"Bite My Tongue"

Chapter 1: Not So Empty Compliments

Sharpay walked in through the front doors of East High, parting the students as she walked by. She smiled to herself, she had mixed emotions about her power as the 'Ice Queen', she enjoyed the fact that she could control so many with the slightest mention of a word, but it ensured that she would never be able to gain friends at East High. 'Oh' well, who wants to be friends with the idiots anyways?' Sharpay realized that she was partly lying to herself. No one, not even Ryan realized how much she wanted to gain the friendship of a selected few, and the name at the top of that list was Troy Bolton. Sure, Junior year, everyone and their grandmother knew how much she wanted Troy for romantic reasons, but now she knew he was too love in Gabby to ever look at her in a loving sense.

'Well, lately, that hasn't been the case…' She let her mind wander with that thought, knowing it would cause her too much pain and she wanted to try to have a relatively good day, today was the first day of practice for the Winter Musical. Somehow, Sharpay and Troy had managed to lock in the place as the romantic leads, Mrs. Darbus had wanted to change what was expected out of the audience and wow them, with a changed cast. Sharpay again smiled to herself.

Troy walked past her, and saw the smile on her face, "Wow, Shar two smiles within a few minutes of each other, somebody's having a good day." He said, hoping to himself that she was thinking about him. "Don't think that you have anything to do with that Bolton, now scurry off, and don't forget about rehearsal today after school." She said with gentle sarcasm, and a small smile. Knowing that she was only joking, he returned her smile, and said,

"Sure, Shar, I know I make you smile, don't deny it. And how could I forget rehearsal? You know what happens today…" He winked, and smirked at her, knowing he had stumped her with that comment. They had to kiss in the play, not that either of them were actually bothered, unlike Gabriella, who minded a whole lot, and was eternally mad at Mrs. Darbus for doing that to her and Troy.

Sharpay, stood their for a moment thinking about what had just happened. Did Troy Bolton, just flirt and wink at me? What the hell? It must be just some sort of joke. I mean I know we've been getting closer, but honestly? What just happened? Weird. Guess we will find out later." She thought, and with that she walked to her first class, smirking to the whole of East High.

Sharpay walked into her homeroom, and sat at her usual seat. 'One more hour until lunch.' She thought. She was early for the class, having avoided Ryan who was trying to tell her something, some sort of big news. Today, Sharpay didn't care what slutty cheerleader slept with what horny football/basketball player. She thought back to a few moments prior, 'I wonder what was so important, that Ryan couldn't wait to tell me. He can just tell me at lunch. I doubt it's a big deal. Probably something about how someone made me a new nickname, like it matters. 'Ice Queen'? Some originality would be nice. I won't lie though; they do a good job with the shivers…' Sharpay was too entranced with her thoughts about the idiots at East High, and their overly used nicknames to see a crying girl walk into her homeroom, right as the bell rang.

Sharpay felt her sidekick vibrate from the side of her Chanel purse. She checked to see that her teacher was looking elsewhere before actually reaching down to grab it.

'ONE NEW MESSAGE', it stated. She flipped the screen up, and pressed okay to receive the message.

'Hey.' It said, she scrolled down to look at the sender's name and number. It said Troy. 'Troy Bolton risked getting caught with his cell phone in class, to text me, Sharpay Evans. Calm down Shar, send him one back, clean and simple.' She encouraged herself.

'Hey.' She quickly texted back. Within a few moments she received another message.

'Got to tell you, Shar, you look awfully pretty today.' The text said. Her heart melted right then and there.

'Cut to the chase, Bolton. What do you want? Empty compliments will get you no where.' She knew she had to keep her cool, and she knew she couldn't let Bolton see she was affected by his words.

'Okay, so, you're right, I need to rehearse our song, could you meet me in the auditorium during lunch?' That text was proof enough that she was right.

'If it is for the sake of MY show, I guess I could spend MY time helping you. I'll be there at lunch, don't be late.'

She clicked back, her heart breaking with every word. She pushed 'Send', stared at the phone for a few moments, she was about to stow it away back in the side pocket of her purse, when she felt it vibrate again. 'It probably just says, 'Okay see you there.' Or something, whatever, just take a look. Not a big deal.' She slid the screen open, and opened the message.

'Okay. And Shar, it wasn't an empty compliment. I meant it, you look beautiful.'

Sharpay almost broke into a fit of happy tears with that text, she put her phone back in her purse, but not before she saved and locked that message so that she could pull it back out for a rainy day, to help cheer herself up. She turned in her chair to see Troy looking at her from three rows back, and she smiled at him. Not a fake, sarcastic smile. A 100% genuine smile, heartfelt, warm, and inviting. He brightly smiled back at her, and then she turned back around in her seat, knowing that lunch was going to be interesting.