Coming down the stairs Troy landed on the wooden floors with a thump his Nikes taking off for the kitchen. "Mom, I'm heading over to Eddie's house to shoot some hoops with the guys," Troy called out as he reached into the fridge and pulled out an apple.

"Do me a favor and take your Grandmother Tupperware back that way please," she called from the living room.

"Will do," Troy held the apple in his mouth as he reached for the Tupperware in the drying rack by the sink. On his way to the front door Troy paused in the doorway to the living room watching his mother who sat on the couch looking up at the mantle where his father's portrait was. "You alright mom?"

"I'm fine," she said indicating the book on her lap. "Just got sentimental there for a moment." Sitting up she placed the book on the coffee table. "Hey, you left your sketch book on the dining room table last night," she said with a bright smile.

"Sorry about that," Troy said shrugging his shoulders and then taking another bite of his apple.

"No problem," his mother was quiet for a moment as was he, Troy went to step away when she spoke again. "She's really pretty."

Troy smiled, "Maybe I'm a good artist,"

His mother gave him a knowing look, "Does this girl know she's the subject of your work?"

"She has a boyfriend," Troy took another bite. "A really big, hulky kind of guy," he said pointing a finger.

His mom stood up, "Well if I know you, and I think I do given that I've raised you right. You have your father's charm you know," she said with a smile and held out her arms to hug him. "I'm just so happy you're not miserable here."

"I told you, I was going to make it work," Troy said hugging her back. "Besides I'm really liking this fresh start, it's refreshing." Troy shrugged his shoulders. "No one knows anything about me and I feel like I can be anyone I want to be, no more Troy the basketball boy."

"Well they're going to find out about you soon enough." Troy's mom backed away and pointed at his outfit.

"I know, but I can treasure the moment while it last. I kind of like it, no one pays me any mind, I can draw and do whatever I want because I'm just a guy," he said.

"Oh honey, I'm sure people think more of you then that," she laughed.

"Sure doesn't feel like it," Troy shrugged. "It's fine, I'm making friends based on me and not my talent and it feels good to just relax."

"And this girl?"

"Gabriella's a cheerleader, although she nothing like the girls back in California," He said with a big smile. "It's different with her."

"It better be different with her," his mother crossed her arms and checked her watch. "I hated all those little girls coming to the house in hooker make up and tiny skirts."

"See how much better things are when girls aren't coming to house because I'm some kind of a basketball star?"

"And what about this scholarship and the scout did you call him?"

"I'm not on the team yet," Troy felt the annoying pinch of guilt, his father would whack him across the head if he were alive. "And I've been looking into East High's art program and..."

"Art design again?" She crossed her arms. "Study business, law, or some medical field Troy, Don't throw away everything just for a hobby."

"Basketball is just as much a hobby as art, mom." Troy arms dropped to his side as he looked past her. Sometimes he felt like his parents were like everyone else and only saw Troy the basketball boy.

"But Basketball is giving you a free ride to college and your future, what is art giving you?"

Troy let out a breath and looked back at his mom, "I'll call as soon as tryouts are over, I promise."

"Thank you," his mother leaned in and gave him a kiss on the forehead before disappearing to the kitchen.

Gabriella looked out the window of her living room at the boys playing basketball. To be honest she was only staring at one boy rather than the lot. Troy's arms budged as he ran down the driveway with the ball bouncing in front of him. She watched the way his legs moved with precision and calculations; he was so mysterious and yet open about anything at the same time. Gabriella watched him make a basket and smiled as Eddie came up from behind him and pounced on him.

"Brie?"

"Yeah, I'm still here," she said into the receiver.

Sharpay let out a sigh, "We have to figure out a practice schedule for the next two weeks, and you're all loopy on me?"

"I am not loopy." Gabriella said moving away from the window. "I just have a lot on my mind," she said looking at the clock. "Taylor's coming by to finish our project and then work on our page for the yearbook. We have to set up on the Bristol boards and you know that takes a lot of time."

"God and you wonder why you're loopy." Sharpay voice was low. "What about Aaron, you two seemed off last night? Is everything alright?"

Gabriella bit her lip and then looked over at the notebooks and books on the living room coffee table. "Aaron's been …" Gabriella took a moment to find words. "He's been cheating on me."

There was silence on the other end of the phone. Gabriella shut her eye as she held tears back, she couldn't cry about it now. "Are you alright?"

"I am," Gabriella let out a sigh.

"So what are you going to do?"

Gabriella looked back towards the window and then back at the coffee table. "What can I do?"

"Alright, that's it get your ass into a bikini, we're going to the beach."

"Sharpay I've got work to do?" Gabriella sat down on the couch.

"That's what Sunday is for, don't make me kidnap you, I'll be there with Taylor in half an hour."

Gabriella sank back onto the couch. "Great, this is just great."

Zeke passed the ball to Chad who passed it back. "So, you think this guy is for real?"

"Seems that way, I mean Eddie really likes him." Chad said passing the ball back and looking over at Troy who was sitting on the sideline talking to Eddie. "He seems like he's really good at Basketball and we could use some talent."

"I get the feeling Eddie and this guy are a two for one deal," Zeke said in a low voice as he caught the ball.

"Eddie is not our biggest problem, if we don't win a game soon our funding is going to go to the football team." Chad said glancing over at the two boys. "We need this guy."

"How do we get him to try out?" Zeke's phone went off and he quickly turned his attention to finding it in his pockets.

Troy leaned back on the grass and looked up. "God I haven't felt this good in a while," he said looking back at Eddie who was watching Zeke and Chad pass the ball around.

"Troy, I don't get it, your great at basketball and yet you don't want to try out?"

"It's not for me," Troy answered quickly.

"Seems like it is," Eddie said with a chuckle.

"Look, I use to play back at my old school but I just.. I just don't want to do that here." Troy said holding out his hand. "I mean I enjoy being a no one. I like just working on my art."

"Why are you trying to help me out?" Eddie asked watching Zeke get off the phone.

"Because you're cool," Troy said patting him on the shoulder, "I like cool people."

"And my sister?"

Troy squinted in the dull sun as he looked over at Eddie, "What about her?"

"I know you like her, and you don't have to be nice to me to get to her."

Troy rolled his eyes. "Eddie, eddie, eddie…" Troy stood up, "We're friends, your sister aside, I was your friend first and I will continue to be no matter what. You both have really big trust issues you know that?"

Eddie shrugged.

"One, your sisters has a boyfriend. Two, she's your sister. Say the word and she's off limits. Three, I'm just a nice guy, people can be nice. No motives. No agendas."

Eddie was quiet for a moment as he looked out at the driveway. "Is it weird that I want you to date my sister?"

Troy was hesitant to respond. "Not gonna lie this entire conversation is weird."

Eddie let out a sigh as he brought a hand up to scratch his head, "I really hate Aaron."

"Then talk to your sister."

Eddie was quiet for a while as Troy looked out at Zeke who was on the phone with someone, walking towards them.

"What's up?" he said once Zeke was close enough.

"Looks like we're going to the beach," Zeke announce to everyone.

Gabriella looked at her pink bikini in the mirror, "God, I need to stop ordering pizza." She said gripping at her tiny stomach. There was a knock at her door and Gabriella picked up her big beach cover up. "Come in,"

Taylor stuck her head in and Gabriella waved. "I'm a whale… or at least on my way to be one."

"There's whale talk." Taylor turned to say to the person behind her.

"Aright, I'm calling a code pink!"

"Code pink?" Taylor said pushing the door all the way open to expose Sharpay who was in a white halter top bathing suit with a pink bow between her breasts.

"Today we will shop the beach for Aaron replacement," Sharpay said looking from Taylor to Gabriella. "We are going to get you under a new guy and get you out of this funk."

"No one cheats on our best friend and get to keep her." Taylor added on with effort.

"You guys." Gabriela smiled. "I'm fine really I mean it's not even like we had sex."

"Code… red!"

"Really, that's a code red?" Taylor said looking at Sharpay.

"She needs our help, all this stress, all these worry lines and frowning faces, they can be cured by the right guy who can make you melt in the bedroom." Sharpay said holding up her hands. "It's says so in cosmo."

"Sharpay…I-"

"We're going to find you the right guy, don't worry." Sharpay smiled and Gabriella slumped her shoulders as looked back into the mirror.