Chapter 6:
Sharpay didn't know what to do. He was going to be in that room. He was going to be with her at every secret morning practice. How could she look at those gorgeous beautiful blue eyes and pretend that she didn't. She couldn't hide it, the only man she had ever wanted was on the other side of the stupid wooden door she was standing in front. What crazy idea embedded itself in her head making her think she could actually do this?
Shaking her head Sharpay turned to walk away knocking over the tall basketball hunk over in the process. He was late, to her practice. If he didn't just catch her trying to sneak away herself, she would give him a piece of her mind. It was something about seeing him with his guitar case in hand that made her even more uneasy about this whole band thing.
"As I was informed," Troy started to say as he picked himself off the floor looking at his instrument, "Sharpay Evans is the star of this band. It would be nothing without you. So tell me, why is she running away. What are you running from?"
"You don't know anything about me!" Sharpay snapped, "I don't have time for some shitty ass band." Holding her head high Sharpay started to storm away, it would be best for herself, if she didn't have to have a daily reminder of how sexy Bolton was with the water still dripping from his hair because it was obvious he had just got up, jumped in the shower, and ran to school. She didn't need to remember that her father is the only man she will ever be able to give herself to, well, if she wanted to live anyways. But her body betrayed her as the tears started to fall from her eyes and she just dropped to her knees.
"Then let me." With a gentle hand on her back, Troy knelt down to talk to the broken blond. "Tell me what the all important Sharpay Evans has to do at seven in the morning. Let me know you."
She didn't know what to say. His hand felt so warm and inviting, placed comfortingly on her shoulder. She just wanted to bathe in his scent. She wanted to stay here in this moment. She wanted to feel like more than just a piece of meat that gets thrown to the dogs after its use. She wanted to believe that she didn't deserve the life that she had been dealt. She wanted to believe that she could change it all. She wanted to believe in something, anything but what was waiting for her at home, anything but the truth.
"That song, those lyrics. We all feel pain, we all feel trapped, but you voice the torture everyone feels. You have a voice people want to hear. I think you need this more then you are willing to admit. Sharpay you belong in this band, if I am the..."
"Its not you." Sharpay wiped the tears. "Its my father..." She turned around and faced him She couldn't tell him the truth. "He told me I have to study more... I am practically failing all my classes. And the last thing I need is another distraction."
"Then tell him, its scientifically proven those involved in musical extracurricular activities do better in science and math. It gets the intellectual juices going." Troy winked at her as she turned around and looked at the door to the music room. There was something in her eyes that cried out for an angel. And if it was the last thing he did, he was going to help her, he was going to be her angel.
Extending his hand to her, Troy smiled. He knew what it was like to try and hide from a parent, to try and be better, to always fight to impress. His dad wanted him to play basketball and only worry about basketball, but the more he played the damn sport, the more he hated it. He loved music. It was a way to express himself and to relieve the stress and pain he got from everything. He could tell that Sharpay needed this band, needed the music, needed the strength it had always given him. And more importantly he knew the music needed her even more.
Ryan and Kelsi waited in the music room knowing that Sharpay and Troy were just in the hallway. Knowing that it would be awkward if they walked out to try and fix things,they figured that it would be best to let the two of them work it out themselves. Instead they just focused on created a new beat, a new sound, a pop-funk rock that would be addicting to anyone who heard it.
"I don't know Kels," Ryan said staring at the small flyer in her hands. " A few months is not nearly enough time to prepare for a performance, let alone a competition. We have one song, and we haven't even performed it collectively yet. Most of the other local bands have been together for years, they would cream us"
"I don't know Ry, your sister is an amazing lyricist. Just hear her sing what she wrote. There is this secret emotion behind every word. She had me mesmerized. I mean I have never heard her really sing from the heart until I heard her sing that song. I am sure the four of us can write another song or two. And the talent show is next month we can test out the audience there, see how everyone responds to our music."
Kelsi was the one who helped Mrs. Darbus write all the musicals. She loved music, but it was time that she stood out for her own music. She was ready to step out of the sidelines and these were the three that she wanted to do it with. She was a senior in high school and still had to leave her mark in the memories of her classmates. It was time for all four of them to standout. Although she wasn't sure who had more to prove, her or Sharpay.
"Sorry I am late. I had a run in with my father. I swear he should just buy me a leash with all his demands," Sharpay said sarcastically as she strolled into the room with Troy following a footstep behind.. It was going to be just pure torture to have to see him ever morning she was absolutely sure of it, but this was a torture she might be able to tolerate. Feeling his eyes on her she turned to see her brother and Kelsi looking at a lil piece of paper? "Is there something someone wants to tell me?"
"I have signed us up for the talent show next month!" Kelsi stated trying to hide her excitement.
"Sure ignore the big detail to my dear sis." Ryan rolled his eyes. He knew that his father had many investments in this town, including the night club scene. Even if they could get into the battle of the bands, he didn't want to run into his father. He was really starting to get chills every time that he saw the man that gave him his DNA. HE couldn't help but think that there was just some minor detail that he was overlooking, something he should really know.
"Big detail?"
"Fantasy night club is having a battle of the bands in three months. My sister tends bar there and I think I could get her to sneak us in. I mean I think that your song is amazing. I think we could be great. I am so tired of sitting around watching everyone else experience high- school as I sit on the sidelines. It is time for me, for us to do something we can all believe in, something we can all be proud of."
"i absolutely agree," Troy agreed snapping open his guitar case. He smile at everyone as he picked up his guitar. He challenged Sharpay with his every movement. He never imagined being in a band with the ice princess, and he didn't think she would actually lower her standards to stay in it. But he wanted to see how it all panned out.
"We don't have a name, we don't even have the music, we have nothing," Ryan protested looking at his sister for help or guidance.
"We can meet her every morning. IF we are good at what we do, the music will make itself... and the band name will just form..." Kelsi wanted this, she knew she needed it. She knew Sharpay needed it. It was just a matter of getting everyone else to believe, for them to listen.
"Ice," Troy suggested. "Its simple and memorable... And fits one of us perfectly." He couldn't help but grin as he saw Sharpay put her hands on her waist in protest. She stayed silent, and he knew he was right. She had done nothing in her life but make fun of and push everyone away. The only thing she cared about was being the center of attention.
"Ry, give me a lil beat"
"Shar I think that this is something...
"Dying Inside I needed hope
Trying to fade I needed you
I looked the other way
when all along you knew
the only truth though it all
I was flying, soaring
just trying to cope"
Troy smiled at her as he picked up the beat of her voice and started to strum along. This was it. This is the music they stood for. A rock anthem to all of the people who felt disconnected and out of hope. But more than that... He realized that every song she ever wrote, she let out a little of her secret. The ice princess herself had something she never wanted anyone to find out. She was harboring something that destroyed her inside out, and it was time that someone reached out to her.
"Flying on angels wings,
inner strength and peace collide.
I am no longer the victim
my soulless voice sings
The endless pain I try to hide
Slowly fades with the dawn
a new day wont be too long
the pain will be nothing"
Ryan looked at Kelsi and started tapping the drum sticks to the melody Troy had picked up on. Before Sharpay even reached a second verse everyone was playing along. It was the silent agreement that all of them were in this together. This was it, they were ice.
"A longing for something more
A cry for someone, anyone
and here you come to me
Shining like the endless sun
your heart set me free
I don't know anything anymore
my soul has been shaken to the core"
"Flying on angels wings,
inner strength and peace collide.
I am no longer the victim
my soulless voice sings
The endless pain I try to hide
Slowly fades with the dawn
a new day wont be too long
the pain will be nothing"
"The world seems new
I feel better than ever
And you are my reason
You have changed me forever
I no longer feel sad or blue
no more fearing the changing of the seasons
My soul real, there is a future in my truth"
"Flying on angels wings,
inner strength and peace collide.
I am no longer the victim
my soulless voice sings
The endless pain I try to hide
Slowly fades with the dawn
a new day wont be too long
the pain will be nothing"
She couldn't stop the tears that started to form. Here she was again a blubbering mess, all because her dad wanted to fuck her over in as many ways as he could. She wanted nothing more to do with him. She needed to get away, she would live on the streets if she had to. In this moment, she decided, she was not going to let him hurt her ever again.
"Shar?" Ryan's voice was almost a whisper as the music stopped and everyone turned to look at his sister.
Just as he was about to go to his sister to school bell rang and all four of them were late for class. He looked at her and then at the others. HE had never seen his sister cry, but there is always a first time for everything.
"Just go," Sharpay said as she turned her back on everyone refusing comfort from anyone of them. She had a new life to figure out. She had to find some place to go, or figure a way to sleep here in her music room. The one place she felt in tune with herself.
