Things are starting to look up.

Gabriella had never thought she'd reach a truce with Sharpay, not after their fight in the bathroom, but when she walks into school the morning after she got stage fright during rehearsal, the first thing she's greeted with is a courteous nod from Sharpay.

They're not friends, not by any means, but their truce is a start.

Furthermore, she's grateful to have someone to look out for when she has stage fright, as strange as it is that this person is Sharpay. The truth is that Gabriella needs that. She needs someone to challenge her, to give her the courage to sing and stand up on stage. As much as she's learning about being on stage, her stage fright isn't just solved in the blink of an eye.

So far, Troy has been the one to encourage her, to give her faith when she needed it most, both at the New Year's Eve party and at the auditions. However, Troy is not always going to be present, especially as he was too afraid to audition himself. So yesterday, when she choked, it seemed like she was alone.

She couldn't be more wrong.

The thing is, though, that Sharpay encourages her in an entirely different way than Troy does. While Troy's presence is comforting, Sharpay's is daring.

As Sharpay put it herself, they challenge each other to outdo one another. In the strangest of ways, their rivalry is helping both of them.

And now they've both realized that, it's not a rivalry anymore. At least, not in an actually hostile sense.

Now, it's more like they're frenemies. And after all of their fights, Gabriella thinks that's the way it should be.

Not friends, not enemies. Just something else.

Gabriella arrives at her locker with a spring in her step, waving as she sees Taylor standing by it, and grinning as she removes the lock.

"You're in a good mood," Taylor comments, smiling and sounding a little amused and Gabriella just giggles.

"Yeah, I just feel good today."

"Well, I'm glad," Taylor says earnestly, before the grin falls off her face and she curses. "Oh, shit, Gabriella, Sharpay is coming this way."

Gabriella turns around to watch Sharpay approach with menacing strides. However, Gabriella can see that there's no anger in her eyes, so she just watches curiously as Sharpay stops right in front of her and musters a slightly forced smile.

"You're gonna sit with us at lunch today," she says, before rolling her eyes as both Gabriella and Taylor raise their eyebrows. "I mean, do you want to sit with us at lunch today? Ryan, Kelsi and I were planning to go over a few scenes and I figured you'd want to join, too, since you play the biggest supporting character."

Gabriella narrows her eyes, before smiling. "You want to have lunch together?"

Sharpay rolls her eyes again. "Ryan and Kelsi are there too, and they both actually like you for some reason. And again, I'm only inviting you, because you play an important role in the musical."

Tapping her foot impatiently on the floor, she adds, "So, what's it gonna be?"

Gabriella bites her lip, sneaking a glance at a horrified Taylor, before nodding and offering Sharpay a small smile. "Why not?"

Sharpay smiles and stands up a little straighter. "Great! Well, I guess I'll be on my way then. Toodles!"

Gabriella giggles at Sharpay's little wave, returning it and watching as Sharpay struts off.

"What was that?!"

Gabriella sighs as she turns back to Taylor, shrugging. "We called a truce."

Taylor quirks an eyebrow. "So, you and Sharpay are friends now?"

"Definitely not," Gabriella laughs. "But we respect each other."

Taylor snorts. "Sharpay Evans, respecting others? She's playing you, Gabriella."

Gabriella frowns as she closes her locker. "I mean, yeah, I don't entirely trust her, but she told me she respects me and she seemed genuine enough."

As uncertain as she still is about her future with Sharpay, she does know Sharpay well enough by now to know when she's trying to manipulate her. The way she behaved yesterday, however, was different, more genuine, in a way that Gabriella hasn't seen yet.

She doesn't trust Sharpay's general motives, but she does trust that Sharpay was being honest when she wanted a truce.

Taylor doesn't seem to agree, though, for she scoffs. "Sharpay doesn't respect anyone but herself."

"I know her. She was speaking the truth, I could tell," Gabriella counters, a little defensively, and in the back of her mind, she wonders why she's suddenly so defensive of the person who tried to make her life a living hell just yesterday.

"You've only known her a couple of weeks," Taylor counters, smiling sympathetically as Gabriella's face falls further – it's true, after all.

"Look, if you believe she really wants a truce, then who am I to say she doesn't? Just don't let down your guard, okay? Nothing is that simple with her."

Gabriella sighs, before nodding, suddenly not feeling so happy anymore as she is overcome with worries.

She has already entertained the thought, of course, but what if Taylor is right and Sharpay really is only calling this truce to perform a sneak attack and get her down when she least expects it? What if it's all just a ploy? Sharpay is a great actress after all.

And why does the possibility of this being a ruse break her heart? Why does she still want to genuinely get along with Sharpay, after the cruel way she treated her? Why does she want to stay close to her, spend time with her?

It makes no sense.

Then again, nothing that has happened since she has arrived at East High has made sense.

She just hopes that Taylor isn't right and that this will work out.

She hopes that this truce will last.


Sharpay is sure she's made a big mistake by asking Gabriella to join her, Ryan and Kelsi for lunch.

Not only is the incident from the day of the cast list still fresh on her mind, but spending time together outside of musical rehearsals and the occasional unfortunate meeting in the bathroom means they're getting friendly and a little bit too close.

So, to see Gabriella sitting at her lunch table, with a big smile as she converses with Ryan, Sharpay feels uncomfortable.

Gabriella seems so at ease. She seems to fit right in, in their little group, and it makes Sharpay feel threatened again. She still doesn't like change, and she doesn't like letting new people into her life, especially people like Gabriella.

However, she tries to keep in her fury and fear, just picking at her food quietly as she watches Gabriella's arms flutter around as she talks, before she throws her head back in laughter.

"Are you okay, sis?" Ryan's voice snaps her out of her daze and Sharpay blinks as she realizes she's just been staring at Gabriella for a few minutes.

She nods, forcing a smile onto her face. "Yeah, sorry, I zoned out for a minute."

Then, she sits up a little straighter. "So, shall we rehearse?"

Ryan nods slowly, before all four of them dive towards their bags to retrieve their scripts. "So, what scenes did you want to practice?"

Sharpay bites her lip as her gaze flickers to Gabriella, who is still smiling sweetly and a little excitedly.

She needs to distract herself from Gabriella's presence.

"Maybe the scene where Arnold and Minnie try to escape from the dungeon?" she suggests.

The other three all hum in agreement, as they flip through their scripts to find the scene in question, and Sharpay breathes out a sigh as she hopes her mind will be taken off Gabriella now.

Of course, it isn't. All through the read-through, as much as she tries to focus on her script and on Ryan, Sharpay can feel those chocolate eyes drill through her head, and when every time her gaze flickers to Gabriella and their eyes meet, she smiles a little wider.

"That was great! I don't think this scene needs any extra practice!" Gabriella exclaims as the twins finish the scene.

"Yeah, it's a good scene, Kelsi," Sharpay admits reluctantly, not looking up from her script as she starts to flip through it to find another scene to rehearse.

Anything to keep herself distracted and to keep herself from getting chummy with Gabriella.

"So, do you have these lunch rehearsals often?"

Of course, Gabriella does want to become chummy.

Sharpay shrugs. "Well, yeah, extra rehearsals are really useful if you want to be successful."

"Usually, we do them after school, though, but Sharpay is a little busy these days, because she has to improve her math grade," Ryan pipes up, before cowering as Sharpay sends him a poisonous look.

"Ryan!"

Sharpay is not someone who particularly cares about academics, but it is embarrassing that Gabriella now knows that she's failing math.

Gabriella, with her newspaper articles about winning academic awards, will probably judge her. She'll probably think Sharpay's an idiot, and that she is superior.

At least, that's what Sharpay would think if the roles were reversed.

However, Gabriella is quite obviously not Sharpay, for she springs up immediately, her face lighting up. "I could help and tutor you if you want to."

Sharpay furrows her eyebrows suspiciously. "Why would you want to do that?"

Gabriella shrugs. "You're helping me with the musical. I would like to return the favour."

Sharpay scoffs. "I don't think giving you snide remarks to rile you up counts as helping."

Gabriella smiles at that and rolls her eyes playfully. "Fair point. But honestly, I just want to help."

"Thanks, but I can do it by myself," Sharpay responds curtly, before biting her lip as Gabriella's face falls.

The thing is, she actually does need the help, but she's too proud to admit it, and she doesn't like the idea of being dependent on Gabriella or spending more time with her than is necessary.

However, as she sneaks a glance at Ryan, who is giving her a disapproving look, she realizes that it would be foolish to turn this offer down.

So, she rolls her eyes as she begrudgingly says, "Fine. You can help me if you want to."

"I'm doing this for you, not for me," Gabriella reminds her, a smile blossoming on her face. "When do we start?"

Sharpay purses her lips. "Do you have time this afternoon?"

Maybe it's best if they get all this tutoring out of the way as soon as possible.

Gabriella grins excitedly as she nods vigorously in agreement and Sharpay returns it with her own forced smile.

"Fabulous!" Sharpay exclaims with faux-excitement, before turning back to her script. "So, how about we practice Arnold and Minnie's first meeting?"

And with that, the subject is changed and the topic of the tutoring never approached again during lunch.

However, Sharpay's heart still beats a little faster at the idea and panic overcomes her. But as she glances at a smiling Gabriella, she realizes there's no way back now.

Gabriella is getting more and more entangled in her life and she can't stop it.

She can't stop Gabriella from coming too close.


Sharpay Evans is in Gabriella's bedroom.

In a strange turn of events, she has offered Sharpay to tutor her in math and Sharpay actually accepted.

Gabriella was happy about that initially, thrilled even, because it only confirmed to her that Sharpay is just as serious about their truce as she is, but now, to see Sharpay sitting on her bed, inspecting every inch of her room, she feels slightly uncomfortable.

She suddenly feels like she needs everything to go perfectly this afternoon, so she can impress Sharpay, so Sharpay will want to come over more often.

She's still confused as to why she wants to spend so much time with the drama queen.

"Would you like some tea?" Gabriella offers, fiddling with her hands as Sharpay's gaze snaps to hers. "I could also make coffee for you if you want and we have soda and orange juice. I also think my mom has made brownies and otherwise, I'm sure we have cookies somewhere."

"Just water, please. No food, thanks," Sharpay responds curtly, before quirking an eyebrow. "Why are you so nervous? Have you never had fr– classmates over before?"

Gabriella smiles a little as she hears Sharpay's slip of tongue, but decides to let it slide, shrugging in response to her question. "I've moved every semester for the past five years, so I've never really had the chance to bond with anyone before."

"I wouldn't call this bonding," Sharpay reminds her, before smirking. "So, I'm guessing you'll leave again in a couple of months?"

Sharpay's voice is teasing, so Gabriella just rolls her eyes playfully as she says, "Sorry, no such luck. My mom promised I'm not moving again until graduation."

"Bless mom's heart," Sharpay remarks sarcastically, making Gabriella laugh, before she moves off of the bed.

"Well, make yourself comfortable, I'll be back in a moment."

When she returns with a cup of tea and a glass of water a few minutes later, she's shocked to find Sharpay rummaging through her closet, half of the contents lying on the floor.

"What are you doing?!"

Sharpay turns around, hand on her hip as she motions around with her hand. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm going through your closet. Your style is quite terrible, Gabriella."

She picks up a pair of green corduroy pants, making gagging noises as Gabriella sets down the drinks and frowns as she approaches and rips the pants from Sharpay's hands.

"What's wrong with these?" she asks and Sharpay merely shakes her head pitifully.

"Oh, honey, they're atrocious."

Turning back to the closet, she taps her chin. "You need a new wardrobe, stat."

"And you're gonna help me with that?" Gabriella asks, raising an eyebrow as she suddenly feels suspicious.

Sharpay was reluctant to agree to being tutored, and she didn't seem overjoyed to spend time with her anyway, so why would she willingly do this? There has to be something behind it.

"I have no ulterior motives," Sharpay states, as if reading her mind. "The fashionista in me can't stand the sight of this. And also, I hate that I owe you one for tutoring me."

"But I told you, you're helping me with the musical, and I'm not expecting anything in return anyway."

Sharpay whines and stomps her foot. "Gabriella, just let me do this, please. I can't just walk away and let you continue to live like this."

Then, she turns to Gabriella, before widening her eyes and pouting.

It's rather adorable.

"Fine," Gabriella admits, sighing as Sharpay jumps up and down and claps her hands excitedly, the glitters on her white shirt nearly blinding Gabriella. "But no glitters, please."

"Don't worry, I'll find stuff that fits you. I'm great at that. I do it for Ryan, too," Sharpay says as she picks up the pants again. "But seriously, what were you thinking?"

With a roll of her eyes, Gabriella grabs the pants from Sharpay's grasp and throws them down. "Okay, enough procrastination. Let's get to math!"

Sharpay grimaces as she walks back to Gabriella's bed. "I don't get how anyone would be this excited about math."

Gabriella smiles as she shrugs and sits down on the bed besides Sharpay and opens her book. "I'm the freaky math girl after all."

Sharpay hums thoughtfully. "Freaky math girl. I like that."

"Don't use it against me."


Sharpay has no idea what came over her to offer Gabriella to take her shopping.

She wanted to spend less time with her, not more.

However, she couldn't deny her instincts to go snooping around Gabriella's room when she was in there alone the other day and what she found in her closet was truly atrocious.

And the thing is, as much as Sharpay would deny it if ever asked, Gabriella is a pretty girl. She just doesn't dress like it and Sharpay can't stand around and let a pretty girl hide herself in ugly clothing. It's against everything she stands for and she refuses not take this challenge.

So, now she's impatiently waiting as Gabriella tries on the many clothes that she has picked out for her, hoping that it will be an improvement.

She doesn't realize how much of an improvement it is until Gabriella comes out of the fitting room, wearing a white top with frills and a pair of jeans.

It's not much different from the clothes Gabriella wears on a daily basis – just a little more sophisticated –, but still, Sharpay's breath hitches in her throat as Gabriella stands in front of the mirror and inspects her own appearance.

The girl is not just pretty, Sharpay thinks, she's gorgeous. With those black waves cascading down her back, and those pretty brown eyes, and her slight curves, and her long legs, she's stunning.

It makes Sharpay's heart beat a little faster as she feels an unfamiliar feeling overcome her.

She chalks it up to envy – Gabriella is great at everything, of course she's also great at being pretty –, and blinks a couple of times as she tries to regain her composure and slow down her heart.

"I like this," Gabriella comments as she puts her hands on her butt – why can't Sharpay take her eyes off her butt now? – and inspects her backside thoroughly. "Does it look okay?"

"It looks fabulous," Sharpay answers immediately, and Gabriella blinks at the speed and firmness of her answer. "See, I told you I'm good at this."

Gabriella's eyes meet Sharpay's through the mirror and she smiles, nodding as she softly says, "Yeah, you're great."

Sharpay doesn't know why she suddenly feels her cheeks heat up at the genuine sweetness in Gabriella's voice, quickly averting her gaze and clenching her jaw as she wills herself to cool down.

"Get back in there and try on one of those dresses," she says, a little tensely, and from the corner of her eye, she can see Gabriella's confusion as she slowly nods and walks back into the fitting room.

As she's in there, Sharpay succeeds to even her breathing, but she's rendered breathless quite soon again as Gabriella steps out again after a few minutes, now wearing a beautiful red dress.

The sight makes Sharpay gulp.

"I don't know if I like this," Gabriella admits, frowning as she looks down at her dress and wipes down the skirt. "I don't think I can pull it off."

That snaps Sharpay out of her daze. She shakes her head firmly as she stands up and walks up to Gabriella, putting her finger under her chin and making her look back up.

"It's all about confidence," she says, before gently brushing a finger against the soft skin of Gabriella's shoulder, Gabriella shivering under her touch. "You're better than you think you are. That's the entire reason I hated you."

Gabriella's eyes widen. "You used past tense."

Sharpay rolls her eyes, pushing away her discomfort at the awe on Gabriella's face. "I still don't like you, but hate is too strong a word. But that's besides the point. This dress is beautiful on you. You're beautiful. You've just got to believe in it. Or at least pretend you do."

As their eyes meet again through the mirror, Gabriella narrows her eyes for a fraction of a second, before smiling. "That's easier said than done, but thanks anyway."

Then, she moves away and walks back into the fitting room, leaving an overwhelmed Sharpay behind again.

They leave the store an hour later, packed with many of the clothes that Sharpay picked out for Gabriella, including the red dress, which Sharpay insisted on buying for Gabriella in case she changed her mind.

As they walk in the cold February air, Sharpay can feel Gabriella's eyes on her and it makes her feel on edge. However, before she can say anything, Gabriella speaks up first.

"Thanks for your help today," she says, sounding earnestly grateful. "And thanks for calling me beautiful. I'm not nearly as beautiful as you, though."

Sharpay rolls her eyes as she suppresses another blush. "I know."

As she looks over at Gabriella, the brunette is staring at the ground.

"Thanks for your compliment, though," Sharpay continues, smiling, and Gabriella looks up and returns it, warmth radiating from her smile.

And, in that moment, Sharpay realizes that spending time with Gabriella is more enjoyable than she thought.

Maybe taking her shopping was not such a bad idea after all.


Gabriella's vocals are improving.

Sharpay hadn't expected any different – as inexperienced as Gabriella was initially, Sharpay would be lying if she didn't see the same potential that everyone else sees.

And while Gabriella's talent originally threatened her, because she wasn't the only talented one anymore, she now feels threatened because she's truly starting to feel a strange fondness for her.

That fond feeling she had that day they went shopping has only grown since then, and now, watching Gabriella sing for her, standing a little taller than before and sing a little louder, a little less nasally, Sharpay feels her heart beat erratically again.

As much as she's reluctantly beginning to enjoy Gabriella's company, she would really like that feeling of panic to dissipate.

"You're getting better," Sharpay comments after Gabriella finishes singing. "You should really try do some vocal exercises, though."

As Gabriella's eyebrows furrow in confusion and she shakes her head, Sharpay suppresses an eyeroll at the girl's inexperience, before standing up and launching into her own vocal exercises.

"Brrr, brrr, brrr."

Gabriella watches with raised eyebrows, amused, as Sharpay makes sounds and lets her hands flutter around her and Sharpay glowers at her as she finishes.

"Don't laugh at me. They help you regulate your breathing," she explains curtly. "Try."

Gabriella tentatively copies the movements and sounds that Sharpay just displayed, before letting out a giggle as she finishes them. "They're kind of weird."

Sharpay ignores her. "Let's try them together."

As they do them again simultaneously, their gazes are locked on each other and Sharpay has to admit it, it does feel kind of strange to be doing this with Gabriella. However, she's a professional and this is just an ordinary practice, so she keeps a straight face as she averts her gaze from Gabriella and trains it on a random point in space.

However, when they finish again, Sharpay's eyes flicker back to Gabriella, whose grinning widely, and she can't help but join as Gabriella bursts into giggles again.

It's strangely exhilarating, to be laughing with Gabriella, about nothing. Just laughing, laughing, laughing.

"Okay, let's get back to the song," Sharpay says as their laughter ceases. "Maybe we could sing together? I could start and show you how it's supposed to be done, and you could join in?"

Who is this person and what has she done with Sharpay Evans? Why is she genuinely trying to help Gabriella? Why is she singing together with her?

Ever since the day they spent shopping, Sharpay has found she wants to spend time with Gabriella, and it's very confusing, but she has to admit, it's all worth it to see Gabriella's eyes lighting up like that.

"That would be great!" she exclaims, and Sharpay offers her a small smile, before grabbing her sheet music and starting to sing the first few verses of the song.

Gabriella joins in the chorus, and Sharpay decides to take the higher part so they can harmonize, before feeling a thrill run down her spine as she realizes how good they sound together.

As different as they are, their voices fit together perfectly, creating a beautiful harmony.

Gabriella seems to notice it as well, her eyes twinkling as they sing together, to each other, and Sharpay feels a strange feeling in her stomach, as she can't keep her eyes off her.

As they finish the song, Sharpay gulps and Gabriella blinks in shock as she suddenly averts her gaze, her cheeks painted a rosy pink.

"We sound good together," she mumbles shyly, and Sharpay's eyes cast downward as she gulps again and nods.

"We do."

They stay quiet for a minute, unsure what to say and where to look, before Gabriella suddenly hurries to the side of the stage to find her back.

"You know what, I have to go," she says. "I'm supposed to meet Tr– Taylor."

Quickly placing her sheet music in her bag, she stands up, smiling in a forced manner as she waves awkwardly. "See you tomorrow!"

"Toodles!" Sharpay musters, still feeling dazed as she waves back and watches Gabriella all but run out of the auditorium.

However, before she appears out of sight, she turns around and offers Sharpay a genuine smile. "Thanks for the help with the vocal exercises."

Sharpay musters a small smile in return. "You're welcome."

And then she's gone and Sharpay is left behind, alone with her anxieties.

Why does she keep having these moments with Gabriella? What the hell is going on?


Sharpay's house is impressive, to say the least.

Gabriella already knew that the Evans twins were loaded, but she had no idea how wealthy they truly are until now, standing in the grand foyer of their huge mansion.

"Let's go upstairs," Sharpay says as she hands their coats to the butler – they have a butler! –, and climbs up the giant staircase.

Gabriella follows suit, trying not to seem too much in awe at the indescribable grandeur surrounding her.

Sharpay's room, though, is easy to describe. It's pink.

The room is huge, like everything else in the house, and everywhere Gabriella looks, she's bombarded with the bright colour, from every wall to every piece of furniture.

"Impressed?" Sharpay asks, amused and a little smug, as Gabriella's gaze roams around the room.

"Yeah, kind of," Gabriella admits with a shrug as her eyes meet Sharpay's as the blonde sits down on the bed. "You really weren't kidding when you said you were wealthy."

"Yeah, there's perks to being part of the New Mexico Evans," Sharpay agrees as she gets back up and walks over to her – obviously pink – desk to grab her math textbook and a notepad, an obvious hint that she doesn't want to discuss this topic any further.

It's strange – Sharpay has seemed like she was warming up to her for a while, but now she's distant again, but in a different way. It seems like it's not that she doesn't want to be around her, but it's like she doesn't know how to be.

However, Gabriella still wants to get to know Sharpay, as she's still inexplicably drawn to her, so she decides to continue the conversation.

"Is your dad away a lot for business?" she asks as she, too, sits down on the bed and grabs her own text book.

Sharpay shrugs, not looking up as she starts scribbling on the notepad. "Yeah, Daddy travels a lot, and mother often joins as well. They always brings home nice gifts, though, so we know they're always thinking about us."

Gabriella bites her lip as she's reminded of her conversation with Ryan a while ago. So, this is what he meant when he said their parents don't say no to them. They spoil Sharpay and Ryan rotten to make up for being distant parents.

As much as her mother has caused Gabriella to move around a lot and never find roots, she could never imagine just being left on her own with butlers and other staff by her own parent.

It makes her pity Sharpay, which Sharpay obviously seems to notice, as she's suddenly glowering at her, her homework forgotten.

"Don't feel sorry for me, I'm fine. I have everything I could ever need," she snaps and Gabriella smiles and shakes her head.

"I just think it's hard not to have your parents always near," she explains. "I know how it feels."

Sharpay's glare dissipates, replaced by a thoughtful look. "Yeah, now you mention it, you're always talking about your mom and never about your dad."

Gabriella looks down at her book, still closed, her lip quivering as she says, "Yeah, he died when I was twelve."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Sharpay says, sounding a little bit shocked, but also earnestly pitiful. "You must miss him a lot. I mean, I miss my daddy, too, but at least he's coming back."

"Yeah, I do miss him a lot," Gabriella admits, smiling wistfully. "I wish he could see me now, being a musical star and all."

"I'm the star, you're just a supporting role," Sharpay reminds her, not at all viciously, before mustering a small smile. "I'm sure he'd be proud of you, though."

"I hope so."

For a moment, they stare into each other's eyes as they smile, before Sharpay blinks dazedly and averts her gaze, instead focusing on her math textbook.

However, Gabriella can't take her attention off Sharpay, watching as the blonde scrunches up her face rather adorably as she tries to solve the math problems before her.

Gabriella still doesn't understand why she's so intrigued by Sharpay – even if they're becoming something akin to friends, nearly everything that has transpired between them is a sign that Gabriella should stay far away from her. Yet she wants to know more, spend more time with her, be close to her. Yet they share these moments, where time seems to be frozen around them and all that exists is the other person, and Gabriella feels a strange uneasy yet pleasant feeling in her stomach.

It reminds her of something, or rather someone, but that thought – one of blue eyes – just makes it all the more confusing.

"Okay, I think I've got it," Sharpay sighs, snapping Gabriella out of her daze and narrows her eyes suspiciously as she catches her staring.

Gabriella tucks a strand of hair behind her ear before scooting closer to Sharpay to inspect the work.

Shaking her head, she points at the notepad. "You have to do the exponentiation first before the multiplication."

"Oh, right," Sharpay murmurs, before returning to her notepad and starting to scribble again. "God, this is boring."

Gabriella lets out a giggle at Sharpay's obvious frustration as she watches her correct her mistake. However, she can see it's still wrong. "No, like this."

As she moves in to grab the pencil from Sharpay's grasp, their hands brush and it suddenly feels as if a spark of electricity is released, a spark travelling up her arm and straight to her heart.

Gabriella's eyes widen as she looks back up to Sharpay, who looks similarly shocked as she completely freezes.

For a second, they stare at each other, unable to grasp what just happened, both chests heaving up and down with panic, their face remaining so close that Gabriella can feel Sharpay's huffs of breaths on her cheek.

Out of their own volition, Gabriella's eyes flick down to Sharpay's pink lips, staring for a second before she suddenly snaps out her daze and shakes her head, turning back to the notepad as she tries to get her breathing under control.

"You see, what you're doing wrong is–"

"You should go."

Looking back up, Gabriella feels a slight pang in her heart as she notices Sharpay has recoiled.

It hurts a little, to see Sharpay pull away like that, but of course it was bound to happen. Sharpay was bound to realize that their truce – their friendship – was a bad idea. It was bound to fall apart. Gabriella was bound to get hurt.

So, Gabriella bites her lip as she feels tears well in her eyes, before nodding and hopping off the bed, quickly grabbing her stuff and wordlessly putting it in her bag as she feels Sharpay's eyes follow her every wave.

"Bye," Gabriella mumbles as she flees from the room, all but running through the corridor to find the giant staircase from before.

As she finds it, she quickly travels downstairs, wordlessly travelling through the front door that a confused butler opens for her.

As soon as she's outside, she lets out a breath she doesn't know she has been holding as she registers what just happened.

The spark that travelled between them was so strong.

It still makes no sense.

Sharpay was right all along – they were never meant to be friends. It was always meant to end in pain.

Thus, Gabriella takes one last look at the mansion, before running off the long driveway, leaving Sharpay and their relationship behind.


A/N: One step forward, two steps backward, I guess? Sorry, lmao.

Anyway, we're getting to the confusing feelings now and I'm excited! We're also getting to the cliché tropes, though, but you know what? There's barely any Gabpay fic, so I don't care, Gabpay deserves cliché scenes where they shop together and tutor each other!

As always, please leave reviews, those make me so happy!