Thank you once again for all the reviews! I have taken into consideration several ideas and I really hope you like them.

A/N: Thank you to Lipshake and theferretmenace for giving me the ideas I'm going to apply for this chapter! I think a few more of you may have also said similar things as well. Thank you!

Disclaimer: Same as always.

Just Like Us, Ch. 25

It had been a week since Troy and Sharpay had gone to see Ana's teacher. She recommended that Ana go into the 3rd grade for math only; the class just happened to be taught by Gabi, since she had the 'advanced 3rd graders.' Since Ana's math skills were through the roof, her teacher wanted to give her the best education possible without disrupting her routine.

Sharpay had thought and thought about the play; she really did want to be in it; after all, it had been a good five years since she had been in one at all, but she also wanted Larissa to get back into acting. She finally decided on something that she knew would make Larissa see the light of day.

"Mommy who are you calling," Ana asked as she walked into the house after school.

Sharpay looked over at Ana, "How was your first day in the new class," Sharpay asked, hanging up when no one answered.

She shrugged, "It's…weird…but for some reason, I can understand it better," she said as she walked over to Sharpay. "Aunt Gabi gave me a test already," she said in a whiny voice. Then again, who would want a test the first day in a new class?

"I'm sure it was just to…" Sharpay looked at the test, "Honey, you got all of the questions right…and these are questions that even I'm not sure I could answer," Sharpay said in shock.

"That's what I said," Troy said as he walked into the house with the rest of the kids. Sharpay had been sick that day, so rehearsal (at the middle school) had been called off and Troy refused to allow his wife to leave the house.

Ana crossed her arms, "People think I'm weird," she said as a few tears slid down her face.

Troy picked her up, "No they don't; they just don't understand why you are leaving your room during math class, that's all."

Zachary shook his head, "Nuh-uh. I hearded someone say that she is a weirdo," he said. "I told her that she was mean," he said, proud that he had suck up for his big sister.

"Then they're just jealous," Sharpay said, eyeing Larissa, who had yet to say a word about her day; she had yet to have an actual conversation with her mom ever since she found out that her mom was going to be playing Belle. "And when people are jealous," Sharpay continued, "Sometimes they act in ways that aren't exactly…nice," she said, hoping Larissa was listening to this.

She turned her head, but didn't say anything. She simply took an apple out of the refrigerator and sat down at the table.

Troy sighed, "She was silent the entire ride home," he said aside to Sharpay. "What do you plan on doing? I mean, it's been a week."

"Calm down, I…thought of something that would solve this problem," she said, a sad look on her face. She took a deep breath and picked up the phone again and dialed another number. "Hello, is this Ella Stevens, the director for the Albuquerque Community Theatre's production of Beauty and the Beast…great; I'm sorry to have to call you at home, but I need to speak to you now…this is Sharpay Bolton…yes, my daughter Larissa…yes, that's right…anyway, I um…I hate to do this, but I'm going to have to drop out of the play," she said.

Larissa, who was about to take a bite of her apple dropped it on the floor when she heard this. She walked over to her mom, "What are you doing," she asked.

Sharpay gave her a sign that meant, 'hold on' and continued her conversation. "Yes, I know this is sudden, but I just feel…okay…yes, and I thank you for the opportunity…I will definitely call if something changes." She blushed as the woman complimented her on her singing ability, "Thank you that is very sweet…uh huh…okay, thank you." She hung up the phone and looked at Larissa, "Now what did you ask," she said as she put the phone book away.

"Mommy, what did you just do," Larissa asked, following her mom into the family room where Sharpay was picking up a few toys.

She sighed and looked over at Larissa, "I just thought that if I were to drop out, that you would…I don't know…not have to be jealous of whoever is playing Belle," she said, acting as though it was no big deal. She walked back into the kitchen where Troy just stood there with his mouth open in shock. She walked over to him and closed his mouth, "That isn't polite," she said softly.

Larissa followed her mom back into the kitchen, "But…mommy…you can't quit," Larissa said.

"It's for the best," Sharpay said. "Now I do believe you have some homework so I suggest you get started on it."

Larissa nodded and picked up her backpack and walked upstairs, looking at her mom the entire time.

Kayleigh looked over at her mom, "Mommy, you're Belle! You can't leave!" She placed her hands on her hips, "You said to never give up," she said in a scolding tone.

Sharpay simply kissed Kayleigh's head, "I know I did, sweetie; I'm glad you remembered that." She gave her a small smile.

Troy, still not exactly knowing what to think of what his wife had just done, walked into the den to do some work on his laptop. Before he went in there, however, he was stopped by Sharpay.

"It'll work out, you'll see," she whispered, winking at him.

He nodded, now knowing what she was doing. "Good thinking," he said as he kissed her and walked into the den.

"I'm home," Theresa said in a rather upbeat tone as she, Angie, and Ryan walked into the house.

Gabi looked at her, "Wow, someone is in a good mood," she said with a smile, happy to see a real smile on her daughter's face. "Did you get another good grade on your English test or something," she asked.

Theresa nodded, "Look," she said, handing her mom the test.

Ryan walked over to her, "Pretty amazing, huh," he said, looking at the test with Gabi.

She nodded, "Yeah…good job, sweetie." She gave her back the test, "Anything else happen today?"

"No, not really," Theresa said in an unusually happy tone.

"Okay, what's going on," Ryan asked. "You refused to say anything in the car; what's going on?"

Before she could say anything, Gabi placed her hands on her face, "Oh my gosh, you have a crush!"

Theresa looked at her mom, "What? But…how…where…"

"Oh honey, I remember having that face when I had my first crush," she said as she remembered her 5th grade beau.

Ryan looked over at Theresa in complete shock, "You have a crush?" He looked as if he was going to pass out.

She shook her head, "No…"

He placed a hand on his heart, "Thank goodness," he muttered.

"We're sort of…like really good friends," she said as she sat down.

"Oy," Ryan said, running a hand through his hair. He was not ready for this! His 'baby' was only 11 years old! "Um honey, are you sure about this," he asked.

She nodded, "Yeah; we eat lunch together everyday, we have three classes together…but I still focus," she added, "And we just…hang out," she said with a smile.

"What's his name," Gabi asked.

"Jordan," Theresa said in a 'dreamy' tone. ((Do you know the kind of tone I mean? Like when you really like a guy? Well that is the tone she just used, LOL)) "Jordan Keyes," she said with a smile.

"Oh honey I'm so happy for you," Gabi said, getting up to hug her daughter.

She smiled, "Thanks, mom…and guess what?" She looked at both parents, "He also has braces!" She squealed. "So we get to complain together!"

Ryan, still reeling from hearing his daughter mention that she liked a boy walked over to her, "Theresa, I…just…um…just promise me this: please don't rush into anything."

She rolled her eyes, "Daddy! We're just really good friends, sheesh!"

"Ryan, can't you be happy for your daughter," Gabi said.

He shook his head, "I…I don't know what to feel; she is only 11 years old!"

"And she's standing right here," Theresa said, her smile gone. "Can't you ever be happy for me," she said as she ran up to her room and slammed the door.

Gabi shook her head, "Honestly, Ryan," she said as she walked past him, "You could at least be happy that she's happy," she said as she went after her daughter.

He sat down at the table, "She's too young," he said to himself.

Michael sat across from him, "Don't worry daddy, I think so too," he said, mimicking his father's pose.

"Theresa," Gabi said as she knocked on the door, "Honey, open up."

Theresa walked to the door and opened it, tears in her eyes, "Why is he like that," she said, sitting back down on the bed.

Gabi sighed, "Well, I have a feeling," she said, sitting down beside her. "Honey, you are his oldest daughter; this is just…weird for him to see his…and I know you hate the term, but it's hard for him to see his 'baby' growing up."

"Why is it so hard," she asked, resting her head on Gabi's shoulder.

Gabi sighed, "Well, maybe it's hard for him to except this just like it's hard for you to except the fact that you're going to have a new brother or sister," she said carefully.

Theresa sat up, "I…I never said that I…"

"Honey, it's kind of obvious; the attitude, the constant rolling of the eyes whenever I can feel the baby kick; think about it," she said, looking pointedly at her.

She thought for a moment, "I…guess…"

"You are so much like your father," she said as she hugged her.

"How's the homework coming," Troy asked as he walked into Ana and Kayleigh's room.

Ana looked up, "It's good; I guess…I'm almost done."

"You are?" He looked over her shoulder, "Wow I never learned how to do this stuff correctly until I was at least 12," he said. "Maybe you should be our accountant."

She laughed, "Daddy."

"I'm kidding, sweetie." He kissed her head. "Keep up the good work."

Sharpay walked past Larissa's room and could hear soft whimpering. She opened the door, "Larissa? What's wrong honey?"

She looked up, "Mommy you can't quit," Larissa said through her tears. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to be…"

"Jealous," Sharpay finished for her as she walked into the room and sat down beside her.

She nodded, "Yeah." She wiped her eyes, "Are you mad?"

She sighed, "Well I'm not going to deny the fact that I was a little hurt, but now that I know the real reason, I guess I understand where you're coming from. You inherited my overreacting genes."

Larissa smiled softly, "But I'm adopted mommy."

She shrugged, "So? That doesn't mean that the last six years haven't rubbed off on you," she said with a smile.

Larissa didn't say anything for a few minutes. She picked up the advertisement for the play. "Mommy," she finally said.

"Yes?"

"Do you think you could…call that woman back?" She looked at her mom with hopeful eyes.

She smiled, "I think I can do that," she said as she kissed Larissa's head. "But no more of this getting jealous…and you do know that we'll have a lot of onstage time together, right?"

She nodded, "Okay…I just…like to get the main part," she confessed.

Sharpay laughed, "Yep, you have definitely inherited my love for acting…along with that oh-so-lovely attitude that comes with it."

Larissa smiled, "I did?"

"Oh yeah," she said as she hugged her.

"So you can call that woman back?"

She nodded, "Yep; I'll do that tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay," she said softly.

Theresa walked downstairs after her mom said dinner was ready. She sat down in her usual spot, which happened to adjacent to her dad. "Michael, switch places with me," she said.

He looked at her, "No, I like sitting by mommy."

"Just do it," Theresa said quietly yet angrily.

"Okay," he said, getting up to trade places.

Ryan walked into the kitchen, "Theresa, can I…did you switch places with your brother?"

"Yes," she said flatly.

He sighed, "May I talk to you in the other room please?"

"Fine," she said as she got up and followed him into the living room. She sat on the opposite end of the couch.

Ryan sighed and got up to sit closer to her, stopping her from getting up to move again. "Sweetie, I just want to talk to you."

Okay, not one of my best chapters and I know, I totally left out Katie, Jason, and Kelsi, but don't worry, I didn't forget about them! So do you think Larissa is going to be completely fine with her mom playing the lead? And what about Theresa and Ryan? What does he want to talk to her about? Please review and as usual, suggestions/ideas are welcome. Thanks for reading!