A/N Hey guys, sorry for the long wait. I'm sad to say this is just a filler chapter….. but Chris is in it, so that's a plus. Don't hate me. The only significant thing ion this chapter is the phone call. If you want to have a little idea about the story you could check out wish on a star ox's review….she's pretty close to guessing, but she didn't get it. Sharpay doesn't do any volunteer work at all, but she's pretty close.

Disclaimer: I don't own HSM or Never Again by Kelly Clarkson.


A Battle for Sharpay's Heart

Chapter 4

The Bugs and the Bees

She stood there irritably tapping her foot against the hard tiled floor. She checked her watch one last time before she rapped firmly on the door once more. Ok, so maybe she was an hour late, but that's no big deal; it was only sixty minutes.

"Troy, get the door." When she heard this, she scoffed and rolled her eyes. Seconds later a tall, well compared to Sharpay she was tall, brunette with a sky blue apron tied around her waist opened the door breathlessly. "I'm so sorry dear-" she cut herself off as she looked up from untying her apron and smiled. It had a domino effect on her because her whole face lit up and her eyes gleamed excitedly. "Sharpay, how nice it is to see you! How long has it been? Nine years? Do come in!" Mrs. Bolton stepped aside and let Sharpay in before she enveloped her in a tight hug.

"Nice to see you again Mrs. B." came Sharpay's muffled response.

"Have a wonderful day dear, and do stop by anytime you want. Troy! Sharpay is here to see you!" his mother pulled away from Sharpay and walked over to the bottom of the stairs and let her voice travel upstairs. "She's been here for five minutes already"

"Good! Let her wait!" came Troy's heated reply. Mrs. Bolton's eyes widened in anger.

"Go in the kitchen and help yourself to some lemonade in the fridge." Mrs. Bolton stomped her feet with every step she took up the stairs and slammed a door open. Sharpay walked over to the kitchen and poured herself a nice up of lemonade and listened to all the yelling but she was interrupted by a shy voice whispering, his voice low and delicate.

"Hi Sharpay." Sharpay looked around the kitchen and saw little Chris dressed in a black suit. His right hand was behind his back and he looked at her shyly and blushed. Sharpay froze midway and observed Chris' new look. His shaggy black hair was gelled back and his face looked up at her in silent admiration.

"Hey Chris, what's up with the new do?" Sharpay put her glass down and walked over to Chris.

"I've got something for you." Chris told her softly. "Just close your eyes."

"Ok…if you say so." Sharpay closed her eyes and smiled warmly. Chris held one of her hands and pulled a bouquet of roses from behind his back. "Ok, open em."

"Oh my gosh Chris! They're so beautiful!" Sharpay blinked several times before she took the flowers.

"Like you!" Chris smiled his Bolton smile and Sharpay bent down to kiss him on his cheek.

"You're so adorable-" Sharpay was cut off by distant shouts and the stomping of feet from upstairs.

"Go downstairs this instant!" Didn't I teach you better?"

"Mom, this is Sharpay we're talking about here. We both know she can very well wait for a bit longer. She's a big girl!"

"Troy…."

"Mom."

"Troy!"

"Ok, ok fine! I'll go, jeeze!"

"Troy!"

"Alright already! I'm going!" A loud thudding of footsteps were heard before Troy appeared momentarily.

"Sorry about the family, they do that sometimes…." Chris scratched the back of his neck and bent his head.

"It's ok, my dad and my brother are just like that! They mostly argue about hats and baseball. It's really annoying. The only time they're civil is when we sit down for dinner and Ryan asks for Dad to pass the salt. Then Granny comes over and it's a mess. She can hardly stand dad and she glares at him whenever she sees him. We've got to keep her away from him because sometimes she'll just throw anything she can get her hands on at him. And you have no idea what I'm talking about do you?"

"No…… but I can pretend!" Chris looked up and sent Sharpay a charming smile. Mrs. Bolton came inside the kitchen and stopped eyeing Chris up and down.

"What on earth? Chris, are you getting married? What is the meaning of this?" She walked over to Chris and gave him a look any mother would've been proud of.

"I wish." Chris sighed and gazed at Sharpay lovingly. Sharpay got up and rumpled Chris' hair, despite the gel, and walked over to Troy who was glaring at her with pure hatred.

"Let's get this over with Bolton. I have plans." Sharpay followed him out of the kitchen, up the stairs and into his bedroom. She sat on his bed, and he sat on his chair starting up his computer. "Did you finish summarizing?"

No answer.

"Bolton! Did you summarize any?"

No answer.

"Bolton! Answer me!" Sharpay got up and stomped over to Troy's desk. "You didn't do anything did you?"

"There was nothing to do! I am not doing all the work while you sit and boss me around. This is my house and I call the shots Sharpay."

"Is that so? Well we'll just have t o see who— "Sharpay was cut off by her cell phone singing out Kelly Clarkson's Never Again. "Hello, yes. What? You can't be serious! I haven't been here for an hour! Well, only if you add up the length of the journey and I had to stop of Coffee and-- fine, fine. I'll be right there." She slammed her sidekick shut. "I'll deal with you later." She strutted out his room with Troy lagging behind her.

"Where are you going? Doesn't this project mean anything to you? Our grade, anything?"

"Yes, but there are just some things that are more important than a little school project." She walked out of the house and slammed the door shut. Sharpay sighed heavily and headed straight towards her car. Sure she loved her family, but this really had to stop. "I need a one way ticket out of here." With that she fastened her seat belt and started her car.

In the Bolton residence

"Troy, what did you do to Sharpay?" His mother asked, sticking her head out of the kitchen .

"Nothing, I did nothing! I have no idea why she's acting like this. She just got this phone call and left."

"Maybe it's that time of the month," his mom said putting away a plate.

"Mother! You do not mention a woman's monthly cycle in front of real men, like me!"

"Well I don't mind!" said Chris looking up smiling.

"You don't even know what a monthly cycle is!" Troy said trying his best not to shout, he didn't want to risk getting in trouble again. Girls should come with a warning label whenever it's 'that time of the month'

"Of course I do!" he proclaimed proudly, he then turned to his mother and whispered quietly, "Mommy what's that?"

"Don't worry honey, you don't need to know that until your 17," she said looking at him smiling.

Troy rolled his eyes; his brother had the gift of cuteness. He walked over to the window and looked outside, and watched as Sharpay's car tires squealed before she zoomed out of sight. They always said 'All's well that ends well', well he couldn't wait to see this ending.

XD


Ash.