Chapter 6: What?!

Gabriella stormed out of the auditorium going towards the parking lot. Before she was able to get to her car Sharpay finally broke the silence, "Um, Gabi, congrats on getting the lead but are you sure you want to do this with Bolton?"

Gabriella turned around and saw the concerned looks on her friends' faces. "It's okay you guys. Like I said before, I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself."

"Okay, but be careful around him, we just don't want to see you get hurt," Kelsi replied as the other three agreed with her.

"I'll be careful you guys don't worry about me. I have to get home now; my mom's probably expecting me." After saying their good-byes the five friends went their separate ways as Gabriella got into her car and drove home. "Mom! I'm back and I have great news!"

No one responded and Gabriella walked into the kitchen and found a not on the counter.

Gabi,

I have to work late tonight so don't wait up for me. I left some money in the jar so order whatever you want.

Love, Mom

"She's gone again," Gabriella said to no one in particular. "No biggie, just wanted to let you know I made the lead in the school musical. I'm going to be singing again."

Back w/ Troy after the auditions

"DUDE! Who knew you could sing," Chad said once Troy had reached the rest of the team. "I got everything on tape to humiliate you later but it's not going to work anymore."

"Yeah, if the cheerleaders find out they'll just be all over him again," Jason replied.

"Are you really going to do the musical? I mean you were joking about playing the lead right?" Zeke questioned.

"No, I'm going to do it. I said I would and I never back out of my words. Besides if I did Gabriella will just get her way and make fun of me for backing out," Troy told the others as they left the auditorium and headed off to the gym for basketball practice.

"Whatever you say captain, but keep your head in the game. We don't want you zoning out on the court because of the stupid musical."

"Don't worry about it Chad. Nothing can keep my head from the game."

The next day at school everyone was buzzing with news, apparently word got out that Troy Bolton had tried out for the school musical and landed the leading role. As Troy walked into the halls of East High a mob of cheerleaders came rushing over to him and pummeled him with questions.

"Troy, is it true that you tried out for the school musical?"

"What?!" Troy exclaimed.

"Can you really sing? I hear that you have an amazing singing voice!"

"Troy, will you sing for me?"

"No Troy, sing for me!"

"Is it true that you're co-star is that new girl? You don't have feelings for her do you? "

"Troy, please go out with me!"

"No, he's going to go out with me!"

"No! He likes me more!"

"Hey! I'm head cheerleader so I get first picks."

As the cheerleading squad began bickering about who got the privilege to go out with Troy he quickly slipped away and went to his locker before homeroom started. After gathering the necessary books Troy closed his locker and found Chad standing next to him.

"Dude, the whole school's talking about the musical."

"Yeah, I wonder how the word spread around so quickly."

"Didn't you see the poster at the main hall? The sign reads out that the stars of the musical are you and the new girl."

"What?!"

"Yeah man. Your dad's probably going to freak out when he finds out about this."

"Shit! I haven't even thought about what he's going to say about me being in the musical. He'll probably lecture me about keeping my head where it should be, how expensive college is now-a-days, blah, blah, blah."

"So what are you going to do?"

"For now, nothing. I'll just deal with it when it comes up."

After school

When basketball practice was over Mr. Bolton told Troy to stay behind. "What's up Dad?"

"'What's up?' What is this I hear about you being in the school musical? Please tell me that it's some sort of joke."

"Nope, it's no joke. I'm in the school musical."

"What were you thinking? You have to spend your focus on basketball. Do you know how much scholarships are worth these days?"

"A lot," Troy said answering his father's question. "But Dad, I made a commitment. I said that I was doing the musical and I'm not going to back out of it. You're the one who always told me that a man has to stay by his word."

Shaking his head Mr. Bolton said, "What am I going to do with you, Troy? You can do the musical but that doesn't mean that you can slack off on basketball. I don't care what you're doing over at twinkle town just don't be late to practice and keep your head in the game when you're here."

"Okay Dad, thanks."

Three Weeks Later …

Having been to rehearsal for the past three weeks Troy had yet to improve his acting skills. Sure his acting was improving each time but he just couldn't remember all of his lines, and this annoyed Gabriella who had already memorized the whole play word for word. It was Friday; rehearsals had started an hour ago. As she sat Indian-style on the stage watching Troy act out his scene she knew she had to work with him outside of rehearsals if she wanted him to get all of his lines correctly. After concluding that there was no other way Gabriella decided that she would wait to approach him until after rehearsals ended for the day.

As Troy walked off the stage after rehearsal he heard a voice call out to him. "Troy, can I talk to you?" Turning around he saw the last person he thought would speak to him voluntarily, much less be the first to strike up a conversation with him.

"Look, I didn't want to do this but it looks like I don't have a choice." Troy looked at her curiously thinking as to what she was referring to. "Your acting doesn't suck, but your memorizing skills do. Do you even spend that much time reading over the script?"

Troy shook his head "no" at her question. "Whenever I tried to do so my dad would always call me outside for more basketball practice."'

Sighing Gabriella made her proposal, "Would you like to come over tomorrow?" At Troy's confused expression she added, "So we can get more practice in. You can tell your dad that you're studying or something but we need to make sure you know this play."

Ecstatic that Gabriella had invited him over Troy vigorously nodded his head adding, "Would noon be okay?"

"Yeah, be by at noon. Here's my address." After giving Troy her address Gabriella walked out of the auditorium, towards her car. Troy Bolton would be coming over to her house tomorrow. Great, Mom's not going to home. I have to be alone with him.