III.

Just Perfect

Sharpay Evans was angry.

Scratch that thought. Sharpay Evans was hell itself. If it was possible, she would be burning like fire right now and burn everything in her way.

"Shit!" The blonde cursed loudly as she closed the door with all her might and she was pretty sure the whole house shook. But she didn't care. All she cared right now was that little Miss Gabriella Montez out of her house. And she meant now. Sharpay knew that she was in the other room in her home.

Boi started with a loud yelp and could only hide under the bed, knowing not to touch or be seen by his owner. Or else the chef would be serving Boi in a hot plate if the blonde diva ever saw him. Sharpay was pacing back and forth, pushing hard on the buttons to call her father. She couldn't stand still. Reflecting on her verbal smackdown with Gabriella, she got even madder. She was not the only one to blame on. She was not the only one who even started the fight. Gabriella was the one who touched her nerves.

She thinks I'm all goody-goody now. She thinks that I've changed. She rolled her eyes. Yeah right. Freaking martyr who thinks she can please everyone in the world.

Her life could not get any worse than this. Her rival was in here. Just a few feet away. She just wanted to punch something, anything. But then she'd have to break her perfect manicure, so she decided against that.

She placed her phone on her left ear, pacing faster than before. At this moment, she swore that she will never be able to calm down again if Gabriella was here. Before she could curse again, there was a signal that her father picked up.

"Princess, I can explain. Miss Mon-"

She didn't even let him finish. "Why didn't you tell me?! Why the hell is she here?!"

"I'm-"

"You'd better explain this to me Daddy." She said dangerously.

"I know, I-"

"She'd better be here for only a few hours!" Right now, she just wanted to slam the phone on the floor.

"Look-" It's amazing how Sharpay can have a grip around her father's neck.

"I want her out now!" Contradicting her last statement.

She heard her father sigh tiredly. "Princess. Miss Montez is renting a room there. I'm so sorry I forgot to tell you but Ms. Maria Montez and I were talking about this for the last two weeks. The time where your mother and I also decided you'd be in Santa Fe, so it was fortunate coincidence that you and Miss Montez are in the same city. So we decided that you two would be roommates. I know that you and Miss Montez have some problems in the past but Ms. Montez needs this since there has been a few financial problems and well…"

"Well what! Why can't she rent other houses?" Her patience was down the drain.

"It's because we're friends Princess. And I gave her the cheapest possible rent."

Hearing that from her father, the word friends sounded so foreign to her. The Montez family and the Evans family? That's just like mixing with oil with water. How did they even become friends?

"So she's going to stay with you alright? I'm slightly sure you two would get along since you did do things together in high school."

"Oh yeah, we're just like two peas in a pod Daddy." Sharpay said, dripping with sarcasm.

"I'm sorry Princess."

She scoffed angrily one more time. "She'd better be here only a few days. I can't stand her! Being all lovey dovey with Troy and stuff. She makes me sick." Troy should have been with me! She wanted to add but stopped herself. The blonde was now ranting definitely annoyed now.

"Princess… Miss Montez is going to be staying with you. Until you two graduate." Vance said in one breath, wanting this to get it over with.

Sharpay could only drop her left arm, leaving her phone out of her ear. She was ready to fall on the ground and die. Graduation? That's four years. Or possibly even more.

"Princess? Princess?" Her father's voice was visible on the phone, very concerned.

The blonde couldn't scream. Yet. And she'd rather bury herself down to the ground alive rather than being with Gabriella.

Hell, burying herself on the ground sounded as sweet as sugar. Her breathing became laboured as she repeated those words over and over again in her mind.

"Sweetheart? Look I'm really really sorry-" Absently, she clicked off the phone. Silence. And then finally finding her voice, she screamed.

She screamed at the top of her lungs.

Gabriella Montez was angry.

Scratch that thought. Gabriella was furious. If it was possible, everyone in the world would be surprised that this sweet, intelligent girl can be angry right now.

After the fight between the Ice Queen and her, she got into this room with the maid, who didn't even try to talk to her, knowing that Gabriella might really kill her. And when Gabriella got here, she didn't even bother to look around her rather large, expensive room. Her bed was in a corner but it didn't even cover one-fourth of the room. Her things in her bags were still not put away but she already knew in the back of her mind that it was going to fill the empty space.

But right now she didn't care. She was blinded with anger. Gabriella really thought that Sharpay changed. She really thought that Sharpay gave up on Troy. It looked like she did at senior year, but now, she was having second thoughts on Sharpay.

"God, I thought she really did! She's such an egocentric… Ugh!" She paced back and forth, trying to calm herself down.

"Shit." She muttered quietly, cursing. Whenever she did that, Gabriella felt quite liberated, knowing that everyone expected her to be so prim. She flopped on her bed, trying to figure out their verbal abuse. Then a thought broke out of her mind.

Thinking back, maybe she was the one who started it. Maybe she was the one to blame for that fight. She was the first one who struck a nerve. She looked at ceiling already feeling a slight tinge of regret.

She opened her eyes. No. She wasn't the only one. Sharpay did strike a nerve, calling her a homeless person, Miss Goody Two-Shoes, and Miss Perfect. Sharpay was the one who challenged her.

But still, she felt guilty. She sighed. Why can't she be like Sharpay, who was unaffected by hurting people? Gabriella hated hurting people. She hated hating people. She hated that people would hate her.

Another sigh came out from her breath as she used speed dial to call her mother.

"I do think that you're calling me because of Sharpay, Gabby." After Maria picked up her phone. She was already concerned.

Gabriella groaned. Her mom and her intuition. "Why am I stuck with her?"

She could sense that her mother was a bit concerned. "Sweetheart, I couldn't afford any other rent than this. Plus, that room is really good right?" Knowing she was already right.

The brunette sat up and looked around. She had to admit, it was expensive and the Evans had great taste. It had baby blue walls and expensive lighting.

At least it's not pink. She thought grudgingly, her mind back to Sharpay.

"Gabby, I'm so sorry and I do know that you have problems with Sharpay. I mean, you talk about her all the time. And you said she had just changed a bit in senior year. So why not take Mr. Evans' offer?"

She blushed. Gabriella did talk about Sharpay all the time. Much more than Troy, her boyfriend. And she did talk about the slight change of Sharpay that wasn't present now.

"But Mom, she didn't change at all… I can't stand her."

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry but this is all I can afford for you. Besides, I'm sure you two would get along soon."

"Sure, we'll get along just fine. Like best friends." She said sarcastically.

"Great! Now please be careful alright? Love you." It was either that Maria didn't catch the sarcasm or the fact that she was avoiding it.

"Yeah. Still, thank you and I love you too. And Mom?"

"Yes Gabby?"

"How long will I stay here?" Now standing up, she started playing with her bouncing ball she had on her pocket.

"….Until you two graduate."

Gabriella's eyes went wide and the ball hit her square on the head hard, letting her stumble on the ground. She was back sitting down, and her body froze, as if lightning had strike her. The ball was now bouncing by itself until it rolled on the ground.

"…Huh?"

She could feel her mother cringe and flinch at her reaction. "Four years sweetheart."

"No way Mom! I can't take that!"

"I'm really sorry,"

"Seriously Mom! There's gotta be more rents here!"

Silence. Gabriella frowned. She knew that silent treatment coming from her mother meant that she couldn't do anything. The brunette wanted to bang her head in the wall now. She sighed hard.

"Fine… But… I'll be paying for the rest of the rent alright?" And maybe if I have enough money, I'd transfer. She thought, but knew it was just a bit impossible because there were still her tuitions, books, and etcetera and etcetera. The list was endless, but she needed a little bit of hope right now. Anything would do just to get away from Sharpay Evans.

Even a cardboard box sounded really homey than being with this blonde mountain lion.

Gabriella sensed that her mother was smiling now. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah Mom. I'm independent remember?" She smiled weakly, happy that her mother was relieved. She never wanted to be a burden of her mother.

But damn it, she was too nice. And sometimes, she hated that trait sometimes.

Her mother's laughter echoed on the other line. "Ok then. Take care and love you again."

"Love you too." With that, both hung up.

Gabriella was exasperated. And then she was back to angry, knowing that she should say sorry Sharpay soon so that they could work their relationship out. She laughed with no humor at all after she stood up and went back to the bed.

Relationship? If there is any. Oh yeah, there is. Enemies.

Getting her iPod nano from her other pocket, and before she could insert both of the earphones on her ears, there was a glass breaking scream coming from the opposite side of the house. Her reflexes acted immediately. With that, she quickly jumped out of the bed and onto the ground with an obvious thud. Again.

Gabriella gave a low growl of frustration, knowing that that was the infamous scream of the none other than Sharpay Evans. Not getting up, she reached a pillow from the edge of her bed and nuzzled her face onto the softness.

God help me.

Remembering back in senior year, Ryan Evans was the director of the last musical ever of his high school years. And that thought, he still didn't believe that he was here, was sitting on the bench while he was eating a hotdog in one of the malls right now, doing absolutely nothing after his late entrance exams. And he was having fun doing nothing.

Or maybe I should do something. The blonde thought, dialling already Sharpay's number.

"What!" Sharpay shouted on the phone. Ryan's face cringed. His sister can be so dramatic sometimes.

Ok, maybe all the time.

"Whoah. Aren't you just peachy,"

He could hear her breathing hard, meaning that she was just screaming just seconds ago. "Having a bad day sis?"

"You think!" And he guessed that the screaming didn't help her anger to dissipate.

"What's wrong? Tell me." Ryan was concerned at this. Never in his whole life had he heard Sharpay being so irritated.

She muttered something that Ryan didn't quite catch but he was sure that he heard a name. "Sis?"

"Look. Can we not talk about this right now! I need to kill somebody,"

Ryan chuckled and knowing his sister, this got Sharpay fuming. "What the hell are you laughing at Ryan?!"

"Hey, hey. Calm down. Just tell me alright. I promise I won't interrupt you or ask any questions if you just tell me why are you so angry right now. Brother's honor." He raised his right hand even though Sharpay couldn't see right now.

She sneered angrily. "Fine."

"Well?" Ryan said a little louder than he probably should have as he threw his other up in the air, getting animated and at the same time, almost tossing the hotdog towards the passersby. People were glancing at him now.

"Gabriella--"

"Oh yeah, I'm wanted to say sorry too."

"Ryan!"

Ryan quickly shut up but muttered quietly, "Sorry. Continue."

"Gabriella is here. With Troy."

There's a real shocker. "There? In Santa Fe?"

"Ryan… You promised no interruptions and questions." She said, angrier than before. Ironic that Ryan wanted to help her hot-tempered twin to calm down. He said sorry again before he munched on his almost forgotten hotdog.

"And for answering your question… Yes. They're here. And Troy's my neighbour. With Gabriella,"

He waited for her to continue, but he was already surprised by the coincidence. And he knew how she loathed Gabriella in mind, body, and soul. He could actually sense how hard it was for her just to say the brunette girl's name. Like snarling and tearing the name into bits.

Ryan shook that thought away, knowing that he was just exaggerating. But hell, Sharpay was an over the top person so it counted as valid.

Maybe.

"Gabriella's here and she's going to live with me. For four fucking years." She grumbled, almost wanting to scream again. Ryan's eyes went wide.

He didn't see that coming.

Vance Evans sighed, a bit traumatized at how the phone call ended. And Derby heard it all. Who couldn't? Sharpay's voice could've have reached the Richter scale and break the record of the world's strongest earthquake.

"Well, that went well." Mr. Evans said sarcastically to her as he sat down on their bed as his head began to ache.

She sat down beside him and placed a comforting hand on his leg. "It could have been worse Darling,"

He let out a sigh for the second time. "You're right."

Gabriella, who was just seconds ago in her rented room, nervously walked on the other side of the rather elegant home. Damn it. Why do I have to say sorry again? She groaned in her chaotic thoughts.

She could have bumped her head through the door, but luckily, the brunette noticed she was already in front of Sharpay's door. Well, she was guessing that it was Sharpay's door. Judging by the frantic screaming and loud noises, it was Sharpay's room.

Gabriella reached her arm to knock but hesitated a bit. There, she inhaled deeply and exhaled just as slow and then put on a brave face. She was getting tired of all her screaming and melodramatic antics. Fortunately though, it stopped but Gabriella knew that her drama would start as soon as Sharpay saw her face.

And then at last, she knocked. Long and hard, knowing that the she would practically get herself under the blonde's skin.

If she should be the first one to say sorry, why not irk her just a bit?

"Ok. Screw my brother's honor. How? More importantly, why?" Ryan's voiced echoed through her phone, already wanting Sharpay to dish out the details.

She was getting intolerant hearing her brother's voice. "Look Ryan. I don't wanna talk about it right now,"

Call it sibling intuition, but Sharpay could feel that Ryan just shrugged his shoulders uncaringly. "Ok, fine. You're still no fun. But tell me someday alright?"

Sharpay rolled her eyes and chided. "Whatever."

Now she could sense that he was already smiling. "Ok, bye Shar. Love ya,"

There, she clicked off her phone, back to her pacing back and forth until a blitz of knocks came from her door. Why can't they fucking leave me alone! She was immediately irritated by the knocking and strode towards the door.

Opening it as if it was stuck forever on the door jambs, she looked at the shorter woman before her.

"Wow. Just what I needed. You're going to leave now? Good. Bye. Don't feel free to stop by here." Sharpay said in mock sweetness. And before she could close the door and lock it, a sneakered foot slipped in between. With her long-sleeved black shirt, she protected herself from the dull pain of trying to push the door back to open it.

Apparently Sharpay was the stronger and taller woman and as if Sharpay had given her mercy----if she did have any at all---by opening it again, almost letting Gabriella fall into her room, her hands quickly gripping on the side door jamb.

With an inward sigh of relief, the brunette stood straighter and looked up at the blonde, whose eyes that were just a tad shade lighter of brown than hers stared intently at her own. She had that smug look on her face, trying to break down Gabriella's walls one by one. The brunette was of course, unmoved by this, knowing how to deal with Sharpay for all her high school years.

She asked herself for the millionth time,

Why do I have to sorry again? And she only came up with the same answer over and over again. That's right. We're going to be roomies and we need to work this out.

There, they only had strong, ear deafening silence that felt according to them like forever as they had the staring contest.

Eventually, Gabriella looked down, knowing already that she lost. There was this undeniable fact that Sharpay's brown pools were pretty much walled like a fortress, and if she dared tried to stare at it for more than a minute, the beautiful brunette knew she might choke.

Sharpay still kept her facial expression. "So are you just going to look down like some lost puppy? Cause if you are, I have a great reason to kick you out of my room. Or better, my house."

Gabriella looked up, angrier than ever. "God. Why'd you have to always strike my nerves?"

Sharpay mocked pondered. "I don't know. Maybe it's because I hate you?"

"Ok you know what…" Her hands balled into fists, wanting to punch the blonde's daylights out of her.

"No, I don't know." Sharpay countered.

"If I can…" Gabriella said, not finding the words.

"Can what? Run out and go to your precious little Troy Boy? I'd be happy to open the door for you outside," She smirked, already loving this. What was great fighting with Gabriella according to Sharpay was that it was because the shorter woman was too emotional.

And if this was a cartoon, Gabriella would be smoking right now.

She closed her eyes, breathing in, trying to cool herself down, and realizing that this was the blonde intended to do to her. Gabriella opened her eyes and looked back at her.

"I'm just here to say sorry,"

Sharpay frowned at the sudden change of mood. "So?"

"I'm sorry that I made you mad." She said, gritting it out of her teeth. God that felt bad.

Sharpay smirked. "Right. Whatever."

"Look, we're going to make this work."

She raised an eyebrow. "We? There's no we in here. It's just me and you out of the house."

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Do you have to be so repetitive?"

"If it makes you leave my home." Sharpay replied, crossing her arms.

"That's it! I'll take my apology back, thank you very much." Gabriella shouted and quickly stomped out of her room, deciding to go outside. Sharpay had that smug look on her face, knowing that she won.

"You're welcome!" Sharpay shouted back, knowing that Gabriella was still on the hall. She could hear her scoff.

Troy, who was just about to arrange his full boxes, was startled by a series of bangs on his apartment door. He raised an eyebrow as he put down the box he was holding and then approached the noise.

When he opened it, he saw a very angry Gabriella. The brunette immediately went inside, already pacing back and forth in his very empty apartment.

"I can't believe her." Gabriella ranted.

"Hi to you too, Gabs." Troy greeted.

Gabriella approached him and hugged him, wanting comfort. He immediately hugged her back. "You ok?"

"I can't live with her. She's too…" She trailed off.

"Sharpay?" Troy finished for her.

"Yeah." Gabriella whispered and then looked up at her boyfriend. "Can I stay here with you for a while?"

The jock blinked twice. "Why?"

"Please? At least for a week?"

Troy sighed. He couldn't say no to his girlfriend.

"My bed still hasn't arrived. I hope you'll find the floor comfy."

Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Please review and tell me what you think then. Take care! - Monique -