Uncertainties

It was the last day of summer. Ryan sighed exasperatedly. All of the time he had spent with his newfound friends was coming to a close and he couldn't do anything about it. It had been the most amazing summer vacation he had ever had. Not only did he break the bonds his sister had shackled onto him all his life, but he had been accepted by people…and not just because his sister forced them to. It was his own decision. They were his friends by choice. And it felt fabulous.

He had one person in particular to thank for this feeling, and that was Gabriella Montez. Who would have thought, of all the people in East High, that the girl he and his sister had tried so desperately to kick out of their musical would become his closest friend? Of course, Ryan was mature enough now, on his own, to be looking for much more than friendship from a girl, having taken into account how his manner of dress might affect people's opinions of his…well…preferences. It hadn't been his fault he dressed like that in the first place, he had just done whatever Sharpay had told him to do; that way, no one would hate him for who he was individually, it would all be because of his sister. He couldn't bear the thought of someone hating him, but if they hated the Evans twins, suddenly the hate was now spread between two people, Sharpay bearing the brunt of it.

But, thankfully, this summer, all that had changed. Now his wardrobe consisted of much less pink, sparkly, theatrical clothing and had become virtually normal for a straight, male senior in high school, all evidence of his former self gone. Except for the hats, of course. He still had them, but none of them were quite so over-the-top as before. He'd taken a few style tips from Chad and Troy and so far, he was pleased. Sharpay, of course, was another story, but her approval was no longer the only person's he strove for. When a girl welcomes you into her life with open arms for the first time (and is not your sister), you feel the indescribable need to be near her at all times.

Thus developed his small, innocent crush on Gabriella. He knew nothing would ever come of it. Come on, Troy and Gabriella were practically the poster couple of teenage love lasting for eternity. Even he had seen that and helped get them back together for the Midsummer's Night Talent Show. But he couldn't help but eye her every now and again, and the strangest sensations would overcome him when he was near her, especially when he managed to impress her or make her laugh.

But all of this was over now. Summer was ending and all of the employees were headed home for the last time before school started again. Ryan stood in the parking lot, waving to everyone as they left and occasionally making small talk with them. But he was waiting for one person in particular. He had to say goodbye before she left, whether he thought his heart could stand it or not.

At last, in the middle of his conversation with Chad, Ryan heard the most welcome sound in the world.

"Hey, Ryan!" came the sweet melody of Gabriella's voice and Ryan stopped in the middle of his sentence, completely forgetting what he and Chad had been discussing.

Thankfully, Chad took this as his cue to leave. "See you later, man. Try out for the baseball team this year with me?"

Without looking back at Chad (and barely listening), Ryan said "Yeah, sure," halfheartedly.

"What are you doing here? Isn't this yoga class time?" Gabriella asked, beaming up at him happily.

"Huh? Oh, well, yeah, but…I think I've stretched enough this summer. I need to get used to not contorting myself into odd shapes and standing on my head all day," he said sarcastically.

Score. She laughed. "Well, I'm glad you're here. I was just going to leave and I would hate to go without saying goodbye to you."

Ryan smiled slightly and ducked his head a bit to hide the warmth spreading across his face. He glanced up at her and said, "I wouldn't let you leave without saying goodbye. Thanks for everything you've done for me this summer."

She gaped at him. "Everything I've done for you? Ryan, you're the one who helped us win the talent show! You're the one who got the Wildcats' spirits back up! You're the one who helped me and Troy get back together!"

Don't remind me of that last one, Ryan thought. "Yeah, but…you helped me feel like I belonged, you know? For years, I've been nothing buy Sharpay's brother, but…thanks to you, I can be my own person now."

Gabriella smiled modestly and cocked her head. "Sure. Just promise you'll stop with this mushy talk. It's not like we're not going to see each other tomorrow."

Ryan shrugged. "Not in the same way."

Gabriella shook her head, still smiling. "True. We'll be in school…here's to hoping we don't get Mrs. Darbus as a homeroom teacher again this year…but also to hoping you and me will be in the same class."

Ryan merely grinned in response, then decided that they should stop talking before he revealed all of his deepest, inner secrets to her.

"Hey, come here," he said, friendly enough. He spread his arms invitingly and they embraced.

He closed his eyes, trying to revel in the moment and make sure he would never forget it. Oblivious to his need to hold her, Gabriella pulled away calmly and looked him in the eye.

"See you tomorrow. Promise you'll hang out with me this year and we won't have that stupid rivalry thing with the musicals and stuff?" she asked.

"Promise," he said, nodding and trying his hardest to make sure he stayed conscious.

"Bye," she said softly as she clambered into her car and drove off; gone as quickly as she had come.

But not so quickly that Sharpay Evans hadn't seen the ordeal go down.

Review and let me know if anything needs fixing: spelling, grammar, names, continuity errors, length, premise, anything. Thank you all!