Sharpay sighed. She looked over at her brother. He looked fed up. He was probably doing the same as her - lusting after… him.

Him. Why did she even invite him to her New Year party? Oh yeah. When he laughed, the twang in her heart reminded her why.

Sharpay and Ryan had a lot in common. Apart from being twins, they were both very talented. They both loved performing.

Like Sharpay, Ryan tended to never only want. If he wanted something, he needed it.

And they both wanted… him. And he wanted neither of them. No, Sharpay thought. He must want her. He's just in denial.

Sharpay spotted Ryan striding over to her. She put her hand on her hip.

"Sharpay." He sighed. If he had anything else to say, he'd soon forgotten it when he saw him. Him. Looking perfect, as usual.

Sharpay sighed. That's why she belonged with him. They were both perfect.

Ryan was almost gawping, his mouth open staring at the perfect boy.

Sharpay had already admired him. His black shirt clung to him in only the right places, his hair carelessly perfect.

"close your mouth Ry," Sharpay sighed. "You'll catch flies."

"Sharpay! Why did you have to invite him?!"

"Gabriella just broke up with him! He's gotta kiss someone at midnight." She grinned, slyly.

"What makes you think it'll be you?!" Ryan asked, with the slightest hint of offence.

"I always get what I want." Sharpay winked.

Ryan rolled his eyes. He turned around to get some punch, and when he turned back, Sharpay was already walking towards the perfect man, Troy Bolton.

"So, what's your new year's resolution, Troy?" She smiled, seductively.

Troy fidgeted nervously.

"Uh… Gonna try something new everyday."

"Oh, well, get a head start. Dance with me?"

"Maybe later Sharpay. Don't feel like dancing."

Sharpay couldn't believe he'd turned her down. Well, she could. He'd done it enough times. She strutted off, past a visibly amused Ryan. As she reached the door to leave, she glanced around. Ryan was talking to Troy. Yeah right! Sharpay shook her head, admiring her brother's painful innocence. As if Troy Bolton would ever go for.. A guy?!

She decided not to leave after all. Ryan was clearly amused at Troy turning her down, she was equally amused that he was trying his chances. She grabbed a glass of punch and went and stood near the gaggle of boys.

"You're sure looking good tonight, anyway." Ryan smiled at Troy, slightly creepily.

"Dude… Look, I know you've got a 'thing' for me." Troy lowered his voice. "But it's not gonna happen."

Sharpay and Ryan's jaws simultaneously dropped. As much as they had their differences, Sharpay loved her brother and didn't want him to get hurt. But that was just…

As Ryan ran out the room, Sharpay shook her head, with a disgusted look.

"Well, that was harsh!" She shouted at Troy. "Come here. Now."

She beckoned her long finger at Troy, and walked a few meters away. Troy obediently followed.

"What is your problem?!" She shouted again. "Did you really have to embarrass him like that?!"

"Well!" Troy said, wide eyed. "He was… and I'm…" He sighed. "I guess not."

"Go and find him, and apologise." Sharpay said with raised eyebrows. "Now!"

"Okay, okay!"

Troy held his hands up, and walked out.

Sharpay watched him, and shook her head. She picked up another glass of punch and downed most of it on one shot.

"Don't you think you've had enough?" She turned round to find a grinning Chad.

"Don't start with me, lunkhead."

"Ooh, harsh." Chad said, frowning.

"I'm mad at you B-Ball boys!" She shouted, fetching herself yet another glass of punch. "Did you see what your best bud just did to my brother?!"

"I saw. You're right. It was harsh."

"Argh, I'm so mad!" Sharpay shouted, once again. Chad widened his eyes as he observed her face growing red.

"Okay, missy, I think you need some fresh air."

Chad took Sharpay out to the back yard. They sat on some steps.

"You don't have to sit with me, Chad." She rolled her eyes. "I can calm down by myself."

"You'll work yourself into a frenzy." Chad kindly smiled, his head tilted slightly to the right.

"I guess." Sharpay, on his right, lay her head on his shoulder, trapping his hair.

"Sharpay, you're… kinda on my hair."

"I know. It's nice."

Chad rolled his eyes, but gave in, and rested his own head on hers. He felt it only natural to put his arm around her.

"Are you hurting this bad just from what Troy did to Ryan? Or from Troy turning you down?"

"A bit of both. A bit of neither." Sharpay sighed. "It's just… I can't help the way I am, Chad. And guys don't want someone like me. I'm talented and pretty, but I guess I'm just high maintenance."

"Yeah." Chad giggled to himself.

"Chad!"

"Sharpay, c'mon, you said yourself, you're talented and pretty. You're feisty and confident. Some guys want that. Maybe not Troy, he likes girls like Gabriella; sweet, shy, submissive. So Troy might not be the right guy for you. You'll find the right guy."

"When?"

"It'll happen. I guess you need to find someone like you. Good looking, feisty, talented, confident. And you'll have an explosive but amazing relationship."

Sharpay grinned, took her head off of Chad's shoulder and brought her finger up to his chin, turning his face to look at her.

"You know, sounds to me like you just described yourself."

Chad's face slowly broke into a grin.

"Well, I guess I did."

"You have another thing in common with me."

"What?"

"You have great hair." Sharpay grinned. "Wait, and another."

"What?" Chad laughed.

"You wanna kiss me, just like I wanna kiss you."

Sharpay plunged her head towards Chad's, and kissed him. She pulled away after only a second.

"And you want more."

"You read me like a fashion magazine." Chad grinned. "Wait…"

"What?"

"Sounds like they're counting down in there!"

"Oh, yeah." Sharpay frowned, tilting her head to listen. "Ooh, one, they just said one!"

Chad grinned, and this time he himself initiated the kiss. He enjoyed her soft lips against his, he stroked her face with a finger, and he ran his palm over her neck, shoulders, and down her back.

After a minute or two, she broke away from the kiss, and stared into Chad's eyes.

"Chad?!" She said, sounding surprised, and looking at him like he was a stranger.

"Uh… yeah."

"How did this happen?" she laughed. "Me? And you? Chad and Sharpay."

"Chadpay!" Chad laughed, prompting Sharpay to poke an elbow in his ribs.