Troy was in his room, laying on his bed with his hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. His eyes glanced out the window, catching a few lighting bolts and an earful of a thunderous thunder that made the window shake. Troy turned to his head to look at his clock.
12:45 am.
He closed his eyes and turned over on his side to try to go to sleep. His cell phone went off and he quickly picked it up, trying to wake his parents in the room just down the hall.
"Hello?" he whispered.
"Troy—"
"Shar?!" he shrieked. "I mean, Shar," he whispered again.
"Troy, I know it's late and everything… I'm sorry I woke you up—"
"No no. I wasn't sleep actually. What's wrong? You sound upset."
Sharpay choked back her tears. "I can tell you everything later. I just need you right now."
Troy got out his bed quickly, starting to get dressed. "Just tell me where you are and I'll come get you."
"You don't have to go too far, considering I'm right outside."
"Okay then... well, just stay where you are and I'll be outside in a minute."
She nodded. "Alright." Troy hung up his phone and grabbed his jacket. He stuck his head out of his room and surveyed the hall. Nothing. He stepped out and quietly walked passed his parents' bedroom, down the stairs. He ran towards the door leading to the backyard.
"Sharpay! Shar where are you?!" Troy looked around frantically.
"I'm right here Troy, you don't have you yell and wake the whole neighborhood," the voice behind him said.
He turned around and sighed. He opened his arms and Sharpay walked into them. He held her as tight as he could. "You okay?"
She nodded against his shoulder. He loosened his hug and looked at her. "Come on inside."
They walked towards the house. Sharpay walked through the door and Troy closed it behind him. "How long have you been out there?" he whispered. "You're completely soaked."
She shrugged. "I don't know. Probably half an hour. I was debating whether or not to call you."
"You can always call me, no matter what." Troy took her hand and lead her upstairs to his room. Once there, he locked the door. Sharpay sat on his bed. He turned to her.
"I don't wanna saound too forward but you're gonna have to take your clothes off."
She raised an eyebrow. He smiled and laughed a little. "In all seriousnesss of course." Her expression didn't change. "You don't believe me?" She shook her head and started smiling.
"Should I?" she almost laughed. Troy chuckled. "You definitely should."
"Why's that?"
"Because your clothes are wet and you could catch a cold."
"I can take my chances," she smiled.
He smiled. "Well you shouldn't. I could end up catching that cold and that wouldn't be good. You wouldn't want me walking around having a weak immune system."
Sharpay laughed. "Right, Troy, right."
"So with that being said, off with 'em," he smiled. "Do you need help or what?"
"Do you think I need help?" she smirked.
Troy started to laugh nervously. "You know what? You, you look like you got it all under control." He walked over to his dresser and went through the drawers, pulling out his warmup suit. He tossed the clothes to her. "You can change into those. I'm gonna go check around the house. You need anything?"
"No I'm good," she smiled. "Thank you." He smiled and nodded. "You're welcome." Then stepped out of the room. He walked down the hall towards his parents' room. He grabbed the doorknob and closed the door. He walked back into his room, locking the door behind him.
Sharpay had changed closthes and was sitting on Troy's bed, with her hands in her pockets. She smiled at him.
"You feel better now?" Troy smiled, sitting next to her.
She smiled, nodding. "Much better."
"I knew you would. So, you take my bed and I'll crash on the floor."
"You really wanna sleep on the floor?"
"No but you're my guest and I'm trying to make you feel at home."
Sharpay shook her head. "Home is the last place I ever wanna be."
"Oh right. Forgot about that. Well, you are gonna tell me what happened?"
She looked at him. "So you really wanna know?" He looked back at her. "Do you think I really wanna know?"
"I don't know. Do you?"
"I don't know. Do I?"
Sharpay laughed quietly. Troy smiled. "What?"
She shook her head smiling. "Nothing." He chuckled. "Look you can tell me if you want, no pressure."
She smiled at him. "Troy, you're just amazing." He shook his head. "No you really are," she took his hand. Troy looked at their hands and at Sharpay. He put his other hand on hers.
"No.. you're the one who's really amazing," he said softly. He scanned her face for some kind of expression. There wasn't any, not really. She didn't exactly have a black face but Troy couldn't read it. "So okay, you go ahead and take the bed."
"You're not gonna stay with me?" she looked at him.
"I can- only if you want me to."
She nodded. "Yeah, I want you to."
"Okay then." Troy got up and under the covers. Sharpay followed suit. Both laid next to each other, afraid to move. She turned her head and looked at Troy. "It happened again," she said softly.
Troy looked at her. "What do you mean, you talkin' bout your dad?"
She nodded. He sat up on his elbows. "Tonight? What about this time?"
She shook her head. "Nothing really this time. He was pretty much drunk and on some kinda range." She shrugged. "Threw a few punches and Ryan and I were out."
"Well where's Ryan?"
"I don't know. He had me get out of the house first."
He nodded. "Long as you're safe, that's all that matters." She smiled up at him. "There's something I've always wondered," she said.
"What's that?" he smiled back. She kept smiling and lowered her head. "Why do you care about me so much?"
"How can I not? I know we haven't been the best of friends - or lack thereof - but I've always had feelings for you.. just like you for me."
"My crush on you was evident," she laughed.
He laughed. "You can say that again."
"But you never had a problem with it."
"Of course not," he smiled. He laid back on the bed. Sharpay smiled at him. "Why not?"
"I don't know. It's complicated."
"Right of course.. Everything seems to be these days."
Troy turned on his side to look at her. He took her hand in his. Sharpay looked at him. "The point I'm trying to make us.. that I like you too Shar, I know it might not have seemed like it in the past but it's true."
"You really mean that?"
He nodded. "Never meant anything more." He gazed into her eyes; Sharpay returned the gaze. Troy pressed his forehead against hers and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Suddenly, there was a flash of lighting then thunder. Sharpay held on to Troy tightly. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist. "You scared?"
She shook her head. "No. I just.. go scared at that moment."
"Right Shar right," he laughed. "No worries. I'm here to protect you."
She smiled and rested her hands on his shoulders. He kissed her forehead.
"Troy I can't thank you enough for being with me."
"Again, no worries. It's an honor." She just shook her head.
"What about your parents? I don't wanna get you in trouble or anything."
"Don't worry about my parents. They wake up early and leave for something on the weekends. So you're pretty safe."
Sharpay yawned and closed her eyes, resting her head against Troy's chest.
"Oh okay.." she said half sleeping. "Just let me know…."
"Shar you're tired. Go to sleep," he laughed a little. She nodded and fell asleep. Troy kissed her cheek and slowly went to sleep.