Chapter Five: Jello Crotch

[Sharpay's point of view]

I sat at my usual table in the cafeteria pushing the food around my plate with my spoon, lost in my own thoughts. I was still reeling about the whole morning- breakfast, Asher, the new guy- when Ryan leant his hand down onto the side of the table and looked at my still full plate then up at my face.

"Eat."

I rolled my eyes as I looked up at him "I am."

"No you're not. You're just playing with it, like you always do" he said with an accusing stare.

"Fine" I said shovelling a small amount of Jello onto my spoon then quickly popping it into my mouth "happy?"

Ryan narrowed his eyes at me and said "Swallow!"

I exhaled deeply, swallowed the Jello then tilted my head towards him "What do you want, Ry?"

"I was just coming to tell you that I can't eat with you today, Miss Darbus wants me to help some of the freshmen with the choreography for the show finale" He explained

I gave an exaggerated sigh to try and make him feel guilty for leaving me alone "Oh that's fine. I'll just sit here on my own and absorb my own boredom all while worrying that the new kid could come an-"

"Good! I knew you would understand" He said before running off. Asshole.

I dropped my spoon back down onto the barely touched tray of food then picked up my bottle of water and unscrewed the lid and lifted it to my already parted lips, just as the cool liquid hit my tongue I saw the boy that had stalked me most of the morning enter the large cafeteria. It's a big room Sharpay, what are the chances of him seeing you. I slowly started to sink down in my chair just in case. His head was turning side to side in search of someone. Not me, not me, not me. Suddenly he smiled... right past me, I turned around slightly to see the science geek from my home room waving frantically at him. Poor guy. Relieved I let out a small smile and turned back around to my meal to find a tall shadow cast over it and me, my smile dropped.

"Hey Shar!" He said, dragging out the last two letters of my name.

"Don't call me that." I spat "and I thought I told you to leave me alone?"

He shrugged and gave me a crooked half smile as he sat down opposite me "I guess I just can't keep away... and what's wrong with 'Shar'? It is your name."

"No. My name is Sharpay. Now get your ass off of that chair and go and sit with the chemistry geek that is eagerly awaiting your company"

"What chemistry geek?"

"I don't know, Daniela, Cinderella- whatever her name is" I said getting agitated

"Gabriella? Eh she seems nice enough, but I would rather sit with you" he said with a wink

Why? Why had this boy come to my school and suddenly taken an interest in me? Nobody ever had before, so why now? I mean sure, people pay attention to me in school (which is more than I can say for at home) but no one ever tries to engage in actual conversation with me and I like it that way. After all, why would I act like such a bitch to people if I was looking to make friends? The closer you are to someone the more likely you are to get hurt, so why bother?

"What's so special about me?" I asked

"I don't know, you tell me" He said smiling again as he leant forward so he was closer to me. My brow furrowed as I looked at him and sat up straight, regaining the distance between us. He had this sort of presence about him that made me want to tell him everything all while at the same time knowing he was just another person who'd eventually end up screwing up part of my life.

"I'd rather not" I said hastily as I tried to busy myself by scooping up some more Jello.

"You know, I think there is a lot more to you than you let people see. Like those scars on your wrists..." He said the last part quietly, knowing I wouldn't want anyone to hear him. "I bet they have an interesting story behind them"

"Listen, Newbie. That is none of your business!" I said trying to sounds as threatening as possible "If I wanted people to know about my personal life, I would write a blog. But I don't. So back the hell off!"

"As much as I love this little 'newbie' nickname you have given me, my name is Troy... but I'm sure you remember that" He said with a smirk. Ugh how I would just love to reach out and smack that smug little face. He looked me up and down "you don't look like a cutter"

I could feel the anger building up inside me as I took a few deep breaths to try and contain it I stood up, picking up my bowl of Jello and emptying onto his lap then made me way out of the cafeteria muttering a long stream of profanities. I walked down the hall and stopped in front of my locker, the only pink one down the long white corridor, and opened it harshly (kind of surprised with myself for not making it come off its hinges) then stared at my reflection in the mirror on the inside of the door. My jaw was clenched tight and my eyebrows narrowed. I needed to calm down.

"Hey"

I exhaled and turned to find him with his Jello stained crotch and looking quite pitiful. "Was I not clear enough? Or do I need to throw Jello in your face too?"

"Actually... I wanted to apologize. I get that some of the things I said were out of line. And it's totally fine that you don't want to tell me about... you know" he said gesturing towards my hands "I really didn't mean to upset you, but I just get really nervous when I'm around someone as pretty as you an-"

He carried on speaking but I kept replaying that last line over and over in my head. He thinks I'm pretty? No one has ever said that before. Well at least not to my face and not in those words either. I had heard all the cocky jocks jeer on about my 'hot ass' or 'nice rack' or say that I was 'totally screwable' but never that I was 'pretty'. I felt warm and vulnerable and looked up at Troy as he rambled on, not realising I had stop listening a while ago.

"-I really don't know what came over me, usually I wouldn't even think about saying stuff like I did."

"...you think I'm pretty?" I asked quietly, suddenly nervous I had heard wrong.

His eyes widened, clearly embarrassed "...What?"

"Y-You just said you got nervous when you were around 'someone as pretty as me'" I repeated for him.

"Oh... yeah, that." He said scratching his neck awkwardly trying to avoid eye contact. "I guess I did say that."

I smiled slightly for a few seconds and quickly shut my locker as I could feel my cheeks slowly turn a shade of pink due to the compliment. "See ya, Newbie" I said as I spun on my heel and walked away from him towards my next class.

TBC

I love to hear your views so please review and tell me your thoughts/opinions and ideas. It would be much appreciated!

Alice xoxo