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CHAPTER 7
"What the hell is she doing?" Ryan shouted, "I'm going after her."
"What good is that going to do?" Taylor asked, "She's the most stubborn person I know."
"I know it's hard but you'll just make it worse by going after her." Gabby agreed
"We just need to find a way to knock some sense into her." Chad said
"I'm playing those tapes when she gets back!" Kelsey said, "And she'll watch them even if I have to sit on her."
Brad laughed, "That's not much of a threat. You're like 4 feet tall."
Kelsey huffed, "5'1."
"Big difference."
"All right, look we need more than just showing her old tapes." Gabby said
"I want my sister back." Ryan said, "I seriously thought she was making progress, she really seemed close to normal."
"That's what she wanted us to think." Troy said, speaking for the first time since Sharpay left.
"What are you talking about?" Taylor asked
"He's talking about Sharpay Evans, Miss. Drama Freak 2006. She's been in like a million plays, she's obviously a good actress." Chad said
"Since she started talking again I've only been able to get her to tell me the truth like 3 times and that's only because I caught her at a weak moment and I annoyed her enough to shout at me." Troy said, he ran a hand through his hair, "God I can't believe she went out with that guy." He said angrily.
"Why do you care so much?" Chad asked slyly
Troy shot a glare at him and then nervously glanced at Gabby, "I don't care. I'm just concerned because she's Ryan's sister and he's our friend."
"Troy you are the worst liar ever!" Gabby laughed, "We know you like her. It's OK! We broke up like a year ago."
"I don't know what you are talking about." Troy maintained
Even Ryan laughed, "Fine, when you are ready to tell us you have a crush on my sister we'll pretend we had no idea."
It was nearly 5 o'clock the next morning when the gang was all jolted awake by a crash.
"What the hell?" Chad grumbled
Ryan flipped on the light. Everyone sat up sleepy-eyed and looked around at each other. The source of the noise was revealed as a disheveled Sharpay came stumbling into the house.
She stumbled into the entertainment room where everyone was scattered. "I don't think this is going to work." She slurred and giggled as she tried to take off her boots but was unable to balance. Finally she sat on the floor and took them off along with her fishnet stockings. Some of the strings on her shirt were coming undone and she was very close to being exposed but it was clear that she was beyond the point of caring.
Ryan walked over and picked up his sister's stockings. He rolled them in a ball and set them in her boots. "Sharpay, are you drunk?" He asked loudly.
"Why yes Ryan I believe I am." Sharpay said in her best southern drawl.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Ryan shouted at her
Sharpay struggled to stand up, "Nothing man! I'm feeling great. All drunk and satisfied." She winked at him and laughed drunkenly, "That Craig sure knows how it's done."
"Sharpay are you fucking kidding me?" Ryan shouted, "Please tell me you did not have sex with him."
"Fine I won't tell you." Sharpay said as she turned to go upstairs, "I can't believe you didn't recognize him." She slurred
Ryan sighed, "Recognize who?"
"Craig."
"What do you mean?" Gabby piped up
"Well I'm not supposed to tell you because it's all apart of my plan and this plan rocks!" Sharpay said happily oblivious to the stares of her friends.
"What plan?" Chad asked
"I believe they call its self destruction." Sharpay laughed, "I'll never tell, all you need to know is that I'm out of control and there's nothing anyone can do about it."
Kelsey had had enough she flipped on the TV and pressed play. Troy's voice came flooding out of the speakers. "Ya never know what you're gonna feel, oh; ya never see it comin suddenly its real."
Sharpay's face fell as she walked over to the television, "Where did you get this?" She asked as her voice came in with Troy's, "Oh, never even crossed my mind, no; That I would ever end up here tonight."
It was their fall musical production; kind of a modern day Romeo and Juliet. Sharpay's character, Jaime and Troy's character, Robbie were from opposite sides of the tracks and both were engaged to marry other people. But they met each other and fell in love. They are singing this song about each other but their respective betrothed both think it's about them.
Sharpay watched her and Troy singing transfixed;
All things change
When you don't expect them to
No one knows
What the future's gonna do
I never even noticed
That you've been there all along
I can't take my eyes off of you
I know you feel the same way too, yeah
I can't take my eyes off of you
All it took . . . Was one look
For a dream come true
Yeah, we got a good thing goin' on
Oh, right here is right where we belong
You never really know what you might find
Now all I see is you and I
You're everything I never knew
That I've been looking for
Can't take my eyes off of you
Oh, oh, oh yeah
So let the music play
Can't take my eyes off of you
Yeah, the feeling's getting' stronger
And I never ever felt this way
Alright, I see everything
In your eyes. . . Oh yeah
Alright, something's happening
Cause everyone's around but
You're the only one I see
I can't take my eyes off of you
Feelings like I never knew
I can't take my eyes off of you
From the start. . . Got my heart
Yeah, you do
Can't take my eyes off you
"Turn it off." Sharpay shouted, she tried to get the tape out but in her intoxicated state wasn't able to.
"No." Chad said
"Remember how happy you were doing that show?" Ryan asked
"You beat me for the lead fair and square." Gabby said hoping to cheer her up a little.
"We were perfect that night." Troy said
"I don't want to hear this." Sharpay said, "Why can't you all just leave me alone?"
"Hmm, I wonder why?" Ryan said sarcastically, "Maybe because first you don't talk for 2 months, then you refuse to sing or do anything you used to love and now your dressing like a slut, getting drunk and sleeping with random guys."
"Don't forget cutting herself." Troy put in.
Sharpay sent him a very evil glare.
"What!" Ryan shouted
"It was just, just a lil bit." Sharpay slurred, she held out her arms the scars were fading but they were all over her forearms, "You can hardly even tell."
"I can't even believe that you would be so stupid." Ryan said
"OK, if we're going to continue the lecture I'm gonna need another drink." Sharpay said, "You guys are a major buzz kill."
"I think you've had enough." Kevin said
"Oh, wait." Sharpay swayed over to where her purse was and pulled a flask out of the pocket. She chugged it down real quick before anyone could take it away. "Yuck." She winced, "OK, continue."
"Is there a law against sibling abuse?" Ryan asked, "Right now I'm to angry to be worried, I'm sure that will come tomorrow."
Sharpay sat down on the couch and was trying to figure out how to fix the ties on her shirt. She looked very confused. "How the hell does this go." She looked about ready to take it off when Troy stopped her.
"Here." Troy pulled off his sweatshirt and put it on Sharpay. While he was putting it on her he sighed, "Why are you doing this?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Sharpay mumbled
Troy glared, "Oh, come on Sharpay, you know what I mean."
"Umm, I don't feel so well." She said not looking at anyone
"I'm not surprised." Brad said
"How much did you have to drink?" Taylor asked
"Only like 3—" She started
"That's not bad." Kelsey said
"Beers followed by 15 shots of tequila." Sharpay finished
"OK, never mind." Kelsey said
"Come on Sharpay. I'm taking you upstairs." Ryan said firmly
"Yes sir." Sharpay saluted and stumbled towards the stairs with Ryan following behind.
As they made their way up the stairs all the energy seemed to leave Sharpay. Her weaved path became even more pronounced and when they finally reached her bedroom she just fell on her bed. Ryan didn't say a word as he turned Sharpay in the bed so her head was on the pillows and he tucked her in under the covers. He turned to walk out of the room.
"Ryan." Sharpay whispered in a childlike voice.
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry."
Ryan sighed, "Me too."
He stood at the door watching his sister until her breathing evened out and it was clear that she was asleep. Ryan walked back down the stairs to where the group was all sitting in a circle talking quietly.
"I don't know what we can do though." Taylor said
Gabby nodded, "Seriously nothing any of us have said has worked."
"So what do we do then?" Chad asked
"Nothing." Ryan said coming back into the room.
"Ryan we can't just do nothing." Gabby said
Kelsey nodded, "She's right, you saw how bad she was tonight."
"Their right man." Kevin said
"They may be right but we aren't going to do anything." Ryan said firmly
"The hell we aren't." Troy said
"I said nothing and I mean nothing." Ryan argued, "All we are going to do down is wait and be there for her when she breaks."
"What if her breaking point is a very permanent action." Troy implied
"It won't be." Ryan said, "She's not going to stop doing this until she thinks that we've 'left her alone'. But eventually she's going to need us and we are going to be there for her when that time comes."
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