Ello peoples!
I'm back and better now - thankies for your concern bleumanistheonlyman :)
InfraRed91 - Yeah, I know, I almost screamed at myself! Haha, don't worry, it gets better
allyxocorbin - oh he's figuring his Skittle-ey way out alright ;)
D R O W N-I N-S E Q U I N S - Yeah, Bonnie! :D I hereby make you co-president and Head of Coffee Department. And also, if and whenever a certain group member swings by Starbucks, he or she must demonstrate their loyalty to the club by buying extras for research purposes. We take our work very seriously. Another important factor one must consider on their road to becoming a true insomniac is - candy. Sugar rush is often very helpful in keeping you awake. Skittles, chocolate eggs, M&M's, lollipops and cotton candy all qualify. xD
LyndsiMcKay - Haha, now you are officially my word make-up-er. :D We shall take over the world with our awesome vocabulary that no one understands! xD
Haha, thank you all so much, your reviews made me smile a ton.
I feel much better now.
And by the way, I got a PM from someone asking me what the heck Iliii stands for whenever I sign my stories.
Well, my dear, I shall explain: my name is actually Iliyana - therefore Iliii is Ili - my nickname with an added two 'i's to make it look cooler lol. SO yeah, mystery solved. By the way, you can all call me Ili if you want, I don't mind :D
Random question - what's your name?
Lol anyways, enough of my insanity, on with the story! x)
...
The next few days passed in a blur.
Sharpay was absent from school - she chose to stay at home, watching sappy romantic chick flicks and pigging out on ice-cream. What? She was only human after all.
Chad, on the other hand was unusually moody during class, snapping at everyone and everything, even going so far as to land himself detention for the rest of the week. He refused to eat, refused to flirt and much to everyone's extreme shock, refused to discuss Skittles!
It was beyond mortifying.
Troy took it upon himself to Re-Skittle-ify Chad as soon as possible - he brought the candy to school everyday and took every single opportunity he could to eat it in front of Chad - especially the green ones which were supposedly Chad's favourite.
It didn't work. Troy even went through the extremity of handing out the candy to everyone he saw, instructing them to use it as a means of conversation with 'the afro dude'. And when Chad finally blew up in front of the whole school and proclaimed that he would never eat that stupid candy again - Troy knew something really serious was up.
''Chad - talk to me, man - what's the deal? You've been acting crazy ever since Jason's party!''
''What do you mean?'' Chad said, rolling his eyes tiredly as he dumped his backpack on the kitchen counter top.
Troy took out a packet of sweets from his pocket. ''Skittles, man!''
''Look, I don't wanna talk about it right now, okay?''
''That's what you say every time. What is it? You know you can talk to me about anything - heck remember who saved your ass the time you spilled ink all over Aunt Barbara's white wedding tablecloth?''
Chad couldn't help but grin. ''I can't believe we dyed the rest of it black before the party came in. The woman freaked when she lifted her glass and saw white under it. It was crazy!''
Troy nodded. ''Yeah - I've got your back. And you know that's now the only time.''
''I know, I know - and when I smashed your parents' new flat screen TV --''
Troy's face turned a funny red colour as the grin fell off his face. ''That was you?! Do you have any idea what I went through for it? I WASN'T ALLOWED IN THE LIVING ROOM FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH!''
Chad cringed, knowing he had said too much. ''Dude, chill.'' He pulled out a carton of milk from the fridge and a plate of chocolate chip cookies, handing his friend some.
''Cookies and milk?'' Troy said, eyeing the snack skeptically.
''It's all I ever eat these days.'' explained Chad in a somewhat pathetic voice as he dipped one of the delicious chocolatey confections into his glass before munching on it.
''What is wrong with you?'' murmured Troy as he, too began to eat. ''And also about that weird Sharpay thing--''
Chad stood up so fast, his stool fell over. ''Don't ever mention Sharpay again.'' he growled quietly, beginning to clear away the snacks he had set out and regretting ever letting Troy into the house. Don't remind me of her, dammit!
Troy blinked owlishly at his friend. ''Sharpay? The Sharpay thing -- You're bummed out because of Evans?! No fucking way, man - is that why she's been absent? What happened? I knew something was up when you called me the other day! SPILL NOW!''
Chad glared at Troy. ''Alright, fine! I LOVE HER- happy?!''
At these words, Troy - who had by now been comfortably perched atop the kitchen island - let rip the most undignified, girlish scream and fell right off his perch, arms flailing and legs kicking madly.
Chad watched scornfully as Troy staggered upright, keeping a hand to his heart.
''No way.'' he sputtered, knowing already by the look on Chad's face that his friend was dead serious. The afro haired boy nodded. ''It's true.''
Troy swallowed again before speaking the dreaded 'L' word: ''Love...?''
His friend sighed. ''Yeah...''
''COULDN'T YOU HAVE DONE THIS SOONER?!'' Troy screamed again in his girlish voice. Chad gave him a confused look. ''Dude, you're scaring me...'' he said, backing up against the kitchen cabinets.
''I just lost two hundred bucks on you, Chad - against Gabriella.''
''You were betting on me?!'' now it was Chad's turn to get annoyed.
''Harmless speculation, is all!'' defended Troy. ''My two hundred just - blew away. Thanks a lot, Chad.''
''Dude, it's your own stupid fault. You should have known better than to go against your Einstenette of a girlfriend on this one. How long did you guys think it would be, anyway?''
''She said two weeks and I went for a month. You really disappoint me, man. You let her get to you.''
Chad's eyes widened. "Wow, Gabriella really hit it right. We got together a day after the project deadline.''
''In detention?''
The chocolate skinned basketball player nodded.
''Sweeeeeet...'' said Troy, wiggling his eyebrows at his friend.
''Shut up dude.'' Chad rolled his eyes, suddenly snapping again. It was then that Troy realized what was wrong. He leaned across from the kitchen island.
''She dumped you, didn't she...?''
Chad shook his head. ''She wouldn't. She didn't. Well, not exactly -- sort of...''
''Oh, stop playing with me - everyone knows she's the Ice Bitch. She wouldn't hesitate to --''
''She's not like that!'' cut off Chad angrily. ''You don't know her - no one does... heck, I didn't even know her! She's just a really scared, really beautiful girl. The Ice Queen thing - it's all just a cover. Do you know that Sharpay has the fourth highest GPA in our year? Or that she doesn't need Kelsi to make up all those songs for the musical - she could write the fucking Jupiter Symphony if she wanted to!
And her favourite colour is actually dark purple? She looks out for Ryan 24/7 and she wouldn't let anything happen to him if it killed her. There's so much more to Sharpay that you all don't know. So stop judging her!''
Chad finished his rant - he stared at the awed Troy from across the room, breathing hard.
''Wow.'' that was all the blue eyed boy could actually get out. ''Who knew?''
''Exactly...''
There was a low whistle as Troy processed the information. Then he slowly faced Chad.
''Look we can all see you're perfect for each other - you can't even be in the same room without World War III breaking out. That's a sign... And since you've got past that - what went wrong...?''
Chad sighed and banged his head on the kitchen counter top. ''I screwed up, man. Majorly.''
Troy nodded, ''Go on.''
''It happened at the party - Monica was coming at me - I had to keep up appearances. I didn't kiss her though. Sharpay wasn't even there yet. And then there was a rumour - someone had seen Pay with a guy making out - and that guy was me. But I was too buzzed to figure it out. I thought she cheated on me...''
There was an audible snort of exasperation as Troy refrained from screaming out.
''So when I saw Pay - and she had just come in - I started kissing Monica. We made out right there.''
Troy suppressed a gagging noise. ''How could you kiss that slut when you had your girl right in front of you? Dude, have you no brains whatoever?!''
''Shut the fuck up, man - I know! I was pissed, what would you have me do?! I'd like to see you in my situation --''
''Okay, okay - I get it, it was complicated. But I bet Ice Bi-- I mean Sharpay, isn't gonna forgive and forget easily, huh? Something tells me, a 'sorry' is nowhere near it...''
Chad nodded. ''So the million dollar question is, what do we do now? God I'd do anything - if I could just turn back time... I know that I can't go through with the rest of the year without her - knowing that what I see in school everyday is just a shell of who she really is. That she was once mine but not anymore, all because of a stupid mistake. I swear I'll never drink again - not a single, bloody drop...''
Troy grinned. ''You are so whipped.''
''Shut up!''
''But I think I have an idea...''
...
''Can I come in?''
Shapay quickly rolled over in her bed and fluffed her hair in effort to make herself look less like the heartbroken drama queen she really was.
''Yeah, sure.''
Ryan walked in and sat down warily. ''How are you holding up?'' he asked gently, noticing that 27 Dresses was playing again for the third time that day - his sister had probably not even bothered to switch her DVD player off.
''Pretty good - no... actually, better.'' Sharpay sounded hesitant, but the Award Winning actress in her managed to turn her voice light and sincere. She could fool anyone. Anyone except Chad...
''You coming to school tomorrow?''
Sharpay stared straight ahead at the blank, lavender pink wall in front of her. ''Not yet, Ry... not yet...''
Ryan gave her a skeptical look and she hastened to add - ''I am feeling better though. For real.''
''Well, I'm glad to hear that. Karen made chocolate chip cookies - the big gooey ones with extra chocolate. You know you love those - wanna come down for a few?''
''I'm on a diet, Ry.'' smiled Sharpay.
Ryan frowned, suppressing a sigh. ''I thought Chad Danforth taught you not to believe in diets.''
''Yeah, and he also taught me not to believe in him either.'' shot back the twin, her expression quickly turning hostile. She was in no mood to be reminded of the afro haired Skittle-crazed freak who had fooled her into opening up. It had all just been a waste of time.
The blond boy shook his head . ''I'll be downstairs if you need me.''
''I know.'' called Sharpay bitchily after the closing door.
Stupid Danforth!
And she burst into tears again.
...
Sometime later, a very different knock was heard on Sharpay's door.
''Pay...?''
The blond princess shot bolt upright, her heart pounding a million beats per minute. She glared venomously at her closed white door, half expecting it to open, even though she had locked it. ''Go to hell!'' she yelled.
There was a scuffling sound at the other end and muffled voices.
Ryan... she won't come out...I know... bad mood... said she doesn't believe... what?... talk to her... she 'll shoot me first... just do it... you're not helping!... whatever... I want skittles!... Shuttup you afro freak! ... Dude did you just insult my 'fro?
Sharpay rolled her eyes. ''Can you move the idiots convention somewhere else?'' she yelled. ''And Ryan Christopher Louis Evans, you are such a traitor!''
''Am not!''
This was followed by another muffled shuttup! and a bang.
''Pay, please talk to me!''
''No way!''
Chad opened his mouth to swear, but then Sharpay's ticked voice floated through the door. ''Chad Micheal Danforth don't you dare use four letter 'f' words in this house - not while Lexie is next door!''
Chad looked confused. ''Who's Lexie?'' he asked Ryan.
Ryan shook his head - ''Nah, it's nothing. She's a little girl Sharpay's taking care of for the community service Childcare Program - something like that.''
Chad's mouth dropped in a round 'o' of understanding. ''I didn't know she did that...''
Sharpay's triumphant voice sounded once again as she yelled ''Oh, there is a lot you still don't know about me, Danforth - thankfully.''
''Sharpay--''
''Just leave!''
Chad sighed, but then, had an idea. ''Lexie's next door?'' he whispered to Ryan, who nodded confusedly. ''Yeah, she's sleeping - well not anymore thanks to you two - but you get my point.''
'Wait here' Chad mouthed, slipping into the little girl's room. Ryan grabbed his hand. ''Chad, whatever you do - no Skittles, okay?''
The basketball player was somewhat annoyed by this restriction but nodded nonetheless.
...
''Hey, Lexie.'' Chad's opening line was nervous - he was just praying that this would work. The little girl was about five years old - she had her pretty brunette locks scooped up in a ponytail with a tiny glittering tiara on top - Sharpay's work no doubt.
Her young black eyes sparkled with energy and curiosity and she eyed Chad with definite interest.
''Well my name's Alexandra but yeah, Lexie works too. And who are you?''
Chad was taken aback, surprised at how well she could speak - she sounded much older than she looked, that was for sure.
''I'm Chad Danforth--''
''Oh, you're Chad! Sharpay's crazy, afro-haired freak of a cute boyfriend!'' she paused when she saw the annoyed expression on Chad's face. ''Hey, buddy, her words, not mine! I see she wasn't lying about the afro. Wow, that is a bunch.''
Chad fluffed his hair self-consciously. ''Yeah. She talks about me, doesn't she?'' he had wondered about that a lot and here was his chance to find out.
Lexie shrugged, adjusting a designer stretchy green top. She reminded the basketball player of a pixie. And judging by her next words, a very mean one too.
''Depends. Sometimes if she's in the mood - but I read her diary so, yeah, I know everything. She's really weird - but I have tons of fun though. You know, you reeeeally did something to piss her off yesterday. I have no idea what it is yet, but I will find out - and let me tell you in advance that you are the biggest gorilla idiot I have ever seen to lose to a chick like her.''
''I know that already, please spare me the lectures. I feel horrible.''
''Damn right, you should!''
''Whoa, watch your mouth, kid!''
''Riiight. Well, I'll pretend you did not just snap at me and tell you that Sharpay is damn hooked on you, and it kills her - I quote straight from her Diary:
Chad Danforth is my killer, he is the destruction after the storm that follows me everywhere I go. He broke my heart. I thought he was my saviour but instead I realize that the truth is different - he has broken me completely and those walls I used to have before shall never be half as strong. He is my bar of poison chocolate. He is a hopeless addiction that I must break fast because every moment of it leads me closer to the edge.
Do you have any idea what you've done to her? I hope you're happy now. You really are the ultimate lunkhead gorilla idiot, you know that?''
Chad's eyes widened as he listened to the painful quotation. Pay wrote that about me? Crap, I'm such a stupid bitch for breaking her trust like that... I have got to fi this, fast...
''How old are you?'' he huffed, realizing what the little girl in sparkly jeans was doing to him.
The little girl grinned devilishly. ''Oh, I'm smart, alright. So watch your step.''
''How much exactly would it cost me to hire those smarts of yours?''
''What have you got?''
Chad thought for a moment. Finally, he leaned close to the little girl in his best Godfather impersonation.
''You like, Skittles, kid?''
...
Haha, there it is!
I knew those Skittles would come back sooner or later! xD
Well, review dears for the next chappie gets interesting ;)
Luff,
Iliii - aka Crystal-Fey