Please READ; Important.

Okay, so i want to apologize for the wait. I've been trying to finish this chapter for the last couple of days. My exams are starting in 3 WEEKS! Which means an update might not come till a month from now or maybe more. These are incredibly important exams for me since they determine where i go in my life and so on. So yeah, if there's no update thats why. Sorry about that. But i will NOT be abandoning this story.

Another thing, i would like to thank everyone that reviewed the last chapter, it really does mean a lot that people are reading my fic. I hope you like this! It was originally finished differently but it was way to short so i decided to scrap it and add in the last scene wit Chad and Taylor since they havent been in the story all that much.

Anyways, hope you like it;)

Chapter Seven

Sharpay felt the room go cold as she saw Ryan and Gabriella standing there over near the door. They had looked happy, all smiles, even adorable; Sharpay couldn't help but add; however the happiness was wiped away when their eyes laid on the both of them.

She should have been worried about what this looked like to them, to Gabriella. She should have wondered if she and Troy looked like a couple towards them, if Gabriella would be jealous. Sharpay couldn't help but feel a small satisfaction at the idea of possibly looking like she was possibly in a relationship with Troy. However, there was only one thing, rather one person was on her mind. The minute Sharpay had taken note of Gabriella and Ryan; Sharpay's eyes had flicked straight over to Troy to see his reaction. He was tense, that much she knew. His eyes not so much filled with hate but there was a faint glare hidden behind them. She was worried about him yes, about his feelings but she couldn't help but hate the part of her – the bigger part of her that was more concerned for whether Troy wanted Gabriella still. She didn't want to feel like this, to feel like a guy was controlling her, to feel like her emotions ran along just one line but it was true. Troy had changed her, the way her thoughts and her emotions ran. They all ran in one line and that was to him.

Sharpay's hand began to reach for Troy's own but when she realised what she was doing, she stalled. She wasn't sure how Gabriella would take it – or how Troy would react. Although, Troy was extremely friendly with her anyway, he would put his arm around her, around her waist, hold her hand, sometimes he would randomly pull her in for a hug and refuse to let go, Sharpay revelled in the beauty of it all. She had to stop herself from wondering what if? What if they were a couple? What if it was her Troy loved? But all that lead too was whimpering's and tears on Sharpay's part.

She glanced back at him, he responded almost immediately and looked back at her. She smiled lightly then turned to look at Gabriella and Ryan who were still standing in the archway of the entrance, ignoring the hostess who was trying to direct them to a table. She gave them a small smile and waved, Gabriella waved back, although it took her a few seconds to respond, she was hesitant. Sharpay then quickly looked at Troy, Troy didn't know what to do, he knew exactly what Sharpay was about to do any minute now, he felt he knew her so well now. He wasn't sure if he was mad at her or…thankful? As much as he hated to admit it, he missed Ryan and he wanted his friend back. He missed Gabriella too, though she had always been more of a friend then a girlfriend to him.

Sharpay nodded, placed her hand over his for a brief second as if to calm him, she then turned her attention back to Ryan and Gabriella and beckoned for them to come over and join them.

Gabriella's eyes expanded until they couldn't no more, she whipped her head around to Ryan to see what he thought of it, but he was just as surprised as Gabriella was. Gabriella made a step forward but Ryan held her back, gripping his hand on her wrist. Gabriella looked at him questioningly.

"Ryan, what-" Ryan nodded his head towards Troy who was looking either neutral or completely blank towards him. There was no hatred but Troy hadn't exactly had a punch-up with him, therefore he was afraid Troy was going to attack him over the table. Gabriella looked towards Troy, almost pleadingly. Troy rolled his eyes and looked at Sharpay. She nodded.

"Please, Troy. Please do this." She lightly begged. He sighed yet smiled, gestured his head towards Ryan and Gabriella, nodding for them to come over.

Gabriella beamed, hoping this meant Troy was okay with her now, maybe it was foolish on her part – or maybe it was just hope. Ryan wasn't sure what to think, he didn't want to lose Troy as a friend but Gabriella meant the world to him, he'd regretted the day he had introduced her to him, missing out on the years he could have confessed his feelings. He sighed and sat down besides Gabriella, opposite Sharpay. She smiled lightly, aware that this was going to be awkward but still he was grateful for her, he knew Troy wouldn't have allowed this if she hadn't of been here.

There was an awkward silence that set in, Gabriella picked up her drink and placed back again several different times, Troy was trying not to clench his fist and shout obscenities and he wasn't so stupid, he realised the reason he wasn't doing that exact thing right now was because of one blonde girl, sitting next to him at this apparent moment in time. Ryan was flicking his eyes between Troy and Sharpay whilst Sharpay messed with her nails and continued to flatten her hair every now and then.

"So…Ryan erm…Troy tells me your working on some new building? Awesome?" She realised how ridiculous the conversation starter was but she needed to break the silence and take away the tenseness too. She wanted it to evaporate into thin air. Ryan cleared his throat and laid his attention on her.

"Erm…yeah. Some hotshot, rich guy needs a new building. You know along with several others he already has." Sharpay rolled her eyes, it was the exact kind of thing her father would do. Gabriella gave out a light laugh.

"I can't stand people like that. They are always the worst people to set examples and the worst parents. Ironically, their children are always the most rude and self obnoxious people ever." She smiled and Ryan nodded in agreement. Sharpay felt her heart give out and thump louder. She knew they didn't mean her directly, but what about when she had been at school? She had never been intentionally mean to anybody, she had never revelled in the cliques or been desperate to be friends with the fabulous people of the school who underneath were just complete and utter bitches. But she did wonder, did she ever come across as one to anybody? Rich daddy, bitchy mommy equals I'm-so-far-up-myself-its-ridiculous daughter? Had anybody ever assumed she was like that, just from the outside?

"Not always." Troy had stayed silent up until now. As soon as they had begun to talk about rich parents and their demon children, his eyes had glanced towards Sharpay, she had immediately blushed red and bit her lip, a sure sign of nervous for her, he had picked up over the following months.

"Sorry?" Gabriella had asked quietly apologizing for not hearing him, something told Ryan that wasn't the only reason she was apologizing though. Troy sighed and huffed annoyingly as though it was a complete pain in the ass to have to talk to her.

"You said 'rich kids are always the most rude and self obnoxious people.' I said 'not always' because you're wrong." He was glaring now, unintentionally but he was mad, they were disrespecting Sharpay and he didn't like that.

"Okay then, so name one person whose got complete Asses and snobs as parents and who are possibly decent human beings? Name one?" Ryan hadn't meant it to come out so harsh, it was a joke he and Troy had always had, rich kids are dicks, that was what they would say all the time during high school and he didn't like the way Troy was looking at his girlfriend.

"Alright, I'll name you one. Sharpay." He said it with such ice in his voice, it made Sharpay shiver and it would have made Gabriella too if she hadn't been so shocked and gasped to loud, she blushed and looked at Sharpay, who was smiling softly as though to tell her it was okay. She smiled back apologetically. Troy barely took notice, he was glaring at his old friend and Ryan was glaring back.

"And how do you know?" Ryan questioned, not harshly just questionable. Troy scoffed.

"Because I met her parents." He was slouching in his chair, a clear line that he was irritated. Ryan let out a harsh laugh.

"See, now that ironic. You met Sharpay's parents – the girl you claimed you had no feelings for yet you never met Gabriella's." He arched an eyebrow, as if to challenge Troy. He was sick of him freezing him out, he wanted his friend back and yes, maybe this wasn't the best way to go about it but if fighting with Troy was a way of getting his friend to talk to him, he would take anything.

"No. What's ironic is the day I met Sharpay's parents, is the day I found out about you two." There was an awkward silence that fell over the table. Sharpay stopped herself from grabbing Troy's hand, she wasn't sure whether to be thrilled – Troy had stood up for her or whether to be heartbroken, Ryan had just revealed Troy had no feelings for her and of course feel bad for her new-found friend, Troy had just but Gabriella on the spot. Gabriella felt a soft tear leak down her face; she hated herself for the mess she had created. "See. Ironic." At that point, Troy stood up, threw his napkin on the table along with several cash notes and walked out of the restaurant.

Sharpay wanted to follow him out of the restaurant but what would that have said to Ryan and Gabriella, proved everything Ryan had thought he knew when in initial fact he was wrong? What about Gabriella, she was obviously hurt at what she had accused Sharpay of, she hadn't known any better. Did Gabriella come first or Troy?

"Sharpay, its okay. Go after him. I know you want too." Sharpay looked at Gabriella, had she been that obvious? The shock was written all over her face, her cheeks colouring had deepened so much that Gabriella couldn't help but let out a faint giggle as she wiped another tear that had threatened to fall, away. Sharpay glanced at Ryan and he nodded. She nodded back and smiled slightly. Just as she had gotten up and was ready to walk away, the pair of them stopped her in unison. Ryan went first.

"Sharpay, I'm sorry about all that. I want you to know this isn't about you, I just…I want my friend back." He glanced at Gabriella before continuing. "And I know what I did was wrong, I know that I just…" Sharpay grinned the biggest grin she could muster at the apparent time.

"You just love her and you couldn't help it." Ryan coughed and Gabriella turned to look at him, blushing. "Its okay, it's written all over your face. I hope your happy and I know right now it doesn't seem that way, but I know Troy wants you to be happy too." Gabriella grinned and stood up so she could pull her into a hug.

"You're a great girl, Shar." She smiled.

"Thank you, I just wish Troy could see that." She had said it more to herself, not intending Gabriella to hear her but she had. Instead of commenting on it though, Gabriella merely shook her head softly, sighing. Sharpay had no idea.

"I love you, Shar." Yeah, if only Troy could love me too…

That time, Sharpay did say it to herself.

Sharpay had followed Troy out of the restaurant; he had been outside the building not wanting to leave without her, since he had brought her here and they had come together. She had smiled softly when she saw him, taking him into her arms, hoping to God he was okay. He had mentally thanked her. Hugging her, well, it had made his, once again, fucked up world settle back into place. Sharpay wiped the tables; she'd been working at Margaret's Pancake House for a good few months now. She couldn't believe she had been living with Troy for almost four months now. Time flew by past as far as she was concerned. She hadn't really heard from her mother that much since the disastrous Country Club gathering. Her mother had of course, called her a few days later to primly yell at her about not being on her best behaviour the entire day and of course to moan, complain and disapprove of Troy. Sharpay had so badly wanted to tell her mother to fuck off, but knew she couldn't, she didn't have the strength to tell her mother that. She'd wanted to tell her mother to fuck off since the day she learned the word and what it meant. Her father hadn't been so bad, she'd spoken to him briefly, he didn't think much of Troy either since he wasn't in business, he did however approve of Troy's job, since he was an architecture and had no doubt been involved in building one of his buildings. Her father believed, a man who got his hands dirty wasn't a man of wealth and therefore not worth his time, her parents were of old money which meant they had pretty much never done anything for themselves ever. Her Grandmother Pearl was alright though, in fact she was great, she said she saw a lot of herself in Sharpay. It was her father where all the money had started, her mother was apparently just like Sharpay's – a stuck up Bitch. Her grandmothers words not her.

As Sharpay was just clearing up somebody's leftover greasy hamburger and pancakes that were soaked up in syrup, Taylor walked through the doors, Chad along with her. She quickly placed the dirty dishes on the side, ready for somebody else to clean them. She squealed like a little girl, she felt like she hadn't seen Taylor for ages and felt like had it had been even longer since she had seen Chad. She ran over and hugged them both, excited to see the pair of them. They laughed and hugged them back.

"What are you guys doing here?" She grinned, she loved the both of them so much, and she thought Taylor and Chad were the most adorable couple ever, typical love/hate relationship but it worked for them.

"We wanted to see you, silly. Chad's been asking for you, he needs his Shar fix." She giggled and Chad laughed, nodding so his hair bounced up and down.

"And, were kind of hungry." Taylor slapped in his gut, making him cry out in pain. Sharpay raised her eyebrow but laughed all the same. She grabbed some menus from the counter and led them to a corner booth.

"Here you go, order whatever you want. It's on me. I've missed you guys so much!"

"Shar, you don't need to do that."

"Hey, free food Tay!" Chad laughed, joking but still received a kick under the table. He murmured his 'ows' beneath his breath. Sharpay had to cover her mouth to stifle a giggle.

"Well, will you be able to join us for a bit?" Taylor asked, Sharpay glanced behind her to see if Margaret was in for the day and then glanced at her watch.

"I suppose I'll be able to sit out for fifteen minutes or so. I'll see if Michelle can cover me." Taylor grinned and thanked her; Sharpay shook her head as if to say 'it was no problem'. "Now what can I get you guys?" Taylor studied the menu over before reaching a decision.

"Well, I will have some waffles with maple syrup and Chad will have…" She took a while to glance over the menu before coming across the perfect meal for him. "He will have the double stack of pancakes, extra dressing of syrup, chocolate sauce and a lump of ice cream on the side please."

"Damn, Tay. You know me so well." That order had been the first thing that had caught Sharpay's attention. Sharpay had left to go order their order and began asking other customers what they wanted, after about ten minutes Chad and Taylor's order was up. Sharpay decided to take their order to them personally since Michelle had agreed to cover her and she grabbed a Banana milkshake she had made for herself.

"Here you go." Sharpay said whilst placing the food in front of them. Taylor moved up the booth so Sharpay could get in, which she thanked her for. She took a hug sip of her shake and groaned at how gorgeous it tasted. Taylor raised her eyebrow.

"Long morning?" Sharpay nodded and sat comfortably.

"Long week." Sharpay had filled Taylor in all that had gone on with Troy, Gabriella and Ryan that night with dinner. Chad had heard about it from Troy at work, so he already knew. He was beginning suspect that maybe Troy had feelings for Sharpay but he didn't dwell on the thought, he hadn't really seen them interact together all that much.

"Troy being a grumpy twat?" Taylor asked, bluntly. Taylor liked Troy but she didn't like the way things were starting to affect her friend with him, since she knew how much Sharpay liked him although Sharpay hadn't outright admitted it, she knew her friend.

"No. I'm just worried about him, you know? I mean, I know he's hurting because of the whole thing. But I don't want him hating Ryan and Gabriella forever because I know he doesn't, he's just too stubborn to forgive them. If that's the right word?" Taylor nodded in understanding and looked at her friend with sympathy. It was obvious to anybody how much Sharpay cared for Troy. Chad had stayed silent for pretty much most of the conversation, since they were talking about his best friend.

"Look, Troy does forgive Gabriella and Ryan. Before he met Gabriella, he always thought Ryan liked her despite him never admitting it. He's just surprised that they would do this too him. He does forgive them, he just needs time. It hurts him to see them, not because of what they've done but because of who they are and what they mean to him." Chad looked deep in thought whilst talking, Taylor looked surprised as did Sharpay but nevertheless she smiled at Chad and placed her hand over his to thank him.

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