Hey Everyone…WOW…you guys are awesome! I was going to wait until I got 15 reviews but 14 is close enough…I'm going to try and work this so that I update every 10-15 reviews so keep on doing your thing…one thing that I would like to try and do is get all your input on what you would like to happen in the story…I really love hearing about what everyone wants to happen so please feel free to tell me what you would like to see happen!

CHAPTER 2

The day of the funeral was bright and sunny but the mood in the church was anything but. Sharpay sat still as glass in the front row between her father, Greg and Ryan. Gabby sat behind them with Troy, Chad and Taylor all in tow. Many students and teachers from East High were there as well to show their support. After the service the procession took them to the cemetery.

Sharpay stood apart from everyone else. People kept trying to hug her and express their condolences but she just shrugged them away. Even when Gabby tried to talk to her Sharpay remained silent, it was as if she had been struck dumb.

In truth Sharpay was numb. Her mother had died trying to make it to the audition all because Sharpay had begged her to come. If she hadn't been so selfish than maybe her mom would still be alive. Nothing anyone did seemed to help. Sharpay had become a shell of her former self. She rarely ate or slept and the dark circles were becoming more pronounced under her eyes as the days passed. Sharpay and Ryan's dad, Greg, took them to their condo in Hawaii to heal a little before they went back to school. Sharpay had yet to utter a single word or shed a single tear since they had arrived at the hospital just in time to say goodbye to their mother, Sarah, before she died.

After 2 weeks in Hawaii Greg decided that it was time for them to go back to school. When Ryan and Sharpay walked into school the next day the normal chatter dimmed to a buzz. Ryan looked like his usual impeccably dressed self but Sharpay was a whole other story. She was wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt. She didn't have any make-up on and her hair was in a ponytail. Her normally sneering mouth was in a tight line; she carried her books close to her chest and refused to meet anyone's eye.

Ryan escorted her to their homeroom. He sat down in front of her and waited for the rest of their classmates to come in. Shortly after they began to trickle in. When Gabby spotted Sharpay she ran over. "Sharpay!" She stopped short and took in her appearance, "Are you OK?"

Sharpay nodded.

Troy, who had come in with Gabby, Chad and Taylor, turned to Ryan. "What's wrong with her?"

Ryan didn't have time to answer because Mrs. Darbus came in and started class. At the end of class Sharpay handed Mrs. Darbus a note and left the classroom before anyone could follow her. Mrs. Darbus stopped Gabby as she was leaving the classroom. "Ms. Montez rehearsals begin at 3 after school."

Gabby looked at her, "What are you talking about Mrs. Darbus."

"For the musical. You have the lead." Mrs. Darbus explained.

Gabby shook her head, "No I don't. Sharpay does."

Mrs. Darbus shook her head, "Ms. Evans has withdrawn herself from…" She glanced down at the note, "Anything to do with this and any future musical, acting and or singing. She has requested that you take over her role for this musical."

Gabby just shook her head and followed Troy, Ryan, Chad and Taylor out of the room. "Back to my question, what's wrong with your sister?" Troy asked

"I wish I knew. She hasn't cried about mom yet and she hasn't said one word since we got to the hospital to say goodbye. I literally had to get her out of bed this morning and lead her in to the bathroom so she could brush her teeth. I even set out clothes for her but she pulled those sweats out from somewhere. I didn't even know she had sweatpants." Ryan said.

"That's awful." Taylor said, "And now she's dropped out of the musical."

"Look, maybe she just needs more time." Gabby said

At lunch Sharpay sat silently pushing her food around on her plate vaguely listening to the conversations around her. She was everyone's topic of choice throughout the cafeteria. In her normal state of mind Sharpay would have loved that everyone was talking about her because that meant she was the center of attention. The day was a blur and when it finally ended Sharpay sat on a bench outside and waited for Ryan to drive them home.

Ryan was in the auditorium practicing for the musical with Gabby when the basketball team walked in at nearly 5 that evening. "Hey you guys about done?" Chad asked

"No, we've still got a lot more to go through." Gabby answered

"Where's Sharpay?" Troy asked

"I told her I had to stay after so I think she just went home." Ryan replied

"All right we'll see you guys tomorrow." Troy said and they guys all walked out. When they got out in front of the school. Chad stopped them. "Hey. Look."

Troy and the rest of the team looked over and saw Sharpay sitting on the bench. "Has she been out here since school let out?" Marc Daniels, a junior on the team asked.

"Maybe." Chad said, "Should we go get Ryan?"

"No, he's busy. I'll take care of Sharpay. I'll see you guys tomorrow." Troy made his way slowly over to the bench. He sat down next to her, "Hey Sharpay?" He said in a soft voice, "Ryan has to practice so I'm going to take you home OK?"

She gave no indication that she heard him but didn't fight him when he picked up her books and tucked his arm around her and lead her to his car. On the drive home neither of them spoke. Troy pulled in to her driveway. Sharpay was reaching for the handle when Troy spoke, "Sharpay, I know that your having and tough time with everything but Ryan is really worried about you so if you can just let him know that your OK I think that would really help." Sharpay paused but didn't respond so he continued, "And I know you have Gabby but if you need to talk to someone I'm here if you need me."

Sharpay almost smiled, "Thank you." She said so softly that Troy almost didn't hear her. She got out of the car and walked quickly into her house.

Troy sat in the driveway for almost a full minute before he began to drive himself back home. Try as he might he couldn't get Sharpay out of his mind. This girl always seemed unbreakable and her she was crumbling to pieces in front of their very eyes and not one of them had any idea how to help her.

The next few weeks progressed very slowly. Ryan had told them that the night when Troy took Sharpay she had told him and their dad that she needed time to sort through everything and that she was OK but since that night she hadn't said another word. She still wore jeans and t-shirts or sweat pants and t-shirts but she had started wearing a light layer of make-up to cover up the dark circles under her eyes. So they all took that to mean improvement. Everyday at lunch and in class teachers and students alike all tried to make Sharpay eat or talk or really do anything besides stare blankly around. It had become a game for about a week until people began to realize that Sharpay wasn't joking, she was seriously depressed. Even people who hated Sharpay and had wished that she would leave wanted her back to the way she was. For some reason the school just wasn't the same without the Ice Queen around.

It was the opening night of the musical and Ryan had dragged Sharpay along with him in the hopes that seeing a play that she wasn't in would snap her out of it. Sharpay sat with Mrs. Montez, Troy, Taylor and Chad in the front row. She had even dressed up a little for the occasion and looked more like her normal self than she had in a long time. When it came to the middle of the first Act with Gabby's first solo Sharpay, who had started to relax a little stiffened next to Troy. He watched as the color drained out of her face. She stood up and bolted out of the auditorium. Several heads turned to watch her go. Troy followed her quickly.

"Sharpay!" He shouted once they were safely out of the auditorium. Sharpay didn't stop running. He chased her to the other side of the school and into one of the music practice rooms. He found her beating her arms and legs against the cabinets in the room. Troy ran over to her, he wrapped his arms around her in an attempt to get her to stop.

"Why did she have to leave?" Sharpay sobbed, "Why was I so selfish. She's dead because of me!" She collapsed crying against Troy's chest.

Troy sunk to the floor still holding Sharpay while she sobbed.

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