Complicated: Part II
Did I forget to mention that I'm actually nominated for this year's Prom King? Big shocker huh. And you can take that sarcastically or not, honestly, I'm not even sure how I meant it either. I guess with all this past week's drama and stress about tonight (mostly put on me because of Sharpay), that little detail kind of pushed itself to the back of my mind. Well, at the beginning of the evening, when we walked into the gym decorated in a way that would make Hollywood jealous (haha, not really. But Hollywood was supposed to be our "theme"), that little fact came rushing back to my memory when several people came up to me and wished me luck for it.
At first, I was at least sort of excited, thinking that it would be kind of cool to win, but also knowing I wouldn't care really if I didn't win. Because Ryan was alsonominated- apparently being the head honcho male of the drama club really served as a good position for him. Melique Mayfield was the third person nominated for king tonight- he was the football quarterback.
But halfway through the night, I was beginning to have second thoughts when I found out Sharpay's opinion on the whole matter. I guess she hates one of the girls nominated for Queen. Allysin Davis. And she's all worried that I'll have to dance with her if we win King and Queen. I'm not quite sure why those two are less than fond of each other, though. I guess the logical thing to assume, however, would or could be that those two did in fact show up in exactly the same dress tonight, which I could tell by the look on Sharpay's face the moment she realized this, that it immediatley ruined her entire night.
"It looks better on you." I'd told her immediately, desperately trying to soothe her before she had a meltdown. But apparently she hadn't heard me, as she was already on her way over to where Allysin was standing chatting it up with her girlfriends. Who was that girl's date, anyway?
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"Nice outfit."
I tried my best to maneuver my best icy-bitch look as I approached stupid Allysin Davis. But when she looked at me all innocently with those stupid blue eyes that strongly resemble the color of Troys (but look twenty million times better on him), I could tell by the look on her stupid face that she wasn't the least bit intimidated.
"Oh, Sharpay! I didn't see you there."
"Of course not, considering, I just appeared here two seconds ago." I snapped. "Where did you get that dress?"
She smirked at me then, and it took all I had to hold back from punching her square in the jaw right then and there.
"Daddy's people. Isn't it great?"
She refers everything to her stupid daddy's stupid people. I've known her since stupid kindergarten and she's always used that as a stupid explanation for everything. Everything about her is pretty much stupid.
"The picture online looked better." I told her, before adding "And the one's my mother took of me do, too."
My eyes followed hers as she gave me the classic once-over, apparently, just realizing it now that we practically looked like clones of each other. Her stupid face contorted into that of anger- pleasing me for only a split second before that stupid fake smile reappeared on her face.
"Well, good luck on Prom Queen."
My jaw clenched, and I hissed through gritted teeth. "You know I'm not nominated."
Her stupid smirk reappeared. "What a shame. Wish me luck then?"
As if. I'd sooner have some stuck up bitch celebrity show up randomly and take the title instead of her. Like Vanessa Hudgens. (I'm sorry xD I couldn't resist!)
The thought of Allysin Davis sharing a slow dance with Troy if they both won sickened me like nothing else in the world, and even though I'm pretty sure Allysin was well aware of that fact, I was so not about to let her know just how much it bothered me.
"All the luck in the world." I spat sarcastically, whirling around and stomping back over to Troy, who apparently had been watching the entire time.
"What happened over there?" he asked me, placing his hands on my elbows since my arms were crossed.
"I just hate her."
I don't care how dramatic I'm being. I'm pretty sure that every girl's worst nightmare on prom is for anyone- especially her enemy of all people, showing up wearing the same outfit as her. It's like getting a zit on your wedding day. Awful, terrible, horrible, and nothing you can do about it no matter how hard you try and try to get rid of it. I also don't care that i just compared Allysin Davis to a bulging swollen blemish, either. She is one, after all. She's the one that told the whole school last year that I was a whore because apparently I hooked up with her dumb boyfriend Will at some party last year (WHICH I DIDN'T) and who dumped her over the summer, just because Ms. Darbus named me(and Ryan) co-president of the drama club instead of her. So, she started this whole feud.
"Shar- just..." I could tell Troy was trying to hard to come up with something good to say that would help calm me down at least somewhat.
"Okay, honestly, you both look good tonight." (I tried my best to not let the hatred I was feeling for stupid Allysin Davis show right at the moment he said that about...her..well, me too...but still...he said she looked... good. Excuse me while I gag to death!)
"But if you wanna compare the both of you, well, you're Jessica Alba and she's...Rosie O'Donell."
"Don't try and sweet talk me, Bolton." I said with an eye roll and a partial smile, secretly pleased that he would say that- minus the first part.
"Well, is it working?" He smirked.
"You'll find out later." I said, reaching for his hand and pulling him over to the main crowd of people on the dance floor, still not totally happy about the way this evening was turning out so far, but trying as best I could to hide the way I really felt.
I danced with Troy to a couple of songs- both of them being fast ones; ("Fire Burning" - Sean Kingston and "I Know You Want Me"- Pitbull. Typical "party" music.) But then I was whisked away from him by Gabriella and Taylor who wanted me to jump around with them to "Untouched" by the Veronicas. And just as we were headed over to the ladies' room afterwards to go freshen up a little, Leona Lewis's "I Will Be" comes on and suddenly I'm feeling a warm hand grab hold of my gently by the arm and Troy is turning me around to face him. He grins at me then- that charming, love-able grin that once again makes everything okay and which makes me feel like maybe I don't have to keep on avoiding stupid Allysin Davis all night so we don't look ridiculous standing near each other (not like I would've hung around her anyways. Ew.)
I distractedly muttered to my friends to go onto the restroom without me as I was being pulled onto the dance floor by my date. His right hand placed itself on my waist and his other one held tightly onto my right one and my left went to his warm shoulder.
"Having fun?" he asked me as we began to sway easily to the pop ballad.
"Well, there's a few bumps in the road here and there but for the most part? I'd say, yes." I smiled, with pursed lips, the bump in my road clearly being stupid Allysin Davis. I really can't seem to use her name in a sentence without the word "stupid" being in there somewhere, can I?
"Great," he said, catching me off guard by spinning me around before drawing me back into our original stance.
"Easy there, Troy." I giggled. He smirked.
"You didn't call me Bolton."
I chuckled. "Don't get used to it."
He just shook his head, smiled, and pulled me closer to him as we continued our dance. I just...I love it when he holds me like this. Especially now, with as good at slow dancing I've just realized he is.
We didn't talk for the rest of the song, we just danced close together enjoying each others company. And by the time Leona wrapped up the final note, I'd found that my arms had somehow already repositioned themselves around Troy's neck and his were completely wrapped around my waist so it was basically like we'd been hugging while dancing, and I hadn't even noticed it before just now.
I drew away slowly from the stance as another fast song came blasting through the speakers set up in the gym next, but I couldn't quite tell what the song was because it almost sounded far away since I was only concentrating on one thing and one thing only.
Troy's lips.
And just like I'd promised myself earlier in the limo, I didn't even try and make myself consider it for a moment before pressing my mouth flush against his- my eyelids shutting and cutting off my line of vision. He responded by locking his arms tighter around me and applying more pressure to the kiss we were now wrapped up in together. I didn't even care if my lipstick that I'd had so much trouble with earlier this evening was getting smeared.
I was practically forced away from him a little while later when some nervy bitch slammed into me from behind, causing both me and Troy to break apart and stumble a bit. Furious, I whirled around, not the least bit surprised but beyond pissed off as I glared into the once again innocent looking face of, once again, stupid Allysin Davis.
"Oops," she smirked with a shrug of a stupid skinny shoulder as she continued bouncing along to the fast paced music. "My bad."
She looked at Troy then for a moment, and I swear her stupid blue eyes nearly popped out of her stupid head all googly at that moment and I literally felt the strongest urge to vomit as she practically drooled over him. Everyone knows she's been interested in Troy ever since they got paired together for some biology experiment a few months back, which just makes me even more worried about them taking the crowns tonight because she'd be sure to try something.
"Hi, Troy." She smiled, giggling flirtatiously in this disgusting way and showing off her stupid perfectly straight and pure white teeth. If I didn't hate her so much, I'd probably tell her she should be in a toothpaste ad or something.
"Hi." Troy responded flatly.
"Go back to your date, Davis, and quit bumping into people who clearly have better lives than you." I snarled, in attempts and hope of cutting off any further conversation between her and, if I may phrase it this way, myman. Shockingly enough for me, this bitch actually did have a date. Tony Lujan. This guy who was on the school's lacrosse team and who has been pretty good friends with (stupid) Allysin since they were in diapers or something. The whole school knows that Tony has the world's biggest crush on her, though, and has for a while. But she's only ever been to busy messing around with other guys to bother to give him the time of day. So if anything she's the whore. Which is why it strikes me as odd that she would call me one last year and why she even came to the prom with Tony in the first place when clearly she's not interested in him, but instead in Troy, who too bad for her, is interested in me. Haha.
Either way I hate her no matter what.
"Tony's busy getting me a bottled water, and oh you have a better life than me, hm? That would explain why I'm nominated and you're not. And why my dress makes you look like a cow."
I would never let anyone know how much those words stung me, especially the last part of them. I instead tried to shake off my hurt by firing back with some kind of threat- something like "Watch yourself skank, before this 'cow' breaks your skeleton-ish little limbs into pieces," but just as I was about to, Troy spoke instead.
"Allysin...really...just...shut the fuck up." He told her, and I wanted to kill myself for not having a camera at that precise moment so I could capture the mixed look of stunned/surprise/hurt that immediately crossed stupid Allysin Davis's now pale face the very second Troy spat those words at her. Her facial expression, without a doubt, would be the most fun to come up with a caption under in the school yearbook. And since both Gabriella and Taylor are on the yearbook committee, I could sure as hell get them to print anything I wanted, even this late in the school year.
Troy grabbed my arm after that and dragged me away, only giving me a second longer to inwardly crack up at Allysin's apparently frozen in still expression. And by the time he'd dragged me all the way out to the deserted East High hallway, I was in hysterics.
"Did you see the look on her face?" I said to Troy, laughing in between words. He just shrugged.
"She's a bitch," he answered, as if that was the explanation to everything. Which really, it was.
"Well, thank you for realizing what I've been trying to tell you all this time." I said, my laughter dying down.
"Sharpay, I've always known, but unlike girls do I don't freak out about it."
"Are you saying that I do?" I asked, suddenly not finding anything humorous any longer.
"Well, honestly...about a lot of things, yeah." He shrugged again.
"Oh really?" I asked, crossing my arms. "Like what, Bolton?"
He looked at me for a minute. "Well, like the dress. It wasn't really that big of a deal."
I gazed at him in shock. "It's a girl thing, you wouldn't understand." I said after a moment, trying to brush him off.
"Okay, well, it's kind of dumb that you two hate each other because of a dress."
"Are you kidding me?" I asked, dumbfounded. Did he really think this whole thing was only over the dress? I mean, that certainly added to it, but there was plenty more. Like the whore thing. And the drama club co-presidency thing. And the fact that I don't know what I'll do if they win tonight which we're going to find out in like twenty minutes or less. But damn. Are boys really that simple minded?
"It's not just about the dress, Troy."
"What is it then?"
I scoffed. "Do you not remember the whole fiasco that happened with me and her last year?"
He seemed to think about it for a minute. "You mean when she told everyone you screwed her boyfriend or something?"
I narrowed my eyes at him, but nodded anyway. He really didn't need to phrase it that way, even if yes, that was basically it. But I repeat, it is not true. No matter what she says.
"Well, it was a year ago, you should both get over it."
"How am I supposed to get over it when she: one, repeatedly throws it in my face that she has a chance at prom queen and I don't." I said, holding up one finger as I started to list off things. I then lifted a second finger as I started my second reason. "Two, rams into me clearly on purpose when I'm in the middle of kissing you, and three- calls me fat!"
Troy shook his head and sighed. "Alright, well, I understand the second reason- but that just adds to her being a bitch."
"So just because she's a bitch that makes it okay?"
"No, that's not what I meant but- agh, I don't know, nevermind. Let's just go back inside." Troy said, pulling open the gym door and holding it open for me. But I ignored the gesture, not willing to let him off that easy.
"And why don't you understand my first or third reasons?"
He blinked at me, still holding the door open. "What?"
"You said you could understand why I basically hate her for slamming into me like that. But nothing about the other two reasons."
"Which are what again?"
I sighed. "That she repeatedly throws it in my face that she has a chance at prom queen, and I don't, and that she called me fat!"
"Well, prom queen is just a title and a crown, it's not a big deal. And you know you're not fat, so that's nothing to get mad over either." He shrugged like it was no big deal.
"You stuck up for me, you got mad too." I told him in my own defense. "And it's not just a crown and a title, you're so simple minded Troy, it's way more than that!"
"I only stuck up for you because I know that it bothered you, even though it shouldn't of. And fine, what is it then?"
"She's going to be throwing herself all over you if you both win!" I practically screamed, frustrated. Why didn't he get it? It was pretty freakin' obvious if you ask me.
".............Why does that bother you?" he asked quietly, after a long moment of silence. Okay, now he was just playing games. He couldn't be that stupid. There was no way.
"You know damnwell why it bothers me!" I exclaimed, stamping my stilletoed foot on the hard marble hallway ground.
"Sharpay-"
"Forget it, good freaking luck on winning." I said, brushing past him and into the gym, holding back tears, because he really didn't seem to care if stupid Allysin Davis did hang all over him. Once back in the gym, the bright happy sounds of chatter, laughter, and The White Tie Affair's "Candle" greeted me as I went off in search of my friends. I spotted Taylor first, but she was rocking it out pretty nice over there with Chad, so I didn't want to bother them, though I'm sure they probably wouldn't mind if I joined them, I still didn't want to interrupt their time together. So I set on trying to find either Gabi or my brother dearest next.
I found them five minutes later, whispering to each other by the refreshment table.
"Hey guys." I said, approaching them. They smiled at me warmly by way of greeting.
"Hey Shar," Gabriella said, giving me a side hug. "Where's Troy?"
"Probably off making out with Allysin Davis somewhere."
I knew that was out of line, but I couldn't really help it right now.
"What?"
"Uh oh," Ryan said alertly. "Smells like drama. I'll catch up with you guys later." He said, kissing Gabriella's cheek quickly and then mine before shuffling away. I learned long ago how much Ryan hates to be around whenever I started ranting off about something, which he could probably sense I was about to start doing now. "It's not that I don't care, Shar," he'd told me one time, "I just know how bad it can get sometimes."
"Well aren't you supportive," I'd said sarcastically, but he'd just shrugged and gave me a half-ass apology.
"What happened with Troy?" Gabriella asked me once he was gone, looking at me carefully with warm brown eyes. I shrugged.
"We had another fight. Basically over the 'royalty' nominations and crap." I said with a shake of my head as if it was no big deal- as if it wasn't killing me inside.
"I'm sorry." My friend said apologetically, knowing that if I wanted to get into full swing detail than I would've, but since I didn't, then I clearly didn't want to talk about it really. "But whatever it was, he'll come around, don't worry."
"Says who?" I asked desperately, already feeling regretful about stomping away from him. I was still pretty upset by the whole thing, but at the same time I knew that the next time I saw him tonight all I would want to do is run into his arms and forget everything that happened in the hallway. Damn. I couldn't even believe this, but I seriously missed him already, and it'd only been what- five minutes? Six maybe? Seven?
"Fate." Gabriella grinned, and I couldn't help but laugh at that one.
"Corny much Gabi?"
"Well, you know it's true."
"Actually, I don't. This night has pretty much sucked so far, and it's all thanks to stupid Allysin Davis. I mean, I know I'm not always the nicest person around, but even my fate can't be this horrible. First, that bitch just has to show up in the same dress as me. Then, she purposely breaks it up when I'm kissing Troy- which rarely ever freaking happens. Next, she's probably going to win stupid queen and then suggest to Troy that they play the In My Pants game."
"She broke up your kiss?"
"Yeah, she like, rammed into me right in the middle of it." I rolled my eyes. "God, I hate her."
"Well...besides all that, haven't you been having fun? I mean this is our Senior Prom, Shar. Don't let one bimbo ruin it all for you. You can't let her get to you."
"I know." I said with a groan, feeling all small and pathetic. "I know I shouldn't let any part of her bother me. But I can't help it. I just..." I rubbed my arms nervously. "I like Troy too much to not care. But I'm sick of fighting with him."
"Then what are you still doing here?" Gabriella asked me. I shot her a confused look.
"Huh?"
"Go get your boy, Shar." She said, gesturing forward with her head, indicating that I turn around. When I did I saw Troy a good twenty or so feet away, with his hands stuffed casually into his suit pockets as he laughed at something one of his friends on the basketball team- Tyler Morris, was saying.
Acting like everything was perfect and normal without a care in the world.
"What's the point? He's clearly doing just fine without me." I huffed, turning back around to face my friend.
"He's not gonna sulk in a corner. You know how guys are, they hide their emotions well."
"Come on," I scoffed, "are you basically saying that he's over there, cracking up with Tyler, but inside really hoping to God that I'd come over and talk to him?"
"Basically." Gabriella nodded reassuringly.
I sighed. "I don't know, Bri..."
"Sharpay, lemme put it this way," she said, "you can either spend the rest of the night unhappy, standing around the snack table, or you can go over there, make up with your future husband, dance a whole lot more, make out in the limo later, and call it a night."
I don't know why but for some reason I could feel the blush creeping it's way up my neck as she said this. "Slow down Gabs, let's not get ahead of ourselves here." I said, trying to cover up my embarrassment with a nervous laugh.
"Well, you gonna go over there or not?" she asked me impatiently. It took me a moment to reply.
"I am.......................................................................................................not."
"Sharpay!" Gabriella scolded.
"Whaaat?" I whined.
"Go." She said, pointing with her index finger over to where Troy was. "Talk. To. Troy."
And then, when I turned back around slowly, just to get another glimpse at him, I couldn't believe how shocked I was to find him already staring straight at me. So suddenly, not quite sure where all the confidence randomly came from, but thinking maybe it had something to do with his captivating puppy dog-ish eyes, I took a deep breathe and walked right up to him, trying my best to tune out all my other surroundings.
"Hi."
He'd appeared a bit worried at first as I'd approached him- probably thinking I was going to come over and scream at him or something. But the second the one-syllabled word left my mouth, his face broke out into a smile.
"Hi."
I wish he wouldn't do that. Trust me when I say I'd been fully prepared to go over there and attempt to force an apology out of him for pretty much acting like he didn't care if you know who hung all over him like she was a stripper and he was her pole. (ICK!) But when he does things as tiny as he just did- completely turn his attention on me and away from Tyler Morris, and give me that cute little smile, even I, Sharpay Evans, just couldn't bring myself to bring up the little argument we'd had just minutes before.
"I'm sorry."
Wait, wait, waitjust one minute here. I said I wasn't going to bring up the argument and just not make him apologize, and here I am- apologizing myself. Now I definitely had not planned on doing that. How did that just randomly slip?!
His eyebrows shot up in a way that made him look just as surprised as I felt. It seemed to take him a moment to remember how to use his words.
"For?"
I shrugged. Great. I put myself in this awkward owning-up position. Now how was I supposed to get myself out?
"Overreacting, I guess."
As you can see, I'm not very good with the whole "taking responsibility for your own poor actions" thing. But I guess all I can do is just try and tell him what I can only assume he wants to hear.
Troy shrugged. "Okay, then I am too, for making you think I didn't care."
I just nodded, wishing we could skip all this pre-make-up-still-awkward shit and skip straight ahead to the part where he pulls me into a warm and reassuring hug and all the awkwardness vanishes just like that.
But after that, we just kind of stared at each other, and I did the only thing I could think of to do in this kind of awkward panicky situation.
I turned and started to walk away.
"Sharpay." His voice was calm as he called after me. I turned back to face him, looked at him, but said nothing.
He reached his hand out to take mine.
"I've been meaning to ask you something all night," he told me, gently running his thumb across the back of my hand, and staring at me with those blue eyes in a way that made me feel like I was the only girl or only other person in general in the room.
I blinked at him. "Yeah?"
And just as he opened his mouth to go on with it as the current song playing was just ending, Mrs. Phelps- the cool, everyone loves her (except for me at the moment), vice principal of the school spoke into the microphone, asking for all the nominees for this years king and queen to please join her on stage.
I glanced back and forth blankly from her to Troy, who was now just giving the VP a look that I couldn't quite read, but said something along the lines of "damnit."
"Um," I spoke quietly, smoothly pulling my hand from his grasp, not really bothering to hid my disappointment. "You better go."
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I stared at Sharpay for a moment after what she'd said.
You better go.
Three simple words that I know where supposed to be telling me to basically walk away from her and pray to grab my chance at the crown. Her words gave me her blessing, but her heart I know didn't. She'd said it, alright, but what she meant was Go, or stay and continue with what you were saying. But if you do go, then I know what's more important to you.
But then she would be wrong. Because what was more important to me- a cheap plastic crown and a title, or Sharpay Evans herself?
The second one would have to be the correct answer. But I knew that if I did what she told me to do- which was to go, then that would leave her thinking otherwise.
"I better." I agreed, nodding my head. "But I'm not."
She scrunched up her face in confusion at me. "You have to, they're gonna keep calling you up otherwise."
"I don't care, I'm already in the middle of something more important."
"And what's that?" she asked me, her expression drawing a blank.
So this was it, it was now or never- asking her what I've been wanting to ask her forever. "Sharpay, will you go out with me? As in, be my girlfriend?"
And the second the words were out of my mouth, I felt someone come up and grab me from behind.
"Dude!"
It was Chad.
"You gotta get up there!"
"One second, Chad." I told my friend through gritted teeth, staring at Sharpay, patiently awaiting her answer. Her lips formed into a smile.
"Troy-"
I started to grin back, but it quickly vanished and any further words of hers were cut short as Chad tugged on my arm.
"No time to wait, go!" My impatient friend practically demanded, pulling me away from my beautiful date and hopefully girlfriend. I glanced up at the stage where the potential kings and queens were just gathering- Ryan, Melique, Allysin, and these other two girls Miranda and Katelyn, before looking quickly back at Sharpay, who was too busy glaring at Chad with her arms crossed to notice. I watched her for as long as I could as I was being shoved by everyone towards the stage, hoping to catch her attention, and when I finally did, it was already too late to run back to her as I was already on stage and had practically everyones' eyes on me, and how would just bailing out randomly look?
"I'm sorry. Tell me later." I mouthed to her from almost halfway across the gym, as she hadn't moved an inch. She just shook her head and shrugged before running her hands up and down her bare arms, obviously upset that we'd been interrupted in the middle of another moment again. And the thing that really sucked was that this time, I couldn't do anything about it.
"Hi, Troy." Allysin greeted me in a sickening flirtatious voice much like she had earlier. I just nodded distractedly, not even looking in her direction. But apparently she'd decided to get over the fact that I'd snapped at her to "shut the fuck up" earlier.
"Alright, do we have everyone up here?" Mrs. Phelps asked, turning around to face us- the eligible royalty bachelors of the evening. The six of us nodded back in response- everyones' nod but mine being an excited one (especially Allysin's.)
"Good," the vice principal said before turning back around and speaking into her microphone. The gym was silent as all the students looked at her, giving her their undevided attention.
"Everyone having fun tonight!?" she asked enthusiastically the full gym of juniors and seniors, who cheered back happily in response. All but one of them. Sharpay, who stayed standing perfectly still. My gaze had been fixated on her this whole time, and her stance nor her blank facial expression hadn't changed a bit.
"Great!" Mrs. Phelps continued. "Well now, as I'm sure you all may have guessed, it's time to announce the winners of this years Prom King, and Prom Queen!"
The gymnasium erupted into a round of excited whoops and claps at that.
"You guys have been voting and voting these last couple of weeks, and now they're all tallied up and the results are in!"
"This isn't flippin' American Idol, Mrs. Phelps, please just tell us so we can move on with our lives." Is what I felt like saying, but kept that thought to myself instead.
"Alright East High, your 2009 Prom Queen..." Phelps said, slowly opening up the envelope in her hand probably to build up the anticipation. I balled my hands into tight fists at my sides and looked at the floor, knowing I wasn't going to be able to bear looking at Sharpay's face if the winner announced was a negative for her.
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"....................................Allysin Davis!"
A large majority of the gym burst into cheerful applause in a congratulatory manner of their new queen, and the rest obviously were either hoping Miranda or Katelyn would've or flat out just didn't care, because they were silent. I swallowed and dared myself to glance back over at Sharpay, who was now chewing her lip and staring straight at me. I just blinked at her.
Shit, is what I could get from her facial expression.
I then looked over at Miranda and Katelyn- the now-princesses, who were smiling small smiles and clapping in a good sportsmanship manner for Allysin.
And finally, I looked at Allysin- who was grinning idiotically and waving out to her kingdom of peasants (AKA her student peers) as she accepted her winnings from Mrs. Phelps who'd received them from a nerdy kid that ran quickly on and off stage to grant them to her.
After stealing the microphone to thank the crowd multiple times, the queen turned back around and shot me a sneaky wink before peeling off to the side of the stage to let Mrs. Phelps announce the king. I didn't react.
"Congratulations Allysin," the vice principal spoke into the microphone. "You deserved it!"
"Yeah right," Melique said, leaning over to me. "I'm thinkin' she either rigged it, threatened, forced, or bribed the whole school into voting for her."
While there was a pretty good chance that was probably true, I know Melique probably only said it because he wanted Miranda to win since she was his girlfriend. So I just laughed back in response.
"And now, for the king," Mrs. Phelps said. I swallowed, nervously anticipating what was to come in just a few seconds. I know that if I didn't win- that wouldn't be bad, what did I have to lose anyway?
"And this was a very, very close one. The closest running for any title East High School has ever had, as only twelve votes separated two of the nominees."
But if I did win, well, let's just say Sharpay probably would only be happy for me had Katelyn or Miranda won, and not Allysin. But since Allysin did win, well......yikes.
"East Highs 2009 Prom King, is..."
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"..............................................................................Ryan Evans!"
Again, a large portion of the kids in the room burst into happy applause, but this time for their brand new king. I looked at Ryan and smiled, nodding at him as he shook mine and Melique's hands- trying to be nice to us losers. I then looked at Sharpay, who was smiling, obviously pleased with the results, and clapping for her brother. Next, my eyes scanned the crowd for Gabriella, as I was wondering how she would react to her boyfriend, based on tradition, having to share a slow dance with Allysin as they took their formal titles as Prom King and Prom Queen.
The brunette was smiling also and clapping, nothing but happy for him, and she was standing next to Taylor, who was doing the same thing standing next to Chad.
After Ryan accepted his title and winnings and thanked the school over the microphone, Mrs. Phelps came back to the mic.
"Who wants to see them dance?"
The applause after that in answer to her question started off slow and hesitant at first, as everyone knew Ryan was already well involved in a steady relationship and that no matter what, him slow dancing with Allysin would be at least a little awkward for everyone and there was no way to avoid that.
But the cheering became more hyped up after a little while when people noticed that Gabriella was still smiling, probably feeling a little weird about it, but trying not to let it get to her and ruin the tradition. Plus, everyone knew Allysin wasn't romantically interested in Ryan anyway, (no, that just had to be me) so all was good.
"Alright! Allysin, Ryan, if you will?" Phelps nodded her head at the royal ones. Allysin appeared reluctant at first but then Ryan smiled politely and took her hand, she smiled back half heartedly and followed him onto the floor as the song White Horse by Taylor Swift began pouring through the speakers and throughout the gymnasium.
-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-
I went and stood closely next to Gabriella as we watched my brother dancing with that nasty thing over there. While I was quite happy for my twin for winning, words couldn't express how bad I felt for him at this moment in time. They weren't even dancing close or anything- she had her scrubby little hands placed lightly on his shoulders as his rested casually on her waist, but still, it had to be horrible.
"They look so awkward." Gabriella commented from next to me, I nodded in agreement.
"Don't worry, it'll be over soon." I said, turning away from the weird pairing clad in their crowns and facing my friend. She giggled and nodded.
"Good," she said. "I can't wait for him to tell me all about the experience later."
"You mean how bad it was?"
"Pretty much!" The latina laughed, and I laughed too, and that's pretty much what we spent the next thirty seconds doing, before I felt a hand placing itself lightly on my elbow.
"Ladies." Troy nodded by way of greeting us.
"Hi." I smiled at the sight of him, unwilling to admit that I was beyond happy that he hadn't won for a very good reason, if you ask me.
"Hey Troy, I see you two made up." Gabriella grinned. "Sorry you didn't win."
"It's all good." Troy said. "Ryan deserves it, I do wonder though, if those twelve votes Mrs. Phelps was talking about were in relation between Melique and Ryan, or me and Ryan."
"You just said Ryan three times in that sentence." Gabriella chuckled. I giggled. Only she would notice that.
"And you just said Ryan one time in yours." Troy responded.
"Wow, I bet Ryan's ear is ringing right now." I said, and both of them gave me WTF looks.
"Don't look at me like that," I snapped playfully. "It's been told that when you're ear rings, someone is either talking good or bad about you, so that's why I said that, because we were talking about Ryan."
"Well, we weren't really talking good or bad about Ryan though, just talking about Ryan in general." Gabriella said.
"But Ryan's ear still could've been ringing." Troy said, glancing at my brother. "Look, Ryan just scratched his ear."
"Okay, can we please stop saying Ryan now?" I asked them with a laugh, and they did too.
"Sure," Gabriella said.
"Yeah, okay. So Gabriella, do you mind if I steal Sharpay away for a minute?" Troy asked her, changing the subject. She looked quickly at me before back at him and a large grin spread out over her face.
"Not at all, go ahead." She said quickly, practically shooing us off.
"Geeze, now I see how fast you're willing to get rid of my Gabi, thanks." I said, pretending to sound hurt. She just wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
"You'll thank me for it later, Shar." She said, walking over towards Ryan who was finally finishing up his dance with (stupid) Allysin Davis over there.
Yep, she's sill stupid. Even though Troy didn't win.
"So," Troy said after a few moments of silence. "I believe you have a question to answer?"
"I do," I nodded. "And Troy...I've spent a month- no, over a month, freaking out and spending countless sleepless nights tossing and turning in anticipation of this very night."
"I know, I went through that too." He said. I nodded and kept going.
"Even before I had a date, I was so stressed out about it. And then when you asked me to be your date, I expected things to be less stressful from there, but everything just became even more stressful for me. Maybe it was just the nerves of tonight getting closer and closer, or maybe it was the nerves of spending more and more time with you. Either way...I was totally out of it..and I..I show up tonight, expecting it to be great and amazing and all these wonderful things I've looked forward to since I was a kid, only to discover my worst enemy looking like my clone, and getting into a breif fight with you in the hall, and I'd wondered at that moment if all that anxiety and time I wasted having panick attacks and bitch fits was really even worth it.
But then you asked me- you know...the question I've still yet to answer, and I decided that yes, it was worth it. Because since I've spent so much time trying to make sure every little last detail about tonight was perfect, minus those few bumps in the road I was talking about earlier, well..now I can finish it off perfect."
Troy smiled.
"So, Troy Bolton," I sighed, mirroring his happy expression. "In answer to your question?" I nodded. "Yes. I will be your girlfriend."
"That's all I needed to hear," he laughed, leaning into me and capturing me in a powerful kiss, and then somehow, before either of us knew it,we ended up outside behind the school making out so harshly my lips hurt and the only sounds I could hear where those of his mouth smacking against mine and our heavy-ish breathing.
"Troy," I managed in between kisses.
"Hm?" he muttered back distractedly, his hands tangled in my golden mane as he leaned back against the brick building- me leaning against his warm body. I knew my fancy complicated hairdo was probably history by this point- we had to of been at this for at least fifteen or twenty minutes now, but I could really care less.
"Is this just going to be some summer fling that we started a little early, or are you serious about this..." I whisper-asked worriedly, slowly opening my eyes. "About... us?"
"Of course I am, Shar." He responded, his hands on either side of my face as he pulled his lips slightly away from mine- only allowing enough space between our faces for him to talk. "I've liked you so long it'd be embarassing to tell you exactly since when, I'm not giving up on this in two and a half months. I can assure you of that."
I bit my swollen bottom lip, still not thoroughly convinced. I've had a summer fling before- way back in the summer between my 8th grade and freshman years, and believe me when I say, they suck. All they do is end in emotional heartbreak and tears and begging for your loved one to stay.............................. at least for the guy I ended up dumping anyway.
But still, I don't want it to be like that for me and Troy.
"No one knows when they're gonna lose interest in someone," I pointed out, my hands on the arms of his that held my face up, forcing me to look him directly in the eye.
"Well, I know it's certainly not going to abruptly end for me anytime soon."
"Do you really mean that, or are you just trying to tell me what I wanna hear?"
"Of course I mean it," he said, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear, sending shivers up my spine. "Why else would I put up with your sarcastic, impatient, stubborn ways for this long?"
"It's only been a month, Bolton." I huffed, clearly offended.
"But I've been hanging out with you for years," he smiled.
"Fine, so you really like me, huh?" I asked, appearing unconvinced.
He grinned that adorable grin I love so much. "I really do."
I pursed my lips, biting back my own pleased grin. "Me too, Bolton."
I kissed him again, signalling that our conversation was over and we could continue on with our previous activity. And you know what- it really does basically suck we're probably going to get separated for college, but as long as what he said was true, then I'm sure we will find some way to make this work for the better.
I am the fabulous Sharpay Evans, after all, and he is the charmer Troy Bolton, and believe me when I say that together, we're capable of anything.
A/N: Holy freakin' SNAP. That was the longest thing meant for a oneshot I've ever written. Seriously, this started off being meant as another oneshot, but then it got way way way WAY too long for just that, haah xD. Can you imagine over 16k words all packed into one page? I couldn't imagine having to read that all at once haha. So I tried to break it down in two. ;P
Thanks to everyone who read this and the first part- One Hour, and I certainly hope you read that before reading this, otherwise some parts may've lost you?
Please review and tell me what you think. And oh! I have to ask this, has anyone seen The Proposal yet? I saw it earlier. It was GREAT! I'm so buying that one when it comes out on dvd. :)
Thanks again!
And once again: Happy late birthday, Abbii! Sorry I couldn't get this up sooner, it took me like 3 weeks is I guess to write? A little over? Bleh.
-Serena/HeSaidSheSaidx