Hey all I hope you like the fourth chapter of Hide And Seek. It surprised me when I discovered we are coming fairly close to the end. But thats okay, I have another fanfiction to write.

Reviewer Time

Angel Of The Starz: This is neither really. The Rypay relationship is a brother/sisterly relationship and the Troypay relationship could have happened...but Troy is too afraid to tell her to her face. haha thank you.
AlwaysxAddicted: I already replied to this haha. But again Sharpay is a woman of her word, she won't go against a promise. Haha its 1pm here. And 3am there. Ooo spooky.
XBeautifulBabe405X: haha updated. The chapter was on a lighter note than the rest though...unlike this chappie.
ArabellaKye: yay I rock!And so do you! Thanks! Yay!
-MaDtv-: Thanks so much updated. Hope you like this chapter.
--troyella--: Awww thank you. You know I would make it happy if I could. But I can't. Sorry! I hope you enjoy it though.

I love all of you guys! Thanks so much for reviewing and I ought to go I gotta do some homework haha! Byeeee
Coop XxX

Breaking The Rules

Once I was in Troy Boltons house I had been taken to the sitting room and forced to lie on the couch. Immediately I wanted out, I wanted to be in my room. I didn't like the calm, the still, the quiet or the peacefulness the house gave off. The look on his mothers face as she brought me a hot cup of steaming tea. I refused it.

"No thanks." I croaked, looking at it like it was poison.

"Dear, you should drink. You collapsed because you are starving and dehydrated. When was the last time you ate?" She asked, and put the tea down. I didn't like the way she called me 'dear'.

"Lunchtime." I lied.

"No you didn't." Troy put in from where he was standing at the door, "You went to the theatre you had nothing."

I shot him a look, "Okay breakfast." I lied again. Even Troy Bolton couldn't prove I hadn't had breakfast.

"Well you need to eat more often, its bad for you if you don't." His mother said. I nodded and took the tea, sipping it. I felt the hot liquid go down my throat and into my chest it seemed, warming me. His mother looked at Troy who nodded, "I'll leave you two alone."

Once she was gone Troy walked over to me and sat down beside me. I looked at him patently and he cringed a bit. I sipped the tea again, I was rather enjoying the feeling of the hot inside me. Since Troy didn't appear to be speaking I looked around his living room, it was bright. Nothing like the one in my house, this had a floral decór to it and the blinds were not drawn so the sunlight was shining in from outside, unlike in my house our sitting room was dark and the stench of sweat and alcohol engulfed it. Although I had hated it upon first arrival, I wanted very much to stay here. It felt safe, his house was not good for Hide And Seek. There weren't enough hiding places I reassured myself and looked at Troy. He opened his mouth to speak but obviously changed his mind and closed it once more.

"Troy." I said and looked at him with one eyebrow raised.

"I had to bring you here!" He said in a quick breath and I raised my eyebrow further. I didn't know it would have that effect. He added, "You collapsed what was I meant to do?"

"What were you like, following me or something?" I accused in a harsh tone. Troy looked sheepish, I widened my eyes with shock, "You were?! Why?!?!" I practically shrieked.

"Just in case...you know. I wanted to know what was wrong with you, what was going on with you. I mean, you're my friend and I was worried." He explained and tried to reach for my hand but I pulled mine away.

"Theres nothing wrong, I swear. I'm fine." I shrugged and gulped down the rest of my tea. I wanted to get out of here. Fast. "I should go." I sat up further to leave but Troy stopped me.

"Why do you always do that?" He asked, and narrowed one of his eyes at me.

"Do what?"

"Run away when someone asks you whats wrong. You just run, are you scared or something? You don't need to be scared around me." He tried to reassure me but he had just hit my nerve. I jolted myself as though he had pushed me and suddenly my eyes were filling with tears. I had to go, I couldn't stay here anymore than I already had. There was silence between us until I opened my mouth.

"I'm going to go now." I said quietly and got up quickly. I left the house as fast as I could running down the path so I didn't hear what Troy said after he watched me go.

He sighed, "I love you Sharpay." He whispered and looked at the window. At me running up the pathway and out onto the street.

Once I was home I shut the door behind me quickly, possibly too loudly too. Only to find the house was in darkness. I looked around in fear, all the lights were off and the curtains drawn. It made our house seem eerie, spooky and frightening, I was very afraid for myself.

"He...hello?" I called, my voice echoed a little through the house, stepping forward I heard my foot hit the ground and tried not to quiver.
"Hello?" I called once more.

There was no reply, I stepped forward again.

"Dad?" I asked the darkness. I heard something move and there I saw, my dad hiding in the darkness, his hair tousled and sweaty, his eyes widened, his face twisted into distortion. In his hands he held a broken bottle. I gasped and stepped backwards. The front door was right behind me, I could run out and pretend it had never happened. I could run to Ryan and cry to him. But I didn't.

Instead I ran to the stairs and right up them, I could hear my dad right behind me, shouting my name but I was too quick. I rushed into my room and shut the door as loud as I could behind me. I took the chair I kept near the door for situations like this and wedged it onto the floor and under the handle. I could see the handle jolting up and down as my dad tried to get in and I stepped backwards, panting in fear. I sat on my bed. What was I going to do now? Where would I go? I looked at the window and rushed over to it, trying to open it desperately. My dad started hitting the door with something. I looked back and felt a tear trickle down my cheek. The window opened, miraculously and my heart heaved forward. I climbed up onto the window ledge and took one last glance back at the door which my father appeared to be breaking down. I knew going outside was against the rules but what else was I supposed to do?

I jumped out and onto the roof, it was slippery but I managed to slowly make my way down to the sitting room window and jump the rest of the way. I landed on the grass and heard my father finally break through and into the room. I gasped and stepped backwards into the bushes, so he couldn't see me. But I could see him, threatening and standing at the window quite soberly. That was when it hit me: my father tried to kill me. And he was sober. Screw the promise I had to get out of there and I knew it. I suddenly felt my throat close up in fear, I had never been more afraid in my life. My heart beat louder and faster. I saw him walk away from the window and took the chance, I ran for my life and everything I was worth. I ran and I ran, and I didn't stop until I was at a rather familiar house.

I knocked on the door, and tried to make myself as best presentable as I could although looking down at myself I knew that wasn't possible. My skirt was ripped, my top was filthy and I didn't even want to know what my face looked like, I knew my hair was untidy and everywhere by my shadow but I was trying my best not to concentrate on that. The door opened.

"Sharpay." Troy said surprised and then looked me up and down, "What happened?!"

"Its my dad." I whispered, I have never felt more numb in my life than I did then.

"Your dad?" he asked and I nodded.

"He's been...hitting me...kicking me, punching me. Doing everything to me. I just...had to get out." I stammered and then I felt Troys arms around me. I looked up and widened my eyes before stiffly placing my arms round him as well. This display of emotion seemed to trigger something in me although I wasn't quite sure what. I felt a tear roll down me cheek.

"I knew there was something going on." Troy whispered and I nodded.

"I'm sorry I never said sooner. You can't tell anyone." She said.

"I won't." He nodded. I let him go and looked at him.

"You promise?" I asked and looked him right in the eye, he nodded.

"I promise. Does Ryan know?"

I nodded, "I told him yeah. I should see him. He told me if I needed to I could see him." I looked at the ground. "I just needed someone to talk to.."

"Its okay Sharpay. I'm glad you told me. You better take care." Troy whispered and I nodded.

"I'll see you tomorrow at school." I said and he leaned forward, hugging me tightly once more. So tight I could feel my breath catch in my throat. I stepped backwards and turned around, walking away slowly.

"Bye Shar!" He called after me and I waved.

After leaving Troy I slowly walked around the streets of Alberquerque. I wasn't sure where my mother and Ryan lived now and I didn't have my phone on me so I couldn't call him, which meant I had to go home. I was stupid enough to have not asked him where he was living now. But I would when I got home. I was afraid of what I might find there, of what my father would be like. I stuffed my hands into my jacket pockets and there, sitting in my hand was money. I smiled to myself. I had money which meant if I could find a payphone I could call Ryan. I had his number memorised after all. Stepping backwards a spun around, there was a payphone just outside the school. I could use that one. And so, heading back where I had come from I walked to the school.

Once I was there I dialled his number and heard it ring once, ring twice, three times. Then he answered. I inerted all the money I had.

"Ryan." I said.

"Sharpay! How are you? Where are you?" He asked, he had caller ID.

"I'm at the payphone outside the school." I said quietly.

"Why? Whats happened?" He asked and I took a deep breath.

"I collapsed on the way home and Troy found me. He took me to his house and I stayed there for a while. But when I went home it was so dark, and so quiet, when I found dad he was sober..." I faltered.

"And?"

"He had a broken beer bottle, he tried to...kill me with it. He was sober." I said quietly, not quite believing it myself.

"I'll be right there!" Ryan said and I could already hear him moving.

"Ryan wait!" I cried.

"What is it?"

"I escaped through my bedroom window, but I left all my stuff behind. I'm too scared to go back."

"Do you want to stay here tonight?"

My heart lifted, but then I thought about it. It would mean seeing my mother again, for the first time in a year.

"Yes. I will." I said, and then regretted it. Dad would hate me.

"Okay I'll see you soon." Ryan said and I nodded even though he couldn't see me.

"Yeah, see you." I whispered and put the phone back on its hook. I sighed and stepped out into the cold evening to wait.

Wait for Ryan, wait for the night to be over. Wait for the rest of my life.