Chapter 29

Day 9 – Afternoon

Troy and Gabriella were fishing at their usual lagoon. They had just finished digging up worms for bait, and the fish were already biting. Gabriella had burst out laughing when the fish splashed Troy while he was trying to get it ashore. He ended up laughing at himself, too. All was well until an unexpected visitor came.

"Need any help?"

The couple stopped laughing and looked at each other with looks saying Is that really Sharpay?

"Um… you really want to help?" Gabriella asked.

"Fishing seems to be the easiest thing to do here," Sharpay replied.

"Ok then… uh, you can use my pole and I'll go make another one," Troy said, handing her his rod, "Can you teach her what to do, Gabs?"

"Sure," Gabriella answered, still a little bit shocked from Sharpay's sudden wave of responsibility. It was so unlike her. Almost too unlike her.

Sharpay held the pole with a smile on her face. "So, how do we do this?" she asked.

"It's not too hard. Just take a worm from the bucket and hook it onto the earring attached to the string," she explained.

"Wait, whose earrings are these?"

"Calm down, they're mine. But anyway, after you hook the worm on you throw it in the water. Then when you feel it tugging you use one hand to pull the string in. But be careful, the fish like to splash."

"Ok, sounds easy enough." She began to put her hand in the worm bucket when she stopped suddenly and scrunched her face. "Eww!! Do I have to touch it?"

Gabriella laughed, though her first reaction was similar, "You get used to it."

Sharpay reluctantly stuck her hand in the bucket and pulled out a worm. What has gotten into me? She thought. But she kept going, taking several tries to get the bait hooked. Finally she threw the hook into the water and waited.

It was silent for awhile. A long while.

Awkward, They both thought.

Finally Troy came back with a new pole and a dry shirt, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"What took you so long?" Sharpay asked.

"Well, I changed my shirt because that last fish I caught splashed me. Then I couldn't find a long enough stick to work as the rod and I couldn't fine the fishing line. Then I had to get another one of Gabby's earrings to use and put the whole thing together. You don't mind, do you Gabs?"

"No, it's fine. I have no need to wear them here. And the ones I took are cheap anyways."

Troy took a seat between the two girls, baited his hook, and threw his line in. A few minutes later, he felt his rod tugging. He yanked on the thread and pulled the fish out of the water.

"Troy, you're amazing at this!" Sharpay squealed.

"Nice catch," Gabriella added.

"Thanks," he responded, pulling the fish off the hook and dropping it into another bucket next to the worms.

Suddenly Sharpay felt her rod tugging towards the water, "My rod's moving! What do I do?"

"Pull the line in towards you. Remember what I said before?" Gabriella asked.

"Right. Sorry. I forgot." She began attempting to pull the line in, but the rod kept slipping from her one hand.

"I'll hold the rod," Troy offered, "You reel it in."

He took the rod from Sharpay's hand and she managed to pull the line out of the water. Unfortunately, the fish had left with the worm by the time she had done so. Sharpay frowned.

"It's ok, you'll get it next time," he reassured.

"Thanks, Troy," Sharpay replied.

"Yeah, it's not like that's the only fish in the sea," Gabriella said, forcing a weak smile.

"Yeah," she said.

Something's up with her. Gabriella thought, She hasn't been this friendly with Troy since the summer when she… her thoughts cut off, oh no, this better not be a plan to get Troy again.

HSM HSM HSM HSM

Late Afternoon

Everyone had just finished lunch and Sharpay was about to go find a new job to do when Gabriella confronted her.

"Sharpay!" she called, "Can I talk to you?"

She walked over to her, "Sure."

"Look, I appreciate you helping today. I really do. But were you really working because you felt like you needed to work? Look, if this is another one of your plots to get Troy again, then fine! Do what you want!"

"I wasn-," Sharpay started, but she was cut off.

"Go ahead and act all innocent. But in the end, just know that Troy will pick the one he wants, no matter what you try and do." She spun on her heel and walked away.

Sharpay stood there speechless. She couldn't believe what just happened.

Sharpay VD:

What the hell is Gabriella's problem? What, she thinks I can't try and do something useful without messing something up? I am through with trying to get Troy! It's obvious that he's in love with Gabriella. I've moved on. She knows that I like Zeke. Did she forget? Did she think that was all part of the plan? Does she think I'm some low life willing to cheat? I'm not like that! I mean, I'll admit, I've had my mean girl moments since Gabriella moved to Albuquerque, and I can be a drama queen, but I've learned! Can't I just hang out with Troy as a friend like everyone else?!

A/N- Ok, I was gonna make this longer but the Survivor Finale is on and I wanted to post this tonight. I apologize for any grammar mistakes because I don't feel like going through this again to check for them. Reviews please!!