe down his shirt. Taylor grimaced and shouted for them all to stop. But they couldn't hear, and instead only yelled and laughed and ran around until a flood of light burst through the room again, and their bodies froze.

"Bolton! Danforth! Evans! Evans! McKessie! Montez! Nielsen! Just what do you think you all are doing?" Ms. Darbus demanded angrily, stomping down the aisle.

The colorful seven on stage all blushed, before looking around. Paint streaked the walls and floor, and especially the props. The dreidel was green and pink, the Christmas present was blue and brown and black, and a Santa Claus in the corner reeked of orange. Suddenly, someone burst out laughing. All turned to see Taylor, who had been glowering up until this point. She clutched her sides, dropping her paint brush, and collapsed onto the ground, hysteria floating from her mouth. Suddenly, Gabriella was laughing, too, and so was Troy, and eventually, the entire detention class. Ms. Darbus was blistering. "You think this is all funny!" she roared. "Well! I'll see you all next Monday, after school, and see just how hilarious it is when you try to get the paint off the floor!"

Gabriella looked at Troy. "I don't think I'll mind another detention," she murmured quietly. He shook his head.

Chad glanced at Sharpay. "Looks like I can't go on a foreign exchange program now," he said. She smiled.

Kelsi suddenly kissed Ryan, her purple lips smudging his. Everyone hollered and Ms. Darbus screeched, "Out of my theater! Now!"

One by one, the new girl, the hotshot, the slacker, the valedictorian, the drama queen, the thespian, and the lyricist walked up the aisles, grinning to themselves. The teacher yelled after them, "And don't believe for one second that your next punishment will be as fun as this!" Silently, they all doubted it.

A/N: Hm. I had trouble writing this (it's been revised a few times) but I think I liked the outcome. This should be the last update until the grand re-publishing of Poster Child, so until then, au revoir! -love- Desireé