High School is Not a Disney Movie

A High School Musical Fanfiction

Chapter 8: Retribution

"God, prison might have been better than this", Troy groaned as he tried to straighten his aching back. "If I have to pick up one more used condom... And who the hell does it in a ditch anyway?"

He stretched up and shielded his eyes against the harsh New Mexican sun as he looked west along the expanse of the concrete drainage ditch which seemed to go on forever.

"Damn!", groaned Sharpay from his side. "I broke another nail."

Sharpay stood with her right hand clutching two yellow rubber gloves while she stared in disgust at the fingers of her left hand.

"This nail will cost 15 to repair." She looked up at Troy before continuing. "Do you think I could file a voucher with the city to be reimbursed?"

Troy was in a foul mood and almost snapped back at her in anger until he looked up and saw the wry grin on her face.

"Very funny", he replied sarcastically. "Come on, breaks over. We've still got three more miles of ditch to clean."

He reached down and picked up the large orange trash bag.

"I'm ready", Sharpay told him as she pulled on the over-sized gloves, "but you treat for Starbucks when we're finished."

"Unh-uh", he replied, shaking his head in the negative. "They said they wouldn't serve us anymore, remember? The barista said we stank."

"No prob. There's a new one in Rio Rancho and", she leaned in closer to him and stage-whispered, "it's got a drive-thru."

They slowly start working their way down the arroyo, picking up trash as they went.

"You'd drive all the way across the river to get a cup of coffee?"

Rio Rancho was a suburb of Albuquerque to the west and just over the Rio Grande.

"It's not just a cup of coffee -- it's Starbucks."

They continued their light banter as they worked. In the two weeks since they started serving their sentence, Troy and Sharpay had started growing closer and closer, just the beginnings of a true friendship and maybe hints of something else.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Judge Masters fulfilled his promise and right after the state dismissed the case and cleared Troy's name, he sentenced them to 26 weeks of community service. The two of them were required to do trash pick-up once a week in a different arroyo. Concrete arroyos, which are dry most of the year, were used to carry rainwater and melted snow away from the city and back into major waterways. They crisscrossed Albuquerque and went on forever or at least it seemed that way when you were required to walk them.

Their parents were still ambivalent about everything. Vance Evans still had a beat down look in the eyes since he realized that his little girl was sexually active and her mother just gave her a look that said, I knew it all along.

Lucille Bolton honestly wasn't sure what to think. She wasn't so old that she couldn't remember being Troy's age and getting in over her head with her high school sweetheart. Fortunately, her high school boyfriend quickly became her husband few months after graduation and when Troy was born a few months after that ... well, he was a small baby and no one said anything. And Jack Bolton was still the love of her life. And now that the imminent threat to Troy was over, Lucille found that she couldn't actually find it in herself to dislike Sharpay as much as she wanted. Unfortunately, Jack Bolton hated Sharpay Evans with every fiber of his being for nearly ruining Troy's future.

And Troy couldn't care in the least. He was too wrapped up in his fledgling friendship with Sharpay. The results of his drunken birthday party had left them both isolated from the rest of the school with only the two of them to rely on. Since the criminal charges were dropped, his status as the wronged party and possible hero plummeted too. And his former best friend, Chad Danforth, was now the president of the "I Hate TroyPay Club" which, once again, was fine with Troy. Chad even had graphic t-shirts printed with the slogan. Troy didn't feel the need to associate with him anymore, anyway. Ryan Evans was the only person in the school who was still supporting them. It seemed his love for his sister was enough to transcend any bad feelings he had towards Troy, which was great because he was going to play a significant role in today's main event.

Today was the day they'd been planning for over two weeks.

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"B-Ball God, this is Jazz Square. Are you in position?" The walkie-talkie squawked in a tinny voice.

"Roger that, Jazz Square. B-Ball God and Golden Throat are in position", Troy replied.

Releasing the transmit button, Troy turned to Sharpay to start Operation Revenge, but the look on her face gave him pause.

"B-Ball God? Isn't that a little much?", Sharpay asked with a quirked eyebrow.

They were crouched down in the orchestra pit in East High School's auditorium. Troy was wearing his normal school attire: blue jeans and a t-shirt. Sharpay wore black combat boots, camouflaged capris, a black, body-hugging lycra t-shirt and a matching camouflaged beret.

"Like Golden Throat, isn't?", Troy quipped back with a smile. He rose to his feet, but Sharpay remained hidden in the pit.

"At least I don't refer to myself as a deity."

Troy took a deep breath to prepare himself for his upcoming performance. Sharpay, Ryan and he had rehearsed late into the night, but he still had a huge case of stage fright. He wished that Sharpay could play the main character in this upcoming drama, but he reluctantly realized that was ridiculous. Troy was the only one who could carry this off.

Sensing his unease, Sharpay stood up and put her hands on his shoulders, massaging them a little. Just to think, three weeks ago, she hated him and look how far they'd come. Actually, if she was honest with herself, she never hated Troy Bolton. She just hated the whole drama that sprang up around her because of him.

"Hey, you'll do fine. You rehearsed; you know your lines; you understand the necessary improv. You've got ... uh ... game. Right?" Without waiting for a response, she continued, "Good, now go break a leg." Then, glancing at her watch, added, "I'd better get out of here."

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Ryan put down the walkie talkie and looked around the small room one more time. Two doors down from the principal's office and he still felt very secure. He glanced at the door -- check. It's locked tight. He studied the overwhelmingly complex bank of electronics arranged in a mishmash of dials, switches and lights on the panel in front of him. This room housed all the audio equipment used for morning announcements or to contact a particular classroom. However, today, he, Ryan Evans, would be in control of the announcements and they were going to be sweet. He had all the switches set and ready to go.

Ryan leaned back in the chair and started to relax.

"How did you get in here?", came a voice from behind him.

Ryan whirled around to find Taylor McKessie standing angrily in the middle of the room. Ryan quickly looked over to the door to assure himself that it was still locked. It was.

"How did you get in here?", Ryan shot back.

"I'm supposed to be here and I was in the storeroom getting ready for this morning's podcast."

She must have been in there when he locked the door.

"Podcast? What podcast?", Ryan squeaked.

"You idiot, our morning announcements are uploaded to an iTunes podcast. Where have you been? We've been doing the podcasts since the beginning of the school year."

"Oh. Well, I've been busy", Ryan looked nervously at the clock. It was almost time to start.

"And you never answered my question, Ryan Evans." Taylor stood with her hands on her hips and tapped her foot with impatience. "Why are you here?"

He didn't have time to talk anymore. Instead, Ryan looked to his left and noticed a cardboard box full of coaxial cables. Then, he looked back to Taylor and came to a decision.

Two minutes later, Taylor was securely tied to a chair and no one was the wiser, thanks to the nearly soundproof nature of the control room. Taylor was still spewing insults at him and he was just about to stuff something in her mouth when the walkie-talkie squawked from where he'd left it on the desk.

"Golden Throat to Jazz Square!", Sharpay's voice hissed out of the rectangular device. "We are a go! Repeat! We are a go!"

It was time. In one step, Ryan was in front of the panel. He reached over and flipped the final switch that would set Operation Revenge in motion.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

"Troy! Hey man, where are you?"

Chad's voice echoed throughout the deserted auditorium. He tried to strike a laissez-faire pose, but the quiet and darkness of the theater was a little unnerving. He was so intent on looking into the darkness to spot Troy that he didn't hear the key slide into the lock on the door behind him.

"I'm right here, man." Troy put a sarcastic punch to the word, man, indicating that he wasn't sure that he was speaking to a real man.

Chad jumped back in surprise as Troy stepped out from behind the curtain on the stage. "Damn man, you scared me. Where the hell did you come from?"

"I just been waiting for you, Chad. We need to talk."

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Students stopped all over the school and looked up for the source of the voices. Everyone recognized two of the most famous and/or infamous guys in the school. Chad Danforth and Troy Bolton and their voices were coming from the speakers mounted in the ceilings and broadcast throughout the entire building.

Mr. Matsui stood with annoyance and walked toward the broadcast room.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

"Yeah, that's what your message said. So I'm here ... you know ... for old time's sake. But why'd you pick the theatre." Chad pronounced the word theatre with a lyrical flair while he raised his right arm into the air and dramatically swept it forward as he executed an exaggerated stage bow. "Are you becoming some sort of a faggy drama geek again?"

"No, it's nothing like that."

"Oh, I think that's it, dude." He chuckled slightly while running up onto the stage to join Troy. "It's 'caus that little piece o' ass o' yours, Sharpay Evans, probably has you singin' show tunes while you're doin' her." Chad laughed heartily at his little joke. "Oh God, I can just hear it now." His voice switched into a falsetto and he started to sing badly while thrusting his hips forward and back in a suggestive manner. "The hills are alive ... grunt ... grunt ... with the sound of muuusic. Shit, that's gotta be it. You know you oughta really be thankin' me for how things worked out. I mean before this whole thing started you weren't gettin' anythang. And now... so how is she? Hot as she looks?"

Troy smiled slightly which Chad took incorrectly as encouragement. This was going to be much easier than he thought. So far, he hasn't had to say anything. Chad was very nicely stepping on his own dick ... all ... by ... himself.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Ms. Darbus swept theatrically down the hallway towards the auditorium -- her auditorium. This was completely unacceptable.

She arrived at the main door to find a diligent looking Sharpay Evans standing firmly, blocking the entrance.

"What's the meaning of this, Miss Evans?"

"Please, Ms. Darbus. Just wait. This is something that needs to happen", replied Sharpay with her hand raised towards her drama teacher like a crossing guard.

Ms. Darbus backed down from her favorite student and decided to give her a chance.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

"Yeah, you're right, Chad. I guess I should thank you. You certainly have changed my life."

The two of them were walking back and forth across the stage as if they were performing in one of Ms. Darbus' dramas.

"I knew it!", Chad exclaimed as he raised his finger, pointing straight up in the air in a eureka like gesture. "And you've got me to thank. I knew it was a good idea and since you're so happy about it and all, I'll let you in on a little secret." Chad looked left and then, right before speaking. "I made sure it happened in more ways than you know."

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

"Why is he saying all this?", Taylor asked desperately.

"Maybe it's guilt", Ryan replied, remembering the comment that Sharpay told him Chad said to her. "And besides he doesn't know it's being broadcast all over the school." At Taylor's surprised look, he added, "Oh, did I leave out that part? The speakers are turned off in the auditorium, but they're turned on full blast everywhere else in the building." Ryan crossed his arms as a smug look appeared on his face.

Just then, they were interrupted by a pounding on the door. They both jerked their heads over to see a very angry looking Principal Matsui with his face pressed up against the glass window. He was shouting at them, but the insulation of the room was blocking his voice. However, that didn't mean they couldn't guess what he was saying.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

At Troy's feigned shocked expression, Chad continued. "Ha! You didn't know, didya? During the poker game, I slipped some roofies into her drink, just so she'd be nice and cooperative. The only surprising thing was that she was conscious at all. Cuz it knocked Taylor straight out, y'know."

Damn, he drugged his own girlfriend. Troy's blood was starting to boil, but he couldn't let on. Chad needed to keep talking.

"I figured something like that happened. I mean Sharpay was really out of it and she didn't drink all that much. 'Cept I would have figured that Zeke would have slipped her a drugged cookie or something."

"Zeke? That pussy. He's still in luuuv with her. He wouldn't do anythang to hurt her, so I had to do it all myself. And a damn fine job I did of it, too. Come clean, Troy. Sharpay Evans was the best damn birthday present you ever got."

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Coach Bolton joined Ms. Darbus at the door guarded by Sharpay. Some of what Chad said was really hard for her to hear and she slumped against the locked door with her arms folded protectively over her chest, staring down at the floor. There was one single tear trekking its way, unchecked, down her cheek.

The coach stepped forward and gently placed his hand on her shoulder and using the thumb of his other hand, wiped away the errant tear.

Without saying anything, for no words were needed, she looked up and smiled into his kind face.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

"Untie me!", Taylor shrieked as she struggled in vain against her bonds.

"So you can beat me up and help your boyfriend? I don't think so", Ryan retorted as he swiveled back and forth in the office chair.

"You don't understand, Ryan. Didn't you hear what he just said?", Taylor voice started to choke up with emotion. "Chad drugged me too." And then, more to herself than to Ryan added, "Why would he do that to me? I love him. I'd do anything for him."

"Man..."

She seemed to come back to herself and snapped at him. "So untie me, so we can get this thing uploaded to iTunes. It'll be all over the Internet in minutes."

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

"Yeah, Chad. You're right. Sharpay is the best thing that's ever happened to me, but not for how you think. She's a really nice person once you get to know her." Then, he dramatically spun around as if he was making an announcement to the whole world, or in this case, the whole school. "And I am very proud to say that she is my BFF."

A sad, confused look flitted across Chad's face before being replaced by anger.

"I thought I was your BFF", he pouted back at Troy.

"You thought wrong, Chad. And I don't even want to be around you anymore. In fact, I'm ready to get out of here now."

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

When Sharpay heard the prearranged signal, she nodded to Coach Bolton while giving a fleeting glance to the gathering of students who had been listening silently in the halls. Then, she turned, unlocked the doors and flung them open. In the sound room, Ryan started reconfiguring the microphones and speakers back to normal and Taylor gleefully typed in the commands to upload the entire file to iTunes.

Troy walked out almost as soon as the doors opened with a befuddled Chad close on his heels. He looked at Sharpay and realized immediately that she had been crying, so he stepped quickly up to her and enveloped her in a comforting hug.

She pulled back after a few seconds and looked into Troy's eyes.

"You done great, Bolton ... better than we rehearsed."

"Aaaah, I didn't do nothing, ma'am", Troy retorted in a 'aaah, shucks' manner. "Chad did everything all by his lonesome."

"I did what?", came a voice from behind them.

"Oh, you'll find out soon enough, Chad", Sharpay replied as she continued to stand next to Troy who had his arm slung comfortably over her shoulder.

Just then, everyone's attention was drawn to Mr. Matsui as he made his way through the throng of students to stop in front of Chad Danforth.

"Mr. Danforth", Dave Matsui sighed, "you'll need to come with me now."

"What? I don't understand, sir. What seems to be the problem?", Chad asked politely. His voice reverting back to uber politeness.

"Go along with him, Chad", Coach Bolton advised. "You have a lot of explaining to do."

Chad numbly followed the principal back towards his office past the hostile glares of his fellow students.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

The hallway outside the auditorium slowly started to clear and the students hurried off to their next classes.

Ms. Darbus turned to Sharpay and Troy. "Don't worry about being late to class this morning. Just come in whenever you feel up to it." Then, she turned and swept down the hall back to her classroom.

"Sharpay?", Jack Bolton called softly to the small blonde. "Lucille and I would love to have you come over for dinner tonight, unless you two have something else planned."

"Oh, no. I-I mean. We...", she paused for a second enjoying how good it felt to use the plural pronoun when referring to Troy and herself. "We don't have anything planned and I'd love to come for dinner."

"Good", Coach replied. "I'd better get going and give Lucille a heads up. We'll see you around seven."

"Yes, sir. And thank you."

"Wow, this is amazing. Did you see how everyone was looking a Chad?", Troy remarked as they walked hand in hand down the empty halls towards class.

"Yeah, it's how they been looking at me since this thing started." She craned her neck to look up at him. "And you, since you started hanging around me."

"I'm sor..."

"Don't. We don't need to go there anymore, Troy. We only need to go forward, not backwards."

"And can we go forward together?", Troy asked with a bit of hesitation in his voice.

"That would be fabulous." She flashed a million watt smile at him and squeezed a little more tightly to his hand as they continued their casual stroll to class.

The End

This is it, guys! The end of another one. If you've waited until now to review, now is the time. And thank you very much for taking the time.

Looky, I threw in some educational stuff about arroyos. They're really very dangerous during the monsoon season (late summer) and you always hear about some little kid drowning in them.

Does you school podcast their morning announcements? I know a lot of schools do and if you're exceptionally bored or just doing research for a story, you can go to iTunes and listen to them. My school didn't, but we're backwards in many ways.

Couldn't help the little nod to my story, Unlove You, with the comment about Zeke and drugged cookies.