Disclaimer: WE do not own the HSM franchise, but don't we all wish we did? Ok, so I (sizzlinghott) made this list of ridiculously awesome things we don't own, but are a part of this chapter, so we shall start now. We don't own: UCLA (great university, but USC all the way) Columbia University (Nice!) The Los Angeles Lakers (OMG! My favorite team ever! Just ask extra cheesy...I was contemplating about buying purple and yellow socks hahaha) Jimmy Choos (No sadly, we don't own that...I'd love a pair though, they are so cute! But expensive much?) ESPN (The total guy channel...it's ok, gals...we always have the mall to drown our sorrows in...hopefully hahaha) and last, but not least...we don't own the song Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz Enjoy!
Sharpay's POV:
Wow! The turnout for this reunion is great! Well I knew it would be because, I mean, come on, I'm Sharpay Evans. When have I ever been wrong? Okay, maybe a few times, but I'm always right about the important things. Hmm, I am so right, it's scary like that time in junior year… I start to think about my high school days when I see my former crush Troy Bolton. I start screaming his name and waving my hands like a wild animal when he turns around.
"Troy Bolton!" I demand. "Don't I get a friendly hug? Don't worry, Gabi knows we're just friends and I wouldn't want my Zekey to think something more of you and me."
He laughs nervously a few words and tries to leave, but no one can escape talking to me when I'm in the middle of a conversation.
"So Troy, what have you been doing these past 20 years? I have to know since, as you know, I'm still the gossip queen as I was in high school and I haven't seen you since you and Gabi…" I stop in mid-sentence and look down at the ground when I mention Gabi and Troy. He finally cracks and tells me what he has been doing and maybe the topic was too sensitive for him? Or what if he's not over her? Ooh, juicy drama! I start to run these possible reasons until he starts talking again.
"I've been around LA for the past 2- years. I finished college at UCLA, got a degree in media communications, and then got drafted into the Lakers. I played for them for 8 years before retiring because of a knee injury and now I work as a sideline NBA reporter for ESPN."
"Wow! That's one heck of a life. So Bolton, do you have someone you're romantically tied to or shall I assume you're still in love with one of my BFF's?"
"Uhh…" He starts, but ends up blushing and speechless.
"Well, we'll just have to wait and see then." I smirked and turned around to see one of my BFF's, his ex-girlfriend. I knew neither of them had the guts, or in Troy's case, the balls, to go up and start a conversation, so I made the first move and pushed him toward her, but he was too strong and I ended up breaking a nail while Troy made a run for it. Gabi started walking over after Troy left. She was still as beautiful as ever.
"Gabi!!" I shouted as I ran to her with my arms open to engulf her in a hug.
"Sharpay, can't breathe…" She gasped. "Sharpay, I swear if you don't let go I will step on your stilettos and we all know how you get when you have a mark on your shoes. And before I forget, how have you been?"
"Fine. Don't you dare touch my Jimmy Choos, you hear? And I've been great. Zeke and I are still together and happy to boot. I'm a drama teacher at East High, Ms. Darbus was proud! How about you?"
"Sharpay… still the dangerous one I see. I see a lot of you in Mitchell. I've been good. I graduated from UCLA and now I'm known as Dean Montez at Columbia University."
"Wait, who's Mitchell? Oh my gosh! No way, it can't be! I can't believe you know him! You have to set me up with him one day. I love his products!" I start jumping up and down, clapping my hands.
"What the heck are you talking about, Sharpay Evans?"
"You know Paul Mitchell right? That's who you were referring to when you said I was dangerous. Mitchell is dangerously stylish with his blow dryers and shampoos." I toss my hair from my shoulders to my back as emphasis.
"Sharpay, let me feel your head. Are you feeling alright? Just because I know someone by the name of Mitchell doesn't mean I know Paul Mitchell. Gosh, I never knew you were so..." Then she bursts into a huge laugh that gets us odd looks from our former classmates.
"Okay, all right if you want to keep laughing at me then I'll leave," I huffed.
"Alright, I'm sorry," She says with her signature pout.
"Okay, but who's Mitchell?"
"He's uh...my..." She starts to say, but gets cut off by Principal Matsui announcing Jason and Kelsi's performance. In the middle of the first song, I turn to look at Gabi and notice she was near the punch table with Taylor and a teenage boy. What was he doing here? These reunions are for mature adults… Okay I take that back. Mature adults wouldn't spike the punch. I was caught up in my thoughts until someone tapped my shoulder. I nearly shrieked and turn around to see my other half, best friend, and brother Ryan Evans. I start screaming while Ryan gives me a look that says, "Nice going, Einstein."
I send him a glare that says, "Don't give me that attitude" and start to scold him.
"Ryan! You aren't supposed to be here! Why didn't you tell me you were going to come!?"
He forces a smile. "I wanted to see everyone one last time."
"What do you mean one last time?" Chad asks. "You never talk to us anymore. What's going on?"
"Oh, nothing, I'm just busy… is it just me or does it feel cold in here?" Ryan asks, trying to change the subject. He pulls his suit to his body and crosses his arms. I move my hand to feel Ryan's forehead and suddenly remove it.
"Ryan, you're burning! I told you, you shouldn't have come. Come on, I'll take you home," I say worriedly.
"Let's wait for the time capsule," Ryan requests. "I want to see what everyone put in it."
"Fine but don't expect me to carry you when you pass out," I say boldly, expecting some kind of sarcastic remark, but all I find is a distressed look on his face. "Ryan, I'm sorry. I would carry you out of here any day. I'm just worried about you and you know what the doctor said. I don't want you to go overboard because I would have to explain what happened to you to the gang and I know you don't want that."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. You're concerned about me. Thanks for caring, sis." He says it with a warm smile, but something inside of me feels he doesn't mean everything he's saying.
We walk toward the stage, side by side. The silence was killing me, considering that even I know all I do is talk. Even though the two of us were siblings, we weren't that close anymore, not since we went our separate ways anyway. It surprised me that Ryan came here today, but after what he said, no matter how depressing, he was right in coming to our reunion.
SCENE CHANGE
By the time the time capsule revealing was finished, I noticed that Ryan was shivering more than ever. He kept tightening his jacket over his thin, pale body, but it didn't seem to work. I sighed.
"Come on, Ryan. It's time to go home. I don't want you to hurt yourself," I say. I really didn't want to leave the reunion early, with all the planning and preparations I had to go through, but this was my brother. I needed to get him home.
"Alright, let's go. Whose car are we taking?"
"We'll take yours. I work here, so I can leave my car here and take the bus on Monday. Give me your keys," I hear him groan. "Hey mister, I only crashed that car once, okay? So give me your keys, and let's get a move on."
Ryan tosses me the keys, and we move towards the exit. On the way there, we pass by Gabriella, Taylor, and boy who crashed the party. Who was that kid, anyway?
'Don't call me that!" I hear him say. Don't call him what? Jeez, I'm going to need to ask Gabriella who he was. And who Mitchell was.
We reach the door and I open it. Or at least try to. I give it a great tug, and sigh in relief when I feel the door move. I instantly regret it a moment later.
Ryan's POV:
I hear the wind blow towards me, so I quickly moved my hand to keep my hat in place. I didn't want my friends and everyone see my deadly secret. I was too late, though.
SMACK!
This is it, I realize. The moment of truth. I hear the gasps all around me, but I am not surprised. It was bound to happen sooner or later. I just hoped it would have been later.
My hat settles onto the floor, so I reach to pick it up while my other hand is still on my head.
"Come on, leave it, Ryan," Sharpay says anxiously as she tugs at my arm, but I stay put. I still have my dignity. I stand back up, put my hat back on, and stare at everyone straight in the eye. Troy's mouth is open, as if he was trying to catch flies with it. He probably would have if we were outside. Gabriella's, Taylor's, Chad's, and everyone else's' expressions were the same.
I turn to Sharpay, who's stuck between staying put and dragging me away.
"Let's go home," I whisper, putting Sharpay out of her misery.
PAGE BREAK
I always wondered how Sharpay felt to hearing me over the phone when I told her I had leukemia. I had hung up right after I told her, so I wouldn't have to hear her cry, or even worse, ask me if I was serious, like she would always do. Why would I joke about something as serious as this?
I walk behind Sharpay, her high heels stepping noisily onto the cement, and it fills the silence between us.
My friends are not stupid. Or at least Gabriella and Taylor are not. Knowing that I would never shave my head intentionally, they would probably figure out what is going on with me. Of course, being slightly brain-damaged from too many basketballs to the head, Troy and Chad might need the girls' help figuring it out.
The both of us get into the car, but Sharpay does not start the engine. Instead, she lets out a giant sigh and searches through her purse. She pulls something out, but I cannot see it due to the lack of light. She grabs my right hand, puts the thing into my palm and closes my fingers around it, never letting go.
"What shall we do now, Oh Mighty Oracle?" She asks with a minute smile on her face.
When the two of us were younger, Sharpay always came to me for advice, and I always had an answer for her. I was the smarter of the two of us. It was an unsaid rule, though, that whenever she asked me something, she would come with an offering. This time it was a quarter, which I realize is what she was searching for in her bag. I smile, too, because no matter what I was going through, my sister never failed to put a smile on my face.
So it's been years since we've updated! LOL but thanks to Debra for beta-ing! I can't remember her username right now and I'm a little lazy to go search for it, sorry Debra! But thanks a bunch for helping! So what did you think? Ryan with leukemia? Gabriella and Paul Mitchell? LOL Paul Mitchell is a hair god! His shampoos and stuff are good! So this is also to Paul Mitchell for his awesome hair products! LOL Thanks for reading and hopefully you'll keep reading, chapters will come a little faster than this one did, but we all have our moments, and me and extra cheesy definitely had ours these past few months...bye :)
