two.
dances
Sharpay sighed, sitting in her room alone on prom night. She wasn't going to bother going to go to prom. Why should she? Troy wasn't going. He was off to win back the heart of his "precious Gabriella". And even if he was going, he'd never dance with Sharpay. Ever since the summer at Lava Springs, he's basically been ignoring her.
And it's not just because of Troy. Nobody had asked her to prom, because ever senior guy had a date. Chad had Taylor, Jason had Martha, Zeke was even going with TIARA! Zeke was supposed to obsess over her, not Tiara! Maybe Sharpay should have taken Zeke one of the 724 times he asked her to prom. Because now, Sharpay Evans had no one.
There was a light knock on her door before it slowly creaked open. Ryan stuck his head in to see his sister. "Shar?"
Sharpay looked up from the bean-bag chair she had been sitting in, surprised to see Ryan there. She quickly grabbed a few of the tissues from the Kleenex box that was next to her and whipped away her tears.
"What is it, Ryan?" she asked, her voice slightly nasally from crying. Ryan opened the door more and walked in, all ready for the dance.
He had on a beige tux, with a white rose in the, and a black bowler hat on top of his head. His shoes were shinning and his tie was perfectly adjusted. He was all ready to pick up Kelsi.
"Shar, why aren't you ready? The limo will be here any second to take us to prom." Ryan stated, looking Sharpay over.
She was wearing her favorite Elmo pajama pants and a white T-shirt with the Lava Springs logo on it. She obviously hadn't even bothered to straighten her hair, for it was left wavy to cascade down her back. Her cheeks were rosy red, making the rest of her skin look slightly pale.
"Because I'm not going to prom, Ry." Sharpay stated, trying to contain her composure.
"Sharpay Evans? Not go to senior prom? Yeah right." Ryan snorted, not believing his twin.
"I'm not joking, Ryan." Sharpay said seriously, her voice dangerously low. Ryan took a good look at his twin sister. Then his expression softened.
"Shar? What's the matter? Why aren't you going?" he asked, now concerned for the younger twin.
Sharpay bit her lip, for fear of letting out a whimper. "Because no one asked me. Who would ask an Ice Queen like me, anyway?"
"Sharpay-" Ryan said, about to give the "you're much better than them" speech.
"No, Ryan." Sharpay cut her brother off. "They're right! Who likes a greedy, selfish Ice Queen? What have I ever done to deserve something like a date to my senior prom? Nothing. I deserve this, Ryan. And I'm not going into that gym unless an amazing guy is there with me as my date. I deserve this."
"Sharpay-"
"Ryan, nothing you say is going to make me go. Don't waste your time." Sharpay said coldly, standing up from her chair and walking over to her bed. She just stood in front of her bed, arms crossed over her chest, her back facing her brother.
Ryan clenched his jaw. Sharpay was his twin sister; he knew when she was lying to him, and to herself. Sharpay had been talking about senior prom since the second grade. There was no way Ryan was going to let his sister miss prom.
"Fine. Mom and Dad are leaving in ten to go to the airport to go to India. Don't bother keeping the lights on-I'll be out late. See you later, I guess." Sharpay made no indication of acknowledgement, so Ryan just walked out of the room and closed her door. The moment he shut it, he pulled out his cell phone. He scrolled through a lot of numbers before finding the one he needed. After waiting a few moments, the person picked up on the other line.
"Hello?"
"I need your help."
--
The moment Ryan shut her door, Sharpay jumped onto her bed and started to cry. Man, you'd never think one girl could house so many tears. And yet she had been able to let them freely fall for the past few hours. Most of her peers would think that the Ice Queen didn't cry; if she tried, her icy cold exterior froze them in a flash.
Sharpay wasn't even sure why she was crying now. Was it because she was missing her own prom? Was it because she didn't have a date, and would have had to have gone alone, or as a third wheel with Ryan and Kelsi? Was it because she had turned Zeke down so many times, and when she actually would accept, Zeke didn't want to accept her? Was it because Troy would always choose Gabriella over her time after time, and it was finally getting to her? Was it all of these things, or was it something completely different? That was only for Sharpay's tears to know, and for her to figure out.
Sharpay, who for hours had been laying face don't on her bed, rolled over so that she was staring at her plain white ceiling. Though it ached her stiff body, she slowly moved her hand from her forehead, down to her chest, to her left shoulder, and then to her right shoulder.
"Dear Lord, please, please, tell me why I suffer? Tell me why I can't be free of burden? And if I must suffer, why don't I have a shoulder to cry on?"
With each word she spoke, a new tear would roll down her rosy cheeks. This was one of the hardest things for her to do. Her family was never very religious; her parents never had the time. Sharpay wasn't so religious, but she did believe in God, and would talk to him from time to time. But time to time couldn't describe her talks anymore. Sharpay spoke that same phrase every night. Everyday, something would happen: Troy gave a Gabriella a necklace; Kelsi, Troy, and Ryan all had a shot at her Julliard scholarship; or Chad would purposefully trip her in the hall and call her the Ice Queen with a snicker. No matter what, Sharpay would get hurt. And she would ask God every night for relief. And everyday, she never got it.
--
Almost two more hours had past, and Sharpay was still cooped up in her house. She was so depressed, she hadn't even left her room. Well, technically, she had left her room. How she was standing on her balcony, leaning on the metal railing. Her room was on the fourth floor of her house, so she was high enough to see the tops of all of the homes and buildings in her neighborhood. She could see Troy's house down the block, she could see East High's beautiful garden on the roof, and she could see the playground where she had spent most of her childhood.
"Hey!" a voice whisper-yelled. Sharpay jumped, startled to her a voice that wasn't her own. Her heart started to beat faster, and reflexes made her put her hand over it. She looked down to her backyard, where she thought she heard the voice. And indeed, someone was standing there.
"Jimmie?"
Yes, Jimmie "Rocketman" Zara was standing in her backyard, straining his neck to look up to where Sharpay stood. He was dressed in a black tuxedo, and had a gorgeous yellow flower in a plastic box in his hands.
"Jimmie, what on earth are you doing here?" Sharpay asked.
"I can ask you the same thing. Shouldn't you be at prom?" he asked with a coy smile.
"Due to recent activities, defiantly no." Sharpay said, trying to whip away all traces of earlier crying.
"Why not?" Jimmie asked curiously, leaning against the huge oak tree that stood close to the Evans' house.
"Is that really any of your business?"
Jimmie smiled. "If you let it."
Sharpay hesitated a moment. Why should she tell Jimmie? He was just some gross sophomore who was trying to be the next Troy Bolton. "Nobody asked me to prom."
"No one?"
"Well, Zeke asked me many, many, many times, but I always said no."
"Why? He must really like you."
"He does. But…I guess I was waiting for someone better; the right guy, you know?" Sharpay confessed, "But no one else asked me. And by the time I figured to just take Zeke, he was already going with Tiara."
"Do you not like Tiara?" Jimmie asked after hearing the bitterness Sharpay spoke her personal assistant's name with.
"I don't trust her. I feel like she's trying to take my place. Like, when I graduate and leave, she'll try to be just like me."
"Well, many people idolize you. I mean, you're Sharpay Evans." Jimmie smirked. Sharpay tried to give a smile, but it didn't work. "You know, everyone in the sophomore class thought you'd be prom queen. But we'll never know if you don't go."
"I don't think I can anymore. It's already ten-thirty, and I don't have a dress, or a date, or anything like that."
"You don't need a date or a dress to be the snazziest one there, Evans."
"Well you look like you could walk into prom. Why are you dressed like that anyway?" Sharpay asked.
Jimmie didn't answer. He just started to climb up the tree. Sharpay watched at how he quickly climbed up, grabbing all of the right branches, and still not messing up his tux. When he got high enough, he put one leg over the metal railing, and then the other, until he was fully standing face to face with Sharpay.
Sharpay was amazed. She had never really…looked at Jimmie before. He was very tall for fifteen-almost as tall as Troy. And his normally messy brown hair was combed and pushed out of his eyes. He almost looked…cute? No, cute didn't cover it. More like…handsome.
Sharpay smirked. "That was a very Troy Bolton thing to do. But then again, you are probably going to be the next basketball king next year."
"Hey, I'm not trying to be like Troy…well, at least not right this second. What makes you think I am?"
"Showing up at my house in a tux, not caring what I'm wearing, somehow getting me to confess what I'm feeling, climbing up a tree, trying to sweep me off my feet? That's got Troy Bolton written all over it."
Jimmie looked at Sharpay seriously. "What is this thing between you and Troy?"
"It's…a long story."
"I've got all night."
"Well, I guess it isn't that long. We've known each other our whole lives-he lives just down the block from here-and I had been crushing on him since preschool. I'd do whatever I could and whatever I felt I had to to get him to like me back. But he never wanted me. And somehow, even though he never returned them, my feelings for him got so much stronger. I fell in love with him. And at one point, last summer at my country club, I actually thought I had him…I actually thought he was mine. But Gabriella came into the picture, as always. And again, Troy chose her over me. And it always hurt, but that time hit me the hardest. It was then I realized that I was never going to get Troy. We'd never be like Ken and Barbie living in our dream house. I've lost all feeling and respect for him, now. Why should I still love the boy who can kill my heart?"
Jimmie was quiet for a while. He just watched as the beautiful older blond girl started to get teary-eyed as she went on about his idol.
"Troy really doesn't know what he's missing out on. I mean, missing taking you to prom just to be off somewhere with Gabriella Montez? That's one of the stupidest decisions a guy could make."
Sharpay looked up at the younger boy curiously. "Why are you here? Why are you being so nice to me, Jimmie?"
Jimmie looked down, and reached over to pull Sharpay's hand towards him. He took the corsage out of its plastic box and slipped it onto her small wrist.
"Look, by the time I get my senior prom, you'll already be twenty and on Broadway. So, I just wanted to have the prom date I've always wanted. And you shouldn't miss your prom."
"But I told you already. It's late and I don't have a dress and-"
"I think you look beautiful." Jimmie blurted out. His cheeks turned red when he saw Sharpay blush madly.
"Really?" Sharpay asked, tilting her head down so that Jimmie didn't see her tiny excited smile.
"Well, yeah. You always look beautiful, but like, naturally. It doesn't take anything for you to look beautiful."
Sharpay looked up at Jimmie. "That was really sweet. I didn't know you could be such a sweet guy."
"Most people don't take the time."
"Well, they should. You're defiantly worth it."
"Did Sharpay Evans just compliment me, a lowly sophomore?" Jimmie asked with fake shock. Sharpay giggled.
"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't." Jimmie smiled at how he was cheering her up.
"So I guess I can't get you to go to prom, huh?" he asked.
"Guess you can't." Sharpay sighed.
"Hey, don't be sad. Just cause you aren't at your prom, doesn't mean you can't have your dance."
"What do you mean?" Sharpay asked the brunette boy. Jimmie merely gestured his hand forward, asking for Sharpay's. But Sharpay wasn't catching on.
"Dance with me," Jimmie smiled.
"But, there's no music playing," Sharpay stated.
"Really? Because whenever I'm with you, and whenever you speak to me, I hear the most beautiful sounds in the world." Wow. This guy could possibly totally beat Troy Bolton on the romance scale.
Sharpay bit her lip, trying to hide her eager smile. Jimmie's hand was still out, waiting to hold hers. And how could she say no? She delicately placed her hand upon Jimmie's, and he closed his grip.
Jimmie, nervously and excitedly, pulled the petite blonde girl closer to him. He placed his other hand on her tiny waist. He got goosebumps when he felt her other hand rest gently on his shoulder. Sharpay looked up into Jimmie's brown eyes, and forgetting her troubles, let him see her truly smile. And then, without music, without rhythm, and without a beat, Sharpay and Jimmie slowly began to dance.
Sharpay was amazed. Jimmie was great at dancing the waltz. It was like he had been doing it forever. It took Ryan years to learn.
"You're good," Sharpay complimented.
"Wanna know a secret?" Jimmie leaned down and whispered in her ear, still swaying her around. Sharpay nodded, "I've been taking dance classes since I was three."
"Funny. So have I."
They continued dancing, not speaking a word, simply staring into each other's eyes and smiling. Sharpay was happy. She was pushing aside her hatred, her pain, and her agony. She was forgetting why she was even sad earlier. Why, though? Why could Jimmie "Rocketman" Zara make her forget all of her troubles, and make her feel happy? Make her feel special? Make her feel loved?
"You look really handsome, Jimmie." Sharpay commented.
"Really? As good as Troy Bolton?" Jimmie asked with a playful smirk.
"No one can be as good as Troy Bolton at anything." Sharpay confessed. Jimmie's smirk faded.
"Oh." His response only made Sharpay smile.
"You're better."
Jimmie smiled, showing off gleaming white teeth. Sharpay could make him feel special. I mean, she, the most beautiful and popular senior girl in all of New Mexico, was dancing with him instead of going to her prom. She was complimenting him, saying he was better than Troy Bolton. She was making the butterflies in his stomach flutter endlessly, and he loved it. He loved her. And he wanted her to know.
Sharpay stood on her tip-toes and leaned up, whispering into Jimmie's ear, "You wanna know a secret?"
Jimmie smiled. "Okay."
"You know this whole "sweeping me off of my feet and getting me to fall for you" thing you're doing?" Jimmie nodded.
Sharpay smiled, and spoke ever so softly, "I think it's working."
Jimmie's heart began to pound wildly. He wasn't paying a single cent of attention to his surroundings. He didn't notice when he and Sharpay had stopped dancing. He didn't notice when they both seemed to be gripping onto each other, standing a bit closer than before. He didn't notice when she was leaning up, or when he was leaning down. But he did notice when he could feel her lips on his own.
It was a quick kiss, nothing like the make-out sessions he had always fantasized. It was small, light, and soft. Sharpay's arms snaked around Jimmie's neck, while one of his hands was holding the small of her back, and the other lightly cupping her cheek. Sharpay started twirling pieces of the boy's dark brown hair as they pulled away every few seconds, only to begin again.
Jimmie didn't want to push his limits, so he slowly pulled away. It took a few minutes for his eyes to fully flutter open. When they finally did, and he could clearly see, he saw Sharpay still had her eyes close, lingering on the memory of their lips touching so lovingly.
"You know that music you were talking about earlier?" Sharpay asked, her eyes still closed.
"Yeah?"
Sharpay opened her eyelids, revealing big brown orbs filled with longing. "I think I hear it now."
They stayed where they were, in each others' arms, feeling something so exciting and new to them both.
"So…what does this mean?" Jimmie asked the question that crossed both of their minds after a few minutes of silent perfection.
"I'm not sure," Sharpay said, still twirling strands of Jimmie's long hair, "Do you know what you want it to mean?"
"I know what I want it to mean; I have for a long time. It really all depends on what you want it to mean. What do you want us to be?" Jimmie said, slowly rubbing his thumb in little circles on Sharpay's blushing cheek.
"I think I really like you, Jimmie. But, I mean, I'm a senior. I'm going to be graduating in a few days, and then I'll be off at college."
"And I'll still be here."
Sharpay sighed. "Yeah. So what are we going to do about it?"
Jimmie looked down at the wooden flooring of the balcony. "I don't know. Maybe…maybe we can't be, you know, together. I mean, you're right: you're eighteen, I'm fifteen. You'll be off to Julliard, and I'll still be here at East High. It probably couldn't work out."
Sharpay was heavily teary-eyed again. "But I want it to."
"I know, so do I. You're the first girl I've ever really cared about, Sharpay."
"Jimmie, I don't know if you could call what we have heavy friendship, or love, or even something more than that. But just know, that we'll always have something." Sharpay said, holding onto the hand that Jimmie still had on her cheek.
"I will, I promise." Jimmie said, kissing Sharpay's forehead. They looked into each other's eyes for a while, sharing faces and thoughts of missing and sadness.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye, huh?" Jimmie spoke after some time.
"Guess so. Good luck with basketball next season." Sharpay wished.
"Thanks. Good luck with the musical. I know you'll be amazing. You always are." Jimmie said. Sharpay smiled sadly.
"Goodbye, Sharpay."
"Goodbye, Jimmie."
Jimmie released the blond beauty out of his grasp, noticing how her arms dropped like a rag doll's in defeat. He sung his legs over the metal railing, and got on the tree. Before climbing down, her turned around and took one last look at Sharpay. He wanted to remember her this way, the way she was for him. She might never be like this ever again.
Sharpay gave him a small wave. Not like the wave she'd give while saying "Toddles!", but one you gave when you felt weak and powerless, not really wanting to give it at all. Jimmie nodded back, and climbed down the large tree until he was all the way down to the green grassy lawn.
He took one look up to the high balcony, wishing he could see his love's face one more time. After all, this was probably the last he'd ever really get to be with her. The only time in school he saw her was drama, and even then they weren't ever together. And she'd be graduating in a few days, and be out of his life forever. This was their last moment together. But her face was not looking back down at him. Jimmie sighed, shoved his hands into his pockets, and started walking his way home.
--
Ryan came back at around one-thirty that morning. He opened his door, Kelsi still on his arm, the two laughing hysterically.
"Ryan, thank you so much. I couldn't have had a better prom." Kelsi gushed.
"Well I'm very glad." Ryan said, kissing the tip of the pianist's nose.
"And thanks for letting me crash here tonight. I can't believe my parents text me during prom saying that my cousin is sick and they're leaving tonight for Phoenix to take care of him."
"It's no problem, Kels. It'll be like a mini sleepover." Ryan said, taking off his hat and setting it on the hook on the coat rack by the door.
"Yeah! That'll be fun! Just you, me, and Sharpay."
Hearing her name made Ryan remember his twin sister, and in the state he had left her in hours ago. He worried, remembering that he never saw his sister at prom, thinking that the Rocketman might have made things worse.
"Sharpay," Ryan thought aloud, "Kels, we need to check on her."
"Ok, lead the way." Kelsi agreed, noticing how serious Ryan had suddenly become. Ryan nodded, and started climbing up the many flights of stairs with Kelsi following.
When Ryan finally reached the fourth floor, he walked down the hall to the bedroom at the end. He noticed that Sharpay had removed her pink "SE" sticker from her door. Ryan lightly knocked on the door, but heard no answer. Thinking it was safe, he turned the solid gold knob and pushed open the white door, stepping inside of the room with Kelsi.
They immediately both noticed how Sharpay wasn't in her room, and a wave of panic washed over.
"She's not here, Ryan," Kelsi stated, "Do you think she's somewhere else in the house?"
"I don't know. You check the rest of this floor, okay?" Ryan looked over at his petite date. She nodded, and jogged out of the room.
Ryan walked across the pink room, knowing exactly where his sister was. He reached white French doors with gold trimmings and opened them, revealing Sharpay's balcony. Ryan could feel the cool breeze brush across his skin and saw the light raindrops, signaling that the New Mexico rain storm that had been going on outside of the school gym was lightening up. Ryan stepped out onto the balcony. He looked to the right and saw nothing. He looked to the left, though, and found his sister.
Sharpay was now sitting on the wooden balcony, leaning in a corner between the railing and the outside of her bedroom wall. Her eyes were closed, and her chest was rising up and down slowly, telling Ryan she was asleep. Her cloths were soaking wet and clinging tightly to her body, telling Ryan she had either slept through the storm or just sat through it and didn't care.
Most of all, though, Ryan noticed how Sharpay wasn't smiling. She was frowning. She was still upset. She looked no different than the way Ryan had left her.
--
It's like catching lightning the chances of finding someone like you
It's one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do
And with every step together, we just keep on getting better
So can I have this dance (can I have this dance)
Can I have this dance
- Can I Have This Dance? By Troy & Gabriella
