After half an hour, Sharpay and Ryan were finished with their practices. "That was amazing," Maddie complimented. "Thanks," the other two said in unison. Ryan looked at the clock on one of the mirrored walls. It was only four. "We still have three hours before dinner," Ryan said. "You guys did the one dance. "We're together" or something. It was really cool," Maddie said. "It called "We're All in This Together". It's pretty basic," Sharpay said before taking a long drink from her water bottle. "Could you teach it to me?" Maddie asked. "Sure," Ryan shrugged.
Sharpay and Ryan spent an hour teaching the steps to Maddie. Then they did it at half speed, and then at whole speed.
When the three were in the elevator going upstairs, Maddie had the tune stuck in her head. "Do you two only use the studio for practicing?" Maddie asked. "No. We also use it for a party room," Sharpay answered. "My stop," Ryan said as the light dinged on level eight. He got out and Maddie asked, "Aren't we going to wait for him?" "Nah, after practice he always just hangs out in his level," Sharpay said as the elevator doors closed and she pressed the button for her own level.
Maddie waited for Sharpay on one of the bean bag chairs. Sharpay's level was an identical match to Maddie's except that everything was pink instead of lavender, and all of the wood in Sharpay's level was a dark walnut wood. On Sharpay's head board for her bed, the engraving was of hot pink and pale pink roses instead of the lavender stalks and white roses on Maddie's. Colors around the room varied in hot and pale pink.
Sharpay emerged from her closet in a lace lined light pink camisole under a black and white striped sleeveless tunic dress over dark wash skinny jeans, her hair down in a wavy fashion with a light pink elastic headband holding most of it back except for her bangs and light pink kitten heel sandals. She had on pale pink eye shadow, a dust of light pink blush, and hot pink lip gloss.
"Great outfit," Maddie complimented. "Thanks. Hey, I could lend you something if you like," Sharpay offered. Maddie looked down at her own outfit. She had on a solid green tee, light wash jeans with rips in the knees, and white platform flip flops. Her hair was pulled back with a green hair elastic. She looked like who she was: a girl that had never had a great amount of money and came from a poor family.
"I'd like that," Maddie smiled. Sharpay smiled back and excitedly pulled her sister into the closet.
"First off, I need to know what color you want your outfit to be based off of, but it can't be pink, because that's what I'm wearing," Sharpay said circling Maddie. "Coral," Maddie shrugged. With a quick nod, Sharpay was off.
She came back two minutes later with light wash flare jeans, a white camisole, a rib-cut silk coral puff short sleeved shirt, and coral pump sandals.
"You would look great in this!" Sharpay squealed with excitement. Maddie's jaw dropped. It was an outfit she'd seen in Teen Vogue. The jeans cost a total of two hundred and Maddie guessed that the whole outfit was at least one grand. Slowly, Maddie took it and went into Sharpay's bathroom to change. Before leaving the bathroom, Maddie did a once over in the full length mirror on the back of one of the double doors. 'I look good,' Maddie thought before stepping out into the room.
"EHMAGAWD! You look AMAZING!" Sharpay squealed. "Thanks," Maddie smiled. "Now c'mon! We have to get you into some make-up," Sharpay said pulling her sister back into the bathroom.
Maddie sat down on a vanity stool as she watched Sharpay dig through a drawer for something. Sharpay turned around, closing the drawer with her foot, and walked over to her sister.
"Coral eye shadow, a light blush, a red/coral lip gloss, and a coral elastic headband," Sharpay said setting the make-up down on the counter. "Tilt your head back and lightly close your eyes," Sharpay instructed opening the coral eye shadow and pulling out a shadow brush. Maddie did so and soon felt small, soft bristles brush over her eyelids, then bristles brush over her cheekbones.
Maddie opened her eyes and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked great! Sharpay handed her sister the lip gloss and Maddie applied a good amount to make her lips look shiny, bright, and colorful.
"Wow," was all Maddie could say. "It's a whole new you," Sharpay smiled. "I'm so up for that shopping spree," Maddie smiled. Together, the sisters laughed. "What's so funny?" a voice asked.
Sharpay and Maddie turned around and saw Ryan standing there. "Wow. I can't tell which one is Sharpay and which one is Maddie," Ryan said. The girls laughed.
"Sharpay?" a small voice called. It was barely audible, but the triplets still heard it. "We're in the bathroom!" Sharpay shouted. Suddenly, a small girl about thirteen scurried into the bathroom entrance.
"What is it Natalie?" Ryan asked. Natalie was about to answer when she saw Maddie. "Hi," Natalie said shyly. "Maddie, this is our little sister Natalie. Nat, this is Maddie," Sharpay said. "Hi Natalie," Maddie smiled softly. "What did you need Nat?" Sharpay asked in a slightly irritated tone. She was annoyed that her little sister had interrupted the joyous moment of Maddie's new look. "I just wanted to meet Maddie," Natalie shrugged. "Well, you've met her now," Sharpay said in a bit of arrogant tone.
Maddie's eyebrows knitted together and her shoulders dropped. She was surprised that Sharpay treated their little sister in such a mean manner.
"I guess I'll get going. Bye Maddie," Natalie said before leaving. Sharpay looked at Maddie and asked, "What's got your yarn in a knot?" "How… just… never mind," Maddie sighed, not wanting to get in an argument with her sister. Sharpay just shrugged and said, "Let's go to the lounge." "I think I'm going to just hang out in my level," Maddie said. Sharpay just shrugged and got in the elevator with her brother and sister.
Maddie got off on her level and smiled at her siblings before the door closed and the elevator went to level five to go to the lounge. She looked around her room.
'This isn't a room; it's the size of my whole house!' Maddie thought. There was a lot of free space between her bed and the elevator door which Maddie guessed was just for anything.
Maddie walked across the level to her closet doors. She pulled one open and stepped inside.
The whole closet was empty; just like Maddie felt inside at that moment. Sure she loved the thought of living in a mansion and being rich, but that didn't replace the thoughts of who she really was.
'What am I going to be when one year comes and ends? What if I don't want to leave? What if they invite me to stay for good? Could I do that to my family? Could I really do that to mom and dad and grandma and… Liam?'
Thoughts swirled in Maddie's head, making her brain hurt.
She walked out of the closet, carefully took off the clothes that Sharpay had lent her, changed into a pair of ripped jeans and a tee shirt, and lay down on her bed.
'I don't want to be anyone else but myself, but what if all of that changes?' That was the last thing Maddie thought before she drifted into a deep sleep.
"Maddie? Maddie, wake up," a voice said.
Maddie's eyes fluttered open and she looked around. "Huh?" she asked. "It's 6:45, almost time for dinner," a soft voice said. Maddie turned her head and saw Natalie standing by the edge of her bed, a soft smile on the younger girl's face.
"Oh, hi Natalie. Thanks for the wake up call," Maddie said softly. "Oh, no problem," Natalie said, turning to leave. "Nat, wait," Maddie said.
The younger girl turned around and Maddie asked, "Can I see your level?" "Sure," Natalie smiled. "Just hold on a moment," Maddie said grabbing Sharpay's clothes and putting them back on in the bathroom.
She came out a few minutes later looking fabulous again. "I liked what you were wearing before," Natalie said. Maddie looked down at her younger sister and saw that Natalie was wearing ripped jeans and a tee shirt.
"So, what do you want to see my level for anyway? Wouldn't you rather be talking with Shar and Ryan?" Natalie asked as the two stepped into the elevator. "I just want to get a feel of who you are. I should know things about my siblings," Maddie said.
Natalie's level was on the seventh floor, just below Ryan's. It was an exact replica of the other bedroom levels in size and shape, but the room was arranged differently.
There was paper tacked to one whole wall, covering it completely. Most of the paper had exquisite pieces of art on it.
"Natalie, did you do all of this?" Maddie asked, amazed at the sights before her. "Uh-huh," the younger girl nodded.
"These are fantastic," Maddie complimented looking around. "Thanks," Natalie said. Her level was painted a pale yellow like the ceiling of the dance studio.
Maddie noticed that Natalie's desk was covered in paper with a few lead and charcoal pencils scattered about. One drawing on the desk caught Maddie's eye and drew her over. She picked up the paper and smiled at it. It was a drawing of the Tipton Hotel.
"You like it?" Natalie asked. "Yeah, I love it. I actually used to be the candy counter girl at that very hotel," Maddie said. "Wow, that's cool. I can't imagine Sharpay working," Natalie laughed, her new older sister joining in.
"Hey, do you want that drawing?" Natalie asked. "Sure, thanks," Maddie smiled. "No problem. Count it as a welcoming gift," Nat smiled. Maddie gave her new little sister a small hug and the two went down to dinner.
At dinner, Maddie showed Natalie's drawing to Sharpay and Ryan.
"And it's the exact hotel I used to work at," Maddie said. "Wow Nat, this is really good," Ryan complimented. "Thanks," Natalie smiled softly. "It's okay," Sharpay shrugged.
Maddie's shoulders dropped. Why was Sharpay treating Natalie like that? It didn't seem right.
"I think that it's a remarkable work of shading, design, detail, and overall a great replica drawing," Maddie complimented. Natalie smiled proudly that someone thought her art was that good.
"Please Maddie, it's just a drawing," Sharpay scoffed. "Why are you like that?" Maddie asked. "Excuse me?" Sharpay asked. "Why are you so mean to your own little sister? How can you be so rude to her?" Maddie asked. "Maddie, it's ok," Natalie said softly. "No it's not. She's treating you like no older sister should treat her younger sister," Maddie said.
She'd always been the one at home to stand up first.
Sharpay just stood up and said, "If anyone needs me or wants to apologize for being rude, I'll be in my level." With that, she walked away.
Ryan sighed, put his hand to his for head and said, "This is going to take a while." "What do you mean?" Maddie asked. "Practically no one stands up to Shar like that," Ryan said. "Well it's time she learned the world isn't about her," Maddie said before turning to her little sister. "C'mon Nat, I want to change and then you can show me some more of your stuff," Maddie said getting up. Natalie took one more bite of her dinner and followed Maddie towards the other elevator.
Ryan sighed as Trudy walked in. "Ryan, where're the girls?" "In an argument," Ryan said getting up and leaving.
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Ooooo, suspense! Will Maddie and Sharpay make up? Keep reading and reviewing to find out!