Author's Note: I am SO psyched! Tomorrow, at five o'clock in the morning, RENT is on! Huzzah! I am going to set my alarm clock, sneak into my parents room and turn off the security system, and then…'Seasons of Love'…

Now this is what happens when your parents don't just get you the soundtrack you asked for in the first place! Anywho. That's all I have to say for today's A/N!

Disclaimer: I don't own High School Musical.

Chapter 14

Darbus Found Out, a.k.a The Idina Shirt

Gabriella

When Gabbie as Sharpay got dressed that morning she didn't think much of it. Pink denim miniskirt, with wedges, and a frilly white top. She decided Sharpay was feeling Bohemian that morning and added a pink headscarf over her blonde hair.

As she made her way down the stairs, Gabriella's ears were subjected to a bloodcurdling shriek. She was certain it was Mrs. Evans being murdered, until she looked up to see Ryan, standing at the foot of the stairs, clutching his face.

"Sharpay!" he continued to scream.

She started in alarm. "What?"

He shook his head woefully. "Have you lost your mind?" he managed to get his quavering voice to a lower octave. "You're wearing the Idina shirt!"

She glanced down at the blouse, totally clueless as to what he was saying. "What?!" she repeated.

"Go upstairs," he commanded. "Go upstairs right now and change!"

Gabriella checked her watch. "We're gonna be late, Ryan," she said breezily. She couldn't give away the fact that 'Sharpay' had no idea what the hell he was talking about. "It's no big deal that I'm wearing…the Idina shirt."

Was it some sort of exclusive fashion label? That's the only thing she could imagine him getting so upset about.

Ryan's wardrobe had been subject to some change since she arrived. He had some trouble putting all of his hats away in a box, save one white fedora, but she ensured him that change was always good.

Together they took baby steps into a shopping mall. Gabriella was very conscious of not turning into Sharpay in this field and Ryan ended up picking out a cool vintage brown T all on his own. In addition, he bought (get ready to have your mind blown) a pair of jeans.

For some reason, Sharpay was not on the bus that morning. It was a good thing, too, because Gabbie doubted she would be happy with her brother's extreme makeover.

She had yet to find out that Ryan was the last thing on the evil blonde's mind.

Sharpay

Sharpay as Gabriella gave an excited squeal when she heard the hoot of a car in the driveway.

"Troy's here!" she said swiftly, standing and devouring the last of her breakfast. "I'll see you after school. We'll go to the caterers and pick up those tables."

She snatched up her backpack, gave Mrs. Montez a peck on the cheek and raced out of the kitchen.

Mrs. Montez had simply smiled in response. It seemed all she did was beam dreamily these days.

Sharpay was glad. It felt good to actually create happiness for once.

She yanked open the door, eager to see the new car her boyfriend until further notice had been ranting and raving about.

Sharpay stopped dead in her tracks when she saw it, and found herself struggling to maintain the smile.

Troy stood proudly by his pick-up, a truck worthy only of Clark Kent. Troy seemed to deliberately create a farmboy look with his white t-shirt and fading jeans. Oh God.

"Whadya think?"

What did she think? He did not want to know what she thought. Sharpay couldn't be seen in this tin can! But then again, she was supposed to be Gabriella. Gabriella wouldn't object. And on second thought, neither would she.

Sharpay beamed and strolled over to him.

"It's gorgeous," she gushed. "Just throw a couple of hay bales in the back and you're good to go."

She threw her arms around his neck and he pecked her cheek.
"Glad you like it," he said. "It was my dad's before it was mine. And I tried ta make it purty enuf for ya," he added in his best effort at a Southern twang.

She fluffed up his hair with her hands fondly. "That's okay. You're pretty enough for me all on your own!"

She smiled when he opened the door for her. It was kind of a cute car. More charming than any sports vehicle he could have presented her with, and she knew Troy looked up to his dad a lot. So she could accept the truck. Besides- Clark Kent was Superman.

Gabriella

It seemed the Evans' twins were in a shrieking mood that morning. On her way to second period with Ryan, Gabbie was stopped in her tracks by a visceral roar.

"Sharpay! STOP RIGHT THERE!"

It seemed half the East High students heard her command and they stopped, too.

Gabriella was alarmed to see her body charging towards her. What did she do now?

Sharpay seemed to skid to a halt before her. "You're wearing the Idina shirt!" she hissed.

"What is up with this shirt?" she squealed.

"You're wearing the shirt Idina Menzel signed for you when you went to see RENT!"

Ryan's eyes widened. "How did you know that?"

It was only when Gabbie looked back at her shirt that she caught a glimpse of what seemed to be a signature. "Who is Idina Menzel?" Gabriella exclaimed.

The Sharpay in her body narrowed her eyes. "I would so hit you right now if I didn't know it would leave a mark. Take off the shirt," she commanded.

Ryan shook his head slowly and stepped in front of who he thought was his sister. "Gabriella, what is your problem?"

"Let's just go, Ryan." Gabbie was eager to get away. Not because she was afraid, but because Sharpay was making her look bad.

"You're not going anywhere until you take off that shirt."

And before she knew what was happening, Gabriella was being tackled to the ground. She landed on her back and felt the air fly out of her. Sharpay was trying to pry the clothes off of her own body in front of the whole school.

Out of nowhere, Zeke appeared at her side. Thank God.

"Catfight!" he called. Well, he obviously wasn't going to be any help at all.

"Potentially naked catfight!" Jason materialized as well.

The introduction of the word 'naked' certainly drew crowds. Soon a mass of cheering, jeering and protesting students surrounded them.

Now Gabriella was no wimp. Her father had taught her a thing or two about defending herself. The only course of action she saw appropriate, therefore, was to give Sharpay a full on head-butt. She could hear their skulls connecting, feel the dull, blinding pain, and then Sharpay toppled off her, reeling.

And so both girls lay on the floor, semi-conscious. In the distance, Gabriella heard the disheartened sigh of the crowds at this anti-climax.

"Sharpay! Sharpay!"

Ryan was at her side, clutching her hand.

"Are you okay?"

Gabbie smiled dazedly. "Fine. But could I get extra barbecue sauce with that?"

Sharpay

All right. She may have overreacted. But Gabriella totally wore that shirt on purpose.

She just wanted to tick her off by pretending she didn't know any better. And then, at the end of the day, she would throw it in the washing machine and watch with malicious delight as Idina's signature was erased.

Sharpay and Ryan had gone all the way out to New York to see RENT. They got backstage passes and everything, compliments of Mr. Evans. She didn't even get a look at Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal thanks to the insane fangirls (Ryan being one of them), but it did not matter. The only autograph she needed was from her muse, her idol.

Unfortunately, Sharpay lost her notebook. She probably dropped it when they performed 'La Vie Boheme' and she stood up to dance along. Or maybe some spiteful RENThead had stolen it because she was 'blocking their view' or whatever else they were whining about.

But Idina had been so sweet about it. She just signed Sharpay's shirt instead. That shirt was her prized possession. If the Evans' house ever caught fire, she would run back in to get it.

However, Ms. Darbus did not look particularly sympathetic as she stood between their beds in the nurse's ward.

"This was supposed to help you two," she heard her muttering fiercely.

Sharpay squinted against the throbbing in her head. "What did you say?"

She gave a little start and looked to Sharpay as Gabriella. "I said…" she said imperiously, "you two cannot be helped."

"She's the one that attacked me," Gabriella as Sharpay groaned from her opposing bed.

Ms. Darbus folded her arms and glared at Sharpay. "Yes. I understand you tried to strip Gabriella, Sharpay."

"I had my rea-" Sharpay's eyes widened. So did Ms. Darbus'. She wasn't sure, but Shar guessed Gabbie's eyes were pretty round, too. "Did you just call me Sharpay?"

Ms. Darbus flushed. "Well, er…what I meant to say was-"

"You just called me Gabriella!" Gabriella exclaimed.

"Well, I got confused! It was a simple mistake…"

Sharpay was suddenly hit with a flashback. Take. The. Cookie.

"You!" she shrieked. "You and the cookies!"

"What?" Gabriella cried. And then she turned to Ms. Darbus, realization dawning. "You? You orchestrated this? Ms. Darbus!"

Darbus faltered, stammered and denied meekly, before the combined force of the girls' glares made her crack.

"This was supposed to help you two get along! Walking a mile in somebody else's shoes and whatnot. I didn't even think it would work…"

Sharpay sat up, horrified. Gabriella did the same.

"Do you know how much this has screwed up our lives? She is trying to marry off my mother!"

"And she is dressing my brother up like…everybody else!"

"He'd rather look like everybody else than the matching figurine in your Ken and Barbie doll set!"

"She'd rather be married off than commit her entire life to babysitting you."

"You're selfish!"

"I know you are but what am I?"

Ms. Darbus put a hand to her head and gave a little wail. She fled the ward, and neither girl noticed.

A/N: Okay. I am SO psyched about RENT it actually found its way into my fic!

Sharpay's little RENT story was inspired by stuff I read on IMDB about how some of the actors don't come out sometimes for whatever reasons. But they're all really nice apparently (Anthony- call me). Anyway, I love Idina Menzel. So I thought it made sense that the Drama Queen of East High would be infatuated with the Drama Queen of the East Village!

Gawd, If I could even see those guys on stage…I would die! But only after getting my autographs.

R&R, dah-links, R&R!