Caring

Caring seemed so intimate. At least it did to Sharpay Evans. And it wasn't until she found herself feeling this way toward someone that she realized that yes this was true, but it was so much more. It was a way of life.

She kicked the tire of her car and let out a screech of frustration as she pushed herself up against the bonnet, staring out into the deserted street.

There were no signs, leaving her feeling very lost and forgotten, no cars and her car refused to change its flat tire. Having ignored her brother's advice about learning how to do it herself, she had only waved off just a week before. And for the first time in awhile, she wished she had taken his advice.

Her phone now in hand she started to search through her phonebook

Why yes she may have had some regret she certainly still had her pride. She definitely wasn't going to call Ryan to have him tell her I told you so, she searched past her parents and smiled bitterly, they weren't around. And then she stopped at the name she was looking for.

Willing there to be coverage she pushed the dial button and brought the phone to her ear. A sigh of gratitude and relief came from her lips as she heard the ringing.

"Hello"

She took in a deep breath.

"Zeke"?

"Yeah, who's this"?

She paused; this was harder than what she thought.

"It's Sharpay"

She was answered with silence on the other end. Who was she kidding? It was only just weeks before that she had blown him off. She closed her eyes tightly, the image of the box of baked cookies with a note on top and of her throwing them into the trash coming into mind.

And that's how you treat the only nice person you know said a voice much like Ryan's.

She shook her head.

"Are you still there"? She asked quietly

"Yeah"

She wanted to say sorry for every nasty thing she had said to him, sorry for hurting him.

But she couldn't, it was too hard.

"I'm lost"

"Your lost?"

"I've got a flat, there are no street signs and it's getting dark".

He must have heard the tone of panic in her voice.

She could almost hear the battle going on his mind, whether or not to help her.

"What was the last sign you saw"?

"About an hour back, founders something"

"Ok, hang on a sec"

She heard typing in the background before his voice came back "Founders friend"

"Yeah that's it"

"I think I know where that is"

She silently thanked God

"My parents took my sister and I camping near there a two years ago. there were no turn offs were there'?'

She shook her head and then realized he couldn't see her "No"

She could hear some rustling.

"I'll ring you when I'm near ok"

"Ok and Zeke?"

"Yeah"

"Thanks for the cookies" she randomly added

Before he could answer she hung up and silently berated herself.

Meanwhile Zeke was staring at his phone in surprise. He looked over to his dog Rave and with a smile he said, "I think Sharpay Evans just apologized".

TBC