Summary: Best friends don't sleep with best friends. She constantly reminded him nothing would change, and like the idiot he was, he would smirk at her and say, "Of course." TxG

A/N: I feel bad because this is such a short chapter and I kept people waiting. (x But I guess it gives some insight on some of the backstories? Eh, I'm not sure. But I promise the next chapter will be sooooooo much longer! If it isn't too much to ask, PLEASE REVIEW after you read. Feedback, whether it's good or bad, is so greatly appreciated.

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"I was thinking, overthinking

'Cause there's just too many scenarios to analyze

Look in my eyes

'Cause you're my dream, please come true."

RELIENT K, "OVERTHINKING"

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CLUB VELOCITY, BACK ENTRANCE - RESTROOM

10:57PM

August 4, 2008

"Holy shit Ella! Hurry up!"

Gabriella rolled her eyes from inside the bathroom stall.

"Don't fucking roll your eyes at me either!"

She sighed. The downside of having a best friend who knew practically everything about you.

"Shut up Shar, I'm almost done! I don't know why you're making me do this anyways."

From the other side of the bathroom stall, Sharpay Evans stood with her hands on her hips, ready to use force if she had to.

"It's your fucking birthday! You're eighteen! You deserve to have some fun! Not all that boring shit you try to pull every year."

"It's not boring," Gabriella muttered, "Just because I don't like going out to... places..."

Slamming the stall door open, she faced Sharpay. The blond looked beautiful as always, wearing a hot pink bubble dress (her signature color) with matching heels. Her hair was put into a messy bun, held into place with a bright pink flower clip.

"You look," for once, Sharpay was at a loss of words. "... GORGEOUS."

Gabriella had to disagree. Facing the mirror with her best friend continuing to praise her only two feet away, she felt as though she paled in comparison. Sure, she knew she was beautiful. And yes, she had to admit, with her hair straightened to perfection and her body looking flawless in the strapless electric green mini dress, she looked pretty fucking good. Her already long legs seemed to go on for miles when paired with the black stilettos.

But, despite everything, when standing next to Sharpay on nights like tonight, the insecurities crawled back into her.

"Ella? Ella? GABRIELLA."

Snapping back to attention, she murmured an apology as Sharpay continued her rant.

"You don't understand, babes. People are gonna be falling all over the damn club just to get with you, especially," she smirked. "Your Troy-boy."

"Shar!" Gabriella felt her stomach tense at the mention of Troy. "He's not my... whatever the fuck you called him. He's dating Vivienne, my half-sister, in case you forgot."

Sharpay once again had her hand on her hip, perfectly manicured nails tapping against the fabric of her dress while she stared at her friend in both a critical and sympathetic manner. Vivienne had always been a sore subject for her best friend.

"Please. Fine, your dad fucked around before he married your mom," Gabriella winced at the statement, "and discovered he had another kid, who just happens to now be dating Troy. You know you can just steal him--"

"Don't. Don't finish that sentence. I've known Troy just as long as I've known you, Shar. We're best friends. He loves Vivienne. Now can we just do this?"

Sharpay shut her mouth and turned back to the mirror as she steadily reapplied her lip gloss. She may be known as the ice princess, but she wasn't heartless. She knew when to drop something and leave it there. For the moment, at least.

“Fine. It's completely true though.”

Gabriella sighed, knowing that Sharpay was right. No matter how many times she cut her off in hopes of not hearing it out loud, she knew. She had feelings for Troy Bolton, the boy whom she had known for what seemed like forever. The boy who would chase her around with dirt when they were litter. The man who had been snagged like an object when Vivienne first laid eyes on him.

She pleaded with her conscience to stop. She had more important things to worry about. Like facing over hundreds of people in a skimpy dress that should be considered indecent. Gabriella drew in a breath and exhaled. Sharpay spun on her heel and smiled.

“Ready?”

“I don't have much of a choice.”

“Good. Everyone's going to cum in their pants when they see us!”

And with that final statement, she pushed the heavy door leading to the private entrance of Club Velocity; the entrance to the main stage.

Let the games begin.