Chapter 7:
Sharpay stood at the truck stop looking at the gossip magazines wishing she was the celebrity on the cover. What she would give to see her face on a magazine cover and people rushing to buy it. She had always wanted to sing, dance, and act, whatever she could do. She wanted to be the next triple threat. She used to even play on her guitar and write her own music, but the days of the songs of Sharpay Evans were long gone. She looked out the window behind the checkout counter to see Troy filling gas as Chad wiped his windows clean because heaven forbid there would be one mark on his truck.
Sharpay checked her wallet. She only had a thousand dollars to last her in LA. Hopefully she could find some sort of job out there. She didn't want to sit there just mooching off of Troy. She noticed a little notebook pad by the candy aisle. Maybe it was time she started to write her own lyrics again, not that they would do her any good. Zeke smashed her guitar in one of their heated arguments. It was one of the main reasons that she stopped singing. He hated her singing. There used to be a time when he lived to hear her voice, God how she missed those days.
She felt a tear roll down her cheek as she stared at the pink little notebook on the rack. How could she losing everything and everyone she ever loved. It was as if everything she touched turned to ashes. There was no point in trying to love, when you only are going to get hurt. In the end she could see Troy crawling back to Gabi and there she would sit, all alone in this harsh cold world. Why couldn't she just fly away?
Troy and Chad ran into the small gas station laughing at each other. They looked at Sharpay and then back to each other. Chad motioned for Troy to go talk to her as he walk away to get them all food and drinks. Troy looked to ground before moving his feet. How would he know what to say or do?
"You know such beautiful brown eyes should never see a single tear," Troy said as he walked up behind her.
"Were you not just engaged to be married?" Sharpay asked wiping her eyes and turning around, She had nothing else left to lose, she was going to tell him where she stood right now in the start. She wasn't about to fall in love with the one man she always wanted. Troy was always just out of her reach, why should now be any different?
"If you remember correctly, my bride stormed out of our wedding with another man, your brother to be exact. Besides we're friends aren't we?"
The dreaded "friends" word. What she would give to have him look at her just once like he had always looked at Gabby. She smiled trying to think of a reply. "Yeah, friends. Here's the thing Troy. I don't have anything left. All I had was Zeke and here I am running away from him. I barely know myself anymore. I have nothing left… nothing. I just… I can't fight when I don't know what I am fighting for. I thought I was strong enough to leave him, but… I think I will just catch the next bus back to Vegas."
"You're not going back to him…"
"Who's going to stop me?" Sharpay said eying him as she started to walk away.
"Me…" Troy said grabbing a hold of her wrist. "When you are too weak to fight this, than just think of me, I will be your strength. You deserve better than just some selfish fucking jerk that is just going to abuse you."
"I killed my father! I don't deserve anything!"
Troy sighed as he looked at her. After all these years of wondering what happened to Sharpay and why she never went to UCLA with Ryan the truth was out. She blamed herself for something that she couldn't stop. She wasn't the driver, she didn't run him over. Yet there she stood an emotional wreck blaming herself for his death. Troy wasn't going to leave her alone. He pulled her wrist and forced her to come back towards him. He cradled both of his strong arms around her tiny body as he gently kissed her forehead.
"Sharpay listen to me," He whispered to her. "Your father death was never your fault. You can't go blaming yourself for something you have no control over. You are an amazing person your father would only want what is best of you. He is up in heaven watching his baby girl, wishing he could personally tell you to follow your dreams and listen to your heart. This world is yours for the taking. When you think you have nothing else left, think of me…"
Sharpay choked back more tears. As if she wasn't crying hard, enough he had to go all nice guy on her. She was amazed by him. She couldn't believe that he had the patience to calm her down where she broke down in public. He wasn't embarrassed like Zeke would have been. He was just concerned for her.
Chad walked over and put a hand on her shoulder. It was back to life. They had a road trip to complete. She smiled at Troy and Chad. They were still going to help her after all these years and after all the shit she put them through in high school. It just went to show how some people are just better than others. They were better than her.
"I didn't know what to get you to drink, so I just randomly picked out orange soda. Is that ok?" Chad asked as they walked back to the car.
"Yeah actually that is one of my favorites… But just one of them." Sharpay replied.
"Hey Troy you mind driving for awhile. My eyes are begging me to get some sleep. You and Shar here can take the front." Chad said climbing into the back seat.
Troy opened the passenger door for Sharpay. He smiled at her as she brushed past him to get into the car. He wouldn't admit it to her, but he definitely felt something for her. It wasn't love, yet.
He grabbed the keys from Chad and ran around the car. There was a twelve hour drive left. Almost home, and the real journey was just about to begin. Grinning he walked around the car, thinking about how big of a fool he was being… bringing home the strip from his bachelor party.
Sharpay sighed causing her whole body to vibrate. Troy couldn't help but notice the way her breasts moved slightly up and down with every breath. She turned him on in ways he didn't know he could be. She just amazed him, she had the heart and soul of a fighter and he was going to prove it to her, as long as he could keep his hands off of her.
Looking down at the tiny notebook she bought, Sharpay really had no idea what to write. She bought it as a journal and lyric book. It was never easy coming up with the start of something new. She just liked to sit there and let the words flow out of her mouth and a tape recorder. But she wanted to start writing music again privately. IF she was ever going to record a real album she wanted it to be personal and raw so there were no surprises to her fans.
Tears from an empty soul,
As she fights to run and hide.
Her heart is left with an open hole,
There is nothing left inside.
Inside the pretty painted walls
A broken girl screams out loud
As everyone moves through the halls
Another bruise forms as she falls
Inside their private world
Lives a beautiful crying girl.
She smiles so no one can see
That the woman they all know,
Is just another façade?
Just another show…
No one see the darkness she hides,
When it's just her and him inside
Inside the pretty painted wall
A broken girl screams out loud
As everyone moves through the halls
Another bruise forms as she falls
Inside their private world,
Lives a beautiful crying girl.
She wasn't always this way.
She was pretty and happy
Before that dreadful day.
When she put the ring on,
When they played that special song.
She left her peace behind
As she stepped inside
Inside the pretty painted walls
A broken girl screams out loud
As everyone move the halls
Another bruise as she falls
Inside their private world
Lives a beautiful crying girl.
Inside all the lies
Behind the façade
Lives a beautiful crying girl.
Sharpay stared at the words on the paper for a minute before shutting the notebook and staring out the window in silence. She was outside now. She was stronger that just another beautiful crying girl. But if she was so strong, why was she trembling inside and fighting to go back to her world?