You guys I'm so sorry I haven't posted anything up in a long time. I'm sorry :( i haven't up to writing been busy with school starting up again.

"You're going home? Lucky you." Sophie gave Sharpay a wistful look. "I sure am going to miss you."

"I'll call you," Sharpay said, feeling sorry for Sophie, who was still recovering from her abdominal surgery. "And before you know it, you'll be headed home too." Home for Sophie was a small town in the middle of New Mexico at least four hours from Albuquerque and the hospital.

"When are you leaving?"

"My mom's packing my stuff and filling out paperwork right now."

"I'm glad you stopped by to tell me. Have you told Troy?" Sharpay shook her head. "He's my next stop." She didn't let on how much she was dreading it.

"what have you decided to do about him?"

"Nothing, I figured that once he's home, he'll get on with his life."

Sophie dismissed the idea with a wave of her hand. "I think your dreaming. I think he's going to want to see you."

"Don't say that. You and I both know it's impossible."

"Wrong. You think it's impossible, so you wont change you mind about tell him the truth."

Sharpay squealed, "Will you stop it already! I know what I'm doing."

Sophie shook her head in exasperation. "Never mind. It's like talking to a brick wall." She grinned. "Anyway, keep your promise and call me. I know we haven't been friends for long, but you're my best friend ever and I want things to work out for you. You know, Sharpay, in spite of the way your face looks, you really do have a shot at being normal."

"Just how do you figure that?"

Sophie's gaze led to the wheelchair parked near her bed. "I wish my face was the only thing messed up about me."

Impulsively Sharpay leaned down and hugged her. "I'll be in touch." She positioned her crutches under her arms and retreated from the room.

She stopped at Troy's door, took a deep breath, and knocked. When he called, "Come in," she did.

"I got my walking papers," she told him without preamble."

His bandages couldn't hide this disappointment. "I'll miss you."

"That's what Sophie said. Maybe I should start a fan club. Charge a fee." Sharpay kept her voice light and breezy.

"You said you'd be back for PT. Will you come up and visit with me?" he asked.

"You bet. I'll even bring you some new Books on Tape."

He held out his hand and she reached and grasped it. His grip felt warm and strong and she wished she didn't ever have to let go. "You take care of yourself," he said.

"You too."

"You did mean what you said the other night about staying friends, didn't you?"

"I meant it." She was telling him what he wanted to hear and only hoped he wouldn't hate her when he figured out the truth…that she had no intention of ever seeing him again.

Without warning, Troy reached up and caught the side of her face with his hand. She gasped, but then realized he was cupping the right side, the normal side. "Don't be mad," he said softly. "I've wanted to touch you for the longest time."

Just so long as his fingers didn't venture to the left side of her face, she didn't mind. "It's all right," she said, glad she had gone crutches for support because her knees had gone weak with anxiety and emotion.

He smoothed this thumb along her cheek, brushing the fringe of her eyelashes and the bridge of her nose. Too closet! Her mind warned. Sharpay pulled back. "Please don't," he whispered. "Can I touch your hair?"

She gulped. "Okay."

His fingers moved upward until they stroked the tips of her think, blonde hair. He wound strands around his hand, tugging them gently, tenderly; he rolled long clusters between his thumb and fingers, as if testing the texture. As if tasting it with his sense of touch. He reached higher, combed his fingers through the thickness, and said, "Very soft. I figured it would be."

He breathe caught in her throat and she could scarcely breathe. Tears stung her eyes. She longed to have him kiss her. if only…if only.

He withdrew his hand and brought his fingers to his nose and sniffed deeply. "Smells like flowers. And sunshine." He turned his face toward her, and she touched the corners of the bandage on his eyes. They were the barrier that held him prisoner, yet protected her. "I've noticed that scent every time you've come into my room. I've wondered if it was your hair or some perfume."

"New shampoo, the ad campaign said it would drive guys wild," she joked, hoping to make him laugh and break the tension. He smiled. "Funny girl. But you don't always have to make a joke."

Humor was the only way she knew of dealing with intense emotional moments. "I've got to go." She stepped backward.

"I'll be seeing you, pretty Sharpay."

She winced because his words had stung. "Goodbye, Troy."

She hurried next door, where her mother looked up from the suitcase she was packing. "There you are. I wondered where you ran off to." She paused and eyed Sharpay narrowly. "Are you alright? You look like you're crying."

"I'm fine, mom. I was just saying goodbye."

Her mother shook her head, bemused. "You never cease to amaze me. You're always said you hated hospitals, and now you're crying because you have to leave this one. I'd have thought you'd never wanted to see the inside of this place again."

"I don't, Mom. Call the nurse and tell her I'm ready for the wheelchair ride downstairs." She turned to the mirror and stared at the twisted half of her face, then jerked her hair back into a ponytail. Suddenly she didn't want anything to obstruct her true image, her real self. She didn't want to forget that what Troy had made her feel was an illusion. She would never be normal. Or pretty. She mustn't ever forget. Never!

At home Sharpay moped around the house for the rest of the afternoon, unable to shake the case of the blues. She missed the routine of the hospital. Most of all, she missed Troy. The next morning Ryan asked, "You want a ride to school?"

"I'll catch the bus," Sharpay said. "The sooner I get back into my regular routine, the better."

"Mom wants me to take you to PT tomorrow afternoon. Trouble is I have ensemble practice every day after school. State competition is in March, and if we don't practice every day, we'll never get a superior rating."

"I can drive myself."

"Tell that to Mom."

"I'm telling you, I can drive. There's nothing wrong with my right foot, and that's the one that controls the car."

"You'll have to clear it with Mom." Ryan said.

"How will you get home if I persuade her?"

"Gabby will bring me."

"Oh, I forgot about her."

"I'll give up ensemble practice on the days you have PT if Mom says you can't drive yourself."

"You shouldn't have to do that."

Ryan shrugged. "I hate practice."

But Sharpay could tell that her brother really did want practice. "Let me talk to Mom."

At school she felt as she always did a nonparticipant, on the outside looking in.. her classes weren't a struggle; schoolwork came easily to her. But blending into the social scenery was something else again. A few kids spoke to her, asked her how her leg was doing, but most looked past her. Or over her, or through her as if she hardly existed. She couldn't wait for the bell to ring, marking the end of the day, so that she could go home and forget all about high school and how she didn't fit in.

She told herself that in a few days she'd toughen up and it wouldn't matter. But the truth was that someone…Troy…had treated her as if she were pretty and desirable. Now she had to return to being the ugly duckling, and it was difficult.

She was deep in thought, fiddling with the combination lock on her locker after school, balancing books and crutches, knowing she had to hurry if she was going to make it to her bus stop, when her notebook slipped from her hands and spilled on the hall floor.

Kids pouring out of rooms scurried past, stepping all over the binder. She could only watch helplessly, for she was unable to stoop down and rescue her notebook for fear of being trampled. All at once a boy's voice said, "Let me get that for you, babe."

She spun, forgetting to shield her face. Her rescuer was tall with dark hair and brown eyes. He was smiling, but as he caught sight of her face, his smile faded, and shocked surprise took its place. "I'll get it," she snapped, and struggled to hold her crutches with one hand while she bent over.

Then a girl's voice intervened.

"Problems Sharpay?"

It was Gabby. She stooped and gathered up her notebook and scattered papers. She stood and glared at the boy, still standing staring. Gabby snarled, "What's your problem? If you're not going to help, get out of the way."

The boy darted off.

"Dumb jerk, "Gabby muttered.

Sharpay straightened, her body burning with humiliation. "Thanks for retrieving my stuff," she said taking the note book.

"Well I'll see you later, remember Sharpay I'm always there for you."

"I will."

Sharpay was about to leave when Jon her old friend yelled for her. "Wait."

"I've got to hurry or I'll miss my bus." She couldn't bear to look at him in the eye. Couldn't stand knowing that he was watching her while she was being humiliated by a stranger's look.

"I'm hanging around with gabby waiting for Ryan. Will you wait with me? Jon asked.

"I can't."

Jon reached out and took her arm. "I want to talk to you, Sharpay. There're some things I need to say to you. Some things I have to say. You can get a ride home from Gabby when were done, so please don't run off. Hear me out please.

So what do you think? I had to add thr Jon part to make it sound more interesting lol its in the book but I'm twisting it around.