Just For This Moment...

As Long As You're Mine - Chapter 2

2nd installment of a High School Musical fan-fiction based off of the events that occurred in HSM and HSM 2.

This story starts in mid-April of their senior year of high school.

Clearly I do not own HSM as I am writing this fan-fiction, nor songs from the musical, Wicked.

Thanks to all who reviewed! Every time I got a new review I smiled because you all like my story! Your reviews mean so much! They're very much appreciated and I'm flattered that you all want me to continue, because I like writing this story.

I just thought that I would point out that HSM has taken over the world alongside Hannah Montana. Merchandise is everywhere! There are singing pens in staples! It's crazy and I'm sort of annoyed...but it's so much fun to write. XD

The bell signaling the beginning of homeroom sounded through the halls as Sharpay walked out of the bathroom, and the last few students in the hall to make their way quickly to their homeroom class. She knew Mrs. Darbus did not like when any one was late, so she picked up her pace and speed walked down to the classroom in her wedges.

"You're late, Miss Evans," Mrs. Darbus announced as Sharpay stepped through the door then asked, "Is there a reason for your tardiness this morning?"

Taking a split second to glance around the room at all of the students looking at her, waiting for her to get in trouble with Chad sporting a smug look on his face, Troy preoccupied with Gabriella, and Ryan looking at her a bit worriedly, she answered, "Yes, Ms. Darbus, I was in the bathroom."

"Very well then, just please remember to do your business in a more timely manner so you not late to my class again," Ms. Darbus added in her typical dramatic way as the whole class snickered... after all, they are teenagers and they find phrases like "doing your business" to be entertaining. Darbus, unperturbed, looked at her attendance list in her hand and continued reading off names.

Homeroom and the morning classes of the day went about smoothly, without any more fighting between anyone. Before they knew it, it was time for lunch. Lunch at East High has been known to be quite different from other schools at random intervals. All of a sudden, from what would start as just sharing secret hobbies with friends, the whole cafeteria would spontaneously erupt in song and dance!

The normal group was sitting at the center table on the lower level of the cafeteria. As soon as they had sat down, Chad literally started digging into his food, the girls looking on in disdain for the enthusiastic eater as Troy was eating somewhat normally.

A few seconds later, the Evans twins made their presence known as they opened the double doors and began to walk between the tables. Sharpay was walking next to Ryan as he was trying to convince her to sit him and the rest of his friends.

"C'mon, Shar, please come sit with us. You said so yourself last night that you thought you would have had a better high school experience if you had known everyone better. Well it's not too late, sis, this is your perfect chance," Ryan pleaded with his stubborn twin sister.

Rolling her eyes, she responded, "I think we have already established that I don't fit in with them this morning. They didn't even know that I was just joking around, Ry!" Sharpay's expression changed to showing a little hurt. She has never totally regretted the way she acted towards her peers, but she did wish that she could hang out with them so they could get to know the real her and she could have carefree fun when everyone gets together. "I bet everyone was happy and rejoicing at the fact that they didn't see me at the auditions on Friday. Not a lot of people showed up for performances before Troy and Gabriella showed up in Twinkletowne last year. As much as I don't want to believe it, they are probably not there to see me," Sharpay thought sadly, keeping a complacent face.

"Well, Shar, I didn't even know you were joking,"

"No offense, Ry, but you're not the brightest crayon in the box," Sharpay responded with a small knowing smile, "I thought that at least Troy would know that I was joking..." She added at slightly lower voice volume, looking up at the ceiling wondering than quickly snapped her head back to its normal position, realizing that she was starting to think about him again. "They are all idiots! Especially Chad... but that's not the point. The point is that they don't like me and there's no point in trying to be friends with them if they can't get passed the whole "ice queen" image. They don't even know me!" The twins had paused momentarily after passing the cluster of tables and were not standing about 7 feet or so away from the group which called themselves the wildcats.

Ryan looked at her understandingly, "Yes, they don't Shar, but it's not like you let them. You have always closed yourself off by acting like the "ice princess" name that they had started calling you.

"Ugh!" Sharpay exclaimed rolling her eyes not wanting to continue the conversation further. She knew how sometimes she could be a bitch to people, but other than that, she was not the terrible person that people made her out to be. She wanted people to be able to see who she was, she was just having trouble doing it. Noticing Ryan with a slight pleading face to get her to sit with everyone she said, "Let's just talk about this later. Fine I'll sit with you, but I can't guarantee that this will happen everyday. It's a rare thing, Ry!"

"One time is all I ask," Ryan said triumphantly, sporting a wide smile that made his sister respond with a innocent smile that a little kid would give if he or she got in trouble. "I may not be the brightest, but I know that as soon as she sits with us once she'll want to sit with us again... hopefully. Maybe I can get Troy to convince her to sit with us tomorrow... she is definately not over him! Shar has had had a crush on him for so long, it can't totally be over just like that. Troy was asking of her whereabouts last week, I wonder what that was about? She's missed a day of school earlier in the year because she was sick, how come he didn't ask about her then?... I'll worry about that later, for now I need to focus on lunch. I'm starved!" Ryan thought to himself as he and Sharpay approached the round table with the gang sitting all around it. They all looked up from eating or their conversations with one another to Ryan, then their faces changing to confusion, wondering why Sharpay was next to him.

"Hey guys... gals... 'sup?" Ryan greeted with a small hand gesture, "You don't mind if Shar joins us today do you?"

Silence.

"I didn't think so," Ryan smiled and sat down then turned to Sharpay, "C'mon Shar, sit down." He patted the empty seat between him and Taylor who was seated next Gabriella, who was next to Troy, who was next to Chad, who was next to Kelsi, then Zeke, then Jason, then back to Ryan.

Sharpay sat down and took her bagged lunch out from her bag. It was surprising how much she was able to fit into the brown bag, for she was pulling out a turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and a little salad dressing, between two pieces of marble rye toast. She then proceeded to take out a bag of chips, a bottle of water, and a chocolate chip cookie. Receiving some odd stares from some of the people around her, she heard Chad speak up first.

"woah! you actually eat normal food?" He exclaimed as he had finished chewing and was looking dumbfounded at the drama queen's food display.

Taken aback and annoyed Sharpay responded, "excuse me? what are you talking about? Of course I eat normal food! Tell me, Danforth, what would be classified as abnormal food?"

Chad shrugged, "um.. not what your eating? I would have thought someone like you would stress over every little calorie and be eating a way too healthy, measly salad." He laughed as he turned to Troy who decided to chuckle to humor his friend, although he didn't really find the situation to be funny.

"Someone like me? What do you mean by that, Danforth?" Sharpay glared at him, not liking how sitting at their table was playing out.

Looking around the table, Chad wanted someone to back him up, but every one else just put their hands up and leaned back in their seats, not wanting to be a part of making the "ice queen" mad. "You know what I mean, Evans."

"No, I don't know what you mean. Care to elaborate?" Sharpay crossed her arms over her chest then mumbled under her breath that she thought no one could hear, "if you even know what the word elaborate means."

"I don't need to... elaborate anything for you ice princess," Chad bit back, pausing for a second in middle of his response.

Sensing a similar fight to the one that occurred that morning, Ryan stepped in, "Alright guys! Just stop. Moving on..." He put his hands out between the two.

Relieved that the verbal abuse was over, the rest of the gang at the table started a new conversation between everyone. Troy, noticing that Sharpay was now just picking at her sandwich, wanted to apologize for Chad's comments. He knew Chad had provoked a fight, but he guessed he could've tried to stop it. He asked Taylor if he could switch seats with her. She looked at him in a confused way, but obliged anyway, wanting to be closer to Chad since he still hadn't asked her to Prom yet.

"Sharpay?" Troy asked after sitting down.

Sharpay looked up at person the voice belonged. She had decided to look and pick at food after everyone had joined in conversation since she felt very left out, like they didn't even want to try and include her in what they were talking since if they did they would start off by criticizing her or starting an argument. Hoping she could engage in a conversation she gave a small smile.

Troy rubbed the back of his neck, "I just wanted to apologize, for, you know, Chad. Well... you know how he can be..." he laughed a little nervously.

"Thanks Troy," Sharpay responded in a softer tone of voice from her usual bubbly voice pitch, happy that someone was not as close minded as the rest, "I'm glad someone here has some sort of decency." She giggled a little.

Troy smiled in return, "no problem ---" He was innterrupted by Gabriella tapping him on the shoulder, he sighed, and reluctantly turned his head, not before noticing Sharpay rolling her eyes and then taking a sip of her water.

"Troy!" Gabriella said in her overly high and perky voice when her boyfriend turned around, "Chad finally asked Taylor to the prom! Isn't that exciting? Now we both go dress shopping together while you and Chad search for your tuxedos."

"That's great, Gabi," Troy said much less enthousiastically, forcing a smile. He didn't really care that Chad had finally asked Taylor. He had been prodding Chad to ask for awhile now and knew he was going do it soon, but being a guy he didn't obsess over it as the girls did. Before he had to sit through an explanation of how they were going to fit in shopping and decathalon practice, Troy excused himself to go to the bathroom and quickly scurried out of the cafeteria and into the hallway.

Turning his head behind him as he continued down the hall, he didn't notice the person walking the other way and nearly bumped into them, but was caught by surprise by the person's voice before a collision occurred.

"Ah, Mr. Bolton, just the young actor I wanted to see," the voice of the person said dramatically which could only belong to the drama teacher, Ms. Darbus.

Troy stepped back a step to balance himself, for he had been stopped mid-step, "Hey, Mrs. D," He said lifting his hand a little than putting it back down.

"I believe that you should know what part you will be portraying in our magnificent musicale before the first rehearsal this afternoon..." Mrs. Darbus began with a knowing smirk on her face. She had a plan, and by her observances over the years (which are never wrong by any account) have led her to believe that this will be foolproof.

----

After School - Drama Club - 1st Rehearsal

"Ryan, come on! I don't want to be late. You need to do the pre-song warm ups with me before I have to audition," Sharpay said, whining a little, as she stood next to Ryan at her locker. He was fixing his hat in the mirror, moving it to different positions on his head, making a face at his appearance at each one, "Your hat looks fine! You'll have time to model later. Can I please close my locker now? I swear you spend more time in front of the mirror than I do!" Sharpay added a bit frustratedly, but had a knowing smile on her face showing she was kidding around... making sure Ryan knew she was joking. Growing up, the twins would have fun modeling different outfits in the full length mirror at their house. Their parents always joked with each other that Ryan was Sharpay's twin sister in disguise since he liked doing anything Sharpay did and vice versa. Sharpay always followed Ryan to baseball practice, watching from the bleachers and helping out all that she could. She would also join in some of his games, learning how to play with the boys, sometimes even playing better than they were. She doesn't play baseball with Ryan that often anymore, but she still loves joining in the fun with her big brother, he is her twin after all.

"Alright, alright," Ryan said finally taking his hands off his hat and closing the locker door, "Let's go."

-- -- -- --

"Okay people! Gather around," Mrs. Darbus announced, "I want you all to listen well, because I am only going to say this once. In a few seconds I will have Miss Evans audition since she was unable to attend the auditions on Friday," Ms. Darbus motioned to Sharpay whom she handed a script. Sharpay gave a smile as she saw what they would be performing this year as she took hold of the stapled papers. She had seen Wicked for the first time two months ago with Ryan in February and loved every minute of it. She had the soundtrack so she knew how most of the songs went, but she did not know any by heart, however she catches on quickly to learning a character's part and emotions.

Gabriella looked at Troy and smiled as he gave her his traditional boyish grin, "If Troy gets the part of Fiyero then I will probably got Elphaba. Ms. Darbus probably wants to hold off on announcing our parts now to appease Sharpay since she'll be auditioning shortly... although wouldn't Sharpay be after the part of Glinda? That seems like a role she would want, and Glinda is a lead... maybe... but that blond haired freshman was good too." Gabriella thought to her self and shrugged inwardly.

Ms. Darbus turned around and addressed Sharpay, "Now Sharpay, have you warmed up your vocal chords?" Sharpay nodded. "Good, I want you to sing the song... As Long As You're Mine. Kelsi, take your seat at the piano to start playing and Ryan, take Troy and Gabriella with you backstage. I don't believe that they have been familiar with how the lights work as of yet, so if you'll please show them, that will be great. Everyone else, go sit in the audience. Your parts will be announced soon, until then enjoy an audition from one of my more talented students." She left the stage to go sit behind her table in the front of the audience seats.

Ryan, Troy, and Gabriella walked backstage, and were able to see out between the curtains on the side, to what was happening on the stage. They were a few feet behind the piano on stage right. Sharpay held her microphone in her hand as the blond-haired freshman gave her a quick good luck thumbs up before joining the others in their seats. A series of the beginning piano chords echoed throughout the auditorium as Sharpay moved her head a little bit, counting the amount of rest before she had to start singing. She held the script in her other hand in case she needed to look at the lyrics. Everyone's eyes were on her, not that she minded though, she loved being in the spotlight, but some of them were just waiting for her to mess up... she learned not to let that bother her too much.

Sharpay heard the last of the beginning notes from Kelsi and began, "Kiss me too fiercely, hold me too tight. I need help believing, you're with me tonight..."

All her peers' jaws dropped slightly, surprised that Sharpay Evans, the one who always sings upbeat, fast-paced songs, was singing sweetly, yet powerfully.

Ryan had a knowing smirk on his face, happy that his sister was finally taking his advice to show what she can do, "It's about time!" Ryan thought happily, "Now, hopefully Shar will let people in... maybe we can get back to our close twin-ness again. I hope so. I miss knowing everything about eachother... does Shar miss that too? I can't believe we've grown a part so much, in just a year too."

Next to Ryan, Troy and Gabriella were pleasantly surprised seeing this sweet side of Sharpay. Gabriella had not seen her cry last summer as Troy did, so since the school year started she had started to believe what the other students were saying about how Sharpay had no feelings.

"My wildest dreaming could not forsee, lying beside you, with you wanting me..." Sharpay continued, her voice rising with increased intensity and emotion as she moved her arms and body in slow, fluid motions to the music. She glanced down at the script in her hand for a moment to see her next few lines then made her voice a little louder, "Just for this moment, As Long as you're mine... I've lost all resistance, and crossed some borderline..."

Gabriella's face contorted, a little angry and upset, realizing that should probably not get the role of Elphaba and play opposite Troy this time around. She had wanted to beat Sharpay again for the main role, not because she was a bitch and did not like Sharpay, no, Gabriella was kindhearted and could never hate or seriously dislike anyone. When Gabriella received the role of Minnie with Troy as her Arnold last winter, she experienced a feeling of euphoria and accomplishment that she had never felt before. Sure she had won countless academic awards and achieved much praise for excelling in school, but that was nothing when she was able to finally feel confident and assured of who she was and what she was capable of doing. Never before had she stood in front of mass amount of people and be able to speak, or even sing! She no longer needed to hide behind her books to experience new things and travel new places, she could do that on stage, with the one person who helped her conquer her fears, Troy. (AN: #1)

Having been listening to Sharpay sing from backstage, Troy dropped his jaw slightly in awe of what he was seeing before him. As soon as he had heard her voice, he was captivated, drawn in by the surprisingly sweet, different sound than the way she had sung with him at Lava Springs. Halfway through her piece, Troy was finally able to close his mouth, his eyes still glued to the blond on stage.

Gabriella turned her head to look at Troy, "What's wrong with him?" she thought, "His bright blue eyes are practically popping out his head! Should I try to snap him out of it? Why is he like this---" Her thoughts trailed off as she saw where he was looking. uh-oh.

"Troy? Hello in there?!" Gabriella asked him while waving a hand in front of his face and giggling a little, "Ryan walked over to the other side of the stage, I think we should follow him." She tried to get his attention, but it was to no avail. Troy didn't hear her... or may be he did but his mind had other plans.

Sharpay's microphone-amplified voice sounded off the stage and throughout the auditorium. She dropped the volume of her voice just slightly, keeping it powerful, "..And if it turns out, it's over too fast, I'll make every last moment last..." Lengthening the last words as she decreased the volume of her voice more, Sharpay sang, walking towards the center of the stage once again to finish, what she thought would be, the end of her audition piece, "as long as you're mine..."

Kelsi began to play the few notes between stanzas, getting softer as she neared the end since she was going to stop. Sharpay held her microphone down at her side as she looked at the rest of the song for a second before looking up and giving a smile and looking down at the script again, signaling that her audition was over.

Troy blinked his eyes a few times before walking toward the piano. His emotions took control of his body, not allowing his brain time to comprehend or stop what he was doing. "This song is for Elphaba and Fiyero. Darbus told me that I was Fiyero... I can continue the song... I'm meant to continue the song!" Troy thought. His brain had not caught up with his body that was moving by his subconscious, unaware of anyone who was not in his direct path to get towards Sharpay. He was caught underneath, what Chad would call, the ice queen's spell... but why?

"Kelsi, don't stop," Troy said as he approached the small girl at the piano. Kelsi nodded, confused, but kindly obliged to Troy's demand, continuing the song that she was going to end. She still had a soft spot for him and Gabi since they were the ones who were able to outshine Sharpay last year and change some of the ways people interacted at their school.

"Troy! What are you doing? Her audition's over," Gabriella exclaimed in a loud whisper, having noticed Troy left her side and was confused by his current actions.

Troy wasn't listening. He held the microphone to his lips as he walked slowly towards center stage, keeping his eyes fixed on Sharpay the entire time. "Maybe I'm brainless, maybe I'm wise. You've got me seeing through different eyes..."

"What?!" Sharpay's insides screamed incredulously. She turned her head sharply, her eyes wide and lips slightly parted in shock and confusion. She moved her head slowly to look at Kelsi, who, noticing her confusion, gave Sharpay a similar expression and shrugged her shoulders mouthing, "I don't know what he's doing either."

"What is he doing?" Sharpay thought to herself as she she watched Troy come closer, "He's singing with me? Why now? He seemed perfectly willing to reject singing with me at my talent show over the summer. I thought that he didn't like me... that's why I gave up on him after he and Montez stole my spotlight once again. I accepted that... eventually. no! He's inching closer! Troy don't come any closer!.... Why must he look so cute when he's singing? His blue eyes are so enchanting... no, Shar, stop! You're over him. He will never like you, he--"

Sharpay is still looking at Troy as he stops about a foot in front of her. Her heart is beating faster as the rest of the theater disappears in her view. Trying to compose herself from her previous shocked disposition, Sharpay gets ready to to sing, for she can not let it show that Troy was causing her all this confusion. She had just got over her crush on Troy as she realized he would never like her as he liked Gabriella. Now that he is finally singing with her, Sharpay's emotions are running high.

"Some how I've fallen under your spell... And some how I'm feeling, it's up that I fell..." Troy continued, as he reached Sharpay center stage. He may have looked calm and collected to everyone else, but Troy's heart seemed to speed up as well, causing him to use all of his power to not mess up the song, for, although he had starred in the winter musical last year and the fall drama this year, he was still not all that skilled in the performing arts (AN: #2) as compared to Sharpay or Ryan. "Relax, Troy," Troy said to himself, "You made the bold move by coming out here, now don't mess it up! ... Sharpay doesn't look like she'll freeze my ass off... at least I hope not... She's gazing into my eyes, I never noticed how warm and chocolately the color of her eyes were... wow brown goes good with blue (AN: #3)...ok, focus..."

They both had looked down at their scrips for a brief second then captured each other's eyes with their own. Brown eyes gazing into blue, and blue eyes staring in awe into brown. Sharpay suddenly lost her reluctance to embrace what she was feeling and now felt as if they were the only ones in that theater. They began to sing the next lines flawlessly together, as if they had been singing with each other all their life,

"Every moment, as long as you're mine, you wake up my body, and make up for lost time..." Not looking away to break the connection between them, both Troy and Sharpay were singing with their whole hearts. Troy's breath hitched in his throat as he glanced at the script for a split second for his next line,

"Say there's no future for us as a pair..." Troy continued solely. The audience were watching the two in awe, they were working so well together! When did this happen? Why is this happening? Is this another ploy of Sharpay Evans? were just some of the questions running through their minds, especially Chad and Taylor, dumbstruck at the back of the theater as Sharpay and Troy sang in unity once again,

"And though I may know, I don't care! Just for this moment, as long as you're mine, come be how you want to and see how bright we shine! Borrow the moonlight, until it is through," Sharpay was the not only one who's heart was pounding furiously, but Troy's was as well. So much in fact that he had to embrace her some way, so he put his script holding hand gently on Sharpay's arm, causing her to look his hand for a second before they continued to the end of the song, looking into each other's eyes once again.
"...and know I'll be here holding you
As long as you're mine..."

The last few chords of the song sounded through the auditorium as the euphoric aura that the two were producing on stage reached the audience (and Mrs. Darbus). Sharpay and Troy were hardly breathing, lost in the other. Troy was studying Sharpay's face as she smiled a rarely-seen-by-East-High, genuine, sparkling smile and he made one of the first of the biggest decisions he would have to make in his life in that second.

He knew there would be know turning back and before his brain could catch with actions or emotions, he quickly closed the already small space between him and Sharpay, catching her by surprise as their bodies molded together, and captured her lips with his own in a passionate kiss.

Sparks were flying and a connection was made. Troy caught Sharpay by surpise. She in know way though that he would sing with her let alone kiss her! As much as she wanted to respond back she couldn't. She seemed to melt within his arms as he held her against his body, the entire drama club staring in astonishment at what they were witnessing on stage. Mrs. Darbus had the most surprised look of all, she was was smirking?

Troy slowly pulled his lips away as the two separated. Sharpay was still sporting a look of pure shock, but quickly composed herself to come up with a witty comeback... she had to keep up her image, naturally.

Knowingly smirking, Sharpay turned her head to the audience, gave a quick smile then turned back to Troy,

"Looks like, for the first time, you felt... wicked," she smiled, a genuine, yet ironic, smile.

-TBC-

AN: Was this a good chapter? Review and tell me what you think and / or what you think will or want to happen next.

Guess what? I found a Divx quality (high quality) video of HSM 3 and I watched it the other day. I sort of skipped a few parts that I didn't really like, but I got the main idea of all the scenes. I'm disappointed Sharpay didn't have more of a role. And at the end when Troy's like "oh I'm not choosing basketball or theatre, i'm choosing both at a school where I can be with the person I love," holy crap, gag! The whole school does not care that Troy wants to be close to Gabriella and that he's choosing both fields of interest! It's your own decision and no one can make it for you but yourself! Also, I don't believe that Ms. Darbus would recommend Troy for a Julliard scholarship, I mean sure he wowed everyone in the musical, but come on, you have to have lots of performing experience, be extremely talented, and have really good grades to get accepted into the Julliard school let alone get a scholarship. I guess the way they perceived Ryan and Kelsi getting into Julliard was like Elle Woods getting into Harvard in Legally Blond. It's not that easy =D. I highly doubt, Ryan Evans, the one who couldn't read Go Drama Club in HSM 1, would have the grades to go with his talent that would get into a prestigious school like that. But hey, that's the movies for you and many youth-targeted movies, especially hsm, tend not to be very realistic.

I did like some parts though. I liked how the graduating scene on the lawn transitioned to the theater... that was cool. And when Sharpay made her grand entrance on stage upstaging Tiara, That was great, it was so Sharpay. There were a few more scenes I enjoyed and more that I didn't, but then this AN would be really long with my rants. XD

1) I know a lot of Troypay stories have Gabriella ending up hating Sharpay or being a bitch-like character, however I don't want to make Gabriella too out of character from the way she was in the movies. What annoyed me in the movies was the fact that she was so perfect and never did anything wrong, always having Troy coming to apologize to her when their relationship was on the rocks. I thought she was a very flat character. In my story, I will make her have more depth, hence the want to be Elphaba for reasons excluding hating Sharpay, but I will also try to make her that sickly perfect person so that Troy will see that she is not meant for him. Does that make sense? I think it makes more sense in my head... XD

2) The reason I mentioned that he was not all that skilled in the performing arts is because he isn't really... in HSM 1, he had never been in a musical before. The fact that he was able to sing / act was just natural talent, but natural talent only goes so far. Someone like Sharpay or Ryan would be more skilled in the performing arts than say Gabriella or Troy because they have been performing all their lives - they had been part of numerous productions that would have enhanced their skills each time.

3) For those of you who have seen the musical Wicked, you may have recognized that when I have Troy thinking that "brown goes good with blue," it was taken from the musical when G(a)linda sings Popular and puts her pink flower in Elphie's hair and says, "pink goes good with green." I thought that I would put something like that in since this story is centered around them peforming Wicked. ^_^

I realize that many of the 'moments' in this chapter were left open-ended.... but don't worry, all the questions (or a leat most of them anyway) will be cleared up in the following chapters, so... stay vigilant!
"Remember, Constant vigilance!" - Mad-Eye Moody, Harry Potter Series (paraphrased)

Your reviews and comments are very much appreciated. I love receiving/reading them!

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