I'm back!

I did AWESOME for my English Advanced and English Extension exams!

After a long moment to compose himself, Troy finally gained enough strength to get up and go back into Fate's Gate. He pushed the door open, and a gush of heat healed the horrible tingling sensation of the Autumn chill.

It was alot warmer, with the soft chattering of the people, the absence of the stinging cold breeze. Yet… at the same time Troy had never felt as dead inside as he did right now.

He sighed to himself at the sight of Sharpay at the distant window. She had been sitting there for a little while now. She seemed lost in thought, completely consumed into a whole world of her own. Her glasses were still on, but she stared as if in a trance at the opposite chair, smiling at an imaginary person. Her gaze was full of affection, her auburn eyes soft and unguarded. Troy knew who she was imagining sitting in front of her. He took a deep breath and swallowed the lump in his throat, and subconsciously he went over to his own table and put Ryan's jacket and hat back on.

Slowly, and quietly, he walked round to her table, not in front but behind, and he gently placed his hand on Sharpay's shoulder. She let out a gasp, immediately warped out of her world and back into reality. She felt her heart begin to race.

"Ryan?" she said cautiously. She lifted her hand and reached out, waving it around. Troy quickly took it and kneeled down in front of her. Sharpay's dubious stare lingered above him.

She traced her hand up Troy's sleeve, onto his chest, where she recognized Ryan's familiar front pocket with the tear at the corner. She let out a sigh of relief, smiling softly.

"Take me home, Ry," she muttered. "Take me home." Sharpay extended her arms and Troy lifted her fragile body out of the chair. It almost seemed painful to hold her now.

Stepping outside was the hardest part; it was so cold. Alot colder than Troy remembered it was a few seconds ago. He tucked Sharpay under his arm and they began making their way back to the train station. Sharpay acting as though nothing had happened at all. She smiled her dreamy smile, but she was leaning heavily on Troy for most of the time, absolutely exhausted, physically and emotionally. Troy's lips remained sealed, not uttering a word. He couldn't move them, they were just… numb. His entire body felt numb, the only warmth he felt was Sharpay's touch, and the only flicker in his mind were images of the last few minutes. Over and over again, they replayed, each time they triggered an eruption of unbearably pain and merciless guilt.

Sharpay had never once told him the truth, Troy knew that now. There had been so many times when he felt she was going to tell him something, if not by words than by actions, but he never realized it was serious. All this time she had been in pain, yet she just smiled and kept it inside, all because she didn't want him to know. All because she didn't want him to feel terrible when he found out. All because she didn't want to know what her love for him was doing to her.

That he was the reason she was willing to die for.

His thoughts were interrupted by the rumbling of the approaching train. Troy sighed softly to himself and placed his hands on Sharpay's shoulders, leading her safely onto the carriage. Sharpay sat down at the window seat as he shifted in next to her, protecting her from any harm. She automatically gazed out the window, even if she couldn't see, and both of them buckled forward abruptly as the train started up again.

Troy sat in completely silence for a long time, staring at the chair in front of him with glassy eyes as Sharpay hummed In A Rush quietly to herself. The train jolted occasionally back and forth, but Troy remained rigid in his seat. After a while, Sharpay stopped humming and glanced around to the person next to her. She smiled.

"You've been really quiet all day, you know," she said softly, placing her hand on his. "I'd have thought you'd be over the moon about this." Troy swallowed and pulled his hand out from underneath to put it on top, giving Sharpay's hand a squeeze. Sharpay chuckled and resumed her gaze out the window.

"I think I did a good job," she said. "At first, I thought he'd actually argue and ask alot of questions, but he didn't." She shrugged. "I guess I was just totally convincing and Troy believed everything I said."

Troy's heart again broke into a million pieces, and he struggled to restrain himself. His hand shook violently, but Sharpay seemed too 'out there' to even notice.

She had patched everything up inside; she had used everything she had left to sew together the rips and tears from the slashes of her own sacrifices. Sharpay could still laugh and shine, she could still hold up this persona, this… act that she was okay, and if Troy had closed his eyes and clapped his hands over his ears for the last few hours, he would have believed it.

But he didn't.

She wasn't okay. She was tired and weak, and though she hid it well, she had been permanently shattered as well. The person he saw outside the beach house, the person he saw a moment ago inside the diner as Troy, the person he saw from the window crying to herself, and the person he saw now as Ryan… they were too different to be the same person. Far too different for all of them to be one person, because it was all too much when those emotions clashed together. Anger, terror, shock, grief, regret… all of which covered up completely with apathy. It was all an act, by one amazing actress.

Troy cringed at his thoughts and closed his eyes, hoping for a moment of peace when Sharpay leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder. Troy inhaled shakily as the blonde strands of hair brushed again his chin. He wanted to kiss her, to taste her soft sweet lips. He wanted to make her know he was really there, that it was him and not Ryan. Troy squeezed his eyes shut, a single shimmering tear rolling down his cheek.

But he knew he couldn't do it. He wasn't even brave enough for that. He looked down at Sharpay's face. She was still smiling. Troy forced himself to look away again, shifting a little over to the other side so he could wrap his other arm completely around her. He placed his trembling hand on her soft blonde hair and stroked it gently, his blue eyes gazing out the window, just wishing for home to draw closer and closer.

The minutes went by far too slowly, but only when the train came to a complete halt did Troy release his arms. Hand in hand, he led Sharpay back outside into the cold Autumn air, sheltering her in every way possible from any harm. The wind blew harder by the beach, making it even more difficult to walk steadily. Troy held Ryan's jacket up around Sharpay and rushed her to the door, not even caring when the bitter gust whipped into his face. Troy realized that he obviously didn't have a key, but luckily Sharpay didn't notice, automatically fishing the key out of her pocket and handing it to him. Troy smiled sadly a little bit in gratitude and unlocked the door.

Troy pushed it open and allowed Sharpay to step inside first. It was warmer inside, not very much, but at least it wasn't windy anymore. Sharpay felt less tired just at the feel of being home again. It gave her a surge of confidence, something Sharpay needed more than ever. She emitted a content sigh and took a few steps into the room away from him, holding out her arms in front of her. Troy took off the hat and coat and watched as she managed to walk all the way towards the other side of the room at the foot of the staircase. She grabbed hold of the handrail, smiling to herself.

"It's so good to be home," she murmured with a sigh. "Thank god that's all over."

Troy's eyes dropped to the ground, unable to withhold looking at her anymore. He didn't say anything again, but this time Sharpay noticed.

Her smile faded completely. A shiver ran down her spine and she felt her blood freeze. Sharpay grabbed hold of a fibre of patience and waited one more second before panicking, but there was still no answer. She inhaled sharply, her hand tightening on the rail as a realization hit her.

"Well?!" she said in harsh demand. Sharpay spun around to face him. "Aren't you going to say something?!"

Troy quickly looked back at her, a sick feeling striking at his stomach. All the air around him in the room seemed to be sucked out. He couldn't move, he couldn't breathe. Sharpay's eyes widened when again no reply came. Horror seared through her like a bolt of lightning, the pain feeling like a sword being run through her body. She pushed herself off the handrail and held up her hands in defense.

"Why haven't you said anything yet?!" she screamed. She was breathing fast, her heart beating at her throat. She spun around wildly with terror in her blind eyes, trying to figure out where the stranger was. "ANSWER ME!!" Troy stood, frozen, backing away as she started moving towards him.

She had no idea where to move, whimpering stumbling over her own feet. But she knew someone was there, she could feel his breathing, even though she knew he was standing at a distance. The room suddenly became so quiet, she could hear movement. Sharpay suddenly leapt forward, her arms outstretched for anything. She shut her eyes tight, but a warm pair of arms scooped her up before she hit the ground. Her blind eyes flew open, a tearful gasp escaping her lips. The arms hugged her. The scent of his hair, the feel of his skin, the strength of his embrace…

"Sharpay…" he said softly. "It's alright." The sound of his voice…

It was Ryan.

Hearing his voice in her ear, knowing it was his arms that were around her, Sharpay relented. Her body relaxed, still breathing rapidly from the shock. She closed her eyes and sunk into Ryan's arm, hugging him back tightly, never wanting to let go. Ryan smiled and kissed her hair, rocking her back and forth. Troy really couldn't believe his eyes.

Ryan had returned home just a split-second before everything was about to fall apart.

Troy collapsed against the wall, rendered helpless in the situation. He brushed his hand through his sandy brown hair, his hairline wet with sweat. He took several deep breaths to help him recover from the moment, just watching silently as the brother and sister embrace, his terror slowly washing away. Troy slowly pushed himself back onto his feet, his breathing slowing down and evening out again as a new emotion replaced his old. But it wasn't relief that washed over him just now as he watched.

It was bitter sadness.

He was sad, not at her but at what he knew. What he had been forced to know. He was sad that he knew exactly what Sharpay was put through today. Sad that there was no other way to empathize her condition, no other way to ease the pain of knowing the reality of everything. He knew how angry she was, he knew how devastated she was… he knew how broken-hearted she was. From the moment she went blind… the moment she agreed to go through with her plan… the moment she thought it actually worked… and when she finally realized that the person she had told everything to might not be who she thought it was. Just seeing her right now, how frail she was from all the events that had happened today, it just broke Troy's heart.

Ryan glanced over at him for a moment, still holding Sharpay. They exchanged a look of acknowledgment. There were no need for words; Ryan seemed to know exactly what had happened. He turned back to his sister, smiling affectionately at her as he wiped away her stray tears.

"Come on," he told her gently. "Let's get you back in bed." Sharpay whimpered, too overwhelmed with emotion to answer. Arm in arm, Ryan carefully helped Sharpay up the staircase to her room as Troy cautiously followed. The floor boards creaked, even at the slightest touch, but Sharpay was so concentrated on where to placed her feet, she didn't hear Troy's footsteps just a few feet behind her. She clinged dependently onto Ryan's arm, but once he set her down on the bed, he pulled away, tucking her in and fixing her pillow so it was perfect.

He took off her jacket and her glasses and her locket, placing it safely on the side table. Sharpay sat in silence, her gaze lingering still at whatever, listening to the rustling of the sheets and the creaks under Ryan's feet. Troy stood at the door, unable to look away.

He didn't know what to do anymore now. Just stare, perhaps. Staring was all he did all day, and as simple as it sounded, it wasn't. Not for him, not when he was staring at Sharpay. In his mind, he knew it was ridiculous, but every time he stared at that beautiful face, knowing the torment behind those auburn eyes, the world stopped. His heart stopped. Every time… every single time. It felt like falling a cliff over and over again, but somehow, he continued to stare at her.

He would fall off a thousand mountaintops rather than look away. He would give up on the world itself rather than look away. He needed to look at her, just so he knew she was there, that she was still okay. Whatever hurt and torture this world had in stored for him, he could take it, just as long as he could still hear her breathe and see her smile. He needed nothing else right now.

Ryan glanced over his shoulder at him, the look in his eyes urging him to come in, but quietly. Ryan pulled the blanket over Sharpay's legs. She had taken hold of his arm again, gripping onto it firmly, but her strength was almost gone, making it easy for Ryan to pull free. He went over to stand at the foot of the bed as Troy cautiously entered the room, his eyes still on nothing but Sharpay. He sat down at her bedside, the closest place to be next to Sharpay, even though she had no clue he was there.

There was a long moment of silence as Sharpay adjusted on the ready-made bed. She could barely sit up, but she did anyway, moving her head side to side in a childlike manner. When she finally chose to break the atmosphere, she turned and gazed over in Troy's direction, a faint smile on her pink lips.

"Did you see him, Ryan?" she asked. "Did you see Troy?" She sounded anxious, if not excited. Ryan smiled to himself.

"Yeah, I did," he replied softly. Sharpay turned her head to Ryan's direction. She smiled innocently.

"How did he look?" she asked. Ryan smirked, looking down at Troy at the bedside. He was still watching her in silence.

"He looked very handsome," Ryan told her. He chuckled. "He was wearing that shirt you bought him last week. He kept it clean too." Ryan crossed his arms, leaning against the post. "I think he had a haircut. Looks less like Ellen, more like Jesse."

Sharpay laughed at this, but then froze.

She suddenly realized that it was definitely Ryan she was talking to, at the end of her bed where his voice was coming from, yet she had felt a sort of presence next to her at the bedside. She listened with all her might for a second, and she felt the same sensation of horror as a shiver ran down her spine.

Without warning, Sharpay jumped up at the figure next to her and clapped his face in her hands.

His face was wet with tears.

Sharpay let out a strained gasp as horror filled every inch of her being when the realization of her worst nightmare came crashing down. She felt his face; his tear-filled eyes, his lips…

"Tr… Troy?" she whispered.

A sob gave out from Troy's lips and he placed his hands over hers. Sharpay didn't even need an answer anymore; that was enough to confirm her fears. She dropped her hands and backed away frantically on the bed, horrified.

"Oh, God…" She began hyperventilating, clutching her blanket. "Oh… oh, god, oh, god, oh, god…" Troy opened his mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Sharpay's breathing grew more ragged, and her horror turned into rage.

"IT WAS YOU THE WHOLE TIME, WASN'T IT?!" she shouted, pointing her finger at him. "YOU TOOK ME TO THE DINER!!" Troy shook his head, standing up from his seat.

"Sharpay…" he murmured. He tried reaching out to her, but she violently threw a pillow at him, and though it missed, it stopped him in his tracks. Sharpay began crying hysterically.

"How dare you!!" she screamed. "Both of you! You think you have the right to treat me like this?! Is that what I am to you? A helpless child?!" She pulled the covers over her head. "Get out!!" Her voice broke into uncontrollable sobs. "Get out!! Leave me!! Get out!! BOTH OF YOU!! GET OUT!!"

Troy didn't know what to do. His feet were rooted to the ground, his heart pumping more and more blood to his brain, making everything spinning. Sharpay's cries grew louder, and the bundle of blankets shrunk as she laid herself down on the bed, overwhelmed. A disorientated Troy felt Ryan pat his back urgently, and motioning him towards the door. Ryan opened it for Troy to go out first as he continued to watch his sister, and Troy knew it was wise to obey. He stepped out first, stumbling, and went down the stairs in a daze.

Ryan closed his eyes for a moment as he stepped out of the door frame, his hand on the handle. The sound of Sharpay's sobbing was silenced as he slowly pulled the door closed. Ryan automatically releasing the knob and wiping his hand on his trousers as he made his way downstairs.

Troy had his face to the wall, his back turned, needing to hold onto the table to support himself. He felt as if his knees would give way to the horrible weight on his shoulders. It was too much for him to bear. Too much.

She knew now… she knew everything that happened. All those things she did that day, using the last fragments of strength she had left to sacrifice everything for him.

For him. Troy shook his head and pounded his fist onto the wall.

What was she going through? How much pain could her delicate heart take?

"Hey," Ryan's voice called out from behind him. Troy quickly wiped his eyes and composed himself, turning around to face him. Not that it mattered; Ryan wouldn't have cared if he crawled into a corner and cried like a baby. He knew there were all the reasons in the world for Troy to cry at a moment like this.

But Ryan himself wasn't crying. He was calm and controlled, and it only took a second for him to guess what had happened.

"Did she tell you everything?" he asked.

Troy's eyes dropped to the ground again, and he could only bring himself to nod in reply.

"Do you know about Seattle?" Troy took a deep breath and brushed past his friend towards the dining table. He collapsed onto a chair.

"Yes," he said very quietly. Ryan sighed softly and crossed his arms across his chest, leaning against the wall. Troy fidgeted with his fingers, staring at the table as the tears kept falling. He waited a moment before asking his next question.

"Can she still be saved?" he asked. He knew the answer wasn't going to be a simple yes or no. He wished it was, but nothing was ever that simple. Ryan slowly walked over to the table, but he didn't look at him.

"The only way Sharpay can be saved is to get the treatment in Seattle," he explained matter-of-factly. He went over to the kitchen sink and took out a glass from the cupboard. Troy felt a lump form in his throat, making it painful to speak. He ignored it.

"What are her chances, Ryan?" he muttered.

Ryan didn't answer straight away, instead he filled the glass with some tap water. This made Troy anxious. He finally looked up from the table.

"How much time does she have left?" His voice was hoarse and rough, but there was a clear tone of utter distress. He wanted to know… no, he needed to know. Ryan closed his eyes for a second and turned back around to face his friend. He set the glass down in front of Troy and crossed his arms again.

"If the Metallia's spread to her eyes," he said. "Even with the medication she's getting, then she doesn't have long." Troy stared at the glass of water. "It could be months. Weeks, even." He sat down in the chair beside Troy. "She needs that treatment as soon as possible, or things will get worse fast."

Troy took a sip of water. It tasted bitter.

"It's my fault, isn't it?" he said sadly. "She's not leaving for Seattle because of me." Ryan cast a sympathetic look and placed his hand on Troy's shoulder.

"It's not your fault," he told him comfortingly. "It's no one's fault. Don't beat yourself up about this." Troy shook his head, downing the drink.

"She told me," he muttered darkly. "She said… I was the reason she didn't want to leave. Because she didn't want me to know, and get hurt." He paused, and then pulled out the dog-eared consent form from his pocket, nonchalantly giving it to Ryan. "She agreed to go to Seattle on the condition that I wouldn't ever know she was this sick." Ryan took the form and studied it carefully. A spark of hope gleamed in his brown eyes.

"She signed it," he said, more to himself. "That means she can finally get the treatment. She's finally agreeing to go to Seattle." Troy again shook his head grimly, circling his finger around the brim of the cup.

"She said she'd only agree to go if I never knew about it." He frowned, the same sick feeling twisting in his gut. "I don't know what she going to do." Ryan heaved a sigh.

Even with her signature, if Sharpay was unwilling to get the treatment, there was no way they could give it to her. She was severely weakened by the past few months, and it seemed she didn't even want to fight anymore. Her strength was almost gone, her will to fight and live was almost gone. The only thing left, really, for everyone, was hope. Hope that she would open her eyes and see the bigger picture. That life was worth fighting for. That the people who loved her would do anything for her to have a second chance. She had that second chance, but she refused to take it.

Why? Was it because she was too tired now? Was it because all hope was shattered at all these revelations?

Troy didn't know. Ryan didn't know.

Life wasn't supposed to be so hard. Not as hard as it was for Sharpay. She was a happy, healthy girl until Metallia's Disease took it all away. Everything that had happened took away her vitality and her love for life, making it harder than it really was. She was now confused and scared, and she wouldn't let anyone help her because she was scared of hurting them.

Yes, she was foolish, but there was no one Troy could think of who displayed as much courage as she did. Even at the point so close to the end, she would put her pain aside to save him. For that… Troy's heart was hers forever.

The two men just sat there roaming through their thoughts and trying to decide what the next best thing to do was. Okay, so she knew her plan was ruined, she knew her lies had been exposed, she knew Troy had no intention of backing off now. She was obviously mad that she was the one playing the fool the whole time, anyone in her position would be angry. Angry and broken inside. Troy wouldn't blame her at all if she never wanted to talk to either him or Ryan even again. He wouldn't be surprised if she never left that bedroom. But she had to. He and Ryan knew they had to talk to her somehow, get her to decide, get her to listen. She had to realize she was at the point where there was no turning back. The only thing she could do now was stop before she reached the end of the road.

The hours began to pass, and the sun sank lower and lower into the horizon. Ryan gave up on trying to convince Troy to go home before dark, so they pulled out a deck of cards and waited in hope to see that Sharpay was still alright when she woke up. It helped Troy get his mind off the worst things too, because he was afraid of what she might do. As he slammed down a ten of hearts, a creak at the stairs brought both their heads out of the clouds. Troy glanced over his shoulder and looked up to see Sharpay at the stairs.

She seemed weak, barely able to support herself by holding onto the handrail, but she was careful taking her steps down the stairs. Her eyes still very red from crying, and her hair was a mess, but besides that, she looked like she had a good long sleep. Sharpay smiled shyly, her hand sliding down from the rail.

"I've calmed down now," she murmured.

Ryan immediately dropped his cards, jumped up from his seat first and rushed over to help her, Troy catching up only a second behind him. Sharpay grabbed Troy by the shirt collar, and Ryan by the sleeve, almost dragging them down to her. Her grip wasn't very strong, but it prevented her from tripping over herself as they made their way towards the dining table.

"Anything you need?" Troy asked concernedly. Sharpay sighed and took a moment to think. She then shrugged and smiled again.

"Well…" she said, tilting her head to one side. "I'm a little hungry." They set Sharpay down at a chair at the table. Troy and Ryan silently exchanged an unsure look to each other, taking their time to make sure she was comfortable enough. Ryan gave Sharpay a spoon to hold while she waited, and he quietly pulled Troy into the kitchen. He glanced at Sharpay through the door.

"We have to keep her calm," he said in a whisper. "So don't say anything about anything that happened a few hours ago." Troy rolled his eyes and gave him a well, duh! look. Ryan heaved a heavy sigh and looked round to the cupboards. He scratched the back of his neck. "Okay, take out whatever we need."

It took about ten minutes just to find what kind of food they had in the fridge and how the oven worked. Troy pulled out a bunch of vegetables and several other things from the fridge, placing them all in a line on the kitchen counter. The boys nervously nibbled on some candy corn they found as they stared at the pile of food. Troy leaned his head over to Ryan next to him.

"This may be a bad time to ask," he said in a strangely casual tone. "But… uh, do know how to cook?"

As they attempted to not start a fire while making something to eat, all thoughts of worry Ryan and Troy had a few minutes ago were pushed to the back of their minds. Neither of them noticed this, of course, they were just doing everything they can to please Sharpay, no matter how unsuccessful.

It was hard. Troy figured they should make pasta while Ryan said they should make a casserole. They tried everything, but they ended up ruining for being too burnt, too overcooked, being too much of this and too little of that. The pile of food shrunk and shrunk, but they still had nothing.

"No, what are you doing?!" Ryan exclaimed, taking the branch of broccoli out of the pot. "You're not supposed to put it whole in there. You've got to cut it up first!" Troy rolled up his sleeves and glared at him.

"Well, what would you know?!" He was about to put a dab of barbecue sauce into the pot, but a slip of the elbow as Ryan passed by made him drop the entire contents. "Oh great! Look what you made me do!"

Sharpay sat at the table patiently, smiling a little to herself and fiddling with a spoon as she heard the clatters and crashes of kitchenware. She suddenly smelled smoke and heard the fire alarm going off, followed by a few loud shouts.

"Hey!" she called out, trying hard not to laugh. "What's going on in there?" She could tell one of them had grabbed hold of an extinguisher.

"Nothing!" Troy and Ryan cried in unison.

A good twenty minutes passed before the boys at last came out from the kitchen. Sharpay felt something very warm put down in front of her on the table, the steam and aroma rising up towards her face. She smiled; it smelled good. Ryan and Troy took their seats on either side of her and watched anxiously as she raised her spoon and scooped up some of the food. She carefully and slowly put it to her lips and tasted it.

She grinned.

"Mmmm," she said happily. She spooned some more, clearly enjoying it. Troy let out a sigh of relief and pulled out a napkin, putting it into her free hand. He gave Ryan a knowing smile.

She'd never know it was actually microwaved ready-to-serve.

Ryan and Troy sat there and watched Sharpay take her time and eat leisurely for a several minutes, occasionally taking sips of water through a straw every now and then. They knew they couldn't force her to speak, not after everything. But they did want her to talk. They needed her to talk.

Sharpay, even in her condition, could sense this from both Ryan and Troy, and she knew exactly what they were thinking. She waited a good while before she officially placed down her spoon.

"Ryan," she said. Ryan immediately placed his hand on hers and gave it a squeeze. She turned her head over to him. "I've been doing some thinking, and I've decided… that I will go to Seattle for the treatment."

Ryan emitted a sigh of relief, but before he could say anything, Sharpay suddenly gripped his hand very tightly. Her face turned serious.

"On the one condition that we leave after the concert," she explained. Troy frowned confusedly.

"Concert?" he repeated. "What concert?" Sharpay smiled his way.

"The Annual School Concert," she replied simply.

The Annual School Concert, or ASC as everybody called it, happened once every year. It was an event that took place outside school hours, usually at around 8pm. The Drama and Music clubs would come together and create performances such as musical acts, singing and dancing to celebrate the end of the year, even though it wasn't dated at the end of the year. It was dated on the last day of November, whatever day that may be.

The last day of Autumn.

Ryan's eyes widened and he abruptly let go of Sharpay's hand.

"You can't stay for that concert!" he exclaimed. Ryan shook his head. "That's a whole month away!" Sharpay held up her hand to silence him. She still seemed calm.

"That's the only thing I'm asking for, Ry," she said plaintively. "Please. I'll do whatever you want me to." She smiled, her serene eyes glittering. "I'll still go for treatment at Santa Fe. I'll do everything Dr Knightley tells me to, I'll take whatever drugs and meds I have to, I'll even let them operate on me more now. But please…" She looked sadly over at her brother again. "All I want is to sing at the school one last time before we go to Seattle. That's all I ask for." She took his hand in both of her own, squeezing it gently. Her voice lowered to a whisper. "Please, Ryan…"

She was begging. It was horrible watching her beg. She was so weak and pathetic as she was without her sight, and now she was pleading for Ryan to let her fulfill a wish. A wish that Ryan feared, might end her life.

But he loved her, and it broke his heart to see Sharpay wanting something so simple so much, and not being allowed to have it. Troy saw this too.

He had always thought that whenever he heard Sharpay sing these days, her voice would send out the message that she was still spiritually strong, and by singing, she gained strength to fight. Her voice was always clear and powerful and beautiful, and when she sang, Troy felt like there wasn't a worry in the world. He knew she was in her own universe whenever she was up there on stage, and she just loved it so much up there. That was where she had all her strength and courage, where she was invincible.

Where nothing could tear her down. Not ever.

Ryan let out a defeated sigh and nodded over at Troy before finally making his decision. He drained his glass of water, slamming it down on the table.

"Alright, Paypay," he said reluctantly. "We'll do this."

I'm getting rusty. I can't seem to get the emotions going like they used to in my words anymore. :(

Next: Sharpay struggles with her worsening condition, and Dr Knightley and Jenny are stunned by Troy's proclamation…

Sorry, no more updates until I finish my senior course. See you guys again in a year. :)