Senior Year Party!!! (Hollar!!)

[Bebe Tenko]

Bebe turned as Jake turned away from her, and her vacant face lit up, a thousand lightbulbs going off in her head and her eyes. It was as if she was a different person - all because the three people she loved the most were now here: Emma, her best friend; Sharpay, her confidante (who'd picked out her outift for the occassion); and, of course...

"CHAD!" Bebe cooed, running over to him. "I was worried about you - I called you like - once, I think, but usually you answer, so it was weird and -" Bebe suddenly cut off. She sounded like the girlfriend from Hell, possessive and demanding and whiny. She took a deep breath, shook her head a little, and looked up, the smile of a goddess on her face.

"I'm just glad you're finally here," Bebe said, still smiling the most dazzling smile she'd ever given. She gestured to Jake. "Chad, this is Jake. He just moved here." Bebe's eyes told a different story: he's not good with people, like me. We should help him get sorted out at this party.

Bebe sauntered over to Chad's side, put her hand in his, and smiled at him.

[Marco Ventura]

Meanwhile, Marco had made himself scarce. He wasn't afraid of pansy Troy, but he was afraid of pansy Troy's dad, who could seriously kill him if willing. There was no reason to upset the Wildcat team.

He glanced over at them. That demonic pink-haired punk princess was with Chad; they linked hands.

Those two - together? Marco thought, disgusted. It was as if ugly people sought each other out.

Though, if looks were everything, gangster girl would be with Ryan. Marco snickered at his own joke, passing a blonde wearing far too much eyeshadow and laughing at another basketball boy. God, did all the girls at East High exist to throw themselves at jocks?

And then - he saw her. Finally. The one blonde princess he'd never get tired of, the beautiful girl he could pledge himself to for eternity... Sharpay Evans -

And what's THIS? Her makeout buddy Ryan! Marco couldn't help but look at the pictures he'd snapped that day in the theater. She looked so alive in his arms, not like when she was with him. And for that, Ryan had to pay... but later. Now was a time of celebration.

Marco walked up to Sharpay, his eyes aglow. "Why hello, my princess. Looking ten million times better than the proletariat, as usual... what do you say to some punch?"

[Sharpay Evans]

Sharpay knew this would come soon, but she didn't expect Marco to come to her sooner than soon. But then again, he is Marco Ventura, she knows he would grab any opportunity to get to her. She groaned and rolled her eyes as soon as she heard the cheesiest line she had ever heard that week. "Okay, first...I am NOT your princess. And as for the punch, you'll get one soon if you don't back off." She said through gritted teeth, glaring at him. She held her hands up as if to not let herself touch or be touched by Marco.

"Ugh." She grabbed Ryan by the wrist and dragged him away from the entryway, pushing past Marco. She didn't know exactly where to go or hide but she is going to make sure she is several feet away from Marco that night. Something about him tonight just makes her feel even more creeped out, like he has something evil planned up his sleeves for her. She doesn't know if she's just being paranoid or she's just thinking too much, but whatever, she is going to stay away from him.

[Marco Ventura]

Marco glared at Sharpay as she dragged Ryan behind her. And what would the others say? Nothing. They didn't know it was incest. They didn't know!

Marco seriously thought of inching over to Troy and showing him the picture stored in his phone, but a better idea manifested itself. Marco noted the strategically placed Guitar Hero guitars in the living room - an irresistible lure for all males. If it went according to plan, Ryan would be out of Marco's hair long enough to enact part two of his plan...

He walked over to Troy. "Look, Troy, man... I'm really sorry about being a jerk the other day in class. I just tried to apologize to Sharpay and Ryan, but they won't hear a word of it... I was just wondering, mind playing a game of Guitar Hero with me? I mean, ultimate party game, right? Other than Apples to Apples, but I dunno if that's a great idea with ten thousand people in a house..."

And then Marco unveiled the secret weapon - the friendly smile. He'd fooled so many hopeless girls and wary teachers with that perfectly formed smile, and Troy was dumber than a post. It was sure to melt away his suspicions.

[Ryan Evans]

Ryan shot Marco an undisguised angry sneer, he wasn't going to pretend that he didn't see right through that fake smile, and the only thing that was stopping him from lunging at Marco and showing him exactly how he felt about him was the large height descrepancy that would make it nearly impossible for him to compete. He couldn't imagine how that fight would end, but in this moment, but he didn't want to take what was supposed to be a fun night to find out.

When Sharpay dragged him away, he tried his best to hide his smug grin from Marco, his smarmy face would be enough alone to make people question why he was even so happy after all the stressors. He was having to use his great acting skills more and more everyday, with all the acting training he was doing, it would be a wonder if his name wasn't back on the musical marquee with Shar's.

As soon as Marco was behind him and far out of his mind, he grabbed Sharpay's hand lightly and turned her back to face him. He looked at her concerned, holding off the urge to show her that he wouldn't let Marco get to her if he had any chance to. "Are you okay?" He asked in hopeless earnest, squeezing her hand lightly, knowing for once that now no one would confuse him for anything but a concerned brother, since that was how he was feeling at the moment, he couldn't act on anything else but that so it would have to suffice.

[Sharpay Evans]

When Ryan turned her around, Sharpay had to fight off the strong urge to throw her arms around him, the way she was used to just because it was like rehearsing a dance number. She took a quick glance around them before looking into Ryan's eyes. She shook her head gently at his question, and pulled on his hand to make him lean a little bit more towards her. "Something about him..." She said softly, shuddering at the thought. The look that Marco gave Ryan, she noticed, it was as if...he knows something. This feeling reminded her of their limited time at the theatre on their first day of school.

Sharpay shrugged and shook her head even more, trying to shake off those thoughts from her head. "I think I'm just being paranoid, again." She smiled weakly, placing her free hand on her forehead. "Maybe we need a drink." She suggested as innocently as she could, with the possibility of other people hearing them over, but the subtle look he gave him definitely means so much more.

[Ryan Evans]

Ryan closed his eyes and let out a mildly defeated sigh, hearing her vocalize the things out loud that he was feeling about Marco only seemed to bring the point home further that maybe, just maybe they couldn't call it paranoia anymore and that they may have to merit it as an actual concern now. It was just something about Marco Ventura, more than the usual that caused him to give an inward shudder, something seemed so wrong now.

He shot her a slightly worried smile and placed his hand comfortingly on her arm, giving her another knowing look, he had so much more to say than he was allowed to vocalize and at this moment, he was just glad that they were prone to the mutual understanding cultivated from telepathy and knowing. He ran his hand up to his temples and sighed, looking up for a minute before looking back at Sharpay. "Lead the way, today I'm the poodle again." He said with a playful grin, jesting lightly hoping to escape from this hell in some way.

[Sharpay Evans]

Sharpay smiled warmly as she felt Ryan's hand on her arm, comforting her with just that simple touch. She let out a weak laugh when he mentioned the poodle thing. "Should I call you Boi, then?" She asked, smirking playfully at him. They were way past that phase already and she would never ever treat him worse than she does to Boi again, she couldn't even think about it. He is her weakness now, and because of that he could never be subordinate to her again.

She took his hand and led him to where the punch bowl is, and turned to look at him. "I hope this drink isn't spiked or anything." She said with a slight frown as she looked at the liquid, thinking about those teen movies and TV shows they had watched together. She took two glasses and handed one to Ryan, giving him a wink when she was sure no one was looking their way.

[jake]

He had noticed Bebe's concern for Chad, which he had hoped, that all hell wasn't going to break loose. Now he knew that some people were able to handle things, but when he'd heard someone talking to Sharpay and Ryan, he knew instantly there was probably going to be trouble. He wasn't one to fight unless given a real reason to. He could fight if necessary, even against someone much taller and stronger than himself, he was fairly fast and too smart for most people.

He still looked at Chad and Bebe for a second more, and then turned to see what the hell was going on. Somehow he wondered whether all this was right, if coming tonight was a good idea, he didn't mind being around alot of people, it was just dealing with people trying to get to others, whether it was trying to steal someone away from their date or sibling, it was just wrong. He was planning to keep an eye out tonight and help out if need be.

"Well this certainly has been an interesting night so far." He said to Bebe and Chad. He could tell that anything was possible, and he sure wasn't about to fight with other people, unless he'd been given no other choice. It was in his blood to help other people not hurt him, his mother had always taught him to help others, even if it meant doing things a bit different than what he'd always done. Fighting wasn't something he liked to do, but he would do it if he had to, after all having gone through martial arts and a few other classes like that, he was able to protect himself if need be. That's the only reason he'd taken those classes.

[Ryan Evans]

Ryan looked down at the bowl laughing lightly at the frown on Sharpay's face, he knew that she too was indulging herself with all the fiction of teen parties where the punch was always more alcohol than punch. He looked over his shoulder and noticed that Chad had just walked into the party and leaned into jest to her. "I think we may be in luck. Danforth just got here, if we drink it now there's still a small chance that no one's tipped anything in it yet." He said in a softer laugh as he took the glass from her, looking around and disguising his own wink.

He took a sip from the glass and surveyed the room, he wanted to keep tabs on Marco all night, the last thing he needed was for Marco to show up when he was least expecting him and try and do something to Sharpay again. He didn't want to have to leave Sharpay unless absolutely neccessary, and he was hoping that no such neccessity would arise. He let out another sigh and looked down at the floor, he knew deep down this was not going to be an easy night for either of them, regardless of anything he said or did now. "Remind me why we go to parties again?" He asked trying to make his tone serious, but he wound up laughing halfway through.

[Bebe Tenko]

Bebe was too taken aback by Marco's sudden niceness towards Troy to pay attention to Jake's comment. She suddenly shook it out of her system.

"Oh, sorry, Jake... I wasn't really paying attention," Bebe admitted with a weak smile, squeezing Chad's hand. She hoped she was sending the right message - Marco's planning something bad, and we need to keep an eye on him.

Bebe looked up to Chad and grinned. "Why're you so quiet all of a sudden?" Bebe's face dropped. "It's not anything *I* did, right...?" She blinked at him, confused.

Marco ruined everything he touched, that's all Bebe could think.

[Emma the Loyal Sharpette]

Emma was suddenly pulled away by Zeke, just questioning her by asking "Why" over and over again. She looked at him with a confused expression, then suddenly understood why he was freaking out at her. She knew she was talking to Troy, but it wasn't anything like that!She placed a finger over Zeke's lips to quiet him. She shook her head gently, and smiled up at Zeke.

"You don't understand. I was talking to Troy. That's it. I promise." Emma said slowly. She had to make Zeke see she loved him, and only him. She kissed him gently, and then placed her hand in his. She turned to see suddenly that Ryan and Sharpay were at the party. She turned to Zeke to ask him when they arrived, but her eyes caught someone else. Marco was being nice. Actually nice! She knew he wasn't as bad as everyone thought! She smiled towards Marco's direction, almost ready to cross the room and go talk to him, but she felt her hand in Zeke's, and stayed put. She had promised to be faithful and neither of them were going to flirt anymore. She turned to face Zeke, and smiled sweetly at him. She just had to keep her mantra-ish chanting going through her mind.

I love Zeke. I do not love Marco. I love Zeke, not Marco. Zeke is my love, and Marco is just a guy.

[Sharpay Evans]

Sharpay looked over her shoulder and followed the direction Ryan was pointing to, and just like he said, Chad Danforth had just arrived at the party. She smirked and shook her head gently as she turned her face back to Ryan. "Well then I guess I can drink this one." She grinned as she took a sip, never taking her eyes off of him.

When he asked her, Sharpay laughed and shrugged her shoulders as the old Sharpay in her re-emerged for a moment. "You know we have to do this if we want to keep our spot in the top of the popularity list." She said in her scheming tone, placing a hand on her hips as she looked mischievously at Ryan. After a few seconds though, she let out the laugh that was creeping up her throat. "I missed doing that." She took another sip of the punch, and smiled. She looked around at the party scene again, and noticed that it was like everyone is too busy with their own businesses to notice the twins that much.

She looked back at Ryan and giggled. "You know, Ry," she started softly, a smirk playing on her lips, "I think it might be easy to sneak in a few..." she trailed off, as she moved a little bit closer to him, just close enough to not let anyone be too suspicious.

[Marco Ventura]

Marco could only imagine what Sharpay and Ryan were saying in the other room, and it made his face red and his anger boil. He didn't understand it: why would the most beautiful woman in the world go through with something so disgusting, so socially WRONG?

Marco concluded that Ryan must be good in bed or something.

He was at a bit of a loss, seeing as Troy was being very good at pointedly ignoring his request to play Guitar Hero. So he turned around and looked for people to talk to. First off, pink-haired bitch and her basketball lunkhead. No, thanks. Taylor McKessie... eh. Gabriella, no; although she was smart, good luck extracting her from Troy. Then Marco's eyes rested on a blonde in the corner, talking to another basketball player.

He recognized her from somewhere... ah! Homeroom! She was psychopath pink-haired mobster's friend, and Sharpay's best buddy.

Sharpay's best buddy.

Marco walked up to Emma without hesitation. "Hello... I don't believe we've met. Marco Ventura, senior getting a cold reception. I really want someone to talk to... so can I join this conversation?"

[Emma the Loyal Sharpette]

Emma's mouth dropped slightly as she heard the sultry voice of Marco Ventura talking. She suddenly looked around to make sure he was, in fact, talking to her. When it was confirmed he was talking to her, she could barely make any words come out. She knew Zeke was standing right behind her, but it was so difficult to try and keep her mind on Zeke when the gorgeous Marco was standing right there. She could smell his cologne and could practically feel the confidence radiating off of him. She suddenly was drawn back in to his words, and was able to compose herself enough to form a response.

"Um sure! I'm Emma, by the way." Emma said, placing her hand out to Marco, hoping he would shake it, so she could finally have touched him. Her mind didn't even register that she should introduce Zeke, not that she really wanted to focus on Zeke right now. All she wanted was Marco to be closer to her.