--The following night—
Sharpay was already in her sleeping clothes, covered by her robe. She performed her usual activity at night- sitting by the window and staring at the stars or reading a book. In her present case, it was reading a book.
She started reading Pride and Prejudice. Miss Darbus had required her and the whole class to read it.
She tried to focus on the book but her mind was used as a ball in a catch game; it's in this side and then it's suddenly on the other.
She thought of her new friends, her school, the teachers, and Troy.
Troy.
It rang again. Sharpay felt sudden irritation and slammed the book shut. She carelessly dropped the book on her desk. She let herself collapse to her bed. She stared at the ceiling, letting the song of the evening sing inside her head; the sound of the wind passing through the leaves of the trees, the cicadas and the crickets.
She dozed off to sleep in an instant.
--The next morning—
Sharpay got up and walked down to the dining room. Everyone was there. And that includes Alexandra.
She sat in her usual seat, beside Ryan. Their parents talked about the never ending accomplishments they make in their companies.
Derby Evans used to be a very famous supermodel; she was like the Tyra Banks during the 80's. But after she got pregnant with Alexandra, she quit the modeling career and started a new business; it's still in the field of fashion, of course. She started a new fashion clothing line. It was named after her surname before she was married to Vance Evans. We know this famous, expensive, classy, and glamorous line today as VALENTINO. Sharpay, Ryan and Alexandra really did get their Italian blood from Derby and they got their American blood for Vance.
Vance, on the other hand, is the CEO of transportation distribution. His company is the one who distributes Airplanes, Limos, Yachts, etc. to companies who ask for it. The EVANS Transportation Company is one of the best distributors and the most exclusive. The airplanes that are being sold at the Evans Transportation Company are the ones used for first class flights. Vance Evans was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Their parents kept babbling on and on about their business. Sharpay heard her mom say she is planning to add another line… while her father told her mother that a royal family actually ordered a yacht for their family vacation… it was nice to know how successful they currently were, but it was just extremely boring.
Suddenly, after what seemed like forever, they decided to stop talking business and started to talk to their kids.
"So, how was school yesterday?" Vance asked his children.
"Great. We made a lot of friends." Ryan said with a smile.
"Fantastic. Do we know them?" Derby asked
"I don't think so…" Ryan replied
Sharpay stared at her food. She slowly picked very tiny pieces up and popped it into her mouth.
"Well, why not you invite them over this weekend? You guys can have a slumber party. The guest house is vacant at the moment…" Derby suggested.
"What?! Mom, no! Please, no! Don't let their friends contaminate the house!" Alexandra begged with a sour, disgusted face.
"Oh please! The only thing that contaminates the house here is you!" Sharpay snapped back.
"Really? I'm the one who contaminates this place? Well, what do you call you two?! You just arrive here and suddenly think you own the place! And not to mention, steal everything I have at school!" Alexandra yelled back
"I am not trying to steal away the hatred people feel for you" Sharpay said softly.
Alexandra gasped, "They so don't hate me!" Alexandra defended herself
"You two, I love you both, but stop it already! I've had enough of your bickering. Ever since the day the twins got here, whenever you two see each other, it's either your yelling at each other or trying to wear your old man down… enough please." Vance said calmly
"Sorry, daddy" The sisters said dully.
Ryan chuckled.
Derby sighed and then smiled again, "Now, as I was saying, the slumber party would be a great idea for me and your father to know them. And, if Alexandra doesn't like to have them around, you children could all just stay in the guest house." Derby suggested.
"Well, I don't want to have them here." Alexandra said
"Then guest house it is!" Derby said.
"That sounds great! I'll go ask them today." Ryan replied.
--In School—
The gang was sitting in their usual place in the morning- In the back of Troy's truck. They were waiting for the twins to arrive, which probably won't take long since Ryan loves driving fast and they have a very fancy car.
A few minutes later, the Black Porsche parked beside Troy's truck. Everyone beamed. They all like Sharpay and Ryan, now. Well, all except one.
"Hey guys!" Ryan cheerfully greeted.
Ryan wore slacks, a navy blue polo shirt and a navy blue hat.
Sharpay, on the other hand, wore black skinny jeans, a navy blue dress shirt that fell to her thigh, and silver heels.
"Hey" They replied simultaneously
"Wow, Shar, you look amazing!" Gabriella commented as her eyes scanned her outfit.
"Thanks, Gabriella, you look amazing, too. I love your outfit" Sharpay commented her back.
Gabriella was wearing a yellow, strapless shirt that fell to her thigh and faded jeans with yellow doll shoes
"Thanks. And I told you to call me Gabby." She said with a smile,
"Oh right, sorry" Sharpay said.
Gabriella smiled.
"Anyway, are you guys available this weekend?" Ryan asked.
"Well, we're open to new suggestions. Why? Got something in mind?" Chad asked.
Troy secretly glared at his friend. Why is he actually acknowledging spending a weekend with these two?!
"Well, our mom suggested that all of you sleep over this weekend. Ya'll up for it?" Ryan asked them
"Oh gosh, we'd love to, Ryan!" Taylor said
"Yeah, we're in!" Chad said.
Now, Troy was furious at his friends.
"Fantastic! Be there at around 7 o'clock, 'kay?" Ryan said
"Yeah" they all said.
Then the bell rang.
--During Study Hall—
Sharpay was looking around in the campus, she explored around and searched for something that could get her attention for a while. She saw a staircase that led into an open place full of plants- as it seems.
She deliberated whether to go up or not, but she decided to go anyway, how could it hurt?
--
Troy heard clicking footsteps coming from below the staircase; he ignored it and continued to stare at the Mountain View.
The footsteps sounded like it was near but it didn't sound like it was walking towards him. He turned his head around and saw a specific blonde girl looking around. She didn't seem to have seen him at all, for she was looking around the plants without even stealing a glance in his direction.
He watched her intently, trying to put the pieces of his mind together. He knows he should be outraged and he knows that he should yell at her to make her stay away from his private place, but he didn't. He just watched her. Her graceful steps as she paced around, her hands swinging back and forth while her hair flowed with the wind.
She stopped at the very end of the path she was walking in. She held the railing as she breathed in the fresh mountain air and the site before her.
She looked beautiful. She is beautiful.
Troy quickly turned his head once he noticed that he was staring in interest. He could never admire another rich girl. Not again.
He grabbed his backpack and noiselessly went down the stairs without taking another glance at the girl.
--
"So, are you coming to the slumber party?" Gabriella asked Troy.
"I don't think so. No. Never" Troy replied as he stuffed his backpack with his books
"What? Well, why not?" Gabriella asked.
"Gab, you of all people should know why." Troy replied coldly
"Troy, let it go. That happened years ago. And, Sharpay and Ryan are good people, they're nothing like…" Gabriella reasoned.
"You can't be so sure of that just yet, Gabriella. Look at Alexandra! Sharpay and Ryan are no different. I'm sure of it." Troy cut her off
"No different? Troy, are you blind? Who invited us to their house as friends and not slaves? Who gives compliments in return instead of agreeing? Who thanks us for making them a part of our group even if we don't have the trendiest material objects? And who doesn't think that they are above everyone else and that their just like us?" Gabriella yelled, "I'm sure as hell it's not Alexandra."
Troy was caught off guard by Gabriella's outrage, he took deep breaths and looked her in the eye
"Look, Gabby, I'm just watching my back as strictly as possible this time. I don't want it to happen again…" Troy said with a pained expression.
Gabriella's face softened. She took a deep breath and looked him in the eye.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you, Troy. I'm your best friend and I just want you to be best friends with them, too. I should've understood you more… but, maybe, you could try to understand me better, too. I like them a lot. Me and Sharpay talk and we have so many similarities than you could ever imagine. They're great people, Troy. Give them a chance." Gabriella said with intent eyes
"Look, I know I should, Gabby. It's just that I don't think I can" Troy slammed his locker door shut and walked away, leaving Gabriella standing there alone.
--Saturday Night—
Sharpay was in her bedroom wearing a pink spaghetti strap dress that fell a few inches above her knee, and her robe. It was still 6:30pm and she didn't want to get dressed before their friends got here.
She looked out her window while she read her book.
Everyone was coming. Even Troy, Chad and Gabriella talked to his parents to let him go. His parents were curious at first but Chad and Gabriella told them about Troy not wanting to go because of the past incident, and they told them that it could help him get over it. So they agreed and ordered Troy to come.
Sharpay wasn't really sure how this was gonna go. A part of her just wanted to sleep and let them have their fun without her. But, she knew her mother, Ryan, and the girls would never allow it.
She continued to read when her brother came in.
"Hey Sharpay!" Ryan said with a smile
Sharpay closed her book and smiled at him,
"Hi Ryan" Sharpay answered formally,
"Why aren't you dressed up yet? I'm sure you won't wear that short dress for everyone to see, right?" Ryan asked as he sat on the edge of the bed
She giggled, "Of course! I'm just gonna get dressed when they arrive, I want to look fresh when they see me"
"Oh..Kay? Uh… good point!" Ryan said with a smile and they laughed together.
Suddenly, Alexandra burst into her room without even knocking.
"Hey, here's your sweater!" Alexandra said as she tossed it to her.
"You took my sweater?" Sharpay asked.
"Yeah" Alexandra said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I told you not to snoop around my room like that! And I also told you not to just take my clothes!" Sharpay slightly yelled.
Alexandra scoffed "Oh whatever! It doesn't matter anyway, I took it off the moment I put it on. It's loose on me. You might wanna cut it low on the carbs. You look bloated up." Alexandra said before she left the room.
Sharpay stared at space with worried eyes.
"Crap." Ryan muttered before he hovered.
He walked to Sharpay's side and held her shoulders.
"Shar, please don't…" Ryan begged
" Please don't what?" Sharpay asked as if she was afraid of what he was about to say even if she knew it.
"You've been doing so good in recovering from bulimia… don't ruin it just because of her! She hates you, remember? She'll say anything to make you feel bad."
"I know that, Ryan. Chill" Sharpay answered dully.
Before Ryan could say another word, the doorbell rang.
"That must be them. I need to change now" Sharpay said, with a still dull voice.
Ryan gave her a disparaging look before going downstairs and answers the door for their friends
Meanwhile, Sharpay looked at herself in her mirror with tears slowly falling down her face.
Sharpay was always sensitive when someone commented about her physical appearance. And calling her fat was just over the top for her.
It has been weeks since she last committed her crime. She was hesitant at first; her brother's words rang in her head: You've been doing so good in recovering bulimia, don't ruin it…
Her tears fell rapidly now, what she saw in the mirror made the choice for her.
She took a deep breath. Then, she stuck her finger down her throat, she bent down and held her hair in place as she vomited.
A/N: Wow! This is probably the longest chapter I've written so far. Yay!~ Please review! :D
LA2021~