"Sorry, sorry... Comin' through." Mumbled Troy as his friends Chad, Zeke, and Jason pushed him deeper into the crowd. The suspense of finding out about making the team was just about as great of a feeling as trying to win a game, at least, to Troy it was. His blood seemed as heavy as lead, and his heart beat echoed inside his skull just as the tiny print on stark white paper became visible. The athletic teen decided to read through the entire list. Because, if he did make the team, he'd like to try to figure out who would work well together before their first official team meeting; which was to be during free period that day. Though, he was sure his dad was a step ahead of him. He was coach for a reason. It was like time slowed down as Troy began to read the list that held his fate.

' Baylor, Zeke

Bolton, Troy

Brown, Henry

Cross, Jason

Danforth, Chad

Dombo, Thomas

Gonzalez, Antonio

Green, William

Hall, Michael

Keele, Evan

Marks, Edward

Mitchell, Alexander

Murphy, Lucas

Wilde, Jeffrey

Zara, Daniel '

...He made made the team, with his friends, too! A perfect, waxen smile broke over the boy in his elation. His dad would certainly hear a huge thanks from him later, and Troy would as always try his best at the sport. Meanwhile, everyone who made the team cheered and whooped. Troy patted his friends on their backs happily.

"What team?" Chad shouted to the whole gym.

"Wildcats!" The large group replied in a mixture of shouting, loud voices, and awkward murmurs.

"What team?!" Chad repeated, this time louder.

"Wildcats!" He had everyone shouting enthusiastically.

"Wildcats!" Shouted Chad one last time, pumping both of his fists into the air. Troy has been through that enough to know when to dodge.

"GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME!" Everyone shouted in unision to end their chant. Students left the gym a few at a time in a loud excited jabber, occasionally wooing at their success. They could practically feel Sharpay scoffing at their jockiness, but who cared?

"Did you guys see the whole team on the list?" Troy asked his friends as they walked to home room.

"Yeah, man. It's gonna be one hell of a season. Your dad rocks." Chad replied, thrilled.

"For sure. We are so going to rock it all the way to the championships this year." Zeke added in. Jason stayed quiet until that point, his confusion getting the best of him.

"How do you guys know? I mean, unless you're all, like, pysics or something." Jason asked while scratching his head. Zeke and Troy tried to hide their smiles from the amusement. Chad, however, was mildly irritated and rolled his eyes.

"Jason, do you not get, like, figures of speach or whatever? Or predictions?" Chad asked, a bit more venomously than he intended. Jason shrugged his shoulders and frowned. Chad then sped off to homeroom. Zeke showed Jason an empathetic look, and Troy mouthed 'Chad's sorry'.

—

Once in homeroom, Zeke saw Sharpay and Ryan talking to one another at their desks. Well, mostly Sharpay.

"Hey, Sharpay! " Zeke said with a grin at the front of her desk. The blonde diva was turned around in her desk, facing her brother who then pointed lazily to the other boy. Sharpay raised a skeptical eyebrow at the tall male. "I heard about what happened between you and Kelsi, and I just wanted to let you know that I can always help you with your English homework or whatever, if you want. I mean, I won't do your work for you, but...yeah." Zeke finished awkwardly while a blush krept up his face.

"Listen, I don't know what you think you heard- but you didn't hear it!" Sharpay bossily snapped. Behind her, Ryan rolled his eyes. This made Zeke feel unwelcomed and he walked the rest off his way to his desk. Papers shuffled and mobile phones beeped as student continued to do studently things until the bell rang for homeroom to start. Ms. Darbus was her usual loud self with dramatic flare.

"As I'm sure you've all remembered, the Class President for this year has be determined. So hopefully, those of you who wished to participate have turned in your votes." The Drama instructor began. There was one disappointed 'oh' from the back of the classroom. The student was glared at, in a scrutinizing manner; because according to the students, they weren't supposed to actually care about that kind of stuff. There was really only one who did. Taylor McKessie could barley contain her excitement. Troy heard an annoyed sigh from his best friend.

"So, your Class President for this year is... Taylor McKessie! Congratulations! " Said Ms. Darbus, a delighted expression on her face. The purple shaw draped across her shoulders and arm was drawn taught as the large woman stretched out her arms. Taylor nearly choked back a squeal, and her group of friends awarded her with a dragged out applause. She then raised her hand and proceeded to speak.

"Can I just say, that I am honoured to be your class president this year. And also, those of us on the Mathlete's team would always love new members. The sign up sheet is on the podium in the main lobby, as always, and-" She was interrupted by Ms. Darbus. At this, numerous classmates snickered, notably Chad. It had almost surprised Troy that Chad hadn't yet fallen asleep.

"Yes, that is simply wonderful, Miss McKessie, thank you. Now, as I have been mentioning, the summer musical is coming closer! Auditions will be held next Friday during free period. I would love to see new faces in the theatre. You are encouraged to ask Miss Nielson for songs to preform. And if you are truly unsure of what would help you...shine the brightest," Ms. Darbus announces with an exaggerated twirl, "I most certainly wouldn't object to offering some of my expertise knowledge." Ms. Darbus spent the rest of the period explain how "the arts enrich the soul" with way too much verbal vigor.

"Excuse me, Ms. Darbus." Sharpay said at the end of class, while her classmates went to first period. Ms. Darbus' glasses drooped slightly as she looked up from a book.

"Yes, what is it, Sharpay?" She asked, concerned that something could be wrong with her favourite student. Sharpay put on her best 'puppy dog' face.

"Well, it's about what you said earlier, of the summer musical... Our musicals are always the best, I'd know, and show biz is tough. I just...don't think Kelsi's little heart would be able to take it if her songs somehow didn't do well." Years of acting helped the young girl tear up at the end of her false worry. She dabbed her eyes delicately with the tissue her teacher handed her.

"And what are you trying to say?" Asked the stout woman, furrowing her brow.

"I was thinking maybe we could use Andre's compositions instead. They'll work just as good, and it will give Kelsi the opportunity to build up her confidence. It really would be best for everyone, and the show." Sharpay replied using her best persuasive voice. Her pawn seemed skeptical, and took a moment to consider the options. New students started to fill the desks behind them.

"If you really feel that that would be best for the show... I'll think about it. You made sure your brother agrees with this? You two are both co-presidents of the drama club, so I would expect an equal say." Sharpay knew what the answer was already. It didn't take much to get desperate people wrapped around her fingers, which she didn't mind. They made the best jewelry.

"Absolutely, Ms. Darbus! You know I would never count him out- we're twins for a reason." Sharpay replied, as if she has always included Ryan in everything. Most of the desks were taken by then, and chatter was apparent. Sharpay took the incentive to leave. "Tootles!"

—

"But you didn't even ask me!" Ryan pouted in the lunch line to his sister.

"Not my fault, you should have seen this coming. Like, I even said so. Do you even listen? " Sharpay retorted as she was handed her pre-made lunch. The siblings walked in unison to their table on the balcony of the cafeteria, groups of underclassmen parting as they did so. "Seriously, I've always done whatever it takes to get what I want. Why do you think I came out of the womb before you?"

"But this is different, Sharpay -" Ryan usually understood his sister's motives for her schemes, he didn't like being beat out either, but, he had never known her to actually hold grudges before.

"Why do you care so much?" She asked, genuinely curious. Her heals clicked on the red and white steps as they got closer to their table.

"Because she's kind of my friend, and that's what friends do?" Kelsi was already sitting at their table, with a few other kids from the drama department. Sharpay groaned, both at Ryan's response and Kelsi's existence.

"Smile, sis!" Ryan reminded her. She recognized his showtime voice and applied the brightest, most ambitious smile she could muster.

—

The basketball posse ate their lunch fast. Zeke even made sure to pack a smaller lunch so that he would finish faster than he normally would. Most of the other occupants of the cafeteria were still eating and talking with one another, oblivious of the meeting the new basketball team would be having during free period. After emptying their trays and putting them away, Troy and his friends quickly left the lunch room to go to the gym.

Coach Bolton was waiting in the gym for basketball team he assembled the night before. One by one, the guys showed up. Troy, Chad, Zeke, and Jason didn't have to wait long for the rest of the team to get to the gym. Everyone stood neatly in a line facing their coach, who looked proud.

"Those of you here today," the coach stated to he team, pacing slowly back and forth "great job. You made the team" he smiled at his son. A few of the teammates shared smiles.

"So, before I get to see you guys on the court, showing the West High Knights what skill really is," he paused and chuckled "I need to know your uniform sizes. And, we need to choose a team captain." he handed a clipboard and pen to the end of the line farthest from Troy. Each athlete wrote down their uniform size and passed it down to the next person in line. Meanwhile, coach Bolton continued on.

"A team captain should be someone who is brave, confident, and always gives one hundred and ten percent. They should know how well they can do on court, as well as for their fellow teammates. We need someone who is a team player all the time." There was no doubt about it, he was talking about Troy. 'I am not ready for this.' Troy thought. He took a deep breath and wrote his size down on the clipboard when Chad handed it to him. He handed it to Zeke as another boy in line spoke up.

"I vote for Troy." Troy's heart dropped. A mixture of honour and anxiety filled him. Other boys on the team agreed and chimed in with the first boy.

"Yeah, if it weren't for him I probably wouldn't be here right now." Chad said honestly.

"I don't know anyone that can do a jump shot better than him."

"And I think he knows our moves better than we do half of the time."

"Guys...guys, that's great and all but, there's got to be someone else better for the job. I mean, I'm really not that great. Tony's pretty good, he could be captain." Troy butt in, flattered by all of the votes for him.

"Thanks, Troy. But really, we all think you should be captain." a tall boy, Tony, replied from the end of the line. Troy let out a small breathy laugh from his nervousness. His father approached him.

"We all trust you Troy. We really think you're the best fit. What do you say?" Mr. Bolton had that fatherly smile that secretly meant 'don't disappoint me'. Troy smiled, knowing he couldn't get out of it.

"Hey, what kind of guy would I be if I said no?" Troy finally replied, stepping forward.

"That's my boy. Hey, I better see each and every one of you in here every day next week. We gotta be ready for homecoming, alright?" the coach said, getting the boys riled up. They huddled around their new captain and cheered.

"What team?!" Chad's voice echoed throughout the gymnasium.

—

"W-what do you mean?" Kelsi stood shocked at her piano in the auditorium. Props were being pushed around backstage and papers rustled in the forestage.

"I feel as though...it's the best choice, Miss Nielson- I'm sorry. Just think, this will allow you time to build from your work and gain confidence. Maybe we'll have you for the fall musical." Ms. Darbus told the small girl with her glasses resting on the bridge of her nose. She saw Kelsi's eyes start to turn red, but wasn't able to comfort her quick enough. Kelsi left the auditorium in a huff, running past busy drama kids. Sharpay walked triumphantly across the stage with Ryan, towards Andre, the boy she chose to compose the songs for the summer musical.

"Oh good, you're here!" She said with a sarcastic undertone. She grabbed the boy by his shoulders and turned him around so that he was facing the other way, and gave him a little push. "Now go transpose!" Andre stubbled off to the SR wing at the side of the stage. Sharpay looked snobbishly at Ryan, who had a rather sour look on his face.

"What's your problem?" They were in the middle of the stage, Ryan's shoulders were slumped and Sharpay rested a hand on her hip.

"You know what my problem is." Ryan sighed and left his sister in the middle of the stage. She stood there in silence for a few moments and ignored everything else going on around her.

"Boys!" She proclaimed with a groan and flailed her hands. Prop pushers got out of her way as she stomped towards Andre.

The drama instructor was sitting in a front row seat of the auditorium, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"The things I put up with for the arts." She mumbled to herself with a sigh. Ms. Darbus gratefully took a glass of water offered to her by a freshman. She took her time consuming the water, enjoying a few moments of peace. The glass was then sat down with a 'clink' on a fold out table. She walked slowly to the apron and clapped to get everyone's attention.

"Alright, people, let's get to work! Mr. Andre, miss Evans!" She motioned for the pair to come to her. The students were all together on the stage, waiting to be assigned a task. Andre and Sharpay walked down the steps of the stage to their teacher. "Andre, go help Sharpay with this song." Andre took the sheet music from the short woman and walked with the blonde diva to the piano. "Mr. Evans!" Ryan reappeared and walked down to Ms. Darbus.

"Yes, ma'am?" He asked, checking his hat in the process.

"Oh, your hat looks fine, darling! Now, would you go help those...lovely girls with some choreography? Just ask them what they need help with." The instructor said and pointed to a group of ditzy girls on cell phones. "And I'll be seeing you three ladies in detention!" she shouted to the group. They immediately put their phones in their pockets. Their embarrassment was very apperant, and several students giggled at the incident. Ryan smirked as he walked with his hips back up the steps to the stage.

—

After school, Troy was waiting for Ryan in the library with their poster at the table he and Chad usually sat at. A few other students were scattered amongst the remaining tables also working on English projects. Typing could be heard across the library. Despite the room being mostly full, the librarian, Mrs. Falstaff, made sure it stayed quiet. Ryan entered the library with his messager bag over his shoulder and his mobile phone in hand. Troy noticed the phone wasn't as 'nice' as that of his female counterpart. A few strands of blond hair were visible from under his white hat, and offered a nice contrast to the harsh yellow of the library walls. The tall boy placed his things down on the table and sat across from Troy.

"I worked a little on my half of the project, so when I'm done I can help you with your half and we can get out of here. " Troy said, doing his best to unroll the poster. Much to his dismay, it kept rolling back up. It was Ryan's idea to keep it down with a few books.

"Good idea, Ryan." commented Troy. He took the last book from his partner and put it on the single bare corner of the poster.

"Yeah, no problem, Troy." He replied with a smile. The two boys worked and talked simultaneously, careful to avoid the eagle-like hearing of Mrs. Falstaff.

"You know, Troy, you're actually really cool. I mean, besides popular, you're, like, a real person." Ryan said to Troy, as they were nearly done with their project. Troy grinned at the complement. Not too many people took the time to know him outside of 'East High's Basketball God'.

"I was thinking' the same thing. ...About you, I mean. " Said the popular athlete. He took his time writing one of the last points down.

"Thank you, Troy." Ryan began to collect the paperclips and rubber band for the poster.

"How come you only hang out with the drama kids?" Troy asked Ryan as they rolled the poster up and fastened it. Ryan stopped to think for a moment.

"Well, in case you haven't noticed, I'm a little...different from other guys. I could get in serious trouble if I hang out with the wrong crowd." He paused for a moment and looked Troy in the eye. "But... You're different, too?" Ryan could practically sense it, but at the same time he felt as though he was treading on hot coals. Troy raised an eyebrow at the question.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I get it. Different how?" He smiled at the odd assumption. Ryan's naturally pale face began to turn pink.

"Oh, um...n-nevermind. It's nothing, really. I'm gonna...leave, since we're done here, so-" Ryan began to stutter and point at the door behind him with his thumb. Troy got the hint and started to pick up the rest of his things.

"Oh, yeah, that's cool. I'll, uh, see you later. It was nice working with you." Troy added in, his bangs shifted down as he nodded in agreement. He waved and turned around to walk towards the door. Ryan rushed as he grabbed his phone and put his backpack on, adjusting the strap with both hands. His flip phone fell to the the table with a thud, cracking the screen and chipping a corner in the process. Troy turned around at the sudden unexpected noise.

"Shit!" Everyone could hear the sound of his phone, and ultimately his heart, shattering. Troy jogged back to him.

"Mr. Evans!" The librarian shrieked at the use of such language.

"Shoot, I mean." He tried to correct himself, and received a strict glare from Mrs. Falstaff.

"I mean... I didn't say anything." He mumbled and looked down at his broken phone. The old woman huffed and continued to work on her paperwork.

"Woah, what happened?" Asked in a surprised whisper by Troy, who proceeded to examine the devise. Ryan stressfully ran his fingers through the back of his hair while recalling what had happened.

"I-I don't know. I was holding it at the same time I was trying to put my bag on, and I guess I just didn't have a good hold on it. Just my luck, right?" He tried to laugh, but it ended up as a deep sigh instead. Troy got an idea and pulled out his phone.

"Were you planning on calling anyone? You can use my phone." Ryan was shocked at the offer.

"Oh, uh, yeah. I was going to call my mom because Sharpay is the one that has a car, and she's not here, so... I'd need a ride home." Ryan shrugged and put his phone in his bag. He and Troy walked leisurely out of the library, still talking.

"Well... My dad is still here, and I have some spare keys. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I took you home real quick." Troy suggested. His dad had some teacher's meeting that probably wouldn't be over for a while, and it couldn't take that long to get to Ryan's house and back, right?

"Really? Thank you so much, that would be great!" Ryan beamed at the offer. Troy thought his smile really lit up the place. Which was a completely normal straight guy thought. Absolutely. The pair walked out of the library and into the hallway. Not many students stayed after school, but some who did were puzzled by the two boys getting along together- being from two different cliques and all .

"Yeah, no problem! Just gotta drop this thing off at my locker and then we can go. My dad's car is in the back parking lot." Troy said as he swung the poster by his side. They walked in no particular hurry to Troy's locker. Once they got there, Ryan's peeked at the inside. It was in the section of white lockers that had large red wildcat themed paw prints on the door. On the inside, it looked like the locker of a typical teenage jock. A few pictures of Troy's friends and basketball idols were clipped to the door, thick textbooks, binders, and folders were sharing space on the floor and small top shelf. An East High Letterman jacket Troy had since his freshman year was hung neatly on the back hook. Ryan didn't notice Troy had put the poster in his locker until he saw Troy watching him look at the athlete's locker. He wasn't usually so openly nosey, sometimes he just couldn't help it. Ryan quickly averted his gaze to his shoes, which matched his hat.

"You like what you see?" Troy asked playfully. He could have been flirting, he wasn't sure. At least that's what he thought to himself. Both of the boys blushed.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I get it." Ryan repeated what Troy had said earlier, purposely making an extra-confused face. Troy grinned goofily in response and shut his locker. They backtracked slightly to cut to the back parking lot where the car was.

—

Troy and Ryan got into the slick black vehicle. Troy turned the car on and rolled the windows down, it was a bit warm from staying out in the sun all day. Ryan told Troy his address before they backed out of the parking spot. Troy was calm and knew what he was doing. His parents let him drive their cars every so often until he was able to get one of his own, he had the spare set of keys for a reason. When they got on the road the radio was turned on by the brunette, who then proceeded to dial through the stations in hope of finding something decent. However, once he settled on something, Ryan immediately turned the volume down.

"Are you sure it's okay for you to be doing this? I mean, especially without asking, or even telling, your dad first?" Ryan asked over the music. He definitely didn't want to be the reason Troy Bolton got in trouble. His sister wouldn't be happy about what it could do to Troy's reputation, and therefore her reputation as well.

"Of course, relax. Besides, we're almost to your place. And hey, you'll be the first one to know if I get in trouble, okay?" The other boy replied in a slightly more serious tone. Ryan shrugged it off and watched the blurry scenery through the window, and Troy turned the volume up on the radio. The blond immediately recognized the song.

"Oh, this is my jam!" He said, turning up the volume of radio. It definitely didn't seem like the kind of music the Ryan Evans Troy thought he knew would like, but that was what getting to know people was all about.

"Seriously? " Troy asked as he rose his eyebrows in surprised and turned a corner.

"Completely! I'm not all show tunes, you know." Ryan replied teasingly. He did as much of a dance as the confinement allowed his to, which consisted of swaying his arms and shoulders side to side to the beat.

' I like you the way you are

When we're driving in your car

And you're talking to me one on one

But you've become

Somebody else 'round everyone else

You're watching your back like you can't relax

Trying to be cool,

You act like a fool to me...'

Troy didn't want to admit it, but he sang the whole song with Ryan (and made him promise not to tell anyone). Troy pulled into the driveway of the Evans' estate, which was undeniably huge considering the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Evans were filthy rich. Troy wondered why Ryan didn't have a car or a nice phone like Sharpay did. He was brought back to reality by his phone buzzing in his pocket and told Ryan to wait a second.

"Where's my car?"

"Oh, hey,...dad. I was just dropping off... A friend real quick. I'll be right back, okay?" Troy said to his dad, awkward proving Ryan to be possibly right. The passenger her the unsatisfied 'yeah' from the other end of the line and gave Troy a look that said 'I told you so'. Troy rolled his eyes and smiled.

"Yeah. Okay, bye." Troy hung up and put his phone back in his pocket. By this point Ryan had unbuckled his seatbelt and was ready to leave the car.

"So..." Troy started, not quite sure what to say.

"It was nice hanging out with you, Troy Bolton. And thanks for the ride. " Ryan said with a smile and got out of the car. He took a moment to put his bag on and then closed the door and began to walk away. If the windows weren't still rolled down, Troy probably wouldn't have shouted 'You, too, Ryan Evans!'.

—

"So who are you taking to homecoming?" Chad asked Troy late in Sunday afternoon. Troy couldn't think of any girls he was interested in at the moment, and he wouldn't feel weird going without a date, since his friends would be there. The two boys layed on their backs on Troy's bed with their legs hanging off either side. Troy had his hands resting on his chest, and Chad was throwing his basketball lightly in the air.

"I'm not really sure. What about you?" Troy said after some thought.

"I think I'm gonna ask Amanda. She's cute, and she'd have to watch me play in the homecoming game because she's on the cheer leading team." Sometimes Chad actually thought ahead and had good ideas, depending on what your definition of a good idea might be.

"Good call, man." Troy responded halfheartedly. They were able to successfully bro fist without even looking.