Chapter Twelve
Kissing in the Pool
"I made up with Tro-oy, I made up with Tro-oy…" Sharpay softly sang, as she danced her way downstairs, smiling all giddily. She bounced into the kitchen, where her mother was finishing her drink, while her father was getting his stuff together. Ryan was watching them, still eating brunch. It was pancakes, she noticed. She could use some too.
"I see you're happy again now?" Viola asked her daughter, as she placed her empty coffee cup on the table, and stood up, to join her husband.
"Yup," Sharpay brightly said, as she hopped onto a counter chair, grabbing a plate from the middle of the table, and then two pancakes from the stack that stood there too, "It's a great day. The birds are singing, the sun is shining… what's not to be happy about?"
"Well, you certainly seems to be appreciating the good day, huh?" her father replied, before kissing her on the side of her head, "But we're gonna head out now. Say bye to Ash from us, will ya'?"
"Of course, daddy." Sharpay replied, shooting him a sad smile. It was horrible that they were already leaving again, but she knew they had to. She just missed them so much at times, she didn't know what to do with herself. It was sad not having her parents there if she needed them. But then she always had Jack and Lucy. They were her second parents, and she loved them with all her heart.
"Great," Richard said, as he and Viola made their way out of the kitchen, and to the hallways, "Take care kids!" he told them, before the door smacked close.
Sharpay sat in silence for awhile, just staring at the place her father stood two minutes ago, until she finally turned around on her chair, and looked Ryan in the eye. She offered him a smile, and broke the silence; "Look, I know you're mad at me. And I'm sorry. Please tell me what's up with you, Ry? I really want to know."
He seemed to think about it for a second, studying her face hard. He then let out a sigh, and reached his hand out, to grab hers from across the table, "…I want to be mad at you, Paypay. But I need your help. I'm so confused."
"I'm here, Ryan," she promised him, as she to her horror realized how screwed up he had to be feeling. He was almost crying right now. This had to have been bugging him for a very long time, "I'm always here for you, no matter what."
"Promise you won't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you?" Ryan questioned, looking deeply into her eyes.
"Not even Troy?" Sharpay questioned, because she told Troy everything.
Ryan shook his head, "Not even Troy."
"Okay," Sharpay agreed, holding her pinky out for him. He shot her a smile, and linked his pinky with hers. Then he let go of her hand, and leaned himself against his own folded ones, thinking things over in his head.
Sharpay figured she might as well eat her pancakes while he thought about his problem. She didn't want to push, because she was gonna show him what a sister she could be. She was determined to prove she was the best listener ever, even though she knew how she could be a just a liiiittle self-centered at times. But they all still loved her, so she could at least listen to them whenever they had a problem. And Ryan did now.
"Y'know…" he started, and she turned to look at him, ready to listen, "I feel different, Sharpay. I'm not like all the others. Well, I'm like some of them, but not many. There's not many of us at East High. At least I don't believe there is."
She let out a deep sigh, "…I would pretend to give you some great advice, if I knew what you were going on about, Ry. You have to make it more clear for me."
He nodded, and swallowed slightly, "…I just can't get myself to say it out loud, 'cuz I haven't really come to terms with the fact yet… And I'm the one."
"The one what?"
"The one who's crushin' on the boys…" Ryan replied, before lowering his head, not daring to look her in the eye.
"Okay?" Sharpay questioned, arching her eyebrow slightly. She honestly couldn't see what big of a deal that was. Was that the reason he'd been so weird?
"Okay?" Ryan asked, looking up at her again, "Okay!? Is that all you have to say? A freakin' 'okay'?"
"What do you want me to say, Ryan?" Sharpay asked, shocked by his outburst, "Do you want me to act surprised, and tell you how wrong it is, and that it must be some sort of crises you have? That I've never seen it coming? Honestly, Ryan, I've known you were gay for a long time."
"You've known I was gay?" he asked, confusedness filling his face, as he bit his lip slightly, "…but I didn't even know I was gay? How could you've known when I didn't?"
"Honestly, Ryan…" Sharpay said, resisting to roll her eyes, "Look at you, okay? You're a bit feminine, so I figured you'd be. But that's okay… Didn't you realize it before? Did you just figure it out now? Is that really the reason you've been so distressed…?"
"Yes!" he exclaimed, jumping down from his counter chair, "I've been freaking out, Sharpay! I keep thinking something is wrong with me! I don't understand… I'm so messed up."
"No, you're not," Sharpay told him, as she wrapped her arms around him, and hugged him tight, "You're completely normal. How come you've been thinking so much about this?"
"I've been confused…" Ryan replied, taking in the scent of her coconutty shampoo, while he hugged her to death, "…there's this guy, really. He's sending me some signals. The signals Kelsi used to send me when we were younger and she liked me. And I'm finding myself… well, wanting to 'signal' back."
Sharpay pulled away from the hug, and laughed, a smile coming onto her face, "Then do. Signal all you want. Who's this guy?"
"Keep it a secret?"
"Of course."
"Well… Tobias, really."
"Tobias?" Sharpay asked, arching a confused eyebrow, "From the art club?"
"Yeah…"
Sharpay took the news in, as she thought about what Troy had told her a couple of days ago. Something didn't seem quite right there. Troy had said that Tobias had several pictures of her hanging in his locker. Why would he have that if he liked Ryan?
"Hmm, that's weird," she said, looking Ryan in the eye.
"What is?" he asked, "I'm sorry, but I just… I like him, actually. A lot. Is that wrong?"
"Nono," Sharpay quickly assured him, still caught up in her own thoughts, "…so are you going to ask him out or something?"
"I'm not quite sure how to go around that one." Ryan admitted, "And shouldn't I tell mom and dad?"
"If you ever start dating a boy, you can tell them," Sharpay said, shrugging her shoulders lightly, "But first you have to ask him out. Just calm down, Ryan. It'll all work out, I promise you that."
"Okay," Ryan agreed, comforted by the secure tone in Sharpay's voice. He really believed it'd be okay now. He was just so glad to get it off of his chest. He almost couldn't have handled it any longer. Not on his own, "Thank you sis."
"I'm always here," she said, enveloping him in another hug, "You can always talk to me, okay? I'm here for you, right? Always."
"Yeah," he said, pulling back, "Thanks."
"Always," she just repeated, before skipping up the stairs to her room, thoughts of Ryan and Tobias floating through her brain. She'd have to investigate a little on Monday. She had to see what was up with that Tobias guy…
--
Sharpay was picking out what skirt to wear for her night with Troy, scanning over all the different ones she'd collected through the years. Well, most of them were either too small or so last year. She really ought to sort out her clothes one of these days. If she threw some of it out, she had reasons to buy some new!
It was either a jeans skirt, or a black one with a white belt. She picked the jeans one out, and went into her room again, just as an really old, but great song came on the radio, and she jumped onto her bed, singing along to Sk8er Boi. She really didn't have time for this. Troy was right on the steps, but she couldn't help herself.
"He was a boy, She was a girl, Can I make it anymore obvious?" she giggled an jumped down from her bed, taking off the sweatpants she was wearing before, "He was a punk, And she did ballet, What more can I say?"
The song continued, and she danced around, humming along. It was one of the great things about being a girl. She was allowed to turn up the music and dance around in her underwear. It was awesome, she'd never trade that for anything.
As the chorus came on, she grabbed a hairbrush and sang into it, her voice totally overshadowing the music; "He was a sk8er boi she said see ya later boi, He wasn't good enough for her, She had a pretty face but her head was up in space, She needed to come back down to earth…"
Just then the song was cut off, and she turned around, confused, only to come face to face with Troy.
"You have a nice ass Sharpay, but I'd prefer it, if you kept it covered up." Troy chuckled, as he tried to look her in the eye, without laughing completely, "That little red thong is not doing a very good job of keeping track of you butt, is it?"
"Whoops!" Sharpay giggled, as she threw her hairbrush on the bed, and grabbed her skirt, quickly taking it on, "What are you doing here already?"
"I'm right on time, and Ryan let me in, silly!" Troy said, as he threw himself onto the bed, looking at her, with an arched eyebrow.
"Gosh, time does fly when you're having fun!" Sharpay giggled, as she threw herself onto Troy, staring down at him, "Hi…" she whispered, kissing his nose lightly.
"Hi-hi!" Troy said, staring down at her, his blue eyes looking straightly into her brown ones.
Sharpay watched him for a second, studying his face, "…I've really missed you." She stated, a smile coming onto her lips.
"Me too," Troy nodded.
Sharpay leaned down slightly and planted a sweet, short kiss on his lips, "Let's not ever fight again!" she told him, before she rolled off of him, and wrapped her arms around his stomach, snuggling into her favourite position, her head buried in his neck.
Troy let out a content sigh, and leaned down to kiss her on top of the head, before resting himself. This was what he'd really missed. When they hadn't spoken to each other, all their intimate moments – like these – were gone, and he always had a hard time dealing with that. He was kinda addicted to her, and having her body close to his. It was a feeling he needed to have, otherwise he would lose his mind, he was sure of it.
After some time, Sharpay yawned slightly, and snuggled even closer to him, if that was possible, "What time is it?"
"It's-" Troy turned his head, and checked the watch, "Gosh, it's already 5:30, we ought to get some dinner soon, right?"
Sharpay immediately woke up, as she got an idea, "I say we make some! Uh!" she jumped out of the bed, and stared down at him, "Mac 'n' Cheese! We could make some!"
"Okay…" Troy chuckled, getting out of bed too, even though he'd much rather have kept lying there, ignoring his grumbling stomach, "Whatever floats your boat, Paypay!"
"Yay!" Sharpay exclaimed, as she jumped onto his back, and took him by surprise. He quickly caught on though, and took a good hold on her, "Piggyback ride?" she pouted, into his ear.
"I think you already are," Troy said, as he hurried out of her room, and down the stairs. They arrived in the kitchen, where Ryan was sitting by the counter, eating an apple. Troy placed Sharpay on the counter, as well, and immediately went to the cupboard he knew held what they were searching for.
"Aw, it's good to see the two of you have made up!" Ryan said, dramatically placing a hand on his heart, "The two luvahs are greeeeat!"
"Shuddup Ryan!" Sharpay said, hitting his hand, so his apple flew out of it, and ended with a splash on the floor.
"Eeewe," Ryan said, disgustingly looking at his sister, "Lick it up, Sharpay!"
"Nooo!" She whined, shaking her head.
"Do it!" Ryan said, pointing at the smashed apple, "You're the reason it's lying there! Lick it up!"
"Noooo!" she said again, biting her lip. Then she turned to Troy, and shot him a sweet smile, "You do it for me, Troy-boy?"
"No way." Troy said, trying to heat some of their dinner.
"Pretty pleaaase!?" Sharpay tried again, sticking out her lower lip in a pout. Normally Troy couldn't resist it, but this time he put his foot down. He kept shaking his head, and turned away from her, cooking dinner.
Ryan let out a deep breath, "You better figure something out, 'cuz that apple has to be gone when I get home!"
"Where are you going?" Sharpay asked, her eyes following Ryan's form, as he went into the hallway, out of sight.
He popped his head back in, with a cheesy smile, "Going out with some of the buys. I dunno when I'll be home. Ash is sleeping next door."
And then he was gone again, so Sharpay lost her jaw, and jumped down from the counter, and onto the table next to where Troy was standing, "I can't believe him! It's his apple!"
"Yeah, but you made it fall." Troy said, speaking the obvious.
Sharpay rolled her eyes, and dismissed the subject, "Yeah, yeah." She paused, and studied him cooking for a second, "You know what I wanna try someday?"
"No?" Troy questioned, looking up at her.
"Kitchen sex." Sharpay replied, deeply serious.
Troy coughed for a second, before turning to her completely, "Thanks for that picture while I'm cooking, Shar! I really don't want images of you and Zeke having sex in this kitchen, while I'm standing here, forever stuck in my brain."
Sharpay looked confused, "…who said anything about Zeke?"
Troy was frozen for a second, before Sharpay winked at him, and broke into a fit of giggles. Troy soon joined her, awkwardly chuckling along, while he tried to focus on the cooking he was doing. It was done soon.
"…anyways," Sharpay mumbled, wiping a tear from her cheek, "How's it going in the girl-department? Y'know you're single now, right? You're allowed to check the fields and have smutty dreams of you having sex with some hot girl." She paused for a second, before pointing at herself, "…moi."
And then she laughed again, and Troy just shook his head. How he wished he could say, 'Oh, you're right', and then attack her lips with his, and have crazy-kinda kitchen sex with her, just as she wanted. He could show her just how amazing it could be, far better than with Zeke!
Sharpay started humming a song, and he grabbed two bowls, scooping a lot of Mac 'n' Cheese into both of them, before getting two spoons. He handed Sharpay one bowl, and helped her down, before they made their way upstairs, forgetting about the smashed apple.
"Wanna watch a movie while we eat?" Sharpay asked him, but she didn't wait for his answer, she simply grabbed the closest DVD she could find, and plopped it into the DVD player, pressing play. She then sat down next to Troy on her sofa, and leaned up against him, while they started eating.
The movie soon started playing, and they realized it was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Sharpay would never admit it to anyone, (except Troy, because he had figured her out a long time ago) but she was a huge Harry Potter fan. She'd read the books several times, and the movies were watched more times than any other movie. Troy thought it was cute, that the Drama Queen, the Ice Princess, was so obsessed with something a lot of other students found ridiculous and childish. But that was what made her so cute, and he didn't mind watching the movies with her. He'd even read the books, because she had forced him.
They were done with their food in no time, and placed the empty bowls on the floor, just watching the movie. When it was over, they kept in place, just talking to each other about this and that. They loved just being with each other, enjoying the best company in the world.
Suddenly Sharpay turned to him, a smock smile playing on her lips, "I'm bored. Can't we do anything?"
"Judging by your smile, you already have an idea?" Troy questioned, studying her smile again, because it was her mischievous one. She had plans…
"Yeah, okay," she continued, the smile never leaving her face, "I want to go swimming!"
"But it's …" Troy paused, checking his watch, "It's 9:23! Don't you think we ought to stay inside?"
"No!" Sharpay said, standing up from her seat in the sofa, "Let's just put on our bathing suits and go splash around in my pool? Are you coming on your own, or do I have to force you?"
Troy gave in, because he knew he couldn't win this argument, "I'm coming, I'm coming." He said, standing up, "Where's my trunks again?"
"Somewhere in my dresser…" Sharpay brushed him off, as she went into her bathroom, "Look for them, while I change, okay?" and then she closed the door, and Troy was left alone.
Sharpay had a pretty big dresser. Several big dressers. How was he supposed to find his bathing trunks in all her crap-cough, cough-clothes? He crossed the floor, and opened the first one, coming to face with all her socks. He couldn't help but chuckle. Sharpay was the only one he knew who would wear pink socks, y'know, at their age. He closed the drawer, and went to look into the one, who held his bathing trunks the last time he needed it.
But he paused again, when he'd opened it. It definitely didn't hold his trunks. Sharpay must have reorganised, because he came face to face with Sharpay's lingerie. He couldn't help but be curious. He was a guy after all, and he just discovered his best friend's lingerie. Who wouldn't look?
He picked up a black bra, and held it out for himself, studying it closer. He knew she didn't have the most filled-out body, like some other girls. She didn't have curves like Gabriella, and she didn't have the biggest boobs, but he loved everything about her. Forgive him for noticing these things, he couldn't help it. And the bra looked good. Gosh, he couldn't help but think about what it'd be like to take it off her someday, maybe. If he was lucky.
He stuffed the bra down again, with the intentions of closing the drawer to find his trunks, but then… There was a thong. It was very similar to the one she was wearing earlier, and he couldn't help but want to look. But then when he was about to pick it up, he stopped himself.
Stop it, Troy!, he argued with himself, What wouldn't she say if she saw you doing this? You're going through her personal stuff. Let it go. Keep your hopes up, maybe you will see her underwear someday. Maybe, if you're lucky. C'mon, close the drawer… He closed it with a sigh, …there you go, that wasn't so hard, now was it? Hmm, then ask Sharpay where your trunks are!
"Payday?! Where are my trunks?"
There you go.
He heard her fiddle around for a second, before she opened the door, peaking in through the frame, obviously not dressed yet, otherwise she would have come out, "Gosh!" she said, giggling, "I can't believe they were in here the entire time!" she threw them out, and they hit him on the head, "Sorry! I'll be right out!", and then she closed the door again.
Troy chuckled awkwardly for a second, before slipping out of his shorts, and into his trunks. Then he pulled his t-shirt over his head, and sat down on the bed, waiting for Sharpay to re-emerge.
--
"Water bomb!" Sharpay squealed, as she ran towards the edge of the pool, and jumped straight in, splashing water everywhere. She surfaced, and shot Troy a cheesy grin from the pool.
"Shhy!" Troy told her, slowly going down the steps, "Some people are asleep at 10 in the night, you know?"
"They are?" Sharpay questioned, swimming towards him, "Why?"
"You're stupid, you know that, right?" Troy asked her, before wrapping his arms around her waist. He lifted her up, and threw her into the deep end, her squealing laughter echoing through the backyard.
"Troy Matthew Bolton!" she hissed, as she swam towards him again, jumping onto his shoulders, to push him underwater. He struggled greatly against her force, but she was higher up than him, so she eventually won, and he gave away beneath her, and swam through her slightly parted legs, coming up behind her. He covered her eyes with his hands, and blew lightly against her shoulder, making her shiver slightly.
"Oh…" she said, turning around to look at him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he hugged her close to him, their foreheads touching, "I love you, Troy… I really do."
"I love you too…" Troy promised her, a small smile gracing his face, "You're so wonderfully weird. I wouldn't know what to do without you. You make my life much more fun."
"Same," Sharpay told him, before pulling his head in for a deep kiss, their lips exploring the other's. She parted her mouth a little, and let his begging tongue slip in, before whimpering slightly, and then pulling away. They'd never made out like that before. Only chaste kisses on the lips, never using tongues. It was a new experience.
She looked him in the eye for a second, before going back in for more. She slipped him her tongue almost immediately, and was happy that he kissed her back. She tightened her grip around his neck, and could feel his hands gripping tighter around her waist. She explored his mouth for a bit, kissing him like she'd never done before, until she pulled back, and supported herself better against his shoulders, her chin resting on top of his head.
Troy was breathing heavily down there, before he poked her in the rib, whispering, "You have a great boobs Sharpay, but no point in forcing them into my face, y'know?"
She looked down, and realized her chest was right in his face, so she let go of him, and slipped into the water, so they were face to face again. They stared at each other for a second, searching the other's eyes. Sharpay's heartbeat was beating fast like hell, and she didn't know how they even ended up there. Troy's was beating like that too, but his stomach was also filled with butterflies. How he wished that kiss hadn't just been a onetime thing. He wished to be able to kiss her like that everyday. But he knew he couldn't…
He blinked and then shot her a small smile, deciding to play it cool, "What wouldn't Zeke say if he saw you making out with other boys like that?" he chuckled awkwardly.
Sharpay's face grew even more serious, as a frown came upon her gorgeous features, "That's not even funny Troy." She told him, as she swam towards the edge, getting out of the pool, "I don't even know what happened, and then you go and mention my boyfriend… You won't tell him, right?"
Troy felt bad for a second, seeing how worked up she suddenly was, and he swam to the edge, to get out of the water as well, "…no." he replied, quickly standing up, to look her in the eyes, "Of course I won't. We've kissed plenty of times before, Sharpay. I've never told him before. What's the different from then to now?"
"We've never kissed like that," she whimpered, and he wasn't quite sure if she was crying tears or not, because she was all wet.
"Shhy, don't worry," he whispered, placing his arms around her, "Calm down, Paypay. It's just a kiss. It's okay. There's nothing to worry about. Let's go inside, get dry and watch more movies, alright?"
"Okay…" she whispered, finally looking up to lock eyes with him, "…I'm sorry Troy, I just got a little carried away. It won't happen again, I promise."
"Don't worry, it was nice…" Troy assured her, not wanting to admit just how nice it had been, "C'mon!" he grabbed her hand, and they slowly started walking towards the house. He could still feel Sharpay acting different, and she was a bit stiff. He really had to loosen her up, "It's okay, Paypay. Listen to me… We're fine. I'm fine."
She looked up at him, before wiping her cheeks, "It's alright, Troy…" she whispered, her voice cracking, "It's just, kissing you like that brought back all that old… All the stuff I forgot, and just… suppressed, and now I'm like… feeling weird, 'cuz you're my best friend. And I love you. And Zeke… He's great. And then all that other stuff, and I just-"
Troy cut her off before she could continue further, "You're ranting, Shar. I have no idea what you're going on about. Just calm down, and go change into your PJs. I'm gonna find some cookies after I've changed, and you can find a movie." He paused, and looked her in the eye, as they stood in the hallway to the bathroom, "Deal?"
"Yeah okay," she sniffed, before hurrying into her bathroom, closing the door smack behind her. Troy grabbed his clothes, and then went down the hall to one of the other bathrooms. He dried himself off, and changed, while thinking things over.
That had been so weird. Ah, the kiss had been AMAZING. Of course it had, and Sharpay was a really great kisser. But then afterwards… She had been acting really strange. He had no idea what she had been going on about. He was so confused. He knew he shouldn't be kissing girls with boyfriends, but she had started it, and who was he to resist? That would have just hurt her, and he'd never hurt her. And even though he knew it would make it harder to get over her, he couldn't help himself when she was offering to play tonsil-hockey with him.
He quickly went downstairs and grabbed some cookies, before going into her room again. She was putting on School of Rock, and they settled down on the sofa. She was completely fine now, he noticed. She probably didn't want to ever mention their encounter again, and he let her have her way. She just settled up against him, resting her head on his chest, while he placed his hands around her waist.
The movie started playing, and Sharpay seemed to be getting more and more sleepy. She was breathing pretty evenly, and he wondered if she really was asleep. He was just watching the movie intensely, because if he didn't occupy his brain, he'd think about their kiss instead.
After awhile of silence, Sharpay suddenly broke it; "You're doing it, Troy!"
"What?" he asked, surprisingly looking down at her. He had been so sure that she was sleeping.
Her head was bowed back, so she could watch him, her brown eyes digging into his blue ones, "You're not breathing. I can't even feel your chest move."
"I'm breathing!" Troy told her.
"No, I can't feel it!"
"But I am!"
"Could you please breathe like a normal person then?" she asked him, turning around to look at him, a hard glare in her eyes.
He chuckled, and shot her a teasing smile, "I can try, Payday… Anything for you, you know that."
"Thank you," she replied, before turning around again, getting comfy in his arms.
He brushed a piece of her hair out of her eyes, and kissed her on top of her head, "You're welcome."
Ta-daah! What do you say? Was that good enough? I wrote a long chapter, to make up for the shortness of the last chapter! And there was Troypay, right? You all saw it, didn't you? I promised, so here it was! I hope it's enough to keep you all reading for now. I'll try to update the next chapter soon too! Please remember to review. Dedication; The famazing Bethany! Thank you for helping me make out the difference between 'all right' and 'alright'. I was really confuzzled. I love you loads, my dear! And I hope you liked this chapter, since it was all for you!… and I know you like DracoxHermione too. I'm glad I'm not alone! Lol.
