It has been a complete hassle for the girls during their preparation time for dinner. They had many outfit choices and they can't let themselves stick to one. After many hours, they finally found what they really want.

Sharpay wore a venetian red tube dress that fell to her knees, with matching silver strappy heels; Gabriella wore dark green spaghetti strapped dress that fell a few inches above her knees with white platform heels; and Taylor was wearing a tight yellow long sleeved dress that ended above her knees, matching it with yellow pumps.

They inspected how they looked in the mirror and gave a nod of approval. They walked out and saw the guys doing the same.

Taylor practically drooled over Chad. He was wearing jeans, a white shirt and a black blazer, and black leather shoes. He never really dresses this way. Which is why she was appalled.

Gabriella was having a hard time not looking at Ryan. He was wearing a blue dress shirt, black slacks and black leather shoes, finishing the look off with a blue hat.

Charming!

"You guys ready to go?" Ryan asked them all.

"Yes" they replied simultaneously. Chad offered his arm to Taylor, she gladly did. Ryan did the same thing to Gabriella, and she shyly accepted, as well.

That's when Sharpay noticed Troy's absence.

"Hey guys, where's Troy?" Sharpay asked. That's when Troy arrives from inside the boys' room.

Sharpay's gaped at his appearance; he was wearing black jeans, a white dress shirt with a black tie, and black sneakers. His hair was still wet, causing it to be a bit darker than his usual sandy brown. The darkness of his hair made his blue eyes sparkle.

Gabriella and Taylor shared a look and giggled. The sound made Sharpay look away from Troy sheepishly.

"I'm ready to go!" Troy said happily. When he noticed everyone smirking at him, he raised his eyebrow.

"What?" He asked innocently. They just shook their heads and headed to the elevators.

Troy put his hands in his pockets and looked at Sharpay, who was looking at the floor.

"So, do I look decent enough? I was the last to finish preparing, and I hope I don't look like I rushed." He said.

"No, you look great!" Sharpay said too quickly. Troy sent a smirk in her way,

"I mean, you look…okay. You look decent" Sharpay 'corrected' herself.

Troy chuckled, "Thanks, Shar. Shall we?" He asked as he let out his arm, which she gladly took.

--

Dinner time was filled with laughter and chatter. They talked about business, school and other current events. The waiters took their orders and went off to the kitchen, rushing. They knew better than to let the Evans wait.

Sharpay socialized softly with her aunt, Sharon; they talked about Sharpay moving in to Albuquerque, her first day to a new school, and her friends. Sharon would compliment how grown up she was, and she would steal glances at Troy, who was absently resting his hand on Sharpay's knee, every now and then.

Sharpay looked around, and saw that her Grandmother looking at her with a furtive glint in her eyes; causing Sharpay to gulp.

She looked away quickly, still feeling her gaze. Luckily, the food came in and everyone turned their attention to the food.

When Sharpay got her plate of lamb steak, she cut the meat and picked it up with her fork, she was about to put it in her mouth when her Grandmother spoke up,

"Sharpay, I cannot stand seeing you scarf down that calorific meat! Put that down!"

Everyone turned to look at the two females. Ryan and Troy froze; Alexandra was shocked at first, but then turned smug; and the rest were appalled.

"I'm sorry," she muttered as she put down her fork and stared at her lap for a second. Grandma Evans scoffed, and picked up her wine glass, "Goodness, no wonder you look dreadfully large", she said before drinking.

Sharpay bit her lip. She stared at the meat she was about to eat and couldn't help but agree. The meat shined with the oil and juices that were on it.

Gabriella and Taylor shifted awkwardly in their seats; they ordered the same food.

"Um, mother" Vance addressed, "I assure you that Sharpay is healthy and has a proper diet. Their nanny, Dorota, ensures that" He said reassuringly.

"Well, dear, it seems like she didn't do her job well" Grandma Evans said, swirling the white wine in her glass. Alexandra saw Sharpay flinch in her seat, and felt glorious.

"What have you done to yourself, Sharpay?" she asked in pity.

"Mom…" Sharon warned her mother, "We are gathered here today to be a family. Let's at least try to act like one".

Grandma Evans chuckled, "I am trying… but it is clear that the Evans family has a reputation to live up to, and sadly, she does not live up to it. She can see how much she's grown, and yet she still eats such fattening food. It's shameful! We have images to build! I mean, look at Alexandra! She is very exquisite, and very talented; naturally. I do not see Sharpay trying anything to bring us pride at all." She defended herself; acting innocent.

"Mother!" Vance cried angrily as he slammed his fist to the table; followed by a loud noise and the bell like sounds caused by the plates and silverwares.

Everyone was silent.

Sharpay took a deep breath; trying her best not to let her grandmother's words hit her. But, it can't be. Her words hit her very badly.

"Um, excuse me" Sharpay said as she pushed her chair off the table and stood up. She walked towards the exit of the private room; however, the same time she did, a waiter was walking in while carrying a big serving of pie, about to give it to her family.

"I'll take that, thank you" she said as she grabbed the pie without any intentions of stopping. A few seconds later, she was out of sight.

The waiter looked at the family with curious glances but decided to leave them be when he saw the distraught look on their faces. All except for two.

Ryan closed his eyes in distress. This happened before; and after it happened, was the time of Sharpay's first confinement to the hospital. He wanted to follow her and try to stop her; but he knew it wouldn't work. Sharpay would still do it when he leaves her alone- she was very stubborn.

Troy felt speechless. He didn't know what to do, what to think, and what to feel. He shook his head and stared at the floor. He glanced at everyone else at the table; Gabriella and Taylor looked worried, Chad looked frozen, Sharon and their uncle, Ralph, were just looking down, Derby and Vance were very angry, but only Vance showed it, Derby was more concerned about her daughter; Alexandra looked awkward, but there were no signs of concern, their grandmother just continued to eat like nothing was wrong.

And lastly, he saw Ryan. His face was paler than usual; and his eyes were glassy. You could tell he was clenching his jaw, and his eyebrows were crumpled. Troy knew the reason why.

So much for a peaceful dinner,

---

A/N: (VERY IMPORTANT) I'm not sure if the medical terms I put in here are correct, or even true. I just made things up to go along with the story; so please don't believe what I write just yet. Ask a professional.

Sharpay arrived at her hotel room, with tears streaming down her face. She put the pie on the mini bar before she leaped to her bed where she sobbed her eyes out.

She kept crying for many minutes before she gained some control. She sat herself up and felt her stomach grumble. She hadn't really eaten that much today; and the drama with Troy made her forget about eating for quite a while.

She headed towards the mini bar and grabbed the pie and a fork. Then, she walked to the bathroom and shut the door closed, locking it.

Not letting another minute pass, she stabbed the pie using the fork and ate as much as she could; no longer taking any bites. Once the food is in her mouth, she swallows and swallows. She was indeed binging. The doctor had told her to take things slow when eating. Her stomach has grown slightly weak, and couldn't tolerate just any kind of digestion. But, she was going against all that now.

After a while, she had finished the whole pie. She looked at herself in the mirror, and saw the pie's filling stained in her face. She cried harder as she wiped them away. She felt a stinging pain in her stomach and knew she had gone overboard. Not thinking, she poked her throat using her finger. Automatically, she felt the acid collect in her throat and quickly the vomit poured from out her mouth.

It hurt her a lot. The acid hurting her throat, and the feeling of your stomach being emptied hit her all at once. She gripped the marble counter that held the faucet tightly, as if holding on for dear life.

She couldn't stop the vomit from pouring down. She wanted it to stop! But it wouldn't. It was happening again. She knew she'd disappoint Ryan and Troy, and maybe everyone else if they knew. But, she couldn't think of that now. She had to try to at least stop the gagging.

After numerous attempts, it finally came to an end. Sharpay was sure she didn't stop it; she must've vomited all the contents of her stomach. She washed her face clean after.

Feeling tired, she let herself slide down the wall. Feeling sleep, or whatever stage of consciousness hits her whenever she feels this way, dawn over her.

--

The gang walked up to their rooms quietly. Everyone was worried about Sharpay, especially Ryan. When they reached their room, Ryan spoke up.

"Guys, I'm really sorry for what happened during dinner" He apologized. Everyone looked at him, with concerned looks on all their faces.

"It's alright, Ryan. I guess it was just wrong timing…" Gabriella said. Everyone agreed.

"Thanks, but still, I'm still sorry you had to see that." He said with a pained expression as he shook his head whilst looking down.

"Hey, like what Gabby said, it's okay… we're your friends, we're here for you, man. Always" Chad reassured him.

"Thanks," He said with a smile. "Do you mind if I check on Sharpay alone first?" He asked them; they nodded.

Gabriella and Taylor gave him one of the keys they were provided with. He used it to open the door, and when he did. He closed the door, but not completely. He slowly scanned the room, looking for his sister. When he was sure she wasn't in the bedroom, he carefully opened the bathroom- afraid of what he'll see.

He was right.

The sight was the one he dreaded the most. Sharpay was unconscious on the floor, with an empty pie tray near the sink. Ryan ran towards her and hurriedly checked her pulse-just in case.

He felt a faint pounding on her wrist, and he was relieved. But, not just yet.

He heard the door open, and light footsteps from outside the bathroom.

He braced himself from what would happen next. "Ryan, are you in here?" he heard Gabriella from the other side. Before he could reply, the door burst open, revealing a curious and suddenly shocked looking Gabriella.

"Ryan!? What the hell!" She exclaimed as she threw herself on the floor next to them.

Gabriella's cry was heard from outside the room, and caused Taylor, Chad and Troy to rush to where they were.

They were shocked to see an unconscious Sharpay on the floor, being cradled by Gabriella while Ryan brought out his cell phone.

Troy felt traumatized. He never thought he'd see Sharpay in this condition. Taylor leaped towards her, too; touching her arms and forehead as if it could do any good.

"Ryan, what's wrong with her?" Chad demanded. Chad had always felt protective of Sharpay in a friendly and brother-like way. It most started when he was trying to convince Troy that the Evans twins were good people, and things went on by themselves pretty much from there.

"She's not feeling well. We need to get her to the hospital" Ryan said in a serious tone as he walked out of the bathroom and started packing some things Sharpay will need.

"Should I go tell your parents?" Troy spoke for the first time.

"NO! They shouldn't know about this" Ryan yelled at Troy.

"But why not?" Gabriella asked,

Ryan didn't reply at first, thinking what he should say, "I'll explain everything in the hospital. Troy, call the front desk and ask them to get us a car. Now, please" he said. Troy did as he was told.

After a few minutes, they carried Sharpay to the lobby, earning stares from a couple of people. They were very thankful that the other Evans' were already sleeping in their hotel rooms.

--

Gabriella, Chad, Taylor and Troy were seated at the blue leather chairs of the hospital's waiting area, while Ryan talked to the nurse.

Gabriella felt uneasy; she didn't have a clue what was wrong with Sharpay. She somehow felt ashamed of herself for not knowing this side of Sharpay. She thought she knew all she needs to know, but it seems that she was wrong.

Ryan walked over to them and sat beside Gabriella. "What did the nurse say?" She asked.

"She's being treated right now, but we can't visit her until she gets her rest." He answered glumly

"Ryan, we want to know what's going on" Taylor said. Ryan sighed in defeat and told them everything.

Troy listened half-heartedly; he was staring at space with his face blank. Ryan finished telling his story and everyone was dumbfounded.

Silence took over them, until Chad spoke up.

"So, what are we gonna do? What about your parents? And what if the hospital won't release her just yet? We're going back to Albuquerque tomorrow… and if she isn't free to go, then what will we say? You already made it clear that we shouldn't tell anyone" He said.

"We'll make up a lie, that's all we can do" Ryan answered.

Everyone nodded and waited for a resolution that would hopefully come.

Author's Note: There! I finally updated! I'm sorry for not updating sooner! I hope you like this chapter! Please review!

With Hearts,

LA2021~