Chapter 2

It has now been a week since Sharpay's "little" meltdown, but she still thinks about it constantly. She wonders why exactly she broke down that day and why she hasn't felt happy ever since. While in her thoughts, she wasn't aware of exactly how fast she was walking so it startled her to hear a familiar voice in the background. "Sharpay…SHARPAY!" It was just Kelsi trying to catch up to her. "Hey Sharpay, I wanted to know if you wanted to come to my birthday party this Saturday?"

"Um…sure, I guess I can. Just send me an email with the details and I'll get back to you." She started to walk off when she heard Kelsi say: "But I don't have a computer."

Sharpay was in shock! How could someone not have a computer?! "Oh, well why don't you stop by my house after school?"

"Ok, but I don't have a car."

"Okay, then." Sharpay paused hoping she wasn't doing was she thought she was doing, but she was. "Meet me at my locker after school."

"That, I can do! I'll see you later Shar…wait! Would it be okay if I sat with you at lunch?"

"Sure." Sharpay said kind-of annoyed by all of the questions.

"Great! I'll see you next period!" and with that she took off down the hall, just leaving Sharpay standing there kind-of confused. Did she really just give someone else permission to sit at HER table?! She decided it wasn't worth wasting time over and continued her marathon down the hall.

That day at lunch, nothing really significant happened besides the fact that Ryan and Kelsi were flirting the whole time, which really got on Sharpay's nerves. But the most significant thing was happening right after lunch during free period…auditions. At lunch, Kelsi had told her that she hoped that she got the lead again instead of Gabriella. And in return Sharpay asked about Kelsi's and Gabriella's friendship, which Kelsi said there wasn't one. But despite all of that, Sharpay decided to watch her back at least until she got the lead role as Galinda or Elphaba.

Everyone was sitting in the auditorium waiting for auditions to begin. They were all talking nervously or biting their nails, except for Sharpay who was, of course, sitting in the front row listening to her iPod. She did have to admit she was a little nervous for Ryan though, because these were solo auditions and he had never done one before, but Sharpay had worked with him for hours teaching him where to look and what parts of the stage to use. These were all things Ms. Darbus had taught her for her audition for Broadway. Speaking of Ms. Darbus, she opened the auditorium door and quickly hustled down to where Sharpay was and told her to come with her and practically dragged her out of the theatre.

"Ms. Darbus, what's going on?!"

"I really don't want to say this, but your father was in a terrible car accident and he's in a coma at the hospital, but the doctor's don't think he's going to make it over night so they've asked me to drive you there to see him." Sharpay stopped in the hallway and let a tear slip down her cheek. Ms. Darbus turned around and saw that Sharpay was crying and she knew that these were real tears. These were not the same tears that she slipped the first day of school, yes, she had known they were fake. These were real.

"But shouldn't we go get Ryan?"

"Of course, I just wanted to tell you first, because we are closer than Ryan and I are. Do you want me to go get him and tell him or would you like to?"

"I will." And with that she walked back into the auditorium, not caring that she was still crying, and approached Ryan. "Ryan, dad's in a coma and they don't think he's going to make it overnight, so Ms. Darbus offered to drive us to the hospital."

Ryan looked down at the crying Sharpay and gave her a hug. Ryan didn't really have a relationship with his father like Sharpay did, so he couldn't cry but he still hurt inside. Just then did Sharpay look up and realize that everyone was staring at her, and that means everyone: Kelsi (who was now running over to them), Gabriella, Troy, and some other people from the drama club that Sharpay really didn't care about.

"Sharpay," this was now Kelsi speaking, "what happened?"

Sharpay was about to speak when she heard Ms. Darbus at the door: "Sharpay, we need to go." Sharpay turned and pulled on Ryan's hand, but he wouldn't budge.

"Sharpay, I'm not going to see Dad. He's not worth it in my book."

"Then do it for me, Ryan. Don't do it for dad, do it for me." They were both talking loud enough for the whole theatre to hear.

"No."

"What?"

"I said no, Sharpay. I know you've never had anyone tell you no before, but that's what I'm doing. No."

Sharpay just looked at Ryan with the saddest eyes he had ever seen, turned, and walked back to where Ms. Darbus was standing. But, before she walked out the door, she turned around and said: "Ryan, one other person in this world has turned me down, and he just so happens to be sitting in this very room." She turned and looked at Troy and then quietly left the theatre. After Sharpay's little announcement all eyes were on Troy in confusion.

Troy got up and ran out the door to catch up with Sharpay. When he finally did they were already at Sharpay's car about to get in when Sharpay heard someone call her name. She turned around to see none other than Troy Bolton standing behind her.

"Pay, what happened?"

"1. Don't EVER call me that and 2. Why do you care?" Sharpay's voice was dangerously low.

"I have always cared Sharpay!" Troy wasn't aware of how loud he just yelled that and everything went quiet. Ms. Darbus knew that this was about to get real interesting, so she snuck off and hid behind a banner at the front of the school so she could still see what was going on.

"What?" was the only thing that Sharpay could utter.

"The only reason I broke up with you is because my Dad heard that you were sleeping around with all the guys and he said that if everyone knew that I was going out with you, it would ruin my reputation. I thought about telling you and we could have sneaked around, but my Dad was everywhere! I couldn't get away from him!"

"Do you really expect me to just believe that?"

"Well, I was hoping you would so I didn't have to take you to my Dad and ask for proof, but if you don't believe me that's what I'll do. I'll do anything, Sharpay!"

"But, what about Gabriella?"

"I don't love Gabriella, and I never will. You were the first one I ever had feelings for and you're the only one I've ever had feelings for."

"Troy, I'd really like to talk about this but I have to go to the hospital and see my father before he dies!"

"Oh, I'm really sorry, I didn't know."

"I know. It's fine." Sharpay said as a tear crept down her cheek.

"Well, I'll come with you! Since Ryan's not coming, you'll need someone's shoulder to cry on."

"We have to ask Ms. Darbus, but that's fine with me." Sharpay looked around just to see that she wasn't there. But then she saw her peek out behind a banner and look over at them.

"Ms. Darbus says that's fine with her." Ms. Darbus was now walking up to them with a big smile plastered on her face. "I'll excuse the two of you for the rest of the day, since auditions are postponed now anyway. You two can stop by my house later and get all of your homework." She started to walk off but stopped when she heard Sharpay.

"Ms. Darbus, would you mind taking Kelsi home with you until I can come pick her up? I promised her she could come over after school."

"I don't mind at all, my dear. I'll see you two later!" and with a flip of her skirt and a short walk she disappeared into the building. Troy looked down at Sharpay and smiled at her. "Should I drive?"

"Please?" She went to hand him the keys to her hot pink Range Rover Sport, but he wouldn't take them and said: "I am not driving Barbie's car! We can take my car." He walked her over to his ordinary black Jeep and they took off down the road.

"Hey Troy."

"Yeah?"

"What about your mom and dad? We're going to have to tell them sooner or later. Oh, and what are you going to tell Gabriella? "

"Let's not worry about them right now, okay?"

"Alright." The rest of the drive to the hospital was pretty quiet except for the occasional sigh from Sharpay.

Once they arrived, parked the car, and walked inside, Sharpay immediately clung onto Troy. "It's going to be okay, Pay. Wait; is it ok if I call you that again?"

"That's fine. I hate hospitals!" The last part was said under her breath so Troy could barely hear her.

The two teenagers approached the nurse's desk and Sharpay said: "Hi, I'm here to see Dad." The nurse came out of the office and gave Sharpay a hug.

"Oh Sharpay, I am so sorry! I can't believe how you must be feeling!"

"I'll be fine. Is it ok if Troy comes back with me?"

"Of course, honey. Oh, hi Troy, I'm Nancy."

"Nice to meet you Nancy." Troy looked at Sharpay with questionable eyes and she returned with a "tell you later" look. Nancy continued: "Here, I'll take you back now."

The three of them walked back into a room that looked like it could have been a suite at the Hilton across the street. Sharpay walked to the side of her father lying on the hospital bed. She sat down in the chair next to the bed and Troy came and stood behind her. After about five minutes, Sharpay stood up and walked up to Troy and placed her arms around his neck and laid her head down on his shoulder.

"Troy?"

"Yes?"

"I don't know what I'm going to do. Both of my parents are going to be dead, my brother has turned against me, and I have no where to go."

"We'll figure it out, Pay. If all else fails, I'm sure you can stay at my house for a little bit."

"But Troy, your father hates me and thinks I'm a whore and I've never met your mom. How would that work?"

'We'd make it work, Pay. I promise."