Hey everyone, I'm so sorry for the delay in updating this. I actually forgot I'd even created this story until today! I will try to update more frequently.
Enjoy!
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I wince as bright lights overtake my vision. Brown hair comes in and out of focus as I slowly realise I'm slumped on the floor against my locker, as if my body just gave way and let me fall. I hear muffled voices and flinch away from them. Blond hair and a pink striped shirt appear above me and Ryan's voice barks at the crowd around me and the people slip away into the endless throng of teens milling about the hall. He sits beside me, not speaking a word but his intention is clear. Keep Sharpay safe.
I groan and rub my eyes trying to get my eyes to focus on anything. "Shar?" I hear Ryan ask and I stare at him blankly trying to get my foggy brain to sharpen enough to reply. But I can't. I sit there mutely, unable to even think straight, let alone talk. I have no idea how much time passes but the hallway calms, going silent and I suddenly become highly aware of another person leaning against the lockers to my left. Brown hair falls into my field of vision again and warm brown eyes follow. My mind finally grasps at words and I slur "Ryan, Gab..ella, wha she doi…ing here? Go way" my arm loosely flops about as if it's trying to shoo her away. Her melodic voice fills my ears "is she ok?". I stare at her "duh, I'm…. uh fine" my voice shakes slightly but my speech is clearer. Gabriella stares at me and then at Ryan, who I feel shrug. I twist back towards him "I'm fine" I state more firmly. His blue eyes meet mine and he looks at me questioningly "where have you been?" he asks and I laugh. "At school duh". Gabriella takes a sharp intake of breath and I turn back and glare at her. "Why are you still here? Shoo" I snap and she flinches "We've been looking for you since this morning" she growls back at me and I roll my eyes "whatever".
I stare at my body that's still half heartedly slumped against the locker and push myself back against it, preparing to stand. Gabriella reaches out and touches me and before I can even comprehend how to react, I hear someone scream "let go of me" and as I turn towards the noise, I spot a small child running down the hallway away from us. I scramble to my feet and run down the hall after her, ignoring Ryan and Gabriellas' shouts and stare at the child who is getting further away "wait!" I call after her "who are you? I can help" but the child rounds the corner and vanishes from sight.
Ryan finally catches up to me and grabs my wrist "What the fuck Shar" he shrieks and I stare at him "what, she was going to get away, she needed…" I stop, noticing his blank expression "there was nobody there Sharpay" he whispers. His words dance around me. "No" I murmur "but there was a child, she screamed that she needed help". Ryan shakes his head "no Shar, that was you" he replies and I shake my head "no, no there was a little girl, she ran down there, she… she…" I trail off and suddenly burst into tears. Ryan scoops me up in a hug "it's ok, she's not real, it's ok, it's ok" he mutters as he strokes my head "it's ok, you're ok, you're safe, you're ok" he repeats and I burrow my nose into his shirt, breathing in his cologne. "I don't… I don't understand what's going on Ryan" I whimper and he hugs me closer "it's ok. You're not alone, I'm here. We will work this out" and I can't help but pray that he is right.