Chapter Nineteen

Troy stood at his locker, just staring at the books he would need for his next class. He had just finished lunch with the gang. He sighed, Gabriella had stayed home today, sick. He had really hoped that she would have come to school today, Wednesday…he had wanted to break up with her.

He had managed to avoid her for nearly a week now and he wasn't sure he'd be able to keep doing it with out explaining why. Today he was going to pull her off to the side and gently break it to her…but she hadn't been there. He had asked Taylor where she was but all Taylor did was tell him that Gabby was home sick and glare at him. He didn't know why she glared at him…but he had a suspicion about it. If Chad knew about him and Sharpay it would only be a matter of time before Taylor knew.

That explained why lunch had been tense. Everyone had gotten together to eat, Zeke, Jason, Kelsi, Ryan, Chad, Taylor, Troy, and Sharpay. Everyone could tell that there was something going on by the way Taylor kept glaring at Sharpay…

And she had a good reason too! Taylor had not spoken to Sharpay all day…something that really got to Sharpay because she considered Taylor to be one of her good friends. All through lunch she fixed Sharpay with her patented 'Eternal Glare of Hatred', something she only used for people she despised.

Taylor had never hated someone more in her life than she did Sharpay at that moment. It was because of her that Troy was going to break up with Gabriella. It was because of her that Gabriella was going to get her heart broken…had gotten her heart broken. Taylor had gone to give Gabriella her homework the day before and had come across an odd sight…Gabriella crying…

"Sharpay!" Troy heard someone shout. He looked up to see Taylor heading purposefully towards Sharpay. He was about to go over there, it couldn't have ended well, when Chad came up to him and started to rag on him about what he was doing with Sharpay.

Sharpay turned quickly from her trek towards her next class when she heard Taylor call her name. She let out a sigh…it was an angry yell…so much for Taylor talking to her again.

"Hey Tay…" she started watching as Taylor stalked up to her. The next thing Sharpay knew, a stinging sensation had filled her left cheek…Taylor had slapped her!

Sharpay quickly put her hand to her cheek, eyes starting to fill with tears from the pain when Taylor continued. "Don't call me that!" she shouted right in Sharpay's face. "Only my friends can call me that."

"Taylor I…"

"Don't you dare speak to me Sharpay Evans!" Taylor shouted at her, taking a step forwards, pushing Sharpay back. "I cannot believe you! I honestly thought you had changed but no! You haven't! Do you know where Gabriella is right now? Do you?"

Sharpay shook her head, and Taylor scoffed, "She's at home, crying her eyes out because of you and Troy! She saw you Sharpay, she knows! Did you even consider her feelings when you started making out with her boyfriend?"

Taylor stood there fuming, waiting for Sharpay's answer. All she did was stare at Taylor in shock.

"God! I mean what were you thinking?!" Taylor shouted walking towards Sharpay once again, forcing Sharpay to take a few stumbling steps back. "Was that your plan all along? To break up Troy and Gabriella?"

"Taylor no! I…" Sharpay started, backing up more and more while various students parted behind her.

"Or maybe it was jealousy? Huh? Was that it?" Taylor fumed, "You couldn't stand not getting the lead so you pretended to be Gabriella's friend till you could break her?!"

"I…"

"And you honestly wonder why no one likes you!" Taylor shouted, throwing her arms out. Sharpay continued to walk backwards…not even noticing that she hadn't walked into a wall yet…

"You don't deserve friends like us!" Taylor continued, "You'll always be the Ice Queen!"

Taylor couldn't continue her angry rant because at that moment Sharpay let out a scream…neither had noticed that the stairs were right behind Sharpay…

Troy looked over hearing Sharpay scream, turning in time to see her fall backwards. His eyes glazed over as he ran over…

Tom Brando smiled at the beautiful woman beside him as they stepped out of the restaurant. He and Susan had gone out to the restaurant to celebrate one whole year of their relationship. He remembered the first time he had met her, they had ended up going to get coffee to discuss the situation of the public schools in the area. They had ended up talking about the schools for hours, and he had invited her to his favorite restaurant for dinner. Today they had celebrated their one-year anniversary.

He wrapped his arms around her waist as they walked, hand resting on the gentle bump of her stomach. He still couldn't get over the fact that they were going to have a baby together. He hadn't been able to get the smile off his face since she told him…a fact that his coworkers and campaign group had not failed to notice.

The only thing that brought a damper on his mood was thinking of his campaign team. They had not been too pleased with his radical change in views. Ever since he met Susan, his eyes had been opened to all the corrupt workings on the political system. He had started to support different groups and ideals then he had been…something they weren't too happy about.

He couldn't understand it, he was leading in the poles, almost everyone in Massachusetts was rooting for him, his support group had nearly tripled since he met Susan. He was the leading man in the social revolution. Here he was, an all American man, born and raised in Massachusetts, running for senator…in a relationship with a teacher, expecting a child, out of wed lock…something never before thought acceptable.

He hugged Susan once more, giving her a kiss as he turned to walk down the street. He turned to wave to her, watching as she stood at the entrance to the Subway, they always watched each other leave till they were out of sight…a sort of tradition. He smiled wider when he saw her raise her hand to wave…but then his world came crashing down…

A shot rang out and the next thing he knew Tom was watching as Susan fell backwards down the stairs of the subway. His eyes widened in fear as he ran to the subway, praying that he make it there in time…in time for what, he didn't know…

He stopped at the top of the stairs to see, a few people gathered around the body of Susan. She was on her side, hand resting over her stomach…blood flowing from under her. One of the people, gently turned her on her back and Tom saw it…the wound just under her left shoulder…where her heart was…

He turned looking around at the people running frantically away from the scene. Something on the top of one of the restaurants drew his attention and he saw it. A man was positioned on the roof of a nearby building…gun aimed at Tom. His orders had been to eliminate the woman…unless his position was compromised where as he was to eliminate the man as well. A spilt second later another shot rang out and Tom Brando felt to the ground…

Troy's eyes widened when he reached the stairs. Taylor was still standing there in shock at what had happened as Troy gazed down at Sharpay for a split second before running down the stairs. Sharpay was curled at the bottom of the stairs, starting to move slightly, groaning softly.

"Sharpay!" Troy called, crouching down next to her. He took her hand in his as she let out a soft whimper.

A moment later the school nurse came running up the other stairs, someone had managed to remain calm enough to call the nurse to the scene. "Miss Evans!" She shouted shocked. Sharpay tried to move but the nurse gently laid a hand on her, "Don't move…" the nurse replied, voice getting softer and softer as Sharpay's world faded away…

Sharpay woke up with a terrible headache unsure whether it was from before she woke up…or because the walls of the room she was laying in were completely white. She looked around, noticing that she was in a hospital room…what happened?

The events of the day slowly came back to her. Taylor had been yelling at her about Gabriella…she found out about her and Troy. She had been walking back to avoid Taylor when she stumbled and fell…She remembered that there had been no solid ground beneath her foot when she stepped back the last time. She had turned to see the stair looming up in front of her as she held out her hands to brace her self. She remembered pain, someone calling her name, and someone else telling her not to move before her world went black.

She looked out of the doorway to the room; she could see Chad and Taylor standing there…with Troy. Taylor had tears falling from her eyes while Chad remained stone faced as he talked to Troy about something. She saw Troy's shoulders slump as Chad looked up and noticed Sharpay was awake. He said something to Troy and he turned to walk into the room…a sad expression on his face…something was wrong…

A/N – Sharpay has the worst luck doesn't she? So what's up with Troy? Find out in the next Chapter…