A sea of red and white people crowded the gym floor as the adrenaline for the game was still high. Jason got out of the sea of people as soon as possible when he saw them first start to rush towards his team. He side stepped as many as he could and managed to get himself over near the wall and off the court at least. He had seen his dad's disappointed look that didn't match the other man's face. The guy with dark black hair who was balding on top with the briefcase was smiling ecstatically.
Jason took this time to just reflect on his game in particular. He didn't play bad. He actually played one of the hardest games of his life, but he wasn't used to this. A year ago he would've been in Troy's place. He would be the center of attention at this exact moment with a wide grin on his face, but he was slowly letting it go. But what did it matter? Things were still normal at school. He had various different people coming up to him and congratulating him. He had different party offers daily with different girls every size, shape, and color coming on to him. It was like nothing changed when Troy joined the team.
Jason would just have to learn to share the glory.
"Hey Buddy." A very feminine voice greeted and Jason had to blink in surprise that Gabriella was with him and not Troy who was in the mob of people. "You played so well tonight."
She lightly held out her arms and wrapped them around his mid section. He copied her movements and they shared a friendly hug.
He shared a smile with her as they pulled back. "Thanks. I have a feeling though that some people won't see it that way."
Gabriella frowned at his bitter tone. "If you're talking about your dad then forget it Jase. He doesn't know what he's talking about."
Jason didn't want to argue with her as he just shrugged. "Maybe so." Randomly a very amusing yell of cheer echoed through the gym and Gabriella and Jason both had to chuckle at everyone's excitement. "Shouldn't you be congratulating your boyfriend?"
Gabriella crinkled up her face as her smile reached her eyes. "Nah. I'd rather be talking to you right now. I can always see him later." With all the time Gabriella had been spending with Troy outside of school and inside she didn't get as much time with Jason, and that was starting to take affect in her mind. "Walk you to the locker room?"
"Gabi, you don't have too." Jason said as he suspected that she probably really wanted to be with Troy. And in ways of him telling her that she didn't have to spend time with him, it was Jason's way of telling her that he was quietly and silently approving of the relationship step by step.
Gabriella rolled her eyes as she looped her arm through his. "Nonsense." They started walking as there were still hoards of people on the court. "I WANT to be with my best friend right now. Especially after he kicked ass in basketball."
"Awesome shot man." Zeke complimented as he held out his hand to Troy and they did a series of hand gestures. Zeke felt Sharpay stiffen in his hold as he had his other arm around her waist.
"Thanks. You played well too." Troy said as the high was already running down in him and he was getting to the point where he just wanted to go to sleep.
Before Troy or Zeke could say anything else Sharpay whined, "Zeke." She wasn't going to wait to meet Troy with Gabriella's approval. Why should she wait for Gabriella to feel comfortable with them meeting when she had a boyfriend who was friends with him?
"Right." He confirmed. "Troy, this is Sharpay, and Sharpay this is--"
"Troy Bolton." Sharpay smirked at him coolly while sticking out her manicured hand. Her eyes narrowed as one perfectly manicured eye brow raised. She had her hip popped with her other hand resting on the side. "Unfortunately I haven't heard anything about you."
Troy wiped his hand off first on his athletic shorts before shaking Sharpay's hand. She watched him curiously as it soon registered when touching his hand that he was trying to get the sweat off, but was unsuccessful as she was left with a dampness on her skin.
"Likewise." He said in a charming voice. His eyes were at an icy blue stage as he watched Sharpay's face scrunch up in disgust and she dramatically took out a Kleenex in her purse that sat on her shoulder and cleaned off her skin.
"Well," Zeke cut in with an unneeded loud voice, "we have to get going, but good game. See you tomorrow." Zeke called as he pulled Sharpay away. When he was sure that no one would interrupt them over by the wall near the locker room he turned to her. "What the hell was that?"
"What was what?" Sharpay asked as she was searching through her purse for hand sanitizer. "Eew, he got sweat all over me."
Zeke rolled his eyes as his hands that were also still hot from the game slowly slid over hers. "Shar, baby, I'm not going to lie. Back there, you were kind of rude."
"Me?!" She shrieked. "I told him that I didn't know much about him and his response was horrible! Did you hear it! Likewise," Sharpay dropped her tone to try to mimic Troy's. "I mean, you heard it right? That was pretty rude in my book. I mean, obviously Gabs had to have mentioned me, so he was lying. And if lying isn't rude then I don't' know what is."
Zeke sighed. "Never mind. Just drop it. I'm sure you two will bond more on the drive down to the beach house."
"I highly doubt that."
Gabriella and Chad were at the lunch table Wednesday afternoon. It was very uncommon for those two to be the very first two out of the group at the table. Usually is was Taylor and Gabriella or Troy and Gabriella, but not Chad and Gabriella. They were sitting across from each other at the circular red table near the back of the cafeteria.
"You know, not that I mind you sitting with us, but it's okay if you want to sit with your other friends during lunch." Gabriella stated quietly as she was looking down at her packed lunch instead of at Chad who surprisingly had already been through the lunch line.
"Can I tell you a secret Montez?" Chad asked as he had a book out and had his eyes glued to the page.
"Sure."
Chad kept his voice steady as his eyes didn't leave the book pages he was scanning. He was way behind on his literature book and he was supposed to finish the packet of questions to turn in.
"I kind of like being separate from everyone else. I can get more work done." Chad turned the page distractedly.
"Work? You don't do work when eating." She pointed out.
"But if I need to like right now, then I can without anyone bothering me."
"Oh." Gabriella said quietly as she went back to eating her apple. "Then I guess I'll just be quiet." Gabriella took in the way Chad was lightly skimming the pages as he also had a thick packet of worksheets out in front of him. She watched as he scribbled an answer down, but then ended up erasing it seconds after. She couldn't help but let curiosity get the better of her. "What book are you reading?"
"The classic Romeo and Juliet." Chad mumbled right when Troy set his tray down.
"Hey beautiful." He greeted Gabriella as he lightly planted a kiss on her cheek. He took in the quiet Chad who looked frustrated. "What's up with him?" He asked quietly.
"Book trouble." Gabriella mumbled. She then decided right then and there that she could do more for Chad than just sit and watch him struggle. "Hey Chad? I haven't read the story recently, but I'm sure I could probably help you with this."
He looked up with a grin that spread from ear to ear. "You're a lifesaver Montez." He quickly gathered his packet and book and rushed to her other side as he completely forgot about his food.
"I'm not promising much, but--"
"Hey, you can give me all the wrong answers and I would still owe you." Chad said as Troy rolled his eyes.
"And to think I thought Chad wasn't going to sit here since Taylor's absent."
"That's almost poetic Bolton." A high pitch voice said over the loudness in the lunchroom. All three people sitting at the table froze at what they were doing and slowly turned their heads.
"Hey you guys. Mind if we join you?" Zeke asked as he had already placed his and Sharpay's lunches down on the table near Chad's forgotten tray.
Gabriella looked at Troy as she debated on what to do with Sharpay and how to go about this situation. Sharpay was a very good friend of hers, but there was no denying that when Sharpay didn't like someone, then she would make that known.
"Of course not." Gabriella forced out.
"What brings you two about?" Chad asked.
Sharpay narrowed her eyes on him. "We had to get away from the other tables. All you could hear was basketball this…Troy that…did you see the shot?…it's making me sick--" Sharpay stopped herself as she looked around at that people at the table. "I said too much, didn't I?"
"Just a little Shar." Gabriella forced her tone before she got back to helping Chad out; leaving Troy to talk to Zeke and Sharpay.
"You're doing homework dude? That's priceless." Zeke laughed as Chad just held up his middle finger to flick him off.
"It's nice to know that you guys sit with Gabs for her brains. It's like you're using her." Sharpay commented as if it was the most common thing to say.
"Shar." Zeke held a warning in his tone.
"We don't use her. I don't even have homework out right now." Troy protested. He was guessing that this is what Gabriella meant by him acting all different by some people. He knew he had two different personalities. He had the School Troy who was quiet, broody, and gave very short answers to some people. But then he was completely different around Gabriella. It was too soon to tell, but he just knew deep down that she brought out the better person in him. He wasn't afraid to just be himself and speak his thoughts around her. But when around Sharpay, she just sucked all that away and put a cold ice in his tone.
Gabriella sensed Sharpay's and Troy's tones were going to escalate so she reached under the table; much like how Troy did the previous day and took his hand to calm him down.
"So Shar, any new dance routines for the squad?" Gabriella asked knowing that would distract her for a while.
Zeke knew he had to say something to Sharpay or else she would be out of control. "I mean, you heard Bolton. He invited us." She ranted. "Of course we HAVE to go now. I'm not just about to let my best friend go to some club with him and not us. What if something happens to her?"
"Like what? Someone might accidentally spike her non alcoholic drink?" Zeke joked.
Sharpay's face fell. "Exactly! I knew I am dating you for a reason. You're so logical Zeke."
"Shar." Zeke warned again as it was fairly obvious that once Chad brought up The Spot that he was going along with Troy, Gabriella, and Taylor. It was also fairly obvious that Troy felt like he had to invite them to tag along, and to Zeke it was no big deal because he couldn't care less if he missed an outing or two, but to Sharpay it was everything in the world. "Troy invited us. He was being polite, something you need to work on with him."
"Excuse me?" She snapped as she stopped pacing her room.
"Yeah. He invited us on his DATE with Gabs. His DATE!" Zeke over pronounced the word to make his point.
"You don't have to scream. I know what the word 'date' means. But I can't help it. There's something about him…" Sharpay trailed off as she just had this hunch in the pit of her stomach that something was wrong with this situation. "I just don't trust him."
"It's understandable given your past." Zeke stated softly as she looked up at him with a glare. A glare that spoke thousands of words to shut up. "But baby, that was a long time ago and I thought you were okay now?"
"I am. I was. I just…I don't know." Sharpay stumbled over her words; a highly unlike Sharpay thing to do. She started pacing in her exact steps again as it was easy to see since the carpet was so worn down from her steps over the past years. "You know I've always had a hard time accepting new people…especially guys." She mumbled as her eyes glossed over from just thinking back to her ten year old self.
"Hey, hey, hey." Zeke cooed. He stood up from sitting down on her bed and walked over to her. "That was almost eight years ago. Your dad is gone; locked away for a very long time, and I'm here if anything happens. But I can promise you Shar, that Troy Bolton is a very nice guy."
"I want to believe that, but…just give me time to get to know him. That's all I need." She promised.
"Okay, but can you at least take out the claws when he's around. Because it's gonna be hard to get to know him if he's scared of you." Zeke whispered light heartedly. Neither one of them liked to talk about what Sharpay's father had done, but at times like these--meeting new people--the topic was unavoidable.
"Did a hurricane hit?" Anna's amused voice asked as she tapped her knuckles lightly against Gabriella's door frame.
Gabriella let out a huff as she stood up. "I have no idea what the hell--heck I am doing."
Anna smiled as she entered her daughters room and stood by her bed. "Are these the jeans that you're wearing?" She asked indicating to the dark blue jeans on her daughters bed; along with the dark red high heel shoes.
"Yeah, that is if I can find my red halter top to go with the shoes." Gabriella walked over to her dresser drawers and started going through them. "I just don't understand where it went!" Gabriella complained.
"Is there a reason why you need red?" Anna looked at her daughter. "Because I happen to have blue high heels that you can borrow to match this blue top." Anna picked up a blue halter top that was almost as identical as the red one.
"I need red because Troy said…well Troy said…" Gabriella trailed off again as she looked away from her mom and stared intently at her dresser drawer.
"What did Troy say?"
Gabriella rolled her eyes as she looked at her mom with annoyance. "You're going to laugh."
"I promise I won't." Anna closed her mouth and pretended to zip it shut and throw away the key.
"Fine." Gabriella plopped herself down on her floor as she gave up looking for the top that was so different from the top her mom pointed out. For one, the top she wanted cut down in the middle. It was tight on the swell of her breast and flowed out in the middle. "Troy said earlier this week that the color red looks good on me."
"But blue would look great also. I think this blue goes with Troy's eyes?" Anna offered as she held up the halter top.
"But I really want red mom. Do you know if it happens to be in your room on accident?" Gabriella asked sweetly as she crawled over to her mother who had an amused smile on her face. "And by the way, you knowing what would match Troy's eyes is kind of creepy."
"I know I don't have that red top because where would I wear it? But if you want, you can raid my closet for another red one." Anna offered as Gabriella hopped off the floor within a second and ran out of her room.
Anna stood up as she had to stumble back a little from getting a head rush. She let herself stay still for a moment as the room stopped spinning.
"Mom?! Are you coming?" Gabriella called as Anna sighed tiredly and followed her daughter with a smile on her face.
"Out of all my things, you choose a red strap tank top that is cutting it very close to where you're going to have to avoid your dad until you leave, and a black leather jacket that I wore to my first concert?"
Gabriella looked at herself in the mirror as she let her hair down naturally and put bangles on her wrist.
"You think he'll like it?" Gabriella asked biting her lower lip.
Anna smiled sweetly at her daughter. "Of course he'll like it. He likes anything you wear."
Gabriella turned to face her mom straight on. "Thanks." She gingerly wrapped her arms around her mother who was almost just as small as herself, but a little bit taller. "But I'd really like to know where my top went."
Anna laughed as she stroked her daughters head. "I'll get right on that. Right after I go to the store tonight."
"Thanks. Love you."
"I love you too."
Jason heard a ringing in the background as he was busy at the park just shooting around. He quickly set the ball down while going to retrieve his cell phone from his sports bag. He looked down at the caller id before answering.
"What's up Danforth?"
"Hey, a bunch of us are going to The Spot. You in?" He asked as Jason glanced around at the empty park. He could stay and have a very good chance of running into his dad who would probably want to work on more basketball, or he could go out with friends.
"What time?"
"Seven dude. You need a lift?" Chad asked as Jason found that his friendship with Chad was uncommon. They had been on the same team for three years in a row; going on four and Chad was best friends with Jason's half brother. It just didn't make sense for them to be friends, but yet here was Chad offering him a ride.
"It's cool man. I got my car." Jason answered.
Troy was ready to kill Chad. He was ready for a very painful death to his best friend. He couldn't understand what possessed Chad in inviting Jason Cross to go with them, but whatever it was, it couldn't be good as at first this date had started off with just Troy and Gabriella. Then Taylor and Chad were joining them, and now Zeke, Sharpay, and Jason too.
The air was awkward as Jason and Chad walked over to the large table together. Troy and Gabriella were busy talking to Taylor, but Gabriella sensed someone was looking at her, and when her large brown eyes looked up she spotted her best friend who was at the other end of the table. She was surprised, and she couldn't for the life of her hide it. She didn't mind that everyone was together that night, but it would be a lot easier if they all happened to get along.
John's band had gone on at eight and Gabriella had to admit that they were good; although the name of the band kind of threw her off, but other than that she found that they had a nice sound being a rock band. She was surprised at how many kids actually came to hang out there, and they weren't the typical jocks at all. She found that they were kids who she had seen at school, but had never really talked too.
She couldn't help but notice however that various kids from their school were looking at them as if they had never seen them before. Classmates kept coming over to their table and trying to talk to Jason as it showed just how much Jason was known at their school.
Gabriella felt eyes on her again as she turned her head and looked at Troy. "Hey you." She said just to be lightly heard over the blaring music that Sharpay and Zeke had gone to dance to in the pit of teenagers.
"Hey. You want anything to drink?" He asked with the crooked smile that made him look even more attractive.
"No thanks." She watched him sigh as he was still glaring at Chad. "Are you okay?"
"What? Me?" He asked in a surprised tone. "Yeah, of course I'm okay."
"Really? Because we can leave if you want."
"Nah. I'm just thinking of one hundred ways to kill Chad." Troy hissed as Gabriella giggled. "What?" He asked with his own smile. His hands reached out and gently put a curl behind Gabriella's ear. In just that one movement Gabriella felt her body flame up as she froze and let her eyes blend into his. "Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?"
"Yeah, but I like hearing it."
"Pool? Anyone up for a game of pool?" Chad asked as he stood up.
"I'll watch, but I don't play." Taylor said standing up and stretching a little from sitting down for so long.
Jason looked at Troy and Gabriella as they were talking quietly. "We're in." They said at the same time as they shared another smile.
"Cross?" Chad asked expectantly. "You can't just sit here by yourself now."
In ways Jason was kind of mad at Chad for not telling him that Gabriella and Troy were going to be there, but in other ways, he was thankful as this gave him a reason to be around them together without saying anything. He needed to know how they acted around each other to make sure that Troy was treating Gabriella okay, and sitting at a table with them at the other end was a perfect opportunity to do just that. He was able to subtly look away from Chad when he was talking and see that Troy and Gabriella were happier now than ever with each other.
"Um…"
"Come on Buddy. It'll be fun kicking your ass at this game." Gabriella laughed as she passed him. Her one hand was connected with Troy's while her other free hand ruffled it's way through his hair to mess with him playfully.
Jason winced as he glared at her jokingly. "Well I guess that was just a challenge, wasn't it?"
"Hell yeah. There's no way that we're gonna let Bolton and Montez beat us." Chad declared as Jason stood up with an eye roll and smile on his face.
If there was someone who walked passed them at that exact moment, they wouldn't be able to tell that Jason and Troy weren't friends.
Sharpay had been very unsure of Troy and Gabriella as she watched them interact with each other. She had been even more surprised when Troy pulled the chair out for Gabriella for her to sit down in. He had offered to get her a drink of whatever she wanted. He even offered getting Taylor and herself a drink too.
But it wasn't Sharpay's fault that she didn't trust Troy. What reason did he give her as he just came out of nowhere and practically had half the female population under his charm without even realizing it. Sharpay couldn't stop the small voice in the back of her head that told her that all guys were the same. They were just out for one thing, and one thing only: sex. She was lucky enough to have Zeke, but the other guys she hung out with proved her theory right. She didn't see Jason settling down any time soon with one girl. And considering that Jason and Troy were half brothers, they had to share something in common.
But Sharpay pushed all her negative thoughts aside when she went back over to the table after dancing with Zeke. She spotted everyone playing a game of pool with Taylor watching. Zeke and her walked over right when Gabriella was shooting with a smirk on her face.
"Jase, you might want to take notes." She taunted as she lined herself up properly and everyone watched as she sunk one ball down.
Sharpay had disentangled herself from Zeke's arm that was around her shoulder and walked over to Troy who was leaning in the corner right behind Gabriella and watching the playful banter between Jason and the brunette.
"Are you jealous?" Sharpay asked softly.
Troy's dark blue eyes didn't flicker away from the unsuspecting Gabriella and Jason who were laughing their asses off at something. "How can I be? They're best friends."
Sharpay also leaned back to be in the same stance Troy was in. She crossed her arms over her chest as she watched her true friends all together with the exception of Chad thrown into the group. But she was learning to handle his weird personality, and soon, she wasn't sure when, but he would be accepted by her also.
"They act like five year olds when they're together." She commented softly with no hint of disgust in her voice; but vulnerability as Troy slowly took a sip of his soda.
"I'm not complaining." He stated in a quiet tone. His blue eyes flickered in the dark lighting surrounding them.
"You're a bad liar." She turned towards him. "Has anyone ever told you that?"
"Brie has."
"Yeah, well she's smart--if you didn't notice yet." Sharpay added and then sighed once she realized that she wasn't trying her hardest in being nice. "Don't let it bother you."
"Don't let what bother me?"
"Gabs and Jason."
"How am I supposed to compare to their lifelong friendship?" Troy asked in a darker tone than intended. He wasn't sure why he was asking Sharpay Evans of all people, but he needed answers to his disturbing questions that had been haunting him ever since the weekend.
"You're not." She said quietly while looking down at her pink high heel toe. "You're supposed to create your own relationship. Just you and her; no one else."
"I saw you talking to Shar." Gabriella said once Troy started up his truck to take them back to their houses.
"Oh?" He asked in a quiet voice. "I thought you were busy playing."
Gabriella turned in her seat. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No!" He exclaimed quickly as he backtracked and thought over what he said; realizing that those words probably weren't the best. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I just meant…you know, we didn't get any alone time tonight. Wasn't that kind of the point in going out?"
Gabriella sighed as she connected her one hand with his that wasn't on the steering wheel--even though it was supposed too. She brought his hand up to her lips and lightly kissed the knuckles that were almost all better from his little fight with Jason against West High the previous week.
"I guess that was the point, but it was also nice tonight, right? I like hanging out with everyone."
Troy didn't know who Gabriella was talking about when she said 'everyone'. She could've meant her 'everyone'--the people included would be Sharpay, Taylor, Zeke, and Jason. Or she could've meant 'everyone' including Chad and the other people she met through him that night.
"You saw when John came over and Chad nearly hit him in the eye with the dart?" Gabriella asked with excitement in her voice.
Troy smiled from ear to ear as he just received his answer on what she meant before. "Yeah. I saw. I would say that John had it coming since last time he got gum in Chad's hair."
Troy pulled the car over to the curb in front of Gabriella's house. "I don't think I've used my car for a week or two now." Gabriella mused. "I could probably sell it."
"Don't even think about it. Your car is awesome." He unbuckled himself as he turned to look at her better. Gabriella had already of course unbuckled herself down at the corner when he turned onto their street. "Plus, if we ever need to go somewhere in a group, we would have to go in your car since mine doesn't fit that many."
"We could put people in the back bed." Gabriella suggested.
"And if we get pulled over by a cop?" Troy asked.
"My mom knows almost every police officer through fundraisers. She has us covered." Gabriella boasted with a giggle at Troy's eye roll.
"Your mom knows everyone. I wouldn't be surprised if she would become mayor one day."
It got quiet between the two as Troy looked passed Gabriella and onto her driveway where her dad is usually parked outside the garage.
"Hey, is your dad or mom home?"
"Random." Gabriella mumbled before she checked herself. "I guess not. Want to come in?"
"I don't know if that's such a good idea."
"Come on Troy. You climbed my tree and broke in through my balcony earlier." Gabriella pointed out as she got out of the truck; Troy following close behind.
"I did not break in through your balcony. I knocked."
Gabriella smiled while she hopped in front of Troy and took his two hands. She continued walking backwards as she lead them up her porch steps. Troy pretending to put up a fight the whole way as his legs followed her nonetheless.
"What would my father say if I told him about your nightly visit?" Gabriella teased in an unknowing seductive whisper. There was just something about a girl whispering that made Troy instantly listen, no matter what.
His face paled a little as he halted their movements in opening the door. "That's not funny Brie. I think he would kill me."
Gabriella laughed a little as she reached up on her tip toes and pressed a quick kiss to his chin that had a little stubble on it. She dropped back down onto her heels and thought for a moment.
"What are you thinking now? How to get me on your mother's death list?" He joked.
"Nah. She could never hate you." Gabriella's small hand untangled itself from Troy's warm one and stroked itself against his lower chin. "Hmm…interesting."
"I hate not knowing what you're thinking." Troy complained as in one swift movement, he took her by the forearms and backed her up against the door. His body pressed itself against her to keep her from moving. "Please tell me what you're thinking Brie?"
"I'm thinking how much I want to see you in the morning when you haven't shaved. I'm thinking that you'd be even more sexier leaving this stubble on your face tomorrow. I'm thinking how much I want to kiss you right now."
"Who's stopping you?" He challenged before their mouths merged together.
