The Summer of Strange Relationships

After convincing the doctor that it was an emergency for Chad to leave, he left with only on thing on his mind, Sharpay. As he walked down the side walk he tried to remember where she would go. He knew that she couldn't have gone far.

Sharpay sat at the foot of the towering tree, still not able to move.

He shoved his hands into his pockets as he decided to head to her house, anyway. Thinking of the days moments he finally found out the truth in why he had made fun of Sharpay for so many years before they had become friends, he loved her.

Sharpay shivered in the rain, she was tired...her whole body was.

Kelsi was woken up by a tap on her shoulder. "Honey, we need to do a few more things before we can leave you two to some peace. Would you mind going into the waiting room?" She shook her head wiping her eyes, half awake she made her way for the door with no force.

Chad stopped in front of the park. The tree house. He suddenly thought. Didn't she say something about that? He turned into the parks entrance and made his way to the large tree in the middle of the park.

Sharpay was crouched down by the base of the tree, shivering from the rain. Her body was still in over-exhaustion, so she still couldn't move herself.

"Sharpay!" Chad screamed running to the tree. He kneeled down beside her and grasped her whole body into a hug. "Why are you here? Why are sitting in this cold rain? You could get sick!"

Stuttering, Sharpay whispered, "The...the locket...I...I need it..."

"The one you always where around your neck?" He asked letting go of her and looking into her eyes. He always noticed what Sharpay wore. "It's silver with a pink diamond in the middle?"

She nodded sadly, tears streaming down her face.

"Okay. I'll find it." He slipped off his basketball jacket and placed it around her shoulders. "Don't get sick, you hear?" He got down on his hands and knees and began searching around under the tree house for it.

Sharpay shivered under the jacket. "Thank...thank you..."

"No problem, sweetie." He muttered under his breath. He caught himself, and hoped she did not hear him. "Uh...where'd you throw it? Do you remember what direction?" He asked getting up and wiping off his knees.

"I...I threw it against…the wall and it...slipped..."

"Through a crack?" He asked getting down on one knee beside her. "Do you have enough energy to show me what crack?" He asked looking up to the tree house.

Sharpay pointed to the other side slowly. She was sure tired...

"Okay, that'll do." He said placing his hand on her shoulder. "That will do." He got up and walked over to the other side of the tree house and noticed something in the bushes behind the huge oak tree. He raced over and looked down into the bush. A grin came upon his face as he reached down through the leaves and pulled out a silver chain. "I found it Swe...Sharpay." He said racing over to her. Handing it to her, he fell down beside her and held her close to him, trying to keep her warm.

Sharpay smiled softly. "Thank...thank you" she said, fainting in his arms.

Chad watched as cars went by the entrance oblivious of the two leaning against the large tree. He looked down at her and smiled a faint grin. Standing up slowly he scooped her up into his arms. "If only you knew how much I love you..." He softly said caring her out of the park and down the sidewalk. "If only you knew." They finally came to the door of the center and he kicked the door with his foot hoping someone would be smart enough to open it for him.

The nurse walked over and opened the door for him, "Not her too!"

He smiled and shook his head no. "She's just exhausted." He took a quick glance around the room. He saw Kelsi soundlessly sleeping in a chair. "Why is she out here?"

Another nurse walked out of the room, "I had to do something with the boy, but she seems content now."

"Okay." Chad gave a nod and headed for Ryan's room. He laid Sharpay on the cot and slowly covered her up with the sheet that was laid out. "Sweet dreams." He murmured placing a small kiss upon her forehead. He turn and faced the nurse that had followed him in. "Could I bring the other one in as well...I think it'd be nice for her to wake up in her...boyfriend's room." He smiled a tired, but full grin. The nurse gave a slight nod.

"Just make sure you are ready in ten minutes." He gave a reassuring nod and headed into the empty waiting room. He scooped Kelsi into his arms and carried her into Ryan's room, which was not far from the waiting room. "Can...can I place her in the other hospital bed?" He asked the nurse hopefully. She gave a small grin and nodded. "Thank you." He walked over to the bed and lightly placed Kelsi's worn out body down. "Good night." He whispered as he covered her with the blanket. He turned to the nurse. "Okay, I'm ready. Where do I sign?" She held out a hand so he would follow. He left with the nurse, leaving the three in peace.

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Sharpay groggily woke up to see the white room. She looked around; confused. What happened? Then all of a sudden, it hit her. Chad. The locket. Everything.
She sat up in the cot and looked at her brother's worn face. "Ryan..." she said, holding the locket that was around her neck. "Please wake up."
She noticed the basketball jacket around her shoulders. She was still freezing cold. "Achoo!" she sneezed.

Kelsi awoke to the sneeze that Sharpay had let out. Wiping her dry eyes she stated, "Bless you." She sat up in the bed and noticed where she was. Who had brought her in?

Sharpay looked over at the younger girl. "Thanks." she said. Suddenly, she started coughing uncontrollably. She wished she could have moved last night...she might not have been sick. Then she realized she would have probably been there last night if it wasn't for Chad. He was so caring...

"Good morning." A slim, brunette said walking in with two trays of food. "It's not the best, but at least it's food." She placed a tray in Sharpay's lap and placed one on the table beside Kelsi's bed. "Would you like to hear some good news, you two?"

Sharpay nodded, looking at the brunette.

"Well, he showed a little bit of consciousness around one a.m. this morning. If you look..." She pointed to Ryan. "He has moved. He was laying on his back but now he is on his left shoulder. I am guessing that's how he sleeps?"

Sharpay nodded again. "So he should wake up today?" she asked excitedly.

"Well, maybe." She looked at Sharpay and frowned. "I mean it doesn't assure that, but at least we know he's going to make a full recovery." She looked at Kelsi who was starring at Ryan. "You two better get some food into your little bodies." She looked back at Sharpay. "Here's something for your cold." She gave her a measuring cup filled with purple liquid and walked out of the room, leaving the two talented girls alone with Ryan.

Kelsi continued to stare at Ryan. She wasn't showing any movement.

Sharpay sighed and took down the horrible medicine. Then she started to take a bite of the food. It tasted horrendous. She just sat there thinking about what Chad had done for her last night...

Kelsi got out of bed oblivious to Sharpay and kneeled down by Ryan. She took his hand and rested her head on the bed.

Sharpay looked over at Kelsi, "You really do love him, don't you?" she asked.

Kelsi jumped and look over at Sharpay. She didn't hear her. "Did you say something?" She asked with a confused, lost look.

Sharpay smiled softly, "You love Ryan, don't you?"

Kelsi looked at Sharpay speechless. She didn't know what to say, she just starred dimwitted at her.

Sharpay moved the tray out of the way and turned to Kelsi. "That's a yes, isn't it?"

"I...I don't know." She said turning back towards Ryan. "Ye...Yes, but I want the best for him. If he doesn't love me then...that's okay."

Sharpay smiled, "He does. He just doesn't want to admit it."
Sharpay stood up and walked to the front desk. She asked the lady in front, "Which room is Chad Danforth in?"

The ginger haired lady flipped through a book that was sitting on her desk.

"He's...in surgery now, Miss. You can't see him at this time." The lady frowned.

Sharpay frowned. "When is he going to be out?"

"Well the surgery will end today, but if it all goes through well he will be allowed to have visitors in about three days. He will have to recover, with out visitors at first. It's a major operation, of course you're of his family right? You should know?" She frowned and placed her hand on Sharpay's.

"THREE DAYS?! I need to talk to him NOW!"


"But he's not even done with surgery. I'm sorry Miss. You're just going to have to wait. At this moment he is in a deep sleep." She took her hand off of Sharpay's.

"If you give us your number we can call and tell you when you can visit."

"But..." Sharpay sighed, defeated. "When he's out of surgery and awake can I see him?"

"How about when his doctor informs me he is done I will ask if you can?" The nurse asked smiling, though she knew this operation was major and Chad would need to recover first.

"I guess...I really, really need to talk to him, though. Even if he is asleep."

"Okay. But he's in surgery right now. That's what I've been trying to tell you." She frowned. "You know? He's under the knife now."

"I KNOW! I got that! He's having brain surgery to remove a tumor! I'M trying to tell you when he gets out I want to see him!"

"Oh, okay. My bad." The nurse jotted something down on paper. "I will talk to his doctor when he's done...like I said before."

"Thank you."

Sharpay said, stalking down the hall into Ryan's room. She sat down in the cot next to her brother and sighed. "Ryan, I need you." she said, putting her head on his shoulder.

Kelsi looked over at Sharpay. "I...I'll...I'll leave you two alone." She walked slowly out of the room fighting back even more tears. She walked down the hall into the waiting room and threw herself down.

Sharpay sighed. "Ryan I miss you. I didn't mean those things I said yesterday. Kelsi told me what you think. I'll help you get through it. I'll stop making you be my poodle. I'll let you be your own person. Just please, don't hate me." she whispered, her eyes tearing up.

Kelsi starred out the only window in the room thinking to herself. I love Ryan, but I just want to know why Jason broke up with me? Did he know of my love or was it something else? Does he love someone else as well? Tears streamed down her face. Then she remembered. "Tomorrow is our last day of school...and on a Monday." She rolled her eyes. "I guess I could get an answer to my question then." She sighed and wiped the tears away.

Sharpay sighed. She wished she could turn back time. To the day she fought with Ryan, and to a few hours ago. She wanted to talk to Chad and tell him everything was going to be ok; like what he did for her.

Kelsi got up and walked to the desk. "Is there someway I could take a shower?" She asked with a slight grin. "I don't like to stink." The lady smiled and nodded.
"I'll get you some things. Just wait here." She got up and walked off to get a rag, soap, and a towel for Kelsi.

Sharpay wondered what Ryan was thinking about. Maybe he was in a world where he wasn't a poodle to Sharpay. Maybe he was in a world where their father was still alive. Maybe both. Maybe when he woke up, he would tell her about it.

The brunette returned with the contents for Kelsi. "There's a shower in Ryan's room, Miss. That's where you're at right?" Kelsi nodded smiling. "Okay, you can get washed up there. Would you like your closed washed?" Kelsi nodded quickly.
"Please." The lady nodded and handed Kelsi a gown.

"Put this on and give me your clothes." Kelsi walked back to Ryan's room and walked into the bathroom. She quickly stripped her clothes off and threw on the gown. She left the rag, soap, and towel on the sink. She walked back out not even bothering Sharpay and handed the clothes to the lady. "I will return them to other nice lady for you." Kelsi nodded and raced back to the bathroom. She threw off the gown and turned the hot water adding some cold, to make it luke warm.
Sharpay sighed, realizing Ryan wasn't going to come out of his trance any time soon.

Stepping into the shower, Kelsi instantly felt relaxed and she let out a loud sigh. She pushed all her troubles in the back of her mind. She would leave them for when she returned to the world.

Sharpay cuddled in her cot, trying to forget the world and what was going on around her. Suddenly, something happened that she never would have guessed would happen.

Ryan let out a loud moan and turn back onto his back side.

Sharpay was too absorbed in her attempt to leave the world to notice. However, she did mutter, "Forgive me, Ryan"

"I did already." Ryan faintly muttered smiling.

Sharpay heard this, turned over, and exclaimed, "RYAN!"

She leaned over to hug her brother, still smiling.

"Uh, hi." He mumbled a little scared. "Nice to...see you too." Silent tears ran down his cheeks, but they were hardly noticeable.

"Ryan, I'm sorry for all that I've done...I'm sorry for making you come find me..."

"You didn't make me come find you. I wanted to. Sharpay, I will always love you. I hope you know that. I have no other friends..." His eyes moved across the room. "Did...you sleep over night?" He asked confused. "In two beds?"

Sharpay smiled a little. "Kelsi and I did. Chad's here to...but for a different reason" she added softly, in a very unusual tone.

He looked at her confused. "Kelsi? Chad?" He sat up in the bed. "Kelsi's here? Chad's here?" Ryan was so lost, he began to cry for real.
Sharpay looked sadly at her brother. "It's ok, Ryan. Kelsi is in the shower, and I'm here. But Chad..."

"Chad what? Why's Chad here?" He looked around again. "Where's mom and dad?"

Sharpay ran her hand through her long, blonde hair. "Chad...he's here to get a brain tumor removed." she said, a tear coming down her face. "Mom's on a business trip...and Dad...well... Dad's gone..."

"Gone?" He asked confused. Then Ryan looked down at his jacket. "Oh, yeah. Gone. I forgot...how'd I do that." He shook his head. "Wait, a brain tumor? How long have I been sleeping!"

"He's had it for a month and a half..."

"He just never told us. You've been sleeping for about a day..." she said, holding her brother's hand.

Kelsi heard screaming in the room, the voice was scared and familiar. She shut off the shower and wrapped herself in the towel and rushed to get dry, but she remembered that Sharpay never brought her, her clothes. Did the nurse forget?
"It's only been a day, and I missed this much?" He stared at Sharpay. "Why didn't Chad tell us?"

"He was going to tell us...later... and he just told me earlier..." tears started coming down her face again, "Ryan, he's having surgery right now...he could die, Ryan!"

"What?" He asked lost. Sharpay was telling him too much, too fast. "Where's Kelsi again?" He looked around.

"In the shower. But on the bright side, I'm glad you're back." she said, hugging Ryan.

"Yeah, me too." He looked at Sharpay. "I'm really confused, Shar. About Chad and Kelsi. I just came from a different world, and you really need to explain things slower..." He said honestly.

"Ok, Ry, ask me a question and I'll explain it slowly." Sharpay said softly.
"Okay, what about Chad? Tumor? Brain?" He asked swinging his legs over to the side of the bed to sit up.

"Okay...Chad's here to get a brain tumor removed. He's had it for a month and a half, but he's never told us. He's in surgery to have it removed."

"Oh, and is it life threatening?" He asked starting to lose his breath again. He turned and layed back down.
Sharpay looked down at her legs. "He said the doctor has done it five times...two have died." she said softy, a single tear fell down her face as she said this.

"Oh, Sharpay." He hugged his sister tightly. "You...you love him, don't you? I always knew you did..."

Sharpay looked up at him. "I...I think I do."

Ryan hugged his sister tightly to him. The room fell silent, until Ryan heard a familiar, soothing voice. "Kelsi?" He asked.

Sharpay saw the girl's clothes on the nightstand and gasped. She walked over to the nightstand, took the clothes to the door, and knocked. "Kelsi...I have your clothes..."

"Finally!" Kelsi shrieked. She grabbed the clothes from around the door and quickly threw them on. Not caring about her hair she ran out of the room. "Is he awake?" She asked with bulging eyes.

Sharpay smiled and nodded.

Kelsi turned to her left and looked over to his bed. "Ryan!" She yelled and ran over to him. "I'm sorry." She muttered hugging him.

"Sorry?" He asked confused.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier..."

"Tell me what?" He asked turning to Sharpay.

"I...I..." Kelsi was at a loss of words yet again in her life.
Sharpay shrugged and walked out of the room towards the front desk once more.

"I love you." Kelsi finally got out after Sharpay left. "I don't know why I fell for Jason. It makes no sense to me." She grabbed his thin, warm hands. "If you don't love me I want the best for you." She looked deep into his blue eyes.

Ryan smiled back. "I love you too." He grabbed her hand and stroked it with his thumb. "I always will."

"Oh, Ryan!" She yelled throwing her arms around him. Tears streaming down her face for the hundredth time in the two days. She got up on his bed and they starred in each others eyes with out saying any words.

Sharpay made her way to the front desk, then said, "Is Chad's surgery done?"

The lady, Felicia, looked up from typing something. She nodded and frowned. "Yes, it is."

"Did it go well?"

The lady starred at Sharpay for a long time. She looked down and back up. "I'll be right back, okay?" She asked.

Sharpay nodded and stood there, not moving at all.

Felicia walked back with the doctor who had worked with Ryan. He smiled when he saw Sharpay. "I heard Ryan is up."

Sharpay smiled and nodded. "He's up, but a little confused."

"How confused?" He asked concerned.

"Not much, I told him too much information too fast. He's fine now, though."

"Oh, well that's good. Did he try to sit up? Because he really should let his heart rest for at least two days." He seemed to be very worried about Ryan, when he was supposed to be talking about Chad to her.

"He's fine! But what about Chad?" Sharpay said anxiously.

"Chad? Chad Danforth?" He asked. "Oh, right he was with you most of the night. Sorry, I was up all night working here. I didn't get much sleep. Well we don't exactly know." He said giving a slanted look. "You see..."

Sharpay's patience was very short with this doctor at the moment.

He looked at her seriously. "We could not remove all of the tumor, but we were able to remove most of it. He seems to be okay now, but we have to see how he's affected once he's awake."

"He's going to be fine though, right?" Sharpay asked, worried.

"We'll have to wait and hope." He said giving a faint nod.

Sharpay frowned nervously. Instead of going into Ryan's room, she sat in one of the waiting room chairs and just stared out the window absentmindedly.

Kelsi finally let go of starring at Ryan. "I have to go. We have school tomorrow, and Mrs. Darbus wanted to talk to me about a town production. I just want you to know, I stayed over night and I hoped you would be okay." She got up off the bed. "How was your perfect world, Mr. Evans?" She asked smiling.

"The best yet." He winked at her. She giggled and bent down. She hesitated but finally placed a kiss on his smooth lips. "I love you. Call me tomorrow?" He nodded and gave her a kiss in return.

Sharpay sat crunched up in a ball in one of the chairs. She didn't want to lose Chad. He didn't even know that she loved him.

Kelsi walked out of the room and into the waiting room. She saw Sharpay rolled up in a chair. She walked over and sat down beside her. "What's wrong?" She asked caringly.

Sharpay looked over at her. "It's...Chad...the doctors said...they won't know if he's fine...until he wakes up..."

Kelsi looked at her confused. "You know, I don't even know what's going on anymore, but..." She hugged Sharpay tightly. "I know what you are feeling. The feeling that you might loose him..."

Sharpay nodded sadly. "Thank you, Kelsi for being there for Ryan. He needs someone other than me in his life."

"But he has the whole gang, you know?" She said letting go.

"Yeah, but none of them are as close as you two are." Sharpay said, smiling softly.

"Yeah, I know." Kelsi replied looking down. "I have to go. If I don't Mrs. Darbus is going to kill me." She said standing up. "I hope to see at least you in school tomorrow?"

Sharpay thought about it. "We'll see. It depends on how the two boys are doing."
Kelsi gave a single nod and walked out of the room.

"Miss Evans." Sharpay heard beside her twenty minutes later.
Sharpay looked over. "Yes?"

"I am happy to report, Mr. Danforth has awakened." The doctor smiled eagerly.
Sharpay's face lit up immediately. "Is he okay?"

"Yes, but he is very unstable at the moment." He said sitting down beside her.
Sharpay paused. "...Which means what?"

"He is very confused and doesn't know where he is." He said turning to face her.

"And it's not like what Ryan has."

Sharpay gasped. "He has...amnesia?!"

"We think he might, but if he does it's not such a serious case."

She sighed in relief. "That's good. How can you fix it though?"

The doctor shrugged. "That's not how it works. He has to remember on his own. Most of these cases it's the siblings and parents that help them through and out of the stage. Sometimes it's the girlfriends or boyfriends. Time will tell us."

Sharpay nodded. "How can I help?"

"I don't know, Miss Evans. It just happens." He admitted.
"Well can I see him then?" Sharpay asked quietly.

"Not just yet. Tomorrow you may."

She nodded. "Do...do I have to go back to school tomorrow? It's the last day."

"That's up to your parents." He chuckled a little.

"Neither of them are home" She said sadly.

"Why is that?" He asked confused. "If I may ask."

"Mom's always away on business...she's only home a few times a month...and Dad's...Dad's dead."

"Oh, I am sorry to hear that." He said dropping his head. "Then it's up to you. I would make you go to school though…I'm sorry again."

"It's...it's ok..." Sharpay said, looking out the window again. "It affected Ryan more than me.

"Oh. Well, anyway." He said trying to change the subject. "I uhh better go call Chad's parents and girlfriend." He said getting up and walking away.

Sharpay sighed. She realized Chad would never give up Taylor for her.

A/N: Woo! Three chapters in two days! Laura and I went a little overboard on this one though…… oh well. And I'd like to ask: Is anyone at all reading this?

Well, if you are, thanks.

-Laura and Nicole