(gasps) chapter 2! When did I put this story up...two days ago? Or yesterday? Either way, I'm updating a lot faster than I did before. Of course, once the story hits about five chapters, update may be going slower. Unless it ends at chapter 5. Then all is well. Thanks to Danny Phantom SG-1 who was my beta for my first chapter and thanks to all those who reviewed!

I slammed the door of my pink convertible shut, the bang echoing in the spacious garage. Groaning, I rested my forehead on the leather steering wheel. Why, why, why did this happen to me? I had to get out of here, from this stupid hovel. I shoved the glittery car keys into the engine and backed out of the driveway.

"Where the heck are you planning to go, Sharpay Evans?" I muttered to myself. Zeke's place, perhaps? Maybe he baked a good chocolate meringue cake ready for me to gobble down my worries away. I flipped open my rhinestone cell phone and dialed his number.

Well, wasn't this just the bloody chocolate on the meringue cake. Zeke as at the King Lumberhead Basketball Boy's house. I drove slowly around the neighborhood, weighing my choices carefully. Going home was out of the question because it meant coming back to them. The people who ruined my life. Kelsi would just say "I told you so!" and Gabriella…I shivered at the thought. I'd rather poke needles in my eyes than considering Freaky Math Girl. The evening chill crawled up my skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps. I shivered slightly, yearning for my Burberry jacket. I drove past the neat line of houses, all built the same with all the same happy, unbroken families. I glowered at them and returned glaring at the road ahead. Why couldn't my life be just…just…oh, what was the word for it? Not tragic?

"Hey Sharpay!" cried a voice. I halted to a stop and turned to the direction of the voice.

Just my luck. It was the Lumberhead, Heart-breaking, musicale-stealing, Basketball boy himself, trouncing over with his posse, clutching a sweaty basketball. I shuddered.

"What do you want, Bolton?" I snapped.

"Well, I thought you might want to join us," said Troy.

"Why would I join you to throw that," I shot a scowl at the sodden rubber lump that boys considered tossing it around fun. "across the yard an into some stupid net?"

"It's not just that," Troy added. "Since it's the weekend, all the Wildcats are gathering around and all, just staying over. You can invite Ryan over, if you want."

The name Ryan triggered my bubbling anger. Without even sparing them a glance or uttering a single word, I quickly drove on with accelerating speed. I heard Troy's protests, but who really cared?

Now what was I going to do? There was absolutely no way I was going back to that house again, and I would actually rather go there than hang out with those basketball fiends. I suddenly heard coughing and choking behind me. I whirled around.

"Who's there?" I demanded. No voice, but the spattering continued. I frowned and glanced at my gas bar.

Oh. Shoot. I'm losing gas. That's what I heard. I glanced around, but there wasn't any gas station for me to stop by. I groaned and slowed to a stop by the edge of the road. The only place I could head to is home. Not the mall, nor the nearby stage. I seethed silently and slowly drove back home.

Maybe I could sneak into the garage and sneak some extra gas we had in a tank into my car. Then I won't have to stick around. I discreetly steered the car into the empty garage. Mother and Daddy were obviously gone to find solace in their friends and wallow in finely brewed pity.

I sighed and rested my head on the cool leather seat. I felt confused, but not angry. Why was I confused, at a time like this? Shouldn't I be angry, upset, or self-pitying? I closed me eyes, letting the peaceful emptiness fill me in.

Ryan. I was going to leave him. Forever, maybe. I doubt that Mother and Daddy would want to be near each other. What was I supposed to do? My heart gave a pang of guilt after a flash of all the horrendous things I did to Ryan. Was I really that evil? I felt sick.

Leaving Ryan felt like going through a torture chamber. He isn't leaving yet, but I felt like half of me was already gone. Maybe more. Ryan and I are so close, how the heck are we going to be separated?

Grow unattached.

What? How's that going to help?

If you grow less connected and more distant, him leaving wouldn't be any pain.

That's the stupidest idea I ever heard!

Tell me how it's stupid, demanded the voice in my head. Would you rather have your heart be torn to pieces and you a shell-shock lump of a mourning Wildcats Queen? Trust me on this. You can count on me.

I didn't want to give in. I struggled to claw my way out of that honey-sweet, tranquil voice that flowed smoothly in my mind. It was a stupid idea, a terrible idea. That wouldn't stem the flow, it would just increase it by tenfold. Right?

Too late. I felt my inner self finally let go of my mind, and it gave into the voice

I groaned and laid my head on the steering wheel, resting before I took off again.

BEEP!

I yelped and sat up, rubbing my head. Dangit. I accidentally honked the horn. I slapped myself on the forehead for my stupidity and skulked out of the car. There was no point leaving when about everyone in the whole neighborhood could hear the horn.

I finally entered my home. The air of solitude still lingered, and this time, it wasn't pleasant. I threw my car keys onto the kitchen counter and stomped up the stairs.

"Hey, Shar," said a familiar voice. I froze. Ryan. Before I knew it, I felt my body tense and my mind lash with ruthlessness. It was if the snake voice possessed me completely.

"What do you want?" I hissed. Ryan's voice faltered slightly.

"I…I was just wondering if you want to…do something together…" his voice trailed away to a bare whisper.

"Do I know you?" When did those words come tumbling out of my mouth? My tongue was acting on its own accord, and I couldn't stop it.

"What?" Ryan stiffened. "S-Shar, are you okay?"

"I'm perfectly fine," I growled. Ryan sighed.

"Sharpay, if you want to talk to me, you can," he offered weakly. "This…this divorce thing shook me too, but we'll get through it, we're brothers and sisters."

"We are?" I cocked my eyebrow. Ryan took a step back, his face shocked. "I don't think we are anymore. Once you and Mother get out of here, the family's disbanded. We won't be siblings anymore. You'll be whatever, and I'll be Evans."

"That's ridiculous, Sharpay," said Ryan, his voice shaking slightly. "Mom and Dad's divorce doesn't mean we're divorcing as siblings. We'll always be brother and sister!"

"Not for long," I continued as the snake inside coiled with satisfaction. "I don't want you as my brother anymore, okay? You always mess things up, you betray me like that time in Lava Springs, you're so clueless, and…and I can think of so much more!" My real self struggled in its bonds, screaming for the snake to stop. The snake seemed to hiss smugly and continued to manipulate my tongue. "You're the worst brother anyone can ask for! I can't wait till you move out, because then I can finally have some peace!"

Ryan stared at me, his blue eyes wide and all the color in his face draining away, leaving only a pale sheen. He looked as if I stabbed him. I pushed him aside and dragged my feet to my room. It wasn't until I locked my door was I free from the snake's grasp.

What did I just say? None of those things I said were true! Okay, so he did betray me, but that was one out of three. I snatched a pillow from my bed and whacked myself with it, collapsing into the plush chair and sobbing.

I was terrible. I was an Ice princess. No, an Ice Queen. But at least an Ice Queen wouldn't just hurt their own brother, the best brother anyone could ask for. I tasted salty tears and didn't realize I was crying. I walloped myself again with the throw pillow. I didn't deserve to cry. I didn't deserve to have any emotions whatsoever. I didn't even deserve Ryan. How was I blessed with such a wonderful brother when I was a terrible, malicious, selfish brat?

I wiped my tears away with my pillow, staining it with dripping mascara. What was I supposed to do? I was afraid of apologizing. What if Ryan didn't forgive me, or start yelling his own feelings about me? Trust me, I can assure everyone that if anyone deserved to yell at me and not receive a nice punch, it was Ryan, who probably went through more iciness than all of the East High Wildcats put together.

And what if that stupid evil doppelganger of mine comes back? What if I start spewing out more untrue insults and then Ryan will never forgive me? That is, if he would be able to forgive me now. I laid the side of my head against the pink walls, hearing a faint strumming of guitar strings and a faint voice. I frowned and pressed my ears closer to the wall. I could hear Ryan's voice and guitar stream through the tiny cracks.

"I tried to be perfect,

tried to be honest,

tried to be everything that you ever wanted.

I tried to be stronger,

Tried to be smarter,

Tried to be everything but you…"

My sight blurred and a gush of tears cascaded down my cheeks. I hurt Ryan, I broke Ryan.

My goodness, what have I done?

A/N In a sense, melodramatic, but in another sense, sad for dear Ryan (sobs). But we all need some Ryan-torture in our lives! And it doesn't always have to be physical…yes, Sharpay's a bitch, and yes, she's being stupid. But people may tend to go to desperate measures to avoid pain. She just got the short end of the straw and had to have a pretty bad time…the song is Hawk Nelson's Everything That You Ever Wanted. The message is different, but I liked that stanza enough to put it in.

Thanks for reading! Please review, for feedback is always welcome!