Title: Dance from the Heart (6/?)
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Angst, Drama
Characters: Mostly Sharpay and Ryan, the others show up on occasion.
Disclaimer: I do not own High School Musical or these characters. I'm just playing around.
Summary: An accident, a struggle and redemption.
0o0o0o
Sharpay took the usual amount of time with her hair that morning, Ryan noted. One hour and forty minutes, a long time for anyone else, par for the course for Sharpay. There was washing, conditioning, blowing straight before putting in the hot curlers before starting all over again if the process displeased her in any way as it did nine times out of ten.
No ... there was no difference there.
Her clothes were perfection, as usual. Designer jeans topped by a casual shirt from the local mall topped by a jacket straight off the catwalks of France. If anything, Sharpay was an expert at layering in a way that showed she cared, but not overly much.
Her shoes were on the plain side but the shine of leather was obvious, as in black, short leather boots, the kind that went with anything. There was nothing too gaudy, nor too cheap about her outfit that day -- she was perfectly Sharpay from head to toe. A balance of haute couture and that specialsomething that was all her own.
Ryan couldn't remember being prouder of her than on that morning, her first return to school after the accident. She sat in the back of the limo like a queen -- the driver Jack and Ryan, both her adoring servants. She spent most of the ride chatting on the phone to someone, Ryan wasn't sure who, but that didn't matter -- Sharpay's phone contacts were as disposable as a tissue -- but he basked in the glow of being with her, even if she didn't have time for small talk with him.
Maybe it was psychic knowledge, maybe it was just common sense but Jack made sure he pulled over a short distance from the school's front entrance, giving Sharpay enough room to maneuver from the car at her own pace, with only the help she needed from Ryan and the cane. Once she was up and walking, the cane was easily put away and Ryan was happy to see that she still held onto his arm, not from need -- only because she wanted to.
The school was oddly quiet that morning. There were no loiterers on the stairs, no stray students in the parking lot, nothing but Ryan and Sharpay walking up the stairs -- alone -- the rest of the campus eerily silent. Sharpay's hold on Ryan's arm tightened slightly but her chin was as high as it had ever been on any other day.
Taking a deep breath, Ryan pushed open the school's heavy front doors. They'd taken about two steps into the hall when ...
He wasn't sure but it looked like the entire cheerleading squad singing:
Since you've been away
I've had loneliness inside
and I've had bugs eating my soul
cause I am that used to you being
there every day...
A short verse, taken over by Gabriella and Troy ...
I've felt inside a different person
We've missed you so much
I can't wait to see you again
Life has been different without seeing you once again.
And then ... the Wildcats, the geeks, the Drama Club, all kneeling down and singing to Sharpay ...
I've learned more then you'll ever believe.
I've felt inside like i'm a different person
I never knew without you I'd change
and feel different just thought
it'll always be the same so I say I've missed you
Ryan wasn't sure how long they'd practiced the song but he knew it hadn't been done overnight, at least without his help. He couldn't help it; his eyes were tearing -- his heart breaking at every note even the ones that were hopelessly off-key. He didn't dare look at Sharpay, thinking he'd break down completely but he needn't have worried.
The song ended on a wavering note and Sharpay paused the perfect three beats before scoffing: "Amateurs."
She walked away at a clipped pace, dragging Ryan behind her and it was only when he heard the joyful cheer echoing off the walls and the odd cry of "That's our Sharpay!" echoing off the walls did he realize that his sister had returned the East High in the only way she could ...
As the girl she was and always would be.
Except for the secret, trembling squeezes of her hand around his and the tears that lingered in the corners of her eyes that she refused to let fall.
0o0o0o
Lunch went the usual way -- Sharpay picking endlessly at the less savory bits while everyone else scarfed theirs down whole like Oliver Twist on a bad day.
No one avoided her, Ryan noted with relief. Well, no more than usual and it was almost fun to see Gabriella and Troy sit down across from them, trays held firmly in front of them, almost like shields. They nodded at her, almost as an afterthought before exchanging their milks, Troy's plain for Gabrielle's chocolate. "How's it going?" Troy asked between slurps on his straw.
"Is that chocolate milk?" Sharpay asked in a tone of voice that might have suggested she'd been warning someone about a roach on their shoe.
Troy look at the container. "Um, yeah."
Sharpay simply made a face, but it was a face that said it all. She turned to Gabrielle, tucking her palms beneath her chin and giving the other girl a cat-like grin. "So, are we doing anything special this year? Like ... moving?"
"Shar ..." Ryan breathed, a warning in his voice.
Gabrielle didn't seem put out in the slightest. She mimicked Sharpay's pose and replied. "Not a moving truck in sight. Sorry."
"Drat." Sharpay made a face and took a sip of spring water. She glanced around, tilting her head in confusion at Chad and Martha, who were waltzing through the lunchroom, laughing at each other's multiple missteps. "What's up with Dancing with Losers over there?"
Troy looked up from his grilled cheese, half of which was already in his mouth. "I think they're practicing." He swallowed with effort. "The Harvest Dance is in a few weeks."
Ryan's throat tightened and he had to force the mouthful of water down, wincing as he saw the tiniest twitch in Sharpay's cheek. Her haughty attitude suddenly evaporated and it nearly broke Ryan's heart to see her face fall, her voice soften, suddenly sounding vulnerable ... hurt. "Oh." She shrugged and began to play aimlessly with her food. "They're not that bad, actually. Maybe you can give them a hand, Ryan."
Ryan shrugged, with a half-hearted attempt at a smile. "I think they can figure out how to count to four. Eventually." He nudged Sharpay, trying to get her to laugh, but it didn't work.
Gabrielle watched this exchange with a pained look in her eyes. "The Science Club is having a Trivia Contest next week," she said quickly, her face reddening when the other three turned to her with a quizzical look. She shrunk back in her seat. "If anyone wants to go, it's ... uh ... free."
If anything would bring Sharpay's sarcastic edge back, it would be that, Ryan thought. But she didn't respond, so Ryan prodded her. "Free, sis. I'm sure we can't miss that much fun," he prompted. "Right?"
"Don't be mean, Ryan," Sharpay sighed. Digging through her bag, she pulled out her cane, pulling to its full length with short, angry twists. With some effort, she rose from the lunch table's awkwardly attached bench, using the cane as leverage. "I'm heading back to class. See you guys later."
"Hold up, sis," Ryan called, running after her. He glanced back and saw both Troy and Gabrielle, the same crestfallen look lining both their faces. It's not their fault, he knew.
It wasn't anyone's fault ... it just was what it was. Bad luck, lousy fate -- he couldn't tell. It just sucked.
Maybe it was his imagination, but Sharpay's walk no longer seemed as confident as it did, Ryan noted, as she limped through East High's halls. She's probably tired, he thought, tucking her arm under his. She didn't protest, she just kept walking with painful-looking steps and he made sure to steer her clear of the posters that announced the coming Harvest Dance, arriving in just a few weeks time.
0o0o0o
tbc ...
Sorry for the length of time it took for this update. Some RL got in the way. They should be coming at a more regular clip for a while now.
Thanks to anyone who is still reading! I appreciate your comments. :-)