A/N: I meant to post this prior to the release of HSM3, but I got caught up in things, and it wasn't finished yet. A little Ryella missing scene from HSM2 which involves some certain brownies...hopefully, if all works out, I will post several oneshots revolving around the theme of "food" for different pairings. Enjoy this one: Ryella-Browies.
Brownies
Gabriella sat in her home, subconsciously fiddling with the numerous plates and utensils she had set out for this occasion. Unfortunately, as she sat looking around her suspiciously empty kitchen, she realized this really wasn't much of an occasion at all. Of course, she hadn't expected EVERYONE to show up to the "after-baseball-game" party, but she had been holding out hope that someone might show…especially a certain someone who hadn't even bothered to show up to the game. But what was the likelihood of Troy remembering the party if he couldn't even manage to show up in support of all of his friends?
At last, a ping of hope shot through her heart when she heard the doorbell ring. She glanced at her mother who was sitting in the living room adjacent to the kitchen, and they exchanged looks of shared optimism that the party might not be a disaster.
Wanting to sprint to the door in relief that someone had shown (perhaps even a special someone?), Gabriella had to contain herself as she walked slowly toward the entrance, trying not to seem too anxious.
She put her hand on the knob and took a second to breathe, bracing herself for the possibility of being confronted by a mere pizza delivery man. At last she opened the door, biting her lip slightly to hide her wishful smile.
Upon seeing him, she beamed genuinely. He wasn't exactly Troy, but she was actually sort of happy in a guilty way that it turned out to be one of her newest best friends.
"Ryan! Hey, come in," she welcomed hospitably, grabbing his coat from him as he stepped inside and took his first look around her home.
"Wow, you have a pretty house," he said dignifiedly. "And I'm so sorry I'm late, but I couldn't really find your house, and it took forever to try to sneak away with the car without Sharpay finding out, and—"
"Hey, Ryan, it's okay!" she laughed. "No one else is even here, anyway, so…I'm glad you even showed up."
She tucked an unruly lock of hair behind her ear and turned away from him. For some reason, her sudden unpopularity was making her feel rather uncomfortable around him.
"Really? Huh…well, I bet all the guys just wanted to go home after such a tiring game. And the girls…well, I don't really know any of them too terribly well, so I really shouldn't be making such judgments," he clarified.
Gabriella nodded curtly, then she realized that she should probably escort Ryan through the rest of her house, since he had only so far become acquainted with her minute foyer.
"Come on; let's go to the kitchen," she said. "The pizza's not here, yet, but my mom made brownies."
"Brownies?" he inquired hungrily as the waltzed into her kitchen. "That sounds so good right now."
She grinned to herself at his remark. Ryan tried so hard to be gentlemanly all the time, but the smidge of irresistible cuteness that emanated from him was unmistakable.
They reached the kitchen, and she saw her mom hovering over the hot plate of brownies she had just prepared, placing a finishing touch of hot fudge on each one.
Mrs. Montez turned around when she heard footsteps, expecting to see the usual Troy walking around with her daughter, so she was taken aback by the sight of this new boy.
"Hello, and who are you?" she asked, unable to hold in her curiosity.
Gabriella was about to scold her mother for sounding so impolite, but Ryan seemed to take no offence.
"Oh, hi, Mrs. Montez. I'm Ryan Evans. It's really nice to meet you," he said, ducking his head in greeting.
"He's a friend, Mom. Sharpay's brother," Gabriella explained so as to set her mother up with the proper information and then have her simply leave.
Her mother's eyes narrowed slightly in surprise, "Sharpay's brother?"
Ryan glanced at Gabriella, unsure of what to say. Obviously, there had been some talk in the household about his crabby and controlling twin, but he wasn't certain if the conversations had ever extended so far as to involve him.
Gabriella also hesitated, wanting to both reassure her mother and not insult Ryan at the same time, "Yeah. They're a little bit different from each other, I guess."
"A lot different," Ryan interjected softly, making sure he distanced himself enough from his haughty and arrogant sibling.
Mrs. Montez could tell that she was making her daughter and her guest slightly uneasy, so she knew it was time to just butt out and leave the rest to subtle parental observation.
"Gotcha. Well, I was just finishing the brownies. I guess, with any luck, you two will get the whole plate to yourselves," she winked with a smile.
Ryan and Gabriella both watched as her mother retreated into the living room, and then they took seats across from each other at the neatly-set table.
"I'm sorry about all that," Gabriella began apologizing. "What my mom has heard of Sharpay has all been completely subjective gossip from me when I was angry at her for the whole musical thing last year. It has absolutely nothing to do with you or with any sort of truth whatsoever."
Ryan gave a wry half-smile, "You don't have to apologize to me, Gabriella. I know what my sister's like, and I know she's not the easiest person to get along with," he shrugged. "Like, right now, she doesn't want me to participate in her part of the talent show because she wants Troy to sing with her."
Gabriella gaped at him, "I thought you guys always did the talent show together?"
Ryan shrugged again, obviously not prepared to discuss the situation. "Yeah, well…Sharpay's different from me."
"And…she wants Troy to sing with her?" Gabriella added skeptically.
"Yep," Ryan started. "But I wouldn't worry. With his schedule with those college basketball guys, I don't think he's going to have much time to hang out with her. But if anything starts looking wrong, I'll let you know," he said jokingly.
But Gabriella's mood did not lighten. "Yeah. His new schedule doesn't allow him to hang out with anyone anymore…"
Ryan nodded, understanding. "Was he supposed to be here today?"
"He was supposed to be here and at the game. But, obviously, basketball is more important to him."
"Well, you can't really blame him for chasing his dreams and his future. He's just got a lot on his plate," Ryan deduced. "Speaking of plates, can you pass me a brownie? I want to eat one while they're hot."
This did succeed in lightening Gabriella's mood. He always got so adorable when he talked about food—like a little child. She passed him the plate of brownies and watched as he took three from the plate and placed it back in the middle.
"I haven't eaten anything since lunch today. I spent so long talking to Kelsi about the talent show, and then there was the game, and…well, I just haven't had much time."
Gabriella smiled as she watched him take a huge first bite. "So, are you friends with Kelsi? Or…is there something else there?"
He nearly choked on his brownie, and he had to set it down and chew quickly to keep from coughing. "Um, well…we are friends, I think. At least, by my standards, we are. We're not really…anything more than that, though," he continued, grabbing his morsel back up to take a more thoughtful bite.
Gabriella nodded, unbelieving. "Uh huh. But you don't even like her at all?"
Ryan thought for a moment, chewing slowly. "I've never really thought about it before. I suppose…maybe. A little bit. But don't tell her I'm saying this. I need to think about it first."
She could tell by the way he was blushing, however, that there was something more he was not telling her. "Do you like someone else?"
Again, he had to concentrate on not choking. "Well, I uh…mmm…not too much, no. I don't think."
"Who?" she asked curiously.
Ryan had to inwardly admit that it was a little confusing to have the object of his affections asking him who the object of his affections was. "Don't, okay? Maybe I'll tell you some other time…"
Gabriella pouted, wanting to know what girl Ryan could possibly have his eye on, but Mrs. Montez, who was in the living room "reading a magazine" a.k.a. eavesdropping, caught the hint of irony in Ryan's voice and couldn't help but give a silent sigh of pity for the poor boy.
Gabriella was about to ask him something else as he took the next potentially fatal bite of brownie when the doorbell rang. He silently thanked the heavens that he wouldn't be forced to endure anymore uncomfortable questioning.
"That'll probably be the pizza man…or maybe Troy," she said hopefully, but after she said it, she realized that she was not kind of hoping it wouldn't be Troy. The awkwardness of the whole situation might be a little overwhelming. "I'll be back."
Ryan nodded, finally swallowing the last piece of his first brownie. Then, he sighed.
It wasn't his fault he had a small crush on Gabriella. She was the only girl with whom he had ever really associated besides his sister. Sure, he talked to Kelsi, but mostly about compositions and musical pieces. Their relationship was built almost purely on a shared passion for music, not a shared passion for one another. Gabriella was the first girl who had ever tried to really befriend him. Most other females were frightened off by his demeaning sister.
So he hoped that whatever powers had blessed him with the ability to finish his brownie would bless him again by letting the doorbell culprit have been a pizza man and not a basketball boyfriend.
He heard footsteps and tentatively turned his head in their direction, anticipating multiple people, but all he saw was poor Gabriella attempting to balance two pizzas and walk at the same time.
"Oh, here, let me help you!" he called after her, slipping clumsily out of his chair to grab the pizzas from her and set them down on the counter.
"Thanks," she acknowledged as he relieved her of her load. "I guess we really won't be needing both of those pizzas, though."
Ryan looked at her sympathetically; she seemed so forlorn at the poor turnout.
"Well, don't worry. I can down both of these pizzas in record time if you want me to," he offered.
She smiled again. Something about Ryan and food was somehow sort of attractive to her…wait. Not attractive. She needed a different adjective for this feeling. Cute? Sweet? No…nothing seemed to befit her feelings better. For some reason, she was finding Ryan more and more attractive.
"That's okay," she said shakily, trying to get rid of the sudden feeling of uncertainty coursing through her. "You should eat your brownies first, since you like them hot."
They both turned away when she said that; she hadn't thought before she spoke, and only now realized that it was especially embarrassing right now with her current emotions.
Ryan nodded, though and they both returned to their seat at the table as he picked up his second brownie.
"You know, Ryan, I don't think I've ever really had a friend as good as you," she mumbled softly, averting her gaze from him as he ate.
His head shot up curiously, "Me? What about Taylor or Troy or…anyone else?"
Gabriella smiled at him. "Taylor is like my sister…but the more time she spends with Chad the less I get to hang out with her. I bet right now, she and Chad are hanging out and doing something instead of coming here to the party. And Troy…well, he and I have never really been 'friends,' I don't think; the only thing we've known is chemistry as a couple. And, based on the fact that he has put random college basketball players before me recently, I'm beginning to wonder if we even have a relationship."
Ryan continued to devour his brownie, but he supplied Gabriella a look of sympathy. "Yeah, everyone else is probably hanging out with their boyfriend or girlfriend. Chad and Taylor, Jason and Kelsi, Zeke's probably trying to ask out my sister, and…well, I don't really know. It just seems to make sense. Maybe everyone wanted to spend tonight with someone special…"
He trailed off, not wanting to make his subtle hint too obvious.
But Gabriella was unaware and huffed, "I know I did."
Ouch, Ryan thought. Was that an insult?
"Not that you're not special or anything, Ryan!" Gabriella recovered, quickly realizing her slip of tongue. "I just meant that I was sort of expecting Troy to show up."
Ryan nodded, sincerely comprehending. "I know."
They sat in tense silence for a few moments as Ryan finished off his second brownie, then he got up and took a seat beside Gabriella at the table as opposed to across from her. He put an arm around her shoulder, and she slumped into him, resting her head on his shoulder as she was lost in thought.
Ryan could feel his heart begin to race, and he hoped Gabriella couldn't feel his pulse and tell he was breathing more quickly as she leaned into him. He occupied himself by gently rubbing her shoulder in a friendly manner to offer comfort.
"He'll get over this phase. It's just a really tense time in everyone's lives right now. We've got the future to worry about, but he'll realize soon enough how awesome you are and what a jerk he's been to leave you alone," Ryan solemnly supplied to her, hoping his words would ease her mind more than they eased his.
She nodded sharply, trying to hold in her tears. It wasn't that Ryan's hushed words of reassurance weren't helpful, it was just that she felt so comfortable around him that she became suddenly emotional about everything.
"It's okay," he whispered gently to her.
She half-sobbed, half-laughed when he said this. How did he know exactly what to say? She felt herself growing closer and closer to him, and it frightened her slightly that she could become so near to another boy so quickly. Ryan just seemed to have a charisma about him that was both gentle and loyal at the same time.
She looked up at him and realized pathetically that her vision was blurry with unshed tears, but his eyes held a firm stance of trust and strength in them that she could not ignore. She knew, somehow, that their friendship was different. For whatever reason, fate had led them together tonight, and his presence had been exactly what she needed to get through.
"Thanks, Ryan," she murmured softly.
"Anytime," he said. "Actually…it's getting kind of late, so, how about anytime before 11 PM?"
Gabriella's head shot up in disbelief. "Is it really that late?"
Ryan grinned broadly. "Yeah. But my parents really won't care if I'm late. You want me to stick around or…what? You tell me."
Gabriella thought it through and cast a glance at her mother, who gave her a look of authority which told her the decision she had to make rather than the one she preferred to make.
"Nah, it's okay. It is really late. I'm sorry; I didn't realize," she mumbled her consent to the choice she wished she didn't have to select.
Ryan nodded, "No, no, it's fine. We were just having a little moment, there. I think we're good," he attempted to confirm with a smile.
Gabriella nodded toward the plate of brownies and the pizza boxes, "You can have those if you want. We never even got to the pizza," she said, shrugging.
Ryan was pensive for only a moment before saying, "Well, who can pass up such quality brownies? I'll take a couple more, and whatever amount of pizza you want me to take."
Gabriella chuckled as she placed a few brownies into a full box of pepperoni pizza and handed it to Ryan. "We'll split it half-and-half. And don't forget the brownie you never got around to eating."
Ryan shrugged. "You can have that one. You didn't eat any, and chocolate is good for times like this when you're feeling down."
She looked down at the delicious appearance of the culinary dessert and picked it up, smiling at Ryan. She took a tentative bite, then giggled.
"Well, I guess I should walk you out," she said, noticing that Ryan was torn between staying with her and leaving of his own accord.
Ryan grinned from behind the pizza box, and he and Gabriella made their way out of her front door, sauntering sluggishly down the sidewalk to the driveway.
"That went by pretty fast," Gabriella said, a hint of something like remorse in her tone.
"Well, that was probably because I didn't show up until ten o'clock. My bad," he apologized quietly.
He clicked the button on his sister's keys and unlocked her convertible. He had to admit that it was a tad bit embarrassing to be driving around in a pink car with "SE" initialed on the front, but it was the best he could do without a car of his own. His parents had provided the twins with only one car, and, as usual, Sharpay had taken control of that possession and made it hers. Also as usual, Ryan had been a doormat and allowed her to do so. And here he was putting a pizza box into "his" pink convertible in front of the girl he had a crush on. Oh, the pain.
He turned around after he finished putting the box in the backseat, and he stared at Gabriella for a moment. Curse the darkness with only the luminescence of streetlights, for it made him weak and shaky to just look at her.
"Well, I guess I'd better be going…" Ryan started, but as he started to get into his car, he felt a hand on his arm, compelling him to stay.
"Wait, Ryan," Gabriella started in a hushed voice. "I…thanks for coming."
He looked into her eyes and saw a desire there which he could not ignore. He leaned in closer, instinctively, and when she made no move to slip away, he continued to close the gap between them. He didn't want to push her—to get so close that she would run away, so he settled with touching her forehead with his own. He was naughtily content with merely this, but then she took initiative. Gabriella placed a chaste kiss to Ryan's lips, and then broke away immediately, backing up in confusion.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I…I don't know where that came from." And it was the truth.
Ryan, still in shock, shook his head slightly. "Ehm…uh, no, no. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…you know. I just…yeah. Um, it's fine."
They stood in stunned silence for awhile, feeling an immense sense of guilt, yet somehow not feeling quite as terrible as they probably should. Then, Gabriella broke the silence.
"How about we just keep this between you and me, okay?" she suggested.
Ryan stared at her for a moment, and he saw the depths of bewilderment in her eyes. He felt a pang of pity for her, and he immediately nodded.
"Yeah. Definitely."
They continued to stand awkwardly for a few more seconds before Gabriella came back up to Ryan and wrapped her arms around him in a warm hug. Ryan smiled as he returned the embrace, relieved that nothing (negative, anyway) had changed between them.
She finally stepped back from him, a surprisingly glassy look in her eyes, and she bid him goodbye for the night. She jogged back up the sidewalk to her house, sparing him one last glance and winning grin before she hustled back inside.
Once she was out of sight, Ryan got behind the wheel of the car and began to back out. The entire drive home, all he could think about was one thing: She tasted like brownies.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Glaring errors? Disgust? Happiness? Please feel free to let your feelings be known through review. I'll try my best to adhere to your suggestions and/or gratefully reply. Thank you.