The second Sharpay had finished her Creative Writing final Kelsi warned her that prep was going to be intense. Intense? Sharpay thought she was exaggerating. But the two of them had walked up the stairs and heard the music before they even swiped the door open. Britney Spears was echoing around the common room where Lily and Angela had designated at least six work stations with everything from professional hair and make-up, to manicures and pedicures to a tanning and waxing station. The last one was extremely convenient since Sharpay had been so stressed out and busy avoiding assassination attempts that she hadn't done her eyebrows in forever.

Rushing around in a pair of shorts, a tank top, and her strapless bra, Sharpay was tired already. It had taken forty minutes for her hair to be brushed out, trimmed, and rolled into a variety of soft curlers. A few minutes for the waxer to do her thing. And then another hour or so to get her nails done. Now she was back in her room, pacing back and forth as she tried to get her navy manicure to finish drying. She hadn't touched anything in at least ten minutes for fear of smudging. She stopped in front of her desk and pressed the Home button on her phone. The Gala was in an hour and a half and her make-up wasn't even done. Was she going to be ready in time? Was she going to mess it up once it was put on? Was she going to look stupid in the pictures with a huge streak of eyeliner across her cheek?

"Here, Sharpay."

Sharpay turned and saw Kelsi gliding through the door, a pair of patent platforms dangling in her hand. She'd probably be about six feet tall in them, rivaling Ryan's height. She momentarily wondered if he minded her being taller than him. Luckily Sharpay was short and Troy wouldn't have to worry about that. Kelsi held out her other arm, a diamond pendant hung from a short gold chain, "For you."

"Wow."

"Pretty, right? I got it in a gift bag." She dropped it onto Sharpay's palm and she stared at the diamonds. "If you find one you'd rather wear just put it back on my desk. I don't want your present eating it."

Sharpay saw her green eyes flicker over her shoulder to Boi's bed. The puppy had been good since she got back from her finals, even though she'd been running around figuring out what color to get on her nails and how she'd wear her hair and what shoes she was going to- ugh. Just thinking about getting ready for a Gala was hard work. Sharpay felt a sudden admiration for people who did this every week. She smiled and gave Kelsi her word, running a finger over the gold. Better than this? Really? Was that possible?

"Sharpay!" Martha squealed, bouncing in as Kelsi slid out. The make-up artist had glued a pair of long false eyelashes onto her lids, making her childish hazel eyes even wider. She blinked them a few times, tucking her straightened hair behind her ears. "What do you think?"

"I think that I can't be in the same room as you until I get my make-up done," Sharpay laughed, feeling almost self-conscious with her clean face and hair curlers. She tugged up her strapless bra a little. Martha grinned, "Please, I'd kill for your complexion. But don't worry, I think you're next after they finish Gabriella."

Sharpay stiffened at the sound of her name. Today was Lily's parting gift to Gabriella. After tonight, she was banned from Hale. She wasn't even allowed to come here to visit Kelsi or Taylor. They would have to go over to Gregory Hall to spend time with her- not that either of them seemed to want to jump on that crazy train. Even Kelsi had been spending less time with Gabriella, which made Sharpay feel a little sympathetic for her.

But then she remembered being pushed into the lake and the feelings disappeared.

"Come on, you have to see how they did Brooke's cat eye..." Martha tugged Sharpay out of her room by a soft manicured hand and Sharpay managed to place Kelsi's necklace on top of the dresser before being pulled down the stairs. Just as they reached the final flight, Gabriella was turning the banister to make her way up, hair and make-up complete. If she wasn't such a horrible person Sharpay would have told her how amazing she looked. Gabriella didn't even acknowledge her- something that was probably for the better. There didn't have to be any fighting tonight. Tonight was supposed to be fun.

Though she'd probably jinxed it just by thinking about it.

Almost an hour flashed by before Sharpay's make-up was finished. She figured choosing a simpler route would have taken less time but it took longer than expected to apply individual fake lashes to Sharpay's already long lashes. Lily was at the chair next to her, having a clean red lip applied, suggesting guys couldn't resist a full row of lashes. So Sharpay had given in, picturing herself batting her eyes at Troy and him swooning over them. As if. She stood up from her chair and reached up to pat the curlers on her head. "Can I take these out yet?"

"Almost," Lily answered, smiling as she nudged Sharpay back towards the stairs. "Come. We have to pick out which Choos you're wearing."

Sharpay heard the click of the door being unlocked and turned to see who could possibly be outside of Hale at a time like this. Everyone was either getting made up or was in their room getting dressed. She froze when she was the shaggy brown hair and the formal attire.

"No date viewing allowed until the Gala, Bolton," Lily announced without even turning around from climbing up the stairs. "Boys aren't allowed to see the effort it takes to make us look good."

"With you all there's no effort required," Troy replied genuinely as he pushed the front door shut with his hand. Sharpay reached up for her rollers again. Probably not her best look. He flashed a smile at Lily when she turned to look down at him, smirking.

"Kiss up," she rounded the banister, calling from the second flight, "You have five minutes until she has to take those curlers out. I'm counting."

Sharpay bit the inside of her cheek, getting a real look at Troy. He was already dressed in his Michael Kors slim-fitting suit and had probably been ready to go for at least an hour. He was examining her face, teeth seeming whiter. "What are you doing here?"

"I have a present for you," he grinned, and there were those teeth again. Had they had a teeth-whitening table over in Stuart, too? She wouldn't be surprised. Lily went all out.

"You already got me a present," she pointed out, unable to stop smiling. Something was different about him. Something in his eyes. The way he looked at her. She loved this look.

"That was for Christmas. This is just because you deserve it."

She felt her heart melt into a little puddle as he pulled a small chain from the inside of his suit jacket. Something dangled off the end. He held it up in between them and she lifted her hand to the gold that had been molded into a cursive, lowercase 'T'. Inexplicable tears tingled at the corner of her eyes and she looked back up to his grin. He blue eyes were shining. She wanted to tell him she loved him. She wanted to tell him so bad. But for some reason she held back, choosing to pull him down into a kiss instead. Having her lips occupied was the only way she was going to keep herself silent. She didn't even care that she was messing up her just-applied lip gloss.

Troy pulled away first, planting another soft kiss on her lips before grinning down at her again. "Will you wear it?"

"Serious question?" She teased, biting the inside of her cheek as Troy reached around to clasp it around her neck. He brushed her hair over her shoulder, letting his hands linger a little longer than necessary. She lifted a hand to the letter and pictured it next to her dress. And then Troy next to her. And then she wanted to see Gabriella's face when she saw them. "I should finish getting ready... I have to look prettier than you."

"Mission accomplished," he smirked, tapping on one of her rollers. She brushed his hand away. "I'll see you in a bit," he added before slipping out the front door and letting a wave of winter air through the room.

She turned around and leaned her back against the door, smiling like an idiot and outlining the 'T' with her fingertips. She looked up to see Martha concealing the biggest grin ever behind her thin fingers and Kelsi smirking at her from the staircase, fully dressed in a white Versace cut-out gown that only she could get away with at a school function. "Told you you'd find something better."

/

"This is why I'm glad I don't have a girlfriend. If I had to wait this long for her to get ready every time we had to go to an event I'd probably just go by myself. Then she'd get mad and I'd have to make it up to her... Such a process..."

"Yeah, but the end product is normally worth the wait," Troy reasoned, casually pacing in the foyer of the Grand Hall. The building was nestled at the corner of campus and only used about twice a year apart from the Gala. It was probably one of the nicest building on campus. From the inside it almost looked like a castle. "You're going to meet a girl one day who you have big enough feelings for that you won't mind waiting."

"Waiting for what exactly? Trying to give me a hint to something, Troy?" Jason smirked and Troy rolled his eyes. "You know what I meant."

"When are you thinking about, you know," He paused, waiting until an older couple- probably school alumni- and a group of Gregory girls made their way across the wide foyer and through the large doorway that led to the ballroom to pull an engraved sliver flask from his inside chest pocket. Troy shook his head as Jason unscrewed the top. He'd been doing this since they'd gotten here, casually taking a swig when no one was around. The room was probably full now, as the Gala had technically started twenty minutes ago. Most people showed up early wanting a table closer to the food. Fortunately Hales and Stuarts had an unspoken claim to one of the better tables. So while he and Jason waited for Sharpay and the rest of the Hale stragglers, James, Lily, and the rest were inside, casually mingling without the pressure of reserving extra seats with suit jackets and clutches.

Jason made a satisfied 'ahhh' as he swallowed the gin, finishing his thought with, "Unveiling the L word?"

"When are you thinking of attending one of these things sober?" Troy asked, ignoring the question.

"If I ever..." Jason shuddered. "Let's just hope I never have to find out. Don't change the topic, Bolton. I'll take it that you're nervous."

Nervous would be a good word. Petrified would probably be better. Every time he saw Sharpay now he just thought about it. About how he loved her. About the things they could do together. But there was that little piece of his mind reminding him about Tiara. What happened if he told Sharpay he loved her and she disappeared, too? He didn't know what would happen. He wasn't sure he'd be able to recover.

"Your brother coming tonight?" Troy asked, a random and desperate attempt to change the subject.

"No. Thank god." He played along, holding out the canister. "Bolted as close to the equator as he could get after his finals."

"You think he'd want to be here. He practically ran the school last year," Troy took a quick gulp and held it back, looking over his shoulder towards the steps god forbid a parent walked by. "Your mom doesn't mind?"

"She does," Jason answered, taking back the flask with a giant swig. He barely winced. "Aiden doesn't."

Troy resisted the urge to give Jason a sympathetic shoulder cap. Jason worked his ass off to steal the attention of his mother from Aiden. And Aiden didn't even try. Now he'd probably get to spend some time with her and have it actually be about him. "Jase-"

"That dress just isn't fair," Jason said slowly with an approving glance. Troy's brow furrowed, expecting to see Sharpay or Martha. But the first face he recognized was Ryleigh Jasnic's. Her dress was simple and gold, but the deep V in the front brought your eyes south. She had her hands wrapped around Nolan's arm. The two stopped next to Troy and Jason as Nolan waved the rest of his Pryce friends to go inside.

"Lookin' good, Ry," Jason grinned, toasting her with his flask.

Ryleigh's lips formed a smile and she put a hand on Jason's cheek, "Very kind of you to notice."

She tapped his cheek twice, looking over to Troy with a smirk, "Is this gonna be a repeat of last year?"

Jason laughed, though Troy was probably sure he didn't remember first hand how he had bowed in front of the former Dean and asked 'Her Majesty' for a dance- and then proceeded to refer to the rest of the faculty as 'Your Grace'. He'd watched one too many episodes of The Tudors the night before. Though he'd 'knighted' Troy and Tiara as Duke and Duchess of Manhattan so he'd been forced to play along.

"I'm five minutes late and you're already hitting on another girl? What kind of date are you?"

Coming from the direction of the coatroom, Sharpay and Martha appeared. Troy barely registered what color Martha's dress was because he was too captivated by Sharpay, in a flowing white dress, walking towards him. He had to touch his chest to make sure his heart was still beating. She was always beautiful but right now she looked... ethereal. She could be the daughter of a Greek goddess. She bit her lip and blushed when he saw the stare he was giving her. "Hi."

"Hi." He replied, unsure if he could form another sound.

"I was not hitting on Ryleigh. Gross. Bleh." Jason countered, playfully pushing Ryleigh's shoulder away as Martha smirked at him. "Of course you weren't."

Sharpay slid her hand into Troy's. He felt like he was in a fairy tale. Or at a fantasy wedding a girl has when she's watching those reality dress shows. She in her amazing white gown. He in his tailored suit and gold tie. He'd asked her to marry him once in the cafeteria. Could she take him up on the offer... like... now?

"Save me a dance?" Nolan asked, raising his eyebrows as Troy snapped out of his day dream. Sharpay seemed to have fallen into one of her own. His eyes flittered over to Troy momentarily, "If you're okay with that, of course."

Troy smirked as Sharpay squeezed his hand and he nodded at him, "I suppose I could allow it."

Nolan nodded at him and turned back to Sharpay as Ryleigh tugged him away, "Nice necklace."

"Thanks." He watched Sharpay look down, touching for the 'T' pendant. She was biting back a smile when she looked up at him, "I really do love it."

And I really love you.

/

"Why haven't you said it?"

"I don't know. I don't know how, I guess. I don't want to say it wrong."

"It's easy, really. Me and Ryleigh say it all the time. Just sound it out. Eye... luh-ve... yew."

"Wow Nolan, I forgot how funny you are" Sharpay smirked, arms around Nolan as the DJ worked a slow song into the mix. It was the first song of the night she'd torn herself away from Troy. Not being next to him felt wrong. Though somehow Nolan had dragged him into the conversation so she felt a little less apart from him. "I shouldn't have even brought it up. I don't need you teasing me."

"No, I'm sorry. It's big the first time, I totally get it." Nolan smiled down at her. His hair was less curly than normal. "You know he told me he loved me once. Best day of my life."

Sharpay almost burst out laughing, "He did not."

"No, he did, I swear. We were in Spanish class... fifth grade... and the teacher handed out worksheets with common phrases for us to practice, right? Well, Troy and I are partners and he looks down, reads, looks up at me and says 'Te amo'. Didn't even realize what he was saying."

Sharpay was having a hard time laughing and thinking about the mention of fifth grade at the same time. And they'd been partners? In a boxing match, maybe, sure. "You've known each other for that long?"

"Same school since kindergarden. Used to have the same Nanny. Same basketball team. Same lacrosse team..." He smirked as if he could hear the gears cranking in her brain, "Wouldn't think it knowing us now, would you?"

"Not even a little," she said, honestly interested. She thought Troy hated Nolan. The idea of them on the same team for anything just sounded wrong. He was grinning, though. Like the memory was still fond to him. "What happened to you guys?"

"Tiara, I guess. We both liked her. Went for her at the same time. It got messy. Gauntlets were thrown." He shrugged a shoulder. "Shit happens."

"Do you ever miss him? I mean, do you miss being as close as you were?"

"Sometimes. He's so good, y'know? Honest. He has morals. Not many people like us do. When you meet people like Troy you're just kind of... attracted to their energy." It was weird to know exactly what Nolan was talking about. It was hard not to be completely taken over by Troy. He had everything. He was perfect. She didn't even realize the lovestruck smile she had on her face until she snapped back to reality and saw him grinning at her knowingly. "You should just tell him. Flat out. He'll appreciate it."

"You make it sound so easy," Sharpay mumbled.

"Sorry Clark, I need to steal your dance partner." Lily said, popping in from nowhere and wrapping a hand around Sharpay's arm. "Official Hale business. You understand."

"Of course," Nolan smirked, hands releasing Sharpay. "I wouldn't dream of keeping her away."

She had the feeling he was talking about more than just Hale.

"Smart boy," she said, tugging Sharpay off of the dance floor just as an up-tempo song began to play. "The Mother of Hale wants to meet you."

"She... she's here? She's... The Mother... Is here?"

She wasn't even making sense to herself.

Lily rolled her eyes, "She's just a woman, Sharpay. It'll be fine."

"But she's so much more important. I mean, she could hate me."

"She won't hate you, trust me- Troy!" she called, summoning Troy as if from nowhere and pushing the two towards the stairs to the foyer. "Talk her down. She's nervous."

He wordlessly did as she said, rounding her out of the event. He stopped her from moving and pulled her into a kiss, hands sliding around her waist so that she forgot momentarily what she was so nervous about. He grinned as he pulled away. "Okay, go ahead."

"Cheater," she mumbled. He smirked, "Why are you freaking out?"

"The Mother of Hale wants to meet me."

Troy nodded in understanding, calm as Lily was. Like this woman was no big deal. Why did they not understand?

"What if she doesn't like me?" Sharpay said, mostly to herself, as she moved to pace back and forth in front of him. Even though they were out of the main room the music was still loud and the chatter of hundreds wafted through the air. She toyed with the chiffon on the top of her gown, feeling the fabric twist around her ankles when she turned. Her ridiculously expensive Jimmy Choos tapped on the marble beneath her feet.

"I'm sure she already does," Troy said calmly as he leaned back against the dividing wall.

"What if I trip when I'm walking over to her?" She froze. "Oh my god, I'm totally going to trip over these shoes..."

"You're not going to trip."

"And what if my dress rips..."

"It won't."

"I'm so nervous," she took a deep breath. She looked into the main room, hoping to find the woman she was supposed to meet. The mother of Hale. The most important person in that crowd. To her, anyway. It was useless, of course, seeing as she had no idea what she looked like. Or how old she was. Or what she was wearing. Would a name tag be too much?

Maybe a giant flashing arrow?

"I feel lightheaded and hot... and sweaty and... and hot... Do I look hot?"

Troy smirked, "Always."

Sharpay stopped pacing and looked over at him sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to whine."

"You're nervous, I get it," he reached for her hands and pulled her closer. "You got Lily to like you. You got James to like you. You even got Kelsi to like you. The Mother is going to be a piece of cake."

"I'm sure this woman is like... all of them, plus you, wrapped in some million dollar couture gown."

"I don't know about that," Troy laughed. "But if she's anything like me, then she'll like you right away, won't she?"

Sharpay smiled at him, squeezing his hands before retracting them to fix her hair. "I look okay? Not disgracing the name of Hale or anything?"

"You look more than okay. But here's a little extra luck," he confirmed, pressing a light kiss on her lips. When he pulled away he nodded towards the main hall, pushing her back lightly. "Better go quick before it runs out."

She sucked in a breath and smiled at him, taking one last look at him before gliding out into the throngs of people. She spotted Lily, Angela and Brooke towards the center of all the dancing students, heels still on. Sharpay was itching to take hers off, but knew she'd trip over her dress without them. She slid in between a group of Pryce boys including Nolan and his friends as they all bounced and grinded with various girls in white and gold dresses. The boys had all ditched their jackets and rolled up their sleeves. Nolan had his gold tie loose around his neck. Jason Derulo's Don't Wanna Go Home echoed around the room as she put a hand on his arm to acknowledge him. He turned his head, still bopping around to the beat. He'd clearly had some alcohol, too. His smile was huge.

"Sharpay!" He yelled over the bass, "Where's Troy?"

"Getting some air, I think," she answered. She looked over her shoulder to see if he'd returned, but he was nowhere to be seen. It was a plausible guess.

"Lame! Join us?"

"Maybe in a bit!" She laughed, continuing on her journey to Lily. The nerves that had momentarily gone away reappeared as Lily caught her eye. Sharpay blinked at her, heart thumping from anticipation. "Where's the Mother?"

Lily stopped swaying long enough to peer over the heads of the other students. She looked around, eyes freezing in the direction of the bar and buffet tables. Her sapphire eyes snapped back, "She's at the bar!" She too had to scream to be heard over the dj. "Brown hair, talking to Dean Lucas- good luck!"

She turned her attention back to dancing, hands raised over her head as her curled black hair swung around her. Why was everyone wishing her luck? Did they not think the Mother would like her? Sharpay inhaled and started in the direction of the bar, repeating the niceties in her head. Hi, I'm Sharpay Evans. How are you. Thank you so much. I love Hale. I'm honored that I was chosen to be a part of it.

I am a kiss up.

Her pace slowed as she walked farther from the dance floor and closer to the bar, watching the woman smile as she talked to Dean Lucas. The closer Sharpay got, the prettier the Mother got. Her hair was wavy and shoulder length, a medium brown color with some highlights. Her arms were toned and her engagement ring and wedding band glistened in the light as she reached out to touch the Dean's arm with her free hand. Her smile revealed a row of perfect white teeth. Sharpay closed the space in between them, walking cautiously. The Dean looked over at her first. "Ms. Evans. You look lovely tonight."

"Thank you, Dean." Sharpay smiled, momentarily caught in a daze when she forgot how good looking he was. She blinked over and saw the Mother staring at her, her oddly familiar blue eyes examining her in a non-judging way. The look was much softer than Sharpay was expecting. She was expecting more of a Lily and less of a Martha.

"David, would you excuse us?" The Mother said, smiling over at the Dean. He nodded and softly clapped her shoulder. "Of course. Enjoy yourselves."

"Sharpay Evans?" The woman asked once he walked away, voice sweet as sugar. She switched her glass of champagne from one hand to the other. Her face was flawless and Sharpay couldn't stop staring at her eyes. Had she seen them in a photograph or something?

"Yes," Sharpay answered, taking the hand the woman had extended to her.

"I've heard so much about you." Even her hands were soft. There was not a single thing wrong with this woman. She didn't even have crow's feet. "I'm Celia Bolton."

Um... What?

"Celia... Bol- I'm sorry, Bolton?" Sharpay retracted her hand and stared at Celia. She knew those eyes were familiar. She'd know them anywhere. They were the exact same color as Troy's. How could he not have told her the Mother of Hale and the Mother of him were the same woman?

"That's right," Celia grinned, laughing softly. "You sound so surprised, am I not who you were looking for?"

"No you are!" Sharpay responded too-quickly. She tried to control her thoughts. She wanted to find Troy and give him a stern look. And Lily! They all knew who the Mother of Hale was and no one bothered to tell her it was Troy's mom? Were they trying to make her faint from surprise? "I just... didn't realize you were... you know-"

"Also the mother of a Stuart?" Sharpay nodded slowly. Celia shrugged a shoulder, "I may be Troy's birth mother but my Hale girls are just as much my daughters. Adopted may be the better word."

"So you went to Eastwood?" She realized how stupid the question was the second she asked it. Celia smiled, "I'd tell you the year I graduated, but I hate to age myself."

"I don't think you could age yourself if you tried," Sharpay wanted to sew her mouth shut. Please, say one more stupid thing.

"That's very kind of you to say- Hi there, sweetie."

Sharpay felt a brush of fabric on her shoulder as Troy leaned forward to kiss his mother's cheek, "Hey momma. You look beautiful."

She put her hand on his cheek and smiled, "See, this is why I miss you so much when you're here."

Troy grinned and looked over across the room, "Where's dad?"

Way to avoid looking me in the eye, Troy.

"He was off talking business with Jacob Wiley last time I saw him," she took a slow sip of her champagne and Sharpay felt her blue eyes examining the look she was giving her son. "So Troy, do tell me why it's taken me this long to meet the famous Sharpay?"

Oh, so she knew about me and you left me to stand on the corner of Confusion Ct. and Shock St? Thanks a bunch.

Troy's eyes were glistening and he shrugged a shoulder, "You were away over Thanksgiving. Again."

"Mrs. B, looking gorgeous as always." Jason appeared from behind Sharpay, reaching out a hand in her direction. "Would you please do me the honor of dancing with me?"

Celia smirked the same smirk her son used as she took Jason's hand. She placed her champagne flute down as the music changed to another slow song. "We'll talk more later, Sharpay."

"Okay," she replied meekly. Sharpay spun on Troy the second his mother was out of earshot. "Your mom? She's the Hale Mother? You didn't think it'd be nice if I was privy to this little piece of information?"

"No, see," he started, pulling her towards the dance floor slowly. "Then I'd miss this adorable look of complete confusion on your face."

"I can't believe you let me freak out like that," she mumbled, resisting the urge to smile even though she was mildly angry with him. He slid his arms around her and pulled her close. "I calmed you down, didn't I?"

"Whatever," Sharpay grinned, burying her face against his dress shirt. She didn't want to see him winning the argument. But by the smile she felt as he kissed the top of her head, he probably already knew he won. Someone tapped her shoulder. She twisted her head but didn't pull away from Troy's body. Lily was swaying alongside them, arms around James. "Gabriella's planning something."

Troy let out an irritated sigh. Sharpay ran her fingers along the back of his neck, knowing it calmed him down even though a wave of panic ran through her entire body. "How do you know?"

She made a face and looked up at James. "What is it you people don't understand about the phrase 'I know everything'?"

"Right, sorry," Sharpay apologized.

"You'll learn." Lily smirked, turning away and steering James away from the duo.

Sharpay felt her heart beating faster- and not in a good way. Gabriella was going to try something. Lily's words were echoing and echoing and Sharpay felt her breathing get shallower. Troy must have felt it, too, because he tilted her chin up and looked directly into her eyes.

"Listen to me. Don't worry about her tonight. I won't let her hurt you. I'll protect you, okay? She's just... She's nothing. Understand?" He said, placing a hand on the side of her face. He brushed her hair over her shoulder, looking down at her softly. "You're everything."

She felt her breath catch in her throat as she looked up at him, unable to blink. This is what it felt like to be in a real life Disney movie. Troy was her Prince Charming. She stared so deep into his eyes she was afraid she'd become lost at sea. His voice sounded so close as he said: "In two seconds you changed my world. You became my world."

/

It couldn't wait any longer. This was getting ridiculous.

Gabriella glared at Troy and Sharpay as they swayed intimately to the music, wanting to badly to go over there and rip them from one another's arms. If Gabriella had just sucked it up and done what she'd needed to do last night like she'd thought about, things would be different. That could be her with Troy instead of Sharpay. Or Sharpay could be here alone. Or neither of them could be here at all. She looked over at Kelsi, enthralled in a text as Ryan went to fetch drinks like a good little boyfriend.

Now or never, Gabriella. Do or die.

Gabriella grabbed her clutch and pushed herself up from the table so abruptly it caused Kelsi's head to snap up from her cell screen. Her green eyes were wide, "Where are you going?"

She was already strides away when she answered, mostly to herself, "I'm taking the situation into my own hands."

/

"-I don't know what I'd be like right now if you hadn't transferred here."

"And I don't know what I'd be like if I hadn't transferred." Sharpay's rested her cheek on his shoulder as she smiled. There was a pause. A long, comfortable pause as they swayed.

"Sharpay, I have to tell you something..."

She pulled back slowly, sensing the soft tone in his voice. Something in Troy's eyes shifted- in a good way. All of his features softened but there was still the note of a smile on his lips. His hand moved a fraction of an inch on her waist and she knew exactly what he was about to say. "Sharpay, I-"

"Mind if I cut in?" Gabriella smirked. Sharpay wanted to scream as she turned towards the brunette. That was not what she was expecting.

Sharpay what? Sharpay, you what!

"Yes, actually," Troy countered, removing his arms from their place around Sharpay. She looked up at him. What were you going to say, Troy? Say it. Please. 'Sharpay I' what? Damn you, Gabriella Montez.

"Too bad," the brunette sighed. "I don't care about being nice anymore."

"When were you-" Sharpay started as Gabriella's eyes narrowed into slits. Troy put a hand on her back to silence her. He was right, she shouldn't even be speaking to her. Especially with Lily's warning. "...nevermind."

"Well, Troy? One dance?"

"I don't think so, Gabriella," he said simply.

"What happened to manners?"

The smile he gave her exhibited more irritation than amusement. "You don't show me or my friends any, so why should I extend that courtesy to you?"

"Because we used to be best friends."

"I'd like you to examine the key word in that statement."

"You're really not even going to-"

"No!" Troy shouted, clearly unable to contain himself any longer. The idea of his parents in the crowd overhearing him didn't seem to faze him. His teachers. His classmates. Gabriella's mouth fell ajar. He shook his head at her. "Have you forgotten what that means? Do I have to say it in another language?"

Sharpay bit back a grin. Troy speaking French. Troy speaking Italian. Troy speaking- she shook her head. Priorities, Sharpay, pull it together. She looked up at him. Troy with a British accent...

Lord have mercy.

"Is something funny, Barbie?" Gabriella snapped. Sharpay bit back her lips and shook her head, about to reach for Troy's hand when Gabriella saw the movement.

"Don't!" She shouted. And anyone who wasn't already looking from Troy's outburst peered over in curiosity. She laughed viciously to herself, looking less and less like an Eastwood student and more and more like a psych ward patient. "You have no idea what's it's like... either of you..."

Sharpay's brow furrowed. What? What what is like?

"Mr. Bolton is the classic Alpha Male. Gorgeous, smart- complete pick of any girl on campus to date. Money. Power. Friends. And you. You with your fresh face and blonde hair, you just come here and get everything you want on a gold plate," she answered, gesturing to Sharpay. "New Girl gets all the princes and Queen G gets all the pumpkins."

Sharpay swallowed the lump in her throat and glanced over to see Nolan at the edge of the crowd, James slid through the crowd next to him. Stay calm, he mouthed to her silently. She shook her head at him, too concerned for her safety to be rational. She took a step towards Troy, feeling for his fingers. His assuring touch was going to be the only way she could stay calm. Troy was going to protect her. Troy was always going to protect her.

"Troy, I'm sorry," she smiled. Why was she smiling? Was this amusing to her? Sharpay wanted to ask to be let in on the joke, and Gabriella answered in her own sadistic way. She opened her clutch and pulled out a small black pistol that fit too-easily in her hand. People gasped around them but no one made any quick movements, too stunned to take action. She looked into Troy's eyes and dropped her clutch on the ground. She lifted her hand. "If I can't have you, no one can."

"Gabriella," Troy said slowly, unmoving. "Put it down, this isn't the way."

"It's the only way, Troy!" She screamed back, emphasizing by shaking her hand. Taunting them. Threatening them. "Get that through your head!"

"You don't have to do this," Sharpay practically begged, unable to tear her eyes away from the barrel shaking in between she and Troy. It was like Gabriella couldn't figure out who to shoot. Or if she was going to shoot either of them at all. Why wasn't anyone doing anything? All of the people in this room and not one cop? FBI agent? Nothing? She felt the other Stuart boys at the edge of the crowd- Jason, Ryan, Vince- all wanting to intervene but too afraid their movement would make Gabriella pull the trigger. From the corner of her eye she saw Kelsi grab Jason's arm as he took a step, holding him back from the danger.

"Of course I do," Gabriella swallowed. An angry tear rolled down her cheek as she closed her eyes, "It's the only way."

"Gabriella-"

"Goodbye, Troy."

In two seconds it happened:

The sound of a gunshot rang in their ears.

Someone in the crowd jumped for Gabriella.

Troy reached out for Sharpay's hand.

And Sharpay screamed Troy's name as he threw himself in front of her.

They were the longest two seconds of her life.