Chapter 8: Burnt Toast at Midnight

Troy was starting to freak out. The last time something like this happened he was nine years old. His dog Junebug had gone chasing after the ice cream truck and hadn't come home. In the middle of the night he walkie-taliked Chad and they'd ventured on a midnight search-and-rescue mission. Of course they were the ones who ended up needing rescuing. The dog came home in the morning, a suspicious looking ice cream ring around his mouth.

When had it started to rain? Troy didn't know. He stood barefoot outside in the damp grass, flashlight in one hand and catfood in the other. Did coyotes come out in the rain? He shook the bag of cat food, suddenly wishing his dad was home. He might be less inclined to panic if there was someone home to tell him he was overreacting. "Here kitty, kitty."

He heard a noise out front and circled around. Something crashed, making a loud CAPLUNK sound. Followed by a definite cat scream (the blood curdling screech that usually involves extended claws, bloodshed and scars).

"Bad Kitty!"

Troy stopped dead in his tracks, momentarily stunned. Sharpay was on the ground rather awkwardly, blonde hair wet and disheveled, holding his cat in a death-grip. He reached to help her up.

"Are you ok?"

"Fine." She took his arm. "Mostly. Other than the fact that my car is stuck in a ditch and my favorite skirt is ruined because of your evil house pet. I've been trying to take that creature home, but you'd think I was trying to scalp her for a coat. She's a walking death trap. But other than that, I'm fine."

Troy took took his cat from Sharpay, petting her head gently. "Poor kitty. Did you have a bad night?"

The human Sharpay made a loud "Huh!" sound and started walking away. Troy took a closer look at his surprise guest. She was soaking wet. And limping, one of her stilettos suspiciously missing a heel. "Sharpay, thanks for bringing her home. I was really worried."

Sharpay turned around, a lot less miffed. "No prob. I'd want someone to do the same if it were my pookie."

Troy smiled slightly. And there was an awkward what-happens-now silence.

"Why don't you come in? Just for a minute until the rain stops."

Sharpay hesitated and for a moment Troy didn't think she'd agree. But she surprised him, nodding briefly before following him inside.

Troy put the cat down and she instantly made a bee-line for the kitchen. Three cans of food lay open on the floor, evidence of Troy's failed attempts to lure her in. Kitty Sharpay planned to eat up every drop. She deserved a treat after the night she'd had.

In the hallway, human Sharpay rubbed her arms-suddenly very cold in her damp clothes. Troy noticed, turning to her.

"You're freezing, aren't you?" Instinctively he motioned his own palms up and down her shoulders in a warming gesture. Her skin was cold and soft.

Sharpay tensed, uncomfortable with his gentleness.

Troy realized too late that his gesture was a little too intimate for people who weren't even friends. In the traditional sense.

Sharpay looked away, and so did Troy. "Um... maybe I should get going."

"Sharpay-"

"Really, it's late. My brother's covering for me and he's bound to blow it."

"Please. Just stay."

She looked up at him. He was still standing in front of her-almost uncomfortably close. Almost. But she looked into his eyes, suddenly pools of intense blue and she knew he wasn't just being nice. He really wanted her to. This was very confusing. What was with him?

Troy smiled. "There's some clean clothes in the laundry room. You go get dry and I'll make you the best cup of hot cocoa you've ever had. With a mountain of tiny marshmallows."

The tension lifted like a veil at the mention of marshmallows and Sharpay felt inclined to agree. Sugar was a weakness she'd have to work on.

Troy didn't wait to hear her response, he could see the answer on her face. "Great. Meet you in the kitchen."

Sharpay felt better after she changed. The clothes-Mrs. Bolton's sweat pants and Troy's Wildcat tee-were still warm from the drier. She snuck in the bathroom to check her hair and realized her hair was the least of her worried. She had eye makeup running down the side of her cheeks. "Eek! What a disaster."

Sharpay washed her face and took a comb from one of the drawers. It's probably wrong to look around in other people's toiletries, but she knew she wasn't the only one to do it. Besides, the Bolton's owed her after the ordeal she'd been through trying to get their cat home.

She was still combing her hair when she heard the fire alarm go off. She ran into the kitchen, where Troy was fanning smoke out the backdoor. He looked pretty embarassed, albeit in a cute way. Sharpay just shook her head, sighing. One day she would be able to look at Troy Bolton and not think he was the most gorgeous thing on the panet. Wait-she hadn't said that out loud, had she?

No. She was good. That would have been very awkward and more than a little humiliating. The last thing Troy Bolton needed was an ego boost. "What have you done now, Top Chef?"

Troy wrinkled his nose. "I was trying to make you some toast. But I think I better leave the cooking to Zeke."

Sharpay laughed, but her eyes got a little wider at the mention of Zeke. The two of them had never really going out, but there was something there. It was awkward to talk about. It would be like her bringing up Gabriella. No, those topics best avoided for now.

Troy took two steaming mugs from the granite counter top, handing one to Sharpay. "Why don't we sit in the living room and let the smoke clear in here."

Troy picked up his cat before she could dart out the open door. "I think you've had enough adventure for one day. He tossed her in his room and closed the door.

He sat next to Sharpay on the couch. She was already drinking the cocoa. "Careful," he said, "it's hot."

She blew on it, and sipped some more-her cheeks flushing from the sudden warmness. She looked at him staring at her and smiled. "You make a mean hot chocolate, Bolton. Got any other surprises up your sleeve?"

A damp strand of Sharpay's hair blocked his vision of her face. Troy leaned in, moving it with his fingers. "I think I've got a a few left." He stared at her, that all-intensive go-for-the-gold stare that made you know how different he was from every other boy.

Sharpay drew a small intake of breath, despte herself, lost in the variations of aquas and blues confined in his eyes.

He traced his finger along the outline of her cheek, and leaned in further, touching his nose to hers. One, two seconds later he pressed his lips onto hers-breathing in the momentary contrast of hot and cold skin.

Author's Note. You all have probably given up hope that this story would ever be finished. All I can offer is my deepest apologies for delaying so long. I always said I could never write a novel, because of the sheer patience involved. But this story (my very first at fanfiction_dot_net)won't let me forget it. Even if it takes a while, I promise to try my hardest to finish it. It's because of all your kind words of encouragement that I keep plugging at it. Thanks so much for that.

If you noticed, a while back I cleaned it up where I could. I combined two of the super short sections so as to even out the chapters more. Please send me your thoughts and concerns. If it won't let you review this chapter, try logging out and submitting it anonymously.

Thinking of you, cbjenn.