Chapter 18

"There. Is this good enough for you?"

"I don't know. It's still too pink."

Sharpay sighed. Emmy had already taken over her room enough with black. What she wouldn't do for Troy's love.

"I covered up most of the pink, Emmy."

"It's still too pink!"

"Well, too bad. You're going to have to put up with it!"

"I don't like pink."

"I don't give a crap! You're going to either stay and like it, or move to a different room."

"I am perfectly content with this room…. Besides its pinkness."

"Too bad."

"Where are you going to be staying?"

"Well, since you have taken my room, I guess I'll sleep in one of the guest rooms."

Emmy smiled. "Okay."

The doorbell rang.

"KITTEN! COULD YOU GET THAT?!"

"FINE!" Sharpay turned to Emmy. "Try not to make my room any more black."

"You don't have to worry, because I'm coming with you. I want to see who's at the door!"

"Fine."

Sharpay and Emmy went downstairs. Sharpay pulled the door open. It was Troy.

"Troy! What a surprise!"

"Hi Sharpay, Emmy."

"What brings you here?"

"I got you something."

Troy pulled out the 'T' necklace. He handed it to Sharpay.

"A 'T'? For what?"

Emmy ripped the necklace from Sharpay. "Does it stand for Troy?"

"You know me too well, Em."

"Oh, Troy!" Sharpay grabbed the necklace from Emmy. "Thank you!"

"I've realized that…. You're the one that I want. Not Gabriella."

"REALLY?!" Sharpay hugged Troy.

"Well, I'm leaving this yuck fest when I still can." Emmy went back upstairs.

Sharpay pulled away from Troy. "But what made you change your mind?"

"Well, it was actually Gabriella's idea….."

"And you agreed with her, right?"

Troy nodded, even though he didn't agree.

"That is so sweet!" Sharpay put the necklace around her neck. "I'll keep it forever!"

Troy smiled. But behind this smile he felt upset and betrayed. How could Gabriella do this to him?

"Thanks again!" Sharpay leaned in towards him. She kissed him on the cheek.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow." With that, Troy left.

Sharpay shut the door. She smiled to herself. Everything was going great.

****

"So, are you comfortable? You don't need anything else?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Thanks, Mom."

Mrs. Montez sat down next to her daughter. "How are you felling, though? Are you better?"

"Yeah. I mean, I'm not totally cured, but I am feeling better."

"That's good."

Gabriella looked down at the empty jewelry case. "Mother, if you thought you were in the way of somebody's happiness, what would you do?"

"Well, it depends."

"Let's say that this guy likes you. You like him back, but somebody else deserves him. Even though the guy still likes you, you tell him to leave and be with the other girl. Well, the guy doesn't like that girl. What would you do?"

"Well, probably encourage the guy to like the other girl. Why?"

"I was just wondering."

"Did something happen?"

"Mom, I can handle it myself. I don't need you looking over my shoulder for me."

"Okay. But, if you ever do need my help, I'm here."

"I know. But I need to figure this out by myself."

Yet Gabriella felt like she needed help more than anything.

****

"Oh my God!"

"What?"

Emmy and Sharpay were sitting in Sharpay's (temporarily Emmy's) room. Sharpay had been droning on about Troy and the necklace.

"It's my parents."

Sharpay set down the necklace. She walked over to Emmy's ringing phone. Sure enough, the ID said 'Mom and Dad'. "Well, are you going to answer?"

"Are you out of your mind?! They left me!"

"Maybe they're calling to apologize."

"I highly doubt that."

"Just answer it."

Emmy looked down at her phone. She picked it up and slowly flipped it open. She put it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Emmy?"

"Yeah?"

"It's your mother."

"Don't you mean my ex-mother?"

"Emmy, don't start with me…."

"I will start with you! You totally left me hear by myself! You abandoned me!"

"Emmy, listen…."

"No! I won't listen! The least you could do is help me get through this, not just leave me! But you and dad, you both think you're so smart."

"Emmy, I called you for a reason, not so you could yell at me and tell me what I'm doing wrong with my life."

"You know, I don't think I could point out all of the things that you're doing wrong. BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS! SO LISTEN UP! DO NOT CALL ME AGAIN! EVER! I DON'T NEED TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOU AND DAD HAVE TO SAY! ALRIGHT?! SO LET'S JUST GO ALONG WITH OUT LIVES, OKAY?!"

"Emmy, you need to listen to me. The reason I called was to tell you that you have really hurt your father and I. Socially, that is."

"What?!"

"We had to move because you were ruining our social lives. We still love you, but we couldn't afford the humiliation."

"So, I embarrass you?"

"After you turned into a rebel, yes."

"Mom, do not call me again. I do not need you calling me just to insult me! So, shut up, hang up, and grow up!"

"Emmy…."

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Emmy hung up. She slammed the phone down.

"Are you okay?"

"NO!"

"Oh. Well, what'd they say?" "They said they still loved me, but they had to leave because I was an embarrassment. Like I'm going to believe they still love me. That's just a bunch of bull crap."

"Maybe she was telling the truth."

"I don't believe that."

"Well, either way, you're right. It still wasn't right of them just to leave you here."

Emmy glared at Sharpay. "You know, Troy probably doesn't love you. He loves Gabriella."

"Well, you heard him. He changed his mind."

"I doubt that."

"Well, I believe him. He even gave me this necklace."

"SO?! He probably bought it for Gabriella and then she made him give it to you."

"Why would she do that?"

"I don't know. He said it was her idea for him to go out with you or whatever."

"Emmy, you are so lame."

"No, I'm not. I know what I'm talking about."

"Well, Troy loves me. You're just going to have to deal with it. You're not the only girl in his life, just face it."

"I KNOW I'M NOT!"

"You're just jealous!"

"YOU'RE THE ONE'S WHO JEALOUS! OF GABRIELLA! YOU HIRED PEOPLE TO BEAT HER UP!"

"So?"

"SO! I CAN'T LIVE WITH YOU! I CAN'T WATCH YOU TAKE OVER MY COUSIN!"

"You don't even like him anymore! Some cousin you are!"

"Well, I still can't watch you do this! I'm leaving."

"Fine. Go. Bye!"

Emmy ran down the stairs. She walked out the door. Right when she reached the end of the driveway, she ran. She didn't know where she was going, but she ran. She had to get out of there. She needed to get away from it all. For good.