Chapter 6: Is This Love?

A/N: Ok, so it's sunday instead of friday like I promised. There's a bonus scene at the end of the chapter to make it up. Thank you for all of the reviews, they're my writing fuel.

A small crowd was gathering outside of the restaurant that Sharpay was at. She was supposed to be meeting with her co-stars and director for her upcoming movie but she was being distracted by the numerous flashes from people's cameras. The morning paper had her picture splashed across the front page, instantly making her the biggest star in town. Her co-stars frowned at her disapprovingly as she put a menu up to her face to hide from prying cameras. The director, Zack Martin (just a name), was also disappointed in Sharpay. He pulled her off to the back of the restaurant to have a private conversation.

"Look Shari, baby. Publicity is good, but this was supposed to be a secret." He sat her in a chair in the corner of a private room. No one was allowed inside the room so it was safe to speak freely.

"We weren't going to announce that you were going to star in this picture until next week. It looks like the press beat us to it so we're going to release a statement tomorrow." Zack explained to her as she looked at the floor and twiddled her fingers.

"I'm sorry. I really don't know how it got out. I didn't tell anyone except my closest friends and I know they wouldn't tell." She gave a puppy dog pout to prove how sorry she was and to beg for forgiveness.

"Ok, I believe you. But these kinds of things can't get out to the public before we officially release it." He put his hand on her shoulder and helped her to stand up.

"What am I supposed to do about the cameras though?" She asked as she gathered her purse from the floor.

"You gotta go into hiding sweet thang. Just for a couple days. That's when we're going to move you on set where you'll live for the rest of shooting." He walked towards the door of the private room and stopped there. He turned to face her and she stopped in front of him.

"I really hate to tell you this but if any more news leaks and it's about you, we're going to have to kick your cute little butt out the door. We have at least three other girls that are just as qualified to star in this picture. I would really hate to see that happen to you." He turned and opened the door for her before she could say anything. Disappointed at the outcome of her discussion, she had a frown on when she left the private room. Deciding that she wasn't hungry anymore, she walked to the bathroom to call Ryan to pick her up. Ryan picked up his phone on the second ring with a hello.

"Hey Ryan, I don't think I'm very hungry. Do you think you could pick me up?" She looked at herself in the mirror and fixed her hair.

"Sorry Shar, I can't. I'm on my way to meet with the executive producer downtown." She frowned at the news and started whining into her phone.

"Who's gonna pick me up then Ryan. I'm stuck in a restaurant because I'm surrounded by a bunch of idiots with cameras."

"I'm really sorry Sharpay, but this is a little more important right now. This concerns your job so I have to do this." He paused to think for a moment as he was sitting at a red light.

"Why don't you call Troy and see if he can come to pick you up?" Sharpay brightened at the mention of Troy and the possibility that he could pick her up.

"That is an excellent idea Ryan, why didn't I think of that? Ok, I'll see you at home." She hung up her phone and immediately started dialing Troy's number.

"Hey Sharpay, what's up?" Troy answered just before it went to his voicemail. Sharpay smiled at the familiar voice.

"Umm, do you think you could pick me up from the restaurant? You know the one?"

"Yeah, I guess I can. I'm in the neighborhood so I'll swing by and get you."

"Go to the back of the restaurant, there's a ton of people at the front trying to take pictures of me." She started looking for the back entrance to the building where she could make her escape.

"Yeah, sure. I'll be there in five minutes." He hung up with a click and put his camera away. The truth was, he was one of the people sitting outside of the restaurant trying to snap a few discreet pictures from his car. He put his camera away in the trunk before pulling out of his parking stall and circling the block to the rear of the building. Sharpay was standing there in the alley, luckily no one knew she had left except for Zack. She jumped into the passenger seat and Troy drove away from the restaurant quickly.

"Wow it was a mad house out front." Troy remarked on the very crowded sidewalk that fronted the building.

"I feel so bad Troy. My picture is all over the paper and the news got out that I'm going to star in the new movie." She went on to relay the rest of the conversation she had with her director. As Sharpay looked straight ahead, Troy was sweating bullets in the driver's seat. 'She could lose this gig because of me.' Troy thought to himself as he glanced at her for a brief second. She was leaning on the doorframe, her chin in her hand and looking very sad. He reached over with his hand to take her hand in his. He rubbed his thumb softly over the top of her knuckles as she sighed into the door, closing her eyes.

"Don't worry Shar, I'm sure everything will turn out fine in the end." She took her head out of her hands and looked at him as he drove. A small smile broke onto her face as she remembered how happy she was when she was around him.

"Thanks Troy, you always know what to say." She squeezed his hand back and continued to look out the window.

"You know what, how about we get away from the city for the day. Forget about the movie for the afternoon." He turned the car around and started heading west.

"Troy, where will we go? If someone sees me there will be cameras everywhere." She frowned at the memory of all the flashbulbs going off in her face.

"Don't you worry about that. We'll go to my secret spot on the beach. I've only ever seen a few surfers there. No one will bother you for the rest of the day at least." He sped up as he got onto the highway, heading toward the beach. She smiled and leaned back in the seat to take a nap.

A half an hour later Troy parked his car along a grove of trees on an empty side street. He turned to Sharpay and gently shook her shoulder, rousing her from her dreams.

"Hey Sharpay, we're here." She opened her eyes slowly and squinted in the afternoon sun. Putting her sunglasses on, she scanned the area and found no one in sight.

"The beach is on the other side of these trees. No one comes here because it's so far away from anything." He gestured to the trees as he helped her out of the car. They walked through the grove of ironwood trees toward the beach. The ground was covered with millions of dry needles and tiny pine cones from the trees. A lone picnic bench stood in the center of a large clearing just in front of the beach. The sand sloped down to the water where the waves gently broke. It was like a place out of a fairytale. Sharpay gasped at the beauty of the place and broke into a run onto the sand.

"Hey wait up!" Troy yelled after her as she ran along the beach, a bright smile plastered on her face.

"This place is beautiful Troy. How did you find it?" She stopped and turned to him, running back to give him a hug.

"I found it during college. Me and Doug were working on an indie surf film and we found this beach by accident. He was driving and I was asleep in the back. We got a flat down the road and while he fixed it I got up to scope the place out." He explained as she continued to hug him. He rested his chin on the top of her head as she closed her eyes, smiling. They spent the rest of the afternoon there, playing in the shallows and sitting up on the beach. They talked the whole afternoon about anything and everything. Troy brought out his camera and took a picture of himself with Sharpay sitting on the beach. When the sun went down they got into the car and drove home, reluctantly. Troy pulled up in front of her condo and stopped the car.

"Thank you Troy, I had a great time. You always know how to cheer me up." She smiled as she opened the door. It seems she couldn't stop smiling when she was around him.

"Did you want to come up?" She turned around before she closed the door. Troy's eyebrows went up at the offer.

"Maybe just for a little bit. I have work tomorrow and I need to get home and take a shower." He explained as he got out of the car as well. He locked the car and followed her upstairs. A little bit turned into a couple of hours as they spent the time kissing on the couch. They were interrupted at around 9:30 when Ryan came home. Yawning he walked past them without a second glance.

"Hey Troy. I'm really tired so I'll see you tomorrow." He walked down the hallway to his room and closed the door. Troy and Sharpay broke into a laugh when Ryan's door closed.

"I guess I better get going. I'm glad that I could cheer you up a little bit." He opened the door and stopped at the threshold. Sharpay rushed over and hugged him one last time.

"Bye Troy, I'll see you tomorrow." She said sweetly as she leant up to kiss him goodbye.

"Yeah, tomorrow." He said as he left, Sharpay leaning against the doorframe to watch him leave.

Extra

Ryan's meeting had not gone as well as he wanted and was also feeling depressed like his sister. The conversation with the executive producer had gone about the same as the one that Sharpay had had with the director. Driving without a clear destination in mind, Ryan ended up in front of Gabriella's coffee shop. Deciding that he was thirsty, he parked his car and went inside.

"Is Gabriella here?" He asked one of the servers. She seated him at a table and went to go get Gabriella from the backroom. She came out a few minutes later and sat across from Ryan.

"Hey you. What can I get'cha?" She asked as he continued to stare at the napkin holder on the table.

"I don't know, I'm not much of a coffee drinker. I'm just a little down is all." He explained as he turned to Gabi. She noticed the forlorn expression on his face and instantly sympathized with him.

"Rough day at work? I got just the thing to cheer you up. I'll be right back." She got up and went behind the counter to put together something for him. She came back a few minutes later with a cup in her hand. Ryan looked at the offered drink and broke into a half smile. It was a root beer float with an ice cream smiley face floating in it.

"We give that to the kids that come in here. I thought it would cheer you up." She said as she spooned some ice cream into her mouth. Taking the spoon she just ate from, she scooped some more ice cream up and put it into Ryan's mouth. He swallowed and pulled the spoon out of his mouth.

"Thanks Gabi. How much do I owe you?" He asked as they got up from their table, having finished the root beer float and their conversation. She picked up the empty cup and walked toward the counter.

"Nothing, it's on the house." She said back to him.

"That's not good for business Gabi. I have to pay you." He pulled out a ten dollar bill and handed it to her. She pushed it back to him, shaking her head.

"No really Ryan, it's on the house." She threw the cup into the sink and turned back to him.

"Gabi, you're going to live with Troy forever if you keep giving complimentary drinks out." She thought about it for a moment before taking the offered bill from Ryan. She put the money into the register and walked back to Ryan. She smiled slightly and hugged him. When she pulled away from him she smiled seductively at him, an idea popping into her head.

"Hey mister, where's my tip?" She winked at him to give him a hint but he was still confused. Rather than wait for him to figure it out, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. They broke apart two minutes later and Ryan smiled at her.

"I'll see you later Gabi." He said as he walked out of her store. She watched him leave before going back to work.

A/N: The beach that I described in the story is real. I don't know if someplace like that exists in California but there's one like that here. I've only been there twice but I love it so much. There was only one other person there when I found it. It was amazing I wish I took more pictures. On another note, I have almost the same number of reviews as my other story and only half the number of hits. Thanks to everyone that reviewed. Suggestions are still welcome.