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“He’s just so stupid!” Ryan laments as he spreads out his arms and flops backwards onto Sharpay’s bed.
“Who are we talking about again?” Sharpay asks, lying against her pillows and holding a magazine.
“Chad! It's like we flirt all the time and I catch him checking me out, but every time I ask him out, he invites one of his jock friends!”
Sharpay rolls her eyes and flips a page. “All jocks are dumb, Ry, you know this.”
“Yeah, but how can he be this dumb? I literally asked if he wanted to go to that one fancy Italian place, and he invited Troy! The dinner was so awkward,” Ryan whines.
“Maybe he's scared.”
“Of what?”
“Not everyone realized they were gay when they were 5 years old.”
“Yeah, I guess, but can't he just say no instead of stringing me along?”
Sharpay sighs and sits up, throwing her magazine off to the side.
“Okay,” she starts, “I'll set up a date for you two, and all you have to do is show up. I'll handle the rest.”
Ryan sits up to face her, hesitance clear on his face. “Are you sure you can get him there?”
“Are you doubting me?”
“What? No! Just, will he know it's a date, or are you going to kidnap him?”
“Hm, we'll see.”
“Shar!”
“Relax, I know what I'm doing. Now, go get ready and head to that big tree at 7.”
Ryan looks at her dubiously but nods, getting up and slinking through the door.
Sharpay sighs; she has work to do.
—
After she's sure the workers are setting up everything correctly, she makes her way inside and towards the kitchen to find Chad. She enters, and everyone instantly looks up at her. She spots Zeke and gives him a smirk and blows him a kiss. Zeke blushes, and she giggles. On the inside, of course.
Troy steps forward and says wearily, “What are you doing here, Sharpay?”
She huffs, “I need to speak with Chad.”
Chad looks shocked and points to himself.
“Yes, you, dummy.”
Chad scurries forward, but Troy stops him with a frown. “Whatever you need to say to him, you can say to all of us.”
Chad looks between Troy and Sharpay before nodding, “Yeah, totally.”
Whatever. She doesn't have time for this.
“You are going to meet my brother at the big blossom tree at 7,” she tells him, or more like commands him.
“What- you mean Ryan?” Chad asks dumbly.
“Who else?” She really doesn't get what her brother sees in him.
“What does he want?”
She stares blankly. Okay, she gets why Ryan was so upset.
“To go on a date, duh.”
Chad's eyes go wide, and his cheeks noticeably darken. Troy is in a similar state of shock.
“He wants to–with me?!” Chad's mouth is practically hanging open.
“You guys have been flirting for a while, right?”
“We have?”
Sharpay is seriously regretting agreeing to this. But…her brother wants this, so she has to follow through. She'll just make him reorganize her closet later.
“Yes. And he's been asking you on dates, but every time you invite your friends along.” She's really trying to be patient.
Troy gasps, “Those were dates?” He smacks Chad on the chest. “Dude, why would you keep inviting me?”
“I didn't know they were dates!”
Taylor bursts in, “It was obvious they were dates.”
Chad whines, “Well, why didn't you say anything?”
“I thought you knew and were trying to let him down gently!”
“It was obvious,” Gabriella chimes in.
Chad frowns and looks down, probably rethinking every interaction between him and Ryan.
Sharpay scoffs, “Look, do you like him or not? Cause if you don't, you need to stop messing with him.”
Chad looks up at her. “I guess he is cute…and I like hanging out with him.”
That's enough for her. If he proves to be a jerk later…well, she has plans ready for this. “Yeah, okay, now go get ready. And don't you dare look dumb on your date.”
With that, she leaves. He hears Chad asking Troy what he should wear. Ugh, boys.
—
Ryan nervously sits at the table Sharpay has set up by the tree. She truly did an amazing job (even though he knows she had the workers do all the labor). He hopes Chad comes. He really hopes Chad comes without a plus one.
He looks up as he hears soft stepping noises. It's Chad. The other boy is dressed up nicely, and Ryan already finds himself blushing; there's also a noticeable lack of another person with him. Chad timidly sits down, which is unlike him.
Ryan decides to speak first, “Hey, Chad.”
“Hi, Ryan.”
Chad is very clearly uncomfortable, but he's here, so he clearly wanted to go on the date…right? Maybe he's just nervous.
“Um,” Ryan says, “We have fettuccine alfredo and breadsticks.”
“Nice,” Chad says, nodding.
Ryan cringes and starts dishing them both plates. He can feel Chad's eyes on him as he does it, but when he sets the second plate down and looks back, Chad quickly turns away. Ryan frowns but decides to ignore it.
They eat in silence for a little bit before Ryan finally has enough. He sets his fork down and looks at Chad.
“Do you wanna be on this date or not?” Ryan asks simply.
“What?”’
Ryan sighs. “Did Sharpay force you to come? I get it if you don't like me. All you have to do is say so.”
Chad looks panicked. “I do like you, I do!”
“Then why aren't you acting like it?”
“I just realized I like you, let alone guys, like two hours ago. Cut me some slack!”
Ryan stares dumbfounded. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, seriously.”
“How did you not know? You check me out all the time?!”
“I didn't realize that was what I was doing!”
Ryan shakes his head in disbelief. He really had to fall for a dumb jock.
Ryan says, “We don't have to kiss or anything. We can just... talk.”
Chad slowly nods. “That sounds good. Yeah, let’s do that.”
Ryan smiles. Maybe this will be a good date.
—
Ryan prances into Sharpay’s room and dramatically flops onto her pink bed. He has a big smile on his face.
Sharpay barely looks up from her desk, where she’s painting her fingernails.
Ryan sighs dreamily.
“I’m guessing it went well,” Sharpay says.
“It was amazing, Shar...”
She hums.
“We just talked and talked for hours. He was actually interested in hearing me talk about my dance routine! And I even listened to him talk about his last game…he’s so passionate.”
Sharpay still doesn’t look up but she has a sharp smirk on her face as she paints her last nail a pink sparkly color.
She asks, “Did you guys kiss?”
Ryan groans. “I wish! But I didn’t want to rush him. He said he just found out he wasn’t straight.”
“Told you he didn’t know. The jocks never do.”
“I guess. Whatever, we’re going to hang out by the pool tomorrow.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Public, already?”
“Jocks are also annoyingly brave.”
She hums in assent and caps her nail polish.
“Okay, now come put my rollers in,” she demands.
He looks up from the bed. She just gives him a look. He sighs.
—
Meanwhile, Chad is busy dreaming of a pretty blonde boy dancing. He smiles sweetly in his sleep, mumbling, “Ryan…Ryan.” Troy looks at him disturbingly from the air mattress