three.

acts

"Okay, everyone! This is out last rehearsal before the show tonight! Make me proud!" Ms. Darbus called out to all of the students who were getting into costumes. "Let us start with…Troy and Sharpay's scene on the balcony.

Sharpay, who was sitting in one of the theater seats, nervously looked over at Troy, a few rows behind her. He looked back at her, with one of the dirtiest scowls he had ever given her. Sharpay turned back around and gulped loudly. Since Gabriella left, she regretted the day Ms. Darbus cast her in Gabriella's role. Yes, it was Sharpay who got Gabriella to leave in the first place, but that didn't mean that Sharpay wanted to take her place. Not anymore, at least. Not with Troy.

"Ms. Evans? Let's go!" Ms. Darbus snapped at her number one student. Sharpay sighed, but stood up anyway and walked onstage. She took her place on the balcony and took a deep breath, and then Kelsi began to play the music. And Sharpay began to sing.

"I got a lot of things, I have to do
All these distractions, out futures' coming soon
We're being pulled, a hundred different directions
But whatever happens, I know I've got you
You're on my mind, you're in my heart
It doesn't matter where we are
We'll be alright, even if we're miles apart…"

Sharpay looked over to Troy, who she was supposed to sing with now. Troy just shook his head at her, but started to sing along anyway.

"All, I wanna do, is be with you, be with you
There's nothing we can't do, just wanna be with you, only you
And now matter where life takes us, nothing can break us apart
You know it's true
I just wanna be with you…"

By now Troy was beginning to climb over the chairs-not to mention the people sitting in them-over to the tree he would climb. Sharpay hated this. This show would be ruined. And not from little slip-ups by backup dancers, or from the ensemble off key. No, it was because this song, probably one of the best in the whole show, was a lie. Sharpay and Troy didn't mean a word they were singing about, and they didn't feel what the song was about. That was Troy and Gabriella. And Sharpay knew it.

"You know how life can be, it changes overnight
It's sunny and raining, but it's alright
A friend like you, always makes it easy
I know that you're kidding me every time
Through every up through every down
You know I'll always be around
Through anything you can count on me…"

Jimmie watched the rehearsal as he painted the balcony Sharpay was standing on. Well, you couldn't really call it "painting" anymore. Jimmie had been stroking the same three inches of scenery with white paint for the last ten minutes. He had never been more jealous of Troy in his entire time at East High. Troy was singing a really touching and beautiful song with the love of Jimmie's life, and Troy didn't even care. Jimmie so wished he could be up there as Troy, dancing with Sharpay again, and singing out his feelings towards her. But he couldn't. Because Sharpay wasn't his.

"All, I wanna do, is be with you, be with you
There's nothing we can't do, just wanna be with you, only you
No matter where life takes us, nothing can break us apart
You know it's true
I just wanna be with you…"

Now Troy was on the balcony with Sharpay, his arms uncomfortably wrapped around her waist. Sharpay hated the feeling of him touching her. Normally, she might have fainted just holding Troy's hand, much less him holding her waist. But now, Sharpay didn't feel like she was floating on a cloud. No, she felt like she was being suffocated, as if a snake were coiling around her body, looking for a place to inject its venom. That's what Troy was to her now: a poisonous snake. She wasn't nice to him, so he's getting his revenge.

Now, if it were Jimmie, that would be a completely different story. She remembered when he danced with her own balcony last night. There was something about dancing with him that just felt…right. When Sharpay was waltzing with Jimmie, she felt more magic and love than she ever dreamt she could with Troy Bolton.

That's when it hit Sharpay, as hard and as sudden as when Troy punched her: Sharpay was in love with Jimmie. Troy Bolton was nothing to her anymore; she didn't love him. She loved Jimmie. So what if he was a sophomore and she was a senior? So what if she was her own person, while he was thought of as Troy's shadow? And so what if she was popular and he wasn't? What did any of that matter anymore?

"I just wanna be with you…"

Oh no, Sharpay thought to herself. She was supposed to kiss Troy now. But I don't want to! He doesn't want to either! I don't like him! I want Jimmie! Sharpay panicked, her heart beginning to pound. But I have to. For the sake of the play.

Sharpay was spun around so she was now face to face with Troy, mere inches away. She didn't want to kiss him, and he didn't even want to be touching her. But they both had to, and besides, what other choice did they have? Everyone was watching them.

"Don't think you'll get this again, Evans," Troy whispered to Sharpay as he leaned in towards her.

"Don't even want it now, Bolton." Sharpay whispered back, before the gap was closed.

Jimmie's jaw dropped. Sharpay was kissing Troy, right in front of him. He felt like someone had just kicked him in the stomach. The girl he loved and the boy he idolized were lip locking right before his very eyes. He knew it was for the play, but he didn't care. Weren't school productions supposed to be rated, like, G? The kiss seemed more like M for mature audiences only.

Finally, after what felt like forever, Sharpay pulled her lips away from Troy's. They just stood there though, staring into each other's eyes. Troy was stunned. Did he just kiss Sharpay? Sharpay Evans, the Ice Queen of East High, and the worst person he had ever met? Yes, it was. Then why did he like it? Why did he like kissing her?

Troy couldn't believe it. He actually enjoyed kissing Sharpay. Because he kissed her, he felt something he never felt with Gabriella. He felt like he was running through his grandpa's old wildflower fields as a little kid again. He felt like he was three years old again, baking cookies with his mother for Santa Clause. Those, to him, were the best feelings in the world. But why did he feel them with Sharpay Evans?

"Excellent work you two!" Ms. Darbus cheered, surprised that they got through the whole song without killing each other, "Next, Ryan and the I Want It All girls."

"Come with me," Troy said in a hushed voice. Before Sharpay could protest, he was already dragging her by her wrist across the stage. He walked her through many empty halls, ignoring Sharpay's struggles and complaints, and eventually walked them into an empty classroom. He locked the door behind them, not wanting to get caught.

"What the heck Troy!" she asked, not happy with him in the slightest. But Troy didn't answer her, and continued looking her up and down, "Troy, please stop looking at me and just tell me why you brought me here!" she demanded. Troy responded by basically pouncing on her. He cupped her rosy cheeks in his hands, and hungrily captured her lips with his lips.

Sharpay was completely thrown for a loop, and too shocked to react at first. But when she fully realized that Troy Bolton was trying to make out with her, she began freaking out. She would squeal and punch and try to wriggle her way out, but it was useless. Troy was just too strong. Troy let one hand leave Sharpay's cheek and move down to the hem of her shirt, trying to lift it up. Sharpay, now disgusted, kicked Troy hard in the shin.

"AHH!" he shouted, releasing the blonde girl, and instinctively doubling over in pain.

"What the heck was that for Troy?" Sharpay shrieked, trying to wipe all residue of Troy from her lips.

"Uh, I think it was pretty obvious Evans!" Troy snapped, still in mighty pain, "But what isn't obvious is why you didn't want it!"

"Because I don't love you, Troy." Sharpay stated.

"Please. You're Sharpay Evans, I'm Troy Bolton. Everyone knows you've been crushing on me for like, ever, and you so wanted that."

"No, Troy, I didn't! Why would you do that? What about Gabriella?" Sharpay asked all at once, dazed and confused.

"Look, Gabriella is nice and all…but you're different. Gabriella is like…a bowl of oatmeal. I like it, I'll eat it if I have to, but it's not what I crave. And you're like…a hot, meatball sub, drenched in zesty sauce. I want that more than oatmeal any day."

Sharpay shook her head at the boy in disgust, "You're a pig, Troy Bolton."

"Hey! You can't talk to me like that!"

"And you can't talk to me like this." Sharpay shot back, "Troy, I am not going to let you push me around anymore. Try to get this through your big fat basketball head: I do not love you!"

"…Why not?" Troy asked. No girl had ever not liked him. Except for, like, his friends' girlfriends. Course, they probably were secretly crushing on him too.

"Because I found someone else. Someone who understands me, and who gets me, and who I feel like I can be myself with, and who loves me. Truly, madly, deeply loves me." Sharpay tried to explain.

"Who? I'm the only one who would do anything with you, and you're passing me up. You know what, you really are a bitch, Evans. My girlfriend is thousands of miles away, and all I wanted to do was have a little fun with you. And you can't even do that." Troy spat at the girl. Sharpay just frowned, walked over to the door, unlocked it, and swung it wide open.

"Go Troy. Go to Stanford, go to Gabriella, and win her back. Otherwise you'll regret it. You obviously need someone, Troy. But it won't be me. I'm taken."

"By who?" Troy asked, staring at the girl curiously. Sharpay smiled.

"By a rocketman." And with that, she walked out of the room, leaving Troy there to ponder.

--

"Attention, everyone!" Ms. Darbus spoke loudly over the commotion going on backstage. It was the night of the "Senior Year" spring musical, and the show was going on in five. "Attention! I need Troy Bolton and Sharpay Evans here now, to go over a few last minute details!"

"Ms. Darbus?" Donny said, walking up to the much older woman, "Ms. Evans is with her brother in her dressing room doing vocal exercises, and nobody has seen Troy."

"Well tell Ms. Evans that she'll be on shortly, and go find Troy and tell him the same. Check the gymnasium first, I suggest."

"Will do." Donny said, slightly bowing and left Ms. Darbus.

"Hey man," Jimmie said, walking up to his best friend, "Guess what I just got?"

"A brain?"

"Better. Troy Bolton just sent me a text. Probably saying how I'm such an amazing prodigy." Jimmie bragged, tossing his phone to his young friend. Donny caught it and read the message aloud.

"Been driving all night…I'll try to make it for the second act…break a leg."

"Break a leg? What does that mean?" Jimmie asked, all of the new drama terms he was learning piling up.

"Dude, that's show business for you're going on!" Donny explained, totally chocked.

"Wait…I'm going on stage? As Troy Bolton?" Jimmie clarified.

Ms. Darbus came back over to Donny, having just overheard that Troy wouldn't be here, "Oh, goodness, Donny, please alert Sharpay that Mr. Zara will be replacing Mr. Bolton."

"Ok, but um, Ms. D?" Donny said, stopping the drama teacher from scurrying off to make last minute rearrangements, "I think he stopped breathing."

They both looked at Jimmie, who has frozen in his place. He couldn't breath. He had to play Troy Bolton, opposite Sharpay. They had decided to stay apart. If he had to be her love interest tonight, just acting, he didn't think he'd be able to control himself.

--

Sharpay smoothed down the invisible wrinkles on her green dress. It was time. She was about to go on stage, and sing with Troy. She wasn't sure how it was going to go, considering their earlier encounter, but she wasn't going to let it get to her. She just wanted to get through the play, so she could catch up with Jimmie. She had big news for him, news that could change their entire lives.

She stepped through the fake balcony doors once again with a fake smile to match. The audience clapped, and Sharpay looked out at them. She could see her parents there – they had come back from India to see their children. Sharpay's smile went away for a second. Just because they were here, didn't mean they suddenly cared. They needed to see the performance to that if friends ever brought it up, they would know what had even happened. But Sharpay put the smile back on, just desperately wanting to get this over with. She briefly looked down at Kelsi, signaling the pianist to start the music.

"I got a lot of things, I have to do
All these distractions, out futures' coming soon
We're being pulled, a hundred different directions
But whatever happens, I know I've got you
You're on my mind, you're in my heart
It doesn't matter where we are
We'll be alright, even if we're miles apart…"

Sharpay waited, but nothing happened. Troy was no where in sight. She didn't know what to do. The audience began whispering, obviously confused. Sharpay smiled again, pretending like this was supposed to be part of the act, and began to stall.

"Even if we're miles apart…"

Still nothing. What was going on? Was Troy getting revenge on her or something for what happened earlier? Maybe not, considering Kelsi didn't even seem to understand what was going on. Sharpay was almost scared now. People from Julliard were here, watching her seem like a complete imbecile.

"Even if we're miles and miles and miles apaaaaart…"

Suddenly the music changed, a little more upbeat now, and slights of all sorts of colors were flashing. Sharpay looked around for Troy, ready to kill him for this. The balcony doors flew open, and Sharpay turned expecting to see Troy. But instead, there dressed in the most ridiculous costume she had ever scene, was Jimmie, who began to sing.

"All! I wanna do, is be with you, be with you…"

Jimmie threw off his sunglasses and walked with a spring in his step to Sharpay. Sharpay just stood there amazed. Jimmie stood behind Sharpay and wrapped his arms around her waist. Having that feeling of being safe and warm in Jimmie's arms again was all Sharpay needed to forget all of her worries, woes, and questions. She smiled and began to dance and sing with Jimmie.

"There's nothing we can't do, just wanna be with you, only you
And now matter where life takes us, nothing can break us apart
You know it's true
I just wanna be with you…"

Ryan was standing back stage, utterly impressed. His sister was actually dancing and singing with Jimmie Zara, a sophomore he only knew from drama. And she looked like she liked it; she looked like she was having fun. Ryan hadn't seen her like that in a long, long time.

"Hey!" he heard a voice call. He turned around to see Troy and Gabriella Montez running in, hand in hand, with smiles on their faces.

"Are we too late?" Gabriella asked.

"Kind of. Sharpay had to take your place, and Troy, Jimmie had to take yours. Where were you?" Ryan asked.

"No time for that, we need to get on stage." Gabriella said before Troy could even answer Ryan.

"But…I told you already. Sharpay and Jimmie are on stage." Ryan repeated, not understanding why Gabriella wanted the spotlight so much.

"So? Let them finish the line and then kick them off or whatever. This song is for Troy and me, not Sharpay. She needs to move it." Gabriella explained bitterly.

"Gabriella that would mess up the entire show. Why can't she just finish the song with Jimmie?"

"Because she can't! It's mine!" Gabriella shot at the blonde boy. She turned to face her boyfriend, who hadn't said a word since he arrived, "Troy! Are you just gonna stand here and let her steal our show?"

Troy looked past his girlfriend out to the stage. He watched as Sharpay and Jimmie glided around the stage together, singing proudly, with bright smiles on their faces. Sharpay's words rang in his head. By a rocketman. She had meant Jimmie. He looked down at his girlfriend. Troy had listened to Sharpay's advice before and got his oatmeal back. Maybe he should continue listening.

"Gabriella, if we take over, we'd be stealing her show." Gabriella squeaked, not believing her boyfriend had just denied her of something she wanted. Ryan gave Troy a grateful smile. All three of them looked back to the stage.

The song was almost at its end. Jimmie and Sharpay were hitting their last notes, when Jimmie decided to scoop Sharpay up in his arms and twirled her around. Sharpay laughed her last lyrics out, happily gripping onto the boy's neck. Jimmie stopped twirling, and they locked eyes.

"I just wanna be with you…"

The audience all stood up immediately and began cheering like crazy. There were hoots and hollers and whistles and screams. But neither of the actors noticed – they were too wrapped up in what had just happened.

"You were…amazing." Jimmie panted, not used to so much intense singing.

"You were too…" Sharpay trailed off, getting lost in the boy's eyes.

"I think I'm supposed to kiss you now." Jimmie whispered.

"Then what are you waiting for?" Sharpay asked, smiling. Jimmie smiled back, capturing his favorite familiar lips. He missed kissing Sharpay, and it wasn't because of teenage hormones. It was because holding Sharpay's small frame in his arms, kissing her, telling her he loved her in any way he could, just felt so right. He couldn't explain it.

Sharpay smiled as the kiss lingered on, generating more applause. She loved this. She loved the feel of snaking her arms around Jimmie's neck, the feel of Jimmie holding her close, the feel of I love you was being spoken silently between them. She loved it all. It just felt…right. She was super excited about tomorrow's graduation ceremony. Because at the ceremony, when Principal Matsui would announce each student's college and what they were studying, Sharpay would tell the world. She was going to tell the world what she was going to do with the rest of her life, which would surprise everyone.

Finally, their lips parted. Their eyes smiled at one another, and then looked out into the audience. Sharpay searched for her parents' faces, and was truly shocked at their reactions. Mr. and Mrs. Evans were standing up and clapping with the rest of the audience. Sharpay's mother was shaking, trying to hide her crying. But Sharpay saw the tears of pride and amazement leave her mother's eyes. And then there was her father. He had a look that Sharpay could not decode. It looked like a mix of regret and stunned. Her father caught her eye, and mouthed the three words Sharpay never got to hear from him.

I love you.

Sharpay smiled and nodded back at him. And to think she ever attempted suicide.

--

All, I wanna do, is be with you, be with you
There's nothing we can't do, just wanna be with you, only you
And now matter where life takes us, nothing can break us apart
You know it's true
I just wanna be with you
- Just Wanna Be With You by HSM3 cast