four.

speeches

This was it. Today was the day. The day that Sharpay would leave East High, otherwise known as graduation day.

She was standing in the cafeteria, standing impatiently by her usual table. All of the seniors were reporting here to receive their cap and gown and wait until the ceremony began. Sharpay had been here since eight, and the ceremony began at eleven. She was already wearing the red polyester gown over her pink sequined dress, and gripped tightly onto the matching cardboard cap. It was currently five to eleven, and she was desperately waiting.

Waiting for graduation? Yes and no. She hated the thought of graduation, and moving on and away from her comfort zone of East High. She'd miss the feeling of knowing how everything ran, because she had no clue what college would hold. She didn't want to leave East High.

But she did at the same time. She wanted to walk onto her new school, her new home away from home, and start fresh; begin anew. She swore to herself she wouldn't be the Ice Queen again. No, no nicknames, whether they were nasty or nice. Sharpay only wanted to be Sharpay. Someone once taught her how precious life is, and reminded her how important she was. And she wasn't planning on letting that person down.

Sharpay looked up at the big clock on the wall. 10:55? He was supposed to be here by now!

"Hey, Sharpay," she heard a male voice say from behind. She turned around expectantly, but lost her surge of hope to only see Troy there.

"Oh, hi Troy." she said with little enthusiasm.

"So, uh, are you excited? To be graduating and all?" he asked awkwardly. He was never good at small talk, even with his own friends.

"Sure. Are you?"

"Eh. I'm gonna miss ole' East High, but hey, when your dad's the basketball coach, I feel I'll probably drop by every now and then." Troy chuckled nervously. Sharpay only nodded, not quite sure why he chose to speak with her now, though he wasn't really saying much of importance. So they just stayed where they were for a few moments, not quite sure what to say, if they should say anything at all.

"Sharpay, I just came over here to say…to say thank you," Troy said seriously. "And…to apologize. I know that I've been really mean and inconsiderate to you this past year. I was just really unhappy with last summer, and-"

"Ancient history, Troy. I'm trying to forget last summer too." Sharpay cut him off.

"Please, let me finish. I've been a real jackass to you, I admit it. I'm sorry for what happened yesterday day during drama. I shouldn't have done that to you. And I'm sorry for making your senior year suck so much.

"And, I wanted to say thank you, for telling me to go to Gabriella. I visited her at Stanford, and she took me back. And it made me feel really good."

"Well, I hope you two are happy together." and she meant it.

"And I hope you're happy too…with Jimmie." Sharpay's eyes widened, and Troy smiled.

"How did you know?" Sharpay asked incredulously.

"Once I put all the pieces together. The whole rocketman thing was a big hint. And when I saw you perform on stage with him."

"You saw us? But…I thought you were driving back with Gabriella."

"We were. And then we made it back halfway through the song. And…the look on your face, the passion you put in the song and dance, I've never seen you do that before. Before, you were an actress. But last night, it was like you were just being you. And I liked seeing that…even if Gabriella wasn't too keen on the idea." Troy explained.

"But, Gabriella would have never let me do the whole song if she was there. That means…" Sharpay trailed off.

"I may have told her that this time, it was your turn for the spotlight." Troy smirked.

Sharpay was amazed. "Wow. Thank you, Troy."

"Hey, Sharpay? I'd really rather not leave here on a bad note. Do you think we can…forgive and forget? Not hate each other?" Troy asked.

Sharpay smiled. "I'd like that, Troy. I really would." Troy smiled gratefully, and stuck his hand out to shake. Sharpay giggled, and shook his hand.

"…Aw, come here." Troy said, pulling Sharpay into a hug. Sharpay hugged back, smiling into Troy's own gown. Everything was working out for her. All of a sudden, everything in the world was just right.

"Alright, students, let's line up the way we rehearsed!" Ms. Darbus called to the students through her megaphone.

"Ready, Evans?" Troy asked his new friend when they pulled away.

"Let's hit it, Bolton." Sharpay giggled. She and Troy parted ways as the got in their alphabetical places. And though she was relieved she and Troy were no longer enemies, she felt depressed. She told someone to meet her here before she would have to leave for the ceremony, and they never came.

--

"This is it, sis." Ryan whispered in Sharpay's ear. He was standing in front of her, and had turned around with an encouraging smile. Sharpay sent one back as the seniors marched across the football field, before family and friends.

"Psss!" Sharpay frowned, think she had heard someone. Maybe it was just her imagination.

"Pssss…PSSSSS…Sharpay!" Sharpay looked to her side.

"Jimmie!?" Sharpay whispered. Indeed, Jimmie was hunched over, hiding behind the seniors and trying to pass by undetected. He looked the same way he did on prom night, minus the jacket. It was May in Albuquerque, New Mexico after all.

"Jimmie what are you doing? I told you to meet me in the cafeteria before the ceremony." Sharpay scold in a hush voice.

"I know, I was. I was a little late, but I made it. But I when I found you, I saw you hugging Troy! I thought you hated him?" Jimmie asked quietly as well, embarrassed that a few seniors had noticed him and were giggling.

"I don't hate him, Jimmie."

"So you like him now?!"

"No!"

"Don't lie, Sharpay."

"I'm not lying!"

"So you don't like him?"

"No! We're friends now, that's it."

"Oh, sorry. Then what did you need me for?" Jimmie asked.

Sharpay sighed. She would have to take her seat in a moment. "No time now. Hurry, go sit with the band."

"But-"

"Go!"

"Now?"

"Now!"

"Band?"

"Jimmie!"

"Sorry."

Sharpay let out a sigh of relief as she took her seat, seeing that Jimmie had successfully snuck into the group of band kids without being caught. This was going to be a long ceremony.

--

"And now, I would like to call up our valedictorian, a student who is one of the greatest East High has ever seen, Troy Bolton." Mr. Matsui spoke once most of the ceremony had progressed. Everybody clapped as Troy walked up to the podium.

"Fellow students, faculty, and family: welcome. Who knew today would finally arrive? Now, I don't want to give a long spiel about how East High was the greatest time of our lives and all that. I want to talk about what East High has specifically done for us.

"It has given us a sense of belonging, but not in the most positive way. For a long time, East High was greatly stereotypic. The whole school was divided into groups and cliques based on interests and social status. And though most of us felt comfortable in out designated spots, thinking there was no harm, there was. And to those who receive its harm most can agree with me that unless you belonged, you were basically in isolation.

"But then, something changed. All of a sudden, no one really stuck with their stereotyping anymore. Jocks were baking. Brainiacs were dancing. And two people you'd never expect ended up being amazing singers." Many people looked over at Gabriella, who was smiling up at Troy.

"And then the cliques and groups and separation were gone. We were all in this together. Or so we though. People were still isolated. People were still receiving hurt from neglect. And it really affected them. I wasn't one of them, though. Sorry to say, I'm one of the people who just continued causing separation between students. So I'd really like to give you all someone else's perspective on this. That is, if she would like to come up here and share it." Troy and Sharpay's eyes connected at that moment. He sent her a small smile, with a questioning look in his eye. Sharpay understood it, took in a deep breath, and nodded back. Troy sent her a grateful smile.

"Ladies and gentlemen; Sharpay Evans." Whispers of confusion were shared amongst everyone. Troy didn't even bother looking at Gabriella, positive her expression wasn't the happiest in the world. Sharpay stood up from her seat and walked up to the podium, Troy standing tall by her side.

"Hi everyone. Um, Troy and I didn't plan this, so I'm just winging it. He is right. I know what it feels like. What it feels like to walk into a room and everyone goes silent, glaring and staring at you in disgust. It's a horrible feeling. And some people even get this feeling outside of school. Sometimes the feeling of being unloved doesn't leave. And it can really destroy a person.

"But East High has changed that. At least for me. Because it's here that I met a certain person. One who acted like a friend, and made me feel lived again. And with this new found feeling of compassion, I was reminded how great things can be. Before, I felt like an outsider. But now, I don't feel that way anymore. And I thank East High for that, and the students in it. I think we can all thank East High for what it's done for us at one point or another. And we shouldn't ever forget it.

"Because once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat." Troy and Sharpay finished in unison.

It was silent for a couple of moments, people not really knowing what to do. Suddenly Jimmie stood up, all eyes now on him. He smiled and began to clap. Catching his drift, Ryan stood up too, clapping along. Then followed Kelsi, Gabriella, and the rest of the friends. Then, the entire graduation class. And then the parents. Troy and Sharpay smiled proudly at the crowd and shared a hug.

"Thanks, Troy." Sharpay said quietly so only Troy would hear. She liked thanking him; she liked not hating him. She liked not hating life. And to think, Jimmie Zara made all that happen. Sharpay no longer suffered. God had finally answered her many, many prayers. Jimmie was the answer.

--

"Sharpay Evans." Mr. Matsui read proudly. Many people cheered for Sharpay; something she wasn't used to unless it was for a cheesy school production. She walked up to the podium and shook hands with Mr. Matsui.

"Congratulations, Sharpay. Though unexpected, the speech was excellent." Mr. Matsui complemented, handing Sharpay her diploma. "But, where are you going to college? I need to announce it now."

Sharpay smiled and whispered it in her principal's ear. He nodded and grabbed the microphone. "Ms. Evans will be attending…the University of Albuquerque…but will be returning to East High next fall, to help with the drama department." The crowd began to cheer again for Sharpay's career choice. Sharpay stood there, looking out to the audience.

Troy gave her a thumbs up, proud that she was taking the right steps to be able to make it work with Jimmie. Ryan gave his twin a smile, glad that he had called Jimmie over on prom night. After seeing the way he had walked her home late one night, it was obvious. And her parents clapped, finding new pride in their only daughter. They would stay home over the summer to get reacquainted with the daughter they almost lost. Basically, people were proud of Sharpay.

She looked over at Jimmie. He had the best expression of them all: his face was half giddy, half amazed. He gave Sharpay a small wave, and mouthed their favorite three words. And she mouthed them back.

I love you.

--

The ceremony was over, and the football field was full of graduates looking for their families. Sharpay and Ryan had already met up with their parents, shared hugs and kisses, and agreed they'd meet at home for the big graduation party. Ryan was off looking for Kelsi, and Sharpay was in search of Jimmie.

She stood on the tips of her four-inch heals, looking over copious amounts of red and white clad students for the familiar brunette boy. Suddenly she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist and a chin rest on her shoulder.

"Hey beautiful," he whispered in her ear, the feel of his hot breath sending shivers down her spin. Sharpay turned around, excited to see Jimmie.

"Jimmie!" she squealed, jumping into his arms and hugging him tight. Jimmie's chest raised and fell against her head as he chuckled.

"So, what's this is hear about you coming back next year?" he asked cheekily.

"Jimmie, I could never stay away from you. The U of A is only a half hour away from here, so I can come home as often as I want. And, now that I'll be at East High often, you'll be seeing a lot of me."

"Why though? Why would you give up all this time just to come back to East High?" Jimmie asked.

"Because I love you, Jimmie. I love you so, so much. I don't care who knows it. And I don't want to be without you." Sharpay confessed.

"You know why I always tried to be like Troy Bolton?" Jimmie asked.

"Because…he rules the school?" Sharpay suggested.

"Well, he is the school's king and you're the Ice Queen. Every king needs his queen, Sharpay. I wanted someone like you. But I ended up getting the real thing, not like just some fake Louis Vuitton knock-off." Sharpay laughed merrily.

"I never do knock-offs. But you…you can do." Sharpay joked.

"You really did all this for me?" Jimmie asked, amazed and completely in love.

"You're worth it." Sharpay smiled. Jimmie smiled, and lightly cupped Sharpay's rosy cheeks. His thumb began to slowly rub circles against her smooth skin. Sharpay giggled.

"Enough mushy stuff for now, Jimmie." She said as her arms snaked around his neck. She jumped, causing her heals to fall off, and landed securely in Jimmie's arms. Her legs wrapped tightly around his waist, and she cupped Jimmie's cheery cheeks before planting a big loving kiss on his lips.

"I could get really used to this," Jimmie said in between butterfly kisses. Sharpay smiled.

Life could truly not get any better than this. She had parents who loved her – finally. She had a good relationship with her brother – finally. She had real friends like Troy – finally. But most of all, she was loved.

Finally.

--

Right here, right now
I'm looking at you
And my heart loves the view
Cause you mean everything
Right here, I'll promise you somehow
That tomorrow can wait, for some other day to be
Cause right now it's you and me
- Right Here, Right Now by HSM3 cast