Chapter Thirteen

A/N – My gift to you! The start of official Troypay! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Sharpay wandered around school the next day, head full of music. Ever since she had seen her piano the day before on Monday, she had had a song playing nonstop inside her head. She had had to stop herself from humming the damned song whenever her thoughts strayed. It had been even worse since she couldn't concentrate all day on anything with the tune playing louder than the teacher's talking.

She thanked her lucky stars that Ms. Darbus had been absent that day meaning no play…meaning that she wouldn't get yelled at for her lack of attention. She rested her head against her locker as Ryan finished getting his books out of his.

"You ready to go?" he asked.

Sharpay bit her bottom lip for a moment before replying, "You go on ahead, I…want to work on something for the musical."

Ryan looked up at his sister and smiled broadly, "Now there's the Sharpay I know and love. Always practicing for the musical." He gave her a quick hug, "Give me a call when you need a ride home ok?"

She nodded, waving to him as he walked down the hall. She looked down at the notebook in her hands. It was one of those sheet music notebooks, just page after page of those five lines. She never really told anyone, but she was quite the composer herself. Ever since her parents had gotten her piano lessons she had started to write little ditties and songs, just nonsense stuff to relieve her stress…but now, she figured her notebook would come in handy…if she didn't get that song out of her head she thought she'd scream.

She took a deep breath before heading towards the auditorium, she knew that no one would be there…no one loved the musicals that much to practice when not even Kelsi was around to play…but Sharpay didn't need to practice…she needed to write…

She let out a relieved sigh as she stepped into the empty auditorium; you could never be too certain that no one would be there. But no one was…she was confused slightly at the lack of people, she had at least expected Gabriella to be there practicing for her songs with a CD.

She mentally smacked herself when she remembered that the Scholastic Decathlon members were meeting after school for a practice session since Darbus was absent. Not to mention, there was basketball practice as well so Chad and Troy were finally able to go to one without having to leave early or late because of the musical. She smiled softly; finally it was just her, the piano, and the song in her head.

She sat at the bench, running her hands gently over the keys before setting her notebook on the top of the piano. She closed her eyes the song starting over in her head, she placed her hands on the keys and started to play the first few notes…

Troy blocked Zeke preventing Jason from passing him the ball. Zeke broke out of the block and signaled for Jason to pass him the ball, he did but Troy managed to steal it and head for the basket. He took the shot…SWISH! He made it!

He turned to give Zeke a 'you'll do better next time' look before getting a high five from Chad as the other team took the ball and the scrimmage continued. Coach Bolton was watching the game with a startling intensity, eyes firmly planted on Troy. After all, this was his last chance to make something of himself with Basketball. Scouts would be coming to the championship games and Jack Bolton would be damned if he let his son screw up his chances to get a scholarship. If Troy wasn't at the top of his game…then Jack would have to make him practice double time till he was.

"Troy!" he shouted, "Pass the ball more! You're a team player not a ball hog!"

Troy glanced over at his father, rolling his eyes before passing the ball back to Chad. He'd been passing the ball all practice; he'd only taken about two shots at the basket in the nearly two hours they had been playing.

Every time he made a basket, his dad would yell for him to pass the ball more…if he passed the ball when he had a chance for a basket, his dad would yell at him to take more shots! It was infuriating! Troy was nearing the point where if his dad made on more comment on how he should play the game, he was going to take the ball and wail it at him! Troy smirked a little, or better yet, shove it up his as…

The sound of a shrill whistle stopped Troy from finishing his thoughts. He turned to see his father glance at his watch. "Bring it in!" he shouted.

Troy rolled his eyes, the scrimmage was over, his team had won so there really wasn't anything for his dad to ride him about…or so he thought…

He sat there as his dad spouted off praises to nearly every member of the Varsity team, letting them head off to the locker room to change as soon as he finished his 'critiquing'. Troy was the last one, which he fully expected and was grateful for. He really hated it when his dad got on his case in front of the guys.

"Troy what was that just now?" he asked, appearing angry while trying to stay calm.

"I was doing what you told me to dad," Troy started. "Coach." He corrected when he saw the look his father gave him.

"And what was that?"

"To give it my all and get my head in the game."

Coach Bolton rolled up the papers with the team's stats that he'd been going over and smacked Troy on the head with it. "And was that your all? Huh? Was your head in the game?"

Troy winced rubbing his head slightly, "No, sir."

Coach Bolton's features softened when he saw his son wince. He sighed, rubbing his forehead. He was disappointed in himself. He had promised Troy that he would let him make his own decisions about what he wanted to do with his life. The song Troy sang at the Talent show had convinced him that he was becoming the thing he swore he wouldn't be…his own father. His dad had pushed him and pushed him in basketball, making it possible for him to get into a great college…while pushing him away and filling him with resentment. He didn't want that relationship with his own son.

"I'm sorry son," Coach said, hanging his head, "I just…I'm worried about the championships…the scouts…"

"I know," Troy said, nodding his head. He understood as well, that the basketball scholarship would really help his family pay for college. "I'll do better."

"Thank you." Coach Bolton said. Troy started to head for the locker room when his dad gently grabbed his elbow, "100 baskets." He said, grinning slyly at Troy. It had been an ongoing joke between them. At the end of every practice Troy was supposed to shoot 100 baskets, his dad would head home and wait till Troy jogged back. They would time it to see Troy's improvement.

Troy rolled his eyes, laughing slightly as he grabbed the ball that his father tossed to him. He waited till his father entered his office to get his keys, signaling the beginning of the timing. He turned back to the basket, barely having to look as he took a shot…SWISH…

Nearly 20 minutes later he had completed his baskets, positive that it was a new record. He jogged over to the locker rooms, taking a quick shower before changing and heading out. He jogged down the hall, ready to run out of the main doors and head home when he heard something. He stopped in his tracks not even ten feet away from the main doors, listening, trying to figure out what the sound was. It sounded like someone was playing the piano…beautifully, he might add. His curiosity got the better of him and he found himself walking down the hall along side the auditorium before he even realized what he was doing.

Troy walked closer and closer to the stage door, where the music was getting louder. He could hear someone singing now. He leaned his head against the door, listening to the words…they were in another language…something like French…but it sounded so familiar. Troy's eyes widened, glazing over as the words struck something deep within him. As if in a trance he opened the stage door and walked in, an unknown force pulling him closer and closer to the blonde seated at the piano bench…

Sharpay had been so relieved as she continued playing her song, eyes closed in delight. It had taken her nearly two hours to get the notes on the page. It seemed like every time she started to write the notes, another memory would bubble to the surface, pushing her song away. She would have been happy to let the song fade away but now she was determined to get it down on paper.

She had managed to do it…finally…and had taken only about fifteen minutes to fully be able to play the song like she had done so often in France. A soft smile crept onto her face as she played, she remembered when she had written the song, Soleil had just moved in with Genevieve and Treves…that man…he was infuriating! All they had done was argue constantly about one thing or another. He seemed to get off by teasing and tormenting her. Somehow though, they had managed to fall in love with one another. Her song was all about how love comes up in the most unexpected places, from the most unexpected people.

She hummed along with it, starting to sing where she had made notes that lyrics were supposed to be. She could recall the words almost as if she had just sung them yesterday. She put her heart into the words, not bothering to put force into them. This wasn't a song to belt out; it was a song to be felt.

Vaguely she could hear the stage door open behind her, but she paid no mind to it, too into her playing. It wasn't even until the song died down to its last few notes that she even heard the person walking towards her…

"Soleil…" Troy whispered in a daze as he walked closer to Sharpay.

Sharpay gasped, getting up from the piano to face Troy. Her eyes widened in shock as he raised a hand to stroke her cheek.

"Troy…" she said, swallowing hard, "What are you…"

He smiled softly, "Mon Amour…" he whispered before leaning down and capturing her lips in a feather light kiss. But it didn't stay that way for long, the sugary sweet kiss soon grew, like a piece of wood catching the spark of a flame, into an uncontainable fire of passion. Their tongues dueled for dominance as their arms wound their way around the other. Troy's hand rested on the back of Sharpay's neck, angling her head to deepen the kiss…

Soleil had finally finished her composition. She was so excited; she was going to submit it hoping that it might be good enough to be put into the concert that the pianists of France were putting on in a few weeks. She had worked nonstop since she had arrived in Genevieve's house to finish and perfect it. No small feat when one took into account Treves' nonstop annoyance.

That man…he was so infuriating! The highlight of his day seemed to be getting a rise out of her. Of course, Soleil went right back at him, she was not one to back down to a challenge.

She let the notes linger a moment longer before she released the keys, finally finished perfecting her song. She let out a soft breath; smiling softly as she stared at the keys…just then a clapping noise arose behind her.

She turned quickly, standing to face none other than Treves as he made his way across the room towards her. "Treves!" she shouted startled, what was he doing here? He was supposed to be at the office today. "What are you…"

She couldn't finish her sentence for Treves placed a finger over her lips, she looked up into his eyes, seeing an emotion she thought she'd never see there…love… "That was beautiful…" he started, smiling softly, all the while staring into her sky blue eyes, "My love…" he whispered, closing the gap between them to capture her lips.

Their tender, chaste kiss quickly transformed to a burning, passionate one. Both were so engrossed in their kiss that neither saw the lone figure standing outside the partially open door. Genevieve barely stifled a gasp when she saw her husband and her so-called best friend. Tears of hurt and anger filled her eyes as she glared at Soleil. She took an angry breath before spinning on her heel and storming down the hall…

Only lack of oxygen was able to separate them as they parted gasping for the much needed air. They rested their foreheads against the others, eyes closed, still savoring the kiss.

Sharpay shook her head slightly, pulling back, "Troy…" she whispered hoarsely.

Troy opened his eyes, crystal clear, staring straight into her sky blue eyes seeing her fully for the first time, "Beautiful…" he whispered. He leaned in to kiss her again, but she stepped back out of his arms.

She shook her head, forcing herself not to look at him…if she did, she knew she'd give in to him and she couldn't…He was still with Gabriella, and Sharpay would be damned is she hurt her best friend like that...she had learned from her mistake with Genevieve. She felt tears fill her eyes…it wasn't fair…Troy finally felt the same about her and she couldn't even have him…

"I can't…" she whispered taking a few more steps back.

"Shar…" Troy started, but his words were lost as Sharpay ran out of the auditorium.

Troy stood there a moment longer, wondering just what had happened. He had heard her singing and gone to listen…then the next thing he knew, he had an undeniable urge to kiss her…and so he did…and it felt great! He had had feelings for Sharpay for quite some time, but he had never thought in the slightest that she liked him as well. That was why he had agreed to go out with Gabriella in the first place…he thought that Sharpay would never want him…boy was he ever wrong…

He let out a defeated sigh before walking out of the auditorium as well. He had to talk to Sharpay as soon as possible…tomorrow…he could only hope that she would listen…

As soon as Troy was out of the room two figures emerged from behind the curtains of the stage. They looked at each other, confusion and worry in their eyes.

"What should we do?" Taylor asked, glancing at Chad.

Chad shook his head, his afro shaking slightly after he'd finished, "I…don't know…"

A/N – Ohhhh…what are Chad and Taylor going to do now? Troy and Sharpay have been caught…what is Troy going to say? Will Sharpay listen?