Sharpay, Gabriella, Taylor, and Kelsi all sat in a square in the middle of their homeroom gossiping about boys, boys, boys, and more boys as Troy, Chad, and Zeke sat in the back glaring at the girls, who weren't exactly whispering.
"I think they can hear us." said Gabriella, as she pointed at the boys who tried to look like they hadn't been staring at the girls since homeroom had started.
"Well if they weren't eavesdropping on us they wouldn't have anything to be mad at." said Sharpay.
"It's not eavesdropping when you're talking loud enough for the entire class to hear." Chad blurted out.
"So you are listening?" asked Taylor.
"I'll admit I can hear you." said Chad. "I'll also admit I don't like you talking about other guys. It makes me feel . . . insecure." Everyone just laughed loudly at Chad's display of sensitivity which caused him to shrink more into his seat. "It's not funny!" he shouted at them.
Taylor, the only one who didn't bust out in laughter, ran over to her boyfriend and draped her arms around his shoulders. "Oh, Baby," she cooed sweetly into his ear, "I would never think about loving any other man, but you."
"Thanks, Tay." said Chad as he rested his hands on hers. "That means a lot."
"Except maybe Denzel Washington!" Taylor added excitedly. "That man is fiiine!"
"Thank you, Taylor." said Chad sarcastically as his girlfriend returned to her laughing girlfriends.
"It's ok man," said Troy reassuringly as he patted his best friend on the back, "We still love ya."
"Yeah," Zeke jumped in, "Me, Troy, and Jason would never leave you for Denzel Washington."
"Thanks guys." said Chad to his best friends.
"Unless he offered us a million dollars." added Troy.
"You know what?!" said Chad angrily. "You guys are all jerks! I'm gonna go make some new friends!"
"Calm down, Chad." said Kelsi, trying to sooth the angry basketball player. "We didn't all say we'd leave for Denzel Washington."
"Yeah," piped up Gabriella, "Just your best friends and girlfriend."
"That makes me feel so much better." said Chad dryly.
"Denzel Washington wouldn't have to offer me anything to ditch you, Chad." said Sharpay.
"I love you too, Sharpay." said Chad with mock compassion.
Sharpay just gave a small smile.
"I have to admit, I'd leave you too." said Gabriella.
"And me." added Kelsi.
"It's official." announced Chad, "All of my friends hate."
"We don't hate you, Chad." said Troy rubbing his back.
"We just like Denzel Washington more." said Taylor.
"At least Ryan and Jason were kind enough not to mention their hurtful opinions!" said Chad. "Thank you, guys."
"That's because they're not even here, Chad." mentioned Gabriella.
"Speaking of the missing duo, where are they?" asked Kelsi.
"I saw Jason outside." said Sharpay.
"Did you find, Ryan?" asked Troy.
"Yes, I did." said Sharpay indignantly.
"Did you kill him?" asked Gabriella.
"No, I did not." said Sharpay with a sigh.
"Good girl." said Taylor mockingly.
"Watch it, McKessie." said Sharpay threateningly with narrowed eyes.
"Hey, look! Here comes Jason now." said Kelsi pointing towards the door.
Jason walked through the classroom door with his head bent down low and his damp hair covering his eyes. He walked to the back of the class and took his seat next to Troy. Everyone just stared at him curiously waiting for him to put on his usual goofy grin and join in the humiliation of Chad. But no goofy grin appeared on his face, and no joyous mirth could be seen in his barely visible eyes.
"Dude, why are you damp?" asked Chad, the first to break the strange silence.
"Chad, shut up!" scolded Taylor.
"What did I do now?!" asked Chad in shock.
"Can't you see Jason is obviously not his usual self." said Taylor gesturing to their stoic friend.
"Then let me rephrase my question." said Chad. Turing towards Jason he asked, "Dude, are you sad because you're damp?"
Taylor just slapped herself on the forward and mutter, "Boy, you are hopeless."
"There is no satisfying you is there?" whined Chad.
"Well, maybe if you actually used your brain for once." mention Taylor.
"Is that so?" said Chad ready for a fight. "For your information-"
"What-" began Taylor at the same time.
"Would you guys stop it?!" shouted Kelsi. "This is not the time for one of your old couple fights!" Both Taylor and Chad bowed their heads in shame while Kelsi turned her attention towards Jason. "Jason, sweetie, what's wrong?"
Jason was completely despondent to the entire situation that was going on around him. Even when Darbus came towards him and asked why he had been late to class. Luckily, the gang came up with some excuse about a visit to the nurse that she bought. Right when Darbus turned around to return to her desk Ryan entered the room and froze when she set her gaze on him.
"Mr. Evans," Darbus announced in her loud theatre voice, "Only your second day back and you're late to homeroom. Maybe you haven't changed as much as we thought you had?"
"I'm sorry for my tardiness, Ms. Darbus," said Ryan in a calm voice, "But I had to go to the nurse. Here, I have a pass from her."
Darbus walked towards him and took the pass from his hands. Reading it over she looked back up and said, "Very well. Take your seat." Ryan looked his desk, which was located next to a very damp teen that was staring straight at him, and panicked. Jason could see the worry and fear in Ryan's eyes and knew that he had to do something to make that fear go away. He looked to Zeke who sat at the other end of their row.
"Zeke," he whispered to his friend, "Switch seats with me."
"Now you decide to talk?" questioned Zeke.
"Just shut up and do it." said Jason forcefully.
"Whatever, man." said Zeke as he grabbed his bag and stood up.
Jason quickly walked over to Zeke's seat and sat down while Zeke took his seat. Luckily, Ms. Darbus was too interested in the frozen Ryan to notice anyone else moving at all.
"Any day now Mr. Evans!" Darbus shouted. "As I always say the theatre waits for no one."
"Yes, Ms. Darbus." said Ryan quickly as he hurried to his seat. When he was finally in his seat Darbus turned her attention on Jason.
"Mr. Cross, why is it that Ryan returned with a pass from the nurse and you did not?" Darbus questioned him.
Jason was at a loss for words and couldn't think quickly enough of a plausible excuse to why he didn't have a pass. Fortunately, someone else did.
"I asked the nurse for my pass, Ms. Darbus." Ryan announced. When Darbus gave him a look he added, "If you don't ask her for one she'll send you away without thinking to give you one. She's getting on in years and her I think her focus is slipping."
"Very well then." said Darbus just as the first bell rang. "Off you go to first period."
Everyone rose from their seats and rushed out of the room to their first period classes. Before Ryan joined the crowd he looked back to Jason who just mouthed the words 'thank you' to him. He smiled, but it quickly faded away as he remembered this morning's events, and he ran out of the classroom without looking back.