Sharpay can't wait to see Gabriella.

She hasn't slept at all last night – again –, but this time, it hasn't been because of the worries and potential heartbreak, but rather because of the excitement.

Last night awoke something in her, something dormant that she hasn't been able to come to terms with or acknowledge since Gabriella came into her life and changed everything that she thought she knew.

Of course, she has known that her feelings for Gabriella weren't strictly platonic for a while, but she hasn't really realized how deep they run and how happy Gabriella truly makes her if she allows herself to embrace her.

All this time that she spent keeping Gabriella's at arm's length – for whatever reasons she told herself at the time –, she should have been keeping her close, and she should have allowed herself to be happy.

Ryan has noticed a change in her demeanour, too, for he has been sneaking amused and slightly suspicious glances at her all morning as she whistled and danced her way through breakfast. He still doesn't know, though, for Sharpay is still a little bit too wary to tell him the truth, but if he doesn't know when they enter school and Sharpay's eyes fall on Gabriella, he would be a fool.

Sharpay obviously can't see herself, but she can almost feel the way her entire face lights up, in combination with a swirl of butterflies in her stomach.

She can also sense Ryan's eyes on her, but she ignores that as she watches Gabriella giggle at something one of Troy's friends – who are also Gabriella's friends now, apparently – has said.

Suddenly, however, Troy's friends walk away, Chad clapping Troy on the back, and Troy and Gabriella are alone.

Sharpay feels a nervous and slightly jealous shiver run through her body as she and Ryan slowly start to approach Gabriella's locker, watching as Troy says something to make her throw her head back in laughter.

She knows she probably has nothing to worry about – Gabriella seemed pretty steadfast in her decision not to pursue a relationship with Troy, and furthermore, Sharpay doesn't know if Gabriella would even pursue a relationship with her –, but something about the way Troy smiles at Gabriella affectionately doesn't bode very well.

So, with narrowed eyes, Sharpay approaches them, Ryan trailing behind her curiously.

As soon as they are within earshot, Gabriella lets out another giggle, loud and adorably squeaky, but the flutter it causes in Sharpay's stomach quickly vanishes, replaced by a squeamish feeling as she watches Troy's face light up and his smile widen.

She knows that smile, that look. It portrays the same kind of happiness that she has felt since last night.

And she can't help but feel jealous as Gabriella continues to appear so giddy, a soft smile remaining on her face, the same one that she sent her last night after they kissed each other goodbye.

She thought it meant something when Gabriella looked at her that way, but maybe it doesn't.

"So," Troy starts as Sharpay almost reaches them, his face suddenly serious as he nervously rubs the back of his neck, "Are you doing anything tonight?"

Gabriella raises an eyebrow, the smile not disappearing of her face. "No, why?"

"I was wondering if you would want to come over to watch a movie again. I had a lot of fun last time."

And then Sharpay shatters inside. Logically, she knows that friends watch movies. That applies to both last night and any other times Gabriella may have watched movies with Troy.

However, there's something about the nerves displayed by Troy and how Gabriella blinks astonished that tells her that he doesn't intend for them to hang out as friends.

Troy is asking Gabriella out.

Of course it was too good to be true.

Feeling all colour drain from her face, Sharpay turns around swiftly and runs the opposite direction, her heels clicking against the floor as she flees.

She doesn't want to be there. She doesn't want to hear Gabriella say yes.

She thought last night meant just as much to Gabriella as it did to her, and she can't stand the possibility that the feeling might not have been as mutual as she thought it was.

God, she hates having feelings. She hates feeling weak, feeling hurt.

"Sharpay!"

Turning around, her chest heaving, she feels guilt wash over her as a worried Ryan approaches her.

"What happened over there?" he asks, his voice a mixture of alarm and suspicion.

As they stare at each other for a second, Sharpay considers telling him. He's her brother, he knows what it's like to love someone you're not supposed to love according to society, he'll understand.

However, admitting that she likes someone who would choose someone else over her constitutes admitting failure, and admitting that she likes Gabriella also means that all of these feelings, all of this confusion, it becomes real.

She thought she was ready to do it, but she can't.

However, as it turns out, she doesn't have to tell him anything, because Ryan's eyes suddenly widen as realization seems to dawn on him.

"You like Gabriella."

He says it with awe and wonder, as if the world makes sense now, but Sharpay doesn't think it does. It just makes the world a cruel place.

Ryan seems to realize the tragedy of it all as well, as he suddenly looks at her sympathetically as he wordlessly wraps her in his arms.

And, in his arms, she feels her body relax, the worries ebbing away, at least for the moment.

There's nothing that a good hug from her brother can't make better.

"Are you going to tell her?"

He can't completely fix her problems, though.

But, as Sharpay looks up at him, she thinks that she may have to.

It would be terrifying and the thought of the inevitable rejection makes her feel weaker than she'd ever like to feel, but maybe it's the right thing to do.

If, by any chance, last night did mean something to Gabriella, she should know.

Sharpay should be an option.

She has to face reality. She has to put herself out there.

However, as much as she knows she should do it, she still feels a current of fear running through her body as she snuggles into his chest.

It's the right thing to do, she tells herself. She owes it to herself and to Gabriella to take that risk, the same way Gabriella took a huge risk by joining the drama club.

But it's still one of the hardest things she will ever have to do.

She's still scared.

Ever since she realized that she has to tell Gabriella, Sharpay has been avoiding her. It hasn't been the most difficult thing to do, thankfully, because they don't have any classes together besides homeroom and Taylor has whisked Gabriella away to lunch before she could join Kelsi and the twins.

She just doesn't know how to do it. She doesn't know how to bring it up, how to face Gabriella with the knowledge of what she's planning to do, the knowledge that she's about to ruin it all.

She's such a coward. If there's one thing she hates, it's cowards.

And Ryan probably would agree that she is one, because he's been watching her carefully all day, growing more worried every time Sharpay and Gabriella walk past each other in the hallway, sharing nothing more than a smile.

By the end of the day, part of her hopes that Gabriella has already left school and she'll just have to do it tomorrow, so she can sleep on it and prepare herself.

However, fate obviously has other ideas, as Sharpay walks into the bathroom just before last period and finds Gabriella there.

Their bathroom encounters have never gone well, so this is not a good sign, Sharpay thinks as she feels a lump form in her throat.

Quickly checking if there's anyone in the stalls – she doesn't know whether to be thankful or not when she finds out there aren't any spectators –, she offers Gabriella a tense smile as she stands in front of the sink next to her.

Gabriella, however, doesn't seem to notice how nervous Sharpay is, as she lights up. "Sharpay! I haven't spoken to you all day!"

She seems kind of remorseful, almost disappointed, and Sharpay feels kind of guilty for avoiding her, even if she had a good reason.

That good reason being how nervous that sparkle in Gabriella's eyes makes her, and how she's been trying to put off ruining their relationship forever.

She could make up an excuse, about how she's been busy all day, how she hasn't had any time to come talk to her, or just say anything not too unsubtle, but instead, she blurts out, "So, I heard Troy asking you out this morning."

Well, so much for subtlety.

Gabriella blinks in response, looking kind of astonished like she did this morning as she furrows her eyebrows in confusion. "You mean when we tried to schedule a movie night?"

She sounds genuinely bemused, but Sharpay ignores her confusion as she continues, "Did you say yes?"

With a sharp look, she turns to look Gabriella in the eye as Gabriella opens her mouth to reply and closes it again, frowning rather adorably.

After they stare at each other for a moment, Sharpay tense and a little apprehensive and Gabriella confused and slightly guilty, Sharpay shakes her head. "You know what, I don't want to know. I hope you have just as much fun as we did last night, though."

Feeling a little apprehensive at her inability to keep her jealousy out of her voice, she watches as Gabriella narrows her eyes at her confused. Then, realization seems to dawn, her eyes sparkling with a gentle fondness as a smile blossoms on her face.

"Sharpay…" she starts, softly, sympathetically, but Sharpay shakes her head.

She doesn't want to hear it. She doesn't want to deal with the rejection.

She just wants to say her part, do what she has to do, and then get the hell out of here.

So, feeling a little helpless, she smiles. "I just wanted you to know that whatever happens, last night meant a lot to me."

As Gabriella watches her wordlessly, her cheeks slightly pink with an adorable blush, Sharpay takes a deep breath.

"I know we said that we would forget what happened between us that day, but I just can't stand around and pretend that there's nothing going on anymore. I just…"

Then, she stops. She can't go on. She can't do it. She averts her gaze, staring at the floor starkly as she lets out a nervous laugh. "Never mind. This is stupid."

"Sharpay," Gabriella says again, her voice slightly trembling yet full of wonder and encouragement, and Sharpay looks up again at the sound.

She feels her breath hitch as their eyes lock again, and she sees that spark in Gabriella's eyes again. That spark that used to infuriate her, that spark that always made her feel on edge, that spark that challenged her.

That spark that simultaneously weakened and strengthened her.

Gabriella is aware of what Sharpay wants to say, that much is obvious. And, with that spark in her eyes, filled with a hint of an emotion that Sharpay can't quite place – is it… excitement? –, Gabriella is challenging her. She's challenging her to take the leap, the same way that Sharpay inadvertently encouraged Gabriella to take the leap into theatre all those months ago.

So, with another deep breath, Sharpay says, firmly, "I like you, Gabriella. I like you a lot."

She can hear Gabriella's breath hitch as her body freezes, and Sharpay feels a pit form in the bottom of her stomach as reality sets in.

It's out there now. There's no going back.

As Gabriella keeps staring at her, tensely, Sharpay musters a small smile as she continues, "I know it's a lot to take in, and I completely understand if this freaks you out, but I've liked you for a while. In hindsight, it's one of the reasons why I hated you so much. I was scared of my feelings. And I know you probably don't feel the same way, but I just wanted you to know. You deserve to know."

Gabriella remains still, staring at Sharpay with an intensity that sends a tingle through her body.

Part of her wants to take another leap and kiss those luscious lips that she has been dreaming of for so long, but she has to refrain, especially considering there's a good chance that Gabriella might hate her right now.

So, instead, she turns back to the mirror, keeping her attention focused on Gabriella behind her.

After a moment, Gabriella blinks as she seems to be snapped from her daze. A small smile on her face, she takes a step towards Sharpay, her hand hovering over her shoulder, but Sharpay steps away before Gabriella can touch her.

For a long moment, they stand there, facing each other, both unsure what to say, before Gabriella suddenly takes a step forward, and Sharpay feels her breath hitch as her eyes flick down towards those lips, feeling Gabriella's breath on her face.

Is she about to kiss her?

It seems like the answer is no, for Gabriella suddenly blinks and her eyes widen, before she steps back, as if burned by their proximity.

"I…" she starts, but she doesn't finish. Instead, she shakes her head, and within the blink of an eye, Gabriella has run out of the bathroom and Sharpay is left alone, to her own devices.

Letting out a deep trembling breath, she feels her heart shatter to a million pieces. Now she's done it, now she's truly ruined them for good.

However, she can't keep the way that Gabriella silently challenged her to confess out of her head. There was something there, something almost hopeful.

She's scared, and hurt, and broken, but it's that hope in Gabriella's eyes that makes her realize that it may not be over yet.

And this time, she refuses to let whatever is going on between them wither and die.

So, as she turns back in the mirror, she straightens her shoulder and takes a deep breath.

She's going after her.

Why did she run away?

All day, Gabriella has been excited to see Sharpay, excited at the prospects and opportunities that this new step in their relationship might bring.

And Sharpay definitely took a step, alright.

She likes Gabriella, the same way that Gabriella likes her. Their feelings are mutual.

And that's probably where things went wrong, Gabriella reckons. As soon as she realized what Sharpay was trying to tell her, long before those three cruel yet wonderous words slipped from her mouth, Gabriella felt a jittery feeling inside. It was a feeling of excitement, but also one of fear, the same fear that has overcome her countless times around Troy.

Still, Gabriella had wanted Sharpay to continue. She had wanted to hear it, wanted to dare Sharpay to be brave. So, why had she suddenly lost her own nerve?

Now things are bleak again. Sharpay thinks she's dating Troy, and she probably thinks she freaked her out – which she admittedly did, but not in the way she probably thinks –, and Gabriella has lost her chance.

Because, while she's alone now with her thoughts, she realized this was a chance she really wanted to take. With Troy, there's always been an undercurrent of insecurity, of it not feeling exactly right, and Sharpay has always been on the back of her mind, but the minute Sharpay told her about her feelings, she felt none of those uncertainties.

The only fear she has is the fear of taking the actual leap.

With a groan, she buries her face in her knees as she sits on the floor, right outside the auditorium, feeling incredibly foolish and incredibly alone as she realizes how badly she has handled this situation.

She should have kissed or hugged Sharpay like she wanted to, not run away to sit alone outside the auditorium moping.

She could have had her happy ending by now, but no, of course she had to ruin it. And there's no way that Sharpay is coming after her to fix it. She's probably done enough brave things for one day. Her pride is probably too hurt for her ever to speak to Gabriella again.

So, when she hears the familiar sound of heels clicking on the floor, it's safe to say that Gabriella is surprised.

She's even more surprised when a familiar female voice drifts into her ears, melodic and comforting.

"Gabriella."

A shudder of fear running through her as she looks up, she comes face to face with Sharpay. Her face is set in a tight frown – probably not good for those frown lines –, but behind the concern and annoyance, there's a hint of fondness that makes Gabriella's heart flutter a little.

"You came after me."

She can't believe it. She just hurt Sharpay's pride and her feelings by running away, and Sharpay came after her.

Sharpay purses her lips and says curtly, "We have unfinished business."

Gabriella feels slight guilt run through her at the hurt in Sharpay's voice, but she also feels a pang of fondness of Sharpay as she realizes how grateful she is that Sharpay didn't pull away from her this time.

It could have ended in irrevocable heartbreak, again, but Sharpay's determination is giving her another opportunity.

So, she lets out a nervous laugh as she gets up from her position on the floor, wiping her hands on her upper legs anxiously before she dares to look Sharpay in the eyes.

There's so much to say. That she's sorry for running away, that she's scared, that she feels the same way, that she wants to give this a try.

However, the only thing that comes from her mouth is, "Troy wasn't asking me out."

As Sharpay gives her an incredulous look, Gabriella shrugs as she elaborates, "At least, I don't think he was. He knows that I don't want to start a relationship with him."

Sharpay purses her lips as she nods slowly. "That's good to know. I mean, not good for you and Troy, obviously, but you know what I mean."

With a smile, Gabriella nods in understanding as they fall into an uncomfortable silence again, staring at each other.

There's something in Sharpay's eyes, something akin to hope and something else that Gabriella can't quite decipher, and somehow, she's reminded of that first time she's stared into those eyes.

Back then, she thought she had to avoid them at all costs, that Sharpay was up to no good. And while that has been proven to be true, Gabriella realizes that now she wants anything but to avoid her.

She doesn't want to avoid her feelings. She wants to give in, she wants to be swayed by those determined eyes, she wants to take on the challenge that Sharpay has posed for her in not so many words.

She wants to give it a try.

So, she gulps, and with a deep breath, she softly says, "I think part of the reason why I don't want to date him is because of you."

Nervously, she watches as the emotions flash through Sharpay's eyes, from hesitance to fear to excitement to affection.

"Are you saying–?" Sharpay asks, in a timid fashion that Gabriella has never seen before, and Gabriella can't help but giggle in response, her stomach fluttering with affection.

And before she knows it, it happens. Before she knows it, Sharpay's lips are on hers, pressing hard and she feels like her insides are exploding as Sharpay's hands land on her waist and she squeezes.

Sharpay's lips are softer and sweeter than she could have ever imagined, tasting like strawberry and fresh mint as they press against her mouth desperately.

The kiss only lasts a few seconds, but it feels like an eternity, and Gabriella's eyes stay closed for a second as she basks in the moment, before they flutter open slowly to reveal a deeply blushing Sharpay.

"Was that okay?" Sharpay asks, sounding a little desperate, and Gabriella smiles slowly, lazily as she steps forward and softly places her hands on Sharpay's neck, leaning in to peck her lips again, a zing rushing through her body at the contact.

As she pulls away, Sharpay is grinning happily, and she can't help but return the smile, feeling truly content for the first time since she met Sharpay.

After a moment of smiling at each other foolishly, the smile suddenly disappears from Sharpay's face, replaced by a frown. "Why doesn't this feel wrong?"

Gabriella bites her lip as she contemplates Sharpay's words. It definitely should feel wrong, for a myriad of reasons, but it doesn't. And she doesn't care. Maybe it's just the heavy impact of the moment, the relief that the truth is finally out there, but Gabriella feels truly happy.

"I don't know," she whispers, "but I like how this feels."

Sharpay beams at that, before leaning in and pressing another sweet kiss to her mouth.

Then, she suddenly looks slightly nervous, as she hesitantly asks, "So, what happens now?"

That's a loaded question, with many layers. What do they do about their feelings? Are they going to actually going to start a relationship and be girlfriends? And if so, how are they going to deal with the prejudice? How are they going to deal with Troy and his feelings for Gabriella?

There's an overwhelming amount of aspects of this, whatever it is, to figure out, and normally, that would frighten Gabriella, but right now, all she wants to do is be with Sharpay. They'll figure out the rest later.

So, with a shrug and smile, she says, "Let's just wait and see."

Sharpay seems to contemplate this for a moment, letting out a thoughtful hum, before nodding slowly. "That sounds fabulous."

Then, she grabs one of Gabriella's hands, which is still softly placed on her neck and squeezes as she pulls her down to sit on the floor together.

With a contented sigh, Sharpay nestles her head into the crook of Gabriella's neck, and warmth flushes through Gabriella's veins as she smiles in response and drops a small kiss to the top of Sharpay's head.

They sit there for what feels like an eternity, lost in their own bubble, before Sharpay suddenly lets out a laugh.

As Gabriella shouts her a confused look, Sharpay gestures around and says, "I guess the third time is the charm."

With a laugh, Gabriella nods. That really is true. This is where they first buried their hatchet and became friends, where they made up after that excruciating period of awkwardness after they first realized their feelings.

It's only fitting that Gabriella ran here in her panic and not to the rooftop. It's only fitting that their relationship is starting here.

And, as she looks up at the doors leading to the auditorium, she smiles. She's so glad she came here to East High. She's so glad she took that leap of faith and auditioned. She's so glad she pursued Sharpay's friendship despite all the odds stacked against them.

This school, this musical has brought her happiness that she never knew existed.

Being with Sharpay, she knows that the future is going to be hard and that there are going to be many obstacles ahead.

But as long as she has Sharpay by her side to challenge her and as long as she has a little courage and that flame that urged her to fight for herself continues to flicker, she will be alright.

A/N: And, with one final stretch of angst, it's done!

This has been a real nerve-wracking experiment for me, writing a relatively unexplored pairing, and I will admit some parts are messy, but it's been really fun writing about these fools and their burgeoning love and I hope you enjoyed it as well!

Thanks for reading, and one last time, please leave a review!