Author's Note: Lucky Chapter 13! That is, lucky for Chad and Sharpay. Things have officially been kicked up a notch…

Chapter 13: Safe

Chad

With the SATs looming, Ms. Darbus insisted that the seniors' last free period of the day would be used for studying. Apparently, this was what free periods were made for in the first place. That was news to Chad.

And so the library was filled that Friday afternoon with resentful teenagers, all slouched over their text books, while Mrs. Falstaff, the librarian, hissed at anyone who dared to do so much as sneeze.

Chad sat at one of the longer tables with Troy, Gabriella, Zeke, Taylor and a dozing Jason. He was paying attention, just not to his schoolwork.

Chad sat slumped with his chin resting on his fist, head bowed slightly, giving off an air of nonchalance. But from beneath the fringe of corkscrew curls Chad's eyes were focused on the table a few meters away.

The little blonde creature that was Sharpay, sat with Lee and her brother (the latter staring around in obvious annoyance). All her attentions were on her date. Her date who she was now apparently dating. Chad clenched a fist under the table as she slipped her fingers into Lee's, smiling sweetly. He smiled back and issued a lingering kiss to her cheek. Ryan coughed hard. Mrs. Falstaff's disembodied hushing could be heard.

Chad stared down at his Algebra and tried to concentrate, but the letters and numbers only blurred into a mass of black and white. He looked back up.

"Can't you two get a room or something?" he called with an audible sort of quiet.

All drooping heads snapped up, eager for some sort of entertainment. Sharpay fixed him with an icy stare.

"Excuse me?"

"Your kissy noises are distracting."

The librarian materialized by his side. "It's indecent, Mrs. Falstaff," he protested.

"Shhh!" And she bustled away.

Chad opened his mouth to speak but:

"Dude," Troy interrupted, eyeing him uncertainly. "Let her be."

He was suddenly aware of the quizzical stares he was being fixed with. Chad hastily returned to Algebra but could not get deep enough into it to blank out Sharpay's teasing giggles. His fist remained clenched.

Sharpay

"Danforth shoots! He scores! EAST HIGH WINS!"

Sharpay leaped to her feet with everyone else, fearing that if she didn't she would be tarred and feathered.

She clapped politely for Chad as he soared around the gym, sweaty, illuminated in glory and the dusty streaks of sunlight pouring in. His teammates leaped at him and slapped his back while South High shuffled off the court.

Idiot, Sharpay huffed internally. Gorgeous idiot.

Chad had managed to thoroughly annoy her throughout the day, perhaps because she had thoroughly annoyed him, fooling around with Lee. But Sharpay could not help being swept up in the excitement about him. He was more impressive than usual in his uniform, animated by victory and elation.

Her vision of him was marred when Taylor crept into the frame tentatively, whereupon he swept her up into his arms.

Sharpay turned hastily to Ryan, murmuring that she needed the bathroom. He nodded absently, rising on his toes to get a better look at the happy couple.

It was in looking away that Sharpay missed Taylor pulling out from her boyfriend's embrace, exclaiming that he was all damp and gross. She also failed to notice the look this earned from Chad.

Sharpay strode down the hallway, picking at her nails in agitation. Stupid Chad. Stupid Taylor. Stupid world…

"Evans!"

She stopped and turned, hair whipping her face lightly.

"What do you want?"

He held out his arms beseechingly. "No congratulations for my big win?"

She settled a hand on her hip. "For tossing a ball into a net? Right. Bravo!"

He hit her with a disarming grin. "You're not still mad about the library, are you?"

"Oh, I am seething."

"I was just trying to-"

"What?" she exclaimed. "Humiliate me? Here's an idea, Wildcat," she took a step forward, "you leave me to enjoy my relationship, and I'll leave you to enjoy yours. M'kay?"

She turned and strutted the last few steps to the bathroom, glittery pink heels click-clacking on the floor.

Sharpay glared at her image in the mirror, fluffing up her hair with more vigor than was necessary.

"I'm sorry."

Sharpay started. He was standing in the doorway. "Get out!" she exclaimed, appalled at the audacity. This was sacred territory.

"I'm sorry." And he stepped inside.

"This is a girl's bathroom," she hissed.

The door swung shut behind him. "Then what are you doing here?"

Sharpay gave an aimless yell and began to reapply lipgloss. And then he was at her side, too close. She could smell the sweat, feel him breathing on her shoulder. She stared at their reflection. Oh no.

"Evans." No. "Look at me." No. "I can't fight anymore." No. "Sharpay."

Yes. "What!" She rounded on him.

She barely had time to think and she was glad. His hands were at her neck, fingers trailing up into her hair, down to her collar bone as she was dragged forward, around, pressed back against the sink. Sharpay had never experienced a movie kiss. The When Harry Met Sally kiss, the Notebook kiss, the kiss that seemed good enough to kill you but stopped just short of fatal ecstasy.

And when he pulled away she tingled and shivered and no screen experience could rival it.

Chad and Sharpay stood for a moment in the stunned silence. He looked about to say something, paused, shook his head, turned, and walked out.

She was still suffering the after effects when she got home. She bit down on her nails and blushed at random intervals, feeling treacherously happy and treacherously scared.

As Ryan sat across from her at the dinner table he finally realized something was not right.

"You okay?"

Sharpay put her fork down. "I kissed Chad."

Ryan slapped his hand down on the table, making her jump. "I knew it," he murmured.

Sharpay looked up, stunned. "You did?"

"I did. When he followed you out…I knew! I have to tell Taylor…"

Her eyes widened. "What? No. Ryan, please!"

"He kissed you! He's with Taylor. He's a cheater. Cheater's get found out. You watch the show."

Horrified, Sharpay began to force tears to the surface. "Ryan. Everybody will hate me. They'll think I came onto him. And I didn't. He followed me into the freaking bathroom!"

Her brother narrowed his eyes. "That is so sordid."

It should have been. But somehow it wasn't.

"Please," she continued. "Please don't tell. It didn't mean anything! It was just a weird stupid moment and it won't happen again."

Ryan frowned. "Are you sure about that?"

"Yes," she breathed.

Ryan hesitated, and then sighed deeply, and Sharpay knew their secret was safe.

But as she crawled into bed Shar found herself relentlessly replaying the kiss. She blushed and shivered and as she finally drifted off to sleep, Sharpay wasn't so sure about her promise.

Author's Note: HmLove scenes. Tricky things. But as I said, for Chadpay I will attempt! Did it turn out okay? Tell me if it did. If it didn't, still tell me. And I shall whip myself with a dog's leash!