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Chapter 10: Dinner Party

Coach Rickey rolled his eyes and sighed in aggravation. Coming over to the bleachers where the rest of the team was sitting he sat down as he continued to watch the scrimmage between the new players trying out for UCLA. "See anything good?" He asked.

Gabriella's brown eyes surveyed the court intensely from her stop on Troy's lap. She and the gang had been allowed to sit in on tryouts. Despite the fact that the court case had come and gone quickly and Carl was in jail, Hunter, Jordan, and the guys didn't want her out of their sight. She leaned back into her boyfriend, who tightened his grip around he waist. She felt a pat on her knee, it was Jordan, she gave him a smile. On second thought, she kind of liked having them around all the time.

The gym door opened and her eyes flew to the new student and dean of academic affairs. "Mike." Coach Rickey stood and jogged over, "Transfer student." He handed Rickey the file.

"You wanna jump in son?" The boy nodded.

Gabriella kept her eyes trained on him, she knew him. Who was he? A scream erupted from her mouth as she went flying full force into his arms.

"Brie." He had his arms opened ready for her to jump into them. And she did, wrapping her legs around his waist. He spun her around.

"Joshua Bracken what the hell are you doing here? You're supposed to be at Barry!" She squealed as he set her back on the ground before lightly poking her sides.

"Yeah, well small college wasn't for me. I need a little more excitement." He gave her a smile. Josh had been one of he friends from EHS, most people didn't realize quite how close they were. She'd actually helped him plan how to ask his girlfriend Jade out. And after two and a half years they were still together.

"Josh!" Sharpay, Kelsi, and Taylor went flying over to him.

"Girls!" He squealed in the same voice. Three hands went flying towards his bicep. "Ow, you all are still violent as ever I see."

Mike Rickey rolled his eyes, "You're a skin, now will you ladies please go sit back down."

"Yes Mike." They chorused before going back to the bleachers.

"You know him?" Troy asked, as Gabriella took her spot back on his lap.

"I've told you about Josh Bracken right?" Troy nodded, along with the rest of the guys, "He was the Captain of our Varsity team in high school and went to play for Barry College, apparently he didn't like being at a small school though.

"Well he sure is good." Jordan pointed as he stole the ball and made a nice three-pointer that was all net.

"He's definitely one of the best players I've ever seen." Sharpay commented.

"And who are the other best?" Zeke asked playfully.

She tapped her chin thoughtfully, "Let's see, Troy, Jason, Chad, Jordan, Hunter…" She paused, "Yeah that's about all."

"Gee thanks baby." Zeke sneered.

"Don't mention it." She kissed his cheek as she wrapped her arm around his waist, leaning into his side.

An hour later Mike blew the whistle, "Okay, that's enough for today." He sighed, "Go shower up, the new team roster will be posted by tomorrow at 12." Everyone nodded and left.

"Yo Josh!" Gabriella waved him over quickly. Pulling out a piece of paper she jotted down her address and new phone number, "We're doing the dinner thing tonight and your presence is required."

"I suppose I can come." Josh sighed, giving her a sweaty hug he waved to everyone else and jogged towards the gym.

"So what do you think. Not too much to choose from out there," Coach Rickey commented.

"I think Bracken's our only option." Jordan nodded, "And he's a good one at that. He's better than Griscom was period."

"I'm with ya there Jor." Hunter slapped his back lightly.

"So does everyone agree that it's Bracken?" Mike asked. When everyone agreed, "And our silent players?" He looked over to Gabriella, Sharpay, Miley, Taylor, Kelsi, and Ryan.

"Yeah." They agreed.

Mike Rickey shook his head, "I've never had people outside the team get to give an opinion before."

"Well I guess they're attached to us." Hunter commented, slinging an arm over Kelsi's shoulder as they all stood up.

"No kidding." Rickey shook his head. "Now get out of here and go learn something." He waved the team away. Everyone walked out of the gym laughing.

"You guys are coming tonight right?" Taylor asked as they left the gym. She looked between Hunter and Jordan. "And you're bringing Amanda and Courtney?"

"Yup and yup." Jordan replied, waving his girlfriend Courtney over. "I'll see you dudes at 7!" He walked over to the redhead and dropped a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm not a dude!" Miley called out futilely.

"Miles why don't you just get used to the fact that you will always be called a dude?" Chad asked with a sigh.

"Cause I'm not a fucking dude!" She repeated.

"You guys can discuss that, I see a pretty blonde that needs my attention." Everyone rolled their eyes knowingly as he called out, "Amanda!" The blonde haired, blue-eyed beauty turned around and gave her boyfriend a big smile. She held her hand out as he jogged over and laced their fingers together.

"Well we gotta go get ready for tonight." Gabriella commented.

"Can you guys go to the store for us and pick up exactly what is on the list?" Sharpay asked Zeke, handing him a sheet of paper.

"Of course babe. Dudes, let's go!" The guys groaned, but followed Zeke to their cars.

"We'll see you ladies in a couple of hours." Ryan tipped his fedora towards them as his way of saying goodbye.

"Theater is getting to his head." Sharpay huffed

"Actually that's his way of mimicking Marlon Brando. You might say we've been watching Guys and Dolls nonstop." Miley giggled, "He's a good sport about it though."

The girls laughed and linked arms as they made their way to the parking lot to head home.

"Chad, Sharpay said to get exactly what is on the list and Cheetos are not on the list." Zeke sighed as he picked up the Fritos that were on the list.

"I don't understand why you can get those, and I can't get these." Chad whined stubbornly.

"Dude, do you want to deal with Sharpay later?" Zeke asked tiredly. "Seriously, next time I'll take Jason and Ryan and Troy can have you."

"I am not a pain in the ass like you seem to think." Chad rolled his eyes as a mother with two young children tutted him.

Zeke waited until the aisle was clear again before he responded, "Yeah, you are a pain in the ass like I think." Chad rolled his eyes.

"Dickhead." He muttered.

"I heard that, now put the damn chips back." Zeke told him.

"No." Zeke sighed, Chad was in the mood to challenge him today.

"We need chicken right?" Jason asked, trying to remember what was on the list.

Troy nodded absently as he continued to look through the steaks, "Yeah Brie doesn't eat red meat." He picked up a package of steaks, "Thanks Jase."

Ryan walked over, "Okay so I've got strawberries, apples, oranges, grapes, cucumbers, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, and blueberries. Did I forget any fruit?"

"Limes." Jason and Troy answered together.

"Right." Ryan set the fruit in the cart and went sprinting back to get the forgotten limes.

Sharpay glanced at her watch, "They should be home any minutes. I'm going to call Zeke and find out where they are." Dialing his number she waited until he answered.

"Hello?" He sounded aggravated.

"Hey babe where are you?" Sharpay asked.

"Chad no!" Zeke yelled at him, "Um I think Ryan, Jason, and Troy are ready to check out." He looked towards the check out line, "Yeah they're already in line, but Chad and I are still on the chip aisle. We have been for the last 15 minutes. Once I can get him away from the damn Cheetos we're done."

Sharpay sighed, "Just by him the god damn Cheetos and come home."

"But you said."

"I know what I said and I'm unsaying it so you can come home." She hung up, "You're boyfriend," She looked at Taylor, "is a pain in all our asses."

Taylor chuckled, "I agree, but you gotta love him."

"Actually Tay's right about that." Kelsi giggled.

"Look Chad it's almost 7, you need to start behaving and let us finish cooking." Gabriella sighed, "Troy, honey control your roommate please."

Troy sighed and grabbed Chad's collar just as the buzzer rang. Taking Chad with him he pushed the call button, "Yeah?"

"Dude it's me, Hunter, Amanda, and Courtney." Jordan's voice rang out.

"Come on up." Troy pushed the enter button to let them in.

When the door opened the four new comers had to laugh at the sight of Troy holding onto Chad while he was sitting on the sofa with basketball playing on the TV.

"What if I promise not to bother them anymore?" Chad pleaded.

Sharpay scoffed, "Yeah right. Now Boo and Zeke are trying to cook and you will stop complaining and leave them the hell alone."

"Just let him go Troy, if he comes within ten feet of us, I'll castrate him with this butcher knife."

"I'll just stay here." Chad muttered, moving spots so he could sit next to Taylor.

"I think we'll all stay away from you." Ryan muttered.

The buzzer rang again, "Can someone grab that?" Gabriella asked from the kitchen.

Ryan stood up, "Yeah?" he asked.

"It's Josh Bracken." Josh responded.

"Fourth floor dude." Ryan buzzed him in.

Soon the only thing that could be heard in the apartment was the screaming of the guys as they watched the first game of the NBA season, Knicks and the Celtics were playing and everyone was excited.

Miley had replaced Zeke's spot in the kitchen so he could watch the game and now all the girls were setting everything up.

"I put the knife away, you can come get it now." Gabriella called, just as a commercial hit. The girls were suddenly pinned into a corner of the kitchen as the boys came in to get food.

"Move, the game's going to be back on in a minute and I'll be damned if I miss a second of it." Chad shoved past Hunter to get ahead of him.

Hunter just rolled his eyes and moved like a good sport. Jordan on the other hand picked Chad up and put him behind both him and Hunter. "Wait your turn brother." Jordan rolled his eyes.

Chad grunted out an angry response, but listened nonetheless. When the guys had their plates piled high with food they were sitting around the living room watching the game again.

The girls giggled as they got their own food, "Balcony?" Sharpay asked. They all nodded and grabbed drinks, heading outside, they sat down with the cool breeze from the ocean, which was only a block away, keeping them cool.

Troy looked around, wondering where the girls were. His eyes caught the long dark locks that he'd grown to love over the past few months floating around outside. Standing up he walked over to the balcony.

He picked Gabriella up and set her down on his lap, "You girls hiding from Chad?" he asked with a crooked grin.

"Basically." They answered together.

"Figured as much." Troy responded. Everything got quiet again until a huge cheer erupted from inside the apartment.

"We're going to get so many complaints." Gabriella shook her head.

Suddenly the balcony door burst opened, revealing a very scared Jason and Chad, "The floor's talking to us." Jason whispered.

The girls looked at each other and stood up, walking inside they stopped for a minute. Then they too heard the banging. Rolling their eyes Sharpay said, "That's Mr. Cravitz, banging on the ceiling with a broom."

Chad and Jason blushed as Jordan, Hunter, Zeke, Ryan, and Josh stood up screaming. The Celtics had just won.

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Mollie XOXO