Chapter 4

Sharpay arrived at the Bolton's house at 7 o'clock. She was wearing a nice outfit so she could make a good impression on Troy's parents. Although she had spent hours picking out the best outfit to impress the people who she knew already hated her.

When she rang the doorbell she did a last minute hair flip. When the door swung open she saw Troy with a cautious look on his face which could only mean "be careful and let me talk". Sharpay nodded to tell him she understood.

"You look great," Troy said examining Sharpay's white pants, baby pink Lacoste polo, and her pink satin pumps. In return, she examined his outfit and wondered if she was overdressed. But she was there and there was no chance to turn around and run home.

They entered the Bolton's oversized living room. Mr. and Mrs. Bolton were sitting on the couch watching a re-run of Grey's Anatomy. They didn't seem to notice Troy and Sharpay standing there because Troy had to clear his throat to get their attention.

When they looked up at him they had wondering expressions on their faces. But when Mr. Bolton saw who was standing beside him, he stood up and gave Troy "the look". "Ms. Evans what a surprise." he said with no emotion in his voice.

"Um, Dad," Troy began, "we need to talk to you about something."

"Ok." His face was already suspicious.

"You know that Sharpay and I used to go out until you forced me to dump her. Well, we're getting back together." Troy and Sharpay just stood there waiting for his parents to blow up, but it never happened.

"Oh, this is Sharpay?" Mrs. Bolton jumped in, feeling the awkwardness of the situation. "Nice to meet you, Sharpay."

"Nice to meet you, too." Sharpay said with a fake smile on her face. She saw Troy look over at her with an approving look on his face. Now it was his dad's turn to speak.

"Troy, do you remember why I had you break up with her, Troy?"

"Yes, I do."

"And what was it?"

"You heard from the other teachers that she was sleeping around school, but you were wrong." Mrs. Bolton gave her husband a death glare that Sharpay would've been so proud of.

Sharpay saw the chance to butt-in, so she took it. "Actually, if it makes you feel any better, I'm still a virgin. Wow, that wasn't as awkward as I thought it would be." She turned and smiled at Troy, who was in shock at what she just said.

"Oh, um, honey, can I talk with you in the kitchen, please?" Mrs. Bolton basically dragged her husband out of the room.

Troy turned to Sharpay and started bursting out laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"That was really awkward, if not for you, for me."

"I really didn't think that it was that bad. Hey, what do you think your parents are talking about in there?"

Meanwhile, in the kitchen…

"I cannot believe that you made him dump her! She is probably the sweetest girl that he has ever dated! And I don't mean fake-sweet like that Gabriella girl that he's been dating!" Mrs. Bolton had a serious tone in her voice.

"Yeah, well, you haven't seen her at school."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"The kids call her "The Ice Queen" and they say, if you touch her, you'll turn to ice."

"Where did they come up with that?"

"I don't know, but she walks around school like she owns the place and everyone hates her except for these three dimwits that they call the Sharpettes, and Troy, obviously."

"The Sharpettes?"

"Yeah, every year East High holds a talent show, and every year Sharpay and the Sharpettes perform, and every stinkin' year, they win!"

"But if no one likes her, then how does she always win."

"The judges are all teachers at East High, and she's got all of them wrapped around her evil little finger."

"Jack, be reasonable! Now let's just go back in there and sit down and talk about this, okay?"

"Fine!"

They walked back into the living room, where they saw Sharpay and Troy sitting on the couch laughing together. Mrs. Bolton just couldn't help but think what a cute couple they were. Jack cleared his throat and the two teens stopped laughing and turned to look at him. "If you don't mind, we'd like to sit down and at least try to get to know you a little better, Sharpay."

"Okay."

"So have you always lived in Albuquerque?"

"No, I moved here the summer before freshmen year, from New York."

"Oh, what part of New York?" Lisa, or Mrs. Bolton, chimed in, trying to make this a pleasant conversation.

"We actually lived on Broadway, because the reason that we moved out there from Beverly Hills, is that I got a lead on Broadway."

"Really?"

"Yes, I played Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie"

"What year was that?"

"It was 2003."

"That was the year that Jack, Troy and I went to see it. Wow, you have an amazing voice! I went to see it. Wow, you have an amazing voice! You must really like to sing, huh?" Troy and Sharpay just looked at each other and started to burst out laughing. "What's so funny?"

"Mom, Sharpay has been in 17 school productions, not including her full year of Broadway."

Sharpay snapped: "And it would have been 18, but someone had to steal Ryan and mine's parts!"

"Hey! I already apologized for that after the callbacks!"

"So? You still took away the only thing that meant the world to me!"

"Look-"

"Guys! Ok, so let's get back on track!"

"Sorry." They both said simultaneously.

"So, Sharpay, what do your parents do for a living?" Troy silently kicked himself in the shin for letting his dad ask that question.

"They're both dead."

"Oh, I am so sorry. Who are you living with?"

"I don't know yet…my father just died this afternoon. I guess I'll just stay with Ryan at the house for a while, until we get things settled."

"Well, if you ever need a place to sleep, don't be afraid to ask!" This was, of course, Lisa speaking up. Jack sent her a "are you crazy?!" look, but she chose to ignore it.

"Oh, trust me! She's not afraid to ask anyone anything! Once she asked our math teacher, Mr. Callahan, why he didn't just go see the dermatologist so he could get that huge mole off of his face!" Troy smiled at Sharpay who had a slight blush on her cheeks. "Sharpay, I don't think I've ever seen you blush!"

"Whatever!" Sharpay said in a playful manner.

"Yes," Lisa started, "I heard you're quite a bold individual."

"Well, I try not to let what others think get to me. I know everyone at school thinks I'm a whore, pardon my French, and a spoiled brat, but I'm really not. It's just that I'll do ANYTHING to reach my goals in life, and I think people just think that's intimidating."

"Sharpay, I am really sorry that I thought all those horrible things about you, but I heard at school, and I just thought-"

"Mr. Bolton, please, its fine. If I were you, I probably would have done the same thing."

"Okay."

"So, Sharpay, if you don't mind me asking, what do you think of Gabriella Montez? Because a couple times when she was over here, I heard her talking about you in a not-so-nice way. Why was that?"

"Well, we didn't really get off on the right foot, and then when she ended up getting the lead in the winter musicale instead of me, that was when things really went down the drains. When that happened, I vouched to make her life a living nightmare. I mean, I think that was the first time I had cried that much since my mom died eleven years ago."

"Wow, your whole life really depends on how you do in the theatre, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it really does. Like, I wanted to apply for Juilliard next year, but I guess that's not going to happen since I don't have a parent to sign off."

"But Pay," Obviously Troy speaking, "isn't Mrs. Darbus your legal guardian? And she wants you to succeed as much as anyone else, if not more."

"But Troy, she wants me to sing for a couple of years and then come back to take her place as the drama teacher there at East High, and I don't think I'll ever be able to go back after next year, after all that's happened there."

"I understand." Sharpay looked down at her watch, and realized that it was getting late.

"Well, if it's all right with you, I better be getting home, since it's a school night."

"Of course, honey." Lisa stood up and walked over to Sharpay and awkwardly hugged her. Jack just stood and waved. Troy got up and walked her to the door."

"Are you sure you don't want me to drive you home? I can walk back."

"No, I'll be fine, but thank you." She placed a soft kiss on his cheek and slowly walked out the door.

"Bye, Pay!"

"Bye, Troy!"