Author Note: Hmm this really has been a while in the posting! Sorry about that =S I've had 1000 word short stories, 5 minute scripts, 5 poems and an essay (which i don't understand! I'm doing Creative Writing, dammit! If i wanted to write essays i would have taken an Essay Writing course! But i didn't so it's just dumb!)

-Ahem- anywho, i wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed the story so far, and thanks for staying with me on this =) i am going to try and get the rest typed up for you asap, but that damn script and a 20 minute presentation has to be in on thursday so =S

Oh and this chapter is dedicated to blade. Thanks for reviewing and giving me a kick to get this chapter up and posted, i appreciate it, my friend =)

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing =(

Chapter 8

Half an hour later I pulled up outside the front gates of the Evans mansion. It was unbelievably huge and very 'Sharpay', dramatic and expensive as hell. The driveway was so long and so wide that the stretched limo that sat waiting by the front door seemed like a mini from where I was.

I pressed the intercom and waited. It beeped a few times and then crackled loudly before the gates swung slowly open.

"Wow. That was easier than I'd expected." I parked a little way behind the limo, not wanting to get yelled at for almost scratching the new paint job. Leaving the comfort of my Mom's ford, I headed to the open front doors, watching as servants carried bags to the limo, storing them carefully in the trunk before heading back inside to get more. It wasn't until I heard the raised voices inside that I realised what was going on.

"Mother, please! Can't you postpone your trip for a few weeks? You're going to miss the spring Musical again and we've worked so hard!"

"I'm sorry, dear, but it just can't be done! I have important things that need to be done in New York, and if I don't get down there right away everything could just fall apart!"

"You don't even do anything! You're a Socialite, Mother! You plan parties, for God's sake! That's hardly as important as your own children!"

"Now, Sharpay, dear, I know you feel left out but you'll soon realise that what I do isn't all fun and games, it's hard work! So many people rely on me to be organized and able to run things smoothly. When it's your turn to become a member of society I want you to think back to this moment and then you'll realise just how wrong you were!"

"But… but… Mom!"

"I'm sorry, dear, but that's my final word. I have to go and that's that."

"What about… Ryan…"

"Ryan's my good boy, he understands! Don't you, sweetie?"

"Uh… sure, Mom. But maybe Shar has a-"

"Oh I knew I could count on you! Now you look after your sister, and make sure she doesn't go too wild with your Father's credit cards! He blamed me last time! I don't know where your sister gets these bad habits from. She's certainly nothing like me!"

All the while this had been going on; I'd been creeping closer to the front door until I was stood right by one of the enormous stone pillar's that framed the door way. The family had been getting closer as well, by now I could see them all stood in the entrance way surrounded by servants collecting the last of Mrs. Evans' bags. The older woman looked as glamorous as ever, in a white, Juicy Couture tracksuit and silver heels perfect for travelling in. Not.

Sharpay was stood opposite her, wearing only jeans and a t-shirt. Even though they were still obviously designer made, it was odd to see her wearing something so normal and looking so ordinary. But even when she wasn't trying at all she looked stunningly beautiful. Her hair was tied back in an untidy ponytail to keep it out of her face as she shouted at her Mom.

"Yeah, because we wouldn't want that now, would we?" Her Mom only tutted and shook her head in disappointment. Sharpay balled her fists up, wanting to yell some more, hit something, anything! But she couldn't. It was pointless because it was a battle she was going to lose. Mrs. Evans' bags were already in the limo, after all.

Ryan was stood in the middle, looking from one to the other as they argued. He looked distraught and completely helpless, I could see he wanted to do something, say something to defend his sister, but whatever he said his Mother took no notice. I watched as he reached into his jeans pocket and pull out a pair of tinted sunglasses. He slipped them on and stood staring out the front door at the clear blue sky, waiting for his Mother and Sister to finish their argument.

I wasn't sure what to do. I didn't want to interrupt, that would be very bad. But I didn't want to just stand here either, I felt like some creepy stalker just lurking.

The decision was quickly taken out of my hands as Ryan spotted me. He pushed his sunglasses down his nose and peered over the top of them at me. A smile split his face as he raced over to me.

"Oh, thank God you're here!" He hugged me fiercely to him. "Maybe they'll stop now that we have a guest." He grabbed my hand and led me inside. "Hey, Mom, look who is here! Gabriella, she's a friend of ours from school."

Both Sharpay and her Mom turned to look at me then. I felt my whole face turning red as I smiled and gave them a small, embarrassed wave. "Hi."

"Oh, Gabriella, darling! How nice to see you again! I must apologise, we were having a little discussion and it got rather out of hand!"

"It's called an 'argument', Mother!"

"I do hope you will forgive me, but I must dash. I have a flight to catch. Ciao all!" And just like that she was gone.

We waited in silence as her limo drove away down the drive. Ryan let go of my hand and rubbed his eyes. "I think that's a new record, Shar. How about you?" But Sharpay wasn't paying any attention to him, she was staring at me.

"What the hell are you doing here, Montez? I thought I told you not to come near me again!"

"Actually, what you said was 'The Theatre's my domain, so why don't you just go back to the science lab with the rest of the geeky losers.' Or something like that anyway." She didn't reply, just stared some more. Then suddenly she spun and marched off up the stairs. "Sharpay, wait! I came to talk to you!" She ignored me. I turned to Ryan, not sure as to whether I should follow her or not.

"Well? What are you waiting for, an invite? Because you aren't likely to get one! So just follow her!"

I sprinted after her, taking the stairs of their great marble staircase two at a time, which was quite a feat in itself.

"Sharpay," puff, pant, "Sharpay, please, wait!" gasp, "I came to tell you that I'm sorry." She stopped so suddenly I nearly ran into the back of her. "Thanks for waiting."

"Sorry for what?" She finally turned to face me.

"Sorry for… for everything! For interfering with your song, for stealing your stage, ruining your show, taking Troy from you," I seemed to be apologising for anything I could think of. "For staring at you, for falling in love with you, for kissing you- for letting you kiss me! For calling you a bitch, for calling you at all! For-"

"Wait, what did you say?" I froze.

"When?"

"After you apologised for staring at me."

"I'm sorry for kissing you?"

"No, no, before that. The thing about love… what was that?"

"Oh." I hadn't realised that had slipped out too. Stupid head, stupid mouth! I had no control over my own body what so ever.

"Did you mean that?"

"Did I mean I was in love with you or that I was sorry about it?"

"Both."

"Umm the first one, yes, the second one… I don't know. Do you want me to be?"

She shook her head. "I don't… know…"

We stood in silence for a long time, neither of us really sure what to say or do next. As I stared into her eyes, I felt something in my stomach, something restless and powerful that couldn't be ignored. It worked its way up into my heart and lungs, making it hard to breathe; which in turn made it hard to think. The feeling was in my veins, my blood stream, circulating all over my body. It was a fire so bright, so hot that finally I couldn't contain it.

I closed the gap between us in a single step and crashed my lips down on hers, pushing her back until I pinned her to the wall, not letting her escape from me this time. She wasn't allowed, she couldn't because if this thing inside me didn't get released then I'd burn up, from the inside out.

I kissed her hard, biting down on her bottom lip, forcing her mouth open with my tongue, fighting for control, trying to find a way… I tore my lips from hers then and kissed frantically down her throat, along her shoulder, biting down, making her hiss in pain. But I couldn't stop.

My hands were in her hair, fingers dragging, knotting, going deeper. I'd pulled the scrunchie out right away and let her beautiful hair fall on her shoulders. Then my hands were pushing her t-shirt up, searching for skin, sliding up her back, splaying out on the warm skin they found there.

When that wasn't enough, I pushed her t-shirt up further to reveal her stomach. I slid down her body and kissed any skin I could find, moving higher and higher. Then suddenly in a bid to regain control, she pulled me back up and crushed her lips to mine in a blistering kiss.

The fire wasn't dying down, it wasn't going away at all, in fact it was getting hotter by the minute. It didn't take long for it to become unbearable, that's when it exploded out of me. "I love you! I love you, I love you, I love you!" I couldn't stop it. Between every kiss I'd tell her again and again. The more I said it, finally telling her the truth about my feelings, the cooler the fire got until it was all burnt out and I was collapsed on her, panting and gasping for breath. Neither of us moved, we just stayed there, leant against the wall, arms holding each other tight. "I love you, Sharpay. I just can't help it."

"I know. But it doesn't change a thing. Too much has happened; too many people are talking… I just… I can't."

I felt myself nodding into her neck as the tears fell. "There's no one, no one but you. I just wanted you to know. I couldn't live with you hating me anymore. I just couldn't."

"I know, Gabs," she sighed heavily and I felt first one tear then another hit my neck. "I know."

Author Note: Well i hope you enjoyed that, guys =) review and lemmie know what you thought! Stay Cool and Peace Out =)