Heart of Ice Chapter 19, a high school musical fanfic

OK…here it is…I put the names and artists of the songs at the bottom but I'll say it again here because you really should listen to the songs while you read. Stand by Rascal Flatts and What's Left of Me by Nick Lachey!

CHAPTER 19

The next couple weeks at school were the hardest for Sharpay. In true Sharpay fashion she certainly couldn't just tell people she was back to normal, she had to show them and really there was only one way to do that. The twins had devised a plan. Sharpay would be the last one to sing, she would leave the auditorium and people would think that she just walked out but then she would sing. Ryan would add her name to Mrs. Darbus's list when she wasn't looking sometime during the show.

But what was the hardest was seeing Troy. He was so angry with her. He tried to hard to help her and to be honest; he was the only one who could. Ryan meant well but looking at him really just reminded her of how much their mother hurt their father and how much she could hurt Ryan. It was guilt. That's what it all came back to. Sharpay had the high potential to be like her mother. She could hurt everyone that she loved in just one swipe. The guilt of having the capability to do that is enough to drive someone insane and it almost did. But he brought her back. Without really even trying Troy saved her.

Kelsey was walking to her locker when Troy jogged up to her. "Hey kels you got a minute?"

She looked at him confused, "Sure. What's up?"

"I need your help." Troy said with a shrug.

"Gotta be a little more specific there Troy." Kelsey smiled, the basketball king actually looked nervous.

"Right, OK. I have this song I want to sing at the talent show. It's really important that I do it right. But it's a country song and I really don't know how to do that." Troy said quickly.

Kelsey laughed, "You're cutting it a little close Troy. The talent show is in 2 days."

"I know but I finally found the perfect song and of course it would be a country song." He sounded so indignant that Kelsey had a hard time keeping a straight face.

She took pity on him, "Relax Troy, its really easy I promise. Do you have time now?"

"Yes!" Troy said excitedly, "Thank you so much!"

They walked together to the music room. After about a half an hour of practicing Kelsey looked up from the music. "This is for Sharpay isn't it."

"Yeah, how can you tell?" He asked

"It's the lyrics. They really are perfect for her." Kelsey smiled

"She's the strongest person I know." Troy said simply, "Even when she was literally dying inside and the world and everyone in it turned their back on her she stood straight up and turned us all around and flicked us off."

"That's our girl."

"I'm hoping that this will knock some sense back into her or something." Troy said

"You're hoping she's going to run up at the end of the song and kiss you senseless." Kelsey smiled

"Yeah a little bit." Troy grinned, "I don't even know how to explain it. I thought what I had with Gabby was love but I really don't think so. Because with Sharpay she makes me want to strangle and kiss her at the same time. It's not easy with her but its never boring either. I don't know, I'm not even technically dating her!" He shrugged.

"I know what you mean tough." Kelsey said, "Honestly, Gabby is one of my best friends and as much as I love her she just wasn't for you. To soft, she didn't make it hard for you. You know what I mean? If you had even thought about trying to fit in the musical auditions and the game you better hope you were a damn Jedi knight because no force on earth could have protected you from Sharpay's wrath."

Troy laughed, "Oh my gosh. That is so true! Sharpay would have killed me." He turned serious, "But you're right about me and Gabby. There just wasn't fire. It was too easy, too comfortable."

"All right enough of this serious talk. We need to get you ready for some country singing!" Kelsey smiled

At the same time just a few miles away in the Evans basement Sharpay turned to her brother. "So how was it?" She had just sang the song all the way through for the first time.

Ryan stood silent. Sharpay threw her hands in the air completely mistaking his silence for something bad. "I knew it! It was horrible. Oh my god, what was I thinking, I can't do this."

"No! Shar, that was amazing." Ryan said simply. "Seriously, I've never heard you sing like that."

"Really?" She asked softly.

"Yeah, you're gonna blow them away!" Ryan pulled his sister in a bear hug.

The auditorium was packed the night of the talent show. Mrs. Darbus was in her usual form, freaking out backstage with Kelsey trying to calm her down.

Nearly all the seniors were doing something, either alone or with their friends. And some people definitely should not have been performing but that just made it funnier and more memorable.

Sharpay sat close to the front with all of her friends. Since they all wanted to see each other's performance they would sit in the audience until it was almost time for them to perform.

Kelsey started the evening off with a piece she had composed herself on the piano. Then the cheerleaders and the football players did a cheer together. The dancers performed their competition number and the band played a rendition of the Twinkle Town music.

Chad, Ryan, Brad and Kevin came after that. They along with several other basketball players did a skit and song about the cliques at East High. Chad played Sharpay, how she was before, and that was definitely the hit of the skit. Before she might have been offended but it was so funny that she couldn't help but laugh at his version of Bop to the Top.

Gabby dragged Taylor with her to sing another song from Twinkle Town. Then after a few more acts it was Troy's turn.

"Before I start I just wanted to real quick dedicate this song to the strongest person I know." His eyes found Sharpay's and he held her gaze as the music started.

"You feel like a candle in a hurricane
Just like a picture with a broken frame
Alone and helpless like you've lost your fight
But you'll be alright, you'll be alright

Chorus
Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend 'til you break
Cause it's all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad, you get strong
Wipe your hands, shake it off
Then you stand, then you stand

Life's like a novel with the end ripped out
The edge of canyon with only one way down
Take what you're given before it's gone
And start holdin' on, keep holdin' on

Repeat Chorus

Every time you get up and get back in the race
One more small piece of you starts to fall into place – yeah

Repeat Chorus

Yeah, then you stand – yeah
Yeah, Baby
WOO HOO, WOO HOO, WOO HOO-
Then you stand – Yeah, Yeah"

He was singing to her, she knew it. Everyone knew it. When he finished singing everyone burst into applause. She walked out of the auditorium. It wasn't that she was mad at him or anything like everyone thought but it was almost time for her to sing.

Troy poured everything he had into that song and she just walked out. He smiled at the applause but walked dejectedly back to his seat next to Chad and Kelsey.

"How'd I do?" He asked Kelsey.

She smiled at him, "You were great!"

"Not great enough." Troy glanced at Sharpay's empty seat.

"She was totally entranced Troy, I promise. I think her emotions just got the better of her." Kelsey reassured him.

"Whatever." Troy looked around, "Where's Ryan?"

"I don't know." Kelsey said, "He was just here."

Sharpay ran up to Ryan backstage. "Did you sign me up?"

"Yep, I put your name last when Darbus was in the bathroom." Ryan smiled, "You ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

They walked together to the wings of the stage and waited for Mrs. Darbus to announce her.

Mrs. Darbus walked on stage applauding the last act. "Thank you all for coming." She began and then glanced down at her clipboard at the sign-up list. "Oh, my mistake it seems we have one more act."

She read the name for a moment confused but when she saw Ryan and Sharpay waiting in the wings she knew it wasn't a mistake. "I'm pleased to introduce our final act, Miss Sharpay Evans."

The auditorium was buzzing with confused conversation. Troy and all their friends sat bolt upright in their seats? Mrs. Darbus must be mistaken, Sharpay doesn't sing anymore.

Sharpay walked out to the center of the stage and the spotlight shone bright on her blonde hair. She was dressed simply in flare hip hugger jeans and a cute white baby doll tee and black boots. Her hair was straight with the ends curled to give it a fuller effect.

She glanced off the stage to where Ryan was standing ready to press play. She nodded and he started the music.

"Watched my life pass me by
in the rearview mirror
Pictures frozen in time
are becoming clearer
I don't wanna waste another day
Stuck in the shadow of my mistakes
yeah

It was Sharpay singing but it didn't sound like the voice they were used to. This one was so real. It held so much emotion. You could tell that everything she felt was going into this song.

'cause I want you
and I feel you
crawling underneath my skin
like a hunger
like a burning
to find the place I've never been
now I'm broken
and I'm fading
I'm half the girl I thought I would be
You can have
What's left of me

I've been dying inside
Little by little
Nowhere to go
But goin' out of my mind
In endless cirlcles
runnin' from myself until
You gave me a reason for standing still

She was singing to his. Her eyes found his. She was apologizing and explaining all at the same time. It was a thank you.

Falling faster
Barely breathing
Give me somethin' to believe in
Tell me it's not all in my head

Take what's left of this girl
Make me whole once again

I've been dying inside you see
I'm going out of my mind
Out of my mind
I'm runnin' in circles all the time
Can you take what's left
Can you take what's left
Can you take what's left
Of me
Can you take what's left
Can you take what's left
Can you take what's left
Take what's left of me"

She finished, breathing heavy. Everyone leapt to their feet applauding and screaming. Sharpay walked off the stage smiling. She was free.

A hand grabbed her wrist and spun her around. Troy pulled her to him and kissed her with everything he had. Her arms wrapped around his neck and his hands encircled her waist. When they broke apart they were both smiling.

"I'll take what's left of you." Troy whispered

"Thank you." She said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

He pulled her close and held on like he never wanted to let go.

The judges were done deliberating and Mrs. Darbus walked back on stage.

"Well it seems we have a tie. So the two winners will sing together at the commencement ceremony." Mrs. Darbus explained, "And the winners are… Troy Bolton and Sharpay Evans."

The din of applause and cheers were deafening.

Don't worry its not the end…there's one last chapter…the song credit's go to Rascal Flatts for Stand and Nick Lachey for What's left of Me. I really recommend listening to the songs while you read the lyrics. You'll totally understand the emotions a little better! Please review! Feedback is appreciated more than you know!