Hmm. Long chapter. Actually, I think this is supposed to be a breakdown of some sort in thought and writing and stuff. Maybe I'm trying too hard to make this sound intelligent. Anyway.

Sorry about the delays, this chapter has been worked over at least ten times...

Strange, Rachel, because both your questions are answered in this chapter. Hmm. Unfortunately, these lyrics don't quite fit the scene(s), but I wanted a fluff ending. So.

Disclaimer: HA

From hundreds of miles, yeah, you cry like a baby
You plead with me, shout, scream, tell me I'm staying
I know I know I know, I'm still your love
Back from the last place that I wanted to fake you
Laugh with me, shout, scream now tell me you're staying
I know I know I know, you're still my love

They're clawing desperately at each other, too angry to even speak, but not fighting. Fighting would most definitely not involve what they're doing now; only a few thin layers of clothing are keeping them from desecrating public property. But they can't be seen, can't possibly be seen, so after a few seconds, Sharpay reluctantly peels her face off Chad's and exhales in one, shaky breath.

"We have to stop," she whispers against him, and she almost cries from the sentimental, beautiful crap that she feels.

"This is wrong," he replies. "This is so wrong."

He doesn't say it, but her forehead beats against his chest in a sort of Morse admission. "Taylor."

"Yeah." She doesn't bother telling him that he should break up with her, because he won't, and she doesn't really want him to, either. Taylor makes them at least a little calm, a little less volatile. If they were free to be together...

The same as I love you, you'll always love me too
This love isn't good unless it's me and you

Ugh. Sentimental and beautiful crap, and it has taken over her mind now. She steps back definitely and carefully wipes the lipstick from the corner of his mouth in the sickeningly couple way that almost kills her.

She drags him out of the photo booth, makes sure to grab the roll, and stuffs it in the nearest trash bin. "I say earrings," she tells him discreetly, not touching him. Even if she has made him drive all the way out to the downtown mall, she won't acknowledge him so blatantly.

"No, no earrings."

"Why not?"

"I got her earrings for her birthday, and Valentine's Day, and last Christmas, and her birthday before that," he sighs. "She's picking up on the pattern."

"Well then." They walk in silence past an American Eagle. "Give me a second in here," Sharpay says quietly, almost unable to be heard, pointing to the tiny store tucked next to the offending mall staple. "Hathaway's has some pretty good stuff. I know the owner."

She can feel Chad's stare. "You're being quiet."

"Don't milk it, Danforth."

Box after box and you're still by my side
The weather is changing and breaking my stride
I know I know I know, it's just this day
House after house, just like car after car
You see club after club and it all seems so far
I know I know I know what else are we here for

"Sharpay!" A voice yells from the recesses of the shop, and she pushes out a hand to keep him from following her.

"Stay out," she commands, her slight anger at him slipping back.

She knows she's going to end up buying it for him for Taylor, and it kills her. She knows he doesn't want her to, and she knows that he wouldn't dream of using her for the money, but she still feels...horrid. (Horrid. A word used by delicate women who fainted at the idea of blood and freshened up throughout the day with talcum powder and changed for dinner. What is it doing in her mind?)

The same as I love you, you'll always love me too
This love isn't good unless it's me and you

"Jordan."

And in a few sentences, she explains, without too many details, why she is in a jewelry store buying something for...not her.

"If you ask me," Jordan says, running a hand through her obviously dyed red hair.

"I didn't," Sharpay snaps, her fingers tripping lightly over several rings. "Jordan, did you make this one yourself?" She holds up a light silver one with a simple love knot in it.

"What? Yes, of course. Anyway, if you ask me—"

"I didn't. Don't think he should give her a ring, though. Might seem too forward, and God knows we don't need that."

"There's some perfectly nice bracelets on the rack, you don't have to manhandle—I mean touch—everything," Jordan says reproachfully. "Look, Sharpay, all I'm saying is, if you want my opinion—"

"I don't," she says. "I like this one." She picks up a gold necklace and holds it up to the light. "How many karats?"

"14, I always work with 14 on necklaces."

"Huh. And this emerald in the middle, paste or real?"

"Well, not paste but..."

"And stop trying to tell me what you think."

Stick your hands inside of my pockets
Keep them warm while I'm still here
Tell them this love hasn't changed me, hasn't changed me at all

It's sick, the look on Taylor's face when he presents her with the necklace. Absolutely sick, and not because it's pure happiness, but because it makes Sharpay want to scream.

It's because she actually wants that necklace for herself (Well, not really, the coloring would clash horribly), and she can't even imagine how that would turn out.

It's because she is sick of trying to get around Ryan and sneaking back through the downstairs window and explaining why she looks so damn exhausted in the morning.

It's because in the back of her mind, when they're together and she's just dying to say something, anything, to keep them from going the same way they always do, she wants to tell him to just break up with Taylor if he's still that unhappy. And then the rush of the secret comes, and she doesn't care for a second.

It's because...really, it's all because...it's all because when...and...it's really all because she worries that one day it will all be gone, and she doesn't want that day to come. Now she can't even think a coherent sentence.

And it's because when she first realizes this, watching Taylor open her Christmas present picked out by her boyfriend's dirty mistress, she doesn't want to end it now so that they won't have to end it later.

Last night I was writing about you
I know my screaming and shouting won't keep you
I know I know I know, you're still my love
I wake up to the sound of you working
You're one room right over, stressing and loving me
I know I know I know, be still my love

"You're quiet today," he says, suddenly, when they're at the mall again. "You've been quiet lately. Ice Princess lost her edge?"

"Shut up."

"Oo, I see she still has her touch."

She wants to yell at him. She wants to scream that whatever he thinks might work on all the other girls in the school is utter crap. That he's not quite as charming as he thinks he is. That he really should cut all his hair off and see if it will grow back into a decent size. That seriously, if they wanted to continue this any further, he needs to at least try for some civility.

But then she'd be lying.

The same as I love you, you'll always love me too
This love isn't good unless it's me and you

And so they make their way to the food court, almost sadly, where he buys her a giant pack of fries that she refuses and he eats and she steals about half of.

And it's so ridiculously stupid that she's still here.

Because one day it will be gone, and then they can't do anything about it anymore.

One day Taylor will do something, anything, really, and then he's going to have to end it.

And she'll be relieved, really. She will be, because then she won't have to put up with his insufferable insensitivity. She will. Be. Happy. Because she sure as Hell isn't now.

And it strikes her that she really isn't happy, but she doesn't want to get out of it.

Stick your hands inside of my pockets
Keep them warm while I'm still here
Tell them this love hasn't changed me, hasn't changed me at all

So she's sitting up late. Again. In his room. Wondering, again, if he's thinking about her. Like an utter sap. Wondering why she lets herself go on, when she's clearly better off without him. Wondering when the endings are coming, if there are multiple endings, and how she will exact her revenge if more than one epilogue is in there.

Wondering how the Hell she snagged lead role this year with all the angst in her brain.

(Angst. Nice teenage word, though not even Kelsi would dream of using it in conversation)

Wondering how the Hell she's going to explain why she's still here when he wakes up in a few minutes; he's muttering about a gay octopus again.

Stick your heart inside of my chest
Keep it warm here while we rest
Tell them this love hasn't changed me, hasn't changed me at all

His eyes ease open, and he blinks several times, allowing his night vision to kick in before his mind registers.

"You're still here." And he's not being obnoxious or arrogant or stupid. He's just stating a fact.

"Yeah. Chad?" She makes sure that his entire focus is on her, completely, totally on her, and she whispers, so quietly he can barely make out the words on her lips.

"I love you." And she sits back, gauging his reaction, seeing if he'll mention Taylor, because if he does, it's gone. It's gone and done and over and she'll go home and most certainly not cry.

"Well," he says. "I...I love you, too."

"So."

"So."

"That's that."

The same as I love you, you'll always love me too
This love isn't good unless it's me and you

Yep. THEY R IN LURVE. Thought I'd bring in an outsider's perspective (well...attempt to, at least) about this whole thing, and also involve some sort of transition. Between the beginning, which, I guess by the holidays mentioned in this chapter, would place this relationship at beginning...sometime the first semester of senior year. And anyway, without the transition, I can't bring an end.

"I Know I Know I Know" by Tegan and Sara.

One more chapter, and the resaon I fluffed up this chapter is because...you'll see.

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