A/N: Happy New Year to everyone! And to start the new year right, here's an update, although it's a bit short. Again, my special thanks to all the reviewers, I especially love the extra creative ones. I'm so glad you like this story so much. I'll try to update "Consequences" as well when I finish chapter two. It's still in the works.

Chapter Twelve

Against Ryan's warning and my own nagging sensible side I've fallen in love with Troy Bolton.

How else can I explain climbing his tree at night just to see him and risking being caught in his room by his parents because I couldn't bear not to be near him? Long after he had fallen asleep next to me, I lay awake and watched him sleeping. I couldn't resist so I kissed him on the forehead and told him I loved him. I touched the side of his face and when my hand run through his lips I felt him kiss my fingers though he didn't wake up. When I finally fell asleep on his shoulder, I dreamt of him confessing his love for me. So it was a rather pleasant, though rather startling moment for me, when I woke up with his lips on mine.

After that I didn't have the heart to keep pretending to not like it. I let him walk me home. In the golden silence of that short walk, I could feel something in the way his hand gripped on my shoulder. I let myself be happy with the reality that we were just like any ordinary boy and girl walking the path to romance that I've always dreamed of. It was as simple as that and I was content with that.

I watched him from my window while he danced like a madman from my driveway to the corner of the street. He looked very much like Gene Kelley in Singin' in the Rain after he drops off Debbie Reynolds at her house.

And I wondered, hoped, that maybe, just maybe, he feels the same way.


Troy spun Sharpay fast before pulling her back into his arms and locking her in one final kiss. She returned it with equal passion as wild applause came from the crowd. He felt his surroundings darken as the curtain went down but he was unwilling to let her go. He was rather pleased that she seemed to share the same idea.

"Hey, break it up, you two! It's almost time for curtain call!" hissed Kelsi from the wings, though she sounded quite amused.

Troy reluctantly pulled away but grinned at Sharpay who returned his smile. He pulled her to the left wing just as the curtain went up and they waited as the chorus members were introduced first. Troy laced his fingers with Sharpay's and she didn't shake it away. He gave her hand a firm squeeze.

"Last performance," he whispered to her ear. "I almost wish it wasn't ending so soon."

"We had fun, didn't we?" Sharpay whispered back without looking at him. She was watching the minor cast members as they took a bow each.

Troy hovered closer to her. "Yeah, even better than the last one."

"I wasn't in the last one," she said evenly.

"That's why this one's better. You're here," he replied. He couldn't see her face in the dark, but he knew she was smiling at that praise.

He hadn't found the courage to confess his feelings to her yet. He didn't want to just say so outright and risk an outright rejection that could ruin their somewhat more stable friendship. But in the last few days, he tried giving little hints. So far they seemed to be working. He had managed to make her truly blush a couple of times when he did something subtly sweet and she stopped brushing off his hand when he tried to hold her hand in private. He could tell at least that Sharpay liked him back. That was enough for now.

"We make a great team," she said.

"Yeah, we do," he sighed breathlessly. She was so close to him in this dark wing and he was feeling so euphoric after a wonderful performance he almost wished he could just say it. "And I wish we could always be like that." He paused to breathe a bit and made a sudden decision. "Sharpay," he squeezed her hand even tighter. "I wanted to tell you, I l—"

"Sharpay Evans as Beatrice!" The announcer startled Troy. Sharpay let go of his hand and pranced out into the stage to make her bow.

A moment later, his name was called and he followed her out on stage and took his bow with the rest of the cast. They had another standing ovation and this time the applause lasted quite a long time—ten minutes by his estimate. When the curtain finally came down, the stage suddenly erupted in pandemonium. Everybody was suddenly throwing themselves at each other, hugging and shouting out congratulations, much like winning a championship basketball game. Troy found himself being pulled almost violently away from Sharpay by his cast and crew mates. Helplessly, he was carried over by the tide of well-wishers out the side exit doors of the theatre. There in the hall, he found an even bigger crowd that included his father, his basketball teammates, several cheerleaders, and others he couldn't even identify. Together, they managed to manhandle him as usual in their jubilation. It wasn't an unpleasant experience. He was used to being crushed like this in basketball games. But for once, he wished the one crushing against his body was Sharpay.

It took him several minutes to find her. When their eyes locked from across opposite ends of the hall, Troy mentally agreed to come to her. They both attempted to amble towards each other. However, there appeared to be a sea of bodies that came between them and Sharpay seemed to have lost the power to force people to part for her. Her number of hailing fans seemed to rival his own now.

It took an agonizingly long time for him to reach her. When he did, he lifted her in his arms and twirled her around amidst delightful cheers and cat calls. She laughed heartily until Troy slowly brought her back to the ground just as the crowd around them magically thinned out. People seemed to take the hint that they needed a private celebration of their own. She was flushed with joy and Troy found her so irresistibly beautiful. He was about to pull her for a kiss and tell her how he felt when...

"Hey, Sharpay?"

Damn Chad! Troy thought his best friend really had the worst timing of all. He really should consider killing him sometime.

Sharpay turned to face the afro-haired boy. "Yes Danforth?"

Chad and Taylor, who was standing next to him, looked a bit uncomfortable. "We just wanted to say congratulations. You were great."

"Yeah, it was awesome," said Taylor without a hint of sarcasm. "I cried at some parts every time I see it which is more than once. You were really good, both of you."

Sharpay lit up a smile. It was genuine one, Troy could tell. She seemed really pleased about this and Troy was glad.

"Thanks," she said.

"Look, I know we seemed a bit… standoffish before," began Taylor. "But… if you… wanna hang sometime…"

Sharpay smiled at her again. "Sure, I think I'd like that."

"Shar!" Ryan shouted over the din of the crowd as he waved a piece of paper in the air. Sharpay excused herself to get to her brother and Troy was left with Taylor and Chad. Troy looked at them questioningly.

"Look, Troy. I suppose she's not so bad," whispered Chad aside to him. "I've seen your play three times and I have to admit, she's great on stage and you two have got chemistry. And I don't think it's just acting. Man, these last few days, I've never seen you this happy." He shook his head and lowered his voice even further. "You love her, don't you?"

Troy nodded. "I do, I really do."

"I could see that," Chad replied. "And I'm really happy for you. So I suppose Taylor and I could give her a chance."

He was truly was grateful his best friend was finally giving in and he shook Chad's offered hand.

There was a sudden shrill scream and it effectively quieted the entire noisy hall for a full minute before the noise started again. Troy however, didn't settle like the rest. He knew that voice anywhere.

"Sharpay!" he shouted worriedly. There was no reply and he rushed through the crowded hallway to the very end of the corridor. It was hard to get through the throng of ecstatic chorus members so he had to push himself through them. When he finally got through, he found Sharpay embracing Ryan desperately. She looked like she was in tears and seemed to be trying to hide it in her brother's shoulder.

"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

No one answered him and Troy was confused. Sharpay's back was to him so he couldn't see her face. But he could see Ryan's. He was smiling. So was Kelsi who was standing next to them though she too had tears in her eyes. When Kelsi saw him she flung herself into Troy's arms and hugged him like crazy.

Troy was startled and completely baffled at this unusual gesture. It took him a while before he could ask her:

"Are you alright?" But he didn't wait for an answer. He saw in the next second Sharpay giving Ryan little kisses on the cheek. He momentarily forgot that he was her brother and he gave the male Evans a death glare.

To his astonishment, Ryan glared back while trying to avoid his sister's lips. "Don't even think of it! Even if she's too happy!" he warned. Troy was even more confused until he realized Ryan's overjoyed girlfriend currently had him locked in a bear hug.

An ecstatic Kelsi finally let go of Troy. "I need someone else to hug!" she laughed. Ryan pushed his sister off him like she had a contagious disease and was about to offer himself when Sharpay pushed him back and beat Ryan into hugging Kelsi.

"Hey!" Ryan protested.

"Wait your turn, Ry!" Sharpay snapped but she was smiling. She and Kelsi kept hugging while bouncing like a pair of five-year-old best friends who just got what they wanted for Christmas. It was a sight Troy never expected to see. They were always fighting.

"Fine!" shouted Ryan sarcastically as he watched his sister and his girlfriend jumping up and down and giggling like idiots. "I'll go hug Troy!"

Troy's eyes widened as Ryan began heading towards him looking seriously about to do it.

Sharpay quickly let go of Kelsi and pushed her towards her twin to prevent him from going a step further. "Don't even dare! He's mine!" She laughed and Ryan and Kelsi joined in.

"Could someone please tell me what's going on?" Troy helplessly asked.

Sharpay just enveloped him in a hug and brushed her lips against his. When she stepped away a bit she flashed an opened white envelop in his face. "I got accepted to Julliard on a full scholarship!"

Troy felt happy for her. "That's great!" he replied as he returned her hug.

"Kelsi got in too and so did Ryan although I supposed Daddy has to pay for his tuition since he doesn't have the grades to get a scholarship."

Troy laughed. "I can tell," he replied as he watched Kelsi kissing Ryan behind them. He ignored them though for Sharpay was clinging to him tighter and he absolutely loved having her body close to his. He pressed his cheek to hers.

"I guess I should be answering that acceptance letter now," he whispered.

Sharpay pulled away slightly to face him. "Which one?" she asked. She knew he had gotten several from good universities with full basketball scholarships.

"NYU," he replied before staring lovingly at her. "So I can be near you."

Sharpay's mouth fell open as understanding dawned in her face and he could see her eyes go glassy.

"Sharpay," he began as he touched her cheek, ready to wipe down the tears he knew were about to fall. "I lo—"

"Troy! After party! Come on!" Chad shouted from behind him.

He felt several hands grab him and lead him away so he couldn't see Sharpay anymore. Sharpay was busy being led away by the other drama club members as well.

Troy gave up. He supposed he had to wait to say it to her.

Oh, but he definitely had to kill Chad for his bad timing.