A/N: The reason it's taken to so long to update sometimes is I had so many different ideas about the way I wanted it to play out. Meaning, what song to sing and where and when…but I think I liked this one the best…let me know what you think…the more reviews the faster I'll update…

CHAPTER 16

She snuck quietly through the school. It was early, barely 6:30am and it was empty. The doors to the auditorium were unlocked as usual and she walked right inside. She flipped a switch and the lights above the piano onstage flickered on.

She set her backpack down on one of the chairs and climbed the stairs to the stage. She sat down at the piano resting her fingers gingerly on the keys. She played the scales quietly at first and then as she gained confidence, louder. The scales turned into a melody.

She was all alone and she cried. Despite having friends and a boy who truly cared about her she just couldn't find it in her soul to let anyone in. Everyone she ever cared about just left her anyway. She remembered her mother telling her that by letting someone into your life was just handing them the ammunition to hurt you later and that was something that Sharpay just couldn't let happen. She had been hurt too much already.

That's why she loved acting so much. It gave her the opportunity to be someone else and have the life that she truly wanted and be who she wanted to be.

There were so many times when she thought about going back to LA and be Savs again. But Savs was just another character; she wasn't real.

This is her reality now. She can't pretend anymore. Its time to be Sharpay Evans; not another character.

Troy walked in to East High a little early that morning. He wanted to work out a little before school started. He as walking by the auditorium when he heard music coming from inside. He pushed open the doors and the most beautiful thing he ever saw greeted his eyes.

Sharpay was sitting at the piano bench surrounded in the spotlight and she was playing a song he recognized as one of her mom's. He moved towards the front of the auditorium and sat down by where she had put her stuff.

She had yet to notice him sitting there and he smiled to himself as she changed songs. He saw her open her mouth to sing and then she stopped.

"Don't stop." Troy said to her.

Sharpay jumped and her hands slid off the keys. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to work out and I heard you playing. You sound great." Troy moved up and sat on the bench next to her.

"Thanks." Sharpay sighed, "I want to do it you know."

"What sing?" He asked

"Yes."

"Then why don't you?"

Sharpay sighed, "Its not that easy."

"Sure it is." Troy smiled and broke into a lovely rendition of 'Get Cha head in the Game'.

"Lovely Bolton." Sharpay said sarcastically

"Thanks, I've been practicing." He brushed a hand over his shoulder in a gesture of self-appreciation.

Sharpay smiled but stayed silent.

"So what are we playing here?" Troy asked picking up her sheet music. "Ahh, one of my favorites 'Almost Paradise' from Footloose."

"Yeah. Had things worked out this was going to be mine and Ryan's audition piece this year." Sharpay said sadly.

"Play it."

"Troy." She said warningly

"Just play it Sharpay." Troy took her hands and laid them back on the keys.

She looked at him unsure but began to play anyway. He just let her play for a minute and when she came back to the introduction he began to sing.

Troy

I thought that dreams belonged to other men
Cuz each time I got close, they'd fall apart again

Sharpay squeezed her eyes shut and a few tears leaked out but when she opened her mouth her voice was quiet but strong.

Sharpay

I feared my heart would beat in secrecy

I faced the nights alone

Troy smiled as their voices blended together.

Both

Oh, how could I have known
That all my life I only needed you


Whoa-oa
ALMOST PARADISE
We're knocking on heaven's door
ALMOST PARADISE
How could we ask for more?
I swear that I can see forever in your eyes
Paradise

Sharpay opened her eyes and saw Troy staring at her with a huge grin on his face as he sang to her.

Troy

It seems like perfect love's so hard to find
I'd almost given up
You must've read my mind

He watched as she sang. This was what he wanted but something still wasn't right. She was singing but her heart just wasn't in it like it used to be.

Sharpay

And all these dreams I saved for a rainy day
They're finally comin' true

She could tell he knew that she wasn't the same. She wanted to be. Because it felt so good to sing again but not like it used to. But at least now she had somewhere to go.

Both

I'll share them all with you
'Now we hold the future in our hands

Whoa-oa
ALMOST PARADISE
We're knocking on heaven's door
ALMOST PARADISE
How could we ask for more?
I swear that I can see forever in your eyes
Paradise

Ryan, Gabby, Kelsey, Chad, Taylor, Brad and Kevin watched from the back of the auditorium. When Ryan had found Sharpay's bed empty and her car gone he freaked out again and called everyone to meet him at the school so they could look for her. And this was what they found.

Troy

And in your arms salvation's not so far away
We're getting closer

Kelsey and Gabby were crying and everyone was looking on knowingly. Sharpay and Troy were made for each other and they all knew that if anyone could have gotten her to sing it would be him but still…

Both

Closer every day

Whoa-oa
ALMOST PARADISE
We're knocking on heaven's door
ALMOST PARADISE
How could we ask for more?
I swear that I can see forever in your eyes
Paradise

Paradise

Still they knew that it wasn't right. You really shouldn't cry if something made you happy. She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. They kissed and she ran away. That wasn't right.

Sharpay pulled away from Troy after he kissed her. Her cheeks were wet from her tears and she ran out of the auditorium. She didn't even notice her friends standing there.

She ran out into the hallway that was already filling up with students. They stared at her tear stained cheeks and then they gaped as Troy Bolton came running out behind her. That's who was singing? The Ice Queen and Basketball King?

"Sharpay! One of these days your going to have to stop running and just face what you're running from." Troy shouted after her.

She stopped and her face contorted in a look of fury the students hadn't seen in a long time…

A/N: Don't forget to review! Remember I'm trying to get to 500!