Chapter 7

Gym got more and more gruesome.

The second semester included basketball, indoor-soccer, volleyball, and indoor-track. Gabriella tried her best, she really did! But it was never good enough. Not only did everyone else seem to do better than her but Coach Wu was either staring at her disapprovingly or shaking her head and writing down furiously on her clipboard. Gabriella had a bad feeling that Coach Wu was marking her down.

And then there was Troy. Gabriella had hoped that the dancer would be bad at gym as she was, but her hopes were soon gone. It looked like Troy had previous experiences with basketball and soccer. And of course, everyone knew he was wonderful at track. And even though he wasn't a pro volleyball player, he was quick and actually managed to get the ball over the net.

Gabriella felt discouraged. Even Janine and Haley were better than her at gym.

Now it was March and the weather got warmer. So the gym classes were switched to outdoor sports: more soccer and track, but also football and tennis. Tennis wasn't so bad. Gabriella knew how to play tennis. But the other sports were a fiasco for Gabriella.

In football, she lost hold of the ball or couldn't throw it properly. In soccer, she always got fowls. And track was tiring Her legs got sore, her head got sweaty, and her throat felt dry.

The ending was close and Gabriella didn't want to fail gym. She hoped that Coach Wu would be nice enough to at least giver her a C in gym again. Maybe if she worked really hard and showed her effort, Coach Wu would be nice enough to give her a passing grade.

One day during gym class, Gabriella was on the roll. Her team was playing football against another team, and for the first time, Gabriella actually thought shewould make a goal.

Just a few feet more...

TOUCHDOWN!

"Yeah!"

"Go, Montez!"

Gabriella looked over at Coach Wu.

She was smiling.

Maybe Gabriella had a chance of passing this class.

She didn't find out how wrong she was until she came out of the locker room...

"Montez," Coach Wu said, approaching Gabriella.

Usually Gabriella would've panicked when she heard Coach Wu calling her name, but after scoring that touchdown, she felt elated.

That is, until Coach Wu dropped the BAD NEWS BOMB!

"Hate to break it to ya, Montez," Coach Wu said grimly. "But you're, uh, failing gym class."

Those worse hit Gabriella like ice.

Failing gym class...I'm failing gym class...

"Now I was nice enough to give you a C last semester," Coach Wu continued. "But I can't do that this semester. I know you're trying hard and everything but your marks aren't so good."

Gabriella's mouth felt dry.

She didn't wanna fail gym this year. She couldn't fail gym this year. Her father would be furious. He was already disappointed with the C from last semester. If she got an F...

"Well, is there any way I can raise my grade up?" Gabriella asked. "Maybe some extra credit or..."

"I don't do extra credit, Montez," Coach Wu said firmly. "You know that."

Indeed, Gabriella did know that. But--

"But I can't fail gym!" she said. "I just can't. My parents will kill me!"

She thought she saw a flicker of sympathy in Coach Wu's eyes, but she was sure she had mistaken it.

Coach Wu hesitated. "Well...alright, Montez. I'm not promising you anything but I'll try to find a way for you to raise your grade up. I'll let you know if I come up with anything. How about that?"

Gabriella's heart was filled with gratefulness.

"Thank you!" Gabriella exclaimed.

She ran out of the gym as the bell rang. She nearly collided with a few people.

"Sorry!" she called out as she ran toward her next class.

She crossed her fingers as she sat down in her seat.

Please let Coach Wu find something...please, please, please, please, PLEASE!

Coach Wu sat her computer. She was frustrated and discouraged.

First of all, she had just given the bad news to Gabriella. It was bad news for Coach Wu also. She had never had to fail a student for fifteen years and she wanted to keep it that way until her retirement.

And second of all, she couldn't find anything to help Gabriella raise her grade up.

Coach Wu didn't do extra credit. She knew it wouldn't be fair to the other students. And she didn't have time for Remedial Gym.

She looked through the student records, hoping to find something that would help.

She checked her B's. Most of them were girls. A few were boys:

Henry Beckems...Jay Bets...Gregory Biers...Kevin Bian...Troy Bolton...

Coach doubled back.

Troy Bolton: attended Juilliard...won the Big Apple Dance Bash Competition...straight A's and B's in gym...

Interesting.

Coach delved further. Troy's legal guardian was Julie Johnson, owner of the Johnson's School of Fine Arts.

Fine Arts.

Then Coach remembered that the school board would be sponsoring the upcoming Annual Dance Competition in April.

The winners got a $100,000 college scholarships (each) and...

...extra credit.

Coach Wu didn't give extra credit but if the school board did, she couldn't argue with that.

The plan started to form in her head. Troy was a fine dancer and if Gabriella partnered up with him...

Coach Wu smiled.

Maybe she wouldn't have to fail Gabriella after all.

But first...she decided to see Troy dance for herself.

Troy and his "dance"-mates were fooling around in�dance class, throwing down outrageous dance moves with spins and kicks and twists. It was Tuesday and usually there were no dance classes on Tuesdays but Troy's aunt always let them dance in her studios.

Troy held out his hand to Sharpay, who took it eagerly. A girl turned on the boombox to a a jitterbug song.

The steps came easily to both of them, even Sharpay who was wearing heels today, too.

How does she dance in them? Troy wondered. He was too afraid to ask.

They were so engrossed in the dancing and the other kids were so engrossed in watching them that they didn't notice Julie and another woman come into the room.

When Troy and Sharpay were done, both women clapped.

Everyone turned to stare. Some said hi to their instructor but no one knew who the other woman was.

No one but Troy.

"Coach Wu?" he said out loud.

Sharpay look at him. "You know her?"

"She's my gym teacher," Troy said. He turned to the woman. "What are you doing here?"

He didn't mean to sound rude but the fact that his gym teacher had come to the dance school and had seen him dance was a bit of a nasty shock for him.

Coach Wu didn't seem to notice the rudeness. "That was brilliant."

"Ms. Wu would like to talk to you in private, Troy," Julie said. "Perhaps you should go outside. I'll keep the class busy."

Troy knew he had no choice but to follow his gym teacher.

As soon as the door closed, Coach Wu started to speak.

"That was some dancing back there, Bolton," she said.

Troy wasn't flattered. "I've been dancing since I was four."

"And it shows," Coach Wu said. "Say you haven't got a partner for the Annual Dance Competition, do you?"

Troy slowly shook his head. Where was this going?

Coach Wu smiled. "Good. That's good."

"What's so good about it?" Troy asked.

"You know Montez, right?" Coach Wu said.

This time, Troy nodded but it was slow nod.

Coach Wu's smile became bigger. "Great. You can be her partner."

Those words hit Troy like ice.

Troy dance in the Annual Dance Competition with Gabriella Montez?

No, NOT POSSIBLE!

"But-but I don't wanna dance with Montez," Troy said angrily. "And you can't make me."

Coach Wu frowned and said, "Oh, alright. I guess I know a lost battle when I see one."

She left with a look of disappointment on her face...

Okay, that's what Troy wanted to happen.

This was what really happened:

"Bolton, you alright?" Coach Wu asked.

Troy wanted to say no. Really, he did but...

"Sure, I'll do it," he said. "I'll be her partner."

Damn! I must be insane! Troy said mentally. Dance with Montez? Troy, are you crazy?

Coach Wu beamed. "Great! I'll tell Montez tomorrow...or do you want to?

"No, that's okay," Troy found himself saying. "You tell her the good news."

Good news? How is this good news, Bolton? You're gonna dance with your enemy in one of the biggest annual competitions in the state and you call this GOOD NEWS?

Troy watched Coach Wu leave, a mix of satisfaction, triumph, and happiness on her face.

After about five minutes, Troy opened the door. A tumble of kids fell.

"What the--"

"I'm sorry," Julie said. "The kids couldn't be distracted. I tried..."

"It's okay," Troy said to his aunt.

"So what did Coach Wu wanna talk to you about?" Sharpay asked.

"The Annual Dance Competition," Troy answered.

Sharpay brightened. "Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you. I'm looking for a partner for the competition and--"

"I can't be your partner," Troy said. "I've already got one."

To be honest, saying this wasn't much of a blow for Troy.

But it was for Sharpay.

"Who?" Sharpay shrieked, her voice filled with rage and confusion.

"Someone," Troy answered.

He didn't want to tell people about Gabriella Montez being his partner.

At least not yet.

Besides,�who knew what Sharpay would do?

Ha! Sharpay's jealous.

had�2 put�that in there. �