A/N: Well, this took long enough. First of all, I'm terribly sorry for neglecting on this story. I started up some other stuff, and I got caught up, and gosh, that's not even a good enough excuse. If you'll accept my sincere apology, I would really like to make it up to my readers by posting this chapter.

Enjoy!

xXx
CeruleanBlues

The Way You Look At Me

Chapter 34

Math wasn't her best subject, and it most definitely wasn't her most favourite one either. There were simply too many equations to remember that didn't make any semblance of sense no matter how hard she tried to grasp them. Yet, she continued to diligently work on the trigonometry problems that were written on the board instead of staring off into space like the other half of the students in the classroom.

Perhaps it was the sure way of knowing that there was always an answer to the questions, or the constant way to which those answers were obtained, but a tiny part of her actually liked the rules of math. If only life worked that way, it'll make everything a lot easier.

"I still can't believe Troy would break up with Gabriella to be with her?"

Her ears perked up at the mention of her boyfriend's name. Someone was whispering behind her, obviously not trying to be discreet at all.

"I know!" Another voice joined in. "She's always been such a bitch. I wonder what he actually sees in her."

It wasn't anything she hadn't heard before, but that didn't mean it didn't sting any less. If anything, it hurt even more. True, she hadn't been the most accommodating person in East High, and she had done things that she wasn't proud of, but it still bothered her immensely that people didn't think she was good enough for their King.

"Is there a problem, girls?" The substitute teacher, Mr. Fitz, called out from the front of the room.

"No, sir," they chorused in sickly sweet voices before collapsing in a round of giggles.

Sharpay rolled her eyes and was thankful when the school bell rang to drown them out, signaling the end of school for the day. Snapping her notepad shut, she quickly packed her stationery and walked out of the classroom towards her hot pink locker. The corridor was buzzing with students, but for once she didn't want to be part of the crowd. Without Troy by her side, she felt utterly naked and exposed. After swiftly sorting her things out, she slammed her locker door shut and made her way towards the office.

It was that receptionist again, that dull monotonous woman, and Sharpay wondered if the school would ever replace her. She seemed like such a downer. Today, the older lady was wearing a dark gray woolen sweater with snowflake patterns on it, even though the festive season was months away.

"Yes?"

"I'm here to see Mrs. Darbus," Sharpay politely informed her. "Is she in?"

The receptionist eyed her from the top of her tortoise-shell glasses. "Yes."

"Can I see her?"

"You may," she answered dismissively and continued typing stuff in her computer.

Pleasant.

"Thank you."

With that, Sharpay strolled over to the brightly-decorated purple door to the right and lifted her hand to give it a couple of knocks.

"Come in."

The chirpy, ever-jovial voice that came from inside never ceased to bring a smile to her face. A small chuckle escaped her lips as she turned the knob and entered the room. "Hi, Mrs. Darbus."

The teacher's face lit up at the sight of her favourite blonde student. "Sharpay! You're just the person I was looking for! Come sit!"

Still grinning, Sharpay slid into one of the empty chairs and primly crossed her legs. Mrs. Darbus leaned forward on the desk and wriggled excitedly in her seat, her eyes twinkling behind her spectacles.

"I've got great news for you, Sharpay," she burbled. "I've just gotten off the phone with Mr. Parrish, the board director, and he was pleased to inform me that your proposal has been approved and we'll be receiving additional funds and resources for the school play."

She was rendered speechless.

Did I just hear correctly?

"It—it's approved?"

"Very much so," Mrs. Darbus confirmed, rummaging through the stack of papers in the tray until she found what she was looking for and slipped it across the table towards the younger girl. "Here's an official statement."

I can't believe this!

Sharpay grabbed the fax memo and skimmed through the contents. "Oh. My. God," she breathed. "We did it."

"He also mentioned that the board was really impressed with it, too."

"He did?"

"Don't need to seem so surprised, Sharpay," Mrs. Darbus said teasingly. "I did tell you that it was amazing. There was absolutely no way the board could reject it."

She jumped over the table and gave her teacher a tight hug, practically tackling the older lady off her chair. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Darbus!" she squealed. "This is so awesome!"

"Oof!" Mrs. Darbus chortled just as Sharpay released her death grip and settled back down. "No, thank you, Sharpay. You've done a marvelous job on this so far."

"I can't wait to let Carmen know about this!" Her fingers were itching to dial the number of the orphanage and announce the good news.

"Yes, of course, dear. Just one more thing, though," Mrs. Darbus paused to sift through her stack of papers again. After a few seconds, Sharpay curiously peered over, where at last the teacher presented her with a bunch of slightly-wrinkled forms. "Here are the lists of people who've signed up for the auditions."

"Wow!" Sharpay exclaimed, her hazel eyes wide with surprise. "I didn't think so many students would be interested."

"I was looking through it earlier, and I happened to see that Troy Bolton would be auditioning."

It was a natural bodily reaction for she couldn't help it. Yet, she tried to conceal her smile as much as possible. "Oh."

"Now, Sharpay, I know that he's helped you before," Mrs. Darbus began, her tone turning serious. When it came to a school production, she was never one to joke around. "But I just want to make sure that it wouldn't cause any sort of biasness. You're not going to give him an unfair advantage, are you?"

Wait till she finds out that I'm actually dating him now, she thought with an inward smirk.

"Mrs. Darbus, I'm insulted that you're questioning my decisions," Sharpay said in an off-putting manner, mildly peeved. She took absolute pride in the play and what was best for it. Heck, she'd done a whole lot more during their production of Twinkle Town just to make sure it looked flawless, even though she had to get her hands dirty. It hadn't gone like she had planned, but even she was one to give credit when it was due. "This is my year, this play is my baby, and I'm determined to do whatever it takes to make it perfect. You know, that I've always been a perfectionist at everything I do, and I promise you that it wouldn't affect anything. My casting calls are based on talent and merit, not friendly ties."

"Well, that's good to know, then."

The corner of Sharpay's lips twitched upwards a little when she noticed the knowing expression on her teacher's face.

Busted.

Her meeting with Mrs. Darbus had gone on longer than she had anticipated—two hours longer, in fact—and the words were all starting to blur. They had sorted out names and fixed the schedule for tomorrow's audition, but there were still a few things that she needed to complete at home.

"So, I take it that should be all, right, Sharpay?"

She nodded, shuffling all the papers together. "Yup," she said, popping the last syllable. "I'll just print the rest at home."

"Great!" Mrs. Darbus grinned as she herself began packing her stuff. "Because I've got to run, now. My college roommate's having a reading at the downtown bookstore, and she's always been picky with punctuality."

"Your friend's a writer?"

"Well, she's actually a journalist. She's a got a column in the local newspaper, mostly writing about the community, but she's also got some great poetry on the sides."

A light bulb went off in Sharpay's head.

"Do you think she'll agree to help cover our school's production?" she asked, hopeful. A little more publicity would definitely help with the sales. "It'll be a great opportunity to promote the play."

"That's a really good idea, Sharpay," Mrs. Darbus agreed. "I'll ask her about it later on."

"Thanks, Mrs. Darbus! That would be amazing!" she gushed in excitement, already picturing the amount of coverage the orphanage would be getting.

"Great, then," the teacher chuckled, amused by her animated state. "I should get going now. Are you leaving?"

"Oh, yes!" Sharpay blurted out and haphazardly stuffed the papers into her satchel. "Sorry, I tend to—"

The teacher waved it off nonchalantly and headed for the exit. "That's okay, Shar," she told her student, holding the door open. "After you."

Slinging her bag over her shoulder, Sharpay tittered out of the room. The receptionist was still stationed at the entrance, her back pin-straight as she continued typing away on her keyboard, eyes trained on the glaring monitor. She glanced up at the two approaching figures and flashed Mrs. Darbus a weary smile.

"See you tomorrow, Jenny," the teacher piped out cheerfully. "Have a good evening."

"You too, Mrs. Darbus."

Sharpay wriggled her fingers as she passed by the uptight woman, receiving a noncommittal shrug in return. Pausing one last time at the doorway, both student and teacher exchanged their final pleasantries before parting ways. The corridors were empty now; her bouncy footsteps reverberated off the walls as she made her way towards her pink locker, jovially whistling a tune. Barely ten feet away, she noticed a familiar figure leaning against the wall.

Gasping in delight, she broke into a run and launched herself into his strong arms.

"Troy!" she giggled. "What are you doing here?"

He set her carefully down on her feet and then planted a kiss on her lips. "I had detention, remember?" he snickered. "I figured I'd wait for you and all since I was your ride to school anyways."

"How did you know I was still here?" she wondered, spinning the dial on the lock. The metal door popped open and she began unloading books from her bag.

"I have my sources," he said, a secretive glint in his clear cerulean blue eyes.

She makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up
Just one touch and I erupt
Like a volcano and cover her with my love
Baby girl you make me say

"You're not stalking me again, are you?" she teased, shutting her locker and turning to face her boyfriend.

Troy rested one hand on her hip and gave it an affectionate squeeze. "What's so wrong about that now?" He was smirking in that adorably handsome way, and it was doing all sorts of crazy in her stomach. The delicious tingles were back, and his touch sent a million zaps of electricity coursing through her nerve endings.

"Erm…no—nothing."

Goodness, he was reducing her to a stuttering mess.

"So, how did the meeting with Mrs. Darbus go?" he asked.

"Great!" she exclaimed. "The board approved our proposal!"

"Really?"

Nodding vigorously, her broad smile widened some more. "Uh-huh."

"That's awesome!" he cheered, enveloping her petite frame in his arms once again. "I told you the board would agree to it."

Her laughter echoed down the deserted hallway. "Do you know what this means?"

Troy dropped a quick peck on the tip of her nose. "It means that you can forget about sleeping for the next month or so?" he guessed jokingly.

With a pout, she playfully whacked his bicep, pretending to take offence. "No, you dumbass," she said with a dramatic roll of her hazel eyes. "This means that the orphanage can finally get the help they need."

"And it's all thanks to you," he murmured, his husky voice tickling the side of her ear.

Sharpay blushed a deep crimson. "You helped too," she breathed out.

And I just can't think of anything else I'd rather do
Than to hear you sing, sing my name the way you do
When we do our thing when we do the things we do
Baby girl you make me say

He propped his free hand right next to her head, resting his palm on the metal surface, and effectively trapping her between his warm, yielding body and the lockers behind her. The steel material was cold and hard, the bitterness digging into her skin contrasting drastically with his soft, burning caresses. "But you're the star," he insisted, his words were but a mere low whisper. Any semblance of self-control were banished to hell when he buried his face into the crook of her neck, attacking her main weakness.

Almost like an automatic switch, her senses kicked in with primal gusto. The raw desire that sparked within the innermost depths of her soul inflamed like never before, his domination over her every reaction turned her on so bad, her core was just aching to feel his essence. He pressed his front tighter up against her, his display so inappropriate in school grounds; she was thankful to the heavens above that nobody was around to witness it. This side of him, it wasn't something she wanted to share with half the population of students, and she hated to let anybody see her crumble in his dexterous hands.

Sexy love girl the things you do
(Oh baby baby)
Keep me sprung, keep me running back to you
(Oh baby I)
Ooh I love making love to you
Baby girl you know you're
My sexy love

Troy kissed his way up, mapping out her jaw line with his mouth until he reached her succulent rosy red lips as his fingers blindly grasped on to any form of material he could find. An uncharacteristic moan escaped her throat, giving him ample amount of play to slide his tongue into her honeyed cove. The mingling, the exchanging, the ongoing battle for more amplified her carnal desire for him. Driven by lust, she clutched a fistful of his soft, mahogany copper hair, hooking her other digits through the belt loops of his pants, and, if possible, tugged him closer to her. They were clinging desperately onto each other, their labored breaths turning into pants for air.

Their sexually compromising position couldn't have been any more graphic if they tried. Her dress had ridden up where he'd shoved the fabric aside in his quest to seek for more of her milky flesh, his palm now cupping one pert buttock while the other resting on the smooth curve of her waist. Her long, toned legs were wrapped around his tapered hips, drawing him possessively into her pliant physique as he drew his knee higher up her heated center. Sharpay shivered involuntarily with a want so all-consuming, it was taking every bit of willpower not to just rip his clothes off there and then, and have her way with him. Perhaps she was still drunk over the incredible turn of events, but the combination of teenage hormones and love-struck giddiness, was driving her over the edge.

"Troy…"

She was whimpering his name now, hoping that he'd pick up on her plea.

He paused for a moment, analyzing her intentions when a sudden wave of recognition washed over his boyish features. His ocean blue eyes were glazed over, his pupils dilated with arousal, and he tore his gaze away from hers to regard his surroundings.

I'm so addicted to her she's the sweetest drug
Just enough, still too much
Say that I'm simp and I'm sprung [incomprehensible]
I can't help she makes me say

Then, wordlessly, he grabbed her by the back of her thighs. "Hang on," he grunted, effortlessly lifting her off the ground.

Sharpay instinctively tightened her hold on him, looping her arms around his neck for better leverage as he abandoned all thoughts on their belongings and pulled them into a nearby supply closet some six feet away. She could feel his erection pressing up into her, creating a wonderful friction through the thin cloth of her panties, and couldn't hold back the shuddered mewls. Shifting his collar aside, Sharpay began nibbling on the juncture between his neckline and his throat—anything to occupy herself from yelling her thoughts out to the entire universe.

And I just can't think of anything else I'd rather do
Than to hear you sing, sing my name the way you do
Baby when we do our thing, when we do the things we do
Oh, baby girl you make me say

He stumbled clumsily through the small door. The room was dusty and dark, not exactly the most romantic or idealistic location, but at that instant, neither one of the teenagers could care less where they were. They were so fucking horny for each other it wasn't even funny anymore. Placing his girlfriend down on her feet, Troy blindly felt around for the light switch.

"Forget it," she growled.

Troy didn't protest. He found her aggression so damn erotic, and after murmuring something incoherent, he reattached his lips onto her soft, swollen ones as she fumbled with his belt buckles. Impatiently trying to rid him of his pants, her knuckles were brushing against his straining apex, and as he bit his lower lip to suppress a moan, he realized that if he didn't distract himself soon, he'd end up with a sticky mess in his junk. Swallowing another sharp intake of air, he crept his hands up to the waistband of her underwear, idly caressing the silky material in a teasing fashion, his feathering fingertips creating nothing but shockwaves down to her most sensitive region. He heard the drawing of his zipper, and an instant later, his pants and briefs were pooling by his feet.

Oh baby what we do it makes the sun come up
Keep on lovin' 'til it goes back down
And I don't know what I'd do if I would lose your touch
That's why I'm always keepin' you around
My sexy love

"Fuck!" he hissed, seeing the fireworks exploding behind his eyelids the moment he felt her warm palms encompassing his hardness. "I need you. Now."

"Do it."

With a grunt, he gave her panties a hard tug downwards before swiftly directing his throbbing manhood into her slick entrance.

She makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up
Just one touch

They slumped against the wall, totally spent from their most recent activity, and Sharpay was sure that if she weren't leaning against her boyfriend's muscular chest, with his strong arms wrapped around her petite frame, she would've melted straight to the floor—however gross that sounded at the moment. Her cheeks pressed directly above his heart, she listened to the steady thumps as his pulse returned to normal, a serene smile on her lips.

The reality of the situation hadn't really sunk in yet—the fact that they'd just had hot, steamy sex in the dingy supply closet was briefly lost to the fully-satisfied couple. God, she always thought of herself as someone with better class than that, less tacky and more sanitary, but there were things that Troy Bolton did to her that she couldn't explain. He sparked her hormones like heaven-sent fireballs to a point that she felt he had to come with a warning label—for the benefit of her and all women alike.

She giggled at the absurdity.

"What?" he asked, his voice a low rumble in his throat.

"Nothing, really, just that, we're disgusting," she snorted, poking his ribs.

He pulled away slightly and glanced down at her in confusion. "Disgusting?"

"We just totally skipped a million chapters of romance and gone straight to the slums with this, haven't we?" Sharpay craned her neck around to check out the surroundings.

Somewhere in the midst of their passionate lovemaking, one of them had triggered the light switch, and now in the sheer brightness they shared the blissful aftermath of post-coital giddiness. There were cleaning products everywhere, as well as a mop and a bucket, and she was suddenly reminded of that particular morning two weeks ago.

He chuckled in reply, his torso vibrating beneath her while he took in what she was referring to. "Oh, jeez."

"I think yours are on the door," she quipped with a roll of her eyes.

Troy took a quick glimpse over her shoulder. "Shit, we really are disgusting," he muttered sheepishly. "Please remind me to clean that up before we leave. I can't imagine having the janitor wipe my business."

"Just to be clear, we're never doing this again," she told him, shaking her head for emphasis.

"Agreed."

They stood together for a while longer, still locked in an embrace, simply enjoying the company of each other.

"Why don't we go out and celebrate?" she suggested, finally breaking the silence.

Smirking down at her, his face hovering inches away, his cerulean blue eyes twinkled devilishly. "I thought we just did," he snickered, gesturing between their sweaty, sticky naked bodies, glistening in the light.

Playfully, she lightly smacked his bicep. "That's not what I meant, you goof. I'm referring to the play," she clarified, shifting the damp hair off his forehead. "Why not we go some place nice for dinner?"

Troy clicked his tongue in disappointment, his expression apologetic. "I'm sorry, beautiful, I don't think I can. As embarrassing as this sounds, I'm actually on a strict curfew. My parents want me home straight after detention, and I'm already pushing it as it is."

"I'm sorry I got you into trouble with your folks," she sighed guiltily, carelessly drawing circles on his shoulder with one finger. "You're not grounded, are you?"

"I suppose, indirectly," he said nonchalantly. "But it's not your fault, Shar. Stop blaming yourself for this. At least my dad's not insisting I ride home with him."

"That would be a little harsh."

He grinned lopsidedly, his arms circling a little bit tighter around her. "Frankly, I'm just glad that I got away with not going home last Saturday."

"Does that mean you won't be able to stay over tonight?" she asked, jutting her lower lip out in a child-like pout. Even though she already knew the answer to that, she still figured it was rather fun to mess around with him a bit.

"Afraid not," he told her regretfully. "Besides, I don't think we'll be able to do much sleeping, anyway."

She inhaled in his musky scent. "True, but my bed misses you."

"Believe me, so do I," he said. "It wasn't fun at all sleeping alone last night."

"Then maybe we shouldn't leave," she mumbled, nuzzling her nose into the side of his neck, placing a kiss on the one spot she knew would drive him crazy.

"You have no idea how tempting that sounds right now, Shar," he slurred, his head lolling to the side, providing her with better access.

"But…?"

"I really have to go before my dad starts calling to check up on me, and I can assure you it wouldn't be pretty," he told her before reluctantly peeling himself off her luxurious form. "Come on, let me send you home."

"There you are, Troy. Where have you been?"

He'd expected as much from his mother even before he'd entered the house, and was actually pleasantly surprised that she had waited till he passed by the kitchen instead of ambushing him at the door like he'd thought she would. After all, he was over an hour late. He also noticed that his dad was nowhere in sight, which could only mean that the older Bolton was either in the shower or in the study room, trying to avoid his dinner chores. Regardless, the plan was to avoid any form of parental contact and escape up to his room undetected so that he could take a nice warm shower before his mum or dad started interrogating him on his whereabouts.

Well, so much for that, he thought.

Dumping his bag next to the sofa, Troy followed the mouth-watering aroma of home-cooked food and shuffled into the kitchen to find his mother making mashed potatoes for dinner, a scrumptious-looking beef lasagne sitting perfectly in the oven. He walked around the center island to give his mother a quick peck on the cheek, feeling his stomach grumble.

"Hi, mum," he greeted with a tired smile. "What's for dinner?"

"Goodness, Troy, you stink!" she commented, giving his armpit a tentative sniff. Her nose scrunched up in recoil. "What have you been doing?"

He attempted to hide his smirk by taking a whiff of his shirt, inhaling the evidence of his recent escapade. "Serving detention," he answered as innocently as possible.

"What did the teachers make you do? Swim in a pool full of sweaty socks?" she rhetorically wondered out loud, pushing him back out into the hallway. "Why don't you go and take a shower? I'll prepare dinner by the time you're done."

Faking a protest, he slumped his shoulders and unleashed his puppy-dog eyes on her the way he had since elementary school. It had worked wonders when he was younger, he only hoped she was still buying it now. "Can't I take a shower after dinner?"

"You're not seven, Troy," she frowned. "Please go and clean up."

"Fine," he relented, happy that he was free from her clutches. "But I want an extra serving of your delicious lasagne."

"Sure, honey."

That said and done, Troy grabbed his belongings and headed for the stairs.

"Oh, and a package arrived for you, Troy," his mother said just as he was about to climb up the first step. "I've left it on your bed."

He paused then, one hand poised on the wooden railing. "Thanks, mum," he called out and trudged the rest of the way up to his room. True enough, there was a box sitting atop his pile of blanket and dirty clothes.

Carelessly tossing his backpack aside, Troy took the neatly wrapped parcel in his hands, noting its rather heavy weight. He held it up and turned it around, inspecting every square inch for relevant clues. Apart from the bright green label with his name printed on it, nothing on the outside was relatively helpful, save for the yellow wrapping paper that might or might not hold any form of significance.

What if it's a bomb? Or worse, what if it's a snake?

He gave the package a slight shake. Hearing various objects rattling around, he figured it was harmless enough and didn't contain anything particularly fragile, but nevertheless gingerly set the box down on the bed again.

And then, taking a deep breath, he lifted the lid.

What he saw, the things that were in the box, it was a punch to his gut.

Like black and white memories that he didn't want to relive.

Reaching in, his mildly trembling fingers enclosed around a wooden object, and when he extracted it out, found it to be a pink photo frame, perfectly decorated with red hearts, bordering an image that now appeared to mock him like a slap to the face.

The two teenagers in the picture looked so happy, so in-love as they shared an intimate hug on the darkened theatre stage, the spotlight beaconing their perfect moment. They wore matching winning smiles, the victory apparent on their youthful faces as they waited to take their final bows. It had been such a magical evening for them, and for everyone who shared their joy.

Involuntarily, a smile crept upon his lips as he reminisced, his gaze trailing down to the dark-haired girl he once used to call his soul mate. A pang of nostalgia hit him out of nowhere, shortly accompanied by the dreadful lull of guilt. He missed her something awful—the old simple-minded and selfless side of her—even though he was actually glad to discover this whole other persona and learnt what an insecure, over-possessive girl that she currently was. How differently everything had turned out for them and fallen apart in such a short period of time.

However, those feelings he had harbored for her before were now but an empty void in his life, replaced by something bigger.

Better.

Still, he regretted ever having to hurt her physically or emotionally.

He allowed the photograph to fall out of his hands, and then began digging through the rest of the items in the box, slowly realizing what the contents actually meant.

Gabriella was giving him his stuff back.

But, why?

Was she trying to move on as well?

Fishing his phone out of his pocket, his fingers hovered over the buttons as he contemplated whether or not he ought to give his ex-girlfriend a call. He definitely didn't want to feed her any ideas, and he was rather afraid that she might misinterpret his intentions for something more. Gabriella might just end up thinking that he actually cared, which, despite all that she had put him through—as a friend—he unfortunately still did, although he truly didn't want to risk it. The last thing he needed was another misunderstanding, especially since he was now with Sharpay.

Sharpay!

No, he probably shouldn't let her know about this. She was already stressed enough without needing to deal with his petty problems, there was no point in adding any unnecessary burden. He saw how nervous she had been earlier in school, and even though she tried not to show it, he was aware of how bothered she really was. High school students were ruthless beings, and they were built to tear each other down. Catty remarks and mean comments were the tools used to survive the treacherous seas of teenage angst. Yet, he knew that Sharpay was royalty. People can say all they wanted, but nobody was stupid enough to lay a finger on her. Therefore, to be the only one able to witness her cower away from the judgmental advances, it was something even Troy Bolton couldn't comprehend. He didn't want to fracture her fragile state.

On the other hand, though, she would probably kick his ass and chop his limbs up if she found out that he was hiding something like this from her. As his girlfriend, she deserved to know, and as her boyfriend, he was obligated to the 'no secrets' rule.

Her phone rang for a few seconds before she answered it.

"Hey, Troy," she burbled happily from the other end of the receiver.

Just hearing her melodic voice brought a wide grin to his face. He envisioned her lying down on the bed, her cell phone lodged between her ear and shoulder, perhaps painting a fresh coat of polish to her toes. "Hey, gorgeous," he crooned back.

"What's up? Miss me already?"

"Always," he said to her. "But listen, I need to talk to you about something."

"Uh-oh. Is everything alright?"

Troy cleared his throat, not sure where to begin. "Yeah, well, I don't know. I was actually hoping that you could tell me."

"About what, exactly?"

"I don't want you to freak out or anything, okay, but—"

"Troy, you're starting to scare me," she told him with nervous laughter. "What's going on?"

Just like a Band-Aid, he silently coached.

"When I got home just now, I received a package."

"What sort of package?" she asked.

He swallowed thickly and began pacing the length of his bed. "It's a box," he explained. "From Gabriella."

"Oh? What's inside?"

"They're all the stuff that was mine while we were still together," he confessed, stopping in his tracks to peer down at the various trinkets. He spied a familiar movie ticket stub and cautiously picked it up to read the prints.

When did we watch this? he wondered.

Sharpay's voice, now sounding quieter and more reserved jolted him back to the present. "Did she leave you a note?"

"No, not that I know of," he muttered, tossing the tab back into the box.

"Okay, well, are all the things in there just yours?"

Troy scoped through the items and then spotted a locket that he'd once given to his ex-girlfriend. His frowned as he held it up, inspecting the jewelry against the afternoon sunlight. "Erm…well, there's the necklace that I had given her as a birthday present," he informed her. "But, actually, now that you mention it, none of the stuff in here technically belongs to me."

"None?" the blonde deadpanned. "At all?"

Subconsciously, he shook his head as he continued searching through the box, but then realized that she couldn't see him. "Yeah, they're just some useless stuff, like dinner coupons and some photographs too. Why, does that mean something?"

She sighed from the other end of the line. "Okay, well, I don't know how to tell you, Troy, but clearly Gabriella's still in love with you, and she refuses to let go."

"You sure?" he asked uncertainly. "What if she's trying to move on, you know? She just doesn't want to have anything to do with me anymore."

"Then she would've thrown everything away, or burned them or something, wouldn't she?" his girlfriend calmly pointed out. "I mean, after what you've just told me, I think that she clearly wants to remind you of all the good times you two had together before you guys broke up."

Troy quirked an eyebrow and cocked his head to the side. "Why would she want to do that?"

"Oh, God, Troy, don't make me spell it out for you."

"Darling, I have no idea what's going on in a girl's head," he groaned. "Just tell me, okay?"

He reckoned that she was probably rolling her eyes right at that moment. "Your dear Gabzilla wants you back," she clarified, slowly enunciating every word.

Skeptically, he studied the box of items again. "Are you sure?"

"Look, she tossed me a note during Spanish class reminding me to stay away from you," she divulged, somewhat hesitantly. "If that doesn't scream 'bitter ex-girlfriend', then I don't know what does."

His cerulean orbs widened in disbelief. "She threatened you?"

"She tried, though, but the orange sharpie wasn't nearly as intimidating." There was an amused chuckle at the end of her sentence, and he relaxed a little, glad that she wasn't fretting about the situation.

"Jesus, that bitch doesn't stop."

"She's actually the least of my worries, Troy," Sharpay replied easily.

"So, what do I do now?" he questioned, because after all, it was the main reason he had called her to begin with.

The line got silent for a few seconds. "That's really up to you, Troy," she said, her voice soft and apprehensive. "Those are your memories too."

On that note, they bid each other farewell and he hung up the phone, tossing the device onto the duvet. Grabbing the box by its corners, he stared down at the numerous mementos—now a completely different meaning to him—and deliberated on a decision. He squinted at the items, hoping to find an immediate answer in the midst of all that irrelevant pile, only to come to a realization that they were all exactly what it was to him.

Irrelevant.

Nothing in that box stirred any form of emotions in his heart. Sure, he had been nostalgic at first, but as he glanced down at them now, he couldn't locate feelings beyond disappointment and regret. They were all just shadows of the past.

Shadows that had disappeared in the light of his future.

Shadows that he didn't need accompanying him in this new chapter in his life.

A garbage truck pulled up by the sidewalk, and without another moment's doubt, Troy lifted the package into his arms and sprinted out of the house where he promptly handed the bulky load over to the trash collector, watching as the man dumped the entire thing into the opening of the vehicle.

I guess this means goodbye.

She needed to get out of the house. The space and solitude was suddenly overwhelming, and after that phone conversation with Troy, she figured that she ought to get some fresh air even though the rooms and entertainment were boundless in that huge mansion.

For the first time in a long while, Sharpay was feeling incredibly lonely. Everything was so spotless and tidy, it was like living with a family of ghosts, but perhaps that was what they were. Her parents were constantly on long business trips, and her brother wouldn't even look at her long enough to even be in the same room, so he opted to avoid her altogether. Instead of creating unwanted opportunities, he simply didn't return home.

She absolutely hated the way Ryan was treating her, absolutely detested how he always thought she was incapable of piloting her own life, and although she was glad that he was currently out of her hair, she couldn't deny that she missed his company. During depressing spells like this, he'd always manage to figure out ways to distract her. From curling up on the sofa and watching one of her favourite movies, to competing against each other in a game of pool, Ryan had always succeeded in filling the gaps.

He knew how to bake a mean batch of brownies too.

If only he would just try and understand her.

Hopping off the bed, Sharpay headed to her walk-in wardrobe for a quick change of clothes before grabbing her car keys and pocketing her cellphone, and made her way down to the kitchen where she was sure that Mrs. Collingsworth had left some food for her and Ryan in the refrigerator. Bounding into the room, she tossed her keys carelessly on the center island and threw open the huge metallic door of her fridge. Poking her head into the cooler, she soon discovered a full tray of the housekeeper's delicious meatloaf, coupled with a bowl of coleslaw and a plate of cheesecake. It was definitely more than what Sharpay could eat on her own, so she figured she could drop by and pay the older woman a visit. She had enough right there to feed an entire platoon of soldiers anyway, and reckoned it would be better than wasting all the food.

With the food already nicely wrapped in cling wrap, she tucked the bowl of coleslaw under one arm, held the meatloaf in one hand and the plate of cheesecake in another before snatching her keys up, and heading for the garage. She unlocked her car and after setting the food down carefully in the passenger's seat, she buckled down and pulled out of the space.

The journey didn't take long, but it was still relatively nice to be out of the house. The cool night air caressed her warm skin, playing with the blonde strands of her hair, and despite the lull of the night, she found that she very much appreciated the silence. After all the drama that had been going on in the day, it was a pleasant change to simply just unwind. Leaning back on the headrest, her thoughts wandered back to her phone conversation with Troy and she heaved an exhausted sigh.

She can already tell that it was going to be a never-ending battle, but then again, like everything else in her life, ever since she was born, Sharpay always had to learn to fight. It wasn't a choice; it was a necessity. At least this time, she knew that there was somebody by her side. Even so, she wished it wasn't under such raven circumstances. She knew the repercussion of her Ice Queen days would one day haunt her and punish her with vengeance, but never in her wildest nightmares did it occur to her that she would be punished for falling in love with Troy Bolton.

The luxury of positive outcomes was rarely entrusted to her, but when they did, they never stayed for long. For Sharpay, the best things were always short-lived.

Always.

And she couldn't help the creeping feeling that this happiness with the one boy she truly loved would no doubt be snatched away before she knew it.

And she was scared.

Terrified.

But above all that, she was numb.

How was it that the world kept on playing such cruel jokes on her time and again?

Paying very little attention to the road, she realized the stoplight turn red only seconds before she needed to, and she slammed on the brake pedals, screeching to a sudden halt just as a tabby-colored stray cat sprinted across right in front of her car. She lurched forward with the impact, but the safety of her seat belt jerked her back to position.

"Holy shit."

Eyes wide with shock, she sat frozen on the spot, her fingers curled tightly around the steering wheel while she willed herself to breathe, feeling her chest constrict. The familiarity of the situation made her panic, and she started coughing, sealing her lids shut, desperately gasping for air. Peeling her hands away, she scrambled for the buckle, attempting to release herself from the wretched device. Droplets of moisture had begun gathering on her forehead with her struggle, and when she heard the satisfied click, immediately tore it free from her body.

"Shar? Sharpay?"

She failed to recognize the voice, laced with immense fear and concern, and the pulsing in her ears made everything sound muffled, but the burning pain that was shooting right in her center overwhelmed her ability to see. Her vision was waning, the darkness slowly taking over, tempting her to surrender to the lull like it always did.

I'm dying to catch my breath
Oh, why don't I ever learn?
I've lost all my trust
Though I've surely tried to turn it around

But then again, like everything else in her life, ever since she was born, Sharpay always had to learn to fight.

"Shar, stay awake, alright, little doe. I've got you."

"Dan."

It came out as a breathless whisper, but she knew he caught it.

"I've got you, alright?"

"It hurts."

"Stay with me. You have to stay with me. Fight it, Sharpay."

Her lungs were scorching, her words reduced to mere wheezing as she tried to vocalize her thoughts. He was cradling her face in his hands, forcing her gaze on his handsome features, etched with emotions she couldn't begin to express, and in the midst of it all, she shivered. Gulping mouthfuls of air, her fingers grappled on the soft material of his flannel shirt, frantically grasping on to her lifeline—her savior.

"Dan—"

"Shh…" he whispered softly, soothingly caressing her porcelain cheeks. "Just breathe, Shar. You can do it. Long breaths. Take long breaths and calm down."

She quickly found a rhythm, inhaling and exhaling, and focused on slowing her pulse down, but every time she tried to swallow, her throat would close up and grate like sand paper, and it didn't help with her coughs. Hazel eyes locked into his cyan ones as she silently plead for him to help ease her pain.

"Oh, God," he growled, sliding his arms down between the leather and her legs. With the other arm, he supported her back, and promptly lifted her out of the car. Instinctively, her hands snaked up to loop around his neck. The next thing she knew, he was running down towards the nearest house.

Can you still see the heart of me?
All my agony fades away
When you hold me in your embrace

Without even bothering to knock on the door, he barged in and gently set her down on the sofa just as Mrs. Collingsworth came in from the dining room to check. "What's going on? What's all the noise about?" she asked.

"Sharpay had another attack," Dan explained, brushing past the older lady to head towards the kitchen. "I'm going to get her some water."

"Oh, dear!" Mrs. Collingsworth exclaimed, rushing to the blonde girl's aid. She found Sharpay curled up in a ball, and then sat down on the armrest of the couch to push away the golden curls that had fallen over the teenager's face. "Sharpay, do you have your medication with you?"

"No," was all she managed to mumble out.

"When was the last time you took them?" the housekeeper wanted to know.

Before Sharpay was able to answer her, Dan had returned with a glass of plain water. Kneeling in front of his friend, he gestured for Mrs. Collingsworth to assist him in sitting her up, and held the drink up to her lips.

"Take a sip, Shar," he coaxed.

She gratefully accepted the water, and as the liquid slid down to quench her parched throat, she was finally able to breathe again, as though a giant weight had been lifted off her ribcage. Taking a moment to compose herself once again and stabilize her heart rate, Sharpay reached up to wipe the sweat from her brows.

"Thank you," she murmured. "Dan, what are you doing here?"

He placed the cup down on the coffee table and leaned up so that their noses were inches apart. "I was visiting," he smirked, and she was reminded of why she loved him so much. He didn't make a big fuss out of anything. "What are you doing here?"

"I was feeling bored at home," she shrugged her shoulders. "So I thought I'd stop by bearing food, and see how Lucy is doing."

"How fast were you going, little doe?" Dan snickered, his eyes twinkling mischievously even though the distress was ghosting on the surface. "I was about to leave when I heard a car screech, and I thought to check it out in case there's been an accident of some sort."

"I was trying not to beat the red light," Sharpay muttered quietly.

He rolled his eyeballs. "Let me just park your car so nobody would try and steal it. I can't guarantee your food will still be in there, though. A bear could've already swiped it off."

His dry humor wasn't appreciated. "Whatever."

Dropping a chaste kiss to the crown of her head, he let out one last chuckle and hurried out of the door to fetch her vehicle.

"I'm very worried about you, Sharpay," Mrs. Collingsworth told her. "Have you actually taken your dinner?"

"I was thinking we can all eat it together," she replied, glancing down guiltily at her nails.

"Good Lord," the woman chided. "Sweetheart, you know what happens to you when you don't eat."

Her cheeks flamed a deep shade of crimson. "I guess I overestimated myself. There was a cat that ran in front of my car, and it freaked me out a bit."

There were light thumping footsteps, and Sharpay turned to see her beloved dog shuffling down the hallway, her nose trailing on the carpet. "Hey, Lucy!" she called out.

The Border Collie's pair of shaggy ears perked up at the sound of her distinct voice, and her sloppy tongue hung excitedly out of her mouth. Sharpay gently slapped on her thigh to signal the direction, which Lucy had no trouble locating and started bounding for the blonde girl. The dog's wet nose came in contact with her palms, nudging her hands for a complimentary scratch of affection. Giggling at the canine's antics, Sharpay reached over and rubbed the soft fur behind its ears.

Don't tear me down for all I need
Make my heart a better place
Give me something I can believe

"How are you doing, girl?" she cooed. Lucy responded by propping her two front paws on Sharpay's lap and poking her nose beneath the girl's jaw.

"Oh, look, now she leaves the room," Dan grumbled as he returned back with an armful of food. "Only for Sharpay and no one else."

"Look who's all jealous," Sharpay teased him. "Do I need to tickle your belly too, Dan Patch?"

He rolled his eyes and headed for the kitchen. "Be my guest," he called over his shoulder.

Don't tear me down
You've opened the door now
Don't let it close

Snickering under her breath, Sharpay ran her fingers through Lucy's thick coat, smiling when the dog settled down between her feet and started falling asleep. Sometimes the teenager wondered if life was so much easier as a pet, where everything's so simple and love wasn't complicated. Lucy had so many people who cared for her, and Sharpay envied how the dog was able to perceive the world in such a colorful light, even though she was blind.

Her reverie was interrupted when she felt the cushion move beneath her and turned at see Dan slumping down on the sofa, his arms outstretched on the backrest. "You're not hanging out with Troy tonight, Shar?" he asked.

Leaning back on the couch, she shook her head and replied, "not tonight. He's been put on a strict curfew by his folks."

Dan grimaced. "Ouch. That's got to sting."

She sighed and absentmindedly ran her fingers up and down the side of the seat. "Yeah. He's fine with it, but I always feel guilty. I mean, he did get into trouble because of me."

He softly nudged her elbow. "I'm sure he thinks it's worth it."

Sharpay cracked a smile and playfully jostled him back. "What about you? No plans?"

Dan bent down to tickle Lucy's chest. "Not really," he explained. "I was bored at home and Orange was being lazy, so I decided to drop by and try my luck to see if Mrs. C. had baked any goodies for me."

"How come it always sounds extra perverted when you say it?"

"Maybe it's because you have a dirty mind, you filthy little girl," Dan retorted good-naturedly, trailing his index finger down the bridge of her nose.

She narrowed her hazel eyes to appear as intimidating as possible without corpsing. "You're asking for it, you know."

He showcased his pearly whites at her. "I know."

"Alright, you two, come have some supper before it gets cold again," Mrs. Collingsworth yelled out from the kitchen. "Dan, if you have to drag Sharpay by her hair, please do so."

Before he could get any ideas, Sharpay shot him a deadly glare, a silent warning that she would physically hurt him if he tried anything funny. Already predicting as such, Dan simply chortled and jumped to his feet, holding a hand out for her to take. Satisfied that he wasn't going to manhandle her, Sharpay accepted his gesture and allowed him to pulled her up. The motion wasn't lost to Lucy, and she stood in an alert stance.

"Come on, girl, let's go eat," Sharpay told the dog. "There's meatloaf."

She seemed to understand the blonde enough to pad all the way to the dining area, with Sharpay and Dan following suit, their fingers still intertwined. The simple bond they shared was unlike any other, and Sharpay was thankful that he was there to make everything easier. Sitting around the circular table, the blonde felt her mouth watering as she gazed down at the spread that had been laid out in front of her. Aside from the amount of food that she had brought with her, Mrs. Collingsworth had tossed in a bowl of salad with some delicious homemade Italian dressing, whipped potatoes with gravy sauce, deep-fried chicken wings, and a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies. Forget everything else; this was going to be the death of her, she was sure of it.

"Well, little doe, look who's trying to fatten you up," Dan teased, gently nudging the girl in the ribs. To the caretaker, he playfully joked, "if I'd known you were preparing a feast, I'd come by more often."

The older woman chuckled as she sat herself down next to him. "Well, it's not often enough that I get visitors around here."

"Don't pamper him too much, Mrs. C," Sharpay quipped, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Now that he's aware of our little secret, he's never going to leave you alone."

"Now, now, play nice," Dan reached out to tweak her ear.

"Shut up and eat, Dan Patch."

He had received multiple text messages from Gabriella, all of which were just short spurts, requesting for him to give her a call. On her fifth attempt, Troy didn't even bother reading it before effectively deleting the unwarranted attention. It was starting to get painfully annoying, just like everything else she had been doing. He wondered if she knew of her discarded items, but frankly, he couldn't give a damn. Much like those memories in that box, she was a part of the past that he wanted to erase and not acknowledge. He wanted nothing to do with her anymore.

I'm here on the edge again
I wish I could let it go
I know that I'm only one step away
From turning it around

Therefore, he did the one thing he probably should've done a long time ago. Scrolling through the contacts on his cellphone, Troy found the name he was looking for. His thumb hovered over the command, and without a moment's hesitation, he erased all of the information that tallied with the brunette, and then it was as though a giant weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Step one: done.

Troy booted up his laptop, and waited for the social networking webpage to load. He wasn't the most avid of users, but he was sure that practically half of the school stalked the site like one of those celebrity tabloids. What a better way to get his point across than to officially mend his status. He scanned through all the people that were listed as his friends, and chanced upon someone named 'Troyella', with a photo of him and Gabriella attached as an avatar. Curious as to what it was, he clicked on it and was brought to a page dedicated to his past relationship with the Montez girl. Irritation crept into his body, and it irked him how invested people were in his personal life, though at the same time wondering if his ex-girlfriend was behind this as well. Ridden with disgust, Troy exited the window and continued with his initial motive.

Can you still see the heart of me?
All my agony fades away
When you hold me in your embrace

He got to what he was looking for; saw that his ex-girlfriend still had herself labeled as 'it's complicated'—whatever the hell that meant—and promptly blocked her off from his circle of friends. Later, he proceeded to search for Sharpay, feeling like an awful person when he realized that he still had her 'friend request' on his notifications from months ago. It wasn't that he was a particularly obnoxious person; he just hadn't thought it was necessary. He had, after all, still been with Gabriella, and like any sane guy, he didn't want to go through the hassle of explaining to his then-girlfriend why her supposed enemy had been accepted in the clique.

Fuck the status quo.

Attaching the cable to his cellphone, Troy uploaded the photos of Sharpay that he had taken that morning when he went over to pick her up for school. Displayed on the larger screen, he couldn't deny how she was even more stunning. Sure, the camera did justice to her beauty, but it couldn't hold a candle to her in person. Returning to his profile page, Troy changed his status, simultaneously announcing to the entire world that he was currently in a relationship, with one Sharpay Evans, and posted a picture of her to go with it. Finally satisfied, he sent a quick text to the blonde Goddess that lingered in his head, reminding her to check her account.

Don't tear me down for all I need
Make my heart a better place
Give me something I can believe

Seconds later, he was flooded with the endless comments from his schoolmates. Zeke was the first to congratulate him, punctuating his caps-lock laden message with a smiley emoticon. The next one was Kelsi, and though it surprised him a bit that she was supporting him—despite the fact that she was close to Sharpay's twin brother—made him warm inside. By the time he was done reading all of the replies, it felt like half the school had made their approvals known.

Still, there was only one person he was waiting for to log on and tag his page.

The one person that mattered most to him.

Don't tear it down, what's left of me
Make my heart a better place

A true gentleman would send a girl right to her doorstep, and Dan Patch was certainly raised as such. Of course he hadn't allowed her to return home all on her own. In fact, he'd insisted, and then argued and presented his case, and ultimately resulted in begging for her to quit being such a stubborn mule so that he could escort her back to the Evans' mansion.

Truthfully, he'd stalk her from behind even if she hadn't agreed to it. After her incident earlier on, he didn't want to risk anymore harm to her. At least she understood his sentiment. He had even considered driving her back, and then calling for a cab to get home, but she had been adamant on going behind the wheel.

Pulling up at her private driveway, Dan killed the engine of his truck and hopped out of his vehicle just as Sharpay slid out of hers. She grinned genuinely up at him as they stood on the porch, his hands jammed into the pockets of his pants. He peeked up at the windows, noting that the entire house was dark, save for the lights that illuminated the exterior, and his brows furrowed slightly.

"So…"

"Is Ryan at home?" he asked.

Sharpay shook her head, her blonde curls swishing elegantly from side to side before cascading down her shoulders. "Nobody's home. Ryan is probably over at Kelsi's."

"Are you going to be alright all alone?"

She shrugged her shoulders like it wasn't a big deal. "Yeah, I suppose."

He hesitated for a moment, wondering if what he was about to ask her was appropriate because she had a boyfriend, after all, and he'd hate himself if there was any chance at all that it would be his fault to mess their relationship up. In the time he'd known Sharpay, he had never truly seen her this happy before, albeit the trials and tribulations that still haunted her every second of the day. No way in hell would he be that person who would screw it all up.

I tried many times but nothing was real
Make it fade away, don't break me down
I want to believe that this is for real
Save me from my fear, don't tear me down

Honestly, if it was possible, he never wanted to feel this way about her. He loved her way too much to lose what amazing friendship they had going on, even just for a shot at something his wishful thinking sought out. She didn't need it from him, and he wasn't a fucking idiot.

"Would you like some company?"

Her expression was difficult to read, which was a rare occurrence for an actress who talks through her eyes, and all of sudden, he felt like a total douche. He didn't know what he was thinking; didn't know what had possessed him to make such a bold attempt, but he really did care for her safety and in a way, as a friend, he felt responsible for her wellbeing. Perhaps he could salvage whatever was left of the situation.

"Like old times?"

He felt obligated to include that in.

Don't tear me down for all I need
Make my heart a better place
Give me something I can believe

Nervously waiting for an answer, Dan started rocking on the balls of his feet, watching as the corner of her cherry-red lips twitched upwards in that same familiar smile that was only meant for him.

Don't tear it down, what's left of me
Make my heart a better place

"Sure."

A/N: And there you go! Took forever, didn't it? Again, I apologize for the delay. I got hung up with my other two fanfics and I just sort of lost the momentum for this one. However, I did receive a PM a few days before, and a reader asked if I was continuing on this, and I realized I needed to get this done. So, I picked my ass, and I started going. I told myself not to look back, and honestly, I didn't even proof-read this, so it's actually right out of the oven. LOL!

XxXxPrincessSamzxXxX: Hi there! I'm so super sorry for the really long wait in updating my story! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing the previous chapter! I'm glad you've enjoyed the Troypay in Chapter 33 :D

xGuiltyxPleasure: Hello there! Gosh, I am terribly sorry for the really long wait on this update! I feel so bad now, but thank you so much for reading and reviewing my previous chapter! LOL! Ryan is definitely being such a brat, and I just want to strangle him right now, but at least he doesn't make an appearance on this chapter, so I'm good :D For Gabriella, I think you probably hate her more after this update, but every story needs a relentless villain, so unfortunately Gabriella is just that in this story. Troy is just perfect, isn't he? I want to buy one of him and bring him home with me so that I can cuddle him at night. LOL! I hope you liked the steamy scenes between Troy and Sharpay in this chapter. I know it doesn't make up for my tardiness, though, but hopefully you've enjoyed it!

Anna: Hi there! I am so sorry for the incredibly late update! Thank you so much for reading and previewing my previous chapter! I really appreciate it! I'm glad you liked the Troy and Sharpay interactions! I want to drown both Ryan and Gabriella in a bottomless ocean, but they're quite important in the story. Think of it this way: the more they try to destroy Troy and Sharpay, they more likely their love for each other might grow stronger.

Duhhitskatieox: Hello there! I'm so sorry for the late update! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing the previous chapter! I really appreciate it! Your reaction to Ryan is perfectly understandable. I want to murder him and Gabriella right now, but they're kind of important, so I can't do that, unfortunately. Hope you've enjoyed this update!

62toasters62: Hi! First of all, I am so sorry for the really late update! Secondly, thank you so much for reading and reviewing the previous chapter! It means so much to me! Ryan and Gabriella had been irritating me every time I write a scene with their characters inside, but every story needs at least one villain, and as much as I want to kill them off, they're quite important to the story. LOL! Hope you've enjoyed this chapter!

Uptown: Hi there! I'm so sorry for the delay in updating this story! I'd like to thank you for reading and reviewing, even though you did so in chapter 2, but I truly appreciate it! I'm glad you liked the song lyrics. It helps express certain things that I'm unable to express, and it's always nice to have a backing soundtrack every time I read or write a story. Hope you've enjoyed reading this chapter!

Delena1101: Hi there! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing, and for leaving wonderful comments! Hope you've enjoyed this chapter!

Songs used — "Sexy Love" by Ne-Yo and "All I Need" by Within Temptation