I own nothing, just my pet duck :) Shout out to PositiveOutcomesOnly, your feedback meant a lot to me and thank you for reviewing!

The song used in this story is Clocks by Coldplay.

I'm as high as I can get, I see the sun setting and it is beautiful. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved the swings, even though I get these butterflies in my stomach when I go to high. I didn't care and I still don't. Being this high makes me feel like a bird, who is about to spread her beautiful wings and fly away. I feel like a little girl again, I close my eyes, spread my arms, not holding on to the chains and I smile. Then a bigger smile arose and I jumped off the swings but instead of sand, I landed on something hard, "OW!" I open my eyes and it was Troy Bolton. Why is he everywhere I go?

"Oh my, Troy! Are you okay?" I saw him bleeding from his lip and helped him up, he was laughing. "Sharapy its fine, I shouldn't have gone in front of someone swinging on the swings," I love his laugh, it wasn't forced, it's nice. "I would have seen you but, I had my eyes closed," how sheepish do I sound, I'm acting worse than Montez, I shivered. Nevertheless, Troy took it as a sign of me being cold. "Here Sharpay," before I could protest he put his jacket over my shoulders. I look into his deep blue eyes and give him a real smile, "Thanks, um Troy let me take you to my house to fix up that busted lip." He gave me a pearly white smile, which makes me weak at the knees.

Back at the Evan's Mansion

I call out for Ryan but I get no answer, "Mmph, he's still out with his goonies, good for him," Troy laughed and I looked confused, "Why are you laughing?" He simply stated, "You're too funny, I've already told you this," he playfully rolls his eyes. "Did you just roll your eyes at me? No one rolls their eyes at Sharpay Evans because no one does it as well as me." We're both laughing and it's so great to actually laugh and not keep my guard up.

"Wait here; I'll go fetch the First Aid Kit." I run to the downstairs bathroom, when I returned I see Troy looking at pictures by the fireplace. I get closer and I noticed he's looking at my 3rd grade dance recital photo. "You looked so happy here, what changed?" He lingered by the fireplace, after I nodded towards the kitchen, he soon followed.

I was thinking of a response, "I guess life happened." He lets out a soft sigh and I open the kit and take out gauze and Hydrogen Peroxide, "Sit please." I look up, "what?" He smirked and stated, "I think I'm getting to you." Ha! "Ha! Excuse me? I was just being polite." Troy laughed like a hyena, "Exactly Shar, you're never polite." I glared and smacked my lips together and then I softened, "Wait, Shar?" He blushed, big star Troy Bolton was blushing. "That's my nickname for you, do you like it?" I bite my lower lip and then smirked, "I do, but only friends give friends nicknames and well we all know you're not my friend."

"Come on Shar, everyone needs a friend, even you." He really is quite the guy. "I don't see why you're insisting on befriending me but if it makes you shut up, I guess I'll suffer with your friendship," he looks amused. "I told you, you were going to end up my friend," he gave his infamous smirks. "Whatever, Bolton. Stop talking and let me finish fixing you up!" I know I said, I'll take it slow with the whole being myself thing, but I think I can trust Troy.

"Tada! All done. Well I can't do anything about your face but your lip will be just fine." I stick my tongue out. "Ha..ha..ha you're so funny, really I'm dying of laughter," Troy said with a deadpan expression but he couldn't keep it for long. "Well you did tell me twice today that I'm quite the hilarious person," he playfully glared. "So Shar, where is everyone?"

"My parents are on a business trip to Hawaii…" As I said earlier, it's interruption day. "Who does business in Hawaii?" I made a hand gesture, "I know right? I told the same thing to Ryan. Well anyways, they're out, when they leave for extended period of time they give the staff some time off and they return a few days before my parents are due back."

"Oh that's nice of them. So you and Ryan are often left alone, that doesn't sound like much fun." We started walking to the living room and I sat down on the piano stool. "I actually prefer it this way, it's peaceful." I looked at the keys and started playing with them softly, I heard Troy speak, "What do you mean peaceful? Is the Evan's mansion an animal house?" He laughed and I looked at him, "Appearance is nothing but a façade Troy, you of all people should know that." I turned to the piano and started playing a piece I had just perfected.

Lights go out and I can't be saved
Tides that I tried to swim against
You've put me down upon my knees
Oh I beg, I beg and plead (singing)
Come out of things unsaid, shoot an apple of my head (and a)
Trouble that can't be named, tigers waiting to be tamed (singing)
You are, you are

Confusion never stops, closing walls and ticking clocks (gonna)
Come back and take you home, I could not stop, that you now know (singing)
Come out upon my seas, curse missed opportunities (am I)
A part of the cure, or am I part of the disease (singing)

You are [x6]
And nothing else compares
Oh no nothing else compares
And nothing else compares

You are [continues in background]
Home, home, where I wanted to go [x4]

Troy had joined my in the last two chorus of the song. "Wow, Shar, you're really good! Oh I forgot to tell you that you and Ryan were wonderful earlier singing Lonely Day, I never heard it sung that way before. You're absolutely gifted." He sure knows how to make a person feel good about themselves. "Thank you, you weren't so bad yourself, Troy," now it's my turn to give my pearly whites. "Wow, you're improving. You're actually complimenting me now; we're making progress here Pay." We both laughed, I stopped and put on a serious face, "Thank you, for trying to be my friend." Troy all of a sudden gave me a hug, I started crying, and I let him be my guide.

I didn't know a person could cry so much! With all the tears I released, I could have saved the Zahara from a drought! Now Troy must think I'm a lunatic or something, crying like a mad woman, but instead of speaking all he's doing is rubbing my back, with his smooth hands. After five minutes I hear him speak, "Shh, Shar, It's going to be okay," his voice is soothing me like a lullaby.

Another five minutes go by and I start coming down, "How embarrassing, well at least you know I have a heart. Or I did, I just cried it all out." How lame was I and that 'joke'. Troy glanced at me with a seriously, "Sharpay, what's going on?" I sigh, I can't tell him anything that's been going on, I don't know what my dad will do if I did. "It's nothing. I'm just overwhelmed with school, upcoming plays and trying to keep it all together." I didn't look into his eyes because if I did, I know he could tell that I am lying.

He grabs my chin, "Shar, you know that you can tell me anything right? It can be absolutely anything, I'm here for you." I wanted to tell him, I really do but for his own well being, I will not tell a soul.

"I know now, that I can and I will if there is anything to tell. To tell you the truth, what also been bothering me is, Jason Cross stupid comment about Ryan. I hate when people say horrible things about him, me I can handle, but my brother I cannot. And then I get a ball slammed into my neck by some basketball goon, it just all very frustrating." I least I told him half of the half that is bothering me. Troy looked apologetic, "I'm sorry what Jason said and did. We all know he acts on impulses and he should be more aware of what he's doing."

"I know, I guess I'm getting tired being beat on all the time." Troy thinks it's just because of school drama but my words couldn't be more literal. "Shar, people can be assholes at times but, you certainly don't help the situation most of the time. I mean, you don't always start the drama but you do initiate it at times. I'm not saying it's right to rag on you and or Ryan…" I had to cut him off, "Listen I know I'm not the friendliest cube of sugar, but it doesn't give Jason the right to HIT me with the stupid ball. To me it's saying it's fine to beat a person if any reason is given. Besides yes, I do initiate fights and quarrels but Ryan never once has done that and he still the center of people jokes and innuendos. I don't know about you but that is getting a little old, just like this conversation. Can you please leave now?" I am livid, I know all Troy was trying to do is act like a bystander, and see things from all perspective. I get it, I really do, but when it comes to Ryan, all logic goes out the window, no if or buts about it.

Troy looked at me with sad eyes, "Shar, I didn't mean to upset you. Will you say hi to me at school tomorrow? I would appreciate it." He took a good look at me, and saw I wasn't going to reply and headed towards the door. "Troy?" Man I sound like such a child. "Yes Shar?"

"Can you give me another hug before you go?" I gave him my best puppy dog look and he gave in. "I'm sor…." I cut him off…again. "Shh, it was, well actually no I will not apologize but I will say that I did get a little out of control and was angry at the wrong person." I may not be the Ice Queen everyone things I am but one thing about me that is dead on right, I don't apologize if I know I didn't do anything wrong.

"I'll see you tomorrow Shar." And he left.

Sharpay's Bedroom

I'm so drained, even though I had a great power nap earlier but all those tears took a lot out of me. I smile remembering how gentle Troy was being with me, and how Gabby is such a lucky girl to have a boy, no, man like Troy. Speaking of which he has left his Leatherman jacket here; I forgot to give it back. I hear some vibration and see it's my phone, it's Troy. "Good night and sweet dreams. Don't let the bed bugs bite, - Troy." I went to respond and my door was opened.

Dun Dun Dunn... So who do you think is at the door? What did you think?