Hey, guys.
Sorry for the wait. My summer has been so busy!
Here's an add for you between trips.
I hope you're all well and thanks again for everything. It's nice to know that this is being well-recieved.
When I get back from my camp, I'll try to get on to give you another add before I go to London.

-.O.O.O.-

"Tell me this:" I suddenly grabbed him by the arms, forcing him back into the row of lockers. I leaned into him, leaving my lips a mere whisper away from his. "Do you get this close when you're being 'friendly'?" I touched my lips to his, letting them linger before pulling back to stare into his eyes, "Do you get that close?"

"Are you two okay?"

I didn't take my eyes off Chad as Zeke's voice sounded behind me. "I'm not the type of person to make you chose between me and your best friend," I told him reasonably. "I'm not that insecure. But how dare you accuse me of lying about this."

"I'm not accusing you of lying, I'm just saying-"

"-that I have a hyperactive imagination that makes me picture your best friend doing that to me?" I finished coldly. "Why don't you just grow a spine and admit that you think I'm lying?"

"Ry-"

"Or, I'll tell you what: You can believe him, and I'll see that I'm never in your way to 'lie' to you ever again."

He gaped at me as I moved back, "Are you-?"

"Yes, Chad," I said easily. "I am." I backed off further, before turning and striding between the other two Wildcats who had been standing behind us. Jason stepped back with his palms up in a protective manner as I stormed by.

--

I slammed the front door behind me loudly as I stormed into the house after school. I'd decided not to cut school- that would make it look like I was upset about my break up with Chad. And I wasn't upset. I was furious. The Evans temper had swelled and was pumping in my veins.

My temper was something I could normally keep under control. Sharpay tended to unleash hers on even the smallest thing, but I reserved mine for something that genuinely upset me. And I would always rather deal with anger than anguish. I hated looking like I was weak. Despite all appearances, Sharpay was the one out of the two of us that was more prone to crying when she was down.

I wanted to beat something to a pulp, and if anyone annoyed me right now, it could easily be them. Not even bothering to change my clothes, I strode towards our private gym, ripping off my bag and dumping it unceremoniously along the way.

Striding into the gym, I slammed my fist straight into the punch bag hanging from the ceiling, letting out an infuriated cry. I turned and switched on the stereo, letting music pump out into the fitness room so I could scream all I wanted and no-one would hear. I slammed my fist into the punch bag again.

I battered both fists into the bag, ignoring the pain that shot through my hands and up into my arms. The tears came now, pouring down my cheeks silently as I vented my anger on the punch bag.

Once I had physically exhausted myself, I slumped against the punch bag, my back heaving as tears continued to stream down my face. I flexed my fingers, wincing as the raw flesh stung. My knuckles were bloody where the skin had split, and it was probably going to bruise, but I didn't care.

Pushing myself away from the punch bag, I strode into a space on the floor, spinning to the music. I just let it fill me, and danced. I didn't even think about what I was doing, but just moved. I did what I wanted to do, and vented my anger in a new way.

Then as I spun on the last few bars, I saw Troy standing by the door. "Get the hell out, Bolton," I commanded, raking a hand through my hair, having lost my hat at some point during my rage.

He moved forward quickly, his eyes wide, "What happened to your hands?"

I hid them behind my back instinctively, "Nothing."

"But-"

"Don't touch me," I snapped as he reached forward.

He took a step back, recognising the Evans temper even although my rage had definitely lessened thanks to the punch bag and the dancing. His hand closed meekly in mid-air. "I heard about what happened."

I strode to the stereo, turned down the volume on the song that was now playing, "I bet you did. I bet it's all around the school. You must be thrilled…!"

His eyes fixed on my exposed hand again, and I let him look this time, wanting- in some sick sense- for him to feel guilt. For him to realise what he'd done. I was even angrier at him than I was at Chad. Chad was just being loyal to his best friend- a quality I admired. Troy was just a lying, manipulative jerk.

"Congratulations, Troy," I told him softly, moving closer to him. "Chad and I are over. You got your wish. But, guess what…?" I dropped my voice to a whisper, moving right into him to make sure that he heard, "I still don't want you."

He stared into my eyes, before his gaze flicked down to my hand once more. He looked distraught- his eyes were wide glassy and his lower lip was trembling gently. If I hadn't been determined not to feel sorry for him, then I might have been. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"It's too late to be sorry." I turned my head away, closed my eyes. "Get out," I told him, my voice hitching slightly. "Go back to Sharpay and just leave me alone."

--

"On the bright side, this is going to look nice and colourful in a few days," Sharpay chirped as she pressed an ice-pack into my swollen knuckles. Luckily, the bleeding had stopped the night before. I hissed out a breath, screwing up my face as it stung. "You'll have to co-ordinate, though."

"Joy," I muttered, and yelped as he pressed the pack even further into my tender flesh in punishment.

"It's your own fault. You should have put on protection. How long does it take to put on a pair of gloves or wrap your knuckles?"

I scowled, "When you're that furious, you don't stop to consider safety precautions."

She giggled, "Just saying."

"Well, don't." I looked down at my hands, "You think I should wear gloves?"

Sharpay rolled her eyes, "No! Don't you see the opportunity here, Ry?"

I blinked, "What opportunity?"

"Aw…" She patted me on the shoulder condescendingly, "You're so cute! If Danforth sees that you're injured, he'll feel so bad about dumping you."

There was one major flaw in this plan. "But I dumped him."

She shrugged, "Then you'll make him feel even worse than he already does."