Thanks to Ylene for being my beta reader!
Chapter One: Nobody's Perfect
Sally was listening to Elaine talk about her law books. Sally snapped back when Elaine said, "Did you know that a type of cancer that people are exposed to in their jobs can cause them to be able to file a lawsuit against their company, even if they don't contract the disease, but a member of their family does instead? It's amazing about that, there's so much that can cause somebody to file a lawsuit." Sally nodded and said, "Wow, do you think those people will need medical costs covered too? I'm studying to be a doctor."
"Yes, so in a way, it kind of goes hand in hand, and that means when I get work, you get work as well. So we'll see a lot of each other when we get out," said Elaine. "Fun, and a quick question. Who is it that Ryan is dating?" "Uh, I'm dating Ryan," said Elaine nervously. Sally's mouth dropped and said, "But you said you guys were just really good friends! You lied to me!" "But, you see, when I told you that, we were still friends, and he wasn't seeing anyone. Truth was, I still had feelings for my ex-boyfriend. When we came here, he recently was out of a relationship with Aurora, a girl we had as a friend. But then we said we give it a try and so now, here we are as boyfriend-girlfriend."
"I guess I can live with that. I just really like him, that's all. And I really wanted to be that girlfriend that you are right now," said Sally, disappointment laced in her voice. Elaine said softly, "I'm sorry." Sally just nodded, she was to busy trying to think of a way to split them up. If only that were possible, since in every tabloid across America it said they would always end up together.
In Houston with Kelsi and Jason, Jason was at home alone because Kelsi had English at that time. Jason was unpacking now their stuff, however the phone rang again, and Jason sighed, since no one was around to pick it up but him. He picked it up and said, "Hello, Nielson-Cross residence, Jason Cross speaking." Jason? Where's Kelsi? "Oh, it's you Sharpay. Figures that none of the basketball team remembers me. Kelsi's in English class right now. What is it?" Oh, it's just that we were discussing about, you know, how to stay in touch, and we were thinking a Notebook. "What are we, a chick flick?"
Everybody makes mistakes
Everybody has those days
1, 2, 3, 4!
Everybody makes mistakes
Everybody has those days
Everybody knows what, what I'm talkin' 'bout
Everybody get that way
Everybody makes mistakes
Everybody has those days
Everybody knows what, what I'm talkin' 'bout
Everybody gets that way, yeah!
Sorry, but it's either that or we continue to call you and annoy you at your study time. What do you think? "I think it's better than getting annoyed because we're still in the process of unpacking." I thought Kelsi did that. "I do some of the work as well! And by the way, this phone's not cordless so I'm doing the kitchen again!" Oops, sorry about that. Well, where do you live? "Uh, 935 Gardenridge Ave., Houston, TX, why?" So we can send you the notebook, duh! "Ok, well, bye!" Tootles!
Jason hung up with a sigh, Sharpay just loves to call and interupt them while they are unpacking. Jason went back to Kelsi's room and unpacked her bedsheets, which were Wildcat bedsheets. Jason muttered to himself, "At least she remembers I was on the basketball team with everyone else." He then heard his cell phone ring and he tossed the sheets on the bed, muttering, "What now?"
"Hello, Jason's cell phone, Jason speaking." Hey dude, sorry I didn't call early. "Hiya Zeke. Why'd you suddenly remember to call me?" Uh, because when I meant to call, I had forgotten that Sharpay hadn't paid her part of the electric bill and they shut down the power and my cell phone wasn't charged. "Sharpay pays for the electric?" No, we pay our part of the bill so it costs less.
Back at Brown, while Zeke was talking to Jason, Gabriella was talking to Troy about how to do Calculus, since it was only the first day and already he got a "F" in Calculus and Troy said, "Why is it that I always fail in Math?" Gabriella sighed and said, "Well, let's start with the basics. There are natural numbers, the integers, the rational numbers, and the real numbers. The natural numbers are defined as the system of positive counting numbers, which are 1, 2, 3, and so on. The integers are positive and negative whole numbers and zero, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3 and so on from each side. Rational numbers are quotients of integers, such as p/ q, with p, q, symbol symbol and q symbol 0, is a rational number. Real numbers are the set of all decimals, terminating and non terminating."
"I'm confused," said Troy. Gabriella sighed. Taylor laughed and said, "Good luck trying to get him to understand Calculus, Gabi!" Troy said, totally deadpan, "I expected nothing more from you than to mock me." "Well, you were right on the mark, than! Oh, wait, you were being factious, weren't you?" Troy said in a confused tone, "Gabriella, what does 'factious' mean?" Gabriella sighed and said, "It's sarcasm." "Oh."
Sometimes I'm in a jam
I've gotta make a plan
It might be crazy
I do it anyway
No way to know for sure
I figure out a cure
I'm patchin' up the holes
But then it overflows
If I'm not doin' too well
Why be so hard on myself?
Gabriella said, "Well, we'll try again later, ok Troy?" Troy nodded. When she left, he sighed and said frustratingly, "Why can't I understand this stuff?"
Elaine was at an interview again, since with her being famous and a student at Harvard, the public took great interest in her for going to Law School. seventeen was the magazine who was once again, interviewing her. They took her dark brown tresses and curled them, and placed at temporary red dye on them so that way the could use an old to new look on her. She sat down after the photos, and they started the interview.
"Ella, you've gone through a major hair change. You were once a dazzaling red-head, and now, you have this dark, mystique girl look. Why did you do that?" "Well, I was going to Harvard, and I wanted to change from my high school look to a darker, more mysterious look for like this mask. I didn't really have to do it, I just wanted a major change. It's a really good change I made." "What made you go to Harvard Law School? Was it because you wanted a degree and take hold of your mother's company?"
"Eh, no, that wasn't the reason. The reason for going to Harvard was because I wanted to be a lawyer. There's this whole group of people that you could talk to and they would all describe me the same way: this very headstrong girl who won't give up without a good fight." "There must be a reason why your a headstrong girl. Why is it that you are the way you are today?" "I honestly couldn't tell you that one. I don't think theres a straight up answer, if you know what I mean. It's impossible for me to tell you why."
"Is there anyone your dating now?" "Yes, I got back together with Ryan Evans, and it's been a huge dramatic change for both of us. You know, since it's like we weren't together, and now we're back together again, it's not rocky at all, we have this special relationship. Not a whole lot of people ever know why we won't stay apart for long." "Yes, but what do you mean when you say 'we won't stay apart for long?'" "Oh, we just are kids, and we'll break up over something silly, and then, eventually either Ryan or I, mostly Ryan, will admit that we're wrong."
Nobody's perfect
I gotta work it
Again and again
'Til I get it right
Nobody's perfect
You live and you learn it
And if I mess it up sometimes
Nobody's perfect
"Ah, little fights? How little exactly are they?" "Oh, just something silly, like why I chose a certain thing, or about the pizza we order, you know, tiny things, but it's never anything major, except the one time we broke up, but that hasn't happened lately." "Is there any advice you would offer to anyone?" "Uh, yeah, just remember that no one's perfect, and even one "F" is nothing to get worked up about. Just try again." "You ripped that off Hannah Montana!" Elaine laughed and said, "That I did. I don't really have one general piece of advice."
Ryan was waiting for Elaine to finish her interview, and when she came out, Ryan said, "How'd it go?" "Pretty good, actually. I have another interview for Cosmo Girl tomorrow," said Elaine. "Wow, you're just taking over the tabloids." "Yes, it's seems like I've became a public interest, and oh, Saturday, I have a press conference with Fox News at 5, ABC News at 4, and NBC news at 6." "Wow, you're one busy girl." Elaine's phone suddenly rang with the ringtone "Chemicals React" by Aly & AJ, and Elaine said, "Oh, Sharpay's calling!"
She picked up the phone and instead of hearing Sharpay's voice, she heard Zeke's voice that sounded worried, Ella, is that you? "Yeah. Zeke, why are you using Shar's cell phone?" I'll tell you why: Find the nearest Star magazine and take a good look at the cover. Elaine walked over to the Star magazine stand and looked at the cover, and it read Kitchen Romance: Sharpay Evans with a basketball chef? Elaine gasped and said, "How did they find out? I never said anything about you guys, and Sharpay's been on the DL."
I know, which is what made them finding out about us so weird. Elaine looked at it and said, "Kitchen romance, though? That's a lame title." Sharpay said the same thing about the title. "Weird, look, I'll call you back if I get anymore information on who got this story." OK, Ttyl. "Tootles," said Elaine. She snapped her phone shut, not noticing the paparazzi behind her that was snapping away.
Ryan said, "We should get going, the paparazzi could be here." "Right, let's get back to Harvard!"
Sometimes I work a scheme
But then it flips on me
Doesn't turn out how I planned
Gets stuck in quicksand
But no problem can't be solved
Once I get involved
I try to be delicate
Then crash right into it
But my intentions are good, yeah, yeah, yeah
Sometimes just misunderstood
Lucas was talking to Sally about the dilemma he was having with Elaine and Ryan. "I can't believe they're back together!" Sally sighed and said, "What's not to get? She got back together with a jerk!" "Yeah, jerk-face is in the way of her!" "Wait, we'll make it out like a phoney love triangle! I'll make it seem like he's playing with her!" "How? He's devoted to her!" She gave a flustered sigh and walked off. Lucas heard rustling, and jumped, forgetting that they were near bushes.
"I hope that's just a cat," said Lucas, scared. The next thing he knew, this guy was coming out of the bushes and he said, "Hi, I'm Nicholas. So, I hear you want to break up Elaine and Ryan." "Y-y-yeah." "Well, here's a tip for ya: mention to her she's not a virgin. She doesn't like that, the little slut." "But, she said in interviews she was a complete virgin, even though she admitted she w-w-was ra-ra-raped." Lucas was stuttering now. "Because, she thinks that if she denies it ever happened, it would just disappear."
Lucas nodded and said, "What do I do?"
Back at Brown was where Sharpay was asking about how they found out about their romance. On the other side of her wall, she heard a moan and a thump and she said, "I don't wanna know what's going on in that room." "But it's Gabriella's room, what if it's a rapist?" "Relax, it's probably just Troy and Gabriella getting down."
How correct she was, in Gabriella's room, Gabriella was only in a bra and panties and Troy's clothes had long been off him. They didn't notice the thud they made up against the wall that Troy pushed Gabriella up against. Gabriella moaned as Troy moved and started to take her bra off, not removing his lips from hers. They were literally glued together, oh, well, they might as well have been. Troy and Gabriella pulled apart when they needed air, and Gabriella's hair had already started getting messed up.
They moved to the bed and Troy gently laid her down, and he said huskily, "What about a condom?" Gabriella nodded and pointed to her bedside drawer, and he opened it. He grabbed the box and pulled one on. Gabriella had pulled her underwear off, and they were getting ready to start when Chad burst in, his eyes widening at the scene and he asked timidly, "Am I interrupting something?" Taylor stormed over to him and said, "I told you, you idiot!" She grabbed his ear and dragged him off, with him moaning with, "Ow, ow, ow, not the ear, ow, ow, ow!" Gabriella said seductively, "Well, now that he's gone, where were we?"
Nobody's perfect
I gotta work it
Again and again
'Til I get it right
Nobody's perfect
You live and you learn it
And if I mess it up sometimes
Nobody's perfect
I gotta work it
I know in time I'll find a way
Nobody's perfect
Troy smiled, and said, "About the time I get ready to make love to you." They barely started when Zeke came in, and his eye's widened and said just as timidly, "Oops." Sharpay followed and said, "I told you so!" Zeke gulped as she grabbed his ear and dragged him off as well, him saying, "Ow, ow, ow, why does every girl insist on the ear? Ow, ow, ow!" Gabriella sighed and said, "Hold on a second." She got up and went to her door and locked it, and said, "That way no one else can..." she trailed off as her cell phone rang. "Grrrrrrrr," screamed Gabriella as she answered the phone screaming, "WHAT?"
Uh, bad timing, huh? It was Elaine's soothing voice, she seemed to sound a little different though. I had the same problem, Chad called while Ryan and I were making out. Gabriella laughed as she heard Ryan shout, "HEY!" in the background. "Yeah, bad timing, Troy and I, where, um, getting down, if ya catch my drift." Oh, ok, and if ya need me to kick Chad or Zeke's ass for walking in on you, then I'll do it in a heartbeat! "Yeah, go on and kick Chad's ass, he was the first one to interrupt us, then kick Zeke's ass for annoying us." Done! I'll be there in 15 seconds! Tootles! "Ella alert in 15 seconds," Gabriella screamed to everyone.
"One, two, three, four, five," counted Sharpay as she cleaned everything up and her fashion designs, counting still, "six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen." Elaine walked in on fifteen, and said, "Hey, guess who's here to kick some ass!" "Don't you have studying to do?," chorused Zeke and Chad together, and on cue, Ryan walked in, carrying their bags, and she said, "Yup!" Ryan said exhaustedly, "Next time... you carry... the bags." He fainted on the couch. Elaine looked at him and shrugged.
"Chad, you're first!" She sounded cheerful, and Chad was hurrying to find Taylor to save him, but when he tried to get in his room, he saw Taylor locked the door. He gulped as Elaine rounded on him. Sharpay and Taylor were cheering her on, saying, "KILL HIM, KILL HIM!," repeatedly. Chad was down on his knees begging for mercy in only two seconds. Troy snorted as he came out of Gabriella's room in a towel and said, "Very manly, Chad." Chad said, "My eyes! They burn!" Troy said, "Man up."
While Elaine and Sharpay where laughing at Chad's idiocy, Gabriella was sneaking to the bathroom the Troy had just walked in, and suddenly, Ryan got up and said, "Freeze, missy! Just WHERE do you think you're going?" "To get discount electronics," said Gabriella sarcastically, and Ryan said, "Oh. That's ok then." Zeke slapped his forehead and said, "Has he always been this dumb?" Elaine said, "No, he used to be smarter."
Sometimes I fix things up
And they fall apart again
Nobody's perfect
I know I mix things up
But I always get it right in the end
You know I do
[spoken:
Next time you feel like
It's just one of those days
When you just can't seem to win
If things don't turn out the way you planned
Figure something else out
Don't stay down, try again, yeah!
Everybody looked at her, and suddenly, Elaine's cell phone rang out with "Public Affair" and everybody jumped, especially Chad. "Relax, y'all, it's just my cell," she said as she answered it with a chipper, "Hiya, Kels!" Uh, I'm Jason. "Oh, hiya Jase. Why do ya have Kels's cell?" How did you know it was Kelsi's? And why are you talking in a southern accent? "I dunno, same reason as to why you forgot that I assigned the ringtone "Public Affair" to Kelsi's cell phone number!" Oh, why'd you choose public affair?
"Maybe because it's to show you have no brains!" Huh? I just called to let you know about... "About how ya still got no brains and ain't findin' them soon?" Gabriella laughed, and Taylor snorted, and said, "That sounds more like Chad." Huh? Why did I hear Taylor? Where are you? "I'm at Brown with the rest of the gang, why?" Don't you have lawyer stuff to learn? "First of all, it's paralegal stuff, not lawyer stuff. And secondly, yes, I do, I brought it with me. I can email it to my teachers, I mentioned that I have several press conferences as well as school, so I have off-time when I need it."
When did you get there? And how did you get there? "About fifteen minutes ago and in fifteen seconds." WHAT? How did you get there in 15? "I'll show you in 10." She got out of there and went out onto a jet plane, and said, "Cross-Nielson residence, s'il vous plait!" The driver nodded, and she said, "Be there in nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, hi Jason!" "But... you... and... Brown... how did... I'm confused!" "I'll be back at Brown in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, hi everyone!"
"Hi, Ella," chorused everyone at Brown. Elaine heard Jason on the other end of the phone faint. "Hello? Hello? Huh, he hung up," she said, hanging up on him. She then said, "Now Chad, get ready for a world of hurt!" She was about ready to pounce when they heard something from the bathroom.
In there Troy and Gabriella were having S-E-X in the shower. Gabriella moaned out, "At least we're not getting bothered this way." Troy only grunted, and they heard Sharpay banging on the door, asking, "When will you be done? I have to get ready for my next class!" Gabriella said, "Check back in an hour!" Sharpay sounded confused as she said, "Why an hour? You know what, I don't think I wanna know." They heard her leave and Chad asking, "What's Gabriella doing in there?" Sharpay replied, "I don't know, and I don't want to."
Everybody makes mistakes
Everybody gets that way
Everybody knows what, what I'm talkin' 'bout
Everybody has those days
Everybody makes mistakes
Everybody gets that way
Everybody knows what, what I'm takin' 'bout
Everybody has those days
Troy smirked, and said, "Let's get back to where we were, shall we?" On the other side of the door, Elaine had already done Chad and moved onto Zeke. She had taken his creme brulee and smashed it into his face. Zeke looked shocked, and Elaine said, "Well, I'm done. Anything else I need to know?" Sharpay handed her a notebook and said, "We decided Harvard was the best place to start the notebook's journey."
"What are we, a soap opera or real life?" "I don't know," said Sharpay, "but it would be cool if we were on TV! Or maybe the big screen!" Elaine rolled her eyes and said, "Well, I have to get going now. See ya!" "Later, Ella," said everyone except Troy and Gabriella, who were still in the bathroom.
They arrived at Harvard in 15 seconds, and Elaine was at her class in 3 seconds, which meant she was on time. Elaine smiled at her teacher and sat down, ready for class. She handed in her homework on time, and got a great grade so far. She smiled and wrote in the College Notebook of Memories, Hey everyone! It's Ella, just so you know. I'm doing great in Harvard Law, I already am passing all my courses. My roommate's name is Sally G. Winters, and she seems a little like Sharpay before she was all nice. I'm doing just well, and avoided the freshman 15, so I weigh at great weight still.
The press conference for three channels is set for tomorrow, and I'm seriously nervous. But you guys know I'll get it right in the end, 'cause that's just who I am. Oh, and did you know that when you die of intestacy, you had died without a valid will? A valid will is a written document which will entrust certain objects to beneficiaries, legatees, divisees, including portions or percentages of estate, specific gifts, creations of trust for management and future distribution of all or a portion of the estate.
A will also names the executor (and possibly substitute executors) to manage the estate, states the authority and obligations of the executor, sometimes gives funeral and/or burial instructions, nominates guardians of minors and spells out other terms. To be valid, it must be signed by the person who made it (testator), dated (an incorrect date will not invalidate the will), and signed by two witnesses, except in Vermont, which requires three witnesses. There's also a holographic will, but we haven't covered those yet.
Nobody's perfect
I gotta work it
Again and again
'Til I get it right
Nobody's perfect
You live and you learn it
And if I mess it up sometimes
Nobody's perfect
I gotta work it
I know in time I'll find a way
Oh, well, I guess homework tonight is to write a summary of what I just wrote, so I'll catch you later! -Ella. Ella got up when class was dismissed, and she went to give Ryan the notebook.
Ryan was in English class when he had the notebook, so he turned past Elaine's pages she wrote in, and wrote, Hiya, everyone! I'm in English class for my core classes, I guess Ella is taking her core classes and her first law class. (Hi!) Oh, and that was Ella, she also in this class. (Yup! Ryan, are you writing anything bad about me?) No! Shouldn't you be taking notes? (Shouldn't you also be taking notes?) Touche. Ok, what we're working on now is a detailed analysis of some book. (Huckleberry Finn, the original version.) Oh, well, did you read the book? (Uh, I skimmed.) What's it about? (A boy who goes on adventures?) Wow, she's right.
(I am? I mean, duh! Of course I am!) You didn't read the book, did you? (You caught me!) Ha! I knew it! Ella didn't read it! (I read it in Freshman Lit.) We had Freshman Lit? (Yeah, it was one of our core classes for Freshman year, remember?) Oh yeah, that's the class I took in summer school! (Why?) I never showed up for the class. Anyway, we have to get going, otherwise the teacher will think we're passing notes. (Yeah, bye everyone!) Bye!-Ryan (Ella's side note). Ryan looked at Elaine and whispered, "Did you have to write along with me?" She nodded and said, "Shh!"
Nobody's perfect
You live and you learn it
And if I mess it up sometimes
Nobody's perfect
(Nobody's perfect)
No, no
Nobody's perfect!