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[hoopsandharmonies]

FROM: SUBJECT: SORT BY: Most Recent Chad Danforth to Troy Bolton Since I'm writing emails anyway (8/16) Chad Danforth to Troy Bolton You can't say no to me. (6/10) Chad Danforth to Troy Bolton Man (2/20) Fwd: Troy Bolton to Ryan Evans to Chad Danforth Fwd: Dude? Not. Cool (2/7) Troy Bolton to Gabriella Montez Sooo... (1/24) Chad Danforth to Troy Bolton (no subject) (1/24) Troy Bolton to Chad Danforth Sooooo... (1/16) There are 7 messages.

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[hoopsandharmonies]

Man, I think you're forgetting what the twins are capable o--

--...man, is Sharpay gonna be there? Tell me Sharpay's not gonna be there.

[gottaswing]

Sharpay isn't gonna be there?

[He tries.]

[hoopsandharmonies]

Dude, you're throwing both of us to the lions!?

[gottaswing]

Maybe Zeke will be there, too?

Look, I didn't exactly think this through!

[hoopsandharmonies]

I can see that! [He seethes for all of two seconds before he comes back.]

He still means that much to you?

[gottaswing]

Yeah. [He silent for a while, not even breathing before adding:] I don't get it, either.

But he's great, you just only ever hear the bad parts.

[hoopsandharmonies]

[...he's going to regret this, maybe. But it's only fair considering how much he talks nonstop about Gabriella.]

...why don't you tell me about the good parts then?

[gottaswing]

He gets me. And he doesn't make me feel like an idiot the way Taylor did, though everyone probably is an idiot compared to her, so I'm not blaming her for that. But, yeah. He actually laughs at my jokes. And we talk about everything. Well, used to. Random stuff, serious stuff. He actually makes me wanna talk about it.

[He is silent again before continuing.] And he's gorgeous. Well, you know that. Or do you?

[hoopsandharmonies]

I mean I guess so? He's technically Sharpay's male doppleganger and she's pretty cute so...sure?

[But he's silent again as he thinks that all over.] And those are all great qualities to have in a…boy…friend. But you can find those in someone else can't you? Think about what you just told me. Why are those things only Ryan can do for you?

[gottaswing]

Technically you're doing the same right now, but I still don't feel an urge to make out with you on your bed.

[Said very dryly, that.]

It doesn't even matter, because I wasn't good enough for him. I'm not trying to win him back or anything.

[hoopsandharmonies]

I like to think I'm better-looking than he is. [But he's teasing to try and lighten the mood.]

Don't even. If anything, he wasn't good enough for you. If a guy can't even keep his promises, he's not worth it. Even I know that. We're only going to this thing to show him you're doing just fine and he's just a blip on the radar, 2000 miles away.

[gottaswing]

I don't know, you might be Eric and Philipp, but he has about all the others covered.

And, yeah, that's why we're doing it. That's why I have to be there. And let's not focus on how I need you to hold my hand.

...not literally.

[hoopsandharmonies]

Whatever you say, man.

You sure? [Teasing again] I could totally be a stand-in boyfriend.

[gottaswing]

You've been practically married since junior year, I very much doubt anyone would believe that.

[hoopsandharmonies]

What? I can act!

...but you're right, Ryan wouldn't believe it. You should have said something sooner, I could have hooked you up with one of my friends.

[gottaswing]

Oh yeah. And imagine how thrilled Gabi would've been.

Not that again.

[hoopsandharmonies]

She might have been okay with it. She's worried about you, too.

I'm just saying! They're nice guys. You'd like them.

[gottaswing]

I thought you knew that I only like... stuck-up assholes, was it?

[hoopsandharmonies]

[There's a long pause. Troy is still kind of embarrassed he flew off the handle.]

...I apologized to him about that, by the way. Don't know if he told you.

[gottaswing]

He only showed me the initial email, but I figured you must have, given he said you're cool now. How are you cool after that? I don't get it.

[hoopsandharmonies]

We worked it out. [There's almost an audible shrug in his tone.] He still didn't explain a lot, but he also didn't deny a lot. So we talked and I felt bad and he felt bad and so we apologized and talked about how crazy his sister is and everything was fine. I told him about my theater classes, he told me about Juilliard, and we hung up with the understanding that I'm still not okay with what he did and neither is he.

[gottaswing]

Mhm. [He's silent for a while because it's really not exactly the nicest subject and he's not good with talking about it. But changing isn't that easy, either.]

The glitter wasn't his fault though.

[hoopsandharmonies]

That was part of the "crazy sister" talk.

Did you know there are multiple Sharpay Evanses in the world?

[gottaswing]

There are not. What the fuck are you scaring me for?

[hoopsandharmonies]

Changing the subject! I'm surrounded by scary, blond California divas. I have never been more terrified in my life. They bring their dogs to class. Chihuahuas.