Never Felt This Way

.o.

Note: The reviews were great! I loved your feedback! Thanks so much for reading! So this chapter is pretty random, haha. I wrote all of it at late hours on different nights, so it's a little wacky.

.o.

Sharpay jolted awake, pushing her glittery pink eye mask up onto her forehead and sitting up in bed. She had just had the most horrible nightmare. Troy had been holding hands with Emma. And in retaliation she had kissed Oliver. And then Troy had seen them and looked almost as hurt as she felt. And she could have sworn she heard Troy and Emma talking about some kind of "date" they were having.

Sharpay groaned realizing all of that had actually happened. Must her life be so complicated!

Sharpay glanced over at the digital clock on the bedside table. 6:00 AM. There was no way she was going back to bed. She had to figure out what to do. She couldn't let Troy go on that date with Emma. Ok, so she couldn't really stop that, but she had to at least know what happened on their date!

Ryan should be awake by now. Sharpay leapt out of bed, pushed her feet into her fuzzy purple slippers, and ran into the living room. Ryan sat on the couch eating some sugary cereal she wouldn't be caught dead eating. Hello calories!

"Ryan!" Sharpay shout-whispered at him, plopping down on the sofa next to him.

Ryan jumped almost spilling his cereal. "What the hell are you doing up so early?"

"No reason," Sharpay replied nonchalantly. I can't ask him, I really can't! "What are you watching?"

Ryan chuckled. "Some stupid cartoon. Not much is on at 6:00 A.M. you know? You do know its 6 right?"

"Yes I know its 6!" Sharpay responded, irritated. Honestly, am I not allowed to be awake at this hour?

"All right, all right," Ryan replied coolly. "Want some?" he asked, holding a spoonful of soggy Lucky Charms out to her.

"Ewww, no!" Sharpay cried, pushing the spoon out of her face.

"Fine, more for me!" Ryan said as he shoved the cereal in his mouth. "Mmmmm," he emphasized.

Sharpay looked at the cereal longingly. Maybe one bite wouldn't hurt. "Oh hell, give me some!" She grabbed the spoon from him, shoveling the cereal into her mouth, greedily.

"Uh, I'll go get the box, I guess," Ryan said as he got up, surrendering his cereal to Sharpay.

Ryan returned to the couch, cereal box in his hands. He carefully sat down on the couch, not wanting to disturb his sister's gorging fest.

He examined the back of the cereal box. Sure enough silly little games and puzzles were printed all over the back. He found himself all ready trying to determine which picture didn't belong with the bunch. Damn, these things are addicting.

Sharpay snatched the box out of Ryan hands, dumping the rest of its contents into the red bowl.

"Hey!" Ryan cried. "I was reading that!"

"Please don't tell me you were playing those idiotic activities on the back of the box," Sharpay replied, rolling her eyes.

"Maybe I was!" Ryan responded, defensively.

"You are such a little kid," Sharpay exclaimed, laughing. "In your pajamas, eating cereal and watching cartoons."

Ryan glared at Sharpay and fired back, "As if you don't still play dress up in your room, singing stupid Spice Girls songs!"

"You hear that!" Sharpay gasped, reddening slightly.

"Please," Ryan scoffed. "Your bedroom is right next to mine! We share a freaking wall! Its not that thick."

"If you swear not to tell anyone about my thing, I promise I won't accidentally slip this to someone, kay?" Sharpay said, holding her pinky out.

Ryan winced. How he hated pinkie swears. Not the fact of making a truce, but the actual joining of pinkies.

"Uh, let's just shake on it," Ryan said, sticking his pale hand out.

"Fine!" Sharpay stuck her overly tanned hand out, shaking Ryan's hand.

"Can I have my cereal back now?"

"No!"

Ryan sighed.

.o.

Gabriella sat in the window seat in her room, reading Emma for the millionth time Gabriella was a sucker for old-fashioned romance novels. Where was her Mr. Knightley? What was he doing right now?

Gabriella sighed happily. Outside the frosted window, soft snowflakes drifted down to the sparkling dew-covered grass. Wrapped in a warm blanket, Gabby knew Ryan was her Mr. Knightley. She was sure of it. She leafed through the pages of the tarnished novel absentmindedly, enraptured in sweet daydreams of she and Ryan.

Ryan and I having fancy dinners with our dearest friends surrounding us. Ryan playing classical music on the piano as I sung along. Ryan and I riding in a horse-drawn carriage on the way back from a social event. Ryan and I walking through the fields picking fruit.

Gabriella giggled. None of that will ever happen though. This is the 21st century.

Her thoughts were interrupted with the sounding of a bell. Ryan? Gabriella wondered hopefully. It was 10 o' clock. Could it be him wanting to start the day earlier?

Gabby poked her head out her door. Her mother stood in front of the open doorway, blocking most of Gabriella's view of their visitor. Blonde hair! Gabriella noticed, excitedly. Her mother moved to the side. Long blonde hair! Gabriella gasped. Why is Sharpay here?

"Gabby," Ms. Montez called out. "Someone's here to see you!"

Gabby winced. She was in her pajamas! She was in her pajamas and Sharpay was fully dressed, decked out as if she would be walking a runway any second.

Gabriella pushed her curls back behind her ears shyly, straightening her robe. Oh well. Gabby walked into the living area. "Uh, hi, Sharpay," Gabriella said curiously.

"Gabriella!" Sharpay cried as if they were best friends. Running over to Gabriella she enveloped her in a quick hug, and then linked her arm through hers, dragging her into the room Gabriella had come out of it.

Ms. Montez smiled. Gabriella seems to have already made a new friend!

Gabriella closed the door behind them. She looked at Sharpay confused and was about to speak when Sharpay beat her to it.

"So I know you're wondering why I'm here," Sharpay began, examining Gabriella's various possessions that were scattered about the room. "Nice teddy bear," Sharpay sneered, pointing to the ginger-colored bear that lay on her bed.

Gabriella blushed. "What are you doing here?"

Sharpay became suddenly serious, lowering her voice. "I need to know where Troy and Emma are going on their date. Do you know? Stupid Ryan didn't even know. And he won't go spy on them for me! Can you believe that? I mean, doesn't he realize how important this is? Anyway, do you?"

Gabriella was baffled by Sharpay's little speech. She had spoken so fast, she had hardly understood a word. Huh? "Do I know what?"

"Do you know where Troy and Emma are going on their date?" Sharpay cried exasperated.

"No. I don't even know who Emma is!"

"Ugh! That's exactly what Ryan said!"

Gabriella smiled at this. She could just imagine the twins arguing about silly little things like that. I bet he looks really hot when he's all worked up and frustrated.

"Hello! Earth to Gabriella!" Sharpay exclaimed.

"Huh, what?" Gabriella asked, wrinkling her brow.

"Is there anyway you could find out? I mean you and Troy seem like you're friends or something. Oh my god! Do you have his number?" Sharpay asked hopefully.

Gabriella considered this. She did have his number from when she had told him to call her sometime, but should she use this information to help Sharpay. Sharpay had never done or said anything nice to her. She hadn't even known her for two days! Yet, the same could be said for Ryan.

Ryan. Sharpay was Ryan's twin, his sister. He was obviously close to her in some sort of odd, messed up way. Maybe she'd be able to be closer to Ryan if she was closer to Sharpay. Plus, if she and Sharpay were on good terms, Sharpay could tell her all about the things Ryan wouldn't ever want her to know. She smiled at this thought.

"Yes," Gabriella replied slowly, uncertain if this was what she should say.

"Seriously?" Sharpay screamed. "Oh my god! Call him! Call him and say you wanna hang out this afternoon! And then he'll have to tell you his plans. This is perfect!"

"I don't know," Gabriella said unsure. Sharpay sent her a chilling death glare. OK, maybe I will. This won't be awkward. I mean, I told him we'd hang out sometime. I just hope he doesn't take this the wrong way. If he thought that I liked him that would just make things even more complicated.

"Fine," Gabriella sighed. She picked up her silver cell phone and scrolled down the contact list to Troy.

"Hello," Troy answered sleepily.

"Hi, Troy. It's Gabriella. Did I wake you?"

"No, no. What's up?"

"Uh, just wondering if you wanted to do something this afternoon."

"I'm sorry Gabriella, but I kinda got plans."

"Oh, really? With whom?"

Troy grinned. Is Gabriella jealous? "I got a date with this girl named Emma. She's really cool. We're going to the movies."

"Oh, ok. Well have fun!"

Have fun? That sounded like she was happy for me. "Uh, ok. Let's definitely reschedule though, okay? We need to hang out."

"Ok," Gabriella replied. "I gotta go. Bye!" Gabriella quickly hung up. She knew Sharpay would be jealous if she knew Troy wanted to hang out with her, even just as friends. It was funny how she already had Sharpay all figured out.

Don't be so quick to judge.

"So?" Sharpay asked. "What's the deal?"

"He's going to the movies with her," Gabriella replied.

Movies. There are five theaters in this hotel. How am I supposed to know which one?

"Interesting," Sharpay said, as if the whole topic now completely bored her. "So, thanks for your help. I guess I owe you one now."

"Oh no, you don't have to do anything," Gabriella replied. She was so polite that she just naturally said that to anyone, even Sharpay.

Sharpay was shocked by Gabriella's behavior. This girl is way too nice. I barge in here uninvited and she gives me the information I need with little hesitation.

Sharpay felt a little guilty now. She walked towards the door to leave, but paused, her hand on the doorknob. "You know, Gabriella, Ryan really likes you a lot. He's always talking about you and thinking about you," Sharpay paused for a second, smiling at Gabriella. Then the smile faded and she became serious again. "Don't mess things up ok? Ryan's fallen hard for you. He'd be devastated…" she trailed off.

"Sharpay," Gabriella said smiling, "Don't worry. I really like Ryan too. But don't tell him that!" Gabriella added embarrassed.

"Good," Sharpay said. Good to know she doesn't like Troy. "Oh and don't tell him what I said either. He'd kill me!"

Gabriella giggled. "You know, maybe we could be friends?" Gabby asked, shyly.

"Maybe," Sharpay replied coolly. "Kidding," she added. "You can't be too bad if Ryan likes you."

Gabriella gave her a little look.

Sharpay laughed. "Kidding again. See you around, Montez."

Gabriella rolled her eyes as Sharpay left. Sharpay was so all over the place. One minute she was nice and friendly, the next she was threatening her and calling her Montez. But hey, everything would be a lot better if she could get on Sharpay's good side.

.o.

Ryan sat fidgeting on the couch. He'd been watching TV for six hours straight. He was so bored. Three more freaking hours.

He heard a door slam shut and turned to see Sharpay waltz into the living room a huge smile on her face.

"Where have you been for the past two hours?" Ryan asked.

"Oh just been walking around the hotel, visiting some of the theaters, went to Gabriella's, did a little shopping," she said in a rush.

Ryan's eyes bugged out. "Whoa, REWIND! You went to Gabriella's!"

"Yeah," Sharpay said as if it wasn't a huge deal. "So what?"

"So what? Why did you go there?"

"Can't a girl visit a fellow girlfriend?"

"You don't even know Gabriella! In fact, the other night you pretty much despised her!" Ryan paused, suddenly realizing why Sharpay had gone to Gabby's. "You didn't!" he cried.

"Didn't what?" Sharpay replied innocently.

"I can't believe you! You used her connection to Troy to find out his date! After I told you to leave it alone!" Ryan shook his head disapprovingly. He wasn't mad at Gabby; she was just being nice. He was mad at his sister for taking advantage of her. She knew Gabby would do anything for someone who was part of his life. That's the type of girl Gabriella was.

"Oh, please Ryan. Don't act so shocked. You should've known I wouldn't give up so easily. We Evans aren't quitters!"

Ryan glared at Sharpay. "You're gonna regret whatever it is your doing. And I know you're up to something. Don't even try to deny it. Just know its bad karma. And its going to come back to get you," he said. Ryan got up off the couch turning his back to his sister, and began walking to his room.

Sharpay stared after him, surprised yet again at his behavior. Since when does Ryan have an attitude! Sharpay stomped her foot in frustration, knowing he was right and screamed back at him, "Since when are you a Buddhist RYAN!"

Ryan's response back: yet another dramatic slam of his door.

Ryan collapsed on his bed, sighing deeply. I'm not gonna let Sharpay ruin my day. I'm gonna go out with Gabriella and its gonna be great.

He smiled. He was proud of himself. He was becoming his own person. He was standing up to Sharpay; not letting her rule his every move. He had played his first solo and even succeeded in actually winning the heart of Troy Bolton's "girl" as Troy most likely thought of Gabriella as his. At least he hoped he had her heart cause she sure had his. He didn't even want to think about Gabriella possibly liking Troy. The thought made him sick to his stomach.

I'm going to return to school a brand new Ryan Evans, Ryan decided. Independent of Sharpay, more confident, more outgoing. At least I hope so. Without Gabriella around will I have any motive to break away from Sharpay and be my own person?

Ryan frowned. Screw this. He didn't want to think negative thoughts. Actually he didn't want to think about anything at all right now. Walking over to his stereo, he popped in some mix some emo kid at his school had given him. The kid was always pushing his music on others, handing out discs to anyone. Ryan had politely taken the CD, but had never listened to it. Ryan was in need of a distraction and this was just what he needed.

He turned the volume of loud, letting some song by Fall Out- was it Boy? he had no clue- burst out of the speakers.

.o.

Sharpay, who sat on her bed filing her nails, shuddered when she heard the revolting music Ryan was blasting. What the fuck is he listening to? I swear that boy is getting weirder and weirder by the day.

Sharpay flipped her phone open, a new text message awaiting her. Sharpay smiled, it was from Oliver, just the boy she had wanted to hear from.

Oliver: Sounds gr8! C u 4!

Sharpay smiled even brighter. Operation Make Troy the Basketball Boy Jealous was in motion.

.o.

So, this chapter had a lot of Sharpay in it! Haha And both Ryan and Gabriella obviously like each other but both are unsure if the other feels the same way. And Troy still can't make up his freaking mind! Lol

Hope you liked it!

Next chapter: most likely will be very Ryella focused. I hope to make the date last the whole chapter so we'll see. And then the next chapter will be focused on Troy, Shar, Oliver, and Emma.