"Where do you want to go first?" Sharpay asked once they had gotten changed into their bathing suits and had met up in the lobby of their hotel building. The girls were wearing bikinis with skirts over them. The boys were wearing their swim trunks and had on their goggles.
"Let's go to the river ride." Chad said looking over Gabriella's shoulder at the map.
"Where's yours, Chad?" Gabriella asked yanking it out of his sight.
"Upstairs," Chad explained. Gabriella sighed and handed him the map. "So who wants to go to the river ride? They actually let us paddle the boat ourselves."
"Why not?" Taylor said. Chad grinned and took her hand and held it. Everyone began walking. Once they stepped out of the hotel it was blazing.
"Why is it so hot here?" Zeke asked shielding his eyes.
"We're in a bubble." Gabriella said pointing up at the sky. Everyone looked up while trying not to bump into anyone. It was true. The whole park was in a bubble to ensure that it was always hot.
"Cool," Ryan whispered. They nodded in agreement then continued the short ride to the river ride.
"It's only four to a boat." Jason observed. They looked and saw that this was true. "And there are seven of us."
"I'd rather not have to sit with people I don't know." Troy said looking at the people on the line. Then he had an idea, "Jason, where's Kelsi?"
"She went to Winterland." Jason said. They groaned and then Gabriella had the sense to realize there were eight of them.
"Oh, I counted wrong." Jason said very embarrassed. Once they got on the ride it was Chad, Troy, Jason, and Ryan in one boat and Zeke, Sharpay, Gabriella, and Taylor in the other.
"Does anybody know how to paddle?" Sharpay asked trying to hold the oar properly.
"It's easy." Taylor said taking the oar from her. "My grandpa took me one time."
Zeke helped her and soon they were moving. It was very peaceful on the water and since the boat was wide, Gabriella spread out and rested her arms on the side of her boat and her head on her arms. She looked into the water and then screamed.
"Troy, why are you in the water?" Gabriella asked. "You'll get in trouble." At that point the other three came to look.
"Chad and Ryan came too." Troy said as the boat drifted along the water. The lands on the sides of them were filled with trees and flowers, no sign of life guards.
"Why?" Sharpay asked.
"For this!" Chad said. In one moment they pushed the boat over and they all fell out screaming. Gabriella quickly came up and spat water at Troy. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her away.
"No!" She screamed. Soon playing and jumping out of the boats. Eventually they drifted past a life guard who kicked them out for the rest of the day.
"But it was worth it!" Zeke said as they walked away from the river ride dripping wet.
"Where do you guys want to go?" Jason asked. He was the only one still dry because he never jumped in.
"Let's hang by the grotto." Troy said looking at Gabriella's map. He handed it back to her and she put it in her water proof bag. They walked to the grotto and saw that it was packed with students from East High.
The grotto was cool. It had steps you had to walk down to into the water with soft blue and pink lights that shined on the water. There were little stools in the water and a bar in the center of everything. Once they closed the door it became darker but the lights helped you see.
"This is so cool." Sharpay said as she stepped into the almost hot water. Gabriella immediately saw five empty stools and swam over to it. She hoisted herself onto the stool from the water and sighed. Troy sat on the other side of her and then turned his stool around so he could rest his elbow on the little wall against the cave that was suppose to be for holding dinks. Once everyone got settled (Zeke, Chad, and Taylor were wading in the water) Gabriella turned around so she and Troy were facing the same direction.
"Hey, what did you want to tell me last night?" Gabriella asked.
"It's just…" He looked behind him to make sure everyone was still talking. "We've been going out for awhile now and I really think I love you and I wanted to know if we could…you know, do it."
Exactly what she was dreading was happening. She didn't know what to say to him. It felt like suddenly the water had become ice cold. She was thankful when Taylor tapped her on the shoulder and handed her a coke with a lemon and straw in it.
"Uh, thanks," Gabriella said. Troy was still looking at her waiting for her answer. She knew that her decision would make the rest of their relationship. If she said yes he would definitely stay with her. If she said no he may leave her.
"Can I think about?" Gabriella asked. Troy nodded.
"I don't want to put pressure on you or anything." He said seriously. "Tell me whenever."
"Okay," She said with a relieved sigh.