Ice and Fire

Chapter 7

"Troy, seriously, I'm fine." Sharpay stated again as they made their way towards her car. Troy shook his head, and stepped in front of her.

"Sharpay, I'm pretty sure I would know if you're fine or not. Now tell me what your brother said."

Sharpay turned her head away; she didn't want to tell him.

"Sharpay, please, tell me. You know I'll understand, and even if I won't, I'll try." Troy stated, turning her face to look into his. Sharpay sighed sadly.

"Ryan wants the truth in where I'm going and with who. He won't leave me alone unless I tell him and he knows when I lie so I can't lie to him. And I damn well can't tell him the truth," Sharpay stated angrily. "I don't want to go home… I think I'm going to head up to New York with Mohinder and Matt. At least there I don't have to hide who I am."

"How are you going to live? Will you even tell your parents that you're leaving?"

"Yeah, I'm telling them." She would too; she just wasn't sure when or how she would tell them.

"Before or after?" Troy asked with a knowing look.

"Look I don't know… I might be able to convince me to allow me to live in New York. I have enough money in my bank account to let me live there with or without their approval."

"And what if Ryan won't leave you alone? Won't let you leave without him?"

"I don't know, okay? I just want to leave. I'm sick and tired of hiding, and I'm sick of lying. I don't want this anymore."

"I won't let you leave, Sharpay." Troy stated sharply, holding her arms.

A few tears that had been built up behind her eyes fell, "And why not? It's not as if you like me enough to want me to stay."

"Yes, Sharpay, I do." Troy stated, not even realizing it was true until he stated it. He did really like her, he wasn't sure how much, but he knew he would be heart broken if she left him.

"No, Troy, you don't. You've never liked me before. You don't love me like you do with Montez. You don't love me period, maybe as friends, but that's not what I want from you. It's not what I need from you. So please leave me alone!" She yelled, tearing out of his hands and running towards her car.

"Sharpay! Wait!"

--

Before she pulled up into the drive way, she made up her mind that she was leaving as soon as she had everything she would need packed. She rushed into her room, grabbed suitcases and boxes. She threw her favorite clothes in the suitcases and stuff she would never leave behind in boxes. She thanked whoever had gotten Ryan out of the house that she was able to do this without an audience.

Sharpay didn't stop until everything was packed into her car. All Sharpay wanted was to get away and leave this town forever.

With one last look around her old room she dropped two letters on the bed before leaving the room for the last time.

--

Troy stared at his hands in his room, watching as the fire grew and dimmed. He tried calling her cell phone and her house phone but neither answered and it worried him. He was afraid she might be hurt – in a car accident or something, what with her crying as she ran off. He had to keep reassuring himself that she was fine, she was just blowing off steam.

His empty hand picked up his cell phone and redialed her phone number again. The phone went to voice mail, and he closed his eyes.

"Sharpay, please pick up the phone… call me. Please." He hung up because he didn't know what else to say.

To be continued…