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Gabriella and Ryan walked down the familiar halls of East High after school with their hands intertwined. They stopped finally at their destination and found that no one was around to their surprise. "There's no list," Ryan murmured, wondering where the cast list was.
"There's Ms. Darbus," Gabriella said, pointing down the hall. The couple scooted back a few steps to let Ms. Darbus post the paper and leave without a word. They anxiously scanned it and saw that Ryan had the lead but it was someone else who had the female lead.
"Ryan, that's great!" Gabriella exclaimed, giving him a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Congratulations!"
Ryan returned the hug but continued to stare at the board as he searched desperately to find Gabriella's name. 'She's not on here at all,' he noted. "Gabriella, I think Ms. Darbus made a mistake."
"What do you mean?" Gabriella asked as she turned her attention back to the board. She scanned the sheet of paper and saw what Ryan was talking about. Nowhere on the sheet, as an understudy or even a minor role was Gabriella's name. "Oh wow."
"I'm sure it's a mistake," Ryan assured her, tightening his embrace on his girlfriend as he saw some sadness in her face. He spotted Audrina coming down the hall. "Hey, I'm going to go congratulate, Audrina. Why don't we go together and then talk to Ms. Darbus."
Gabriella shook her head. "No, I don't want to talk to Ms. Darbus, Ryan. I wasn't good enough I guess, it's okay. I do want to congratulate Audrina though, let's go!"
Audrina saw Ryan and Gabriella as they ran towards her. "What, did I not get in or something?" she asked, her nerves wound up tight.
"Quite the opposite actually. Congratulations Audrina, you are the new leading lady of the fall musicale!" exclaimed Gabriella as she hugged Audrina tightly. "And you have an amazing leading man in no other than Mr. Ryan Evans!"
"Wow, congratulations Ryan!" shouted Audrina with a grin. "Guess we'll be working together for the next few weeks."
"Congratulations to you too," Ryan replied with a smile of his own. "I think rehearsals start later this week. I have to talk to Coach Bolton about missing practices. Hopefully, I can work the two together."
"Oh shoot, I have to talk to Mr. Thomas as well about tutoring. Do you think that is going to be a problem, Gabriella?" asked Audrina.
Gabriella shook her head. "I doubt it. We can work together to cover you, I think," she replied with a smile. "This is so great, two very talented people in the musicale! I couldn't think of two people who deserve it more, I can't wait to see it!"
"Wait, you aren't in it at all?" Audrina asked, surprised.
"No," Gabriella returned. "Guess I sucked or something. It's okay though, gives me more focus time to my studies and volunteer work. Besides, we'll be upping meetings for the scholastic decathlon team as well so it works out. I'll miss hanging with you two though. Don't forget about me when you're stars!"
"Us, forget about you? Never!" Ryan joked as he gave Gabriella a kiss on the lips. "Why don't we get out of here? I need to go talk to Coach about the practices."
"I think I'm going to go talk to Mr. Thomas now too. I'll see you two later!" returned Audrina, who was already heading to the library.
Before Gabriella and Ryan could head towards the gym, they stopped in their tracks as they heard an all too familiar scream from the direction of the drama board. The two stopped and turned to watch the scene, intrigued with Sharpay's reaction to the casting.
"This is unbelievable! I am not going to be an understudy to that underclassman!" shrieked Sharpay. "I cannot believe that I am not the lead! How did that little twerp manage to get the lead?"
"Because she was good?" Troy offered. "Listen Sharpay, it'll be okay. You were a great understudy for the winter musicale and you did great in the lead in the spring. Maybe Ms. Darbus just wanted to rotate things to be fair."
"To be fair?" Sharpay exclaimed. "Troy Bolton, until you and that mathlete of an ex-girlfriend came into the picture, my brother and I were the leads of every show we auditioned for! This is all your fault!"
Troy stared at Sharpay in surprise before he found the words to address this accusation. "My fault? Sharpay, just admit it. We weren't the best this time around. Maybe the part called for a different set of talents or something, I don't know, but I don't think Audrina getting the lead over you is really my doing. I didn't bribe Darbus into doing this."
Sharpay looked at Troy with fury in her eyes. "Maybe not, but you darn right know that you didn't give it your all on Friday at the auditions. I don't know what has gotten into you since we started school a few weeks ago, but you have been such a space case when we are together. I fight to get your attention and it honestly doesn't seem worth it to me anymore. You have just ended up being a trophy boyfriend and as much as I enjoy that, I can't stand not having someone that also talks to me as a person."
"You mean bow to your every command," Troy fought back. "You know what? If that's how you feel, then we're over Sharpay. We're obviously on two different wavelengths. If you are so concerned with your precious status quo, go back to being the drama diva and I'll go back to being the jock. Our lives won't ever cross again."
"Over?" Sharpay echoed, temper instantly gone as she heard that word. "No Troy, I don't want us to be over. I'm just angry. It hurts to know that I didn't get lead and that you aren't even on this casting list. We can't be over, I planned our whole senior year together."
"Maybe you should reorganize your plans then, Sharpay," Troy returned. "I can't be with you if I know you are always going to wonder what's going on with me and question my every move. I can't be with someone who flies off the handle at me at her every whim. That's not what a real relationship is like."
"Like you know what a real relationship is!" Sharpay answered, angered by his insistency on them breaking up.
"I do, I had a great one before this senior year started," confessed Troy. "I don't know how I managed to screw it up but I did, and my involvement with you is the key I fear."
Sharpay eyed Troy as she digested his words. "Fine, you want to have it that way? We'll break up but I'M breaking up with YOU! Sharpay Evans does not get dumped!"
"All right Sharpay, have it your way," Troy conceded, not caring what she thought at this point. "Guess I'll see you later."
"Whatever Troy, be gone from my sight!" Sharpay screamed, causing Troy to turn and walk down the hall. "Troy, wait, I take it back! TROY!"
'The ever-changing whims of Sharpay Evans,' Troy thought to himself as he walked down the hall to his locker, away from Sharpay. He felt a hand clasp his shoulder and looked over to see a smiling Chad. "What's up, man?"
"Seriously, I never would have thought this day would finally come. Congratulations man!" Chad exclaimed.
Confused, Troy looked at him before opening his locker. "For what? I didn't get into the musicale."
"For dumping Sharpay finally! I thought you were letting the Ice Queen have reign over you a little too long to be honest, but I vowed to stay out of your love life when it came to her," Chad said. "And what a way to break up!"
"Guess it was coming," Troy stated, packing his bag up and closing the locker. "Well, I'm full time basketball player again. That work for you?"
"Of course," Chad replied. "Gives us more time to start planning for the year that we beat the Knights once again!"
Troy smiled over at his best friend, glad things have returned to being normal again for the most part. "I swear, that's all you think about, beating the Knights."
"And all you think about are scholarships and Gabriella," Chad teased with a grin on his face. "I got you there, you know it's true!"
"Shut up," Troy said, laughing as Chad stuck his tongue out. "Come on, let's head to the gym. I need to work out some of this tension from the breakup out."
"All right, but I have to say I'm glad your relationship with Sharpay is over and that you weren't that emotionally invested," Chad said.
"What do you mean?" Troy asked.
"Dude, you aren't crying or even seem depressed. When Gabriella broke up with you I saw how miserable you were for weeks when you thought no one was looking," Chad answered. "This time, I don't see any regret at all."
"Maybe you are right, maybe not," Troy responded. "Come on, I want to go get the weight room. You coming?"
"Right behind you," Chad answered as he fell into step with Troy.
Chad slowed as he heard his name being called by his girlfriend. "Hey Taylor, what's up?" he asked, giving her a quick kiss.
Taylor stopped in front of the two guys, giving Chad a smile while she eyed Troy a little wearily. "I just wanted to say hi and see if you were doing anything tonight."
"Oh, umm, Troy and I are going to go work out in the weight room now, but after that I didn't have any plans. What's on your mind, hottie?" Chad asked.
Taylor blushed at his nickname for her. "Just thought maybe I could drop by after tutoring? Unless you and Troy want to hang out together."
Troy was pained at the uneasiness that Taylor still had around him. "No, we were just going to lift weights. You're welcome to join if that's your sort of thing now," he offered.
"No, I have tutoring, thanks though Troy," Taylor answered, looking at him briefly before she turned her attention back to Chad. "So?"
"Why don't you give me a call when you are done and see where we are at? How about that?" Chad replied.
"Works for me. Have a great work out," Taylor said before she kissed Chad. "See you, Troy."
"Bye Taylor," both guys called out as Taylor walked off towards the library. "Chad, is she ever going to be normal Taylor around me?"
Chad turned his attention to Troy. "Honestly man, she's still pretty apprehensive about you and me being best buddies again. She thinks you're going to just ditch me and turn on me at the first chance again. You have to remember, you and I go way back. I think I understand you better than they do. Everyone else in the gang will come around, there just needs to be some more time."
Troy nodded his head in agreement. "I know, especially with Zeke, Gabriella, Ryan, and Taylor, I could understand the apprehension. Maybe Zeke will come around now that he knows that Sharpay and I aren't dating."
"Could be," Chad replied. "Then again, he was pretty crushed. Didn't think about him at all before you started dating Sharpay, did you?"
"Honestly, no," answered Troy. "Jerk move but I didn't."
"At least you are being honest. You'll know what to do. You knew what to do to start winning me over again," Chad comforted. "Well, besides our deep brotherhood. By the way, that pass to get out of Jerk Kingdom only works once every ten years, so you can't pull another stunt like this summer again anytime soon."
Troy let out a laugh. "I wouldn't even think of it. Let's go hit the weight room. Maybe we'll catch some of the other guys there."
The two headed towards the locker room and changed into some workout clothes before they spotted Zeke and Jason in the weight room already. "Great minds think alike, huh guys?" greeted Chad, earning smiles from the two friends.
"Something like that," Zeke responded, looking at Troy. "I heard about you and Sharpay."
Troy nodded his head. "Word gets around fast. Listen Zeke, I'm sorry. I never thought about how it would hurt you by me going out with Sharpay. I was stupid and honestly didn't think of it. I should have though. I don't expect you to forgive me for it, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for stepping into your territory with your crush."
"I got it," Zeke responded. "To be honest, I know you weren't alone in that relationship. I know Sharpay can be pretty persuasive. I'm not saying I forgive you, but that I don't hold you up to the fire by yourself."
"Fair enough," Troy answered. "How's Kelsi doing, J?"
Jason got a huge grin on his face. "She is one of the most amazing girls, Troy. She makes me feel so good when I'm around her, like I'm not the stupidest guy in the class," Jason revealed. "I am so glad I listened to Chad and Zeke and made my move, well what little move it was."
The guys laughed. "That's the way it should be man, that's exactly the way," Troy said. "I'm happy for you, for all of you."
"Enough chatter boys, let's hit it!" Chad stated. "After all, this a manly weight room, right?"
"Sure Chad," Zeke replied with a laugh. "Manly weight room… What next?"