Troy's head whipped around. He was startled by the familiar voice.

A second later, he was looking into the face of none other than Sharpay Evans.

Troy was about to run until Sharpay got up and grabbed his arm.

She said "Stop! Listen Troy. I just need you to listen to me! For one second! Please!"

Troy was shocked by her begging. Usually it was the other way around. But he had an interest as to what she wanted him to listen to.

So he said "Make it quick Sharpay. I'm supposed to be meeting Chad-"

He was cut off by Sharpay saying "Chad's not coming. That was a setup. He called you because someone else doesn't have the guts to say they want to talk to you themselves. Don't ask me how I know. I have a reliable source. Anyways, Troy, I just wanted to...say that...I'm...I'm…shoot! Why am I not good at this stuff?! Oh, heck! I'm sorry Troy! There! I'm sorry about this past year and about what I've done to you and Gabriella! Alright? I'm sorry! Someone made me realize that I've been a real witch and how many hearts I've been breaking, because I've been breaking his! You remember. I used to be all sweet and innocent. I was like a teacher's pet. That Sharpay's gone and I want her back. I'm sorry Troy! I want to make it up to you. What can I do?"

Troy just stared at her with his mouth open. Was Sharpay, the evil Sharpay Evans, apologizing? Troy stared at her until his eyes started to sting.

He quickly blinked and choked "Were.You.Just.Apologizing.To me?"

Sharpay looked off to the side in embarrassment and nodded. "Yeah. I'm really sorry. I don't know what got into me all these years. Do you forgive me?"

Troy was about to cave in when he thought "Hold on Troy! She's an actress! What if this is just another plan? You won't fall for that again!"

Troy had some last minute thoughts until he finally came to a conclusion.

He said "I really want to trust you Sharpay. But after what you've done to me, I just can't. I don't know if this is a plan or if you're being serious. Sorry."

As he headed for the door, he heard her say "Fine. But I know what you've done."

Troy stopped at that. He turned around and said "What did I do?"

Sharpay's expression didn't change as she said "What were you doing at about 2 in the morning?"

Troy thought "OMFG she knows! Play it cool Troy! It never happened! But how does she know? Was she spying? Of course she was you idiot! How else would she know? Don't lose your cool!"

He took a deep breath and said "Why?"

Sharpay's face turned from sadness to disappointment and she said "Oh really? Because I heard from my reliable source that you were wide awake at 2 and you had a 'friend' over. And I guess they overstayed their welcome. Admit it. I know Troy. I know about how Gabriella went to your house and what you did and said to her. You told her to get out after she acted so kind to you. Then you...beat her. I'm starting to wonder if my source was wrong, because that hardly sounds like you."

Troy's eyes were now bugged-out from the horror that the secret was now in Sharpay's hands. Heaven knows what she could do with it!

Troy started to stutter inaudible words but Sharpay silenced him with her finger pressed against his mouth and she said "Calm down. I won't tell anyone. There is one condition though."

Troy said "I knew it! You won't do something for someone unless there's something in it for you. What is it?"

Sharpay looked down at the ground and thought "Ouch. That hurt. Keep your chin up Sharpay."

Sharpay said "I won't tell anyone as long as you let me help you get Gabriella back."

Troy was frozen for a while but then broke out laughing as he said "No, seriously. What is it?"

Sharpay's face and heart fell. She knew she was mean, but she didn't know she was THAT mean. She fought back the lump in her throght and said "No seriously. Troy, we used to be friends. I could trust you and you could trust me. What happened to that? I happened. I got into drama. When I heard that you two got back together, I was furious. But when I heard what happened to Gabby, I was heartbroken. I know, it shocked me too. I wanna have your trust again Troy. Please? I'll do anything. I know this seems kind of sudden, but I want your trust. I want you to feel comfortable around me. I want to help you. Please? I promise, I won't hurt you again."

Troy was taken aback by this. Was she serious? Did she really think that he was going to forgive her just like that?

Right now, he could use all the help he could get, so he said "Well...alright. I'm trusting you. Not 100, but enough to feel comfortable around you. Don't make me regret this Sharpay."

Sharpay's face gleamed.

She said "Don't worry. I won't. Now, here's my plan. I-"

Troy cut her off by saying "What did he say to you?"

Sharpay said "Huh?"

Troy replied "Ryan. Your 'reliable source'. What did he say to you?"

Sharpay's face suddenly fell as she said "Well, he didn't really SAY anything to me. He kind of sang it to me without him knowing he was singing to me. I saw him screaming a song out to the poster of me when it was raining last night. He was crying too. I realized that I've been mean for too long. I want to help you. I'm still madly crushing on you, but I'm not going to try to steal you away from Gabriella."

Troy smiled and said "Are you really Sharpay?"

She grinned and said "Sometimes I'm asking myself that question."

They both laughed and Troy said "I have to go to the bathroom real quick. Be right back."

He walked towards the bathroom, leaving Sharpay remembering the night before.

FLASHBACK

Ryan had just refused to help Sharpay with another 'Troyella' plan and Sharpay was furious. She was about to go after him when she heard singing outside.

Ryan:

Perfect by nature

Icons of self indulgence

Just what we all need

More lies about a world that

Never was and never will be

Have you no shame don't you see me

You know you've got everybody fooled

Look here she comes now

Bow down and stare in wonder

Oh how we love you

No flaws when you're pretending

But now I know she

Never was and never will be

You don't know how you've betrayed me

And somehow you've got everybody fooled

Without the mask where will you hide

Can't find yourself lost in your lie

I know the truth now

I know who you are

And I'm not your slave anymore ()

It never was and never will be

You don't know how you've betrayed me

And somehow you've got everybody fooled

It never was and never will be

You're not real and you can't save me

Somehow now you're everybody's fool

Sharpay was stunned by the song her brother just sang. She didn't know she was hurting him that much. It broke her heart to see him singing to a poster of her out in the cold rain. He was pounding into the mud and collapsed in the ground. Even though it was raining, she could tell he was crying. He wanted freedom and she wasn't allowing it. She didn't know where it came from, but she ran outside with a blanket, quickly wrapped it around Ryan, and brought him inside, asking "You alright?" Ryan tore away from her and yelled "What do you care? I'm sorry for getting you frickin wet! What do you want me to do? Clean up and be dry doing it? I thought so!" He threw the wet and muddy blanket at Sharpay. She caught it and threw it back to him and yelled "Listen! I know we had a fight! But that doesn't give you the right to throw my help in my face! Yeah, I'm trying to help you! And what do I get? Yelled at! I don't think so! I already cleaned up! I saw you out in the rain and I tried to help you but you slap it in my face! I heard what you were doing! Singing to me! I heard every word! I'm sorry, alright? I'm sorry!" Ryan just stared at her now sobbing sister and brought her into a tight hug and said "I'm sorry. I'm just confused. A minute ago you were telling me to hurt Gabriella more and now you're helping me. I don't know what's going on." They just stood there hugging for a few minutes when Sharpay said "I don't know what's going on either. I need help." Ryan looked her in the eyes and said "If you help me, I'll help you." Sharpay kissed him on the cheek and said "Sure."

END FLASHBACK

Sharpay sighed. Ryan had helped her by telling her to apologize to Troy. If she did that, it would solve her biggest problem.

Trust.

She needed people to trust her before she changed, especially the people she had been hurting the most. She did, he accepted, and now she had to apologize to Gabriella. She knew that would be harder than Troy. She had been hurt more than Troy. Sharpay needed to do this VERY carefully.

When Troy got back from the bathroom, Sharpay wasn't there.

Instead, there was a note that said she was talking to Ryan at home. She didn't have anymore minutes on her phone. He read the note and figured she was getting tips on how to apologize to everyone else.

He was about to call Chad when he heard another voice behind him saying "Troy, isn't it? Look, we really have to talk."

Troy heard the voice before, but he forgot all about him.

He knew who it was and why they had to talk.

Another cliff hanger, but it was long, wasn't it? Shouldn't that be enough? Stop looking at me like that! lol! No seriously, what did you think of it? Were you surprised? Wonder who's gonna talk to him now? Hopefully you're smart enough to know that it's not Gabriella. Or maybe it is. Maybe she's just being smart. Alright, enough of my blabbering. REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thnx! Just so you know, the song's "Everybody's Fool" by Evanescence. I'm a big fan!

Rachel

() Lyrics changed in order to fit the story line. Original lyric: And I don't love you anymore. Like he would stop loving his sister, even if she is a bitch. lol! Review!