Painfully Perfect

Disclaimer: I don't own HSM or The Fray's "How To Save A Life."

Author's Note: This is the second to last chapter and the second shortest chapter, but I hope you like it. I'm going to start doing review replies at the bottom again when I post the last chapter. :) Hah, enjoy.

Chapter 18

The following day, the doctors decided to take Sharpay off of her feeding tube so that she could eat regular food. She still hadn't spoken a single word since she was told she was going to treatment. So, when a nurse brought Sharpay food, she silently refused to eat it. The nurse waited patiently, but Sharpay didn't budge or say a word. This pattern continued throughout the day, so the doctors were forced to put Sharpay back on the feeding tube. As much as Sharpay hated it, she wasn't going to talk. She didn't want to have to go to treatment, especially since she was still convinced she wasn't anorexic.

The week went by quickly, Sharpay's friends coming to visit her, even though Sharpay wouldn't speak. Her friends and parents visited everyday, but eventually, Ryan just stopped coming. His sadness had transitioned into anger and it was all projected at Sharpay. So, he simply just stopped visiting her because he knew he would blow up at her and eventually regret it. Troy, Gabriella and Zeke were there everyday before and after school, Taylor, Chad and Kelsi joining them all the time after school, but Sharpay still wouldn't speak. She understood how much her friends cared, but she knew they didn't understand why she didn't want to go to treatment.

Thursday afternoon, Gabriella, Chad, Zeke and Kelsi all walked down the hall towards Sharpay's hospital room. Gabriella knocked lightly on the door before pushing it open. "Hey Shar."

Sharpay quickly turned her head and stared at her friends in the doorway. "Troy and Taylor had to stay after school to finish a project together for History, but they said they'd try to swing by later if they can," Gabriella spoke.

"So, how are you today?" Zeke asked carefully, grabbing onto Sharpay's hand. Sharpay shrugged and squeezed his hand lightly. Chad and Kelsi exchanged a look and took a step towards Sharpay's bed. "Well, I hope you know we're all going to be here tomorrow before you have to leave," Chad spoke quietly, and everyone nodded their heads. Sharpay frowned and closed her eyes momentarily.

"Hey guys, do you mind if I talk to Sharpay alone for a minute?" Gabriella questioned to her friends. Chad and Kelsi nodded, exiting the hospital room, Zeke following after placing a kiss on Sharpay's forehead.

Once the door was shut, Gabriella pulled herself up onto the end of Sharpay's bed and looked her in the eyes. "Sharpay, can I ask you a question?" Sharpay looked hesitant, but nodded anyways.

"Shar, why did you do this? Because I really don't understand. You're beautiful, you know that right?" Gabriella spoke seriously, her eyes wide. Sharpay shook her head 'no', still refusing to speak. "Don't," Gabriella ordered, her whisper harsh. "Don't ever say you aren't beautiful. Why would you do this? Please, please, just know that you can talk to me? Okay?" Gabriella was trying not to cry, Sharpay's eyes welling up as well. "I know you're not talking, and you're probably not going to, but just listen. I've moved around so much in my life. When I moved here, I thought you were icy, pompous, and cruel. I thought there was no way in hell we'd every be friends. But you surprised me. After awhile, that icy exterior melted and I became friends with a caring, thoughtful, beautiful girl. And even though you were selfish, demanding, and ignorant sometimes, you were still my best friend.

"I've had three other best friends in my life, Sharpay. In my entire life. This girl when I was six, Taylor and Kelsi. And you. But you, Shar, are like a sister to me. I trust you and I care about you, but you took this lovely person who became my best friend and turned her into a sick, broken little girl." Tears spilled down Gabriella's face. She looked at Sharpay in the eyes, as tears threatened to fall from Sharpay's eyes. "Sharpay, were you trying to kill yourself?" The tears plunged down Sharpay's thin face as Gabriella threw the harsh reality at her. "Because that's what's going to happen. You're going to die if you don't stop. And I'm going to lose someone so important to me."

Gabriella looked down, wiping the tears from her face just as a nurse walked in the room.

"Hi, I'm sorry to interrupt. I need to do some tests with Sharpay." Gabriella nodded and stood up. She walked over to Sharpay and wrapped her arms around her tightly, her hand grazing across her bony back. "I love you, Shar. I'll see you later." The blond girl nodded as Gabriella left the room, leaving her to think about everything that had just been said.

--

The air around the Evans house was stiff and uncomfortable. Sharpay's mom spent a good chunk of time packing clothes and various other things Sharpay would take to treatment. Michael talked with the treatment center about what exactly would be Sharpay's living style there. With Ryan, however, it seemed like he had completely forgotten that his twin sister was going to treatment the next morning. He was sitting in his room, listening to his iPod and working on his homework.

Around six, Mr. and Mr. Evans entered Ryan's room. "Hey Ry."

"Hey. What's going on?" Ryan asked, glancing up from his homework and pulling one out one of his headphones.

"We're gonna run down to the store to grab a few things to pack for Sharpay," Michael said, pushing his hands into his pocket. Ryan looked down at his homework and his voice grew stony. "Okay, see you later."

"And we're taking her down tomorrow morning. All of us," Alyson added, unaware of how angry her son was with Sharpay.

"Fine. Can you go? I have a lot of homework." Ryan waited until he heard the garage door shut, before pushing his headphones deeply into his ears. Ironically, the lyrics of The Fray started to pump into Ryan's ears.

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend

Somewhere along in the bitterness

And I would have stayed up with you all night

Had I known how to save a life

Angrily, Ryan ripped the head phones out of his ears and grabbed his math book, chucking it across the room. It hit the mirror before hitting the floor. A small series of thin cracks appeared in his mirror, distorting his reflection. He screamed loudly, letting it echo throughout the empty house. A few minutes later, he stood up and took a deep breath and went to pick up his math book. He lifted it, but bent back down when he saw a picture lying on the floor. Flipping it over, he saw himself and Sharpay two years ago. They looked young and carefree. They were on vacation and both of their sun-kissed skin glowed. Sharpay was beautiful, despite the fact her hair was messy and she wore no makeup. They looked so much alike in the picture. Ryan ripped it to bits, tears dropping everywhere.

--

That night at the hospital, Sharpay lay wide awake in her dark room, the sounds of the hospital filling her ears. The beep of the machines hooked up to her body sounded rhythmically. Occasionally, the voices of nurses and the shuffle of their footsteps sounded. Sharpay's eyes were glazed over with tears, but she wasn't going to cry. She missed Ryan, she missed her old life, but she also missed the control she had. Suddenly, the voice appeared in her head. It was the first time since she had been found unconscious in the bathroom that it had talked.

"Sharpay, you were going to be beautiful. Everyone keeps saying you are beautiful and that you didn't need to stop eating. They're lying. You aren't beautiful, Sharpay. You were so close. You know why you aren't beautiful? Because you got caught. Now you're going to rehab and you're going to get fat. You're a disappointment. That's all you'll ever be, Sharpay, a failure."

"You're lying," Sharpay thought. Her head filled with cold laughter. "No, Sharpay. You're lying to yourself if you ever thought you were beautiful. You're a stupid, careless, fat little girl."

"No, I'm not. I can be better."

"Hahaha, please. Don't kid yourself." Sharpay gripped tightly onto the tube attached to her arm and pulled upwards, pain shooting throughout her arm. "I'll be perfect. I'll be perfect, I swear."

Author's Note: Okay, really sad ending. :( Basically, sad chapter. Well, the next chapter is the last, but then I'll have the sequel up! So, here's your chance to ask me ANYTHING about this story. Anything you've ever wondered or wanted to say. I hope you liked this. :)