Taylor ended up staying over that night after they had ditched Sharpay at the party. It was already 9PM the next day and Gabriella and Taylor were having a horror and chick flick movie marathon.
As their eyes were glued to the screen, each inching closer to each other with their fear increasing. The screen was zooming in on the front door, the main protagonist walking slowly towards it to turn the knob.
As soon as her hand, touch the knob and continued to turn..
The door bell rang - which made Taylor and Gabriella fill her house with screams. Popcorn was thrown into the air and back onto their laps and hair.
Taking a minute or two to catch their breath and regulate their heart rates, Taylor paused the movie as Gabriella got up from the couch to open the door.
As soon as the door was an inch open, Sharpay pushed it open sending Gabriella to almost stumble backwards.
"I had the BE-EST time last night," Sharpay squealed, stealing's Gabriella's seat next to Taylor, popping a piece of popcorn in her mouth.
"Oh, I'm oozing with excitement," Taylor replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes. She adjusted her self on the couch to feel comfortable.
Gabriella giggled and closed the front door, jumping down onto the couch next to Sharpay. "So, the deets Ms. Evans?"
"Okay, so once I got your text and we went into this huge conversation about the greatest topics," Sharpay started. "Then, we started dancing and walked around in the backyard." She squealed again.
"So, after that, Chad told Troy to check out out back where the basketball court so he excused himself, what a gentleman, and left me there in the kitchen waiting for him." Sharpay sighed. "So, I was going to walk out because he had been gone for a while but there was this puddle of soda on the floor that I didn't see and I slipped on it!" Taylor and Gabriella dramatically gasped.
"I know, right? Anyway, I thought I was going to go down and totally embarrass myself but then guess who came out of no where to save me?"
Taylor and Gabriella both had blank faces on, acting like they didn't know.
Sharpay groaned. "Troy!" Taylor rolled her eyes again but couldn't help but smile at her best friend's success.
"So, as I was slipping, he caught me and held me up and, oh my god, we totally had a moment." Sharpay sighed and leaned farther into the cushions of the couch.
"Did he ask you out on a date?" Taylor asked.
Sharpay bit her lip, sitting up straight again. "Here's the thing.. after he drove me home, he said good-night, we hugged but.. that was it! Not even a kiss on the cheek!" she exclaimed. She turned to face Gabriella. "Gabs, what did I do wrong?"
Gabriella sighed and leaned back. "Nothing, you did everything perfect. It's him that wrong." Sharpay was going to object but Gabriella sent her a 'not-what-I-meant' look that made her stay quiet.
"That boy is a tough cookie. It's going to take more than my normal tactics to get him to fall for you," she admitted. Gabriella hit her knees as she stood up, turning to face both Taylor and Sharpay with serious expressions.
"Okay, girls. Our plan is just about to begin."
"Wait, didn't it already begin?" Taylor asked.
"That was practice. Now, serious business is going to start. Phase one of Plan 'Get Sharpay and Troy together' activate!" Gabriella exclaimed.
Sharpay jumped up and clapped her hands, a ridiculous smile on her face.
Taylor just rolled her eyes but sighed and stood up next to her. "So.. the plan, boss?"
x o x o x o x
"Okay kids, we have 10 minutes 'till the bell rings so let's talk about your projects, okay?" the teacher stated. There were groans throughout the classroom. "You will work in pairs. You are assigned a historical figure to research over the next 2 weeks. You will then present it to the class and will be graded at that time."
Gabriella pouted as she glanced behind her should, surveying the class. It was her only period where she didn't have either Taylor or Sharpay with her so finding a partner would be hard. She then noticed Troy talking in the back with one of his friends. A lightbulb went off in her head as she grinned to herself and looked back at the teacher.
Just then, the bell rang. "Okay, make sure you have your partners are chosen by tomorrow! We'll talk more later," the teacher stated. Gabriella gather up her books, holding them by her side as she put her backpack strap on.
She scurried out of the classroom and was glad as she saw Troy's friends disperse from their circle around him. Finding him alone, she took a deep breath as she walked up to him. "Troy!"
"See you later, man," Troy said. Walking down the hall, he heard his name being called. Stopping to turn around, he found Gabriella walking towards him. "Oh, hey Gabriella," he greeted.
"Hey," she replied, walking next to him now, struggling to keep her books in place. Troy couldn't help but smile.
"So um, have you got a partner for the History project, yet?" she asked.
Troy bit his lip. "Ah, not yet actually, I'm still choosing."
"Oh.. well, want to be my partner?" she said, looking down at the ground.
Troy was taken back, surprised that she asked him. She could have easily found a partner that was at her intelligence level. "Um, are you sure? I might drag you down."
"No, no, no! It's fine. Well, I mean, you're the only person I know in class, so.." she trailed on.
Troy chuckled, rubbing the back of her neck. They stopped outside of her next class. He looked down at her. Her chocolate brown orbs made his insides melt, making him just kiss right then and there. But he couldn't, no. She obviously didn't like him, not in a million years.
"Yeah, sure. I'll be your partner."
"Great! I'll see you tomorrow after school? Library?" she said, walking towards the entrance.
"I'll be there," he winked as she watched her walk into her classroom. He smiled to himself, standing there for a moment. Taking one last glance into the classroom, he hurried off to his next period.
Gabriella walked into Sharpay's bedroom which was, you guessed, pink-infested. She sighed and sat down on her bed, throwing her bag down on the floor next to the door.
Sharpay sat in one of the chairs in front of the bed, by her flat-screen TV. "I hate school."
Taylor tsk'ed. "Don't be ridiculous," she said, sitting down next to Gabriella.
"I got some news on Troy," Gabriella stated.
Sharpay mini-screamed as she jumped up to sit down in front of Gabriella. "What is it?" she asked eagerly.
"Well, he's my partner in this project that we're doing in History and we'll meet after school tomor-" Sharpay gasped. "Don't. I don't like him so don't be worried."
"Anyway, so I'll meet him after school and I'll try my best to get to know as much about him as possible." Sharpay jumped up and down on the bed.
"AH! Gabriella, you are a miracle worker!" she said, holding her hand. "I can already see it, us married in our huge villa. I've already named our kids!"
Taylor hit Sharpay upside of her head with her math binder. "Okay, enough daydreaming. We've got homework to do? Remember?"
Gabriella giggled and sighed, taking out her binder to work on. She was kind of worried though. Gabriella might lead Troy on, but she'll just have to work ten times harder to get this right. She has to, it's for Sharpay. She sighed.