Previously

'Hey Brian.' She said hugging him, 'Introduce me to your….' She said trailing off.

The client stood up, with wide eyes. 'Sharpay…'

Brian's eyes lit up, 'So you two know each other?'

Sharpay stood there wide eyed, wishing she hadn't come out. 'Ze-Zeke?'

AN: Hey, I hope I didn't disappoint you with Sharpay finding about Zeke that way. Anyway, this chapter is way longer than the others. I'm really glad on how this chapter turned out. So I hope you like it too. :)

"Ze-Zeke?" Sharpay asked again, her voice was shocked, but the sound erupted from her was filled with such anguish that was like it was tearing her into two. Tears had started to fog her vision, but she could perfectly see those eyes that she used to get lost with, the small scar on his cheek he acquired when he was a child…everything that proved, beyond a doubt, that it was the guy who had given her pain in her heart and at the same time happiness…it was Zeke.

Zeke looked at her, shock written all over his face. He hadn't thought that of all the states in America, Sharpay would be living here. He tried to say something, anything, but his voice couldn't work. He had hopelessly opened and closed his mouth, trying to say something. He hadn't seen her in years, he haven't thought about her for awhile, how could he have thought that she would be here, in all places.

Brian looked at the silent conversation between the two, "So..I take it you two know each other?" He looked confused. The two continued to look at each other silently while Brian was standing there confused.

Meanwhile, the gang didn't even know what was happening outside. They were quietly chatting about the upcoming event, no one noticed that all hell was about to break loose any minute now.

Ryan took a sip of his coffee, "So anyone knows what they'll do after college? I mean, we can work now."

Taylor of course talked first, since she had the most opportunities, while the others were still thinking. "I got a call from this big company, but they haven't called me back." She sadly said.

"Troy's dad made connections, and said that one of these days the NBA Board would call." Jason said.

Chad shook his head, "I don't think that's my path Jase. I've been meaning to tell you that."

Jason and the others, excluding Taylor who already knew that, almost spilled their coffee, "What?!"

"You guys know what course I picked right?" When they nodded he continued, "Well it would be a waste if I just became a basketball star. So I decided to take a chance becoming a lawyer. It's a great offer, to be a basketball player, but I think this is my path. I've been thinking about it for awhile. But if I don't make it, I hope there's still a place for me there."

The others nodded thoughtfully; they had always thought Chad would pursue being a basketball player.

While the gang was chatting, the three outside were still frozen to their spots.

Zeke breathed deeply, "Wha-what are you doing here?" His voice croaked,

Brian sat down, watching the scene intently. Sharpay shook her head furiously, tears rolled their way out. She approached Zeke carefully, and looked him directly in the eyes. "Is that all you can say, after all these years? That's all you can say to me? I thought about you almost every day, I experienced pain that I can never explain, and that's all you can say to me after everything?"

For a moment, Zeke thought he had stopped breathing, Sharpay was near him again. He couldn't believe it. What had he done to deserve such a blessing?

She held his hand, and looked at him with tears running down her cheeks. "I hate you.." She quietly whispered, and surprised Zeke with a loud slap on the cheek. Zeke was shaken by the impact that he moved a couple of feet away due to the force, "Sharpay.." He said while clutching his red cheek.

"Don't. Just stay away from me. Don't show your face again. I don't want you in my life, because you were never there anyway, why continue now?" She gave one last look and turned around, and went inside.

Brian was standing up, panic in his face, "Just wait one minute, please." He didn't wait for a respond, and ran inside for Sharpay. "Sharpay!" He yelled.

The gang now turned around to see Brian following a weeping Sharpay.

Ryan had a murderous look on his face, "What did he do?!" He angrily whispered to the others.

"Sharpay!" Brian roughly took her wrist and forced her to turn around. "What the hell were you thinking? Slapping the biggest client I had ever gotten. You could have jeopardized my career!"

Sharpay tried to shake his hold, "Sure! All you care about is your stupid career!" She tried again to remove her arm from his grasp; it was starting to really hurt. "Brian! Brian let go of me right now, or I swear to God, you will never see broad daylight again." She threatened. Brian should've known better, but he still didn't release his hold.

The boys stood up angrily, ready to pounce on the jerk, but someone beat them to it. Zeke had been watching the scene, and didn't like it one bit. He ran inside, and punched Brian hard on the face, "Didn't anyone teach you never ever physically hurt a girl?" He said. Brian stood up, shock in his face, blood trickling down his lip, and ran to his car and drove off.

Everybody froze, Zeke was there. Right before their very eyes, he was there. The gang stood there shocked as hell. After all these years, he was there.

Sharpay shook her head, and once again, tears made their way. "I told you to just leave me alone. Why couldn't you do that? You've been doing it for the last couple of years, what's changed?" She grabbed her purse and left. Just like that she was gone, gone from his life again.

"Sharpay!" Zeke yelled out one more time. "Argh!" He ran his hands in his hair in annoyance. Just like that, she was gone again.

"Zeke?" A small voice called him from behind. He turned around to see Kelsi in front of him. And behind her was another shock of his life, the whole gang was there. Everybody that he had left behind years ago was there, right before his very eyes.

Ryan was the next to stand up, he approached Zeke carefully. "Zeke?" He asked.

Zeke smiled, "Ryan." He thought he was going to get a welcome, but that was far from what Ryan was going to give. Ryan punched him so hard that he fell to the ground, blood dripping from his lips. He looked back at Ryan; hurt was featured in Zeke's face.

Ryan shook his head, "You hurt her more than you can ever know. That punch wasn't enough to show how hurt she's been all these years." He said.

Chad, Jason, quickly stood up and helped the former Wildcat up. Zeke smiled despite everything, "Thanks guys." He whispered, wiping off the blood.

"Ryan.." He began to say, "What did you expect me to do, stay in Albuquerque and let my family leave me behind?" He asked.

Ryan shook his head, "No. I expected you to keep in touch, I expected you to be there for her even if you weren't physically there. You didn't keep in touch. That's what hurt her the most, you forgot her. You didn't even care enough to write a damn letter."

Zeke shook his head, "I never forgot her." He defended.

"But you made her feel that way." He turned his back, and left just like what Sharpay had done.

"What was that about?" Gabriella and Troy walked in hand in hand, not noticing the man they haven't seen in ages.

Taylor was the first one to see the gigantic ring on Gabriella's finger. "Congratulations!" Taylor squealed, hugging Gabriella. Kelsi later joined in, and the guys patted Troy in the back.

And Zeke stood there, like he was out of place or something. He stood there awkwardly, while the others were hugging and congratulating the couple.

Troy was talking to Jason when he noticed him, "Zeke?" Jason looked at him weirdly, "I'm not Zeke, I'm Jason." He held out a hand. The others just groaned, but Troy and Gabriella stood there, shocked was evidently sketched on their faces.

"Zeke!" Troy ran to his best friend and hugged him. Zeke smiled, Troy was still Troy.

"Hey man, what's up?" Zeke coolly said, hugging back.

Troy laughed, "Where the hell have you been man?!"

"Here and there, mostly everywhere." He replied.

"Zeke?" Gabriella ran towards him, and hugged him hard. "Gabriella?" He tried to say, "Air. I need air." He said, Gabriella's grip on him immediately loosened a bit.

"I missed you so much." Gabriella said. "I missed you too Gabs. All of you guys." He replied.

"What happened to the twins?" Troy asked, "We saw Ryan on our way in, he looked angry..oh" Troy said, finally seeing Zeke's bruised face, and Sharpay's absence.

Gabriella still didn't let go of Zeke, "So I take it she's seen you already?" Zeke nodded sadly, "Yeah, we didn't take it too well."

"We?" Troy asked. Chad nodded, "Yeah, Sharpay found Zeke and Brian. Apparently, Zeke was a client of Brian."

Gabriella removed her hands from Zeke and looked at him, "You are? How come?"

Zeke scratched his head awkwardly, "I..uhh..you better sit down for this."

Troy nodded, "Yeah, I think we will, once I order some drinks."

They all took a seat and waited for Zeke to tell his story. "So tell us your mighty story, oh long gone one." Chad joked.

"Well, I moved somewhere in Europe, as you all know." He received nods, and continued, "I didn't really specify did I? I moved to Britain. So blah blah, I finished High School, that's when I stopped writing to you guys. I just thought it would be easier for us to move one. I never expected to be back in America anyway."

"I got a scholarship in one of the greatest Culinary Academies in the world. So I obviously I took it. I wanted to help my parents with the expenses even though we really didn't need it. So I got a job at my school's café. One day, I was playing my guitar on stage and singing, and when I finished, a man approached me. Stuff happened, and next thing I know, I was playing shows all over London.

After I graduated, he advised me to go back to America; he said my career is going to be better there. He also asked me to contact a guy named Brian Wilson; I didn't know who he was, and I definitely didn't know he was Sharpay's b-boyfriend. I didn't even think that of all the places, you guys would be here. "

Jason cleared his throat, "You sing?" He asked.

Kelsi shook his head, "Idiot. We've all heard him sing."

Chad looked at him smugly, "So any girlfriends back there?" Everybody glared at him.

Zeke shook his head sadly, "Just one, since Sharpay."

"So what happened?" Troy asked, not caring if it was private, boys are so clueless.

Zeke took a deep breath, "We went out for a couple of months, but we broke up. I first met her in a concert, she was a singer too, but she got air headed and then she broke up with me."

Gabriella looked at him, "I'm sorry," Zeke just shrugged. "So how is little Tyler?" Troy asked excitingly, they had always loved Tyler when he was a kid.

Zeke smiled, "He's fine. He's a sophomore, he moved back after he graduated High School. He even got himself a girl."

"Aww. Our little Ty is all grown up." Taylor cooed, earning laughs from everybody.

Zeke looked at his watch, "I have to go now guys." He said standing up.

"Well, where do you live anyway? We might not see you again for four years!" Chad joked, earning a light punch from his girlfriend.

Zeke laughed, "I live here." He showed them a paper with his address. He was living with his brother, it was a big condominium.

Upon seeing the address, everybody's eyes went wide. "You must have earned a lot. You live in one of the most prestigious condominiums in this neighborhood." Jason said in awe.

Gabriella nodded, "Yeah the only one we know living there is me and Sharpay and that only is because Sharpay's just really rich. And Ryan and Troy lives there too."

Zeke stopped listening when he heard Gabriella say that Sharpay was living in the same building he is. It's going to be harder not to run into her now.

"Zeke? Hello? Earth to big headed basketball man?" Taylor joked.

Zeke shook his head, "Sorry, zoned out. Anyway, I have to go, it's getting late and Tyler's probably worried, I'll just call you." He bid farewell, and drove home.

"Well, that sums it up. They're definitely made for each other." Kelsi said, sipping her coffee.

Troy looked at her, confused, "Why do you think so?" Gabriella shook her head, "Because Troy, an agent recommending Zeke to Brian? That isn't a coincidence, we think its destiny. Not to mention where he lives, it's the same building as ours."

Chad nodded, "And just a few doors away from hers, wow." He stated, "So perfect!" He sarcastically added, earning groans from everyone.

Sharpay was sitting in her bed, staring into nothing. She was in a fatal position, tears streaming down, her eyes were red and puffy. She cradled herself, just letting the tears flow. Zeke was back, the guy that had been hurting her all of these years was back.

She bit back the sobs that were about to come out when she remembered how angry Brian had been. But it was his fault; he was focusing too much on his career. I am so stupid, what did I see in that guy? He's hurt me, and I didn't even notice it. He's changed me. Both of them changed me.

She couldn't face the fact that Zeke is back in her life. After all the years she's waited, he's here. But what could she say? She couldn't pretend like nothing happened. She couldn't pretend like he didn't hurt her.

New tears had come up as she remembered how Zeke had defended her against Brian. She told him she didn't want his help, why couldn't she just follow her for once? She had a lot of questions to ask him. Like where had he been? Why didn't he keep in touch? What was his life back in Europe? Where in Europe was he? And of course, the most important question she wanted to ask was, did he still love her?

He said he can never hate her. He said he'll love her forever, but 4 years can change a lot. She had also thought that she couldn't like any other guy besides Zeke, and yet she has a boyfriend. Did he still love her? Obviously he still cares, but is it enough?

Sharpay changed her fatal position to a lying position, tears were still non-stop. She heard the front door open and knew Gabriella was home. She didn't want to talk to Gabriella just yet, she was sure the others had already told her about what had happened. She made herself comfy and pretended to be asleep.

"Shar?" Gabriella peeked and saw Sharpay asleep, "I guess I'll just talk to her tomorrow." She murmured, quietly closing the door behind her.

Sharpay pulled back the covers and wiped her tears away. "Think of the bright side Sharpay." She told herself, "You still got your acting skill." She grabbed her pink bear stuff toy she won when she was 16 at a carnival and cuddled it. But more tears dropped more as she remembered how she even got this bear, Zeke won it for her. She just wailed even more.

"I guess it's just you and me now Pancakes." She whispered as she cried herself to sleep that night.

AN: Sorry about the last line, but I'm a big fan of the OC and just couldn't resist, and plus, I love pancakes! Lol! Anyway, hate it? Loved it? Review! I appreciate your comments.