Chapter 8:

Sharpay walked home slowly trying to let everything in… She watched her feet trying not to meet the eyes of anyone else. She just couldn't take the whispers and ridicule of the ice queen today. There was only one person she wanted to talk to and she barely wanted to talk to her.

"Hey girl… Wait up! Don't you know how hard it is to run in high heels?" Cassandra yelled trying to catch up with Sharpay. She sighed as she finally caught up the blonde. She put one arm around her friend's shoulders and raised an eye inquisitively.

"Why am I the way I am?"

"That's really deep Shar… I don't even know how to approach that question."

"Cas, all my life I run from friendship because I'm afraid of rejection. I'm afraid to let anyone see what happens in my life. People could never understand the Evans family. Then he comes along and changes everything. I don't want to know… I just want him to live me along like everyone else has. He doesn't know the real me. He loves the fake me…Just a façade." Sharpay let the tears come down. The two girls stopped in front of Cassandra's house and looked at one another.

"All I know is… It's hard to let someone knew into your life. But it's all worth it in the end. You may find the one that is worth fighting for. You may find the one who really accepts the Sharpay Evans, I know. She's not that bad of a girl… She just needs to smile a little more."

Cassandra looked over to Sharpay's driveway across the street. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Troy Bolton was sitting on her porch. Could it be that Troy was Sharpay's secret admirer all along? The one person who accidentally saw a glimpse of the Sharpay that was hidden from the rest of the world?

"I have to go to my aunt's house for a family get together… I'm already running late; you know how my mom is." Cassandra said quickly trying to get Sharpay to go home. She wanted to see what would happen. She just wanted her friend to be truly happy for once.

Sharpay hugged her and turned around to head to the dysfunctional place she called home. She took a deep breath, facing her father was more than she could handle. She didn't want to admit that her father was an asshole who deserved to be locked up for all of eternity. She was so into her own thoughts about her family she didn't even see him sitting there.

"I can't take your bullshit anymore, babe! I found a better woman. One who respects me and never gives me lip. Take this hell hole. I don't want anything that reminds me of you… Try not to mess this up for yourself. Have fun rotting away alone. One day you'll die thinking about me…" Troy looked up at Sharpay. "Harsh. I wish I could be such a poet. He doesn't even spell half the words right."

"What do you want?" Sharpay screamed as the tears started to stream down her cheeks. She tried to wipe away the black trail that was forming, but the more she rubbing her cheeks the darker it got. She took a deep breath. She was ready to face him, or run whatever came first.

"You…" Troy stood up to cut her off as she tried to turn and run away. "You can run all you want… But I will find you, and that's a promise."

"Why won't you leave me alone?"

"Why won't you let me in?" Troy asked as he grabbed a hold of her shoulders. He held on to her as if this would be the last time he ever got to hold her. He wasn't going to let her fight this storm alone. He was sick of her always running from him… Running from everything. She was never strong enough to fight, but this time he wasn't backing down.

"I can't."

"Yes you can."

"Please, save you speeches for someone who cares."

"That's just it Sharpay. You care… You always have. That's why you always showed up. That's why you always smiled when you first read the note. You wanted it to be me. You wanted there to be hope that I might actually care for you too."

"You're wrong."

"Why did you show up this afternoon? You wanted to know it was me without an ounce of doubt."

"You're lying."

"It was my song wasn't it."

"You wrote it for Gabriella."

"I lied. I was scared. I didn't know how to face you just yet. I didn't want to lose you before I even had you."

"What?"

"Maybe I just might love you…"

"I don't have time for your crap Bolton!"

"Fine… Just one more thing and I'll walk away and never come back. I'll go back to Gabriella with no questions asked."

"What now?"

Troy lowered his hands to the small of her back feeling ever inch on the way down. He pulled her closer as he looked into her eyes. He didn't even hesitate when she tried to pull away, he just strengthened his grip. He leaned in slowly. He wasn't in a rush to lose her. Their lips met softly before the passion took over. He kissed her with everything that he had. It was the more amazing experience either one of them had. Every time their lips melted into one another it was like fireworks exploding.

"I… I… I…" Sharpay stuttered as she pulled away breathless. Maybe this one was real. This may be the one time she finds the love of her life.

"Do you still want me to leave?"

"I can't let you in…"

"Just tell me why… Why do you deny your own fire burning inside?"

"Because you just hurt me like everyone else!" Sharpay screamed as she tried to run away.

He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her back to him. He wasn't going to take no for an answer. He felt something for her that he never felt before. He didn't know if it was love, but was going to find out if it is the last thing that he did. He looked at her for a second not saying anything.

"I understand you're scared. But I can be strong enough for both of us. You father is not your fault and he's nothing to be ashamed of. You're mother is the victim. You can't blame her for being too weak to fight back. She loved your father. She wasn't ready to let go. Zeke makes his own decisions. You couldn't change what happened. He doesn't know how to love a woman, that isn't your problem. I will shelter you from any storm that comes along. I have seen it all Sharpay… You have nothing left to hide except how you really feel about me. I want you more than I have ever wanted anything in my life. There is just something about you that keeps me hanging on. Please… Just give me this one chance to prove I can be the man that you have always wanted. I can be the moon, the sun, the entire world if you let me. I want to be. I could never hurt you, because it would hurt me more."

She didn't know what to say as she listened to his heart cry out to her. She couldn't stand being hurt anymore. This was just one thing she was going to have to do. She wanted him. She always had. That was why she hated him, because he hurt so every day already by not being her prince charming. He had never noticed her before. She didn't know why things were so different now, but she was ready to dive in heart first this time.