Outbreak

13. The Departure

Karma. That's what this was. Taylor had taken the life of who Sharpay loved most. And now, the tables had turned. That's just the way things are. It's just justice.

Sharpay should have felt better for it. She and Taylor were even now. Chad's life for Ryan's. But, of all the feelings that came over her, relief was not one of them. Grief for the fact that she would never get her brother back, no matter how many lives she took or saved. That was one of the emotions she felt. Guilt for hurting someone who wasn't at all involved in this terrible mess. That was another. Anxiety for being kept here in a place she did not know. Worried for the young boy she'd left alone at home. Fearful for how they might punish her for her crime. But, relief? For what?

Words and images and sounds and memories and emotions all merged into one unbearable and uncontrollable thought process that swirled recklessly through her brain and destroyed her peace of mind. Her wretched thoughts screamed at her from the inside, a force that she could not block out, regardless of how hard she tried to silence it. Within her head was nothing but utter turmoil. And yet, on the outside, she couldn't have seemed more composed.

She lounged carelessly on a large, antique armchair and gazed into the orange and yellow flames that danced within the fireplace. She seemed so comfortable, so relaxed, that only a mind reader would know how she really felt. The others in the room had more than once risked a hesitant glance at her, not believing the impossible tranquillity in her eyes. Not long ago, she'd been fearsome and violent. Now…?

She hadn't spoken since Chad collapsed in her arms. She'd said nothing as Gabriella took control of the SUV and drove them to this impressive mansion that she and Taylor called home. Not one word of protest. Upon arrival, she'd simply taken a seat by the fire and allowed the world to go on around her as she battled to ignore her racing thoughts. A battle that she was slowly losing.

As the Grandfather clock in the hall chimed 4'o'clock, Sharpay got to her feet. She brushed some non-existent dirt from her baggy, grey t-shirt and flicked her long ponytail from one shoulder to the other. With a look of conviction plastered on her face, ignoring the questioning glances she received, she kept her determined gaze fixated on the door that led to the hallway and ultimately her exit.

"I'm leaving." She announced in answer to the question she knew was on their tongues.

Troy stopped his uneasy pacing on the other side of the room. "You can't." He answered simply. He had presumed that she might make this decision, but he was determined to do everything he could to keep them all together. They were stronger united. And to reunite with someone from high school and let them slip out of your fingers was just out of the question. Sharpay was the third survivor he had found. They couldn't separate the growing group. "We have to stick together."

Sharpay almost smiled for his naivety. It seemed as if he still believed in happily ever afters and love prevailing all. She shook her head. "Henry's waiting." She explained, although her decision would have been the same even had he not been.

She preferred to be alone. Being with these guys made her feel like she had even more people to take care of. Not to mention the fact that she could barely look at Taylor and Gabriella without a strong urge to scream at them both. There was no way she could handle staying with them.

"Bring him here." Gabriella suggested, unmoved from where she perched anxiously on a chaise-longue that matched the armchair. She wasn't quite sure where she and Sharpay stood now that the other girl's violent spurt was over. Obviously- and her developing black-eye only reiterated this- they would never be friends, but a cloud of doubt surrounded the issue of forgiveness and Gabriella was fretful for it to clear.

Sharpay had long since silently vowed to never speak to Gabriella nor Taylor again but that didn't stop her from replying through Troy. Looking only at the blue-eyed boy, she spoke again. "We're leaving the city tonight."

Troy frowned. Surely Sharpay knew that the infection had probably spread over the entire world. Moving away wouldn't be any kind of escape. "To go where?" He asked.

"Vegas." She couldn't have said anything weirder. Thankfully, however, she soon explained. "Before Vivienne--…passed away… she told me that the last thing she'd heard from her husband was that they were setting up a camp for survivors in Nevada." She noticed their looks of intense doubt but continued. "If there's any chance of me and the kid surviving this nightmare, it's there."

"You do realise," Gabriella started, not believing a word of it. "There's pretty much no chance of them actually being there." As much as she wanted it to be true, as it was the only slice of rescue they'd heard of within the harsh months, she knew that such wishful thinking would get them nowhere. It was impossible.

The words went right over Sharpay's head. Saying nothing more, she walked purposefully to the arched doorway and out into the bright, spacious foyer. Troy reached out a hand to stop her but she brushed him off with ease. She didn't pause when she reached the front door, though she heard Troy call feebly after her only once.

She walked over the concrete front steps and onto the gravelled driveway. The pebbles crunched underfoot in a daunting rhythm of finality. This was it. She was gone. Saying goodbye to the only friends she had left. Leaving behind all the dreams she'd ever had of those fairytale endings and perfect futures. She climbed into the car, took one steadying breath and drove away.

Her SUV smelt of blood and sweat. It was eerily silent and uncomfortably stuffy. Sharpay kept the tinted windows shut but began to hum quietly to herself to fill the noiseless void. Losing herself in the tune, she gently began to tap the rhythm of 'Bop to the Top' on the steering wheel. Her head nodded in time and before long, she was singing at the top of her voice.

It sounded wrong without Ryan's harmonies.

From the enclosed hotel car-park, up the many flights of stairs and finally to her floor, she thought only of the little boy she was returning to see. She hated the fact that she'd left him alone for so long and could only hope that the five-year-old had dealt with isolation well. She half expected to open the door and find their apartment trashed; crayon drawings on the pristine white walls, the strangely shaped, modern vases shattered on the floor. But Henry was a surprisingly well-behaved kid. And thankfully, as Sharpay took her first steps back into her home, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

She shut the door behind her and dumped her bag where she stood overlooking the vast living area. The entire far wall, which she faced, was a gigantic window, treating her to a stunning, breathtaking view. Sharpay kicked off her shoes and sank her bare toes into the soft white carpet. She took a few steps into the circle of bright, block-coloured sofas before turning to her right where Henry's bedroom door was shut. She took a deep breath to ready herself, though she wasn't sure what for, and put on her bravest of faces. She couldn't let him see that she was upset. She was all he had left.

"Hershey!" She called out in a cheerful sing-song voice, using the nickname he had acquired for his obvious snack favourite.

Sharpay had never liked children. They were ignorant. And sticky. And they always smelled of milk and paint. But being big-sis to this stranger was surprisingly enjoyable. She could see herself growing up with him. They had some fun times, playing stupid made-up games and creating dance routines to perform to the inanimate household objects. They had bad times, where the weight of the world would become too much, whether it be Sharpay's longing for her brother or Henry's for his mother; but rest assured the other one would be there to cheer them up with a funny face or ridiculous joke. They needed each other. As much as Sharpay tried to deny it, she was probably as reliant on him as he was on her. But probably the most important aspect of their relationship was that he admired her. To him, she was god. She was the backbone he needed to survive. He was the appreciation she needed to get herself out of bed in the morning. They were both winners.

"Hersh'!" She called again. Her voice faltered as a moment of dread came over her. Why wasn't he answering?

She walked briskly to his door and burst right in without knocking. He wasn't on his race-car bed or bouncing happily on his mini-trampoline. He wasn't drawing pictures at his little desk or whizzing around the room with a toy-plane in hand screaming 'sche-aa-ow' every time he nose-dived. But Sharpay's heart was put at ease when she noticed the line of 'Action-Men' standing erect on the far side of the room.

The plastic, male-Barbie's were in a messy semi-circle, guarding the entrance to Henry's den; his blanket held up like a tent by a chair on each side. He went there when he was scared. It was often where Sharpay found him asleep in the morning. And the surrounding lookouts were a sure sign that the child was inside now.

Sharpay stepped carefully over the Action-Men, careful not to disturb their formation. She crouched by the den and pulled back the soft sheet of fabric that acted as a front door. Sure enough, Henry was curled up inside fast asleep. He began to stir just as she was about to leave him to rest and she scolded herself for waking him from such a peaceful looking slumber. She felt butterflies in her stomach as he looked up at her with his big shiny eyes. She never got over how cute he was.

There was no doubt that he'd acquired his mother's good looks. The family originated from China, so his skin was light and flawless. Sharpay had trimmed his shiny, black hair in a cute, neat bowl-cut that perfectly framed his face. His almond-shaped eyes were dark and entrancing and his animated eyebrows were amazing in their abilities to convey any kind of emotion with only a small movement of the muscles. When he smiled, it was sincere and genuine and his small teeth would glitter. When he was thinking, his little nose would wrinkle and his pink lips would purse together.

"Hey there, kiddo." Sharpay greeted as he gazed at her, squinting and blinking confusedly. "Didn't mean to wake you."

His ecstatic grin was like nothing else. Sharpay couldn't help but feel honoured that it was for her. He threw his arms around her and held on tight, rambling excitedly about how she was home and how he missed her and how he played 'zombies and superheroes' but she wasn't there to be the zombie. Sharpay nodded, squeezing him back twice as hard and adding an occasional 'Really?'. For now, she thought she'd ignore the fact that he was dribbling into her hair.

She forgot everything that had happened that day. With him, she felt like a different person. He was her escape from it all. And she loved him for that.

Letting go of him, she pulled out of his small embrace. "Come on Hersh'." She said, taking his hand and leading him out of his tent. They stepped through the line of protection with no further need for it. "Let's fix you up something yummy."

"Fabulous!" He cheered. Sharpay laughed at the effect she was having on him. Next he'll be wearing pink, she thought, humorously considering moulding him into a mini-her.

They made it to the kitchen where close to everything was chrome or stainless-steel and Sharpay gently lifted him up onto one of the spotless surfaces. It had taken her a while to get used to the idea of cleaning up after herself but Vivienne had taught her enough and there was no way she was going to live in filth. She'd also had to widen her repertoire of meals, since the only food she could prepare was popcorn (and, even then, Ryan would have to set the time on the microwave).

"What're you in the mood for then?" She asked him as he looked at her expectantly and hungrily.

He didn't need a second to think. His mouth was open to answer almost instantly but, ready for what she knew was coming, Sharpay was quick to cut him off.

"Not chocolate." She added.

He faltered for a moment and then shrugged. "Pizza?" He suggested hopefully.

Sharpay opened the freezer and leaned so far into it that her head almost disappeared. Henry giggled with pleasure she emerged with two flat, square boxes.

"Pizza it is." She confirmed.

They ate on the sofa facing the large, flat-screen HDTV. Dinner was always spent watching one of three DVDs that Henry enjoyed. They'd seen each one so many times that they could both recite each line with ease. The pizza was good. But Sharpay couldn't enjoy it with the knowledge that it may be their last hot meal. She wondered if their plans to move on were really worth it. Firstly, to uproot the orphan child and take him from his mother's home could cause far too much grief for him, even if he had already expressed enthusiasm towards the idea. Secondly, there was so much they were leaving behind. And finally, they didn't even know if there was a survivor's camp.

Then again, she supposed they could always come back if they found themselves disappointed. And they couldn't survive on these rations for much longer as they'd scavenged the entire building for food and it was quickly running out.

"Do you want me to help you pack?" She asked as she turned off the DVD, the credits rolling.

He nodded but said nothing. She could see the hesitation on his face.

"Are you sure you wanna go?" She looked him straight in the eye, knowing he found it impossible to lie this way. "'Cos if you don't, we don't have to."

He held her gaze. "I do." Was all he said.

Sharpay looked at him for a moment longer. Unable to resist, she planted a quick kiss on his forehead. "Okay." She said, grabbing their empty plates and making her way to the kitchen. The second her back was turned, he wiped the damp spot on his head where she had kissed him.

"I saw that, Henry." She scolded jokingly, not even having to turn around to know what he had done.

A/N: And that's the otherside of Sharpay. Hope you like it. Sorry for the wait. I've been pretty recently and it was my birthday the other day so celebrations were in order :P

The usual sincerest thanks to bex-sharpay tisdale-evans, lilmissmonique, ChaylorTwilightQueen10, mzwendy85, ILuvZacEfron, HisDelilah, chaylorXtraylorlover101, ChaylorBabyx3, 2pinkstar and 7blackberry, MaxRideRox and my newest reader spannaloveszanessa.

And the preview; While wandering, he used the time to delve into some much needed thought. The bite on his hand tingled beneath the bandage, a constant reminder of what had happened. A constant reminder that everything was going to change.

I know what you're thinking: 'Where the hell is Chad?!' Be patient…

xX M Xx