#1: Apologize

New York City, NY

2013

From the merry, incessant sounds of birds chirping and children giggling, it was evident that summer had indefinitely arrived. Everyone had abandoned their ritzy townhouses or crumbling apartments to frolic in the streets; perhaps take a stroll through Central Park and mingle with other New Yorkers. As far as the eye could see, smiles were plentiful…

Though, if they dared look closer, maybe into the extravagant, yet charming, residence at 7014 West Lindbrook, quite a different picture was painted.

One with no smiles at all.

Perched atop a padded windowsill, a young woman, no older than 25, gazed upon the cheery scenarios below her with an expression of distaste mingled with resentment. Her salty tears weaved shimmering paths down her soft, rosy cheeks and bled onto the small paper, each drop sizzling with forgotten remorse. Nothing could bring a smile to this troubled soul's face.

Taking an even more observant look, it was possible to make out the black, velvety print neatly stamped onto the creamy letter:

You are cordially invited to celebrate the wedding of

Gabriella Marie Montez

&

Troy Michael Bolton

On Tuesday afternoon

July the 18th

At four o' clock

Thirty-five East Olivet Avenue

Followed by a reception

Please RSVP

401-667-8903

It was all the woman could do from exerting her rage and crumpling the invite into a ball of frustration, but she contained herself with poise. After all, she wouldn't want her mascara to run, now would she? Oh, who was she kidding, that self-obsessed, ignorant image had been discarded for years… unbeknownst to the world around her. She found, however, those same feelings of discontent stirring within her once again, begging to return to the icy exterior she had once inhabited.

It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late

Of course, it was all his fault. It always came back to him, didn't it? There was no escape… he was like a rare cancer that went into remission but always came creeping back, forever haunting her. She would be lying if she said she wasn't the least bit joyous at seeing his name in fine print; remembering the feel of each syllable as she whispered the words to herself. That boy- correction, man- always had some uncontainable power over her, as much as she hated to admit it.

Quickly, she stopped her mind from rambling, and brought herself back to reality with another glance at the flimsy sheet before her. The anger came seething back, even more so as she dwelled on the female name that accompanied his, as always. She smirked, glancing at the sunflowers embroidered on the invitation. Gabriella always outdid herself; some things never changed.

I'd take another chance, take a fall
Take a shot for you
And I need you like a heart needs a beat
But it's nothin new
I loved you with a fire red-
Now it's turning blue, and you say...
"Sorry" like the angel heaven let me think was you
But I'm afraid...

Before she could stop herself, however, the woman found memories hurtling towards her mind at full-speed. Visions of a boy, with dark, tousled hair and bronzed skin; and a young girl, golden hair whipping in the light wind, called her mercilessly. Though she didn't want to recall the moment, she found herself surrendering…

FLASHBACK
Albuquerque, NM

2008

"It's hard to believe this is the last time we'll feel this New Mexico breeze, ya know?" he whispered.

The girl gave a ghost of a smile, "Pretty mind-boggling, yea."

He turned his attention towards her, unable to stop himself from tracing her every feature; cascading hair, chocolate eyes, delicate nose, kissable lips, gorgeous curves…

It was her eyes, however, that struck him most. They had never looked quite the same before; never had there been such a sense of uncertainty hiding there, locked behind pools of deep mahogany.

She could feel his eyes, glued to her silhouette.

"Mr. Bolton, is there some reason for your incessant staring?" she chuckled. "I don't know if anyone's every mentioned it before, but it's quite rude."

He blushed, his pinks tinted like a flamingo, "W-why, just admiring the view, Miss Evans. I could hardly keep my eyes off such a breath-taking creature like you."

Always the charmer, she thought.

Wistfulness replaced the insecurity she had shown before, and the boy found himself changing topics completely,

"Shar, I just… well, I don't understand why you won't go to USC. I know, I know; we've had this conversation a million times before, but I can't resist giving it one last try. I mean, this is your last night here and all…"

She whipped around to face him, though her expression remained mute, "Please, Troy. Not tonight, not now… I don't want our last night to be spent like this. No arguing, no persuading."

He sighed, "Ugh! You just don't understand. You don't know what it's like to be the one who's left behind!"

"Well, you don't know what it's like to be the one who's leaving! To be the one who has to feel the guilt, the regret… all of it!" she retaliated.

Silence.

Her tone dropped significantly, "You… you don't know what it's like, to be the one who breaks another heart."

"But, you don't have to, Shar. Just, stay here, with me. With us, all of us," he pleaded. "California's like a minute away compared to New York, and you know it!"

"No, Troy. Stop it."

He stood, "No, why don't you!? It's your choice, it's not like I have a say or anything. I thought that I would be enough, that I would be a reason to stay, a big enough reason. How could I have been so stupid?"

"You know that's not how it is! I made my decision years ago, before we even happened, Troy! Besides, it's not like I used to even be a factor in your life… just think of this as your 'get-out-of-jail-free card'. Now you can be with little Miss Montez, and go back to being the 'golden couple'!"

He fumed, "Don't bring Gabriella into this, not now! She's completely irrelevant… she doesn't even compare with you, Sharpay. I-I never, I could never…"

"Spit it out, already!" she commanded.

"I love you!"

Muffled sobs escaped her, "Then why can't you understand?"

More silence, then with careful steps he approached her shaking frame, snaking his arms around her thin waist.

"I'll- I'll do my best, Shar. That's my promise to you."

She shook her head furiously, "No."

"No, what?" he echoed, confused.

"Don't make that your promise."

He nuzzled her head, inhaling her sweet scent, "Tell me anything, and I'll vow to you."

"I-I want you to promise me," she began, "that that place, inside your heart, the one you told me would always be mine… I want you to promise that you'll never give it away."

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, "It's yours, forever. Promise."

She twirled in his strong embrace, her full lips meeting his and eliciting a spark like no other. Their tongues wrestled, clashing with heated passion. Finally, they resurfaced.

"Satisfied?" he grinned.

She laughed in response.

His lopsided smile always made her giggle like a schoolgirl.

END FLASHBACK


New York City, NY

2013

She was absolutely humiliated. That she had instilled her trust in that boy- man, she corrected yet again. He was a liar, a cheat and worst of all, a heartbreaker. Now, as she twirled the glossy, embossed sheet between her fingers, Sharpay Evans felt the misery of it all.

It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late

Troy Bolton had crossed the line, taking her heart with him.

And she was determined to meet him on the other side to retrieve it.

!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-

Okay, there was the first chapter. Just for reader information, this is my first HSM fanfic, so of course, I'm freaking out. Any reviews, and I mean any, would be greatly appreciated. No, seriously. You can bash, make-fun, whatever. Although, it would be nice if you could leave a semi-friendly comment… but, just do your best and click the 'review' button. Oh, and be sure to leave any ideas for future storylines!