Chapter Four
A/N – I do not own any of the songs that appear in this chapter…wish I did though…
Gabriella was so hyped for her party that night! She, Taylor, and Sharpay had met right after school to get to work decorating for the party. Nearly three hours later they collapsed on one of the couches that they had pushed against the wall and took in their handy work. Silver and white streamers were crisscrossed across the ceiling with snowflakes and paper baubles hanging through the netting. There was tinsel lining all the hard surfaces of the room, from the book shelf to the small corner table.
There were two white balloons hanging over the fireplace where two microphones were set up. Gabriella had planned to have a small Karaoke contest that night, the winners would get the balloons popped over them and confetti would pour out of them. Their gaze continued across the room, there was mistletoe hanging from the entrance to the room, Sharpay's idea of course. The whole theme of the party was Christmas, snow flakes, and winter, so there had to be mistletoe.
There was a table set up across from the couch with a silver table cloth over it, silver cups with white snowflakes lined against the wall while matching plates and napkins were next to it, just before the food. All winter themed. It turned out that Taylor was a chemist in the kitchen as well; she loved mixing different things together to make something new and tasty. There were sugar cookies, apple pie, sandwiches cut into holiday shapes, a cake in the shape of a snowman, some eggnog (non-alcoholic), and a fruit cake that actually tasted good!
They had all pooled their talents to make the party great. Taylor brought the food, Sharpay brought the decorations, and Gabriella brought the house. The room looked great; they had some white cloth draped on the walls. There were silver beads hanging from the door ways and the floor was a complete white with the new carpet that Mrs. Montez had gotten over the break. It was amazing to the girls that she would risk it getting stained by letting them have the party there.
But she was letting them and that was all that mattered. Now the girls just had to get changed. Gabriella had decided to make the party a black and white affair…or silver, just to make her clothes picking easier. She had a beautiful white baby doll dress with a slight corset that she borrowed from Sharpay with black ties. Taylor was wearing something similar to what Sharpay had worn to the championship game, a white tank with silvery grey jeans. Sharpay had on a silver spaghetti strap shirt on with a sheer white bell sleeved shirt over it, a small tie around the bust making it flow from that line, and a black jean skirt that went just above her knees on with knee high black boots.
Compared to the other girls she looked…well…plain. But the girls didn't have time to think on that, the rest of the party goers had started to arrive. Everyone looked great! It wasn't really a formal party or anything, but no one came dressed like a slob. Even Chad looked good with his white basketball uniform and jacket on. Troy made his way over to Gabriella, who was talking with Sharpay, a small gift in his hand.
"Hey Gabs," he said, wrapping his arms around her, holding the gift in front of her.
"Hey Troy!" Gabby said, turning to hug him, "Thanks!"
"Hey Troy," Sharpay said softly.
"Hey Sharpay," Troy said glancing up at her. He quickly looked away as Gabriella took his gift and went to go put it on the gift table.
Troy and Sharpay stood in an awkward silence, neither looking at each other. Gabriella came back, wrapping her arms around Troy's waist as he put his arm around her shoulder; he glanced at Sharpay and looked away again. He couldn't look at Sharpay, for some reason when he looked at her he felt…guilt… He didn't know why, but he didn't like it.
But still…he couldn't keep his gaze away. He looked down at where she had stood to find the spot empty. He looked up just a little to see her walking across the room to greet Ryan, dressed in his white attire with his white caddy hat.
"Hey Ryan!" she shouted as she gave her brother a hug. She loved her brother; he was the only person who really got her, who knew her.
"Hey Shar!" he replied, hugging her back. He looked around the room, taking in all the work the girls had put into it. Sharpay had talked non stop about all their ideas yesterday and he was glad that he actually got to see it for himself. "Place looks good."
"Thanks!" she said, laughing as Ryan stepped past her to head to the snack table, like the typical male he was. Her gaze drifted away from her brother and back to where Troy and Gabriella were laughing with Taylor and Chad. Gabriella looked over at her and waved, one which Sharpay returned with a sad smile that couldn't be seen from where Gabriella was. She put her hand down as Gabriella turned back to their conversation.
Her smile faded into a small frown, every time she saw Gabriella with Troy she felt…jealous? No, that wasn't quite the feeling…it was more…betrayed? But she really didn't know why she should feel that way, Troy and she had never gone out or anything, unless you count the stupid little kid crushes where you say you'll marry someone when you get older.
Sharpay's thoughts started to drift to that time, long ago when she and Troy had actually been friends. They'd met in kindergarten, on the first day of school. She had gone with Ryan, both wearing matching red outfits. The teacher had instructed them to find seats and the only two that Sharpay could find that were close to each other was next to Troy and Chad. She had walked shyly over to them and asked if they could sit there. Chad had laughed at them and said he wouldn't be caught dead sitting next to a girl, but Troy on the other hand…Troy had turned to agree with Chad, she could see that he had, but he stopped.
He'd looked straight into Sharpay's eyes and she looked into his. They both started to smile and blush, Troy had said it was fine with him if Sharpay sat with them. Chad reluctantly agreed, as long as Ryan sat next to him and not Sharpay. Troy had eagerly agreed, pulling out a seat for Sharpay like his mother had told him was gentlemanly.
They had talked, and drawn, and played together all day. They even shared their snacks, Troy had cookies and Sharpay had apple wedges. Sharpay smiled at the memory…that was the day she'd gotten her first kiss…Ok, so she'd been like what? Four? Five years old? It still counted to her. She'd fallen off the monkey bars during play time and Troy had run over to her to see if she was ok. She'd scrapped her elbow and was crying, Troy offered to kiss it to make it better like his mommy did, but Sharpay had insisted it hurt too much to touch. So…Troy made up for it by giving her a quick peck on the lips…he's been so cute and nice then…he still was…but things were different…more complicated than in kindergarten. They'd been friends for a year, till first grade and the cootie epidemic started. After that Ryan was her only friend but she suspected that, had someone not told him that cooties weren't contagious for siblings, he would have abandoned her too.
She was brought out of her wandering thoughts by Gabriella telling everyone to get into a circle. She smiled to herself as she recalled what they had come up with involving a bottle and a member of the opposite sex…that was why Gabriella had made sure an even number of boys and girls showed up at her party.
Sharpay took her seat as Gabriella stood before everyone, trying to get their attention. "Taylor!" She shouted, "Bring in the bottle!"
…that definitely got their attention…
Everyone started to whisper amongst themselves as Taylor handed Gabriella the bottle and she set it in the middle of the circle. "Now," she said, sitting back in her seat at the head of the circle, "Each boy or girl will spin the bottle until it lands on a member of the opposite sex. After that you'll both…"
"Uh…Gabby…" Kelsi said from her position next to Gabriella, "I…I don't know if I'm comfortable enough to…you know…to…"
Gabrielle feigned confusion; she knew what everyone was expecting her to say, which explained why they were so shocked by what she said next, "Not comfortable enough to sing?"
The eyes of just about every member of the circle widened at this, "Sing?" Kelsi asked.
Gabby nodded, "Yup, once the bottle lands on someone of the opposite sex, you go to our little makeshift stage over there…" she pointed to her fireplace, with its huge hearth, it probably could have actually been a stage, "…and sing a duet. Once you finish, you get to leave the circle. Whoever gets the loudest clapping gets the prize." Her gaze drifted to the two balloons above the mics…no one knew what the prize was...she grinned inwardly.
She looked around the circle; no one seemed to object to it too much. Even Chad agreed to it…after Taylor smacked him upside the head. And with that, the game began. Kelsi was given the honor of the first spin. It landed on Zeke. Jason gave her a thumbs-up as they made their way to the stage and Gabriella went to start the song. It was a random one that her Ipod Shuffle picked out from her 'Couples' play list. If they didn't know it, a new song was played, but they knew 'Don't go breaking my heart', who didn't?
They were…alright…off key since neither of them were the singing type, but everyone clapped nonetheless. Next was Jason's turn since he was next to Kelsi, it landed on Martha Cox, the hip hop academic. They attempted 'Ain't no mountain High enough.'
After some other guest performed some really bad renditions of songs, romantic and not, Chad and Taylor had gone, the first of their friends so far to actually get paired with the person they liked. They sang 'Oh Baby, Baby' and then it was time for Gabriella to spin. There were only three other people left in the circle besides her, Troy, Ryan, and Sharpay. She spun the bottle, obviously hoping to get Troy…but as luck would have it, the bottle landed on Ryan.
Not a bad partner to have, he had been after all, the leading male in the musicals. Sharpay and Troy glanced at each other before setting their gazes firmly on the two as they got up on the stage and Shakira's 'Hips Don't Lie' started to play. Gabriella had had to change it from La Tortura, since Ryan had no idea the exact words to the song. They were really good, really good…but no one clapped as loudly as they could have…they wanted to see what Troy and Sharpay would do…
The glanced at each other once again before sighing and getting up on stage. They waited a moment before Gabriella's Ipod started to play a song. She asked them if they knew it, they both did, which was a surprise to everyone…not many people would expect Basketball King Troy Bolton and Ice Queen Sharpay Evans to know 'Bring Me To Life' by Evanescence.
"How can you see into my eyes like open doors," Sharpay started, looking anywhere but at Troy, "Leading you down into my core, where I've become so numb without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold until you find it there and lead it back…" she glanced at Troy, feeling his eyes already on her, "…home."
"Wake me up!" Troy sang, tearing his eyes away from Sharpay and looking back at the audience.
"Wake me up inside," Sharpay sang, doing the same.
"I can't wake up!"
"Wake me up inside…"
"Save me!"
"…call my name and save me from the dark…"
"Wake me up!"
"…bid my blood to run…"
"I can't wake up!"
"…before I come undone…"
"Save me!"
"…save me from the nothing I've become…" She glanced at Troy who glanced back at her before looking away.
"Now that I know what I'm without you can't just leave me. Breathe into me and make me real…
bring me…" Her gaze drifted once more to Troy, but this time he stared back, "…to life."
"Wake me up!" Troy sang, staring Sharpay down, as if daring her to look away. She didn't and their gazes remained locked on one another even as they sang into their mics still stuck on the stands.
"Wake me up inside!"
"I can't wake up!"
"Wake me up inside…"
"Save me!"
"…call my name and save me from the dark…"
"Wake me up!"
"…bid my blood to run…"
"I can't wake up!"
"…before I come undone…"
"Save me!"
"…save me from the nothing I've become!"
"Bring me to life," This was the first time Sharpay looked away…but she didn't. She closed her eyes, head cocked to the side, swaying to the beat as she sang her part softly, pulling the mic from the stand.
"I've been living a lie," Troy sang, not taking his eyes from her serene form, but taking the mic off as well, "there's nothing inside."
"Bring me to life."
Sharpay's eyes snapped open just before the song started again, staring deep into Troy's as they both moved closer and closer to each other as she sang, "Frozen inside without your touch without your love darling only you are the life among the dead!"
"All this time I can't believe I couldn't see, kept in the dark but you were there in front of me," Troy sang staring into her eyes with startling intensity that even the audience could feel as he walked towards her…nearly stalking towards her like a lion would its prey…forcing her to take a few steps back.
"I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems got to open my eyes to everything," Something snapped within her as Sharpay stood her ground though, staring back at him with equal intensity as she pushed her way back towards him, making him move back as well…challenging him like no one had…
Troy's eyes narrowed unconsciously at Sharpay's actions, "Without a thought without a voice without a soul," he sang, circling her.
"Don't let me die here," she continued, their shoulders were touching as they circled one another, staring the other down.
"There must be something more!"
"Bring me to life!" Sharpay said, taking a step or two away from Troy to the beat. The song was getting intense; if she didn't put distance between herself and Troy…no one knew what might happen…
"Wake me up!"
"Wake me up inside!"
"I can't wake up!"
"Wake me up inside…"
"Save me!"
"…call my name and save me from the dark…"
"Wake me up!"
"…bid my blood to run…"
"I can't wake up!"
"…before I come undone…"
"Save me!"
"…save me from the nothing I've become!"
"Bring me to life!" She sang, as Troy stepped closer to her like she had before.
"I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside," Troy sang, microphone arm dropping to his side as he stared into Sharpay's sky blue eyes while she did the same to his sapphire ones.
"Bring me to life! To life!"
They stared at each other a moment longer, time seeming to slow as the music stopped and the crowd erupted in applause. Both of them were breathing heavily...Troy took a step closer to Sharpay when suddenly flecks of gold, silver, and white fell onto their heads. The balloons had been popped…they won!
Sharpay tore her gaze away from Troy to look out at the audience. She glanced back at him before rushing of the stage and as far away from him as possible. She'd managed to avoid Troy and the rest of their friends for most of the night; it wasn't until she made her way over to the drinks that she was cornered.
"Sharpay!" Gabriella shouted as she and Taylor practically ran to her by the refreshment table. "You were great!"
"Yeah, you definitely were," Taylor said brushing some of the confetti from Sharpay's hair.
"Thanks," Sharpay said shyly, she always hated getting compliments…though she'd never admit it. She reached out for a cup to go pour herself a drink.
"Oh!" Gabriella said, holding out one of the two cups she had in her hand, "Here, I made it myself!" she said, smiling as Sharpay took it.
"Thanks!" she said, reaching out and taking the offered drink. She looked down at the soda, noticing the bubbles starting to form on the sides of the cup. She was about to raise the cup and take a sip, but the motion stopped her. The liquid sloshed around in the cup, some colors rippling across the surface. She squinted slightly as the sloshing stopped, she watched as the colors came together and a small familiar scene, almost like a movie, played across the surface…
A beautiful blonde woman came slowly down the stairs of an old looking house, pausing in the entrance to the dining room as she spotted her brown haired friend sitting at the table lost in thought, a cooling cup of tea before her.
"Genevieve…" the woman said, walking into the room, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder and sitting next to her. "Are you alright?"
"Hmm?" Genevieve hummed looking up, seeing her 'friend' sitting next to her. "Oh, um…yes, I am fine."
"Are you sure?" the woman asked, worry in her voice.
"Soleil I am fine," Genevieve re-emphasized. There was a lag in the conversation as Genevieve glanced down at her tea. "Would you like some tea?" she asked moving to stand up.
Soleil nodded, "I'll get it," she said moving to stand as well.
"No!" Genevieve shouted, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder, telling her silently to stay seated. "You are my guest, I shall get it."
Soleil nodded, watching as her friend walked out of the dining room and around the corner towards the kitchen. Genevieve rummaged through the cabinets, taking out some tea leaves to put in the small cup of hot water that she had gotten out. She put the leaves in and went to shut the cabinet when something caught her eye. It was a small bag of powder…arsenic…that Treves had purchased to kill the mice that they had noticed around the house.
She glanced back out the doorway before taking the bag out of the cabinet and looking at it thoughtfully. She looked from the bag to the cup and back quite a few times. She dropped the bag to the counter, putting a hand to rest on her forehead. She moved her hand down to her chin after a moment, eyes open but unseeing as something played across them. She closed her eyes for a brief moment before opening them, determination set in them. She grabbed the bag of arsenic, taking the small spoon that she had set by the cup, and scooping some of the powder into the cup.
"Genevieve!" Soleil called, "Do you need help?"
"No," Genevieve called, hurriedly rolling up the top of the bag and shoving it in between her sugar and flower holders. She took the spoon, quickly stirring the poison. She grabbed the still steaming cup and walked slowly back to the dining room. "Here we are," Genevieve said, placing the cup before her 'friend'.
"Thank you Genevieve," Soleil said, smiling gratefully at her friend, "It has been so long since I've had some of your famous tea."
Genevieve smiled softly as she watched Soleil take a sip of the drink. She raised her own cup to her mouth, smiling wickedly behind it as she nodded to her friend and took a sip. She placed her cup down, watching expectantly as Soleil's expression shifted into one of confusion…then illness…
"Are you alright Soleil?" Genevieve asked, standing up as her friend did.
"I…yes…I am just…" Soleil started, hand pressed against her forehead.
"Perhaps I should call Treves, have him help you to your room," Genevieve said, "You do not look well…" Soleil nodded slightly, taking a stumbling step towards the stairs, nearly tripping over her chair. "Treves!" Genevieve called, watching as her husband ran down the stairs at her distressed cry.
He took one look at the two women before him before rushing over to Soliel, "Soleil!" he shouted as she stumbled into his grasp.
"I am just…feeling a bit…dizzy…" And with that she passed out into Treves' arms.
He looked up at his wife, who wore a positively worried expression, "Genevieve go for the doctor!" he shouted, picking up Soleil and heading to the stairs.
"Of course!" Genevieve called, rushing at once from the house. "Of course…" she whispered to herself, walking in the opposite direction of the town's doctor.
Treves grunted slightly as he managed to open the guest room door, the room that Soleil had been using. He gently laid her upon her neatly made bed, "Soleil…" he whispered, brushing a piece of hair from her damp forehead. She had a fever and was shaking terribly at this point.
Her eyes fluttered open when his hand brushed her forehead. "Treves…" she whispered back as he took one of her hands in both of his, lifting it to his lips to kiss it. She smiled gently as her head fell to the side. Her eyes fluttered closed and remained shut.
Treves' eyes grew wide, "Soleil!" he shouted, tried to get her to open her eyes once more, but she would not. He reached out, pressing a finger to her neck…no pulse…
His eyes started to fill with tears as he buried his face in her stomach, reaching up to hug her once last time…
"Sharpay!" A voice called, tearing her gaze away from the cup and into the slightly worried glances of her friends.
"What?" she asked, shaking her head free of what she'd just imagined.
"Are you going to drink it or just stare at it all night?" Gabriella asked, laughing slightly.
"Oh…uh…no," Sharpay said, placing the cup down on the table beside her, "I'm not really that thirsty. Sorry..."
"It's ok!" Gabriella called as she and Ryan watched Sharpay walk off in a slight daze.
"I wonder what's up with her," Taylor remarked as she picked up Sharpay's cup and took a sip. "Mmmm, Gabriella, this is really good! What's in it?"
Gabriella smiled proudly, "It's my own special mix. Coke, cherry soda, and a little squeeze of lime!"
Just then Ryan spit out the water he'd been drinking. "Ryan!" The girls shouted, but he ignored them. "Did you just say lime?"
Gabriella nodded, "Yeah, why?"
Ryan looked at her in shock, "Sharpay's allergic to lime!"
Gabriella's eyes widened, "What!?" She looked at the drink in Taylor's hands, hardly able to believe that she had nearly poisoned one of her best friends. "Oh my god!" she shouted, she turned to Ryan, eyes begging forgiveness, "I'm so sorry! I…I didn't know!"
Ryan laughed slightly, trying to lighten the mood, "It's ok…" he started, Gabriella gave him an incredulous look, "No seriously, she probably wouldn't have drunken it anyway." Taylor gave him a confused look, "She's always been really…intuitive? I think? She always sort of knew when something had lime in it. Our granny once gave me and Shar a piece of key lime pie for Christmas once. Shar refused to eat it till I took a bite since I'm not allergic. I nearly spit it out when I realized it was key lime instead of banana cream like Gran told us."
"I should still go apologize to Sharpay…" Gabriella said as she started to walk off.
"Hey," Ryan said grabbing her elbow as she walked by him. She looked up at him as she was spun to face him, "She doesn't know," he finished, smiling a 100 watt smile that sent a little chill down her spine, "It's alright."
He let go of her arm, making some goosebumps rise on the spot where his hand had been from the cool air. He gave her a nod before walking off to go find Sharpay, it was getting late and they had to be home soon. Gabriella smiled softly as she watched him go before tearing her eyes from him; she shouldn't be looking at him! She should be looking at Troy, her boyfriend!
Where was Troy anyway? Her eyes searched over the occupants of the room before finally seeing him near the door laughing with Sharpay over their performance, bidding her goodbye as she and Ryan walked out the door, not even noticing the mistletoe they'd been standing under…
A/N – What was it that Genevieve saw that would make her poison her friend? You'll find out in later chapters…Next chapter is probably a little bit more about Troy and what he sees in a 'flashback', clues readers into just how close one of their past selves got to one another…tee hee hee.