Sharpay woke up around 2:30 and couldn't fall back asleep. She tried counting purses, shoes, boys, even dogs and it didn't help! Then she tried flipping over her pillow to the cool side, rolling over until she was wrapped like a mummy and changing so her head was where her feet normally are.

Finally, she threw back the covers and got up, deciding it was better to have insomnia downstairs where there was food and water instead of in her room. She trotted past Troy's room quietly and skipped down the steps into the long empty kitchen.

After pouring herself a glass of water, she hopped up onto one of the stools and rested her hand on her fist, thinking hard about the day's events.

Troy could not sleep! He had counted basketballs, run through every play he had ever executed, thought about school and tried lying upside down but he could not sleep! He got up and ran his fingers through his hair frustrated then decided to go downstairs for a little while.

He crept down the stairs into the kitchen and got himself a glass of water. He turned around only to see Sharpay sitting at the breakfast bar. Troy yelled when he saw her causing Sharpay to jump and scream, falling off her stool.

"What are you doing?!" Sharpay hissed, pulling herself painfully off the floor.

"I couldn't sleep! What are you doing?!" Troy whispered hoarsely.

"I couldn't sleep either!" Sharpay was clutching her heart, waiting for it to calm down, "God, you scared the hell out of me!"

"I could say the same to you!" Troy muttered, getting onto the stool next to her. Sharpay rolled her eyes and sipped her water. Troy sighed and drained half of his water then got up to go back upstairs.

"You can stay if you want," Sharpay said softly and Troy froze. When he turned around, she was staring at her nails carefully. Troy quietly walked back over to the stool and slid next to her again. After awhile, Sharpay tilted her head so she was leaning it against Troy's shoulder.

Troy stiffened then slowly relaxed and let her use him as a pillow. Sharpay was so relaxed; she didn't think she could open her eyes so she did the natural thing: she fell asleep against Troy Bolton. Troy glanced at the clock and his jaw almost dropped, it was nearly 4:15. He looked down at the sleeping Sharpay and smiled then groaned, realizing he was stranded in the kitchen!

He began sliding off his stool but Sharpay almost fell so he froze and grabbed her shoulders while getting off his stool quietly then he let her fall into his arms and lifted her. He carried her back to her room and put her in her bed then without thinking, kissed her forehead.

Stunned with himself, Troy turned and practically ran back to his own room. He threw himself into the bed and pulled a pillow over his head and eventually drifted off to sleep.

TotR

"I-I'm…" Gabriella dropped her head and sighed, "Come on, Ryan, I have to show you some things…" Gabriella grabbed Ryan's hand and led him back into her room. She disappeared for a few minutes and came back holding a box. Gabriella dropped the box onto the bed and gestured for him to open it.

Ryan tentatively pulled open the box and looked inside. Gabriella pulled out a folder filled with newspaper clippings and papers. Ryan furrowed his brow as he began reading through the old article. "Family killed in motor vehicle accident…No survivors…Daniel and wife Susan killed instantly, two little boys, Marc and Jacob, died during transportation; daughter, Rose, never found." He finished the article and looked up at Gabriella, "What is this?"

Gabriella wordlessly took the article and pointed to the little girl in the family picture, "That is me, I'm Rose. That was my family…"

"What?" Ryan whispered, growing more confused.

"I was never found," Gabriella murmured, "We were driving to my grandmother's house, my brother's were fighting, Mamma had just turned around and told them to hush and Papa had winked at me and suddenly, everything froze. It was like looking at a picture: my brothers glaring at each other, my mother half turned in her seat, my father with a wink on his face…then the picture faded to white and I woke up in Mr. Daniels' office…" Gabriella's eyes were closed as she told the story, letting the memory flood over her.

"Who's Mr. Daniels?" Ryan asked, jolting her back to reality.

"Let me finish, you'll get it soon," Gabriella replied quickly, "Mr. Daniels told me about my family…I asked if I was dead, he said 'yes and no.' I didn't understand what he was saying, you're either dead or you're alive, there is no in the middle," Gabriella sighed heavily, "But I was wrong, there is a middle. I'm not dead but I'm not alive…"

Ryan leaned away from her a little, "So what are you?" He asked after absorbing this.

"My name is Rose. I wasn't killed because I was young and they didn't want me to go. But they couldn't send me back, it's too complicated…So I live between. I live with the angels until I get sent back temporarily as whomever they need me to be so I can fix things…"

"So you're a guardian angel?"

"No, I'm an illusion holding a mirror so the world can see what they've become," Gabriella corrected. Ryan and Gabriella fell into silence for a few minutes. "Why are you even here?"

"Troy and Sharpay belong together…I was sent to bring them together…And in order to do that, I had to hurt you," Gabriella whispered, "I'm so sorry, Ryan, I'm so sorry…"

"No, Gabriella-uh-Rose, it's alright," Ryan brushed some hair out of her face. "You can call me either, I'm used to both," Gabriella smiled sadly.

"Rose is pretty but I think I have to call you Gabriella," Ryan murmured. "So what happens after Troy and Sharpay get together?"

Gabriella got up and walked over to the window, wrapped her arms around herself, "I leave," She replied quietly. "Can you come back?" His voice cracked.

Gabriella shook her head and closed her eyes. Ryan got up quietly and rubbed his hands over her shoulders. Gabriella stiffened then relaxed as he slowly massaged her shoulders and neck.

"What time is it?" She murmured.

"Earlier morning," He replied.

"Is it Saturday?"

"Yes," He laughed.

"Good, because I don't want to go to school…" She arched her back against his hands then turned around so she they were practically pressed together.

"Ryan…" Gabriella murmured as he leaned down. Right as they're lips were brushing against each other, Gabriella's mom knocked on the door and they leapt apart.

"Gabriella? Are you alright?" Her mom called sleepily.

"Yeah!" Gabriella replied, shoving Ryan towards the balcony. "I'll see you tomorrow!" She whispered as he crawled down the side of her house and ran home. Just as he disappeared in the early morning light, Gabriella's mom opened the door.

"What are you doing, honey?" She mumbled, stifling a yawn. Gabriella closed the door and turned around, "Nothing, I think I was sleep walking or something…" Gabriella faked a yawn and sat on her bed, subtly putting the box under the bed so her "mom" wouldn't see.

"Oh okay, well, goodnight dear…" Her mom stumbled back to her room. Gabriella waited until she heard the click of the door being shut then she lay down on her bed and watched the sun come up.

Wow, that was a lot to handle! I know, it's short but I needed to make an impact! So, what do you think? Thanks for the reviews and please keep them coming! XOXO