A/N: Thank you to all my readers! Please review this chapter, this story. Let me know if it is any good at all. All input appreciated :) Enjoy, I loved writing this chapter.

It had been weeks since Troy and Sharpay talked. School had started, things got busy and rumors had ceased for the time being. Sharpay wanted to talk to Troy but didn't feel justified in sending the first text. She didn't want to come across as needy.

Sharpay looked at the clock: 6:00AM. "Great," she said to herself. "Since I'm up, mine as well get dressed up a little." She walked over to the closet and opened the door. Flipping on the light, a bunch of outfits became visible. Sharpay did the classic teenage girl move: "No, no, not that one, why do I own this still, no, no, no…" She stopped sliding hangers across the bar and put her hands on her hips. She looked around the walls at the hundreds of outfits. She had planned on wearing sweats and a t-shirt, until she'd woken up so early. Then she saw an old dress she'd worn as a bridesmaid in a family wedding. It was tea length, white, with petite neon flowers embroidered onto the skirt.

"Yes!" Sharpay pulled the dress off the hanger and put it on. She looked hot in the dress, and she knew it. She got her clear heels and tied a matching bow onto the strap that matched the dress. Once the ensemble was complete, she curled her hair into loose curls and put on just a touch of makeup. "Huh, I look better than I did at the wedding!" Sharpay laughed.

…

Sharpay parked the car and got out. Ryan came around to help her with her door. "Really sis, is this the most practical outfit for September?"

"Ryan, I am feeling like a new girl today. I am going to start dressing nicer, cuter, and: why do you care?" Sharpay asked.

Ryan gave Sharpay a look. "It's because of Troy isn't it? This is NOT you at all. You are a sweats and t-shirt girl. Not a…Paris Hilton."

Sharpay's heart sank. If she couldn't fool Ryan, what made her think other people would buy into this new façade? But she didn't let Ryan see her disappointment. "Ryan, I am turning over a new leaf. And if Troy notices I can't help it. But I am doing this for me," she lied.

She bounced confidently into the doors of the high school. She looked at the bronze wildcat statue and saw a few people leaning on it like it was a lunch table. She widened her eyes and continued her new bounce as she turned toward the library. She was about to walk in when Ryan pulled her back out. "Shar, no one is going to buy…this."

"Stop it Ryan. They will if you do. So come on, for me?" Sharpay put on the puppy dog face, and Ryan gave in.

"If we weren't twins, I'd just pretend I don't know you, you know." Sharpay laughed and kissed Ryan on the cheek. The warning bell rang, and Ryan watched as Sharpay bobbed through the bookshelves.

…

Sharpay walked in like she owned the place. Pausing for a moment, her eyes met Troy's. He was talking with Zeke and Chad, but the conversation seemed to halt when Troy saw Sharpay. Pretending not to notice, she walked to a table in the back, past Troy and the guys. She sat down and studied her nails. Ryan took a seat right next to Sharpay.

Troy walked over to the table and smiled at Sharpay. "Hey," Troy said.

Sharpay sighed. "Yes?"

Troy was a little taken back by her flippant response. "You look nice. You're matching dress and shoes are—impressive." He smiled again before returning to his previous conversation. Sharpay turned to Ryan and mouthed oh my gosh! Ryan looked at her with his mouth wide open, shrugged, and shook his head, not believing this was working.

…

Lunchtime. Sharpay was starving, but began to realize as the day progressed that a dress was not the best choice for September, let alone for school. It felt like a corset now, and she couldn't put down a bite because she knew it would just get tighter. She decided to write in her journal instead.

September 12, 2010

So busy lately, hardly have time to breathe! School's been good, a lot of new teachers this year. My classes are all fun though, which is nice. My first class of the day, English, is in the library this year. The juniors and seniors have to share the space while the heating is being fixed in the regular classrooms. So guess who I have to see every morning? Yep. Troy Bolton. Great, right? I can't stand having to see him everyday.

Sharpay had been fiddling with the charms hanging on the binding of her journal while writing, and broken one off. "Dang." She looked at the binding and saw where it had come off.

"Sharpay," a voice said.

Sharpay looked up and saw Troy standing in front of her. She raised both of her eyebrows. "What?"

Troy slid down next to her and Sharpay tried to nonchalantly close the cover of the journal. "What's with the hateful responses?"

"What are you talking about? I'm not doing anything," Sharpay responded.

"Yes you are. You're still mad aren't you?" Troy asked, concerned.

Sharpay thought before responding. "I'm over it."

Troy rolled his eyes. "Okay." He played with a loose string on his belt. "What are you writing?"

Sharpay's gut tightened. "Uhh, homework. English."

Troy didn't buy it. "In a pink, bound book…really…"

Sharpay sighed. "Okay, just writing some thoughts. Does it matter?"

Troy squinted slyly and grabbed the book out of Sharpay's grasp.

"Uhh, do-," Sharpay stuttered as she reached for her book.

Troy smiled. "No worries." He grabbed the charm from Sharpay's fingers. "Need help with that?" He grabbed a penny out of his pocket and opened the clasp. He slid it right back onto the binding as if he had practiced the motion over and over. He put the journal back on Sharpay's lap and set the penny on top. "Keep it," he said, winking. He stood up and walked towards the doors that led to the parking lot. He pushed the door open and Sharpay felt a gust of frigid air run through her.

Sharpay grabbed her journal and the penny, jumped up, and ran after Troy. She pushed the door and felt the cold air hit her again, but this time the chill stayed as she followed Troy to his truck.

"Troy," Sharpay called. Troy turned around, surprised to see her outside.

"Aren't you freezing?" Troy asked with a smile creeping onto his face, as he walked closer to her.

Sharpay sighed. "Troy, I—"

She didn't get to finish. Troy had his arms around her, moving them up and down slightly as to distract her body from the chill. He looked at Sharpay and didn't say a word. He took the journal out of her hand and set it on the bed of his truck. He moved the blonde curls out of his way and leaned in. Troy's lips pressed against hers with just enough pressure to leave her wanting more. She put her hand up and softly caressed the back of his neck, and returned the kiss.

Sharpay finally pulled away. "Troy," she started.

Troy tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "I'm so sorry."

Sharpay's heart was pounding. "For what?"

Troy looked down and found Sharpay's hand. Intertwining his fingers into hers, he answered. "I can't." He kissed the top of her head lightly, let her hand fall from his and walked back into the school. Sharpay stood on the cracked asphalt, watching Troy walk away.