Sharpay Evans was home getting ready, carefully selecting her outfit for the party. She would of course be looking extremely hot and fabulous. She selected a sparkling pink mini skirt and a white tank top. Quite frankly Sharpay was not looking forward to tonight; to saying goodbye to everyone. Tonight was the last night she would be spending with her brother, Ryan, before he was heading off to Julliard. Though would she ever admit that to anyone? Never. There is more to Sharpay Evans than meets the eye.

A very short ride later, Sharpay was sitting in her car willing herself to get out and join her friends. She could hear the chatter of the East High seniors coming from just over the hill and she could faintly see the glow of the bonfire. Ryan had gone earlier so he could pick up Kelsi and take her out to dinner first. Sharpay spotted his car here already. Sniffling a little, she wiped a tear away and opened her car door. She was completely unprepared for what she was going to be greeted with.

Closing her car door, Sharpay walked over to the bench about twenty feet to her left. Biting her lip, she slid down on to the bench next to a very upset looking Chad Danforth. "Hey," Sharpay greeted him sullenly, trying to announce her presence. He looked far too deep in thought to recognize anyone else.

"Hey." Chad felt her presence but he was far too depressed to even use one of his favorite nicknames for Sharpay. "What..." Chad began to ask but couldn't figure out what he wanted to ask her.

"What brings you out here?" Sharpay asked him, with genuine concern turning up in her expression. "Shouldn't you be in there having a great time?"

Chad couldn't help but laugh at that. "You'd think. I don't see what there is to have a great time and celebrate about. Everything is changing. I don't want anything to change." He briefly paused before charging on. "My girlfriend, or should I say ex-girlfriend dumped me tonight! My best friend is leaving me to go to the other side of the country tomorrow morning..." Chad trailed off, finally fully realizing just who he was speaking to. "I hope I'm not boring you, princess." As soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted them instantly. He looked at Sharpay for the first time and realized she looked just as upset as he did. She looked so much smaller and far more fragile than he remembered ever seeing her. "I'm sorry. That wasn't fair."

Sharpay was uncharacteristically focusing on her shoes. She didn't have a biting reply or a dig to throw back at him. It was taking all of her energy to remain composed and reserved. Of course he still thought so little of her. The only person that didn't think she was so horrible was leaving tomorrow... No sooner than those thoughts crossed her mind, did the tears slowly start to fall.

"Hey, hey, hey. Don't cry," Chad instinctively began trying to calm and soother her. He wrapped his big arm around her shoulders and pulled her in to him. She fought against him of course but he was much stronger. "I didn't mean that. I'm just upset and mad and miserable and I was taking it out on you."

"It's not like I don't deserve it," Shar replied quietly. She knew she was a horrible, manipulative bitch. She didn't want to be but it is what her parents had taught her to be. It was what she had always ever known and it wasn't easy to reprogram those buttons. "I'm sorry to hear about you and Taylor."

He shrugged his shoulders not really knowing what else to say. He wasn't entirely certain what he felt on that topic. It was unbelievably horrible of her to have waited so long to break up with him. They were going to try the long distance relationship but she had decided it would be far too hard. "I can't believe she broke up with me tonight. Here. Like half an hour ago," he admitted to Sharpay.

"She's an idiot."

Her voice was barely above a whisper but Chad had heard her. He couldn't believe he was having this conversation with Sharpay of all people. Chad reached over and wiped away the last tears that had spilled down her cheeks. Tilting her head to look up at him, he smiled down at her. "So are we going to sit out here and wallow...or are we going to join everyone else and have some fun with our friends?"

Sharpay laughed at that statement. "I don't have any friends in there. Except for Ryan." She started to choke up again at the mention of Ryan's name.

Her troubles became crystal clear to Chad in that moment. He brother, her twin and her only friend was on a plane to New York tomorrow morning. "You do have friends Sharpay."

She stopped him from speaking and began shaking her head. "No I don't. I've never been nice...I've been horrible."

"Remember what I said?" he asked, noticing the confusion her her big brown eyes. "Everything is changing. Now, I'd love it if my friend joined me for a drink and a good time." Chad stood up and held his hand out to Sharpay.

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

He thought for a moment, honestly he really wasn't sure himself. What he did know was that this girl was far too pretty to be sitting out here crying all alone. He knew she would regret not spending the last night with her classmates, her friends and her brother. They would both regret wasting their night. "Because everyone deserves a second chance. Tomorrow is the start of something new."

Sharpay smiled at him and tried her best to make herself presentable again. When she was sure no one would know that she had been crying, she took hold of his hand and laced her fingers with his. She flashed him a smile, looking and feeling a little more like herself, as they both descended the hill to join the others around the bonfire.