Sharpay Evans was never a person for charity cases. As far as she was concerned, if you work hard, you'll get it. If you don't get it, you're evidently just not good enough for it. But she also knew that when it came to her twin brother, her life rules could and would be broken within a split second for him. And she hated that fact with a passion.
She stormed down the hallways of East High with a purpose: to find Troy Bolton. She didn't know what she was going to do when she did find him – that fact at the moment was irrelevant – she just knew that all this commotion began with the 'Golden Boy', and the beginning was a very good place to start. But for someone so well known in the school, he was proving to be very hard to find. And Sharpay Evans was definitely not a patient person.
"Zeke!" she shouted commandingly at the tall figure in front of her.
"Sharpay." He said her name dreamily, turning to her. "I baked some more chocolate chip cookies for you. Your favourite" He handed her a brown paper bag.
"Where's Troy?" she demanded, whilst sampling one.
The smile instantly left his face. "Probably in the gym, shooting a few free throws."
She spun around on her heels at this, and headed towards the Sports Block, swinging the paper bag at her side, without so much as a smile or 'thank you' for the smitten basketball player.
Boyish laughter and the sound of bouncing basketballs could be heard from the gym as Sharpay approached, and she stopped herself short of entering the stadium, where her stiletto lime green Jimmy Choos would undoubtedly attract their attention. Plural.
"3 days till Summer..." she heard Troy muse, as he shot a perfect basket.
"I can't wait for it! It's going to be majorly hyped up this year man! Wildcat champions, no more homework, basketball 24/7, Taylor finally my girlfriend..." And Chad. "Of course there's the downside of seeing my mum around a lot more, but-"
"Haircut?" Another basket.
Sharpay suppressed a giggle at the picture of Chad Danforth getting a trim.
"Ugh don't remind me bro. That woman is pure evil, I tell you. But I guess all women are." Chad dribbled the ball, before shooting.
"Don't let Taylor hear you say that, she might take your 'haircut' matter into her own hands." Troy told him firmly.
"Don't think I don't know it. That girl's going to be death of me, I swear. It almost makes me seem whipped."
"There's no seeming about it, you are whipped." Troy stated, casually.
Sharpay had to agree with this one; whatever Taylor McKessie says, Chad Danforth obeys.
Chad threw a basketball hard at him, which winded him slightly. "Oh, and what about you. 'Brie baby, just wanted to see how you are'" he gave a ridiculously high-pitched impersonation of his best friend.
"There was never going to be any use denying it." Troy stated, smugly.
Chad made a sound of disgust. "You, my friend, are going to be the downfall of our sex."
Troy laughed. "It's a small price to pay for having Brie as only my girlfriend, and no one else's."
Sharpay couldn't work out if he was just trying to wind up Chad, or was always this nauseatingly sweet. She hoped to God it was the previous, the latter was just unnatural.
"I can't hear any more of this!" Chad proclaimed dramatically, rather Sharpay-like.
More laughter, and free throws.
"So this summer, my cousins and I are heading down to our ranch again to chill out, play basketball, swim in the lake... play more basketball. You're coming right Bolton?" Though it came out as more of a statement than a question.
"I don't know man, it'd be awesome to go to play basketball all summer at your getaway like before, but I promised myself I'd get a job this summer so I can fix my truck up and take Brie out of town" Troy tried slowly.
Money? Now that was definitely something Sharpay knew about...
"What?! You're going to workall summer?! What's the IQ elevated girl done to you? Cos this does not sound like the Troy Bolton I know...." Chad said in disbelief.
"Things change, people change. As you pretty much proved from that sentence – 'IQ elevated'? Hanging out with Taylor much?" Troy chided, passing Chad the ball.
"Don't avoid the subject! Speaking of Tay, she's coming up to the ranch as well-"
"What's she going to do there?! It's a house full of basketball fanatics and a basketball court. Go figure what's going to happen there."
"God knows. She asked me if the internet there was broadband, which it is, and apparently that's sufficient enough – don't change the subject! Anyway she'll probably persuade Gabi to come too, since they're practically inseparable-"
Oh no you don't Danforth. "Troy!" Sharpay announced her presence, her heels clicking loudly on the polished floor.
"Evans, you know you're not allowed any marking shoes on here – and that includes stilettos." Chad nodded to her heels, smirking.
"Shut up Danforth, I wasn't talking to you." She turned back to Troy. "I've been trying to find you everywhere! Daddy's personal golf coach is on tour this summer, and finding a replacement has been such a drag. But then I thought, what about Troy Bolton, junior state golf champion?"
"-Sharpay" Troy tried to cut in.
"...And Daddy agreed that would be utterly fabulous, and we simply must have you. So-"
"Sharpay..."
"That's a yes right? Fabulous. I'll email you the directions and all the boring terms and conditions later." She finished with a victorious smile directed at Chad.
"Sharpay." Troy mumbled wearily. "That's really nice of you and everything, but I was kind of looking for more of a paid job this summer. You see-"
Sharpay laughed hysterically, causing both of the boys stare at her with slight fear. "Oh you are silly. Did you think it was a volunteering opportunity?"
No one answered her.
She rolled her eyes humourlessly, and turned serious. "You'll get paid at least fifty dollars for every hour you work, and more with tips. Very generous tips."
Chad let out a low whistle. Troy just looked dumbfounded.
"You're not honestly going to back out are you?" she was truly quite offended that he was even thinking of rejecting her offer.
Troy looked at her thoughtfully. It was more than what he had been wishing for, that was for certain. Being paid a bucket load to play golf all day – what self respecting teenage golf-pro would want to turn down that offer? But there was still one more condition...
"Well?" Sharpay pushed, disliking the silence that fell, and getting more offended by the second.
"Do you happen to have space for another extra placement?" Troy asked delicately. "The person's completely trustworthy, I swear. Straight A's, musically talented, hard working, you could place her anywhere and she'd fit in." He ended hurriedly.
Chad groaned, and hit his head with the basketball he was holding.
Gabriella. Sharpay shook her head knowingly. This was turning out better than she thought it would. Like a mouse just falling into the trap. Only Troy would put his girlfriend first before a big opportunity like this, naturally.
"Of course! There's always room for one more at Lava Springs. And with someone like that, how could I possibly refuse? Oh, it's all going to be fabulous."