A.N.: Yay, I got a review! Thank you, EndlessDreamer1024! Now, in honor of your wonderful Shaylor oneshots (which I have read), here is my TaylorxSharpay story, dedicated to you!

Disclaimer: I don't own HSM. Seriously, who do you think I am? Would I be writing fanfiction if I had that much power?

Oneshot the Second: Deep

Pairing: TaylorxSharpay

Sharpay dangled her legs in the water, watching her "friends" splash around in her pool. None of them were really her friends, except for Ryan. And Kelsi, too, but she was different. Kelsi was everybody's friend. You had to work pretty damn hard to get on her bad side, and Sharpay would know – after all, she had only tried a thousand times.

The thing was, Sharpay could have had friends. She wasn't mean by nature, but her "Ice Princess" role was just another one of her, well, roles. Only Ryan had seen her sensitive side, and swore to her on pain of death that he would reveal nothing. That was how she wanted it, too. In her mind, being herself was just another risk, just another way to get hurt.

And Sharpay was tired of hurt.

She had been rejected by her friends, her "significant others", and her family too many times. Not by Troy, although that would have been the case as well. Sharpay had never been interested in Troy; her flirtations were just part of her colossal act.

"Sharpay, are you all right?" At this, Sharpay looked up from the water, expecting to see Ryan, or maybe Kelsi. Instead, she came face to face with the most unlikely person to comfort her, in the entirety of East High – Taylor McKessie.

"Yeah, I'm totally fine," Sharpay covered, not exactly looking forward to a heart-to-heart with the head of the science club.

"The truth, please. I'm not buying the act," said Taylor firmly, hoisting herself onto the deck to sit by the moping drama queen. "Now, spill, so we can all have fun, 'kay?"

Confused, Sharpay merely stared at Taylor. Was the girl really concerned about her? When did this happen? She had half a mind to ignore the girl and dismiss her as an illusion, but a strange feeling lodged in her chest made her respond. "I don't know," she replied, making small whirlpools in their bright blue reflections. "I'm just a little lonely, I guess."

Taylor frowned, taking her own turn to be the confused one. "Lonely? Why? You're at a party with all your friends!"

At this, Sharpay laughed bitterly. "My friends?" she spat out, sound a little harsher than she had meant. "Their not my friends, most of them just put up with me! I'm the 'Ice Princess', remember? I can't even figure out why you care," Sharpay finished. After taking a few deep breaths, she looked over to Taylor, and immediately regretted her outburst. The girl's calculating, insightful eyes were overflowing with tears.

"Why shouldn't I care?" Taylor said softly yet sharply, her words cutting into the blonde like a newly cleaned razor blade. "I thought I was your friend, Sharpay. I care for you more than you will ever know!" Wiping her eyes and sending tears to mingle with the pool's chlorine, Taylor reached out and embraced Sharpay. She took a short breath before continuing. "…I love you."

Sharpay froze, her mind struggling to process Taylor's words. But while she wasn't a genius like Gabriella, she wasn't a complete dolt like Jason. Slowly, tenderly, she wrapped her arms around Taylor, softly meeting the girl's lips with her own. And when they pulled apart, no words were needed. Just two quiet smiles… and the wild cheering of their friends in the pool.

I hope you liked it! I really had fun writing this one, I think Sharpay has a deeper side, beyond the drama queen act (I think) she puts on. Reviews are accepted with grateful tears, squeals, and heart felt thanks!