Hi…I'm sorry it's taken me so long! And OK…I know this chapter is a little short but its technically only half of the chapter. The second half isn't finished yet but I really wanted to give you guys something! I have already started to work on the sequel and I'm really excited about it…BUT…I need some ideas for a title so any random ones that you have would be great!

CHAPTER 18

Sharpay was alone that night. Ryan was at a cast party and Sharpay had faked sick and went home early. Ryan had been concerned but with ample reassurances on her part he let her leave alone. She sat on her bed with her guitar on her lap. The muscles in her cheeks actually hurt from smiling so much. She thought back to what had changed in her…she was actually happy.

FLASHBACK

Sharpay turned her back on Troy and walked toward her next class. She made a detour out to the track, but she didn't run. She sat on the bleachers and looked out across the football field. She should cry, right? I mean, she was angry, right? But she wasn't or couldn't. She felt guilty. Singing up there with Troy had made her happier than she had been in a long time. She felt complete.

But that was bad, she shouldn't be happy singing when her mother would never sing again. But, NO. This was what Troy meant wasn't it? Watching her and Ryan sing had made their mother happy, hadn't it? Singing had always made her happy, it had never been something she did for other people, so why stop doing it because of someone.

And just like that it made sense. Troy's voice just kept repeating in her head. 'You had this passion for acting and singing, I only wish I had about basketball'. He was right. Everything he had been saying to her for months now finally made sense. There had to be some way to make it up to him and to show everyone that no matter what she wouldn't let herself be beaten.

END FLASHBACK

That had been a month ago. It had been hard keeping up the act but it was necessary. She and Troy had hardly spoken to each other at all since that day. They spoke when necessary but otherwise kept to themselves. She wanted so badly to just throw her arms around him and kiss him senseless but she knew that she had to really show him that she was OK.

She watched Ryan and Gabby in the musical and couldn't help but feel sad and jealous. She would have been perfect for the role but she ignored the pangs of sadness and congratulated both Ryan and Gabby for their performances. But sitting on her bed that night, guitar in had, Sharpay struggled to put to music what she was feeling. She played some of her old songs but none could measure to what was going through her head at that moment. She played for another hour before deciding to go to bed.

Sharpay ran into Ryan's room early the next morning. She threw the curtains open and sunlight poured in. He groaned when she jumped on him bed. "Get up Ryan! We have a lot of work to do?"

Still half asleep Ryan mumbled, "Work? For what?"

"The talent show silly." Sharpay stood at the foot of his bed and grinned.

"Why? I'm already singing with the boys and we aren't rehearsing til next week." Ryan said sleepily with his eyes still closed.

"Which is why I need you to help me rehearse now before you get to busy. I think I finally found the perfect song. Meet you downstairs!" Sharpay literally skipped out of him room and down the stairs to Ryan's recording and practice area.

Ryan sat bolt up in bed, not quite sure he had heard his sister correctly. Was she really singing again?

He didn't even bother getting dressed, just chased after her. When he got downstairs she was pulling a stack of papers out of a folder. She handed on of the stacks to him.

He looked at her with a questioning look, "Are you really going to do this?"

"Yeah, I've got to. For him." She shrugged, "And for you." Sharpay smiled, "I wanted to surprise you but its been so long since I've done any of this I kinda need your expert advice."

Ryan didn't say anything. He just threw his arms around Sharpay and they danced around in a circle like when they were kids.

Hours later they were still practicing and Mr. Evans stood at the top of the stairs listening to the sweet sound of his daughter's voice. "You almost killed her Sarah." He whispered, "But she's so much stronger than you."

He walked down the stairs and had to laugh out loud. Sharpay was lying on her back on the floor with books piled high on her stomach and she was singing while Ryan would occasionally press on the books.

"What in the heck are you guys doing?" He asked his kids.

The both stopped what they were doing and the books tumbled off of her. "It helps you sing with your diaphragm, daddy."

"Right, whatever you say honey. Its time for dinner." Mr. Evans started to go back upstairs but turned back, "Son? Why are you still in you pajamas?"

The twins just laughed.

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