ACT2
Lunch time was usually welcomed by Sharpay, but not today. She had to practice for the Talent Show - and, since the Wildcat basketball robots had booked the stage for that afternoon, she had to give up her lunch. It didn't concern her as much as it normally would. In fact, the break away from the dramas of the cafeteria could do her good.
She pushed open the old doors and entered the performance space - big, dark, and empty of all but one piano centre stage. Her steps up to the stage echoed a soft clicking rhythm. Before taking her seat, she laid her music sheets out on the piano, letting out a sigh.
She pressed her fingers down on the keys, producing a soft melody. Glancing up at the sheets only occasionally – she knew this song by heart - she began singing.
I don't know what I'm doing
I say the wrong things half the time
I'm only human
Not anything you can define
I'm rushing, day to day
To find my way to where I'm going
Don't try to fight me
I'm all I can be
These were words she had written herself. She began writing when East High had begun to worship Kelsi Nielson as the song writing Goddess that she was meant to be. Sharpay figured that it couldn't be that hard to scribble a few words down and make them rhyme. The words scribbled became too personal for her, so she never sung anything she'd composed herself in public – not for fear of judgement, but for fear of vulnerability. Ms. Darbus had said that a "true artist, the true performer isn't afraid to expose his or her soul to their audience." And that's what Sharpay was finally going to do.
She powered into the chorus.
Sometimes it's hard
No matter who you are
It's life, it's life
I'm just trying to get it right
Sometimes I feel
Like this whole thing isn't real
It's life, it's life
I'm just trying to get it
Trying to get it right
"Wow."
Sharpay flinched, then swiftly turned around to find Gabriella Montez gracing her with her presence. She was standing halfway up the steps at the side of the stage, her hands in her pockets. Sharpay felt her cheeks heat up with anger at the sight of her. This was her practice time - why was she here? Was it because she felt threatened? Yes, that must be it, Sharpay internally decided. She needed to keep an eye on her competition, which was, of course, Sharpay. Who wouldn't?
Of all the obscenities circling in her mind, "What on earth are you doing here?" was the only thing Sharpay could spit out.
"I heard your voice echo from the bathroom." Gabriella paused, leaving room for a reply from the blonde. When she got nothing, she continued. "Do you mind if I watch you rehearse?"
Sharpay snapped back at her. "Of course."
"Of course I can watch, or of course you mind?"
"Figure it out, Montez!" She shook her head, turning away from Gabriella to face the instrument in front of her. "For someone who's supposed to be some sort of prodigal genius, you sure are slow."
Gabriella edged forward, now at the top of the stairs, feeling her frustration rise. "You don't have to insult me, Sharpay."
"Well it's pretty clear to me that if I didn't insult you, you wouldn't understand anything I'm telling you." She rolled her eyes, letting sarcasm drip from her words.
"So you can come and watch Troy and I sing our song, but I can't do the same to you? What kind of ridiculous double standard is that?" Gabriella's eyes narrowed, her expression matching Sharpay's. "You know what? I know you think that you're on your pedestal in this school, with your 'Ice Queen' gimmick and your intimidating demeanour, but you need to step down and realise that you're not going to win everything – you can't always be the best, and, better yet, not everything is a competition! If you think that being aggressive towards anyone that crosses your path makes you better than everyone then you have some sort of serious psychological disorder!"
Sharpay's face dropped. For one of the first times in her life, she was rendered speechless; by someone who is as tame and placid as Gabriella normally is.
The brunette took a deep breath, her eyes trailing to the ground before meeting the blonde's again. "What I'm trying to say is that if this Talent Show means that much to you, for you to play your manipulative little games for some sort of supposed edge on your supposed competition, then you really should rethink your priorities."
"My priorities?! Who are you to tell me what my priorities are? Acting is my priority. Singing is my priority. Theatre is my priority."
"What about friendship? Family? Your loving and ever so loyal brother?"
Sharpay let out a snort of a laugh. "Why am I even talking about this with you? You have no idea who I am."
Gabriella ignored her comment. "You can succeed with the help of others, Sharpay. Take Kelsi, for one. She writes amazing plays and productions for you to star in, but you don't even thank her for it."
"I don't need to listen to your pointless drabble. Get out of here, Montez. Go find your oh-so-pretty-and-perfect boyfriend."
Although Sharpay had now turned away from her, she could feel that Gabriella still hadn't moved. She re-organised the music sheets she had displayed on the piano. Subtly, she glanced over her shoulder, but once her now-widened, brown eyes had locked with Gabriella's, she couldn't turn away. Gabriella's brown orbs gazed pleadingly into Sharpay's - both pairs of eyes so different, and yet so similar. The two girls lingered in silence, until Sharpay spoke up.
"I really need to practice."
"Go ahead." Gabriella's voice was weak, but her words were stern.
"Fine." Sharpay had found herself feeling defeated.
Breaking their eye contact, Sharpay focused herself on the music in front of her. Taking a deep breath, she continued from when she was interrupted.
I can keep on living
Counting every breath I take
I just want to jump
Into the water, so why wait?
I'll make mistakes, I'll take my breaks
But I'll say something
Don't try to crowd me
Just give me time, and give me space
It was easy for Sharpay to forget where she was when she began performing. She could become so in tune with her character or the song she was singing that it was almost as if she wasn't putting on an act – she was just being herself.
Sometimes it's hard
No matter who you are
It's life, it's life
I'm just trying to get it right
Sometimes I feel
That this whole thing isn't real
It's life, it's life
I'm just trying to get it
Trying to get it right
As her voice trailed off, Sharpay improvised a melody on the piano to conclude the song. She looked down at the lyrics on her sheet, emitting a sigh from her pink, glossy lips.
"That was…" Gabriella was searching for the right words, "Sharpay, that was amazing. I truly mean it."
The blonde didn't turn around. She was studying the pieces of paper laid out in front of her, tracing her finger over lines.
"I didn't recognize the song though. Who was that?" Gabriella wanted to start a conversation.
"I wrote it." She didn't turn around, still engrossed in what she was reading over.
This got a smile from the brunette girl. "Really? Sharpay, I had no idea you wrote!" She rethought her words when she got no response. "Just because, you know, you're normally singing Kelsi's songs, so I didn't think…"
Sharpay answered, nonchalantly. "Kelsi's not the only song writer in the world."
"Oh."
Gabriella felt like she needed to shift the mood. "So, what sort of songs do you write?"
"I write whatever I feel like."
Wanting to get more than a simple, blunt answer from the girl, Gabriella chimed, "Have you ever written a love song before? I love love songs!"
"I don't do love songs. Too cliché."
"But love songs are the best! They're so emotional and beautiful and they can be so relatable sometimes..." Gabriella sighed, her tone changing, "If you've ever been in love, I guess."
"I guess."
The silence took over again, but this time it was Gabriella's turn to break it.
"Well… if you ever feel inspired, please write one long song. Just one. For me?"
Sharpay simply shook her head in response. She didn't let her eyes wander from the paper – not even when the bell rung, signalling both their cues to leave. Gabriella, on the other hand, watched the blonde girl for a few moments, before turning around and heading down the stairs.
"Bye Sharpay." Her voice was almost regretful.
The doors slammed loudly behind her, leaving Sharpay alone in the large room.
"Bye."
