Don't Hate Me For Doing This...

Chapter One: Promise Me?

Sharpay stared at the scrap of notebook paper in her hand. How could one little scrap of paper ruin her whole life? She watched tears land on the paper, making the note harder to read. It didn't matter what it said, what mattered was that she might never see her brother again. Her brother, her best friend.

Sharpay,

I can't live this life anymore. I have to go out and do what I dreamed of my whole life, being a professional singer.Don't hate me for doing this, it was something I had to do.I would've taken you along, but I knew you wouldn't want to. Sometimes you have to break promises, I guess. Tell Mom I'm sorry. Tell Gabby and Troy to keep up the good work and continue singing. And Sharpay, I'm sorry about every fight we've had. Try to remember me as big brother who always split the last ice cream bar with you. Not the brother who got mad at you for being the drama queen you are. And who hit you yesterday for reasons I can' t remember. Shine like the star you are.

Love,

Ryan

Life at home wasn't exactly the best. Sharpay understood why he had left. But she wished she could come along. Not to be a star, but to be with her brother. She remembered that one last time they annouced the next move. To a town called Albequerque. 7th grade...a late summer day...

"We're moving AGAIN?!" Sharpay screamed at her mother. She nodded, "Robert has decided to go his seperate ways." This was the third time. Third time their mother had to divorce their stepdad. Third time to move to another town with strangers. Sharpay burst into tears and ran to her room. Ryan watched her miserable face. He knocked on the door, "Shar?"

"Go away."

Ryan ignored it. He stepped right in and sat on the bed with her.

"We'll be fine. One more move won't hurt."

Sharpay ignored his reply.

"Where's our real dad?" she asked through tears.

"I don't know. But we're gonna find him some day and stay with him forever."

Sharpay smiled. "That would be nice. How can you be so positive about this?"

"I don't know Sharpay. I don't know."

Sharpay remembered that night they found out it would happen again. Moving after staying nearly 5 years in Albequerque...

"You're stupid! Shut UP! Just SHUT UP!"

Their step dad, Arthur, screamed at their helpless mother. Ryan and Sharpay watched quietly in the hallway.

"If you think I'm so stupid, THEN LEAVE!!!"

They watched the fury in her eyes they had never seen before. He looked at her as if he were to hit her. But he just walked toward the door, left the house, and slammed it shut. Their mother sighed. She noticed the twins. They ducked into the hall.

"Pack up your stuff. We're leaving."

Ryan and Sharpay nodded quietly and headed into Ryan's room.

"I can't stand this. We can't move again. I just got used to Albequerque." Ryan said furiously and kicked his bed.

Sharpay nodded and sat on the bed. She didn't know what to think.

"Some day Sharpay, we are going to run away and leave. Stay in that one place forever."

"Sounds nice, Ryan. But I'm going to stay with Mom. Maybe after high school."

"What are you talking about?! We can't stay. She'll just get hurt by another jerk and then we'll have to move again. I am not going to live like that."

Sharpay didn't answer. Would Ryan really run away like that?

"We'll survive. You and I can go into the music business. We're a great team, Shar. We'll make enough money to live."

Sharpay stayed quiet.

"Shar, promise me you'll come."

She didn't answer.

"Shar?"

Sharpay looked up at Ryan.

"Okay. Promise."