A/N: Okay, I've slaved and I've slaved… No, really. I've spent the last god knows how many hours writing this chapter… and it's drama-filled to the brink!

I'm feeling mighty generous today, so I thought I'd post two chapters for you xx

Enjoy the drama, people! You've been very patient waiting for some…

Mwah! Holly xx

TWENTY-FIVE - …in a sea of glitter...

Sharpay Evans was completely in her element.

A school dance. Cheesy music galore. Her opportunity to show off her other artistic skills by being in charge of the committee – her ideas and suggestions for decorations only. And only the colours pink, purple and white could be used. And glitter. Plenty of sparkle.

And the cafeteria was looking exactly how she'd planned. The dance committee were not too fond of it; claiming that it was just too overstated and that the amount of glitter was blinding. Sharpay had just ignored them, as she always did. After all, nobody else's opinions mattered but her own. And Ms. Darbus certainly had had no complaints about the decorations. Once again, Sharpay Evans had gotten her own way.

And yet, she wasn't enjoying it.

She let out a sigh and flicked her long blonde hair over her shoulder as she leaned against the wall. Ms. Darbus stood up straight behind her with narrowed eyes, ready to pounce on any student who dared to misbehave during her chaperoning hour. She'd already clocked three members of the football team for popping balloons behind her and making her jump… and after handing them detention slips (even though their 'crimes' were committed outside of school hours), she'd decided that it would be safer to keep her back to the wall.

Sharpay saw her twin brother and one-time associate, Ryan, enter the cafeteria; closely followed by those Wildcats whom he had chosen to be friendly with. She missed her brother – they had been close since they were… well, embryos. Their obsession with the stage and theatre had maintained that closeness during the years and Sharpay had found her brother to be easily controlled at an early age. And she had enjoyed every minute of it… feeling powerful and domineering – practising her authoritive figure on Ryan over the years had allowed her to perfect her methods on other people: their parents, teachers, relatives, friends… The East High drama club had mainly suffered from her antics. Those who joined for love of the stage had always been pushed back into supporting roles with chorus lines… never being able to have the opportunity to go for lead roles with Sharpay always in the centre of it all. Ms. Darbus' eye never strayed from the Evans twins when it came to her chapel of the arts… her attention span during other's auditions never lasting long until Sharpay and Ryan took the stage.

And then, nine months ago, it had all changed. Gabriella Montez had started at East High and Sharpay had known instantly that this girl was one that needed watching closely. With her ever loyal brother by her side, Sharpay had done everything in her power to ensure that Gabriella would not take her show away from her – but she could feel it slipping the moment she found out that Gabriella had gotten a call back for the lead role of Minnie… her Arnold being none other than Troy Bolton. What spell had this girl cast that had made the Wildcats superstar audition for a school musical? That wasn't part of the cliques… Troy was a jock, a basketball hero – not an actor, and definitely not a singer. And as for Gabriella… well, bookworms certainly had no place on the stage.

For the first time in her life, Sharpay Evans had failed. She had lost out. After the final call backs – and Gabriella and Troy miraculously being able to attend even though there was a basketball championship game and a scholastic decathlon competition happening at the same time – Sharpay had lost out. Darbus was free of the Evans spell. Troy and Gabriella were cast as leads; Ryan and Sharpay as understudies.

Understudies. Sharpay Evans was an understudy. The world had officially gone mad.

During the rehearsals for Twinkle Towne, she and Ryan had struggled to keep their mouths shut. Her sulking did not go unnoticed by Darbus and she earned a few detention slips as a result of it. As rehearsals went on, Ryan had just gotten on with it without another word and Sharpay had cursed him for not fighting for what was rightfully theirs.

"Shar; it's done. Just deal with it." Deal with it? His words had shocked her. That was the beginning point that Sharpay knew she was losing her brother.

And so, she had carried on regardless, not another word. She had watched in the sidelines as Troy and Gabriella's relationship blossomed in front of their eyes. Their real-life romance had quickly become the talk of East High. She had witnessed those sneaky kisses behind the stage curtains, witnessed them getting distracted from their roles when they accidentally called each other by their real names instead of their characters. She had watched them when Darbus was giving another one of her motivational speeches, watched as they laced their fingers together and exchanged smiles with hidden messages that they'd only know.

And as she watched them during those few weeks, she felt like she'd found a missing piece of herself; a piece she wasn't aware was missing in the first place.

She wanted exactly what Gabriella Montez had. Not the lead role of Minnie. Not the large brain and a thirst for knowledge. And not that annoying giggle that Troy seemed to love too much…

She wanted a boyfriend; a kind, caring, loving boyfriend. Like Troy. Exactly like Troy.

Someone who shared her interests; someone with talent that matched her own. Someone with stunning good looks, school status, a kind heart and a glowing personality.

She wanted Troy.

She had known him since pre-school… so why did it take a stupid school musical and an Einsteinette for her to finally notice him? Her only conclusion had been that she had been far too busy with her acting talents, her stage presence and school domination. Too busy to even have noticed how fantastically wonderful and good looking the basketball captain was. And why on earth had he chosen a girlfriend who was his complete opposite? Sure, Sharpay knew the jocks and the drama students shouldn't hang together… but with their shared powerful status over East High, that made them more than compatible… In fact, completely perfect for each other.

As the end of the school year approached, Sharpay had regained her upbeat attitude. After all, it was summer… and everything changed during summer break. Ryan had seemed highly suspicious of her in the days before school was finally out. Her smile was back; the scheming eyes were shining bright. Everything about her had gone back to the way it was before Gabriella Montez had ever walked through the doors of East High.

A plan had formed in her mind. As soon as she had overheard Troy and Chad talking about needing a summer job, a giant light bulb had gone off in her mind. Her parent's country club was the perfect place for her plan to work… Getting Troy a job there would be no hardship. Her dominance over manager Thomas Fulton was almost effortless and she never failed to make the stuttering manager do as she requested.

Whatever it takes… She had told him to get Troy Bolton a job at Lava Springs whatever it takes. Unfortunately for her, it seemed that Troy's request included plenty of loud basketball players and his ever-present girlfriend getting hired as well. And like an idiot, Fulton had fulfilled that request.

The anger that had rained out of Sharpay could not have been described as she saw Gabriella Montez standing by the pool; lifeguard swim wear on and a twinkle in her eyes. Her idea had melted away, just like that. And she had been so certain that it would have worked… Troy would have gotten a job waiting on her hand and foot… they would have spent every day together in the glorious Albuquerque summer sun… Troy would have slowly forgotten all about that other girl as he fell desperately in love with Sharpay… looking at her and touching her the way she had seen him do to Gabriella.

But if there was one thing Sharpay Evans always had, it was a back-up plan. And it was so simple, she could have laughed hysterically. Dangling the prospect of a scholarship in front of Troy's eyes had been easier than she had previously anticipated. Not only did the Wildcats distance themselves, but Gabriella did too. It had been going perfect… Troy had promised to sing with her at the club's talent show and Gabriella was slowly leaving the picture…

The only downside to her plan was losing Ryan. He had fallen for that Wildcat charm the team had somehow displayed on him. But at that time, Sharpay had been so focused on gaining Troy, she didn't care. Ryan could hang out with who he liked as long as she had Troy.

But there was something else she didn't bank on…

Upon first hearing the news of Gabriella's departure and her break-up with Troy, Sharpay had been insanely happy. She had ignored Ryan's protests and lectures – dismissed him as he told her that what she had done had gone too far… that she couldn't change Troy's feelings for Gabriella whether they were together or apart. That no matter how hard she tried, she could never control emotions and other people's feelings. That love was something that could never be tampered with.

That next day, she had strutted around Lava Springs with a spring in her step – looking more dominant and happy than ever before. Fulton had hidden away in his office, knowing that her extremely happy moods meant more requests and demands. As she waltzed in, hoping to find Troy, she had already planned her move… she was going to tell him it was okay, that she was here for him… and no, she didn't mind being a rebound.

But her strutting and smiling and planning had all simultaneously come to a halt when she finally found Troy on the golf course. She could tell from a distance he hadn't slept; his hair dishevelled and his eyes blank. The bright and shining pools of blue that they were had been transformed into lifeless and pale beads. His stance wasn't that of a superstar, but of a loser. The kids he was supposed to be teaching were doing as they pleased, messing around with the expensive golf equipment as Troy looked on expressionless.

Feeling that unfamiliar feeling of remorse, Sharpay had quickly brushed it away; picking up her strutting pace again and plastering a wide grin on her face as she approached him:

"Hi, Troy." She gave a giggle; one she hoped didn't resemble Gabriella's. "I've been looking for you everywhere!"

Troy didn't look up. He stared at the ground, absentmindedly using a golf club to move the ball backwards and forwards at his feet. "Yeah?" He answered slowly; not really taking in her words.

"Daddy's really excited about the scholarship… he just won't stop talking about how fantastic you are!" Her smile narrowed when his face remained expressionless. "And the Redhawks are coming to the talent show to hear us sing… it's going to be so great! You and me… singing together."

As she hummed the opening lines to 'You Are The Music in Me' Troy looked up at her; sadness beaming out of his eyes. That hit her hard. She'd never seen him like that…

"Sharpay, I've told you so many times… it's not my thing. And I can't sing that song with you… not now. It's…" His voice began to break slowly and Sharpay shook her head quickly before stepping closer to him.

"Its okay, Troy. I'm here for you." She tried to take his hand, but he never allowed her to. "What she's done to you… it's revolting. But I'm here for you – I'm helping you with your future; we all need to look ahead. And you promised to sing. You can't let her ruin your future and what's important."

Troy shook his head, dropping the golf club to the floor. "I ruined it. I've ruined everything. Sharpay, I'm sorry, but I'm going home. Can you tell Fulton I'm not feeling very well? I just… I just can't, okay?"

Troy dejectedly walked away from her, leaving a mass of golf-frenzied children behind, wondering what they were supposed to do now. Sharpay watched his retreating back and that feeling of remorse hit her harder than ever before…

As Sharpay watched Troy and Gabriella dancing happily on the dance floor, she had to admit to herself deep down… yes deep down… they were a cute couple. That day he had left her standing on the golf course… for the first time in her life she felt the consequences on her own actions. Never before had she seen him looking so sad, so… lifeless. She felt responsible in every way – admitting to herself that she was the one who had taken away everything she liked about Troy Bolton. She had reluctantly admitted to herself that Ryan had been right; that love was something she could never tamper with and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make Troy Bolton happy. They just weren't meant to be.

But after finally admitting that to herself, she didn't count on falling hopelessly in love with him. She'd never felt that way about anyone… like she wanted to wrap them in her arms and kiss away all the hurt and pain. She had hurt him; she had driven Gabriella away…She had succeeded in her mission; she had failed her own heart in the process.

Sharpay Evans had felt the heart piercing pain of unrequited love. He'd never feel that way about her. He'd never look at her the way he did Gabriella. He'd never see her as anything more than a friend. And that hurt.

Her heart had swelled with pure joy and passion when he had come back, stating he would sing with her, that he never broke his promises and that they were all in this together. And as he promised her he'd sing if his Wildcat friends could too, she wished deep down in her heart that she had noticed him before. That he could see what was inside of her and not focus on the scheming, manipulating part. She wished he could have seen past Gabriella Montez and fallen in love with her…

"You're a good guy, Troy. I just kinda wish you were doing this for me…"

It hurt her to say; and a part of her had hoped that he would say he was doing it all for her. Fate had other ideas up its sleeve… so much so that Sharpay had found herself tricked by her own brother… just so Troy and Gabriella could be reunited on stage and off. As she watched Troy and Gabriella hold on tightly to one another as they sang on her stage, Sharpay felt the only good thing that had come out of it all was Ryan finally learning something from her. Even if the trick was played on her.

She watched as Troy picked up a giggling Gabriella and spun her around before kissing her and suddenly she felt glad that Ryan had managed to reunite them. After all, the Troy Bolton everybody had known and loved was back… happy, content… in love. Sharpay sighed quietly to herself as she watched them, feeling all alone in a sea of glitter… the fight leaving her as she finally accepted that Troy and Gabriella were a perfect match. Meant to be. A part of fate that she suddenly feared she'd never find.

She had lost it all: her stage, her status, Troy, her brother… was there much point in scheming and manipulating anymore? Should she just take Ryan's advice and try to get along with the Wildcats? Would they even forgive her? Would Troy even forgive her?

With another sigh, she pushed herself off the wall and headed towards the girl's bathroom. She needed to get away from it all… it just hurt her too bad to watch. But she knew it was something she was going to have to get used to… If anything it had to make her stronger.

As she washed her hands and looked at herself in the mirror, she thought about how her life had turned out… and the complete failure she'd turned out to be. Always in control, was Sharpay Evans… always on the ball and one step above everybody else. How had she not seen this coming? How could she not know she was falling in love with someone who she could never call her own?

Her thoughts were disrupted when the bathroom door swung open and Jess McLean, followed closely by three giggling cheerleaders entered. They ignored her presence and stood at the other side of the bathroom, gazing at themselves in the mirror and applying more make-up.

"You totally knocked her over!" Alicia Duvall laughed, applying another layer of mascara.

"Nah; she didn't hit the floor." Jess grinned, filing a nail.

Ellie Jameson and Lisa Carmichael shrugged their shoulders as they finished their never-ending duty of making sure their captain was looking good. Ellie placed her cup on non-alcoholic punch on the side of the sink as she reached inside her bag for her cellphone.

"I should have got a picture." She declared, holding up her new and expensive cell.

"Don't worry," Jess smirked, putting down her nail file and picking up a brush. "We'll do it again; she'll hit the floor and then you can get a picture!"

Sharpay didn't have to take three guesses to know who they were talking about. It was common knowledge throughout the school who Jess' current arch rival was. Sharpay just took out her own brush and ran it through her hair, listening in with intent and curiosity.

"It's going to be tough to break Troy…" Lisa continued as she placed her eye-liner back in her bag.

Jess scoffed. "Nah. That one's easy. Just a little bit of seduction… works every time. And Gabriella is going to get so annoyed with us; it won't be long until she leaves him. Don't worry girls, I have a plan."

Oh man, was I really this delusional? Sharpay hoped and prayed she wasn't, though a small part of her knew she had been… She placed her brush back into her bag and took in a deep breath as she prepared herself to go back out to the dance…

The door opened again, and Sharpay saw Gabriella wince and the cheerleaders stop their talking as they laid eyes on one another. Standing back by the sinks, Sharpay watched as Gabriella quickly went into a cubicle and locked the door.

The look on Jess's face could only be described as evil… and as much as Sharpay wanted to leave at that precise moment, she didn't think she could. Taking out her own make-up, she pretended to be focused on her lip gloss as she turned back to face the mirror and watched the four cheerleaders in the reflection.

"…and then do you know what Troy said to me?" Jess started again, a smile wide on her features. "He said that as soon as he bangs that little geek, he's going to dump her just for me. He said that she's just waiting for be fucked and chucked… and he's made a bet with everyone that he could do it."

"Wow, really, Jess?" Alicia put on the extra drama and Sharpay scoffed; knowing none of their acting skills could ever make the stage.

"Yep. I just hope he showers properly after he's done it. I don't want to catch anything from her…"

Her words were cut off as the cubicle door opened and Gabriella slowly walked out, making her way to the sinks. She avoided the glares of all four cheerleaders and Sharpay watched as the timid Einsteinette held her head up high as she reached the sink, washing her hands slowly to prove a point that their words weren't hurting her.

Sharpay sensed the trouble before it actually began, and her heart leapt when she saw the four cheerleaders exchange knowing glances before making their way towards the brunette and crowding around her.

"You think you're better than us, Montez; is that it?" Jess spat into her face as her three friends closed in around her. "Stop pretending you don't care about what we're talking about. You know it's true!"

"No, actually, I don't…" Gabriella avoided eye contact and slowly swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat.

Jess stepped closer to her, so much so that it was hard for Gabriella to keep her eyes away from hers… her close and intimidating presence forcing her to look up. "You better start making this easier for yourself, Nerd. You know you're no good for someone like him. And whether you like it or not, I always win. You may think you've got him under your spell but everybody else knows different… and I always get what I want."

Gabriella looked at the three other girls in the reflection; her interior crumbling before her… but she wouldn't allow them to see her fall. She'd been in that place before; had been the victim of bullying at her old schools. East High was always going to be different to her… She'd never let them see her crumble. "You can try, Jess…" she swallowed; her voice was hoarse and her throat was dry. "I'm not breaking up with him."

Jess held up her arm and shoved her hard in the shoulder, taking her off balance. "What did you just say?" She demanded; her friends moving around and behind her as Gabriella was backed up against the other wall. "What did you just say to me?"

"Hey…" Sharpay's words caught in her throat as she watched, but nobody heard her…

"You filthy little whore." Jess shoved her backwards violently. As her back hit the wall with force, Gabriella grimaced with the pain. She kept her shoulders level, her head high… there was no way they would see her as a victim…

With a short burst of bravery, Gabriella smiled. "The only whore I see around here is-"

SMACK! A sharp, stinging pain hit her cheek and her ears started to ring with the force. Jess had slapped her across the face in one, quick and swift movement that no one in the room had seen it coming. Sharpay watched on in shock, her mouth hanging open as she looked at Gabriella who held a hand against her red cheek, unshed tears lingering in her eyes as a result of the force.

Her neck hurt when she picked up her head…her cheek stung and her ears where ringing uncontrollably. The blood rushed to her head, tears pricked at her eyelids. Visibly shaking, Gabriella tried to keep the tears at bay; her determination to keep in control weakening by the second as one by one, the tears fell to her cheeks. Jess smiled victoriously as she watched.

"See…you're no fighter now, are you? All talk and all brains… but you'll never give Troy what he needs… You're just an ugly, filthy, cheap and nasty whore… You waltzed into this school like you owned it and you stole Troy from me. You think I was going to let you off lightly? No way. You hurry up and realise you'll never be anything more than a boring little bookworm. A waste of perfectly good yearbook space. The sooner you realise and step away from what isn't rightfully yours, the easier your sad little life will become."

Sharpay didn't know where her own burst of energy came from, nor did she know just why she suddenly found herself at Gabriella's side… Of all places she thought she'd be in her life, she never thought she'd end up standing beside Gabriella Montez…protection and anger beaming in her eyes.

Standing tall, she stood just in front of the weeping and shaking brunette, staring at the head cheerleader dead in the eye. Jess stepped back and looked at he friends in astonishment, a humourous smirk on her face. "I'm sorry, Evans; where you feeling left out?"

"Back off, Jess." She hissed. "You're going too far."

Jess threw her head back and laughed. "I'm sorry… you're defending her? And there was me thinking you had the hots for Troy too… that you hated her! My, my; things certainly are turning weird at this school. Mind you, I guess you and your brother are getting a bit retarded… It wasn't that long ago he was trying to defend her too!"

Sharpay breathed in deep, feeling Gabriella shaking behind her. "Well maybe it's because you're going too far! Just get over it, Jess; if he wanted you, you'd be together by now! Just leave her alone. All she's done wrong is fall for him… just like me and you! Just because he fell for her too, it doesn't mean she should be punished for it."

"Are you joking?!" Jess laughed in disbelief. "I can't believe this! First the bitch lands Bolton, then she hires her own little army to fight her battles! Tell me, Evans, just how are you going to make me leave her alone?"

Sharpay just breathed deeply, never taking her eyes away from Jess; the fight inside her building with her anger. She was terrified but the adrenaline raced through her at a great rate of knots. The determination the protect hitting with full force. "Just back off."

The playfulness in Jess's eyes bounced excitedly and everybody watched as she backed away from the couple and picked up Ellie's cup of punch. She slowly walked back, teasing the two girls with the cup and Sharpay found herself reaching behind her for Gabriella's arm, which she latched onto tightly.

"Make me." Jess shrugged nonchalantly. "Come on." She challenged, watching in delight as the anger built up in Sharpay's face. "Come on, Little Miss Protector… protect little Gabriella from me…" Her taunting voice even made the other cheerleaders back away and watch curiously.

"Jess…" Sharpay meant for it to come out as a threat, but her own bravery was wearing thin.

Getting right up close, Jess smiled and tilted the cup. "Oops…" she put a finger innocently to her mouth as the red liquid leaked out of the cup and down Gabriella's white frock. Gabriella let out a squeal of shock as the fluid slowly stained her dress.

Her heart beating at ten times its normal rate, Sharpay had no idea what came over her, when suddenly she felt her arm being pulled back and her hand coming into contact with Jess's face. Jess screamed on impact, the force making her fall to the floor and Sharpay watched everything happen in slow motion – her hand stinging with the force of the hit.

As Jess fell to the floor, her friends watched in horror before quickly attending to her. Sharpay finally turned to look at Gabriella; her tear-stained face and look of shock not creating any impact on her as Sharpay placed an arm around her shoulder and quickly ushered her out of the bathroom. She didn't have time to think about what she'd just done… something she never thought in a million years she'd ever have the nerve to do.

As they left the bathroom, she felt Gabriella buckle next to her and she fell to the floor in hysterical sobs. Sharpay slowly knelt down beside her and took her arm. "Come on…" she whispered. "We'll go find Troy."

She helped Gabriella up and placed a comforting arm around her shoulders again, hugging her in close. As they reached the cafeteria again, Sharpay caught sight of her brother… and the look on his face when he noticed a tearful Gabriella and her once beautiful white dress stained an ugly red.

"Shar…" He croaked. "Babs?" Sharpay brought them to a halt in front of her brother and looked at him helplessly as he took his friend and hugged her close to him. Gabriella cried out loud against him and he gently rocked her. "What the hell…?"

"I…" Sharpay started to speak, but stopped when Zeke came up behind them.

"What the fuck?!" He gasped, looking to Sharpay for some sort of answer.

"Just get Troy." Ryan told him as he continued to rock his sobbing friend. Zeke didn't need telling twice; nearly tripping over his own feet as he rushed through the crowds.

Sharpay tried to keep her own emotions at bay; the fright she had endured just as overwhelming. She knew that Jess would never forget it…and never let her forget it. She couldn't believe she had actually hit someone… and all in the defence of a girl that she was so certain she disliked… Her heart pounded and tears lingered in her eyes as she watched Ryan try to comfort Gabriella, his hand rubbing her back slowly. Her eyes moved again to three running figures; Troy, Chad and Zeke were approaching quickly and Troy stopped at the scene before him.

Ryan turned around, taking Gabriella with him. Upon seeing Troy's look of confusion, he gestured for him to come closer. As he did, Ryan gently took a hold of Gabriella's shoulders and turned her around, gently guiding her into the arms of her boyfriend.

Gabriella latched onto him tightly, her face buried into his neck as her sobs became louder. Troy held onto her just as tight, a hand burying itself in her hair and his sad eyes asking silent questions to everybody else.

"What the fuck has just happened here?!" Chad's anger pointed to Sharpay, assuming she was to blame. Sharpay didn't blame him for jumping to conclusions, considering her past behaviour.

"Cheerleaders." She replied and pointed to the closed bathroom door. "Jess… she… she was bullying her and then she hit her…"

"She hit you?!" Troy pulled back from the embrace and cupped his girlfriend's jawline desperately, forcing her to look at him. He gently ran his thumb over her red and swollen cheek, his breath becoming haggard when he saw the proof. Gabriella didn't reply; the endless tears cascading down her cheek as she tried to bury her face in his neck again.

"Why, those stupid bitches…" Zeke hissed. Ryan just nodded helplessly and turned to his sister, seeing the emotion in her eyes.

"Are you okay, Shar?" He asked, an arm going around her neck. Sharpay nodded slowly, watching Troy and Gabriella and feeling a sharp tug on her heart.

"Just…was scared, that's all. I saw the whole thing… and I couldn't leave…" She allowed a tear to fall and looked up as she caught Troy's grateful gaze fall on her. "I just had to do something…"

Ryan hugged his sister tighter as she broke off; Chad and Zeke looking on in disbelief. "I know. We're grateful for what you did…"

Troy kissed his girlfriend's forehead and brought his mouth to her ear. "I'm taking you home." Gabriella didn't fight it as he gently scooped her up into her arms and started to carry her towards the exit.

"You want us to come?" Chad offered as Troy passed him.

Troy stopped and shook his head, though was grateful knowing his best friend was there if needed. "It's okay. I'll just take her home. I'll call you tomorrow." Chad nodded his response and they watched as Troy tenderly carried her out of the cafeteria and out of the school, towards his car.

Chad stepped forward to Sharpay. "That…er…" he stopped and scratched his head. "That was… Thanks, Sharpay. I mean it. From all of us."

Sharpay nodded as Chad turned to walk away and saw Ms. Darbus marching through the crowd, demanding to know what was going on. Ryan stepped up; telling the drama teacher what he knew as Jess and her three friends finally emerged from the bathroom and ran out of the cafeteria.

Sharpay folded her arms tight across her chest, waiting for the inevitable trouble she would be in. Zeke stepped in close, looking at her in all sympathy and held out his hand for her as a slow song rang out through the speakers.

"Do you want to dance?"

Sharpay looked down at the offered out hand and gently took it with a small smile; realising that maybe her happily ever after wasn't that far away after all…