Disclaimer: The song that Sharpay writes is "Hole" By Kelly Clarkson. I don't own any part of the song I just thought that it described what Sharpay was going through.

Chapter 4:

Sharpay sighed as she hung up the phone. How could she tell anyone her deepest darkest secret, let alone him? One lunch date wasn't going to change anything. He loved Gabriella and they hated each other. That is how it has always been. She needed a friend. She needed him… But she couldn't expect him to actually be there for her. It wasn't like he knew her anyways.

Silent tears stain the pillowcase under her head. She needed to get out. She wanted to sing… She wanted to play her guitar and just let the words flow out of her mouth. It had been so long since she had sung like she used to.

Grabbing her dad's car keys she ran out of her house. He stood there with a smirk on his face. How could he know it was her? Why was he here in front of her? Sharpay looked away trying to catch her breath, trying to stop the tears.

Two strong masculine arms wrapped around her and pulled her in a warm embrace. No man has ever touched her like this. This touch with warmth, caring, and understanding. He didn't want something back; he just wanted to be here in this moment with her. She closed her eyes as they stood their in the pitch black night just holding on.

It was silent, no words, no tears. It was just them standing there. The sun would be rising soon. He would have to leave her. It would be back to the glares in the hallway, back to the nothingness that she felt inside. She needed to feel him. She just wanted to hold him.

"When you are ready to talk," He whispered brushing her hair out of her face. "Here is my cell number. Call me whenever you need."

Like it was all a dream he was gone. She ran up to her room and hid his number in her diary. She looked at her door cringing at the thought of a morning romp. She couldn't stand his touch anymore it felt more like nails on a chalkboard. No man should ever touch a young woman the way her father did. He took her innocence; he took her energy and her soul. There was nothing left of her.

Quickly showering she ran out the door long before he would get up. She was at school by the crack on dawn. Alone in the music room she was finally able to try and find herself again. If she could only work up the courage to stand up the man that she loved, the man that loved to hurt her… she would be fine.

Grabbing a pen she started strumming her only friend in the world, her guitar. Closing her eyes she entered her pretend world where she was okay, where everything was going to be. She knew in the end all things would work out.

"Tired
Of everything around me
I smile
But I don't feel a thing no

I'm so far from where I need to be
I've given up on faith, on everything
All I want, all I need
Is some peace

There's a hole
Inside of me
It's so cold
Slowly killing me"

Kelsi dropped her books as she struggled to open the door to the music room alarming Sharpay. "I am so sorry… I didn't know anyone else came here this early. My mom can afford a new piano and since my old one broke I come here to practice… But don't worry I am on my way back out!"

"No, It's okay," Sharpay said quickly packing everything up. "I was just leaving I have to go get Ryan for school!"

"That song was beautiful for what its worth… but if you don't mind some advice?"

"Please what advice could I possibly get from you?" Sharpay stormed out of the room pretending she didn't care. Standing in the hallway she took a deep breath and walked back into the music room. "I would like to hear your advice if you want to share."

"Really? I mean normally you just shove me aside for your own accompaniment."

Sharpay looked at the floor and then back to Kelsi. "Actually I was interested in starting a band and I think you would be perfect, if you might be interested."

"I have never been in a band before."

"You wrote those great songs for the musical. I think that you are really talented."

"Is this some sort of trick?"

"Apparently I am not good enough to be in the shows here at school so I have to do something to stay in the spotlight. I can't let Bolton and Montez get all the glory!"

"Well I think you are taking the chorus a little slow. If you are going to do a darker song use the darker notes and work the strings like they are the one that hurt you so bad that they left the hole. Kind of like this…"

After a few minutes of listening to Kelsi pound out the notes on the keyboard Sharpay could feel her song coming to life. It was an invigorating feeling knowing that she wrote this song. It wasn't some goofball that her parents hired to help with their auditions… this was hers.

"What else do you have written so far?"

"I dunno… I mean it isn't finished…"

"What about this for the second verse?" Kelsi quickly jotted a few lyrics in her notebook and handed the piece of paper to Sharpay. Nodding her head at Sharpay she started playing on the piano all over again.

"Secrets
Eating at the core of me
Shut off
Trusting all the lies I breathe

I'm so far from where I need to be
I've given up on faith, on everything
All I wanted, all I needed
Was some peace

There's a hole
Inside of me
It's so damn cold
Slowly killing me"

Sharpay nodded. She almost smiled but bit it back. She didn't want to let her guard down. She was already acting out character. If anyone else saw this no one would know who they were seeing… She had a reputation for being cold hearted. No one took the time to actually get to know her.

"Sinking ever so slowly
So far from where I should be
No hands reaching out for me
Help me, help me

Something's gone
I can feel it
It's all wrong
I'm so sick of this

There's a hole
Inside of me
It's so cold
Slowly killing me
There's a hole
Inside of me
It's so damn cold
Slowly killing me"

"You sound completely different when you sing like this. I mean here with your guitar. I just don't know what to say. You aren't going to spit at me or locked me up are you?"

"No, no… I am trying to change. Everyone has a secret. I am just fighting back at mine."

Kelsi looked at Sharpay…. The Ice princess sat there and there was no ice at all. She never thought that she would see the day that Sharpay was actually nice.

"I am serious about this band if you know anyone else who know how to play an instrument tell me, but keep it on the down low. I don't want everyone knowing." Sharpay said as she packed her guitar up again. "Its just I am not used to writing my own music. It is going to take some time getting used to."

Kelsi nodded as Sharpay handed her a scarp piece of paper with the copy of their song and her number signed with hearts. Sharpay smiled at Kelsi and said thank you as she walked away. This was their world no one else had to know about it. No one had to know about her holes. They were her scars alone to try and fix.