Brief Encounter

Summary: Can anything good come from a mix-up?

Disclaimer: High School Musical and all of its characters belong to Disney. I just have them on secondment. Song mentioned is by Taylor Swift.

A/N: Thanks to Holly for helping me see through my dark days of drought when my thought processes totally dried up. I love you girl. You're the best even if you are a United fan.

Gabriella was curled up on the sofa and although the TV was on she wasn't watching it. Taylor came in carrying two cups, setting them down on the coffee table before settling into the other corner. Gabriella's cell phone started to dance across the table playing 'I'd Lie'. Gabriella grabbed it quickly and read the message, smiling slightly before closing the flap. Taylor stared at her.

"Appropriate tune." Taylor said sarcastically. "Obviously not low battery then."

Equinox

Sharpay dragged Troy into the club with Zeke, Chad and another Laker's player, Jason Cross, following behind.

"Stop whining Troy. You promised you'd come and I know you never go back on your promises." Sharpay admonished him with a sly smile, making sure she had a firm hold on him until they were well inside. Troy dipped his head in defeat.

"What's the point? She never listens anyway," he sighed to himself. Clubs weren't his thing. They were noisy, sweaty places where meaningless hook-ups or drunken rowdiness was the norm. You had to shout to be heard and couldn't hear what the person beside you was saying. He avoided them at all costs as a rule but maybe the main reason he hated them was he didn't dance very well and hated to look stupid in public.

"Let's face it Bolton, you have two left feet." Troy smiled depreciatingly. Chad on the other hand loved them. He could bump and grind with the next man and it gave him ample opportunity to check out the talent and have the odd casual fling.

They pushed their way to the bar that ran the full width of the club. The queue at the bar was three people deep but a gap appeared when they were recognised by people, allowing them to get served quickly. Troy gazed around at his surroundings. The dance floor was large and dominated the middle of the club from a lower level. Shallow steps led down to a seating area that ran around the perimeter of the dance floor and was raised above the dance floor giving a good vantage point to all, then a further set of steps led down to the dance floor itself at various intervals. A DJ's station was situated on the opposite side to the bar and was thumping out dance tunes from enormous speakers that were built into the wall at each side of his station. Troy looked up and saw a balcony running around the dance floor with further seating visible.

Sharpay with a Margarita firmly in hand waved to them to follow her. Troy raised his eyebrows.

"Why do I suddenly feel like a sheep?" Troy shouted to Chad. Chad smirked.

"Do ewe really?" Chad quipped back. Troy rolled his eyes at his pathetic joke.

"Jeez! And that's before he's had anything to drink. It's going to be a long night." Troy groaned to himself as he followed Sharpay and Zeke.

Sharpay strutted over to a spiral staircase in the corner and went up to the balcony. Tables were placed looking over the dance floor below whilst against three of the back walls were booths offering more privacy. A small bar was against the fourth wall and although busy wasn't as bad as the one downstairs. A guy in his late 30's sporting an immaculate Armani suit and shiny shoes greeted Sharpay. She kissed both his cheeks in a continental greeting. He led her to an empty booth, removing the reserved sign on the table. Sharpay turned and introduced him to everyone as Stuart Sanderson, the owner.

"It's an honour having you guys here," he gushed, clearly preening with the prestige of having such celebrities in his club.

"A complimentary bottle of bubbly should be here in a few minutes. Enjoy yourselves," he added before leaving.

"Wow! Sometimes it's good to hang with you, Shar," said Chad in amazement. "How you know these people beats me?" Shar beamed at the compliment.

"Daddy always told me it's not what you know but whom you know," she commented, "and it's worked for me so far." Troy rolled his eyes at her smugness. Troy remained standing, sipping his beer and contemplating how soon he could get out of there.

"Troy, sit down." Sharpay ordered. "I can read you like a book and you are not running off this early, you promised," she reminded him. Troy glared at her but did as she bid making sure he sat on the opposite side to her.

"This is a cool place Shar and on first inspection there are some cool chicks here." Chad commented as he glanced around the upper floor at the talent on display. Troy whacked him on the back of the head in disgust.

"What's that for?" Chad moaned. Troy smirked and shrugged.

"Just because. You better behave. I don't want to be thrown out." Troy warned him. Chad rolled his eyes and drank his beer.

"Anyone want another?" Troy asked as he finished his bottle. Everyone nodded and he walked over to the upstairs bar to get another round with Chad following close behind. When they got back to the table, a bottle of champagne had appeared and Sharpay and Zeke were missing.

"Hey this is great," said Chad impressed with the free bubbly. Troy rolled his eyes.

"Where did they go?" Troy queried. Jason shrugged and pointed below. Troy and Chad went and stood looking over the dance floor trying to spot Sharpay and Zeke in the crowd. Chad nudged Troy.

"Hey dude, look at that little hottie," he said leering at a girl in the crowd. Troy glanced at Chad to see a glint in his eyes.

"Where? Which one?" Troy tried to follow his pointing finger but the dance floor was too crowded.

"The chick in the short green dress," Chad supplied. Troy glanced back down and scanned the crowd. He finally spotted the girl and grinned.

"I didn't think she was your type?" Troy commented. "She looks far too intelligent for you." He finished with a smirk, having inside knowledge.

"Dude! Are you saying I'm dumb?" Chad said punching Troy in the arm.

"What can I say? If the cap fits," Troy said smirking at his best friend before turning his attention back to the crowd. His grin transformed into his kilowatt smile when he spotted Gabriella in a red halter-necked dress gyrating close by. He carried on watching mesmerised by her.

"Hey! You better not be checking her out too." Chad grumbled when he noticed Troy's expression. Troy rolled his eyes but didn't take his eyes off his woman.

Suddenly he saw a blonde guy in a green hat go up and start dancing with her. Gabriella laughed at something he said and danced closer to him. He scowled, feeling all his jealousies coming to the fore and was ready for going down, dancing or no dancing and punching him in the nose until he saw Sharpay approach the guy and throw her arms around him. He watched as Sharpay said something to him, pointing to the balcony. Troy glanced at the guy and suddenly realised who it was. He watched as they all left the dance floor and threaded their way through the crowd before disappearing from view. Troy turned and went back to the booth and waited.

"Hey dude, where did they go?" Chad whined to Troy when he flopped down next to him. Troy shrugged his shoulders and smirked.

"You'll see," he said tapping his fingers on the tabletop waiting impatiently for them to appear.

"What are you, psychic?" Chad muttered thinking that Troy had snapped his cap.

They sat there for 15 minutes but there was still no sign of Sharpay and the others. Troy started to frown.

"Where in hell are they? How long does it take for them to get up the stairs?" He groaned.

"Do you want another beer or shall we open this champers?" Chad asked. Troy glanced at the bottle then at Chad.

"Beer. I don't think it would be a smart move to open it until Sharpay comes back. She would kill us if we opened it while she wasn't here," he commented. Chad nodded and grinned.

"Too true. I don't fancy the lectures we'd get from her ladyship. I want to enjoy tonight not feel like I'm back in the schoolroom." Chad agreed before heading to the bar.

Chad seemed to take ages to get served and Troy grew more worried with each passing second. Unable to sit still any longer he told Jason he was going to the men's room and disappeared down the spiral staircase. He had to walk the length of the dance floor so he took the opportunity to search it intently, looking for the distinctive red dress but she was nowhere to be seen and neither were Sharpay and Zeke. He spotted Taylor sat at a table on the far side with two other girls, one petite with curly shoulder length hair, the other had a larger frame and a happy, smiling face He checked again on his way back but she still wasn't there. Taylor and her friends seemed to have disappeared too.

It was starting to bug Troy. He could feel himself tensing up; his stroll became a stride anxious to get this night over with. It wasn't going how he had wanted it to, not that he knew how it would be, just not like this.

"Where the hell was she? I hope she hasn't left already," he thought despondently. The only reason he had been looking forward to coming was because he'd see Gabriella. His face grew serious as he strode back up the stairs. He reached the top and stopped dead.

She was there, sat in the exact same place that he had vacated some ten minutes earlier. His eyes swept over her from top to bottom and back up again, drinking in her beauty. Sharpay spotted him.

"Ooh Troy! I thought you'd abandoned me," she squealed dramatically causing everyone to turn and stare at him.

"Would I dare Shar?" Troy replied in amusement a small smile playing on his lips. Chad and Ryan chuckled.

"You remember Ryan don't you?" Sharpay asked, introducing Ryan as Troy walked over to join the group. Troy shook hands with Ryan.

"It's been a while," agreed Troy. "How are things? I understand you're making your name in the music business?" Troy asked.

"Indeed I am and loving every minute," Ryan replied with a grin.

"I believe you know Gabriella?" Sharpay said coyly watching them both closely. Gabriella blushed despite herself and gazed at Troy ready to follow his lead. He looked back at her remembering her request to keep it on the down-low when all he really wanted to do was take her in his arms and kiss her senseless.

"We have met," he admitted. "Hi, how are you?" Troy asked casually as he engulfed her hand in his. He felt her squeeze his hand in understanding. It was strange how words were not always necessary. She seemed to know what he was thinking and staring into her eyes he knew what she was thinking too.

"Hello again Troy," she greeted huskily before releasing his hand. She turned towards her friends who stood nearby.

"This is Kelsi." Gabriella said pointing to the petite woman who waved at him in greeting.

"And this is Martha," she added introducing the larger framed woman. Troy smiled at them both and shook their hands.

"Taylor, you've already met." Gabriella finished.

"Hi Taylor." Troy said with a smile. Taylor smirked at him, a glint in her eye.

"Hi Troy. It's good to see you fully dressed."

Troy gulped and felt the heat rising up his cheeks as all eyes swivelled back to him. Chad spluttered and glared at him in open-mouthed amazement. Sharpay stared icily at him, her eyes narrowing menacingly promising an inquisition in the very near future. Ryan, Jason, Zeke, Martha and Kelsi burst out laughing. Gabriella sent a death glare to Taylor before sneaking a peak at Troy, silently apologising for her friend's big mouth.

"Did I really say I liked this girl?"

"Yeah you did."

"Well I still do but man! I need to be careful around her. She doesn't take any prisoners." Troy silently talked to himself, wishing the ground would open up and swallow him whole.

"I need a drink." Troy said walking away.

Part 2 of the club scene being written as this goes out. Thank god my muse has come back.