Sharpay strides over to me bursting with confidence, her blonde curls bouncing in time to her steps. I mentally note that when she removes her sunglasses, her brown eyes are full of venom, probably over some minor thing I've apparently done to anger her.
"Ryan!" she shrieks at me, not caring about the presence of other kids in this corridor. "That's it!" I stare blankly at Sharpay as she begins a long lecture about the start of the new semester, or something along those lines. I manage to give the occasional sigh or murmur when it matters, but my mind's elsewhere. I let my blue eyes travel to the basketball team at the other end of the corridor, watching them discuss their tactics and training.
"Ryan!" Sharpay's voice cut through my train of thoughts. "Are you even listening to me?" She smoothes down her hair, glaring at me, waiting for my response.
"Y-yeah, sure I am," a smile hints at my lips for a second. "Could you run it by me one more time? I just missed a couple of points, is all." I re-adjust my hat nervously, and avoid my sister's eyes.
"You're hopeless, Ryan! Ogling the jocks," she scoffs, her voice ridden with scorn. "Tell me, why do I even bother with you?"
"Sharpay –"I sigh, but she immediately cuts me off.
"Don't waste my time," she snaps. "I'm out of here." Tossing her mane of curls behind her head, she flounces away, leaving me staring at her departing figure, like the spoilt brat she is. Of course, I care about Sharpay, she's my sister – my twin, to be precise – but I seriously cannot stand the way she treats me. I don't even understand how she managed to get so tight with Gabriella and everyone, all of a sudden. Last I knew, they hated each other. It should be me in her place; it should always have been me.
Snapping out of my stupor, I pretend to look at the bulletin boards in front of me, willing the threatening tears to go away. Who am I kidding? Maybe Sharpay is right…Angrily, I shake the offending thought away from my head, my eyes flickering slightly.
"Hey, Ryan," a voice from behind me says, and I automatically stiffen slightly, recognising the voice to belong to Gabriella. "Are you signing up for this semester's production?" The brunette gestures to the board before us. I gulp away the remaining tears in my eyes, regaining control of my emotions, regaining that control I so desperately need.
"The musical? Oh, erm…Sh-Sharpay already signed us up," I answer, stammering, my hands quivering somewhat from concentrating on getting my words out. "Oh, are you?" She nods, and with a small giggle, points to her own name on the list. I smile tautly, not knowing what to say next.
"Hey, do you want to hang out with us all after school today?" Gabriella asks and I immediately freeze up. "We're all going over Chad's to watch some movies, scoff down some junk, that kind of stuff. I – we – thought it might be nice for you to come along, too." I panic. Obviously, Sharpay will be going, and Gabi feels guilty about not including me. I laugh nervously, trying to think of what I can say. I can't go, I can't be around them when they don't want me to be there. I eventually decide to pretend I didn't notice Gabi's slip-up just now.
"I'm sorry, I've got a tonne of homework I need to do tonight," I look at the floor. "Maybe another time, Brie?" She opens her mouth to challenge my statement, but changes her mind instead.
"Yeah, some other time," she says brightly. "I gotta go now, though – I'm meeting Troy for lunch. See you around, Ry!" I watch her walk away with that spring in her step. That spring I want so badly. Sure, me and Gabriella are friends; she's probably the only one in that group that can tolerate being seen with me. But that's only when it suits her. She'd rather ditch me and go hang round with Sharpay, and Chad, and everybody. They're the perfect people…or they just act that way. Sharpay does, at least. I'm just tired of being their dog, their cast-off…Whatever people call it.
A/N: I know a lot of people don't like this kind of stuff with Ryan getting hurt and stuff, but..yeah, you'll see where this is going...maybe. xD