Hi, this fic was originally just Noukka's, but since we are finished with one joint fic, and the next one down within two chapters, we thought it could be fun if Stessa was writing this as well, so this is our fourth joint fic!

Disclaimer: We don't High School Musical.


When the World Falls Down

Chapter 1.

Fired.

Sharpay was sitting in her room watching television.

She had the perfect life, even though she didn't have her mom by her side anymore.

All her friends loved her for who she was and her brother was the best brother in the world. And she was popular in school. What more could she wish for? Maybe a boyfriend, but there was nobody she liked.

She was watching a show on Disney Channel. Her favourite show of all: The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. Her favourite character in the show was Maddie. She was just the opposite of herself. If Sharpay should identify herself with one of the characters, it would definitely be London. Well, not because she was Blondie dumb, just because she was rich.

She knew her dad was working all day long, but he was really busy with his firm. He was a designer. Ryan was together with his girlfriend, Kelsi. Even though Kelsi had helped Troy and Gabriella to their audition, Sharpay wasn't mad at her. Kelsi was sweet towards Ryan, and that was the important thing.

Sharpay suddenly heard the doorbell ring. She went downstairs and opened the door. It was her pizza. Sharpay paid the pizza guy and went into the kitchen. She could feel hunger. She found a plate and glass. She opened the pizza box, uhmm. That smell, she just loved it. She had ordered a pizza with ham and pineapple. It was her personal favourite. She took a slice onto the plate. She went over to the fridge and took a soda.

She went up to her room again with her pizza and soda in her hands. Sharpay put the food on her coffee table. She found her cell phone to check if she had gotten any messages while she was gone. There was one. It was from Zeke. He asked her if she had time catch a movie or something. Sharpay quickly wrote back, that she just had got her pizza, but he could join her and take a movie with him.

Sharpay took a bite of her pizza slice and turned on the TV. Her cell phone vibrated. She picked it up.

"Hi, Zeke. What do you want?" Sharpay asked.

"Hi, Pay. Which movie should I bring?" Zeke said.

"Hmm…I don't know…what about She's the Man? Can you just decide what you want to see? I always pick one." Sharpay exclaimed.

"Okay…Do you like horror movies?" Zeke asked.

"A little. It's not my favourite genre. But will you just pick one?!" Sharpay said. She was smiling to herself. Zeke was one of her best friends. They spend lots of time together.

"Okay, fine I'll pick one. Anything else I should bring?" Zeke said. Sharpay always got her way.

Sharpay thought one moment, before deciding on something, "Some candy, maybe. If you want some, 'cause I don't think we have any." Sharpay finally said.

"Okay, I'll find a movie and some candy. Well, see ya' later." Zeke said.

"Toodles…" Sharpay said and added: "You are the best person in the world. Love ya'."

Sharpay hung up her phone and took another bite of her pizza slice.

She just loved being popular. She loved to be noticed. She loved Zeke, because he was so sweet to her, even tough sometimes she treated him like shit.

She quickly looked herself in the mirror. She was worried that maybe she didn't look okay. Her makeup was perfect. And her hair curled just like it should. She fixed her clothes and took some more lipgloss on.

A bell rang. Sharpay quickly went down to the door. She opened, "Hi, Zeke" she said and gave him a hug.

"Hi" Zeke whispered into her ear, and then stepped inside.

"You can take a pizza slice in the kitchen if you want to. What are we going to watch?" Sharpay asked.

"Hmmm. I ended up with what you said. She's the Man." Zeke said.

"Why do you always listen to me?" Sharpay sighed and rolled her eyes.

"I didn't. I am joking with you. I found Scream." Zeke said with a smile on his lips.

"Okay, good you don't listen to me!" Sharpay said, irony streaming through her voice.

"I know." Zeke went into the kitchen. He found a plate, took a slice and went upstairs.

Sharpay was in the middle of starting the movie. Zeke thought to himself, that Sharpay was cute. He had always had a little crush on her. He just knew she didn't feel the same way about him.

"Here take the remote." Sharpay said and gave Zeke the remote.

Zeke placed his plate on the coffee table and took a seat in the sofa next to Sharpay.

"Can I start it now?" Zeke asked and looked at Sharpay.

"Yeah, I am just waiting for you." Sharpay giggled.

Zeke pressed play and the movie begun.

Sharpay had placed herself tight up against Zeke. She hated horror movies. She had a felling that Zeke had chosen a horror movie, because he knew that Sharpay hated them. Then he knew she would sit right up at him. After all, Sharpay knew that Zeke had a crush on her.

--

Downstairs in Sharpay's dad's office, her dad, John was working. He was vice boss in the designer firm Gucci. He was drawing his new collection for the spring. That was one of the reasons why Sharpay and Ryan always had the newest fashion clothes.

John had to work all day; he had to go to all the fashions shows. Sharpay almost joined him every time.

John had been working more since Catherine, his wife, had died.

This year's spring collection had to be colourful and daring. He was thinking about the colours purple, blue, turquoise and green.

John was drawing a dress. John had feeling that this collection would be one of his best.

--

"Argh, is it over? I can't watch this!" Sharpay buried her head in Zeke's shoulder, whining about the scary part, where blood flashed over the screen.

"No, wait just a little bit. Then it's over." Zeke said and put his hand on Sharpay's head.

"Okay." Sharpay whispered, still not daring to look at the TV.

"It's over now. You can look". Zeke said after a while.

Sharpay looked at the screen.

"Oh my Gosh, he has such creepy eyes." Sharpay exclaimed.

"Yeah, you are right." Zeke said.

"But somehow I like his eyes. I mean they are brown just like my own. Chocolate brown." Sharpay explained.

"I like your eyes." Zeke said and looked into Sharpay's brown eyes.

"I know." Sharpay giggled.

--

"I need to do something else. I can't concentrate about this dress any more." John exclaimed, throwing his pencil at the table, while stretching himself out the position he had been sitting in. It was quite uncomfortable.

He went up to Sharpay's room, to see what his beautiful daughter was up to, and to tell her he was going out for awhile.

"Hi, darling. I'm going out. Is that okay?" John asked his daughter.

"Yeah dad. That is fine. When are you back?" Sharpay said and smiled.

"Hmmm…I don't know. But just call me on the cell, if you need me." John said, and left her room.

Sharpay looked back at the screen. It was the end of the movie, "It's done? Already?" Sharpay asked, cocking her eyebrow.

"Yeah, was it that bad?" Zeke said.

"No, actually not. I just need somebody beside me, to tell when the horrible scenes are over." Sharpay giggled.

--

John came home at 3:23 am the next day. He was so tried. Work was really busy these days, and he didn't feel like he got enough sleep. He didn't feel like he saw his children, and he didn't feel like he spend enough time with them. He was home a lot, but he was locked up in his little office, drawing.

He lay down at the couch in his office, and two minutes after he was fast asleep.

--

Sharpay woke up. She felt it would be a good day.

She took on her bathrobe and went into her bathroom. Sharpay turned on the water and found all the products she used in her bath. She took a long bath.

Sharpay closed for the water. She stood there for a while. She was thinking of how lucky she was. She had a big house, and a lovely brother and father who cared about her. What more could she ask for?

Sharpay took a towel around her and one for her hair. She started to dry her hair with the towel at first. She found her hairdryer and put it in the plug. She took a product that should protect her hair against the heat and put it in her hair. She dried her hair and defused it too, so it curled. Sharpay took a little of her fringe and put a pink hair clip in it. She sprayed it with some hair spray so it would last all day.

She put her hair products away and found some underwear. She took her makeup out, wanting to look fabulous. Sharpay laid a pink eye shadow and black eyeliner on the wet rim. She put on her mascara. She brushed her teeth and put her lip gloss on.

She put the rest of the things she had used on their right places. She took her bathrobe and walked out of the room. She laid the bathrobe on her bed and opened her closet. She picked her Gucci ivory rose mini skirt and her Gucci ivory rose top to wear. She took her shiny rose leather coat on too. She found her red cherry leather high heels to match her outfit. She took a red flowered bag and found the books she was going to use in school that day. She went over to her safe. She opened it and took her jewellery box. She found her mother's brilliant heart necklace. It reminded her about her mother. She really missed her. It was two years since the car accident.

She took her high heels and her bag in her hands and left her room. She went across the hall and knocked softly at Ryan's door.

"Come in." Ryan mumbled. He was still lying in his bed. He looked at her.

"Are you not up yet?" Sharpay rolled her eyes.

"No." Ryan rubbed his eyes.

"Well get up then." Sharpay said and went over to his bed. She took his duvet. "Come on. If you are driving with me, you have to hurry." Sharpay continued.

"Okay. But I am still driving by myself." Ryan said and rose from his bed. He went in the direction of his bathroom.

"Do I have to match you today?" Ryan asked before he went in.

"No you decide yourself." Sharpay said and smiled.

Ryan nodded and closed the door. She could hear the water run.

She turned around and left his room, she went downstairs, and sat on the last step of the huge stairwell, where she put her heels on.

She stood up and ran outside to the mail box. She took the post inside and went into the kitchen. There was a newspaper and a letter. She took the letter and went into her father's office. It was for him, and it was probably important. It was weird though, because everybody used emails nowadays.

She was about to place the letter on his desk when she heard someone talking to her.

"Good morning Shar." John said to his daughter.

"Morning Dad. Why haven't you slept in your bed?" Sharpay asked, looking hopelessly at her over-working father. He was going to kill himself someday, if he wasn't careful.

"I came home late. Then I wanted to look on some of my sketches. I must have fallen asleep." John answered.

"Okay… Do you want me to make you some breakfast?" Sharpay smiled.

"Yeah, that would be great. But don't you have school to take care of?" John rose from the couch.

"Yes, I have." Sharpay smile faded away. She had really wanted to take care of her father. After all, he always took care of her.

"Maria can make me some, then. What did you want in here anyway?" John asked.

"There is post for you." Sharpay said, and teasingly waved the letter in front of his face.

"Oh, well thanks. Off you go to school." John said and took the letter, while pushing his daughter out of his office, admiring her again. she really was his pride. She was so amazingly beautiful, just like her mother.

Sharpay waved bye to her dad, and met up with a freshly showered Ryan in the hall. She grabbed his hand ad they left the house and went to school.

John went into the kitchen, watching through the window as his kids drove off.

"Maria what do you have for breakfast?" John asked their maid.

"Omelette and Bacon. Is that okay?" Maria asked.

"Fine. Can you serve it in the living room?" John asked.

Maria nodded, so John went into the living room. He put on some music, U2, his favourite.

He opened the letter. It was a bill from the casino. Apparently he owned away 1.000.000.000 dollars! John felt his smile fade, and hurried into his office and grabbed his laptop. He went back into the living room, and turned it on. He logged on the internet and to his web bank.

On his account was only 89.000.000 dollars. How was he going to pay this bill? He looked at his firm account. Maybe he could borrow some money? It wasn't good, in fact it was illegal, but he really needed this. It wouldn't hurt anyone, because he would pay it all back when he had saved some money. No one would notice… right?

He took a deep breath, and pondered things over for about ten minutes. If he didn't pay the bill, he would get in serious trouble. He had to do it, he really had to. So he did it. And told himself that it was okay, because he was going to pay the money back when he got them.

--

Patricia La Cour went into her boss' office, after having found some serious trouble in one of the firm accounts. It was John Evans', which she couldn't understand. He was a seriously good employee, and he never cheated in anything, he was one of the best designers.

She knocked on the door, and by the cue of Frida Taylor's voice, she stepped in, a smock smile on her face, "Mrs. Taylor, John the vice boss has borrowed some money from his firm account. Shall I look at it?" she asked, hoping everything would work out. She really liked John Evans.

"No, I'll do that myself." Gucci boss, Frida decided, nodding her head slightly, and Patricia go the hint and left Frida's office. Frida then turned to look at her view of Paris. She probably had the best view in Paris, it was really beautiful. She was rich, and she knew it. She loved clothes, and she loved her employee's. She had had dinner with John Evans on a few occasions, and he always considered him responsible. After all, he made sure everything worked fine back in the states. But this seemed weird. If Patricia was right, John Evans was in big trouble.

She turned around, and placed her head in her hands, "John, what have you done now?" she wondered out loud, thinking to herself. She looked at her computer, and picked up the phone, "Patricia, could you call up John Evans for me?" Frida asked.

"Two seconds, Mrs. Taylor." Patricia quickly said, pressing John's number.

Frida just waited for John to pick up his phone, and was relived when she finally heard his voice.

"This is John Evans" John replied.

"Hi, this is Frida Taylor here." Frida said, knowing how much of a shock that would be. It wasn't everyday the employee got a call from their upper boss, "My assistant told me that you have spend some money from your firm account. Exactly on what have you spend them?" Frida asked.

"Oh, it is only a loan. I'll pay the money back." John said quickly. He hated Frida. She always checked up on him. And he was in trouble, he could clearly hear that in her voice.

"Well, you know the firm rules. You have to call me first John! You can't just spend money! And definitely not that many! Because of this John, I think I have to fire you."

John stopped her, panic in his voice, "Fire me?! You can't mean that?!" He was almost yelling at her, however, he knew that wouldn't help his case, so he controlled himself.

"John I can't trust you anymore." Frida said.

"But…" John was shocked. He hadn't seen this coming. He knew it was bad, but really… what was he gonna do without his job?

"John, that is the way it is. You can always call me when you have control over yourself and can follow the company rules." Frida said and hung up.

John just sat with the cell phone pressing tightly against his ear. He could believe this. He was fired… He didn't have a job. How was he gonna pay for everything. What wouldn't his kid say? How was he gonna pay all the money back when he didn't even have a job at the firm any longer. He had seriously screwed up.

Maria came into the living room with his breakfast, and immediately know something bad had happened. she could tell by his facial expression, "Is something wrong, sir?" she asked, worried.

John didn't reply.

"John!?" Maria yelled. She knew she shouldn't yell. But she was more of a family member than a maid, and she loved that man like a brother. And the kids as her own. They meant everything to her.

John got to his senses, and broke free of his trance, "Yes what Maria?" he finally asked.

"Your breakfast." Maria put a plate in front of John, still looking worried.

"Oh, it smells good. Thanks Maria." John said, nodding to her. He felt bad. He knew what would happen then. It was a bad habit, but he couldn't help himself. He had to eat his breakfast quickly, and go to the casino to calm his nerves.

--

Sharpay stepped inside her house. A lovely smell met her, she couldn't wait to taste whatever it was that Maria was cooking, so she called her up: "Are you baking, Maria!?" Sharpay asked, sticking her head into the kitchen.

"Yeah, Miss Evans. Chocolate cookies. Your favourite." Maria answered.

"Could you come up with a bowl when they are finished?" Sharpay licked her lips, eyeing the first plate in the oven.

"Sure, Miss." Maria said and smiled. Sharpay Evans was some of something, but she really love the girl, no matter how hard she was to be around at times.

"Hey, and don't call me Miss, but Shar…or Pay." Sharpay said and ran upstairs. That was only around the one hundred time she had to ask Maria to call her by her first name or pet name.

She decided to do her homework for the next day, and therefore found her books and wondered what to do first.

They had gotten math and an English essay. She wanted to make the essay first. They had to write a personal story about something they had experienced. Sharpay then decided to write about that day the police had told her that her mom had died in a car accident.

She found her computer and opened 'word'. She started to write. She didn't get very far, because then there was a knock on her door, and Maria came in with a bowl of cookies in her hand.

"Here are your cookies, miss… Shar." Maria corrected herself, grinning widely at the young girl.

"Thanks. Just put them on the coffee table." Sharpay looked up from her computer.

Maria nodded and walked in the direction of the table. She placed the bowl at the table and left the room. Sharpay then took the bowl, so it was next to her. She took a bit of one of the cookies. They tasted so good. Maria's cookies were the best she had ever taster. Even better than the cookies her mother used to make. Another knock was heard.

Ryan's head showed in the door.

"Hey." Sharpay looked up from her computer, greeting her twin.

"Have you seen this letter?" Ryan asked, "It's for dad, but it's really serious. I couldn't help but read the whole thing when I was started on it."

"Yes, but not what was inside." Sharpay said and took one more bite of her cookie, "It's wrong to read other people's mail, Ry, you could go to jail for that."

"Oh, are these Maria's cookies?" Ryan looked at her hand, and quickly entered the room, approaching his sister.

"Yes, and they are still freshly baked." Sharpay said and smiled.

Ryan took a cookie from the bowl and took a seat in her sofa, "And yeah, did I mention that dad has got a bill on 1.000.000.000 dollars?" Ryan asked, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

Sharpay's eyes widened, and she almost choked in her cookie. That was a hell of a lot of money!, "Where is the bill from?" Sharpay asked, thinking that he maybe had bought her that car she wanted for her 17th birthday.

"A casino in Las Vegas." Ryan said. he didn't understand this at all. When had their dad been to Vegas, and why would he go to a casino? It didn't seem like him.

Sharpay got back to reality. Crap! She really wanted that car, but that was not her main thought, though. It was how her father had spend that much money. She looked at Ryan and swallowed hard, "Oh, do you know where dad is now then?" she asked.

"No. Maria said he left at 10:00am this morning." Ryan said, and took a new cookie from the bowl. He wasn't quite sure if this was serious or if they shouldn't be worried.

"I think you should put the letter back where you found it." Sharpay decided, "If dad wants to tell us about this, then he will. No need to let him know we were looking at his things. " Sharpay said and looked back at the computer.

Ryan nodded and took another cookie, before leaving the room.

--

John came home, after the worst day he had ever had. He realized he had to leave the house and everything they owned. How was he going to tell Shar and Ryan? It was really horrible. His death wife would be so mad at him, if she had been alive.

He went into the living room, and realized that Maria had cleaned up. She had removed his computer, but the letter was still lying on the table. Something wasn't right.

John went upstairs, and knocked on Ryan's door. he had to speak to his kids, right now.

"Ryan what are you doing?" John asked.

"I am playing Need for Speed Underground. Where have you been?" Ryan asked, still looking at the screen.

"Um… I have to talk to you and Shar. Come on." John said and turned around. He went in the direction of Sharpay's room, and knocked softly on her door and went inside, "Hey Darling. I need to talk to you and Ryan." John said and yelled at Ryan: "Are you coming, son!?"

Ryan stopped the game and went into Sharpay's room.

"So what do you want to tell?" Sharpay blinked at Ryan. She knew John was going to tell them himself. Just as she had suspected. Their dad told them everything.

"Ryan sit down." John said, very seriously.

Ryan took a seat in the sofa, and took a cookie from the bowl. It was almost empty now, so that meant Sharpay had been eating cookies all afternoon. He looked back at his father, who suddenly looked very, very serious. Something was definitely not right. His gaze locked with Sharpay's, and he knew she felt it too. This was not good news.

"I got fired from Gucci. So…" John's voice trailed off, as the twins gasped, Sharpay placed a hand on her heart, in a very dramatic manner, "…we have to move into a small apartment until I find another job." John said with a really low voice.

Sharpay lost her jaw, and looked at Ryan again. The twins' face's lost all their colour, as they turned to look at their father, who just looked at them, his eyes filled with small tears.


Okay so then. This was the beginning. Not all the chapters will be this long, we just needed to get the story started. We hope you liked this, so please read and review. We don't know when we will update. We're probably gonna finish Popular first, this chapter was just to get started. So… what did ya' all think?

Toodles, Stessa and Noukka.

Peace out!