What We Keep Hidden

A High School Musical Fanfiction

by GimmeABeat

Chapter 12: Breaking Free

"Come on, Sharpay. I can explain everything, but you have to promise to listen." Troy paused and waited for her explosion. When none came, he, very cautiously, opened the door, ... just a crack.

Sharpay saw her opportunity and hit the door with all her might. Even though he expected resistance from her, Troy hadn't anticipated a physical attack and was caught completely off guard. The edge of the door caught him on the forehead and knocked him to the floor.

Sharpay quickly stepped over the crumpled teenager and was almost to the stage when she heard his moan of pain. She made the mistake of glancing back at him and knew she was trapped. Troy lay, curled into a fetal position, holding his hand pressed against his head. With one final, forlorn look towards the stage, Sharpay turned around and marched back to Troy.

"Oh for crying out loud, Troy. Quit being such a wimp." She knelt down at his side and gently pulled his hand away from his eyebrow. He rolled onto his back, so she could get a better look at it. "Ewww, that's gotta hurt."

There was a large gash cut straight across his left eyebrow, forming one half of a jagged X, his brow forming the other half. It would probably need stitches.

"Y'think?", he moaned. "Why'd you hit me?"

"Why'd you lock me up and let your girlfriend sing my song?"

They could still hear Gabriella and Ryan singing on stage; they were about half way through the song and "shimmying" their way across the stage. Sharpay knew it wouldn't be long before they started climbing the tinsel wrapped ladder for the finale. She hoped that Montez girl fell off.

"She's not my girlfriend and why'd you come back to help me?"

She stood abruptly, purposely ignoring his question. "There's a first aid kit in my dressing room."

She stepped over him again and stomped over to a tall cabinet against the wall. She returned quickly and none-too-gently scrubbed his cut, ignoring his protests. Then, she slapped a bandaid over it and sat back to survey her work. "That'll do for now. But you ought to have it checked out. That cut might need stitches."

He sat up slowly and mumbled a quiet, "Thanks", to her.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Troy took a deep breath to start the explanation for his irrational behavior. "Please Sharpay, you may not agree with my methods, but you can't ignore my motivations."

She huffed at him and defensively crossed her arms and cocked a hip in his direction. "What motivation?"

"We need to be together. And this is my way of showing how much I want that to happen." He stopped a second to listen to what was happening on the stage, then turned back to Sharpay. "Look, I didn't plan on getting knocked out."

"You weren't knocked out."

Troy sucked in a frustrated breath. "Whatever. Anyway, we're behind schedule. She's going to call us any second now."

"Us?"

"Yes, us. That's what I've wanted all along. I want us to be together in every way, in school, out of school, and in this musical." He reached out and took her hands in his. "So please, Sharpay. Sing with me."

Sharpay swallowed hard and wanted to tell him where to stick it, but she couldn't seem to pull herself away from those crystal blue eyes. Finally, she snapped out of it and asked the obvious question. "Sing what, Troy? We haven't even rehearsed."

"Sharpay, I know you better than you think. You know every song in the play by heart and don't deny it. But hey, I only know Breaking Free and I want to sing it with you."

"But I thought that was your special song with Gabriella."

"Please, Sharpay. There is no Gabriella. I mean, she's just a friend. In fact once she realized what we mean to each other..." He nearly faltered at her glower. "...w-what I want us to mean to each other, she's the one who came up with this idea."

"The brainaic wants me to sing with you?"

"Yeah, everyone does. The whole decathlon team and the basketball team. So, please, Sharpay. Please, let us be together and let it start with this song. Look, I know I screwed up a lot since that summer, but please believe me ... I love you and I love Brandon and I want us, all three of us, to be together."

"Oh God, Troy. I want so much to believe you", Sharpay admitted as her traitorous eyes filled with tears.

"Then, do. Please..."

"What if you hurt me again, Troy? I don't think I could handle it." She paused a second to sniff. "And now it won't just be me, it'll be Brandon who gets hurt too. He loves you so much, Troy. You've come to fill a void in both our lives that I didn't even realize existed." She paused and took a deep breath, knowing that there would be no turning back from this. "Okay ... I'll do it."

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Back on stage, Ryan and Gabriella ended their song to a chorus of applause from the filled auditorium.

Darby leaned over to Lucille to ask, "Who's that girl singing with Ryan?"

"Don't know. Jack?" Lucille passed the question on to him.

"That's Gabriella Montez. She's..." Jack paused, not quite sure how she fit into any of this and finally finished with, "She's ... new."

Ms. Darbus walked up onto the stage and addressed the theater. "Now, that was certainly an unexpected, but pleasant, surprise. Do you see why we love the theater, people? Well done! Ryan and ... Gabriella." She gave them both a well deserved nod and the two teens held hands and bowed to the audience, again.

"Ah, now next we have... well, I have no idea whom we have auditioning. Would it be Troy Bolton and ... Sharpay?"

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Troy pulled her into his arms and then started peppering little kisses all over her face.

"Stop", Sharpay giggled. "You're going to smug my makeup", she chastised in a very unconvincing tone.

Troy stopped and pulled back to study her. "You're beautiful without it."

Sharpay sniffed again. "I don't feel very beautiful right now."

"Hey, Darbus is going to call us any second now, so lick my thumbs." Troy held up both thumbs, pads toward Sharpay.

"What!?", Sharpay reared her diva head and snapped.

"I need to wipe the mascara off your face and it's either going to be with my spit or your own --- your choice."

He made to move one of his hands to his mouth when Sharpay grabbed his hands and quickly licked both thumbs. Troy proceeded to gently wipe the black tear trails off her face, looking into her smoky amber colored eyes when he finished. He cleared his throat before continuing, not wanting to admit the effect her warm tongue had had on his skin.

"You ready, Shar?"

She graced him with a small smile. "Yeah, I'm ready."

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

"Troy? Sharpay?", Darbus called out again into the crowded auditorium.

"Wait, Miss Darbus, wait! We're ready; we can sing", Troy shouted as he dragged Sharpay onto the stage with him.

Darbus looked curiously at Sharpay, searching for any deception. Apparently, she found none.

She took a deep breath and announced solemnly, "Now, that's showbiz."

Kelsi walked, hesitantly, over to Sharpay, obviously worried. Looking up at her with wide, doe-like eyes, she opened her mouth to apologize for what happening back in middle school when she snooped at Sharpay's letter.

Sharpay saw her approach and really wasn't in the mood for another confrontation with the little busy-body. Therefore, before she could say anything, Sharpay interrupted with a sharp, "You really don't want to do that."

Kelsi steeled her resolve and blurted out, "Oh yes, I really do. I need to apologize, Sharpay." Sharpay's eyes widened in shock. "I'm sorry. I should have never opened that letter." There was no need to say which letter; they both remembered vividly.

Six months ago, Sharpay would have told Kelsi where to stick it, but things had changed considerably, both within her and around her. Instead, her demeanor changed instantly and her scowl transformed into a smile as Sharpay accepted Kelsi's olive branch. "Middle school was a long time ago. We've all grown up a lot since then. Just ... go play that piano, okay?"

Kelsi nodded enthusiastically, "Sure, sure. My best ever." The small teenager ran off towards the piano, holding onto the top of her bowler so it didn't fall off.

Troy joined her and tried to ask what that was about, but someone thrust microphones into their hands and the music started. Troy immediately switched into performer-mode.

"We're soarin', flyin' there's not a star in heaven that we can't reach." Troy reached up as if to pluck an actual star from the sky and then reached out and took Sharpay's free hand in his. She looked nervous the entire time Troy was singing and Sharpay Evans never got nervous before a performance. The audience consisted mostly of people from the basketball game and the decathlon and they weren't looking at her kindly.

Even if she was nervous, it didn't show in her voice and Sharpay came in right on queue.

"If we're trying, so we're breaking free."

Troy could feel how sweaty her hand was becoming and he started rubbing tiny circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. They locked their fingers together and faced their audience as Troy sang, "You know the world can see us, in a way that's different than who we are."

Truer words had never been spoken.

"Creating space between us ... 'til we're separate hearts." She stepped away from him and released his hand. Sharpay blinked back the tears that suddenly welled in her eyes. It was like this song had been written just for them.

"But your faith, it gives me strength, strength to believe." They sang directly to each other, never losing the lock between their eyes.

Troy felt invigorated. This was where he'd wanted to be for so long.

He blasted out, "We're breakin' free..."

With a bright smile on her face Sharpay sang out, completely confident, "We're soarin'..."

"Flyin'." Suddenly, he burst out on the next line and sailed around in a circle with his arms held out like the wings of a plane.

A loud childish squeal erupted from the back row of seats and even with the stage lights shining on them, blinding them to the audience, both teens instantly recognized Brandon's voice. Sharpay waggled her fingers out in his direction, a special little wave to her son.

On the back row Brandon squealed again and stood up on his seat to get a better look. Two anguish grandmothers instantly reached for the little boy to steady him. Lucille's and Darby's hands met on Brandon's back and they gave each other a small smile before returning their attention to their children on the stage.

"There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach."

The audience became caught up in the energy of the song and started clapping along. Even the previously scowling cheerleaders seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Troy switched the microphone to his other hand like a pro. "If we're trying..."

"Yeah, we're breaking free."

Sharpay smiled brightly as she watched Troy sing, realizing for the first time how good he really was. He swept away from her and sang directly to the crowd, so at ease, it looked like he'd done this his whole life.

"Oh, we're breakin' free."

"Ohhhh", she sang out the prescribed background sound and realized another first for her. She didn't mind playing second to him. She would have never let Ryan have the better lines, but with Troy... things were different.

"Can you feel it building? Like a wave the ocean just can't control..." And was Troy Bolton actually moon-walking on stage? He pointed over to her, handing over next line.

"Connected by a feeling... in our very souls." Sharpay added a sultry swivel to her hips as she raked a hand down her side, tracing the outline of her figure. This song was a far cry from the genre that she and Ryan usually sang.

"Very souls, oooo." Troy gave himself a quick little hug as if Sharpay were in his arms when he joined back in.

Standing backstage, Ryan and Gabriella watched in wonder.

"Wow, they sing really well together", the dark haired girl asked the pale-skinned boy. "It's hard to believe they've never practiced."

"Yeah, it is. Speaking of which... why did you sing with me, anyway?" In all the excitement, Ryan had forgotten to ask the most obvious question.

"Simple... they needed to sing together, but Troy needed the time to convince Sharpay that it was a good idea. And just take a look", Gabriella indicated to the two teens singing their hearts out on the stage. "It was a very good idea."

"Umm", Ryan shyly tipped his head to the side, "I thought we sounded pretty good, too."

"Really?", Gabriella asked excitedly as she turned away from the action on the stage to face Ryan. "I-I thought we were pretty good. I was really nervous, but you were very professional and confident that it made me confident too." She gave him her sweetest smile.

"I'm glad I could help and ummm, I really like your dress." And then, thinking that was a forward statement to make, amended his compliment. "I-I mean, red's a great color on you."

She bashfully lifted one shoulder in a shrug and replied quietly, "Thank, Ryan."

Back in front of the crowd, Troy and Sharpay danced over to center stage, towards each other, and slowly raised their hands into the air, ending with them pointing up to the stars.
"Rising 'til it lifts us up, so every one can seeeeee!"

Troy gave his arm a quick pump in the air and winked to his special fan sitting in the back row.

"We're breakin' free..."

Troy circled around Sharpay as she twirled around singing only to him. "We're soarin'..."

And again Troy repeated his airplane imitation. "Flyin'"

"There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach"

Troy's voice was never stronger. "If we're trying..."

And Sharpay joined in with a smile. "Yeah, we're breaking free."

The audience was energizing them as well and Sharpay and Troy twisted around in circles and danced and skipped and sang to each other joyfully.

"Ohhhh runnin'" She had never felt this alive during a song before.

"Climbin'... To get to that place..." He reached for her hand and noticed it was warm, but not sweaty like before.

They joined together again, pulling the vitality from their fellow students. "To be all that we can be."

Troy's happiness was obvious to everyone, especially his teammates who were thrilled and shocked at how fantastic his performance was. "Now's the time."

Jack leaned over to Lucille and had to shout over the roar of the crowd. "Did you know he was this good?"

Darby bent her head forward to answer, even though the question wasn't addressed to her. "No and I've never seen Sharpay sing with such vigor and energy before, either. They sound good together."

Jack looked at her in surprise, especially when she beamed at him with such an honest smile on her face. Then, Darby surprised him even more by standing and picking Brandon up so he could have a better view. She was even swaying along to the music.

Back on the stage, the pair was still going strong and the house was rockin'.

Sharpay sang out with all her heart to a student body that sometimes seemed to resent her and now, she was bringing them pleasure with this song.

"This is true ... This is fate ... And together..."

The audience was standing now, clapping and swaying to the song.

Troy joined in, "We see it comin'"

Troy reached out an open hand to her with a yearning in his eyes. "More than you; more than me"

She answered him in words that must have been written for them. "Not a want, but a need"

Together they sang out strong. "Both of us breakin' free!" The large three-dimensional moon that Troy painted last week lowered slowly onto the stage, setting the perfect backdrop for their performance.

Troy took Sharpay's hand and twirled her like a ballerina and she remembered how she'd really hated those dance classes as a child. All she really wanted to do was play with her two best friends. Now she was grateful for the grace it gave her.

"Soarin'", Sharpay sang as she spun around the stage.

"Flyin'", Troy answered back.

"There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach"

The entire theater continued to rock along with the singers like they were at a concert. Even Ms. Darbus clapped along and did a little gig.

When Grandmother put him down and began to clap in earnest, Brandon saw his opportunity. With everyone on their feet, clapping and swaying to the music, he had no trouble sneaking away from his grandparents and running down the aisle toward the stage.

Sharpay skipped around in a circle like when she and Brandon played with Boi in the backyard.

"We're runn..." However, before she could finish the word, she was bumped by a small body plowing into the back of her legs. Instantly, she realized what, or rather, who it was, she turned around and smiled down at her son. Troy saw the collision and ran over to scoop Brandon up in the air, easily placing him on his shoulders without losing his spot in the song.

"Ohhhh, climbin'" He wiggled Brandon's legs back and forth as if he was climbing a mountain and Brandon squealed and clutched onto Troy's hair to keep from falling off.

Then, Sharpay joined them as she reached up to put a steading hand on Brandon's bottom.

"To get to the place ... To be all that we can be ... Now's the time ..."

Troy looked over at Sharpay and took her hand in his and sang directly to her, "Now's the time"

Sharpay answered him. "So we're breaking free"

Troy echoed, his eyes never leaving hers. "Ohhh, we're breaking free..."

To their surprise and delight, Brandon sang out from atop his father's shoulders, "Ohhhh", right on cue, except it was his mother's line, not his.

The crowd laughed along with the family on stage.

They faced back to their fellow classmates and sang together as the music slowed.

"You know the world can see us ... In a way that's different than who we are."

The packed theater erupted with applause and cheering that rivaled any high school sporting event. Troy placed Brandon back on the ground and he took one of his small hands while Sharpay held the other as they faced the crowd and bowed. Then, they motioned over to Kelsi, their composer and pianist, and she also took a bow.

Troy leaned over and gently kissed Sharpay on the cheek while Brandon joined in on the cheering. Neither of them realized when Brandon slipped the microphone out of Troy's hand.

"That's my mommy and daddy!", Brandon proudly announced to the teeming auditorium which turned instantly mute.

Sharpay's eyes grew wide and she looked worriedly to Troy, but he just smiled widely and picked up Brandon in his arms as he faced the throng. "That's right, Brandon", he said into the toddler's microphone, "I'm very proud to say that I'm your dad." There were quiet murmurs in the theater, but surprisingly, no one seemed shocked at the news, they were just interested to see Troy's reaction.

"What do you say ... Mom?", Troy asked, turning to Sharpay.

Sharpay smiled before replied, "I think you have a basketball game to win." She took Brandon from him and pushed Troy toward the auditorium door.

TBC