Author Note: I am trying to space out the chapters but it doesn't really seem to be working! Ahh well, it's the first story i'm ahead of myself in writing it. Pretty much finished it, just got a few more chapters, i reckon, then it's done =)

Anyways, thanks to everyone who reviewed, you guys really keep me writing =) and if you haven't reviewed... i know who you are and i shall hunt you down and beat you with a stick! Actually, that's a lie, but it would be nice to get a few more reviews!

Ahh well, enjoy =)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything!

Chapter 4

After apologising to my Mom for my behaviour last night, I shot out the door and raced to school, hoping I could beat Troy and hide from him until class started. The girls' bathroom seemed the most obvious place to escape from him, so I got as comfortable as I could on one of the sinks and pulled out my math textbook. Geeky, I know but it helped take my mind off things.

So that's what I was doing when the door to the bathroom was flung open ten minutes later.

"What are you doing?"

"Flying a kite." I didn't even bother to look up; I knew who it was and if I was lucky she'd leave me be.

"Oh very funny!"

"Well you asked a dumb question so what do you expect?" There was silence then. She hadn't left, that was obvious, so what was she doing? I eventually had to look up at her. She was just stood in the middle of the bathroom watching me, arms folded, a slight frown on her face. "What?" She didn't say anything, just walked slowly towards me.

When she was right in front of me, she unfolded her arms and stepped in between my legs. My breath caught in my throat as she reached up to brush my hair back off my shoulder. She carefully pulled my shirt back to reveal my bruised skin. My eyes slid shut of their own accord as she ran a finger over the hicky.

"Guess I might have gotten a little carried away…" My eyes flew open and met hers. She leant forward slowly, almost hesitantly, and placed a soft kiss on my lips. Her hands buried themselves in my hair as she deepened the kiss, her tongue tracing my bottom lip, asking for permission; a first for Sharpay. But before I could grant it, the door to the bathroom was pushed open and a group of girl's came in, laughing and talking.

We shot apart, Sharpay banging into a cubicle door while I managed to crack my head on the mirror behind me. The girl's hardly even noticed us, but the moment had been ruined and Sharpay disappeared out of the bathroom before I could say a word. I groaned quietly, sliding off the sink I checked my appearance in the mirror. My hair was a mess, my face unbelievably red and the back of my head hurt like hell!

I guess I couldn't hide in here much longer; I had to face the rest of the world eventually.

"Hey, Gabs, you seen my sister?" Ryan had appeared at my shoulder looking worried.

"No, what? Why would I know where your sister is?" Smooth, Gabbie, smooth!

Ryan shook his head. "I know it was you she was with in the classroom yesterday, so don't give me that!" I felt the colour drain from my face. "Don't worry; it's our little secret, alright? But no, I know she went into the bathroom and you just came out of the bathroom. So you must have run into her at some point!"

"Uh yeah, she was just in there. What's up, Ryan? You don't look too good."

He looked around nervously, before pushing me to the side of the corridor out of the main flow of students. "My Mom and Sharpay had a fight this morning. It was a pretty bad one, Mom's leaving for New York in a few days and she won't be back until the summer. Shar thinks Mom's being selfish just taking off like that again after she only got back from California last week." Wow, imagine Sharpay thinking someone else was selfish! "I know what you're thinking, Gabbie, don't." I'd never seen Ryan so serious before. "You don't understand what it's like for us, Sharpay in particular. Your Mom might move around a lot but at least she takes you and wants you with her. Our Mom doesn't. I'm her favourite, so she always has time for me, but when Sharpay needs her she's always too busy. So please, don't think bad about my sister, not now. I just need to find her."

I grabbed him as he turned to go. "I'll help." He nodded and set off down the corridor. I watched him go before heading in the opposite direction. I had an idea where she might be.

It was so quiet in the Auditorium. There wouldn't be anyone in here for a good few hours, until lunch at least, as everyone had classes to be in. It was quite eerie walking down the aisle with no one in the seats, but I headed for the front row, knowing that's where I'd find her.

"Hey." Her head shot up as I stood in front of her.

"What do you want?"

I shrugged. "Just saw you in here and thought I'd come say hey."

"Liar. Ryan told you where I would be, didn't he?"

"Actually no, Ryan's still looking for you." She looked mildly surprised to hear that but it was soon gone and the empty look returned. "Sharpay, are you alright?"

"What do you care?"

I dumped my bag on the floor and sat in the seat next to her. "I care. I wouldn't be here otherwise." She nodded thoughtfully before her face twisted into a snarl.

"Well I don't need you to care. I don't need you at all. You're just something to keep me amused, nothing more." She stood suddenly and set off back up the aisle towards the exit. I stood as well, looking after her, a tear sliding down my cheek.

I wasn't sure why I'd thought I was anything more to her than just some plaything, but I had. I'd thought that she'd cared about me, even if it was only a little bit. But I guess I'd been wrong. And it hurt more than I'd expected it to. I slowly picked my bag up and slung it over my shoulder, not feeling the slightest bit motivated by the sound of the bell. I didn't want to go to class; I had no desire to see anyone. All I wanted to do was crawl into my bed and go to sleep.

I turned to head back as well but was stopped by the sound of my own name. "Gabriella." I turned to see Sharpay stood there; I hadn't even heard her come back. She walked hesitantly towards me, her eyes never leaving my face, and stopped just in front of me. "I didn't mean what I said. I was mad at… at someone else. You just happened to be here."

I nodded. "Sure. I understand." My eyes were firmly fixed on my converse, not wanting to meet her gaze in case she suddenly changed back into the Sharpay from a minute ago, the one that had managed to shatter my heart with only a few words.

But then I felt her hand cupping my chin, lifting my head until I was forced to look her in the eye. "I'm sorry." In that instance, I knew something had changed between us. Sharpay had never sincerely apologized to anyone. And it was a sincere apology, even the best liars find it hard to stop their eyes giving them away, and Sharpay's deep brown eyes were soft and sad.

I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug, which she returned after only a second's hesitation. "It's okay. I believe you." We stayed there for a long time, until we were finally disturbed by a very frantic Ryan.

"Shar!" I let go of the blonde as Ryan ran down the aisle towards us. He enveloped her in a hug the second he reached her, almost knocking her off her feet. "I've been so worried!" I saw the relief on his face and figured it was time for me to go; this was a family matter and I'd already done my part.

Plus, if I was any later for Homeroom, without a believable excuse, Ms. Darbus would have my head!

I got only a stern look from Ms. Darbus when I came in late, so I crossed the room and took my seat quickly. She, thankfully, didn't enquire as to where I had been, but she did ask if anyone had seen Sharpay and Ryan. After a long moment of silence I spoke up.

"Umm I talked to Ryan, he said he and Sharpay had to go see the Principal about something, they won't be long." Ms. Darbus nodded and turned her attention back to taking attendance.

I heard Chad whisper to Taylor at the back of the room. "They're probably trying to get the school colours changed to sparkly pink again!" There was a round of laughter from the class, which stopped when Ms. Darbus glared at Chad. I wanted to glare at him too, but didn't dare.

A few minutes later, the door opened and Ryan walked in, quickly followed by his sister.

"Mr. Evans! Ahh and Miss. Evans! How nice of you to join us! Hope everything was alright with the Principal!" They both smiled their dazzling smiles at her and took their seats, Ryan mouthing 'thank you' at me as he did so.

I didn't get a chance to speak to either twin again until last period, and that was only a very brief conversation with Ryan. "She's doing alright, Gabs, thank you for finding her."

"It's okay, I'm just glad you guys didn't get in trouble with Darbus! Wasn't sure she'd buy my story!" He smiled at me but got called away as the bell rang for the last class of the day.

Author Note: Hope you guys liked it =) the next chapter should be up in a few days, am going back to University tomorrow so i gotta get all that organised so =S anyway, review and lemmie know what you thought. Peace Out.