Disclaimer; I made an agreement with Disney Channel. They told me I could have High School Musical for free. And right after that I met Santa, and started blowing bobbles out of my ears. ;) I don't own the songs "Collide" and "Someday We'll Know" either.
Her Heartbeat
Chapter 4.
--
Laugh when nothing's funny, Dance when there's no music,
Sing like you've never sung before, Love till it hurts,
Cry when you're sad, Smile when you're happy,
And always live each day like its your LAST
--
Monday again.
The day for their audition.
Sharpay was sitting at her chair in homeroom, shooting little glances at Troy, who had the seat next to her. He was looking good today. She was glad that he and Gabriella had broken up, because that meant no competition for her and Ryan. No-one else dared to challenge them, and she knew that if someone did do it, they'd win hands down.
Mrs. Darbus was going on and on about the auditions happening free period. Sharpay couldn't wait either, she was looking forward to being on stage again. Her and Ryan had rehearsed two times yesterday. He wouldn't let her do more, and she was glad, because she didn't feel her best.
It had taken it all out in her yesterday when they'd rehearsed from 10 – 11am, and she had ended up going to bed two hours later, at 1. Becca and Matt had found it weird, but she just told them she had stayed up late the night before. She didn't want them to find out, because they'd forbid her to do it.
When the bell finally rang, ending homeroom, she and Ryan made their way to the auditorium immediately. They went into their dressing room, and got ready. They did as they always did; dressed up in matching clothes, wanting to make a good impression. They would be singing a song, and then dance to some mixed music, Kelsi had got thrown together.
When the ball rang again, signalling the start of free period, Sharpay and Ryan found their seats in the hall, ready to watch the other tryouts. Sharpay had her bag with her, hugging it close to her body. She had her oxygen cylinder with her, just in case. It was one of those things she had to drag around with her when she left home. Normally she had it in her locker, because she knew that if she suddenly couldn't breathe, Ryan could always run and get it for her, but now she wanted to have it close to her. Just in case.
Ryan noticed the red bag, and he knew what was in it. He padded it and looked at her, questions in his blue eyes; "What is that?"
"You know it."
"Yeah, but what is it doing here?" he asked, crooking an eyebrow, "You're not feeling bad are you?"
"No," Sharpay shot him a stiff smile, "It's just in case."
He nodded, but still looked worried. Sharpay didn't question it. He was always like that, and she found it kinda cute. He was just worried about her, how could she be annoyed by that?
They turned around as the doors burst open, and Mrs. Darbus, followed by everyone else, came into the auditorium. Sharpay felt herself smile at Troy. He was doing a single audition, she knew that. And there were of course Gabriella and Taylor. They would also be auditioning.
Troy shot himself into the seat next to Sharpay, "Hi Shar."
"Hey Troy…" Sharpay smiled, happy that he choose exactly that seat when there were 100's of others to sit in, "Nervous?"
"Nope, you?"
"Nah…"
"You're gonna get it." Troy smiled, "You and Ryan are the only ones auditioning for leads. It's perfect."
Sharpay giggled, "Yeah, well… We are brilliant."
"I know!" Troy smiled.
Just then, Mrs. Darbus entered the stage, Kelsi right behind her:
"Everyone!" she proclaimed, her voice running through the halls with no problem of being heard, "This is a house of art. We all know who is gonna paint the picture! It's you, my shining stars! First we will have the single auditions, accompanied by Kelsi Nielson on the piano."
Kelsi did a little nod, and took a seat by the piano.
Mrs. Darbus stepped down from the stage, and looked at her paper, "Hmm, should we start with our male lead from last time? Troy Bolton!?"
Troy stood up and found a spot on the scene where he felt comfortable. "I'll be singing ´Collide´"
Kelsi pressed the first keys, and Sharpay felt her eyes close. It would be okay for her to take a little nap. Just a little one, it wouldn't hurt… She would feel much better, and ready when she had rested her body for awhile…
--
"Sharpay!?"
She heard someone call her name… Someone wanted her. She felt a soft pair of hands on her arms, shaking her. Her heart started to pound.
"Sharpay!?"
Faster… faster…
"Sharpay!?"
She woke up, and looked into two pair of blue eyes. She recognized them as Ryan and Troy's.
"What?" she snapped.
"It's our turn." Ryan whispered, sending a look towards Gabriella and Taylor, who were giggling like crazy after seeing Sharpay asleep.
"Oh…" she stood up and safely put her red bag in her seat. She was awhere of the fact that she was blushing, but the excitement of it being their turn, helped her ignore it.
When they stepped onto the stage, Ryan grabbed her hand, and brought his mouth to her ear; "Are you ok, Shar? Are you feeling bad? We don't have to do this?"
"I'm okay, Ry!" Sharpay hissed. She stepped forward and took a microphone. She knew that Ryan knew she wasn't feeling well, but she was determined to go through with this. She wanted the God damn leads. Even though, she did feel like she was about to faint. But she was sure that once she got into the singing, she would completely forget about it…
"We'll be singing ´Someday We'll Know´" she told them, smiling at Ryan.
He took his mic too, still shooting her knowing glances, but she brushed them off.
Kelsi started playing and Sharpay got ready for herself to begin;
"Ninety Miles outside Chicago
Can't stop driving
I don't know why
So many questions
Need an answer
Two years later
He's still on my mind"
Ryan started singing, still watching his sister closely;
"Whatever happened to Amelia Earhart?
Who hold the stars up in the sky?
Is true love just once in a lifetime?"
They joined in together…
"Did the captain of the Titanic cry?
Someday we'll know
If love can move a mountain...
Someday we'll know
Why the sky is blue...
Someday we'll know
Why I wasn't meant for you..."
Sharpay danced around the scene, having a really good time. She loved this song, and her and Ryan sang it really good together, they loved it. She danced around Ryan, getting ready for her part;
"Does anybody know the way to Atlantis?"
Ryan took the microphone to his mouth, finally thinking that it was going to be ok, and nothing would happen, when Sharpay suddenly stopped, her face white.
Kelsi stopped playing as she realized that Ryan hadn't joined in at his que, and looked at the scene, where Sharpay was standing, a hand on her heart. Ryan was looking at her, a scared look in his eyes.
"Shar?" he whispered, slowly approaching her, "Sharpay…? Are you okay?"
She hadn't moved in a long time, but then she started breathing rapidly. Short breaths, nowhere near enough to fill her lungs and get oxygen to her brain.
"I--- I cant… breathe…" she managed to say, between the short, hard breaths she was taking.
Ryan quickly approached her, and moved her hand away from her chest. He placed his own one there, counting the beats, just as doctor Gellar had taught him. There were way too many. "Holy shit, Sharpay!" he yelled, "How can you breathe?"
"I can't!" she said, closing her eyes. She grabbed a hold on Ryan's hand, slowly sitting down on the stage.
"What should I do?" Ryan exclaimed.
Sharpay shot him a mad look, and pointed at her seat. Ryan quickly remembered that she'd brought her oxygen cylinder.
"Troy!" he yelled, "Give me that red bag!" he paused, "NOW!"
Troy shot out of his seat, grabbed the red bag and hurried up to them. He handed Ryan the bag, and Ryan quickly opened it, hoping to remember everything correctly. He looked at the pieces he had to throw together, and got a confused look in his eyes. He took out the cylinder, and tried attaching the piece which went into her mouth. It didn't go very well.
Sharpay slapped his hands away, and like a pro, she attached the pieces to each other, and took it into her mouth. Ryan turned it on.
She could feel her muscles relax as soon as she got oxygen. She took a deep breath and leaned back on the stage, lying down completely. She closed her eyes, well awhere that everyone were looking at her. It was the first time she'd gotten this far at school. She had never needed the oxygen cylinder at school. Maybe she should have stayed home. Maybe…
She sat up again, when she felt her heartbeat return to normal (or normal for her). She took one deep breath and turned the cylinder off. She stood up and looked at Ryan, a guilty look in her eyes.
He was just standing there beside Troy, his arms crossed in front of his chest; "What just happened there?"
Sharpay bit her lip, not wanting to have this conversation in front of everyone. She knew that Ryan wouldn't budge, though, "I couldn't breathe."
"I could see that, Sharpay!" Ryan yelled, "Your heart was beating like crazy! What did doctor Gellar tell you? Did he really say it was okay for you to audition? Think about it, this wasn't even the dance part, you were only singing. What couldn't have happened if you'd been dancing? God, I don't even want to know! I've already lost my parents, I wont lose my sister too! What did he say, Sharpay? Tell me!?"
She looked at him, tears in her eyes, "Ok, ok, I got it, Ry!" she yelled, "He told me I couldn't do it, okay? He said that if I did do it, he couldn't take responsibility for my actions. Apparently it could have ended much worse than this!"
"Why didn't you tell me!?"
"Because I wanted to do the audition, okay?" Sharpay yelled, "I wanted us to do it together like always, and I thought we might have a chance to get the leads again! And I knew how much you wanted this, Ry, and I wanted it too. I wouldn't be the cause of us not doing it. I thought I'd be fine!"
"Well, you proved yourself wrong!" Ryan yelled, "Don't you understand it, Shar? This is not something to kid about! You can seriously hurt yourself! Why are you so damn stubborn?"
"Because that's me!" Sharpay yelled, throwing her arms into the air, "That's who I am? And look! Nothing bad happened! I'm still here, ain't I? I'm still standing!"
"Then why do you look like your heart is beating like crazy?" Ryan asked.
"Because it is!" Sharpay shrieked, placing a hand on her chest again, trying to calm down, "Look, Ry, fighting with you is doing me no good. I should go home and lie down."
"You think!?" Ryan yelled, "If you cant even yell without feeling bad, then how did you expect to dance and sing?"
"I didn't know that I couldn't!" Sharpay begun again, starting to argue back. She was on fire, and she wanted to get the last word. She wanted to tell him off.
Ryan looked at her, "Oh really?"
Sharpay was about to say something, when she stumbled backwards and collapsed.
"Holy shit!" Ryan exclaimed, running towards her, Troy right behind him.
"What is going on?" Troy asked, a scared look in his eyes.
"I don't have time to explain now, Troy." Ryan said, "We need to get her to the hospital right now. Doctor Gellar will take care of her. Pick her up, I'll drive!"
He ran down the stage, and Troy quickly picked Sharpay up, into his arms, and followed right in suit.
Back was a filled auditorium, not understanding what had happened.
Yeah, I know this chapter is short too, but I want to leave it there, it feels right, doesn't it? ;p Hmm, maybe you find the heart beating/yelling/singing thingy a little weird, but I'm not very good at explaining what happens when you suddenly can't breathe. It's very complicated, and sometimes I cant even explain it in Danish, so I tried doing it the best I could. And believe me, fixing an oxygen cylinder together under pressure is pretty hard too, it takes a lot of finger work, because they are nowhere near as big as the real ones. Oh, I should just stop rambling now, I don't even know if this interests you at all? Please leave me a review, then. Please? Tootles, Stessa.