A/N: All right

A/N: All right. I realize that my sporadic updating has pissed off everyone. In all honesty, I wrote last chapter into a corner, but I have an idea where I will take this story.

Chapter 12

"Hello? Anyone here?" Troy exclaimed as he walked into Sharpay's hospital room. When he saw Sharpay reading a book in bed he pretended to gasp. "Opps! Sorry miss. I think I have the wrong room. I'm looking for my girlfriend; her name's Sharpay Evans. She's about…" Troy held his hand up to his chin, "this tall. Long blonde hair. Hates to read…"

Sharpay giggled and exclaimed, "Troy!"

He grinned at her and playfully held his hands up, trying to play innocent. He then headed towards her bed and gave her a quick kiss and motioned to the book. "What's this?"

Sharpay held it up so he could read the title.

"Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder," Troy read. He glanced at Sharpay inquisitively.

Sharpay sighed and started, "My mom was here. She left the book behind."

"Oh," Troy responded. "What happened with your mom?"

Sharpay rolled her eyes. "The same thing that always happens. She barges in, pretends like she's a caring mother, and tries to run my life. She got me a new shrink, because she thinks the psychiatrist here is incompetent. I just…I just can't deal with her Troy. Not now."

Troy squeezed her hand. "I know it's hard, Shar. You just have to try to deal with it. Your mom's just probably trying to help."

"No Troy," Sharpay said firmly as she shut the book. "She's not trying to 'help,' she's trying to control my life! You don't understand at all."

He shook his head. "Hello? I'm the one with the psycho-basketball-dad for a coach," Troy responded. "He tried to stop me from dating Gabriella and any other girl I was interested in, just so I would 'focus' on playing more basketball."

Sharpay attempted to muffle her giggles, but ended up in hysterics. "'Psycho-basketball-dad?'" she exclaimed.

Troy laughed. "Yeah, I guess I was a little harsh, but you've seen him. He can get intense!"

Sharpay rolled her eyes. "I'm sure," she responded through giggles.

Knock, knock

Troy and Sharpay looked over at the hospital room door and saw two girls in the doorway.

"Sophia! Lauren!" Sharpay exclaimed as the two girls came into the room. Both eyed Troy as they walked to Sharpay's bed and embraced her. "What are you two doing here?"

"Oh," Lauren started. "We were in the neighborhood and after Ryan told us the other day where you were at, we decided to stop in for a visit."

Sharpay nodded and smiled at both girls. She glanced at Troy and gasped. "Oh! Girls, this is Troy Bolton. He's my old friend from Albuquerque."

Friend? Troy thought questionably as he turned his attention to the two girls. "Hi," he said as he flashed a polite smile.

Both girls responded their greetings and introduced themselves.

"It's nice to meet you Troy," Sophia responded. "Shar told us a lot about you."

"Oh she has?" Troy said as he glanced at Sharpay.

Lauren nodded. "Ryan said you two have been spending a lot of time together," she said suggestively.

Troy shifted in his chair uncomfortably. Sharpay, oblivious to Lauren's tone and Troy's uneasiness, responded, "That's the second time you've mentioned seeing Ryan. When and where did you see him?"

Lauren spoke up. "We saw him at the dorms. The police were asking questions and since you couldn't answer them, Ryan gave a statement for you."

Troy sprung up in his chair at this statement and stared at Lauren. She can't blow this for me! Troy thought.

"What?" Sharpay exclaimed. "Why were the police at the dorms? Did something happen?"

"You don't know?" Sophia exclaimed, glancing at Troy, who is by now visibly upset.

Lauren, didn't seem to understand the tension, and spoke up. "Yeah! You don't know? Anna's…"

"Dog is missing!" Troy interrupted. Lauren, puzzled, stared at Troy. He gave her an over-exaggerated head nod and exclaimed. "Isn't that right Lauren? The dog's been gone for days. Anna's trying to set up a cash reward."

Lauren nodded fiercely. "Yeah! Her dog's missing."

Sharpay was obviously confused. "But dogs aren't allowed in the dorm rooms. How could her dog be missing if she doesn't have one?"

Troy and Lauren glanced at each other. Sophia then jumped in. "It's actually her parents' dog. She just likes to call it her own dog. You know how Anna gets."

Sharpay stared at the trio. All three tried their best to remain calm. Sharpay then nodded and responded, "Yeah. She can be over-the-top sometimes."

Troy silently breathed a sigh of relief. He then changed the subject.

The rest of the visit was uneventful. As the two girls were giving their final good-byes, Troy piped up and said he would walk the girls to their cars and leave for the day himself.

"Okay Troy. Thanks for everything," Sharpay responded as she quickly kissed him goodbye.

Troy smiled, waved, and quickly led the girls out of the room and into the hallway.

"What the hell was that about?" Sophia exclaimed.

"Yeah!" Lauren added. "Why did we just lie to Sharpay?"

Troy motioned to be quiet and follow him. He led them to the elevator, and then turned to them.

"Listen. I realize you don't know me very well, but since you went along with the story in the room, I think you already trust me a little," Troy started.

Sophia nodded. "You are right. We don't know you very well. I don't know why Lauren went along with the story, but I could see how desperate you were. But I just want to know why we are lying to her."

The elevator doors opened and the trio stepped inside and pressed the button for the parking garage.

"I promised Ryan that I wouldn't tell her about Anna. In his opinion, Sharpay is too fragile to know what really happened."

"What?" Lauren exclaimed. "That's crazy. Sharpay's a strong person. She can handle it, and I think she deserves to know."

"I agree with you, but we have no right to interfere. All decisions regarding Sharpay are her family's decisions, not our's."

Sophia sighed as the elevator doors opened. "I guess you're right. I know this is selfish of me, but I was hoping that we could get through her death together. It's not exactly an easy thing, especially how she died."

Troy suddenly stopped. "Wait," he started. "How exactly did she die?"

Sophia glared at Troy and then looked at Lauren. Lauren piped up, "Um…natural causes of course."

"What? She's only in her twenties. There's no way…"

"Sorry Troy," Sophia exclaimed as she walked away with Lauren in tow. "We have to go! See you later!"

Troy glared at the two girls as they rushed to their cars. "Wait!" Troy exclaimed. Great, Troy thought to himself. They must know how she died, and they aren't talking. I'll probably never get answers now.