Chad and Taylor have been together for months now, yet haven't gone on their first date. They've been on countless double dates with their friends but never had the chance to have a date of their own, where it's just the two of them. Taylor's been trying to ask when their first date would be. From basketball practice to after-school homework sessions, she's tried everything in the book but nothing has come out of it. Now, Taylor's not the bugging type, so she's not gonna spend all of her time bugging someone for shit. But she couldn't help the fact that she hasn't been on her first official date with Chad, which meant the world to her at this point.

"Gabriella,"

"Hm?"

"How do you go on dates with Troy all the time?"

"How?"

"Mhm."

"I don't really know. We usually discuss when we're free and just agree on a place, date, and time. Why did you ask that?"

"Because Chad hasn't answered my question about the possibility of having our first date. He always avoids it or shoots it down by switching the topic."

"That doesn't sound good."

"I know it doesn't because it sounds like he doesn't care about what I would like to do. He always promised to listen to me and what I have to say yet he's not doing it right now."

"Maybe he doesn't want to talk about it because he can't do it, which will obviously disappoint you. Who knows."

— — — — — —

Taylor didn't have time for any of Chad's shenanigans anymore. She was going to force an answer out of him at this point, not giving a fuck about anything else she had going on. She walked behind him and tapped his shoulder, receiving a smile once he turned around.

"Hey, Tay. What're you—"

"Chad."

"...Hm?"

"What's the question that I've constantly been asking you recently?"

"Why haven't I been doing my homework?'

"No, not that."

"Why do I always forget about our homework sessions?"

"Nope."

"...When are we going on our first date?'

"Bingo. Seriously, when are we?"

"Not now. If I had free time, we could go on however many dates we want to go on. But for now, we can't do shit."

"But you can sneak out and go to Troy's for video games?!"

"Woah—woah—woah. How did you even find out about that?"

"Gabriella tells me everything. Now, explain how you can go to Troy's but can't think or talk about our first date. You know how much it means to me, right?"

"I know, I know. But I can't because...I just can't, Taylor."

"Why can't you?"

"It's a lot to explain."

"Then explain it. Right here, right now."

"You're not even supposed to—"

"TAYLOR MCKESSIE."

The voice that Chad and Taylor were too familiar with echoed in the theater. Ms. Darbus was a teacher that you didn't want to mess with, especially if you were on East High's basketball team.

"What're you doing in my theatre at this hour? Do you know what's going on behind closed curtains?"

"I know what's happening Ms. Darbus. But I'm here because I need Chad—"

"She doesn't need me."

Taylor started to tug on Chad's arm harshly, trying to give him some type of signal.

"Are you sure? Because it seems like she's tugging your arm really hard. Anyway, do you need him that bad to where you had to sneak inside my theatre?"

"...Nevermind Ms. Darbus."

Taylor stopped and let go of Chad's flannel. She quietly walked away from Chad, eyeing him while he resumed with painting set pieces.

— — — — — —

"Once Ms. Darbus came over, he pushed me away and lied to her. He basically said that I didn't need to talk to him."

"Really?"

"Yes, Gabriella. I don't lie about anything when it comes to Chad, and you know this."

"I know. I'm just shocked that he said that."

"Me too. This isn't like him, at all."

"It really isn't. I don't know what to do if I was in this situation so I can't give you any suggestions."

"Don't worry, I know what to do."

"Which is?"

"You'll see."

Taylor's outfit looked so, different. Not in the wrong way, but she rarely dresses like this. She only goes out of her way to wear stuff like this when she's going somewhere with friends. But today was special since she was feeling herself. She felt an unexpected boost of confidence in her all of a sudden. Her outfit consisted of a jean skirt, black ballerina flats with sheer thigh-highs, and a white button-up lace tank top. She added some jewelry and made her hair go into an afro. Once she went inside East High, she caught the attention of everyone, including her boyfriend.

"Taylor?"

"Hm?"

"Why're you dressed like that?"

"Why won't you take me on a date?"

"..."

"Right."

"I was going to say that I can't because..."

"Because what?"

"...You'll see once the day comes."

"Taylor! Over here!"

There came Gabriella, dressed differently too. She was rocking something that Sharpay would put together for her, or have some type of involvement in. It mainly consisted of pink and white, which already said a lot.

"Did Sharpay dress you again?"

"Yes. I like it but I'm not wearing it again. It doesn't suit me..."

— — — — — —

After a long day filled with many things, Chad was in basketball practice as usual, playing with Troy on the court until two girls decided to show up and talk to them.

"What're you two doing here?"

"We wanna talk."

Troy sparked a conversation with his girl and walked away, letting Taylor and Chad have some alone time with each other.

"You look good today, Tay."

"Don't I always look good?"

"Yeah but you look extra hot today."

"Thanks, but I'm not here for compliments."

"Then what're you here for, besides to talk?"

"I'm here for just that. We need to discuss our date and why you've been putting it away for so long."

"Not this again."

"Yes, this again, because I'm not about to let you ignore this anymore. I need to know why you've been pushing me and my date question away."

"I had to push you away because I didn't want you to get in trouble. You could've been in detention with me, painting sets for hours on end. But what if I told you that I do have a date in the works?"

"Really?"

"Mhm."

"So you already had a date planned but didn't want to tell me?"

"Basically. I wanted to keep it a surprise. I had to lie to you whenever you brought it up, even though I hate lying to you. But since you're so adamant about knowing and I can't say no to you, I'll tell you flat out: we're finally going on a date. The only thing I can keep a secret is what the date is and when it is."

"So it's official? We're having our first date?"

"Yeah—"

Taylor ran off, not caring about what Chad else had to say since she heard what she needed to hear. Once she was out of the gym, she recollected herself under some stairs nearby. She felt butterflies in every corner of her body. She was happy about the date but was curious about it too. Chad did say that he was keeping everything else a secret, so that meant that Taylor could try and figure out what they were doing for the date.

She wasn't going to stalk his every move and shit like a weirdo, even though she had full access to his house and he had the same access to hers. But she was going to try and piece together what Chad had up his sleeve.